Chapter 106: Crimson Flowers Hidden in White Bones (6)
Nearly a hundred people at the banquet turned in unison to look at Bo Yan. Moments earlier, the hall had been buzzing with overlapping conversations. Now, not a single person dared to make the slightest sound. The entire Lumen Assembly fell into utter silence. Everyone unconsciously held their breath. At the mere mention of the name “Yan Jingqiu,” it felt as though they were standing on a cliff amid a raging storm, facing towering waves that threatened to swallow them whole.
Bai Chunsheng immediately lifted his head as well—but he looked toward Jiang Ji. How did she know?
Unless—unless she had known from the very beginning that Yan Jingqiu also had this identity as Bo Yan. So when Yan Jingqiu appeared under Bo Yan’s identity, she had realized that Yan Jingqiu had never died at all. Bai Chunsheng rapidly turned the thought over in his mind, anxiety gnawing at him so badly he dug his fingernails into his own forearm. Judging from the current situation, this was extremely unfavorable for Bo Yan. Because he truly was Yan Jingqiu. Because he truly was the foremost figure at the Tribulation Crossing stage.
If what Jiang Ji said was true, then Yan Jingqiu did indeed seem capable of doing such things.
But Bai Chunsheng knew Yan Jingqiu had not done them. These past days, they had hardly been apart day or night. Bo Yan had genuinely lost his memory—otherwise, he would not have done something as foolish as being jealous over himself all day long.
Bo Yan showed a flicker of surprise, but he quickly recovered and said calmly, “You must be joking.”
His tone was exceedingly steady and composed. He was not questioning Jiang Ji. After all, he was utterly certain that he was a golden dragon—not some exalted human cultivator.
Jiang Ji said, “Why not remove your mask? That would be more convincing.”
Bo Yan let out a cold laugh. Without the slightest hesitation, he removed his mask.
His features were extraordinarily handsome, his posture upright and refined. In his deep, dark eyes—like a bottomless pool—there seemed to be no emotion at all.
Yan Jingqiu!
Even those who had been struck speechless, even those who had not heard Jiang Ji’s earlier accusation, could not help but think of the Sword Sovereign’s name the moment Bo Yan removed his mask.
Anyone fortunate enough to have seen that young Immortal Venerable would have engraved Yan Jingqiu’s gaze and face into their very bones, deep into their memory. Similar—far too similar. No one had ever resembled Yan Jingqiu this closely. Even those who had initially thought Jiang Ji was spouting nonsense could not help but believe her at least a little upon seeing Bo Yan’s true face.
Jiang Ji took a deep breath. “Are you Yan Jingqiu? Do you have anything to say?”
Bo Yan scoffed. “I merely resemble him.”
He believed his conduct was upright and beyond reproach. He was not afraid of baseless slander. He even had the presence of mind to glance at Bai Chunsheng—deliberately yet seemingly unintentionally.
With a cold expression, Bo Yan said bitterly, “I detest it most when people mistake me for Yan Jingqiu.”
“You’re still arguing,” Jiang Ji said, looking at him as though he were beyond saving. “Yan Jingqiu, do you think I recognized you without reason?”
“While fleeing from the Middle Realm to the Southern Region, I truly did not recognize you.”
She continued, “I once mentioned to you that when I was young, I secretly released a small pet I had raised into the Yan family’s secret realm. At the time, I did not act solely for his sake. A monk from Huayan Temple told me that if I placed him in the Yan family’s Crimson Lake, one day he would lend me his strength.”
“The monk from Huayan Temple told me that this opportunity was extremely important. It might even save my life someday in the future.”
“After arriving in the Southern Region, I kept thinking about it. I wondered when this ‘help’ and life-saving grace would appear.”
Jiang Ji said, “It was not until I entered the Shattered Stone Mortal Realm.”
She turned slightly and sat back down in her original seat. Clearly, she had already arranged for this in advance. Within a few breaths, several people could be seen in the distance supporting someone as they brought him forward to kneel on the ground.
The man lifted his head, revealing a face that was far too gentle and delicate for a man.
The moment Bai Chunsheng saw that face, he sucked in a sharp breath. He suddenly realized who the “old acquaintance” Jiang Ji had repeatedly referred to was.
