Feng Rugu took a puff from his pipe, and in the rising misty smoke, he vaguely saw the scene when he first met Lin Xuejing.

Unexpectedly, as the top courtesan, Lin Xuejing's looks were not stunningly beautiful. If one had to pick from a thousand beautiful words to describe him, it would probably be "pure".

Pure and elegant, pleasing to the eye.

That deliberately trained gentle demeanor was enough to enchant the guests who came for pleasure.

He only occasionally played bad jokes like the "Jade of Testing Love", which made it seem more like flirting.

Yet such a person set up a formation in the "Forgotten World" to shelter those disguised as demonic cultivators trying to escape pursuit.

No one would lend a helping hand to enemies who had fallen into dire straits for no reason.

When Feng Rugu asked him the reason for saving people, he was checking Jing Sanchai's injuries. Hearing this, he turned his head and smiled, "Although I'm also on the demonic path, I still have to say, those decision makers above have gone mad in their desire for revenge against the righteous sects. Pulling you into the 'Forgotten World' this time, regardless if you live or die, war between the demonic and righteous paths is inevitable. By saving you, I'm doing the righteous sects a favor. When the time comes, if you and I are lucky enough to survive, please remember this favor."

With that said, he drank half a mouthful of medicine and unhesitatingly fed it to the unconscious Jing Sanchai, "So you don't need to feel indebted to me. This is a transaction between us."

At that time, Feng Rugu also asked, "Aren't you afraid the demonic path will settle scores with you afterwards?"

"There are always gains and losses in business, just like how I sell my looks and body, gaining pleasure but also being looked down upon. If you don't even have the guts to take this gamble, then don't do business." Lin Xuejing fed Jing Sanchai another mouthful of medicine, "Besides, if you are rescued, the demonic sects will be busy dealing with the righteous sects' retaliation and won't have time for me."

"What if we can't stay hidden until we're rescued?"

"Then it means our luck is bad, can't blame others." Lin Xuejing spoke of his own life and death with a calm expression, but then smiled again, the kind of smile that seems reserved yet alluring enough to enchant the heart, common among those in the pleasure quarters. "But having a hundred people accompany me to the underworld, at least the journey won't be too boring."

At this point, his tone changed and a subtle shift appeared in his eyes, "Moreover...it's in times of chaos that a new order can emerge and accomplishments can be made. The more chaotic, the more interesting."

This was the first time in Feng Rugu's life that he realized what "brimming with ambition" meant.

And these eyes full of ambition actually belonged to a pure-looking top courtesan.

"I was so focused on saving you that I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Lin Xuejing, with the stage name 'Shanqing'." Lin Xuejing put down the medicine bowl, "If I'm lucky enough to survive this time, in ten years, I may become famous throughout the world under my real name."

...

Hearing Feng Rugu recount this past event, Ruyi nodded bit by bit, showing some approval for this person.

Ten years later, he indeed accomplished what he had said.

Eight years ago, Sa Si was in crisis, rejected by both the righteous and demonic paths.

According to him, it was a demonic cultivator named Lin Xuejing who appeared when he was in dire straits. They had a discussion in which Lin Xuejing intended to join forces with him to find another way for the demonic path to survive.

From that day on, the Bushi Sect was officially established.

Among demonic cultivators, there are the strong, but the weak are always in the majority.

There are those who kill mindlessly, and there are also those who can see reality clearly.

Lin Xuejing's methods mostly attract those among demonic cultivators who practice good techniques, who have families to support, and who are smart enough to assess the situation.

As a result, the rise of the Bushi Sect was almost inevitable.

First in numbers, then in intelligence and martial prowess.

And because Lin Xuejing had sheltered Daoist cultivators in the past, many well-known Daoist sects would deliberately ignore Bushi Sect members when encountering them, intentionally letting them go.

To date, the Bushi Sect has over ten thousand members.

The incident of Daoist cultivators being killed for no reason does not fit the Bushi Sect's style, and no one suspected them at all, which shows how good their reputation is.

It was only because that black-robed man gave Lian Ruxin a piece of test jade that Lin Xuejing had worn before that it aroused everyone's suspicions.

