Back at their lodging, Yan Yuqing drank two cups of tea in succession.
"That woman is too terrifying. I've never met such a terrifying woman!"
Yan Yuqing patted his chest, looking as if he had just escaped a great peril. "If that old Daoist hadn't stepped in, that woman would have probably killed me."
"Her cultivation is only at the early Nascent Soul stage. You're still afraid of her?"
"I might not be afraid, but she's a girl. It was my fault to begin with, I provoked her first. If I were to hit a girl after that, wouldn't I be worse than a beast?"
"Don't you hit everyone, regardless of gender?"
"Am I that kind of beast?" Yan Yuqing glared at Nangong Yu impatiently. "Bring me paper and a brush."
Nangong Yu remained silent, fetching paper and a brush for Yan Yuqing. Yan Yuqing then sketched out the terrain he had scouted, saying, "At that time, I wanted to investigate this area, but Tian Xuzi stopped me."
"Lei Tianze's secluded cultivation place is at the peak of Cangshan Mountain, which ordinary people cannot reach. This place must be quite important, otherwise Tian Xuzi wouldn't have intervened."
"Where will Yu Ju's soul be sealed?"
"The Tianjian Sect seals it on the highest level of the Purgatory Tower, and the Tianling Sect seals it in the deepest part of the Thousand Cold Cave. Both of these places are inaccessible to ordinary people..." Nangong Yu circled areas on the map with his finger. "Tonight, we'll first investigate the suspicious locations you scouted during the day."
"I think Tian Xuzi isn't easy to deal with. Should we take a break?"
"Do you think Tian Xuzi doesn't know why we're here?" Nangong Yu said calmly. "There's no need to waste time with pleasantries. Aman gave me one soul, and this soul will guide us to the last soul of Yu Ju that is sealed."
"Tell me honestly, why didn't you let Xiao Man'er come to Tianxuan Sect?" Yan Yuqing knew Nangong Yu quite well. The people of Tianxuan Sect were unfathomable, and their sect was filled with various mechanisms and formations. It would have been easier if Xiao Man had come, but Nangong Yu had persuaded Xiao Man to go to the Ghost Realm, and he himself came to Tianxuan Sect.
"Because of Lei Tianze." Nangong Yu's voice was cold. "I don't want them to meet."
"Does Lei Tianze really look exactly like Wen Mohan?" Yan Yuqing was incredibly curious. "Are they brothers?"
Nangong Yu glanced at Yan Yuqing and sighed. "Lei Tianze is Wen Mohan."
"What?" Yan Yuqing's voice rose. "How is that possible?"
"It's the truth. Wen Mohan is Lei Tianze, the mysterious Soul Transformation stage mighty cultivator of Tianxuan Sect. Ten years ago, when Aman and I were being pursued by Yue Tianxia, he saved us."
"So, Xiao Junyan really is his son, not just an excuse to placate others!"
"Yes."
Yan Yuqing's eyes were filled with gossipy curiosity. When rivals meet, wouldn't their eyes burn with envy? Did Nangong Yu send Xiao Man to the Ghost Realm and come to Tianxuan Sect to seize the opportunity to eliminate Lei Tianze and extinguish any possibility of Lei Tianze and Xiao Man rekindling their past?
"What's with that look?"
"Are you here to kill Lei Tianze?" Yan Yuqing asked excitedly. Back then, they had all speculated whether Xiao Man would ultimately choose Nangong Yu or Murong Shengrui, whom she had protected her whole life. To their surprise, Xiao Man had chosen Wen Mohan, who was completely unrelated, causing him to lose a large sum of money. Now, were these two going to fight to the death?
Nangong Yu suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. He thought, how could Xiao Man keep such an imbecile by her side? If he were to kill Lei Tianze, let alone whether he was Lei Tianze's match, any action would leave traces. Moreover, Lei Tianze was a prominent figure in the Cangxuan Continent. If he died, it would be impossible to conceal, wouldn't that be cutting off his own retreat?
"You are now at the Soul Transformation stage, and Lei Tianze is also at the Soul Transformation stage. If you two were to fight..."
"Before I kill him, I will kill you to silence you!" Nangong Yu said menacingly. "So that your big mouth doesn't leak it out!"
Yan Yuqing covered his mouth. "I promise not to say anything!"
"Only the dead can keep secrets forever!"
Yan Yuqing chuckled. "When are we going to investigate these locations?"
"You can go now." Nangong Yu went straight to bed to sleep. He needed to work at night, so he would catch up on sleep now. He feared that if he continued to listen to Yan Yuqing, he would be tempted to chop him up!
"You're going to sleep already?" Yan Yuqing saw Nangong Yu getting into bed and followed him. "It's daytime, can you sleep? Why don't we get up and play a couple of rounds?"
"Shut up and don't disturb me!"
"You're so boring. I don't know how Xiao Man can stand you!" Yan Yuqing said with disgust, chattering away beside him. "Xiao Man probably finds you too dull and uninteresting, that's why she chose Wen Mohan."
Nangong Yu's forehead veins bulged, and his face contorted, but he held back with great effort.
Yan Yuqing, completely oblivious to Nangong Yu's anger, continued to test the boundaries of death. "With Lei Tianze's ability to charm and coax people, perhaps when Xiao Man sees him, she'll immediately surrender and the two of them will reconcile. You're afraid you don't have..."
Nangong Yu could no longer tolerate it. He unleashed a palm strike. Yan Yuqing, caught off guard, was sent flying out of the courtyard, landing in an embarrassed heap. Passing disciples were startled by Yan Yuqing, who fell from the sky. They then recognized him as the person who had been pursued by Linghu Yaqi earlier, and they averted their gaze, walking past as if nothing had happened.
"Nangong Yu, what are you going crazy for?" Yan Yuqing got up from the ground, limping back into the courtyard. "I didn't say anything wrong. Why are you so ashamed and angry? Is it that hard to admit you're inferior to Lei Tianze... Ah!"
Yan Yuqing found himself lying outside the courtyard gate once again, his whole body disheveled, his hair in disarray. He looked like a damsel in distress, and with his androgynous face, he was truly pitiable.
"Nangong Yu, you scoundrel!" Yan Yuqing was so angry his heart and lungs ached. "Just you wait, I'll report this back!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a teapot flew out of the house, heading straight for Yan Yuqing's head. Terrified, Yan Yuqing quickly pressed himself against the wall, narrowly avoiding a bloody head injury!
"Shameless! You're bullying me because your cultivation is higher than mine! Just you wait!" Yan Yuqing gnashed his teeth fiercely. However, being outmatched in skill, he could only temporarily swallow his anger!
A young attendant who came to deliver food saw Yan Yuqing hiding by the door, baring his teeth and muttering curses. He thought, perhaps this guest had been struck by madness by Senior Sister Linghu, poor fellow.
"Greetings, young master." The attendant bowed. "I've come to deliver food..."
"Just give it to me." Yan Yuqing took the food box, opened it, and his expression improved slightly. "Thank you. I can carry it in myself."
The attendant watched Yan Yuqing limp inside, then shook his head and left, thinking, poor, poor fellow.