Su Xiaojing.
The Foundation Establishment cultivator who had once appeared on Fuyu Mountain. Later, Bai Chunsheng and Yan Yi had encountered him again in Tiannan City.
If not for being lured to the barren mountain by the supreme-grade fire spirit stone in Su Xiaojing’s hand, Bai Chunsheng might not have realized for a long time that Yan Yi harbored such feelings for him. Nor would he and Yan Yi have so smoothly returned to the grand world after discovering the old Dragon King’s corpse and Ye Jingxing’s identity token.
Instinctively, Bai Chunsheng looked toward Su Xiaojing’s right ear. He remembered that behind it was a Dao-body mark. Because Su Xiaojing was kneeling with his head lowered, Bai Chunsheng easily saw the fish-shaped Dao mark that should have been gleaming.
Now it looked dim—so faint it was nearly gone.
Just as Bai Chunsheng was about to ask why, another Tianqing Sect cultivator—someone he had never seen before—stood up on Jiang Ji’s behalf and spoke unhurriedly: “This man is the reincarnation of a spirit fish. He once nurtured himself in the Crimson Lake of the Yan family’s secret realm for nearly a century. Later, a wildfire suddenly fell upon the Yan family’s back mountain. The lake had to be drained to draw water. By a twist of fate, he descended to the mortal world and reincarnated, even obtaining a Dao-body.”
“This Dao-body is nearly useless. Its only function is to discern the Dao-bodies and innate roots of others. There is one more matter: if he wishes to use this ability to discern Dao-bodies, he must use his own soul to do so. Previously, while pursuing the demons that fled through the Southern Region, this ability proved remarkably effective. He identified many lesser demons for us, sparing the Southern Region from rivers of blood and devastation.”
Bai Chunsheng looked at Su Xiaojing. His face had already taken on a grayish pallor. Clearly, he had used this ability long ago—and even overdrawn his lifespan. That was why he now looked as though he were on the verge of death.
Kneeling on the ground with both hands and forehead pressed to the floor, Su Xiaojing spoke in a tone neither humble nor overbearing: “To pursue demons, to clear away corruption, and to restore clarity to the cultivation world is my inborn blessing. I am willing to use my soul as proof to dispel illusions. If I am fortunate enough to do something for all of you, then that is the meaning of my presence here.”
In just a few short months, he seemed to have changed considerably.
After all, someone who had once been so affected and calculating on Fuyu Mountain—who had even snatched his senior sister’s fiancé—would never have spoken such words before.
Jiang Ji closed her eyes, as though slightly unwilling. “When we went to Penglai Island, the Sword Sovereign may not have paid attention to us of the Tianqing Sect. But Su Xiaojing followed me from beginning to end. He had already confirmed it many times at the cost of his soul.”
The Tianqing Sect cultivator continued, “To others, this Dao-body may be of little use. Even in the Middle Realm, where countless prodigies gather, very few possess powerful Dao-bodies.”
Someone below the stage murmured softly, “Yan Jingqiu was born with a sword bone. Legend says he possessed the Shuyan Rizhuan Po Dao-body. There is only one such Dao-body in the world.”
“Tianqing Sect would not summon us here with such fanfare without absolute certainty.”
Another added, “Apart from the Five Elements Dao-bodies, there are no two identical Dao-bodies under heaven. If…” He paused, leaving the implication unspoken.
Jiang Ji continued, “Su Xiaojing’s soul has reached its limit. Before coming here, I asked him many times. He was still willing. Since he wishes to make this final proof, I ask all of you to bear witness.”
Bai Chunsheng’s thoughts were abruptly dragged back from wondering what had happened to Su Xiaojing to the present Lumen Assembly.
His heart pounded so hard it felt as though it might leap from his throat.
Bo Yan’s lips curved into a mocking smile. “Have you finished staging this farce? What a string of lies.”
Jiang Ji was so angered by those words that she nearly lost her breath. Bo Yan continued without pause: “Let me ask you this. Since this man—Su Xiaojing—used his Dao-body ability multiple times while pursuing demons in the Southern Region, his soul must already have been greatly damaged even before traveling to Penglai Island. The journey itself was long and exhausting. Why insist on bringing him to Penglai? And why require him to discern my Dao-body?”