Regarding this, Sa Si's attitude was clear: "It's impossible that it was Sect Leader Lin."

Ruyi remained noncommittal.

Feng Rugu glanced at him and guessed his thoughts, asking on his behalf: "Your Sect Leader Lin has been in hiding these years, he must be cultivating on his own, right? Maybe he's been practicing a set of Tang saber techniques somewhere you don't know about, able to sever a throat with one slash..."

Sa Si rolled his eyes: "You said it yourself, it's 'somewhere I don't know about', so why bother asking me."

Ruyi clutched his chest, frowning involuntarily.

...That Lin Xuejing's whereabouts were unknown, so naturally he could not help him remove the jade imprint on his chest.

Fortunately, Feng Rugu had said this item was not very harmful.

After the frivolity passed, Sa Si also made a request: "I know Lin Xuejing's character, he would not do such a thing, but I will also thoroughly investigate. The sect's rules are not for show. Indiscriminately killing Daoists is an evil act that would bring disaster to the entire Bushi Sect. If others were to discover it, it would inevitably cause another wave of turmoil. Therefore, I ask you to temporarily conceal this matter. I will return to the main sect and issue a Yunhai Order to recall all the disciples early and check their Lingxi to determine if this was really done by a Bushi Sect member. If not, then so be it, but if so, the Bushi Sect will hand over the culprit for the Daoist sects to deal with as they see fit."

Feng Rugu smiled: "Then I'll have to trouble Uncle Sa Si."

Sa Si had many matters to attend to and could not linger too long in one place to chat. He grasped his sword, about to rise.

Feng Rugu shamelessly sidled up to him: "Uncle Sa Si, I have one more thing to ask of you."

"Boy." Sa Si pulled Feng Rugu over with one arm, hooking his shoulder and laughing, full of youthful energy, "Don't put on airs with me, do you and I need to stand on ceremony? Out with it."

Feng Rugu playfully leaned close to Sa Si's ear, whispering this and that.

Ruyi turned his face away, feeling this person was excessively frivolous, treating young and old alike, intimate with everyone without any sense of propriety.

He thought back to that day in the market when Feng Rugu had earnestly painted his forehead, his fingernails stained red, and found it a bit inexplicably amusing. After laughing, he inexplicably felt stifled.

After hearing Feng Rugu's request, Sa Si elbowed him in the chest to show he understood, then strode out of the main hall with big steps, kicking Xu Pingsheng's butt in the courtyard: "Stop playing with that bird, let's go, let's go."

Xu Pingsheng was a bit angry after being kicked, and was just patting his behind to stand up when he caught a glimpse of Feng Rugu seeing Sa Si off out of the corner of his eye.

Xu Pingsheng had never met Feng Rugu before, but upon seeing him, his expression softened.

He really liked this person's appearance, always reminding him of a certain old friend who had the same romantic and unrestrained bearing, inexplicably intimate.

Feng Rugu knew of his brotherly relationship with his master, so he bent slightly at the waist to him.

Xu Pingsheng lifted the corner of his mouth, about to say something, when Sa Si led him out of the courtyard and they gracefully departed.

Luo Fuchun poked his head out from a side window: "Master, what did he say? That piece of jade sent over, was it meant to indicate an identity or to guide us to our next step?"

"Let's have Uncle Sa Si investigate." Feng Rugu reached into his robes, "I know his character, and the Bushi Sect can be considered his life's work; if there really are such pests hidden within the sect, harming its reputation, he would not shield them either."

With that said, he withdrew his hand from his robes, bringing out a map scroll.

Upon unrolling the map, Ruyi glanced at it and saw that it actually marked the locations where the sixteen victims of the Daoist murder case were found, with each point annotated in detail, clearly indicating the positions of the various Daoist sects distributed around them, exceptionally thorough, showing the effort put in.

If he did not have the foresight, how could he directly write down the information on these more than a dozen body dump sites after sensing that black-robed man's intentions?

Among them were some small Daoist sects of meager influence that even Ruyi was unaware of.

