The burial ground of Kongshi was some distance away from the mountain. As they descended the mountain, night had fallen.

The group decided to stay in a cave and set off at dawn the next day. Yan Qing slept at the cave entrance, chatting intermittently with Yan Zheng. Yu Zikuan insisted on keeping watch outside, while Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci were supposed to sleep in the deepest part of the cave.

However, Sect Leader Shi couldn't sleep.

Outside the cave, the night was deep, with only a faint glow of firelight remaining. As the hour of Yin approached, Shi Jingzhi was not the least bit sleepy. He gazed at Yin Ci's sleeping face, pondering back and forth on what he had said before bed.

Perhaps to dilute the impact of his "true form", Yin Ci briefly mentioned his past. What he said was even more vague than the folk rumors, with details glossed over in ambiguity. Even so, Shi Jingzhi understood the reason Yin Ci didn't elaborate.

His situation was more troublesome than memory loss, and was of no help to the current situation.

Yin Ci had clear memories, but only of the last two hundred years. The first hundred years were hazy, seeming both real and illusory, and he himself couldn't quite distinguish them—

"I suffered a bit, and had many delusions during that time. It's not that I don't remember, but that there are too many fragments of memories, and I don't know what's real." Yin Ci admitted frankly, "My memories only became relatively clear starting from my 'obsession'. Before that, I also tried to investigate the relatively vivid identities in my head, but found no clues."

There were no records or rumors left in the world. Those past experiences were vague and fleeting, seeming to be just a part of his delusions.

Yin Ci had once thought he was an ordinary craftsman from some spiritual mountain, or a lonely beggar from some remote town. He had also thought he was a disciple of some non-existent immortal sect, or an unrecorded imperial official... Even Shi Jingzhi felt that rather than experiences, they sounded more like vain imaginings under extreme suffering.

According to Chen Qianfan's account, two hundred years ago in the village, the "undying body" was in a state of "madness to the point of foolishness". Something major must have happened two hundred years ago that drove Yin Ci insane. His memories from before his madness might still exist, but were now hidden and indistinguishable.

"So later I gave up and changed my goal. Rather than obsessing over a past with no results, it's better to investigate the cause of this physique."

Shi Jingzhi discovered that he had intuitively mastered the method of restraining desires.

He wanted to know about the changes that happened to Yin Ci two hundred years ago, but the overwhelming heartache and helplessness fiercely suppressed his curiosity.

He also wanted to know Yin Ci's purpose when they first met—when they first encountered each other, Yin Ci's eyes were empty at that time, and what he pursued was definitely not something as peaceful as "investigating his own physique".

But Yin Ci didn't say it explicitly, and Shi Jingzhi didn't ask, just quietly listened. That beast of desire that had accompanied him all his life lay obediently, showing no signs of acting up.

His heart was devoid of complex calculations and probing, leaving only one soft thought—

This was the person closest to him in the world.

Shi Jingzhi looked at the sleeping Yin Ci, not knowing where to put his hands. He touched Yin Ci's eyelids for a while, then pressed on his neck. After finally settling down for a bit, he picked up Yin Ci's long hair and tightly wound it around his fingers, gripping it firmly.

If this had happened when they first met, Yin Ci would have definitely woken up if he touched him like this. But now, this disciple of a great man was sleeping very deeply—Yin Ci was lying on his side facing Shi Jingzhi, his body slightly curled up, his expression even more relaxed than before he discovered the truth.

Shi Jingzhi really couldn't catch any sleepiness, so he simply gave up. He stared at Yin Ci's features, finding that he had mostly forgotten the appearance of that horrifying true form.

From discovering the true form to sleeping face to face, Sect Leader Shi went from shock, to embarrassment, to joy all in one go. He tossed and turned in the blanket like a pancake, belatedly feeling happy all night long.

