Chapter 132: To Those Who Do Not Know Me, They Ask What I Seek

A stranger offering cooperation at a first meeting? Hong Jian looked at He Feng with deep distrust, first stopping Jing Xiaoyun: "Enough, Auntie, set that matter aside for a moment."

She was not opposed to eliminating Cheng Qingqing, but with Cheng Tian, the uncle, standing right there, it felt like a farce.

As expected, Cheng Tian's face darkened. He barked, "Before the Patriarch left, he ordered me to take the life of this Jing fellow. Duoduo, if you continue to act recklessly, don't blame your uncle for being heartless."

Although Jing Xiaoyun had only recently reunited with her father and had little time to grow close, she possessed exceptional talent in cultivation. She had long ago realized that her father was like a polished dung beetle—all shine on the surface, possessing only the title of a Nascent Soul cultivator while being inferior even to Lu Yanzhang. Hearing this, she "whooshed" back to stand guard beside Old Man Jing, glaring at Cheng Tian: "Just try it!"

The standoff provided a window for Hong Jian and He Feng to talk.

Hong Jian challenged him bluntly: "You claim I am an impostor and that you are the Sect Master's true disciple. Then you must first tell everyone: with the Heavenly Curtain still intact, how did you manage to cross over to the Daoist continent?"

He Feng walked toward her. Lu Yanzhang, knowing Hong Jian’s cultivation was still shallow and fearing she might be at a disadvantage, followed closely behind.

He Feng cast an extra glance at Lu Yanzhang before answering Hong Jian: "That is a secret. Please forgive me for not being able to tell you."

The closer she stood, the more Hong Jian could sense the goodwill radiating from him. It seemed as if even this insincere remark was spoken with a smile. She furrowed her brows.

"Bang!" Helian Yong tossed a severed head in front of the group of Daoist cultivators. Everyone jumped in fright as he said, "This is Ren Chen, an elder of the Demon Prison. We encountered him just now and seized the chance to slaughter him. Everyone, take a look—who among you has been interrogated or abused by him?"

The Daoist cultivators were shocked and immediately crowded around.

Helian Yong took the opportunity to step back and stand beside Hong Jian, his eyes locked on He Feng. "Speak clearly, and don't you dare harbor any crooked ideas about her."

He Feng looked at Helian Yong, then at Lu Yanzhang on the other side, and couldn't help but laugh. "How is it that you have these two 'Heng and Ha' generals so early on? I already said I harbor no ill will. It is your 'Miss Qi' who refuses to believe me."

He emphasized the words "Miss Qi," sounding quite certain that Qi Xiuning was a false name. Without waiting for Hong Jian to speak, he added, "I have come to help you deal with Ji Youyun."

Helian Yong had heard everything He Feng said earlier, and now he said in a low voice, "We do not cooperate with demonic cultivators."

"Not even for news about Ji Youyun? I can provide you with his every move, his schemes, and his plans. If danger arises, I will warn you in time."

Helian Yong fell silent. Lu Yanzhang asked suspiciously, "Are you truly that kind-hearted? You aren't digging a pit for us to jump into, are you?"

Hong Jian realized that while He Feng’s tone and demeanor were perfectly normal toward Helian Yong and Lu Yanzhang, he would lose his composure whenever he turned to her. Yet, she found herself subconsciously unable to dislike this man—a man whose words and actions were bizarre, and who had even exposed her true identity. How strange!

While feeling bewildered, Hong Jian said, "Then, Mr. He, let us talk. I do indeed want to know Ji Youyun's current situation."

He Feng pointed toward the riverside in the distance: "Let's talk over there."

Hong Jian hesitated for a moment, then replied, "Fine."

She signaled to Lu Yanzhang and Helian Yong to set their minds at ease. Under their watchful eyes, she followed He Feng to the riverbank. He Feng walked ahead, stood with his back to her, and raised a hand to cast a barrier. "What do you want to know?"

Disturbed by the words Ren Chen had left behind before dying, Hong Jian couldn't help but ask, "Ji Youyun went to break the Heavenly Curtain a few days ago. What was the result?"

He Feng said, "You want to ask about the 'Sutra of Great Calamity,' don't you? He has already obtained the half of the scripture that was stolen."

Hearing the confirmation from He Feng was far more credible than Ren Chen’s casual remark. Hong Jian was filled with disappointment and a sense of aimlessness. How was one to contain a Ji Youyun like this, and how could she ever avenge Ji Youfeng?

Although He Feng did not turn around, he seemed to know what she was thinking. He said, "However, thousands of years have passed. The 'Sutra of Great Calamity' that Ji Youyun obtained is written in demonic script. He is at his wits' end, just as he heard that the Demon Prison had been breached by the Heavenly Demon Sect. Attacking the Cheng clan this time was a necessity for him."

The fact that Ji Youyun could not immediately study the sutra was a stroke of luck, yet Hong Jian could not breathe a sigh of relief. She said worriedly, "He still has many demonic cultivators under his command."

He Feng replied, "Even on the other side of the 'Heavenly Curtain,' the demonic script has nearly vanished. It will not be easy for him to find someone who can translate it."

"That is good." Hong Jian stared at his back, secretly wondering how this descendant of the Heavenly Demon Sect could know so many secrets.

