Chapter 29

Before long, it was midnight. Qi Yuhe seemed to be still in high spirits and kept Wei Shizheng behind.

The moon was bright and the stars were sparse, the wind was rising and the clouds were surging. Everyone dispersed, and only Master and disciple Qi and Wei were left by the Crescent Moon Pond, facing each other in silence.

The moonlight and starlight were reflected in the water, swaying as if about to fall. Qi Yuhe gave a strange smile, his eyes turning a wax yellow, his pupils like a vertical line. He opened his mouth, revealing sharp teeth, and asked with a sinister chuckle, "My obedient disciple, how did you figure out... that Grandma wasn't really Qi Yuhe?"

Grandma! Wei Shizheng's heart sank, his mouth turned bitter, and countless thoughts flashed through his mind, only to vanish like bubbles. He listened to his own pounding heart and said, "When you walked a few steps just now, you... swayed gracefully, which was completely different from usual."

"Swayed gracefully, hah, so that's it. You are quite observant—" Qi Yuhe gave him a sidelong glance, his eyes gleaming with a fierce light, "Aren't you afraid? Afraid that Grandma might eat you?" As he spoke, he extended a long, thin tongue and licked the corner of his mouth.

Wei Shizheng's heart stirred, and he replied honestly, "I am afraid, but being afraid won't help. If you want to eat me, I will resist with all my might."

Qi Yuhe laughed, "What an interesting person! Before Grandma eats you, is there anything else you want to say?"

The vague thoughts in Wei Shizheng's mind gradually became clear. He pondered and said, "You harmed my Master, transformed into his appearance, and have not left. If not to infiltrate Xiandu to gather information, then to hide from trouble. Master Xun Ye of Xiandu has been very kind to me. If anything happens to me, Master Xun will not let it go and will investigate thoroughly. At that time, either your identity will be exposed, or you will have to flee from Xiandu. Either way, it goes against your intentions. If you don't eat me, I can help you cover up, which is more beneficial than harmful."

Qi Yuhe sized him up, making him feel uneasy. After a long while, he clapped his hands and sighed, "Dealing with smart people is refreshing!"

"How did Grandma figure it out? I didn't feel any abnormalities just now, so..." Wei Shizheng quickly changed the subject to avoid the other party reconsidering.

"No abnormalities? The heat of your body, the urgency of your breathing, the trembling of your hands and feet—Grandma can see all these abnormalities in you."

Wei Shizheng was even more convinced that the one hiding in Qi Yuhe's body was a snake demon. Only a snake could detect such subtle changes in a prey's body temperature, breathing, and movements.

"Open your mouth!"

Wei Shizheng was well-prepared and opened his mouth without hesitation. Qi Yuhe nodded in satisfaction, flicked his finger, and a soft, round ball fell into his mouth, sliding down his esophagus. It felt cold and slippery, with a faint hint of blood.

"Qi Yuhe took the elixir poison from Grandma's little grandson. Whether he is the murderer or not, he must pay with his life. These elixir poisons will stay in your stomach. Don't worry, as long as the outer membrane doesn't break, it won't take your life. Be obedient, and if Grandma is in a good mood, she might spare you!" Qi Yuhe chuckled and swayed away from the Crescent Moon Pond.

Only then did Wei Shizheng let out a sigh of relief, cold sweat drenching his back. He stood there for a long time, unable to move.

Everything that happened from Hu Yang Ferry to Kunlun Mountain was vivid in his mind. Grandma was likely a snake demon. The little grandson she mentioned was the venomous python killed by Qi Du of the Pingyuan Sect. For some reason, Grandma infiltrated the Xiandu Sect, coincidentally encountering Qi Yuhe. She detected the elixir poison in his body, harmed him, and transformed into his appearance.

The only thing he couldn't figure out was Grandma's purpose for infiltrating the Xiandu Sect.

Wei Shizheng took a long breath and sat down by the pond, removing his shoes and socks to immerse his feet in the cold pond water, stirring the reflection of the stars and moon.

He had personally experienced the power of elixir poison and had barely escaped death. Since Grandma had placed the elixir poison in his stomach as a threat, it must be extremely difficult to remove. Even the head of the Xiandu Sect might not be able to save him.

In the night, a small figure hesitantly approached the Crescent Moon Pond, calling out, "Senior Brother," and sat down beside him, mimicking his actions by dipping her feet in the water. Her feet were small, white, and clean, like a blooming lotus, swaying in the water.

"Why haven't you gone to sleep yet?"

"I can't sleep without seeing the stars."

The Ying-numbered stone room felt like a prison. Qin Zhen did not want to hide alone in the cave. Without her senior brother's protection, she felt anxious and uneasy. She had already gotten used to sleeping on Tiandu Peak, accustomed to the stars hanging over the mountains and the vast expanse of the wilderness.

The vast Tiandu Peak could not provide a peaceful place for him to cultivate, and Wei Shizheng felt restless. He suddenly reached out and wrapped his arms around Qin Zhen's waist, pulling her into his embrace.

Qin Zhen stiffened, unsure why her senior brother was being so rough. She sensed something was wrong with him and whispered, "Senior Brother, are you okay?"

Wei Shizheng did not speak or make any further moves.

Qin Zhen's body gradually relaxed. She let her senior brother hold her, closed her eyes, and her heart pounded, her ears burning. She was both afraid and hopeful. But after a long time, her senior brother did nothing, just holding her quietly.

Unconsciously, she fell into a deep sleep.

Wei Shizheng sat there all night, thinking all night, and finally made up his mind.

The next morning, Qin Zhen slowly woke up, finding herself lying in her senior brother's arms. Her face turned red with embarrassment, and she dared not lift her head. Wei Shizheng stroked her hair and said, "I was a bit out of control yesterday, I'm sorry."

Her senior brother had returned to his calm self, and Qin Zhen felt a sense of loss. She gently freed herself from his arm and bravely looked into his eyes. Wei Shizheng's eyes were like a deep, bottomless sea, firm, distant, and lacking warmth. She lowered her eyes, a sentence circling in her mind countless times, but she never managed to say it out loud.