Using force to make someone comply was crude, but the results were undeniably effective.
Though Dong Gua's expression remained foul, her movements became cooperative.
Wu Kong's path became far more direct as well—he headed straight for Tian Yan Sect without any more detours.
"My divine sense… did that old monk tamper with it?"
Dong Gua had scanned every aspect of herself and found only this one anomaly. She couldn't help but ask.
Wu Kong gave a slight nod.
"Your divine sense was painted over using a great technique. The aura you project is no longer the same. Even if Cui Hao stood right in front of you, he wouldn't easily recognize you."
"That monk has abilities that extraordinary?" Dong Gua's tone carried a note of disbelief.
For cultivators, divine sense was far more identifying than any face. Dong Gua had never heard of anyone successfully altering divine recognition.
It wasn't that no one had tried to change their divine sense and assume a new identity. It was simply that no one had ever succeeded.
Divine sense flowed from the Sea of Consciousness. Forcibly modifying the Sea of Consciousness—even under the best circumstances—would leave the subject as little more than a drooling, empty-headed child.
Wu Kong's tone remained placid.
"Since it's a painting, it will naturally fade and deteriorate over time. It's only a temporary concealment."
Dong Gua felt a pang of regret, but another question arose.
"If you've painted over my divine sense, why not conceal my face as well?"
Wu Kong shot her a look of pure disdain.
"Who exactly do you think we're going to see? Some underling who takes orders from you?"
"No matter how sophisticated the disguise, do you really think it could fool cultivators at that level? Masking the divine sense is merely taking a shortcut."
"If you don't have a reliable method of changing your appearance, that's fine. This humble monk knows a trick or two."
A bad premonition rose in Dong Gua's chest, but she still asked in a small voice.
"What method do you have?"
"Smash half your face in, and your original appearance naturally disappears. Don't worry—I have more than enough strength for the job."
Dong Gua choked out a bitter laugh. Was she supposed to be worried about the force?
———
Tian Yan Sect, Zhuji Peak.
Chu Xingchen propped his chin on one hand and placed a game piece on the board.
Bai Xuanling sat across from him, sipping her tea. She arched a brow at the board.
"This gomoku of yours always ends in a draw. What's the point?"
Chu Xingchen leaned back, resting his hand on Xie Lingyu's shoulder beside him.
"The board is a draw. But outside the board…"
"Both of you, get out." Bai Xuanling naturally understood the implication behind Chu Xingchen's words.
She snorted and waved them away.
Chu Xingchen remained seated, glancing at Xie Lingyu with a raised eyebrow.
"See? Your master's getting impatient."
Xie Lingyu picked up a piece and placed it on the board for Chu Xingchen, taking his turn for him.
"That move of yours doesn't count as part of the game."
Bai Xuanling saw this and laughed despite her irritation. Even her own disciple wasn't cutting her any slack.
Still, Bai Xuanling didn't leave. She calmly finished the game—one that thoroughly exploited the absence of her usual opponent.
Near the end of the match.
Chen Baiqing stopped outside the courtyard first. She took stock of the situation and only entered once she was certain her presence wouldn't interrupt her master.
Chu Xingchen noticed her gaze and looked over inquiringly.
Chen Baiqing spoke in a low voice.
"Outside Tian Yan Sect, a monk named Wu Kong has brought someone to visit."
Chu Xingchen gave a slight nod. He placed the piece in his hand into Xie Lingyu's palm and smiled.
"Keep your master company for now. I'm going to see a monk and ask if he'd like to renounce his vows and guard our mountain gate for us."
Xie Lingyu waved a dismissive hand, signaling the endlessly playful Chu Xingchen to go about his business.
Chu Xingchen rose, cupped his hands in farewell to Bai Xuanling, and departed with Chen Baiqing.
Bai Xuanling watched Chu Xingchen's retreating figure and suddenly laughed.