“To discern Dao-bodies harms the soul. This is not something that can be done with a mere glance. The Tianqing Sect has only this one person capable of such discernment. You would not have him use it casually.”
“If you claim you had him confirm my Dao-body multiple times, then you must have learned something beforehand to prompt repeated verification.” Bo Yan spread his hands. “What information?”
“Furthermore, if someone had been secretly observing me from behind the scenes, I would never have failed to notice.” He asked, “From effect to cause—where did your ‘effect’ come from?”
“I already found it strange earlier. Emperor Qinghua’s secret to becoming a Venerable?” Bo Yan gave a light laugh. “Tianqing Sect claims this information was obtained after capturing demons. From where? From the demons themselves?”
“As everyone knows, demons are habitual liars. They even possess a mysterious ability that makes people unconsciously believe their words.” Bo Yan said, “It is indeed a great regret that Mahayana cultivators in the grand world have passed away one after another.”
“What is most terrifying is that the seal of the Demon Realm is unstable. Those foul demons may soon return. As the Realm Lord of the Water Abyss Realm and Supreme Elder of the Ten Thousand Demon Sect, I am naturally among those responsible for deciding how to confront them.”
His tone shifted sharply, directing the spear toward Tianqing Sect. “Tianqing Sect discovered demons causing trouble in the Southern Region yet concealed it. Instead, you redirected suspicion toward a high-ranking figure of the Middle Realm. One cannot help but question whether your intentions are sinister—seeking to divide the Middle Realm’s strength, incite internal strife in the cultivation world, and allow the Demon Realm to profit as the fisherman.”
“Fairy Yue Bai, do not fall into the villain’s scheme.”
In just a few sentences, Bo Yan reversed the tide of suspicion at the Lumen Assembly. Instead of doubting him, many began to question Jiang Ji’s source of information.
Before Jiang Ji could defend herself—
“However,” Bo Yan said disdainfully, “I can understand why Tianqing Sect, kept in the dark, made such mistakes. The demons are indeed cunning and treacherous. These messages are half true and half false. It is precisely because truth and falsehood were mixed together that people mistakenly took all of it as fact.”
He continued, “I surmise that this part is true: the cultivation world must decline for the Heavenly Dao to reach completion, allowing one to become a Venerable. Emperor Qinghua’s corpse transforming into the Demon Realm after death—that is also true. Only one thing is false: that I am Yan Jingqiu.”
“It is not rare for two people in the world to look remarkably alike. To avoid misunderstandings, I wore a mask. I did not expect that this would instead create an opening for others to scheme, making people believe I am Yan Jingqiu.”
As he spoke, Bo Yan once again glanced at Bai Chunsheng.
Bai Chunsheng thought Bo Yan might be nervous speaking before such a crowd for the first time. He blinked encouragingly at him.
Bo Yan: “…”
In front of so many people, what was Bai Chunsheng acting cute for? Was he not embarrassed?
He averted his gaze and deliberately changed direction, avoiding his own sore spot rather than reopening it.
Bo Yan continued, “If there truly is a mastermind as Jiang Ji claims, secretly orchestrating everything from the shadows—”
“Such a meticulous and malicious person, choosing to scheme from behind, indicates that his true strength is not as formidable as he appears.”
“Moreover, no one doubts the dead. Yet someone seeks to frame me as Yan Jingqiu. That is indeed peculiar.”
Bai Chunsheng finally let out a quiet breath of relief. Bo Yan’s reasoning piqued his interest. He leaned in, wanting to hear the rest of his deduction.
Then he heard Bo Yan declare firmly: “Yan Jingqiu did not die. The sinister villain plotting behind the scenes is none other than Yan Jingqiu!”
Author’s Note:
Bo Yan: “Just watch me ruin Yan Jingqiu. Even if he really is dead, I’ll still destroy his reputation!”
Bai Chunsheng: “Your Majesty, why are you rebelling?”
Huge shoutout to @_nyanmaru_ on Discord for commissioning this! The chapter will be posted regularly, show your support for Ciacia at Kofi.
