Chapter Forty-Seven: Zhuo Jin’er

Inside the flickering shadows cast by candlelight in the pavilion, Zhuo Jin’er seemed to see right through Qi Fei’s thoughts and sighed. “I am merely borrowing this valley from the Seven Absolutes Sect to stay for a while. If you wish to take me hostage to escape Moonwatch Peak, I’m afraid it won’t be so easy.”

Qi Fei raised his brows and smiled. “Miss Zhuo, that’s not a bad plan. Since you have enough influence to borrow this valley from the Seven Absolutes Sect and there are so many of their experts guarding it, perhaps if I followed your idea and took you hostage, I could indeed flee Moonwatch Peak.”

Zhuo Jin’er was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. “You’re quite amusing.”

Qi Fei froze, and a sense of absurdity welled up within him. Zhuo Jin’er seemed to be born with an alluring charm, and every glance and smile she directed at him was as enchanting and strange as a lover’s playful banter. Could she be a courtesan abducted by Sima Yan from the mountain?

While Qi Fei was distracted, Zhuo Jin’er calmly opened a wooden box in her boudoir. Startled, Qi Fei shouted, “Don’t move!”

Zhuo Jin’er frowned, shooting Qi Fei an annoyed look. “I only wanted to bandage your wound. Why so nervous? Truly, no good deed goes unpunished.”

Seeing her so composed, Qi Fei felt a pang of guilt. He stretched his hands before Zhuo Jin’er and said softly, “Once the Seven Absolutes Sect disciples leave Moonwatch Peak, I’ll descend the mountain. Please forgive me for disturbing you tonight, Miss Zhuo.”

Zhuo Jin’er pulled out a strip of cloth from the box and gently began to dress Qi Fei’s wound, murmuring, “Usually, when small animals stray into the valley and get injured, I’m the one who tends to them. I never imagined I’d encounter such a big ‘creature’ tonight.”

They sat only a short distance apart. As the faint fragrance from Zhuo Jin’er drifted to him, a bead of cold sweat trickled down Qi Fei’s forehead. A sense of fear, one he hadn’t even experienced when facing innate masters like Sima Yan, surged in his heart.

Taking advantage of the moment Zhuo Jin’er was treating his wound, Qi Fei’s curiosity got the better of him. “Aren’t those Seven Absolutes Sect disciples overreacting a bit? Do they even go after stray animals who wander into the valley?”

Zhuo Jin’er smiled gently, her voice soft. “It’s not that they hurt those little beasts. The animals are mischievous and end up injuring themselves trying to get into this pavilion.”

A chill ran through Qi Fei. If Zhuo Jin’er was telling the truth, then this pavilion must conceal some hidden danger. Yet he had encountered no peril upon entering—could it be that Zhuo Jin’er…

Just as Qi Fei was about to probe further, Zhuo Jin’er suddenly uttered a phrase that made his blood run cold.

“Are you a disciple of the Heart Demon Sect?”

Qi Fei’s expression changed drastically. He was about to subdue this enigmatic woman when a tingling numbness spread through his palm, followed by an overwhelming fatigue that seized his entire body. Just like the day in the small valley when he was immobilized by his master, the Blood Shadow True Lord’s secret arts, Qi Fei found himself utterly unable to move, rooted to the pavilion.

Was it poison? Or a powerful Daoist restriction? Why did Zhuo Jin’er accuse him of being a Heart Demon Sect disciple? Could it be that, though she appeared powerless, she was in fact a master of profound Daoist arts?

“Who are you?” Qi Fei was now completely paralyzed, filled with regret. A beautiful woman brings disaster—his momentary carelessness had allowed this enchantress to ensnare him.

Qi Fei was no longer the naive youth who first encountered the Blood Shadow True Lord in that small valley. Possessed of the Spirit-Linking Jade and unrivaled in his command of heaven and earth’s energies, he had never imagined being so quietly subdued by Zhuo Jin’er. Could it be that this seemingly innocent young woman possessed even greater mastery than his own master, who had attained the Daoist art of transformation? How could there be such a formidable Daoist adept within the Seven Absolutes Sect?

Without any change of expression, Zhuo Jin’er pressed her slender hand against Qi Fei’s chest and spoke slowly, “Do not be angry. Had I not seen you use the Heart Demon Sect’s secret arts upon entering the valley, you would already have died to the Daoist restrictions outside this pavilion. Tell me, since you are a disciple of the Heart Demon Sect, why did you come to Moonwatch Peak tonight and throw the Seven Absolutes Sect into chaos?”

Finding himself in dire straits, Qi Fei warned himself not to panic, recalling his first encounter with the Blood Shadow True Lord. He steadied himself and replied, “Since you know I am of the Heart Demon Sect, how dare you harm me? Are you not afraid of my sect’s wrath?”