Yet Feng Rugu took this for granted. After examining the map, he rolled it up: "When Uncle Sa Si has news on his side, he will naturally inform us. Our next stop is..."

Before he could finish, his keen ears twitched like those of an alert small animal, the smile at the corner of his mouth instantly brightening.

He looked up and saw the clouds in the ninth heaven surging, gradually condensing into a human figure that descended like an immortal banished to the mortal world.

Feng Rugu's eyes lit up and he waved his hand: "Senior Brother!"

That cloud figure, originally intending to land outside the courtyard and properly knock before entering, was startled upon hearing this. Pushing aside his protective qi, it was indeed Chang Boning.

Ruyi took a deep breath, mouthing the words "Foster Father", his facial features and gaze all softening together.

Unlike Ruyi, upon seeing Chang Boning land, Feng Rugu quickly ran up, leapt into the air and directly wrapped his long legs around Chang Boning's waist: "Senior Brother!"

"How old are you, hmm?" Although Chang Boning said this, he indulged Feng Rugu's embrace and petting, reaching out to stroke his tied up hair, while also nodding to Ruyi who stood not far away, "Causing mischief as soon as we meet."

The line of Ruyi's jaw tightened.

After his mischief, Feng Rugu obediently jumped down.

Luo Fuchun and Sang Luojiu also stepped forward to pay their respects: "Senior Uncle."

Chang Boning gently pulled them up, then turned to Feng Rugu again: "I didn't expect to run into you here."

Feng Rugu: "Why is Senior Brother here?"

He naturally took Feng Rugu's hand, his gaze so gentle that it could vaguely be seen even through a layer of eye cloth: "I received a letter from Fuchun and Luojiu mentioning the stone god in Mount Mizhi. Coincidentally, Junior Sister Yan went home, so I thought to go take a look at Mount Mizhi, and might get to see you too. Passing by here, I remembered the mountain lacks Purifying Heart Stones, so I wanted to find Sanchai and have him get some more..."

Purifying Heart Stones, when ground to powder, can be blended into formations, and are the main component of the Seven Flowers Seal on Feng Rugu's body.

Feng Rugu inconspicuously raised his hand and pressed the blooming area on his lower back, pulling him and saying, "Senior Brother, I know where Sanchai's warehouse is. I'll take you to find it. Let's secretly take it without telling him."

Chang Boning laughed and said "No," politely nodding to Ruyi again, then once more focusing all his attention on Feng Rugu as they walked into the room together.

After closing the door, Chang Boning's expression changed, his lowered voice unable to conceal his anxiety: "Fuchun sent a letter saying that you resisted the divine stone with all your strength and stirred your spiritual power? Take off your clothes and let your senior brother take a look."

Feng Rugu joked, "Did Junior Sister really go home?"

Chang Boning sighed and did not answer.

Feng Rugu: "Senior Brother is neglecting his duties, not being a good sect leader."

Chang Boning took the initiative to loosen his belt for him, helplessly saying, "But is he a good senior brother?"

Feng Rugu took off half of his robe and solemnly commented, "He's not bad as a senior brother."

Chang Boning's mouth curled up slightly as he raised his hand to touch the center of the lotus flower on his lower back.

Feng Rugu sensitively arched his back, frowning tightly. He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, the hint of pain and entanglement had been replaced by a joking intention: "Senior Brother, how is it?"

Ruyi stood outside the door, his expression indifferent, but his face soured and a bitter taste filled his mouth. His eyes were filled with the scene of Chang Boning and Feng Rugu holding hands and smiling at each other, his chest feeling unusually stuffy.

He had seen these two senior brothers getting along extremely well before and knew that his adoptive father only had Feng Rugu in his heart. But why, this time, was the stifling feeling in his chest so unbearable?

Even Hai Jing could see that his face looked unusual and cautiously came forward to ask, "Junior Martial Uncle, what's wrong? Do you have any troubles?"

Ruyi couldn't tell what he was feeling, and instinctively felt that Hai Jing had seen through his thoughts. For a moment, he felt irritated and blurted out, "What do I have to be upset about?"

Author's Note:

Oh ho, breaking the rules