As the hour of Yin approached, Yin Ci had long formed a habit. No matter how deeply he slept, he knew Shi Jingzhi was going to get up. Shi Jingzhi saw Yin Ci unfurl his curled body and assume a standard sleeping posture of nonchalance—

Yin Ci lay flat on his back, his whole body stretched out straight, looking extremely solemn, full of the air of a great man.

Shi Jingzhi: "..."

This person had really gone to any lengths to be a "perfect elder" before. If he hadn't been sleepless all night, he probably would have continued to be misled.

But Yin Ci himself seemed to have vaguely sensed something as he lay stiffly like a corpse. Shi Jingzhi watched as Yin Ci's movements gradually softened, and he curled up again, draping an arm over Shi Jingzhi's waist.

He mumbled a few words in a daze, very presumptuously pulling Shi Jingzhi into his arms, clearly having no intention of letting go.

Shi Jingzhi's heart nearly leaped out of his throat, the sense of fulfillment that had wanted to be satisfied instantly rushing to the tips of his hair and toes. He started happily gesturing again, looking for the most suitable embracing posture.

How to hug to be even more intimate? Shi Jingzhi continued to hold Yin Ci's black hair with one hand, while the other lightly traced from Yin Ci's neck to his shoulder, then hovered over his waist. The Sect Leader had practiced martial arts for so long and done even more complex movements, but he had never been so indecisive.

However, just as the Sect Leader was gesturing with relish, a gaze from not far away pricked the back of his neck. Shi Jingzhi turned his head and saw Yan Qing's expression of being struck by lightning.

The depth of feelings between master and disciple was common, but those so deep that they cuddled together with hair intertwined were truly rare in the world.

Upright as the Big Dipper, let alone sticking together like this, it was already disrespectful for master and disciple to share a bed. Unfortunately, the thickness of Sect Leader Shi's skin varied from person to person, and facing Yan Qing, his acting skills rose in a straight line.

As soon as he met Yan Qing's eyes, Shi Jingzhi instantly transformed into a second Lord Bai, his stern gaze revealing a hint of righteousness.

Poor Yan Qing, with his straightforward nature, was instantly led into a ditch of self-doubt by the Sect Leader. He stood there blankly for a while: "Sect Leader, Ah Si has come, saying there's an important matter to report."

Shi Jingzhi was being held comfortably, and he grunted a few times, really not wanting to get up: "Didn't we agree to meet at the foot of the mountain?"

"The Dark Blood Witch is gone."

Shi Jingzhi sat up with a start. He forgot he was holding Yin Ci's hair, and pulled his disciple awake with him.

Yin Ci had been sleeping soundly, and had never experienced the feeling of being abruptly awakened. With his sweet dreams disturbed, Demon Lord Yin's murderous aura instantly exploded halfway, a hint of killing intent appearing on his face. However, after seeing clearly the person beside him, that murderous aura dissipated on its own, and even some satisfaction wafted up.

Yin Ci let out a dazed "Mm", not even withdrawing his hair, and slowly lay back down like this. As he lay down, he didn't forget to press his calf against Shi Jingzhi, indicating for him to stay a while longer.

The Sect Leader was quite pleased. He twirled his hair around his fingers, his tone softening a bit: "It's early in the morning, tell Su Si not to mess around."

His eyes held a rare gentleness. Although Yan Qing was used to seeing their faces, he had never encountered such a strange atmosphere. He wasn't sure if he should retreat, so he could only repeat dryly: "Dark Blood Witch was really killed, and the disciples of the Red Hook Sect are hurrying back to the main altar."

"What did you say?" Yin Ci sat up abruptly, finally awake.

This time, no one was sleepy anymore. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the group had gathered in front of Kongshi's tomb. Under the morning sun, the apricot blossoms were especially brilliant, but the people under the apricot tree had heavy expressions in a hundred different ways. Only the master and disciple of Ku Mountain Sect still had a bit of ease.

With the addition of Su Si and Shen Zhu, the seven of them sat on the ground.