He Feng turned his head and smiled at Hong Jian: "After breaking the 'Heavenly Curtain' this time, Dai Mingchi and Xing Wuyai began to suspect one another. That is why Dai Mingchi was unable to come; he stayed behind to restrain Xing Wuyai. I believe it won't be long before the two Divine Transformation experts clash. This is the best time. I suggest you attend to your private affairs quickly, then settle your mind to improve your cultivation. As for those Daoist cultivators, there are people who can arrange things properly, so you need not worry too much."

Hong Jian followed his gaze and realized he was looking at Helian Yong.

Regardless of He Feng's intentions, his words struck a chord with Hong Jian.

Since escaping from the bottom of the glacier, Hong Jian had felt as if she were racing against time. Ji Youyun was already in the late stage of the Nascent Soul, and he would not wait for her to catch up. The vast gap in their cultivation burned in her heart like fire. And then there was her younger brother, Fang Zheng; she had no idea how he was faring...

She trusted Helian Yong to look after the dozen or so people, but she was worried that He Feng and the Cheng clansmen had ulterior motives. If they were involved, she feared that Helian Yong might not be able to manage the disunited group of Daoist cultivators well.

Then she heard He Feng say, "I have other matters to attend to. I will see you all part of the way, and then I will take Cheng Tian and the others and leave."

It was as if he had anticipated every one of her concerns. Was he truly doing all this for their sake? Hong Jian couldn't help but ask, "What is it that you want?"

He Feng turned his head to look at the river, remaining silent for a long time.

Hong Jian could not see the expression on his face. After a pause, she heard him sigh: "I want the people I care about to live well, without having to worry, suffer, or be sad. I want all regrets to cease happening."

Hong Jian stared, not understanding what he meant, but for some reason, her heart grew heavy. The atmosphere between them became suffocating.

He Feng did not look back after speaking, but strode quickly toward the Daoist cultivators, as if fleeing from something, leaving Hong Jian alone by the river.

By now, Jing Xiaoyun seemed to have some scheme of her own; after being scolded by her uncle, she suddenly ceased her efforts to cause trouble for Cheng Qingqing and stayed beside Old Man Jing.

Even when Cheng Qingqing provoked her, Jing Xiaoyun did not get angry; she merely looked at her with a cryptic smile before turning to do something else.

The more she acted this way, the more unsettled Cheng Qingqing felt. She clung tightly to her uncle, Cheng Tian, terrified that she might accidentally fall into the trap of that "short-statured wretch."

Helian Yong had no time to worry about the two demonic women. He had been watching He Feng for a while, and just as he had set his mind at ease, he encountered a new problem.

Because he was a Nascent Soul cultivator and his displayed strength was formidable, the Daoist cultivators vaguely regarded him as their leader. When Ji Youyun’s henchmen pursued them, he had gone off for a while and returned with the head of Ren Chen. Although others had gone with him, everyone automatically ignored Jing Xiaoyun and Lu Yanzhang, attributing the merit entirely to him.

Just as a bird cannot fly without a head, the Daoist cultivators naturally looked to Helian Yong to be their leader; thus, when trouble arose, they came to him first.

One of the elderly Daoists with a Fire Spirit Root had been severely injured, and coupled with the intense joys and sorrows of the short time passed, his condition suddenly worsened. His skin turned gray, and he fell into a coma.

Although the other two injured individuals were not in such critical danger, they were still in immense pain. Everyone knew how they had been wounded, and naturally, they felt a shared hatred and hoped to save them.

However, the Daoist cultivators had only just regained their freedom. Not only did they lack elixirs, but they didn't even have a single storage bag among them. Lu Yanzhang donated all the pills he had seized from the Xianxia Sect, which was barely enough to keep the old man alive. To save him, they needed to get him to a place where cultivators gathered to seek medical help.

The cost was a minor issue—Lu Yanzhang had plenty of spirit stones—but everyone worried that leaving a trail would attract Ji Youyun.

Yet, to simply abandon their companions to their fate would be no different from the demonic cultivators watching from the sidelines.

Helian Yong hesitated. They had only known each other for a short time, and their hearts had not yet united; it was not easy to make the decision to abandon them.

A voice cut in: "What do you intend to do?" It was He Feng, who had returned from the riverbank.

Helian Yong knew he could create an opportunity for someone else to play the villain, but he disdained such methods. When He Feng asked, he replied bluntly, "If there is no way for everyone to save him, we must prioritize the greater good."

He Feng smiled. "For the sake of your lack of hypocrisy, I will try to save this person. But tell me, do you trust me?"

His words left Helian Yong stunned. Did he trust him? It seemed he wasn't just talking about the life of the man they were about to abandon.

Without waiting for an answer, He Feng stepped forward and told the Daoist cultivators surrounding the old man to clear a path.

Amidst the complex gazes of the crowd, he took out a crimson pill and fed it to the old man.

Cheng Qingqing, watching from afar, couldn't help but mock them: "Oh my, you dare to eat a demonic cultivator's medicine? I thought you all had such high principles. I was waiting to see you choose death before dishonor. How disappointing."

At her words, the expressions of the Daoist cultivators turned unpleasant. But He Feng had already helped the old man to a sitting position and placed his hand on the man's head, clearly using his own true essence to help the old man digest the pill and settle his chaotic consciousness. The others could only hold their breath, not daring to disturb him.

Cheng Tian couldn't help but glare at his niece. Mr. He was the one stepping up to save someone; all they had to do was watch. Besides, what business was it of Cheng Qingqing’s? Why did she have to offend everyone until there was nothing left to salvage?