Chapter 56: I Don’t Think Xu Yan Is a Good Person

“Jiang Jie Jie, before I came up the mountain, I ran into someone who seemed to be from Shenxiao Sect as well. At that time, he should have been on a mission in Shenxiao Town. Do you know him?”

Jiang Yan had gone from petting Jiang Che to petting cats.

It was the first time Jiang Che had seen someone raising a few cats inside a secluded Cave Residence during closed-door cultivation.

There was one San Hua Cat and two Orange Cats in the Cave Residence.

Jiang Yan generously shared her cats with Jiang Che. Maybe at the sect, she always had to maintain her image and was frustrated.

In this aspect, Jiang Yan should learn a thing or two from the old Jiang Che.

Although Jiang Che used to look like the perfect Senior Brother, handling all affairs within the Peak, he always found joy in it.

But now, it no longer mattered to Jiang Che.

He felt the weight of the cat in his arms—it was truly a fat cat!

Although he wasn’t sure what breed it was, he guessed it was definitely a Pang Ju.

This was an impression engraved deep in his bones.

In the past, whenever he saw a fat cat, it was often a big Orange Cat, for reasons he didn’t know.

Jiang Yan pondered Jiang Che’s question.

“Hmm… The disciples who went down the mountain on missions not long ago?

They should be two juniors from Shenfu Peak.

I remember one named Wan Yan Feng, and the other named Xu Yan.”

Hearing this, Jiang Che’s heart tightened inexplicably.

He had long learned to selectively block out painful memories to live a normal, peaceful life.

But when these names came up, the feelings still hurt.

“What’s wrong, little brother? Did you meet them?

I remember they were investigating disappearance cases down the mountain. You didn’t run into those child kidnappers, did you?”

Jiang Yan’s face showed concern.

Jiang Che shook his head, though Jiang Yan’s guess was pretty accurate.

It was just that Jiang Che no longer liked to tell the truth; casually brushing off unnecessary questions had become routine.

“I just happened to meet one of them, I think it was the one named Xu Yan. Jiang Jie Jie, have you met him?”

Jiang Yan thought for a moment before answering, “I remember Xu Yan Junior Brother joined the sect two years ago.

Everyone was surprised by his background because Xu Yan was recommended by the General’s Estate of the Great Yan Dynasty.

The people of the General’s Estate all practice Martial Dao, which is entirely different from cultivation. After all, cultivation requires refining the heart.

Martial Dao has similarities but is a world apart.

No one initially had high hopes for him, and I heard he preferred sword cultivation.

But in the end, he joined Shenfu Peak.”

At this point, Jiang Yan paused and put down the San Hua Cat, leaning closer to Jiang Che.

“Little brother, this Xu Yan is actually quite strange.”

Jiang Che was stunned. Strange? That was an understatement!

But he still tried to stay calm, not wanting Jiang Yan to see his emotions.

“What do you mean, Jiang Jie Jie? I remember when I saw that person, he seemed perfectly normal.”

“No, no, no!”

Jiang Yan held up a finger and waved it, then continued mysteriously.

“He’s a serious person, humble and easygoing, with very high talent—almost perfect.

Even the Head of Shenfu Peak praised him repeatedly.

Based on my years of experience, he’s definitely putting on an act!”

“Putting on an act?”

This was a fresh topic. Jiang Che’s impression of this Shenxiao Sect Senior Sister refreshed once again.

“Like…”

Jiang Yan hesitated for a moment, looked at Jiang Che to make sure it was okay to say, then continued.

“Like one of my old Junior Brothers. He was very capable, even I was ashamed beside him. He had a good personality, but actually, he was a pervert!”

There was no hesitation in her words, all tinged with personal feelings.

Jiang Che was stunned. Who was she talking about?

Surely not him.

“My Junior Brother treated juniors very well, but his eyes always wandered around. And he even brought meals to his Master every day…”

Alright, Jiang Che steadied his mind. Heroes don’t dwell on past glories. Besides, he knew there was more than meets the eye.

But seriously, what was this Shenxiao Sect Senior Sister always staring at people for?

Jiang Che silently complained in his heart.

After the conversation, Jiang Che roughly understood Jiang Yan’s meaning.

Jiang Yan believed Xu Yan was far from simple on the surface.

Compared to her “pervert” example, Xu Yan was even more difficult to read.

Jiang Che made no decision after learning all this.

His ability was enough to get by in the mortal world, and he always found ways to deal with normal problems.

But here, he was a cripple. What could he do?

Report Xu Yan to Shenfu Peak? On what grounds? That he was blind?

Or because he was the Sinister Cultivator acknowledged by Shenxiao Sect in the past?

A boundless sense of loss filled Jiang Che’s heart, but he was already used to it and didn’t notice. In his mind, he only wanted to leave this place of troubles.

……

Zichen Hall Conference Chamber.

Yun Yan was sharing his thoughts.

With the Climbing Immortal Ladder opening in just a year, he decided it was time to recruit new disciples and select suitable ones to cultivate.

The current situation had no disciples capable of taking the lead.

Moreover, Lingjian Peak—the sect’s current powerhouse—had its disciples scattered and unable to form any combat strength.

Even though there were a few talented disciples, considering the sects who had invested resources and resorted to underhanded tactics, they had to be prepared for anything.

Feng Ze, the Head of Wanzhen Peak, wore a serious expression, his brows furrowed like a knot.

“Sect Master, I understand what you said, but I have a question—why isn’t Lin Yin here?”

Feng Ze’s tone was full of dissatisfaction. He had never approved of the youngest Head of Lingjian Peak.

Even though Lin Yin had proven her strength—defeating him at mid-Nascent Soul Pinnacle when she was just at Nascent Soul Pinnacle—he still didn’t accept her.

And it seemed he was right. Now Lingjian Peak was in shambles under her management, even worse than a scattered mess.

At least a scattered mess still has some sand left.

Those still at Lingjian Peak were just a bunch of fools.

The others remained silent, as if Feng Ze had voiced their true feelings.

Yun Yan stroked his white beard, eyes narrowing slightly.

“Head Lin… has her own matters…”

When it came to Lin Yin, Yun Yan didn’t disclose her situation to the other Heads.

The last time they met, Yun Yan had hoped for a chance to properly guide her.

He could see Lin Yin had already begun to cultivate her Heart Demon.

At this stage, the Heart Demon growing from inner confusion was bound to become incredibly powerful and difficult to dispel. If things worsened, it would be serious.

But obviously, Yun Yan’s words didn’t convince Feng Ze.

“Bang!!!”

Feng Ze slammed his palm on the stone table, the sound sharp and crisp.

“Her own matters? She’s just a Sinister Cultivator! If you ask me, she should have been executed right from the start!”

“Feng Ze! Take back your words!”

The atmosphere instantly chilled. The one speaking was not Yun Yan, but Xu Qianlan.

Her previously lazy gaze immediately turned as cold as a blade.

For three years, whenever Jiang Che’s name was mentioned, the mood always turned this way.

“Enough! Shut up!”

A pressure emanated from the seat of authority, instantly suppressing the tense atmosphere.

Feng Ze, who was about to stand, suddenly felt a chill and found his body unable to move for a moment.

Xu Qianlan across from him was in the same state.

“I remember I said before that Jiang Che’s matter is not to be mentioned again. Have you all forgotten?”

“Yes…”

“Yes…”