Zhuo Jin’er pursed her lips, then suddenly said in surprise, “So you’re not a true disciple of the Heart Demon Sect. But then, how do you know the Blood Shadow Evasion Technique?”

Qi Fei was certain he had revealed no flaws, so how did Zhuo Jin’er see through him? Just then, he felt a chill emanate from Zhuo Jin’er’s palm, stirring a cold current within the Spirit-Linking Jade that had already merged with his vital energy. Alarmed, he forcefully suppressed the jade’s chill, convinced this mysterious woman was using some arcane technique.

Zhuo Jin’er, sensing the anomaly within him, showed a fleeting look of surprise. Seeing Qi Fei’s face change drastically, she quickly regained her composure and said with a coquettish smile, “You’re rather clever, seeing through my Daoist arts. Still, now that you’re in my hands, if you don’t behave, I may be tempted to kill you myself.”

Qi Fei, now truly frightened, realized this woman’s moods were unpredictable. If he answered poorly, he might really lose his life. He thought quickly and replied truthfully, “I am not a disciple of the Heart Demon Sect. I came to know the Blood Shadow Evasion Technique by chance.”

Zhuo Jin’er nodded with satisfaction. “Very well, you’re honest and have spared yourself pain. Now, what is your name?”

Qi Fei hesitated, considering his options, but before he could respond, Zhuo Jin’er sneered, “It’s easy enough to lie to me, but if my Heart-Seeking Art exposes you, you will die by my hand. You’re a clever man—you wouldn’t do anything so pointless.”

Heart-Seeking Art? Could that chill from her hand truly read minds? Remembering how she had already discerned he was no true Heart Demon Sect disciple, Qi Fei believed her words.

After a moment’s thought, he gritted his teeth and answered, “Qi Fei.”

Zhuo Jin’er, sensing his anger, said calmly, “There’s no need to be so resentful. If I were truly defenseless, I could only let you do as you pleased. Now, your fate—life or death—rests entirely with me. You’d best think carefully.”

After warning him, Zhuo Jin’er asked, “Qi Fei, tell me, why did you sneak onto Moonwatch Peak tonight?”

Qi Fei scoffed, “Miss Zhuo, for all your cleverness, you can only use your Daoist secret arts to test the truth of my words. I’m afraid I’m quite disappointed.”

Zhuo Jin’er smiled, a cunning glint in her eyes. “Qi Fei, trying to provoke me is useless. If you don’t tell the truth, you will not live to see morning.”

Qi Fei’s mind raced for a solution, but saw no way out. With a sigh, he said, “Tonight I admit defeat. Whatever you wish to know, I will tell you honestly. But I do have one question of my own—could you explain something for me, Miss Zhuo?”

Zhuo Jin’er’s eyes brightened with interest. “Do you want to know about my connection with the Seven Absolutes Sect?”

“You are indeed perceptive. Since I have made an enemy of the Seven Absolutes Sect tonight, will you, after questioning me, turn me over to them?”

Zhuo Jin’er shook her head slowly. “Your grudge with the Seven Absolutes Sect is none of my concern. As long as you don’t try any tricks, once I have my answers, I will let you go.”

Qi Fei, though he didn’t believe a word she said, feigned surprise. “Do you truly mean that, Miss Zhuo?”

Her expression turned cold. “If you don’t believe me, spare me your feigned delight. You clearly don’t understand the power of my Heart-Seeking Art.”

This Daoist art truly left Qi Fei helpless. Now completely at Zhuo Jin’er’s mercy, he sighed and began recounting his motives for coming to Moonwatch Peak that night.

When he finished, Zhuo Jin’er withdrew her hand, a keen light flickering in her eyes. “Who would have thought that the nominally defunct Danxia Sect would have someone like you? Yet your plan to frame the Xuan Zhen Monastery and lure the Seven Absolutes Sect to intervene at Qingyang Peak is a bit naïve.”

Qi Fei smiled bitterly. “I had no other choice. Even if Sima Yan realizes it’s a set-up, he’ll still have to fight Xuan Zhen Monastery to appease his sect’s anger.”

Zhuo Jin’er snorted. “You are oversimplifying things. Sima Yan, the head of the Seven Absolutes Sect, has always been the absolute authority in his sect. No disciple would dare defy his orders, no matter their grievances. Forcing the Seven Absolutes Sect into conflict with Xuan Zhen Monastery is impossible.”

A sense of foreboding gripped Qi Fei. He recalled how, when fighting Sima Yan earlier that night, none of the elders or disciples outside the Book Repository dared question their leader. It seemed Zhuo Jin’er was right—despite all the commotion tonight, he still wouldn’t be able to provoke the Seven Absolutes Sect into action against Xuan Zhen Monastery. What could he do now?