Su Si hugged Lord Bai, both man and goose exhausted. Shen Zhu sat beside him, her expression gloomy, even the sparrow on her shoulder didn't move.

"I'll speak," Shen Zhu glanced at Su Si, whose expression was uncertain, and sighed. "Those fools by the mountain are still investigating the Deity Summoning Formation, making no progress. So I went to Qizhou to gather some information and help Young Brother Su Si. Dark Blood Witch had her throat slit in the main altar, we heard it with our own ears."

Her gaze swept over Yan Zheng and Yu Zikuan, and she added meaningfully: "The young sect leader of the Red Hook Sect was also killed, also by having his throat slit."

Yan Zheng inhaled sharply: "Killed in the main altar? Chai Xin had previously sent people to assassinate the high-level members of the Red Hook Sect, but their main altar's defenses are excellent, like a wall of copper and iron, impossible to breach."

"Dark Blood Witch was a top expert without a doubt, killing her would not be easy. To do it so decisively, I'm afraid it was an inside job," Yu Zikuan said in a deep voice.

"It happened suddenly, the circumstances of the deaths are similar to Abbot Juefei's. Perhaps it was also done by the Twin Roots. By planting the Twin Roots, killing someone from a thousand miles away is not difficult," Su Si said, staring at the ground in front of him without raising his head.

After saying that, he continued to stare blankly at the ground. Yan Qing and Shi Jingzhi exchanged a glance and described the circumstances of Abbot Juefei's death to the other two.

"The Twin Roots are indeed useful, but the requirements are harsh - for the Twin Roots to take effect, one must swallow the demon root whole, and blood must be taken. Dark Blood Witch was known for being cautious and suspicious, I heard Chai Xin mention it before. Any suspicious food, she wouldn't even touch it," as the Sect Leader of a demonic sect, Yan Zheng was no stranger to the Twin Roots, and he saw through it with a single point.

Yan Qing pondered: "These few are not like the villagers of Yuanxian Village, to make these elders consume the Twin Roots is even harder than taking their blood."

Blood could be obtained through assassination, competition, or even bribing servants, but the Twin Roots had to be swallowed whole to be effective. If these experts didn't open their mouths, how could the mastermind force it down their throats?

The morning sun had fully risen, the last traces of red fading away. This small meeting had reached an impasse, and for a time no one spoke.

Finally, it was Shi Jingzhi who spoke: "Actually, based on what Senior Chen said before, it's very likely that Sect Leader Qi also ingested the Twin Roots. This matter is strange, rather than how it was done, we should first look at the purpose-"

Yan Qing was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then turned to look at Yan Zheng: "Why are you still alive?"

Yan Zheng didn't react for a moment: "...What?"

"Even if they were using the Deity Summoning Formation, you had the chance to go down the mountain and escape disaster. Ling Sect was in such chaos, getting to you wouldn't have been difficult. Planting the Twin Roots in you as well would have been the safest method, right?"

Yan Qing's expression was honest and confused, but the words coming out of his mouth carried a hint of the flavor of a demonic sect's descendant.

"If we say that you're young and don't go out much, making it hard to act... The young, ahem, the young sect leader of the Red Hook Sect was raised within the sect, even the Red Hook Sect's own people couldn't get close to him, it should have been even harder to act against him than you, Ah Zheng?"

But this question wasn't directed only at Yan Zheng.

Su Si was stunned for a moment, then looked at his own hands. After a long while, he interjected in a muffled voice: "It could be the pills."

The other six all looked at him.

Su Si didn't meet anyone's gaze, only lowering his head and saying: "Martial artists, more or less, all take some pills to calm the mind and regulate qi. Pills are all swallowed whole, if the Twin Roots were hidden in the pills, it might be possible."

Su Si had been on the run for so many years, and had long known that he had a body double. His body double was a servant of ordinary background, of similar age and build to him, with a bit of an honest smile. Back then, Su Si was afraid that Dark Blood Witch would give him all sorts of drugs, so he wouldn't even touch the pills bestowed by Dark Blood Witch, they all went into his body double's stomach.