"I remember when I was young—I was much like him. Always wanting just a moment's rest, yet constantly pushed forward by one thing after another."
"The journey felt so arduous. But then I turned around one day and realized I'd become a legend in other people's mouths."
"Lingyu, do you think Chu Xingchen will become the next generation's legend?"
Xie Lingyu pondered for a moment, then shook her head gently.
"I'd rather he wasn't."
Bai Xuanling chuckled and shook her head, teasing.
"Oh? So Lingyu has learned to care about someone?"
Xie Lingyu's hand paused mid-move, her expression indignant.
When Chu Xingchen was here, her own master never teased her. The moment he left, the jibes wouldn't stop.
Despicable. This was taking advantage of her mouthpiece's absence.
———
Outside Tian Yan Sect.
Wu Kong's expression was composed as he gazed calmly at the sect before him.
Normally, as the Buddhist Son of the Central Prefecture, he should have at least been received inside—even if not permitted into Tian Yan Sect's inner grounds.
He certainly shouldn't have been left standing outside the mountain gate waiting.
From the look of it, Tian Yan Sect was guarding against the Buddhist sect quite tightly—even to the point of disregarding the usual face shown between members of the Eighteen Great Sects.
But so be it.
Compared to Wu Kong's composure, Dong Gua's expression was considerably less pleasant.
During their battle, a single glance from Chu Xingchen had been enough to fill her with bone-deep terror—the feeling that one foot had already stepped onto the path of death.
Now she was voluntarily coming to meet him. It felt disturbingly like walking up to someone's door and asking to be killed.
Dong Gua's appearance had been altered to some degree. The overall impression was similar, but the finer details of her brow and features had been changed.
Since her current form wasn't her true body to begin with, making adjustments was still feasible.
Now she could only hope that the so-called painting truly worked…
The two figures waited a long time in the wind and snow.
Long enough for the knot of anxiety in Dong Gua's chest to loosen considerably.
Then a voice rang out—the very voice Dong Gua dreaded most—and the meaning behind those words filled her with an even deeper terror.
"Is this the sincerity you've brought?"
Chu Xingchen stood alone before Tian Yan Sect's mountain gate. No one had seen him approach. His gaze swept past Wu Kong and landed squarely on Dong Gua.
Wu Kong didn't immediately grasp the meaning of Chu Xingchen's words. Rather than answer directly, he pressed his palms together and offered a greeting.
"I've long admired your name, Benefactor Chu."
Chu Xingchen wasn't paying attention to Wu Kong. He was staring directly at Dong Gua.
Under normal circumstances, if Wu Kong had brought a disguised Dong Gua to see him, Chu Xingchen might have played along to see what the monk was trying to communicate.
But this was not a normal circumstance.
A new black attribute tag had appeared beside Dong Gua's name: [Seed of the Desire Demon].
In the short time since he'd last seen her, Dong Gua must have encountered someone—or someone had tampered with her.
Chu Xingchen couldn't yet determine what the [Seed of the Desire Demon] actually did, or whether it had the ability to eavesdrop.
Based on his deductions, the attempt to eliminate the twin demons had likely failed. Dong Gua was probably sent back as a probing maneuver.
"Since you've brought her here, there's no need to keep up the act. At the gates of Tian Yan Sect, it's not as if she could escape."
Chu Xingchen's expression was fierce and imperious. Wan Ban materialized in his hand as a long sword, its tip aimed directly at Dong Gua.
"Last time I was careless, and someone else fished this little fish out of my grasp. But the world is vast, and there are many nets."
"There are even baits named 'ally' to bring you right back."
"No wonder you were led around in circles, deceived at every turn. Truly, stupidly endearing."
"It's a pity there aren't many demons as foolish as you in this world. Otherwise, my life would be much easier."
All color had drained from Dong Gua's face. Only the purest hatred burned in her eyes as she stared at Wu Kong.
Why… everyone was lying to her.
And every single one of them had succeeded.
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