WBICDPH Chapter 103

Chapter 103: The Oriole Behind

“Big brother, why do you have demonic energy on you? Inside the Piaomiao Pavilion, that shouldn’t happen. Are you hiding someone? Or do you have some kind of secret?”

The boy’s tone was harmless, but as Lin Jin listened, his heart turned colder with every word.

“I…”

For a moment, Lin Jin lost his footing. He didn’t know what to say to refute the boy and pull himself out of this impossible situation.

Who exactly was this boy? What did he know?

The situation flipped in an instant. Lin Jin’s brief hesitation did not escape Mu Shan’s notice, and his heart finally settled.

The panic he’d shown moments ago vanished. He glanced at the boy, then at Lin Jin, straightening his back slightly.

This brat—he used to be so easy to fool. Who would’ve thought that after a few years with the people of Misty Rain Mountain, he’d become this cunning? That display earlier had almost scared him for real.

Now it seemed it was nothing but bluffing.

“That’s right, Lin Jin—why do you have demonic energy on you? Just now, you were so certain there were demons in Piaomiao Pavilion that someone here is colluding with them. Why are you speechless now? Could it be that the person you were talking about… is actually you? You’ve got quite the scheming mind, daring to frame your elders like this. Is this how Misty Rain Mountain teaches its disciples?”

“You old, scheming mule, what nonsense are you spouting? Did the truth hit a nerve? Let me tell you—no matter who’s colluding with demons, it won’t be our Xiao Mo! I think you’ve lost your mind—like a rabid dog, biting anyone you can!”

Liu Xun stepped forward and shielded Lin Jin behind her, furious.

Mu Shan had tolerated her long enough. He shot a glance at the boy beside him, then let out a cold laugh, raising his voice to match hers without losing an ounce of confidence.

“Don’t believe me? Then send people to search your dear disciple’s room—or borrow a demon-detecting bell and test him. I don’t know whether Lin Jin is making things up, but this young disciple under our Pavilion Master truly has the ability to smell demonic energy—and he’s never been wrong. If you’re not convinced, let’s verify it and see who’s slandering whom, and who’s harboring ulterior motives!”

“You—”

Liu Xun trusted Lin Jin, but seeing Mu Shan so composed made her waver.

She instinctively glanced back at Lin Jin—and at that moment, a lazy voice drifted over from not far away.

“No need to search.”

Everyone turned toward the voice.

At the edge of the clearing, leaning against a peach tree, stood a tall young man dressed in black. His long dark hair was loosely braided down his back, and his eyes shone an unusual, vivid green. The ornaments in his hair and on his left ear gleamed like starlight in the sun.

The metal—celestial silver—was something only demons wore.

Realizing this, everyone tensed, instinctively taking defensive stances.

Xiao Lanqi sneered.

He leapt down from the tree and, before anyone could react, appeared behind Lin Jin. He grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him close.

Lin Jin was startled and instinctively tried to resist, but quickly realized the grip, though it looked rough, carried no force—nor any intent to harm.

Raising an eyebrow slightly, he chose to go along with it, signaling Liu Xun with a glance just as she was about to act.

Seeing her disciple suddenly seized, how could Liu Xun stay calm? She was about to fight the demon outright—but then she caught Lin Jin’s look.

What did that mean?

Did Lin Jin actually know this demon?

Though full of questions, she trusted him enough to quietly disperse the talisman forming at her fingertips, signaling the others from Misty Rain Mountain to hold back and wait.

A heavenly demon had just appeared openly inside Piaomiao Pavilion, catching everyone off guard.

“You—you’re a demon! How dare you appear here? Do you think Piaomiao Pavilion is a place you can come and go as you please?!”

Mu Shan clearly hadn’t expected this turn of events. His lips trembled as he pointed at Xiao Lanqi.

“Piaomiao Pavilion?” Xiao Lanqi laughed, utterly disdainful. “Who do you think you are? I go wherever I want. If I feel like it, I could burn this place to the ground—who’s going to stop me?”

The way he referred to himself—this sovereign—made everyone’s hearts skip a beat.

Among demons, ranks were strict. In the entire world, there were only a handful who could claim that title.

“You are…?” Liu Xun narrowed her eyes.

“This sovereign?”

Xiao Lanqi ignored her. Instead, he fixed his gaze on the boy and declared arrogantly:

“The Lord of Mingzhutian—Xiao Lancheng!”

With that, he released Lin Jin’s neck and instead seized his wrist tightly, lifting his hand slightly as he looked at Mu Shan with a mocking smile.

“What’s wrong? Didn’t you once say you’d offer this vessel to me? You were too useless and lost him, so I came to find him myself. He belongs to me—of course, he carries my aura. What’s so strange about that? You were just talking about using some demon-detecting bell to find me. Well, here I am. Can you handle that?”