When he was confined in the sect, Su Si had always insisted on cooking his own food. It may have tasted bad, but at least it kept him alive. In this way, there was no better reference than him in the world.

Yan Zheng suddenly realized: "Chai Xin didn't take me seriously, and indeed never gave me any pills."

Shi Jingzhi frowned: "For so many people to all take one kind, and to ensure a consistent source, so as not to make Dark Blood Witch suspicious..."

He suddenly stopped talking, as if he and Yin Ci had thought of the same thing. The two of them almost simultaneously lunged for their own packs. But Yin Ci was a step faster. He pushed aside the Jianchen Temple records that had been flipped through in recent days and took out a small bottle.

It was a small gift that Abbot Juefei had given to the Ku Mountain Sect.

[Taiheng Sect, in thanks for this temple safeguarding the treasure map, specially sent a Sinking Heart Pill. This item calms the heart and settles the spirit, and is a treasure of Taiheng.]

Yin Ci poured the pill into his palm. The medicine emitted a faint fragrance that calmed the heart and focused the mind. Just the scent alone could make one feel close to it. Yu Zikuan instantly recognized this thing and inhaled sharply.

The Sinking Heart Pill was a spiritual medicine of the Taiheng Sect. The Taiheng Sect didn't store many of them. Aside from important disciples who had gone astray in their cultivation or entered the demonic path, only the sect leader and a very small number of elders were qualified to use them. Taiheng would occasionally take out one or two pills to give to the high-level members of other sects as a gesture of etiquette or gratitude.

The Taiheng Sect had a pure reputation for hundreds of years and never engaged in the dirty business of poisoning. Moreover, once this medicine was put into a medicine bottle, it was common for it to remain unopened for a decade or more. As long as the medicine seal was intact, even demonic sects wouldn't suspect foul play.

When Yin Ci was on the verge of entering the demonic path, he had gotten his hands on one. Unlike those who treated it with great care, Yin Ci directly chewed it - as a result, although this pill had a miraculous effect in focusing the mind, it was of no use at all for his suffering. Although Yin Ci hadn't been able to taste a few of the medicinal ingredients, he also hadn't been persistent in figuring out its composition.

At the time, Yin Ci had felt that the texture was a bit strange. Unlike other pills, the core of the Sinking Heart Pill was rough and shaggy, as if it was wrapped in crushed herbs that hadn't been fully ground.

If intact Twin Roots had been added inside, then the strange texture would make sense.

But that was at least a few decades ago. For decades, no sect leader had been heard to have died in such a strange way. Rather than knowing in advance who to murder, the mastermind seemed to be casting a wide net first. When the time was right, they could then deal with the target specifically.

...Almost exactly the same as what the Yuanxian Village did.

Yin Ci exerted force with his fingertips, splitting the pill in two. Sure enough, in the center of the pill was a clump of something that looked like dried grass roots. That clump of fine roots was originally compressed extremely tightly. Once scattered, the root fibers spread out larger than Yin Ci's palm.

Shi Jingzhi swallowed nervously. Fortunately, Yin Ci was by his side, so he was in a very good mood. Otherwise, as his death approached, he would become more irritable by the day, and who knows if this thing would have entered his stomach.

Yu Zikuan's expression also changed several times.

He stared at the white-haired Yan Zheng for a while, then at the Sinking Heart Pill in Yin Ci's palm for a good while, before finally making up his mind: "This is indeed our sect's Sinking Heart Pill, and the outer drug seal matches too. Sect Leader Qi was virtuous and respected. Now that he has lost his life in this matter, I originally didn't want to suspect my own people... but the origin of that Deity Summoning Formation may make sense now."

Shi Jingzhi wiped his cold sweat: "Please explain."

