Chapter 113: Clouds of Suspicion

Xiao Cheng had practiced his family’s secret art, the Songyang Heart Sutra, since childhood. Although he had only read the first two volumes, he knew them like the back of his hand. Upon reviewing the handwritten copy by Wang Qiyi, he immediately spotted three errors in those first two sections.

To call them mere errors would be inaccurate; these three spots were far too critical. In each instance, a word had been replaced with its exact opposite. Such a coincidence was impossible; this was clearly deliberate sabotage.

Had Xiao Cheng not been so intimately familiar with the Songyang Heart Sutra, he never would have noticed. Had he continued to cultivate using the corrupted text, he would inevitably have ended up suffering a fatal internal explosion.

"Could this be Wang Qiyi's doing?" Xiao Cheng frowned to himself, but immediately shook his head. It certainly wasn't Wang Qiyi’s work.

Then who had tampered with it?

Xiao Cheng’s expression turned cold. This matter was clearly not as simple as it appeared on the surface. There was undoubtedly a mastermind lurking in the shadows, watching everything with cold eyes, observing Wang Qiyi as he copied the fake sutra and waiting for him to deliver it to the intended recipient.

Thinking of this, a chill crept up Xiao Cheng’s spine, making his hair stand on end.

This person was like a viper coiled in a swamp, watching the surface of the water with emotionless detachment, waiting for the moment to strike with venomous fangs for a fatal blow. Moreover, this individual possessed profound cunning and extraordinary insight.

Xiao Cheng had only managed to identify Wang Qiyi as a problem by relying on his foreknowledge, and only uncovered his true identity by tracking him with his peak Xiantian-level spiritual sense. How did this mastermind know who Wang Qiyi was, making preparations before the man even began copying the sutra?

Xiao Fusheng? Xiao Cheng smiled slightly. He refused to believe it was Xiao Fusheng. In his past life, even until the moment his family was annihilated, Xiao Fusheng had never known Wang Qiyi’s true identity.

If not him, then who? Xiao Cheng could not fathom it, and his mind drifted to another matter.

What was the true cause of his family’s destruction in his past life?

Knowing the future was not always a blessing. To know the end but not the process, and to be desperate to intervene without the slightest clue—there was nothing more agonizing.

At this moment, Xiao Cheng felt the pressure mounting like a mountain. He was up against a massive sect, and Ling Xuan was a "True Person." Only those who reached the Nascent Soul stage earned that title, and any such master was a colossus compared to his current self.

Fortunately, Ling Xuan was in seclusion and would not emerge for some time, and since he had just killed Leng Yuchan, she would not know about the family’s affairs.

As for the mole, Wang Qiyi, he would eliminate him sooner or later. But before dealing with Wang Qiyi, he had to leave Shanghai and make a trip to Mount Shenfeng.

He remembered clearly that in his past life, Mu Hongru had obtained a Creation Heavenly Origin Fruit on Mount Shenfeng, which allowed him to soar to greatness and become the youngest Golden Core expert in the cultivation world in a century. This same Mu Hongru had once hunted him down over the Three Lives Jade Slip. Xiao Cheng’s trip to Mount Shenfeng was meant to intercept Mu Hongru’s fortune and claim that fruit for himself.

Walking someone else’s path so that they have nowhere left to go—this was his greatest advantage after rebirth.

Xiao Cheng went to the closet in the corner, retrieved the phone that was still recording, and dragged his injured body out of the small building.

After leaving, he headed straight to the seaside to check on Yun Tingyu. He helped stabilize the yin-evil energy within her, but couldn't resist the sweet-talking and pestering of this adorable, clingy girl. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and play a game with her, and only then did she pout and let him go.

As he was leaving, Yun Tingyu said, "Brother Cheng, let me help you with your flying game next time; your score is pitiful." As Xiao Cheng was stepping down, he nearly stumbled at the first half of her sentence, drawing a string of silver-bell-like laughter from her.

This delay cost him two hours.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, Xiao Cheng arrived at the Jade Buddha Temple.

He planned to leave Shanghai for Mount Shenfeng that very night; the trip would take at least two days.

Now that he knew Wang Qiyi’s identity, and judging by Leng Yuchan’s tone, Wang Qiyi was also a cultivator. Although he assumed Wang Qiyi wouldn't dare do anything too outrageous, he still had to prevent any terrible surprises.

Therefore, he wanted to persuade Zhuo Qinglian to stay at Tomson for a few days. Zhuo Qinglian was an internal martial arts master, only a hair’s breadth behind Xiao Guowei, and her cultivation had already reached the third stage of Foundation Establishment. With her and Fang Yujia living together, they could look out for one another, and there wouldn't be any problems.

Xiao Cheng walked through the wall into the guest room, hoping to catch a glimpse of Zhuo Qinglian wearing her apron properly, only to be disappointed to find her wrapped up tightly, sitting in meditation.

Xiao Cheng marveled at this. He didn't know when this female Bodhisattva had changed her ways, trading her usual revealing style for being bundled up like a rice dumpling.

Yet, even wrapped like a dumpling, it did not diminish her beauty in the slightest. Because of her cultivation, Zhuo Qinglian had gained an ethereal quality, making her appear even more exquisite.

Xiao Cheng was a cultivator himself and knew that interrupting meditation would affect its efficacy. He smiled and sat down across from her, beginning to meditate to heal his own injuries.

Just as he sat down, he saw Zhuo Qinglian’s nose twitch, and she slowly opened her beautiful eyes.

Seeing Xiao Cheng’s firm, chiseled face, she furrowed her brows. She smelled a distinct scent of blood on him and asked with concern, "You’re hurt?"

"It's nothing, just a minor injury. It’s no big deal!" Xiao Cheng smiled, surprised that she had detected his injury so easily.

"Who hurt you this time?" Zhuo Qinglian’s expression darkened; she was truly worried about him. Last time he came, he had been shot, and now he had internal injuries. Judging by his complexion, the damage was likely quite severe.

"Don't ask. I killed them. When have I ever let myself suffer a loss?" Xiao Cheng comforted her.

He knew her personality; if she found out who had hurt him, she would grab a kitchen knife and go after them, regardless of who they were.

Hearing this, Zhuo Qinglian’s expression finally eased. She had to admit, Xiao Cheng never seemed to come out on the losing end.

"Where are you hurt? Let me feel!"

"Yes, right here. No, lower... lower still. That’s the spot."

"When did you learn to tease your sister? You’re not being honest!" Zhuo Qinglian complained with a smile, her eyes sparkling with charm.

"And your injury?"

"It’s nothing!"

"Then later, we'll go to the back..." Zhuo Qinglian said, slightly shy.

Xiao Cheng didn't commit to an answer...