Chapter Ten: Master Zixuan

Just as Gu Beishan’s azure-glowing hand was about to seize Qin Yi, the air before Qin Yi shimmered and then dissolved, revealing a Daoist in a purple robe, white-haired but youthful-faced. The moment this man appeared, both Gu Beishan and his glowing hand were brought to an abrupt halt, unable to advance an inch further.

“Master,” Qin Yi murmured as he gazed at the imposing figure before him, his eyes misting with emotion. After so many years, he had finally returned to Mount Taiyi, to the steadfast presence of his master.

“Junior Brother.” From his high seat, the sect leader, Master Lingxu, softly called out.

With this one address from Master Lingxu, everyone present understood at once: this was the famed Master Zixuan.

From a distance, Wang Yuncheng regarded Master Zixuan and the young man standing behind him—Qin Yi—with an unreadable expression.

Zhang Chen, who had been anxiously tense since earlier, finally allowed himself to relax at the sight of Master Zixuan’s arrival.

“Senior Brother, what is happening here? Why has Master Nanhua resorted to violence?” Master Zixuan looked up at Master Lingxu with an expression of confusion.

“This...” Master Lingxu was momentarily at a loss for words. Regardless of the reason, he had indeed failed to stop Gu Beishan from acting rashly.

“Zixuan, are you trying to shield your disciple?” By now, Gu Beishan had come to stand before Master Zixuan, demanding an explanation.

“Hmph!” Master Zixuan looked at Gu Beishan with a cold snort. With a mere shake of his arm, he shattered the azure-glowing hand looming over himself and Qin Yi, forcing Gu Beishan back several steps.

The humiliation of being forced back by such a casual gesture made Gu Beishan’s expression darken. He fixed his gaze on both Master Zixuan and Qin Yi, speaking solemnly, “Zixuan, do you truly intend to shield him without reason? Don’t forget, the world at large is calling him a traitor to humanity. If you protect him like this, how will Mount Taiyi maintain its standing among our people?”

“Oh?” Master Zixuan replied with a nonchalant sound, but what he said next was so absurd that even he might have found it laughable. “He’s just a youth from Fish-Dragon Fortress, barely twelve or thirteen by his bone age. How can you claim, simply because he shares a name with Qin Yi, because both are peerless Dao seedlings, because of their resemblance, and because I protect him so, that he must be my fourth disciple?”

“You—” Gu Beishan was rendered speechless by this string of sophistries, unable to form a rebuttal. After a long moment, he managed only a single word before composing himself and turning to Master Lingxu: “Sect Leader, I believe this matter requires all of us to verify the truth.”

Master Lingxu considered for a moment, then said to Zixuan, “Junior Brother, this concerns not only Mount Taiyi, but the fate of all our people. We must indeed verify it.”

Hearing this, Master Zixuan glanced at Qin Yi, and Qin Yi beamed back at him. Seeing that smile, Master Zixuan felt immeasurably reassured, turning back to Master Lingxu to say, “You are right, Senior Brother. That is only proper.”

But in the very next instant, Master Zixuan’s actions left everyone present dumbstruck: he reached out and pinched Qin Yi’s cheeks with both hands—once was not enough, so he did it again, kneading them repeatedly. Then, turning to the high-seated Master Lingxu, he declared, “Look, Senior Brother—does this look like a disguised face to you?”

Qin Yi, subjected to this face-pinching, didn’t know whether to laugh or cry; he could only wonder in his heart, Is this really my master?

Master Lingxu covered his face in exasperation. “Junior Brother, you... sigh...!”

Gu Beishan’s eye twitched at this sight, rage boiling within him. If not for centuries of cultivation keeping him in check, he might have cursed aloud on the spot.

The other peak lords were equally stunned. They had never seen Master Zixuan behave so before, and as for the disciples who idolized him or the new initiates who viewed the people of Mount Taiyi as immortal beings—their shock was beyond words. The only one who remained somewhat composed was Xue Songmei, though even she was likely calm only on the surface.

“Enough fooling around, Zixuan. Since everyone here has doubts, let us settle the matter,” came a timely intervention from Master Huanglong, the most senior figure in Mount Taiyi, breaking the uncomfortable tension.

“Very well!” This time, Master Zixuan replied in earnest, then turned to Master Qingfu. “Senior Brother, why not use all the talismans your Jade Spirit Peak has for discerning truth from falsehood?”

At these words, none of those present objected. In matters of verifying authenticity, talismans were indeed the most reliable instruments.

“Then I shall use the Mask-Peeling Talisman, the Bone-Washing Talisman, and the Spirit-Transforming Talisman to investigate,” Master Qingfu responded, listing three different talismans.

The senior leaders and disciples of Mount Taiyi all nodded in recognition; these talismans were famed for their efficacy.

Master Zixuan nodded, then stepped aside to let Qin Yi face the elders alone.

Qin Yi smiled and said to Master Qingfu, “Master, please be gentle. I’m afraid of pain.”

This drew a wave of disapproving looks from everyone but Zhang Chen, who retained his usual cheeky grin.

“Hahaha—rascal, I wouldn’t dare hurt you. If I did, your precious master would hold a grudge against me forever!” Master Qingfu was thoroughly amused by Qin Yi’s antics and burst out laughing.

From below, Zhang Chen shot Master Qingfu a look that said, “You really get it.”

“Ready? Here comes the first one.” Wasting no more words, Master Qingfu swiftly sketched a white talisman resembling a human face in midair, then, with a thought, sent it flying at Qin Yi.

Qin Yi nodded his readiness, bracing himself.

With a flash, the white face-shaped talisman landed on Qin Yi’s face, emitting a faint glow. After a moment, it gradually faded to nothing, leaving Qin Yi’s face unchanged. He quickly touched his own cheeks, muttering as if he’d narrowly escaped disaster, “Thank goodness my handsome face is still intact.”

He hadn’t bothered to lower his voice, so everyone present heard him loud and clear. Not only the brash youths, but even the centuries-old masters on the dais couldn’t help twitching at the corners of their mouths, left speechless.

Zhang Chen rolled his eyes so hard he almost regretted pleading for Qin Yi earlier.

Yet, for all their disdain, none present could deny that Qin Yi’s appearance was no disguise.

“Next one. Ready.” Master Qingfu calmly drew another talisman, this one shaped like a human skeleton, and sent it at Qin Yi. Again, Qin Yi emerged unscathed, proving the authenticity of his body.

“Last one.” Master Qingfu spoke once more, this time sketching a fiery red talisman that floated toward Qin Yi.

Qin Yi’s eyes grew solemn as he watched the flame-like talisman drift toward him. Apart from his soul, this body was entirely his own. He glanced at his master and smiled.

It wasn’t that he was seeking help at this moment; his master had already, while pinching his cheeks, left three spiritual seals within his body to counteract the talismans. The first two seals had proved unnecessary, but for this third one, he would need it.

The third talisman, like the previous two, passed through him without detecting anything amiss. Qin Yi murmured, “It seems Master’s cultivation has advanced yet again. Master Qingfu’s talisman can be neutralized at a word, and he notices nothing.”

But just as he began to relax, a sudden voice rang out, echoing in everyone’s ears.

“Wait—”