"The Sinking Heart Pill was created by the first sect leader of our sect. The refining requirements are extremely high and the equipment is precise and hard to find. That sect leader didn't want Taiheng to go down the path of alchemy, so he simply kept the formula secret and entrusted the refining of the Sinking Heart Pill to the Immortal Gathering - it has been this way ever since the Taiheng Sect was founded. After Taiheng receives the pills, they must test them. Since it has never been exposed, there may be people from the Immortal Gathering in Taiheng..."

"This time when searching for the battle formation, I followed Taiheng's high-level members and contacted the Mi Mountain Sect as a Taiheng elder, but what I received was the Immortal Gathering's Deity Summoning Formation. The disciples sent by the Mi Mountain Sect each time are not fixed, making it difficult to tamper with. The only ones who could possibly have noticed me are people from Taiheng... It's feasible for them to find an opportunity to swap out my battle formation."

Yin Ci fiddled with the pill in his hand, his expression not gloomy, but rather much brighter: "Thank you, hero, for speaking frankly."

A few apricot blossom petals fell, sticking to Yin Ci's long hair like snowflakes. Shi Jingzhi brushed away the petals with his hand, also smiling quite reassuringly: "Undercurrents are surging in Taiheng, and the purpose of the Immortal Gathering is unclear. The four major sects have all suffered great calamities, leaving the rivers and lakes leaderless and in complete chaos. You two, please keep a low profile and do your utmost to preserve yourselves."

Yu Zikuan and Yan Zheng: "..."

What's going on? This topic is clearly extremely heavy and very likely involves the court and the National Teacher. These master and disciple are at the center of the vortex, yet they look as if they're celebrating the New Year early.

"However, I have one request," Shi Jingzhi smiled even more amiably. "Sect Leader Yan, are the precious Buddha bead treasure maps you obtained in your possession? Rubbings are fine too, I'm not picky."

"I do have them..."

"Excellent. Hero Yu, please use Taiheng's methods to find a pretext to let the Taiheng members on the mountain discover them... Taiheng is about to gather all the treasure maps, right?"

Yu Zikuan raised his eyebrows: "You two have quite a few treasure maps in your hands. Now that you have the 'key', wouldn't it be better to keep it for yourselves?"

"Rather than obediently searching for the Shi Rou, our sect has more important things to do." Shi Jingzhi gripped the jade eye tightly. The jade eye was permeated with his body temperature, feeling no different from a real eye. "Anyway, Taiheng doesn't have the key, so they will still come looking for us when the time comes."

Yin Ci added meaningfully: "As for today's matter, please act as if you two know nothing at all. Hero Yu was supposed to die in the formation. You two, please keep this in mind for your future actions."

The group from Ku Mountain Sect thus slipped down the mountain. A few days later, the news of Taiheng obtaining more treasure maps spread throughout the martial arts world. Competitors fell into chaos one after another, with only Taiheng still retaining a hint of confidence. From the looks of it, the Shi Rou was already in the bag for the Taiheng Sect.

As for the Ku Mountain Sect that caused a stir that day - the magic formation still hasn't been investigated yet. Whether Ku Mountain Sect staged it themselves or were genuinely trying to save people, as time passed day by day, fewer and fewer people cared. After all, this meddlesome minor sect was still accused of several murder cases, and there was no benefit at all in speaking up for them.

Of course, the Ku Mountain Sect itself wasn't feeling very wronged either. At the moment, Sect Leader Shi was taking his beloved disciple and sect members to... eat a big meal at a restaurant in Qizhou.

Shi Jingzhi took out some silver coins and specially ordered the best private room, calling for many good dishes. The table was full of delicious meat and vegetarian dishes, with vibrant colors. Several of them were even made by Yin Ci borrowing the kitchen, the aroma so tantalizing it could melt one's brain into soup. Looking at the full plates of chicken, duck, fish and meat, anyone could tell that this meal was not cheap.

Sect Leader Shi, that iron-fisted miser, suddenly grew feathers. Not to mention Su Si and Yan Qing, even Shen Zhu was startled.

