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Join the ServerEngrossed in these thoughts, Ye Cha inadvertently became lost within them, his attention drifting from the female cultivators at the adjacent table.
Initially, he held no interest in the items sent by the Flying Cloud Sect; his sole focus remained on cultivation and growing stronger.
However, Shen Ruotong’s subsequent declaration to kill anyone with a Heavenly Net Physique was the fundamental reason Ye Cha was compelled to leave the Lingtian Sect.
Now, as he listened to the news these female cultivators discussed, Ye Cha connected the dots, immediately arriving at a startling realization.
He recalled the surprise in Senior Sister Lu Xi’s eyes when Shen Ruotong spoke on West Cloud Peak that day. It was as if Lu Xi understood why Shen Ruotong sought to eliminate those possessing the Heavenly Net Physique.
Her surprise hadn’t been at the act itself, but rather at the public declaration.
This indicated that something significant must have transpired with Shen Ruotong before Ye Cha even entered West Cloud Peak, leading her to desperately seek an item from the Flying Cloud Sect to resolve her predicament.
Yet, despite pondering for a long time, Ye Cha still could not fathom why Shen Ruotong would want to kill those with the Heavenly Net Physique.
If he could unravel this mystery, he wouldn’t have to wander aimlessly and could swiftly return to the Lingtian Sect.
Having finally found his footing within the Lingtian Sect, Ye Cha had no desire to leave.
“Oh my, Second Senior Sister, how did you eat so quickly?!”
“Goodness, it’s almost all gone! No, I need to eat too!”
“Wait for me!”
By the time Ye Cha ceased his deep contemplation, the table next to him was already a chaotic scrum of cultivators vying for food.
Only Huang Tongzhi, who had finished first, smugly wiped her mouth. She then averted her gaze from her junior sisters battling for their meal, casually looking around the tavern’s decor to pass the time.
However, this idle glance led her eyes to meet Ye Cha’s.
Though Ye Cha wore a bamboo hat veiled with light gauze, a gentle breeze from the window stirred the fabric, vaguely revealing his silhouette. It was like admiring a beauty by lamplight—her features indistinct, yet her allure undeniable.
Despite knowing that staring at a man was impolite, Huang Tongzhi had never before encountered a man who could captivate her attention without even revealing his face. It was truly astonishing!
Surely, a male cultivator of such outstanding temperament must already have a companion.
Alas, she thought. She had entered her master’s sect as a child, and over the years, the number of female disciples in the Spiritual Crystal Sect had grown exponentially, while male disciples were as rare as Heaven-tier cultivation techniques. This made her search for a companion a thousand times more difficult.
At that moment, Huang Tongzhi immediately thought of her Senior Sister, that fortunate woman who seemed to embody all good luck.
Not only was she doted upon by their Master, but she also had two companions!
Two!
In a cultivation world where men were scarce and women abundant, it was a case of some dying of thirst while others drowned in plenty—a completely unbalanced distribution!
Senior Sister was merely a little prettier, a little stronger, and had a slightly better personality…
Yet, the male cultivators of the Spiritual Crystal Sect flocked to her like moths to a flame, their eyes fixed solely on Senior Sister, that fiercely burning candle, completely ignoring all the smaller flames like them.
How infuriating!
With this thought, Huang Tongzhi’s resolve to go to the Ghost Market solidified. Even if her Master wouldn’t take her, she would go herself!
Self-reliant and strong.
Just as Huang Tongzhi was lost in these thoughts, the wind from the first-floor window suddenly intensified. The light gauze of Ye Cha’s bamboo hat was instantly swept up, revealing his previously indistinct features with striking clarity.
His handsome, extraordinary face and calm, dark eyes shimmered like distant stars in the night sky, so beautiful they were mesmerizing.
The next second, the gauze fell back into place, yet it could not conceal the fleeting, breathtaking glimpse, leaving an exceptionally profound impression.
With just that one glance, Huang Tongzhi forgot all other thoughts. She stared blankly at Ye Cha, feeling as though she had just seen an immortal from the heavens.
In that moment, it was as if she stood in a celestial realm, everything else fading away, with only Ye Cha’s presence remaining before her.
She had never, ever seen such a handsome male cultivator!
“Let’s go.”
“Ah? Returning so soon?”
“I’ve rested enough.”
While Huang Tongzhi stared blankly at Ye Cha, Ye Cha frowned slightly. After speaking a word to Wang Li, who sat beside him, he immediately rose and quickly walked upstairs to the second floor.
Wang Li’s face was etched with confusion, wondering if Ye Cha truly came to the first floor merely to eat and drink, with no other purpose?
If that were the case, Ye Cha was far too carefree!
Despite knowing that Ke Qian was very fond of Ye Cha, both of them were afflicted with potent poisons. Ke Qian, if displeased, could subject them to a miserable and painful death, their lives entirely in her hands.
This feeling of not having control over one’s life was truly infuriating!
If he were Ye Cha, he would definitely seize this moment of favor to seek every opportunity to escape, rather than naively waiting for death.
Unfortunately, he was not Ye Cha.
He also held no significance to Ke Qian and could not influence her decisions in any way.
In fact, if he accidentally angered Ke Qian, he would undoubtedly die faster than Ye Cha!
Alas, what should he do next?
Was he truly fated to follow Ke Qian to the Purple Yan Sect?
“Huh, Second Senior Sister, what’s wrong with you?”
“Second Senior Sister looks like she’s been hit by a Body-Binding Spell. Why isn’t she moving? Did she eat too much?”
“Get away, how could eating too much cause this? Second Senior Sister, you… Ah, Second Senior Sister, are you alright?!”
As Wang Li pondered his uncertain future, the incessant chattering of the female cultivators at the next table exacerbated his headache. He immediately shot a fierce glare at the women.
They had been ceaselessly noisy since they arrived, truly annoying!
They acted as if this place were their own home!
However, when he saw one of the yellow-clad female cultivators suddenly collapse onto the table, his eyebrows rose in surprise, unsure of what had happened.
Could it be that the inn’s food was poisoned?
No, that didn’t seem right!
Within the jurisdiction of the Spiritual Crystal Sect, how could anyone be so audacious as to poison food?
In any case, it felt very strange. It was best to leave first!
Thinking this, Wang Li did not remain seated. He quickly made his way to the second floor. Just before entering his room, he instinctively glanced back at the female cultivators on the first floor, only to find that the other three female cultivators had also collapsed onto the table, just like the yellow-clad one. All four of them were down.
Such a bizarre sight made Wang Li involuntarily shiver, and he quickly entered his room.
****
Ye Cha looked up at the tightly shut door. For some reason, he felt an overwhelming sense of unease.
It was as if something was about to happen.
His heart was restless.
He recalled sitting by the window on the first floor earlier, when a sudden gust of wind had lifted the gauze of his bamboo hat. He had caught sight of a small figure standing not far away, smiling at him with ill intent.
Zi Linglong…
The adventure continues! If you loved this chapter, The Phantom of the Library is a must-read. Click here to start!
Read : The Phantom of the Library