She thought back and felt that recently, apart from obtaining the key to the Shi Rou, there seemed to be no other good news - bloody cases kept happening in the martial arts world, everyone was fending for themselves, the Ku Mountain Sect had who knows how many pots of dirty water dumped on their heads, and the Shi Rou was apparently about to be snatched away by Taiheng again.

No matter how you look at it, it's not the time to splurge on a celebration.

"Come, eat up!" Sect Leader Shi picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks, his heroic spirit soaring to the sky. "Now that we have a definite enemy, it's really worth celebrating."

...Listen to this nonsense! Shen Zhu wanted to say something but stopped, looking at Yin Ci for help. Yin Ci had always been more steady than Shi Jingzhi, so perhaps he could rescue Shi's train of thought that had gone off the rails.

Who knew that the big disciple of Ku Mountain Sect would aid a tyrant, as Yin Ci calmly added a piece of meat to his cheap master's bowl, his expression perfectly calm.

Shen Zhu: "..."

Yan Qing was in a daze, looking at Shi Jingzhi with a hint of horror in his eyes, as if questioning whether this person had been possessed. After Dark Blood Witch's death, Su Si had been in a distracted state. The glorious and arduous task of responding fell on Shen Zhu's head.

Shen Zhu endured the humiliation and played along: "What enemy?"

"The Immortal Gathering!" Having finally waited for a response, Shi Jingzhi's eyes lit up. "The matters we've been investigating are ultimately one and the same. Before, I was still worried that the clues were too numerous and couldn't be reconciled with seeking the Shi Rou. Now that this concern is gone, I feel very refreshed."

After saying that, he even specifically looked at Yin Ci beside him, his eyes brimming with laughter.

"Back then, Yan Budu went to the Yuanxian Village under the Immortal Gathering and also mentioned being gifted the Shi Rou by an immortal. The immortal, Shi Rou, and Immortal Gathering have no small entanglement - that's one point. The Immortal Gathering added something to the Sinking Heart Pill, having made their move long ago on the top experts of the martial arts world - that's the second point."

"The Shi Rou has now appeared in the world, and the sect leaders have died one after another. This is no coincidence. In everything related to the fight for the Shi Rou, the shadow of the Immortal Gathering can be seen everywhere. If we continue to obediently seek the Shi Rou, won't we just become playthings in the hands of others?"

Shen Zhu frowned: "Plaything or conspiracy, whatever. If you don't find the Shi Rou... do you not want to live?"

"Taiheng will help us find it. Taiheng's waters run deep. Once they have the Shi Rou in hand, they won't dispose of it quickly."

Yin Ci raised his eyes and picked up where the other left off.

"If that thing is useful, we'll seize it. If it's useless, then we'll save ourselves the wasted time."

Using the struggle for the Shi Rou as a trigger and the divine formation as kindling, the casualties on Zongwu Mountain should have been more severe. Add to that the death of the Dark Blood Witch, and the entire jianghu world would be thrown into chaos. Although the Ku Mountain Sect secured Jianchen Temple and saved many people from Zongwu Mountain, at most they could only delay the timing of the chaos, not completely break the situation.

Knowing full well that someone had planned this long ago, yet still insisting on wading into the muddy waters - Shi Jingzhi and the others couldn't wait.

Strike the snake at its vital point.

The Desire Children were inextricably linked to the National Teachers' "century-long great undertaking," and the Shi Rou was entangled with the National Teachers' Immortal Gathering. Tracing the clues from his own undying identity, the flesh god statue, and the Shi Rou, the trail still led to the Immortal Gathering.

Yin Ci gripped the chopsticks in his hand tightly. At some point, Shi Jingzhi reached over and grasped Yin Ci's left hand.

It was time to drag them out from the temple and let this century-old evil see the light of day.

Author's Note:

The two of them have unlocked the hidden romance storyline and are starting on the path to the TRUE END.