Several people’s expressions turned strange. Liu Xun’s gaze flicked back and forth between Xiao Lanqi and Lin Jin, leaving Lin Jin baffled.

What? Why are they looking at me like that?

They don’t actually think I know Xiao Lancheng, do they?

Isn’t it obvious this is Big Black bluffing?

Unaware that part of what he said sounded… a bit off, Xiao Lanqi simply waited for Mu Shan’s response.

Mu Shan, never the sharpest, was already thrown off. His mind scrambled, and before thinking it through, he blurted out:

“Nonsense! Where did this arrogant brat come from, daring to impersonate the Lord of Mingzhutian?!”

“Oh?” Xiao Lanqi looked at him with interest. “And how are you so sure I’m not? Have you actually seen Xiao Lancheng yourself?”

“I—!” Mu Shan choked on his words, then hastily changed course. “That’s impossible! Xiao Lancheng is mysterious—he hasn’t shown himself for years. No one knows what he looks like. Of course, I wouldn’t know! And for that same reason, anyone can pretend to be him. Just because you say you are, we’re supposed to believe you? Ridiculous!”

“Oh, is that so?”

Xiao Lanqi didn’t seem to care. He simply glanced toward a certain direction and suddenly called out:

“Jiang Zhenfeng!”

The sudden name shocked everyone.

Even more shocking—after he spoke, a figure in pale robes emerged from the peach grove.

Jiang Zhenfeng landed lightly before them, ignoring the dozens of eyes on her, and calmly bowed to Xiao Lanqi.

“At your service. What are your orders, my lord?”

“…?!”

Everyone froze.

It was common knowledge that Jiang Zhenfeng, the senior disciple of Piaomiao Pavilion, was aloof and proud—like a snow lotus growing on a sheer cliff, untouchable. Aside from her master, she showed little regard for anyone.

Who had ever seen her act this respectfully?

And to a demon, no less!

“You…!”

Mu Shan staggered back, completely out of his depth.

“Well?” Jiang Zhenfeng cast him a cold glance. “Weren’t you looking for someone colluding with demons? That would be me. I brought the Lord here. I forced Lin Jin to hide him. If you have any questions, ask them now—it was all me. I’ve had enough of Piaomiao Pavilion’s selfishness. I will help my lord restore Mingzhutian’s glory.”

“…?”

Not just everyone else—even Lin Jin was stunned.

What was going on?

Why was Jiang Zhenfeng suddenly taking the blame?

Was Big Black really Xiao Lancheng? He almost believed it!

Mu Shan’s small eyes widened in shock, his mind blank.

Seeing this, Jiang Zhenfeng’s lips curved faintly.

“What? Surprised? What do you want to say? You think it’s impossible? Why?”

Bombarded by her questions, Mu Shan stammered, glancing between the boy and Jiang Zhenfeng.

“Jiang Zhenfeng… what are you trying to do?”

“I already told you,” she said with a faint smile. “I want to destroy this place and restore Mingzhutian’s glory.”

“Impossible!”

The situation had turned absurd—Piaomiao Pavilion’s most righteous disciple declaring she would destroy it, while the real traitor insisted:

“We will live and die with the Pavilion. You won’t succeed today!”

“Spare me the bravado,” Jiang Zhenfeng said coolly. “Why don’t you take a look outside the mountain barrier first? Mingzhutian’s forces have already surrounded the Penglai Mountains within a hundred miles. With a single order from my lord, they can breach the barrier. During the Sword Trial Assembly, the leaders and elite disciples of every major sect are gathered here. If we wipe you out today, who in the cultivation world will be left to oppose us? At that point, the entire world will belong to my lord.”

…

Lin Jin listened, unable to tell how much of it was true.

He glanced at Liu Xun.

A faint glow flickered in her eyes. When it faded, her expression turned grim.

A chill crept into Lin Jin’s heart.

So it was true—demons were already lurking beyond the barrier.

Combined with what Jiang Zhenfeng said… the situation was beginning to overlap with the original storyline.

Xiao Lancheng planned to wipe out the cultivation world’s strength during the assembly and seize control.

Jiang Zhenfeng’s calm confidence made Lin Jin waver.

Was she the real mastermind?

Was Big Black truly Xiao Lanqi—and had he trusted the wrong person?

His thoughts spiraled—until Jiang Zhenfeng spoke again.

That single sentence cleared all his doubts.

Her voice was steady as she said:

“If you want any chance of turning things around, I suggest you know your place.”

She gave Mu Shan a slight bow.

“I request entry into the Dengwen Sword Pavilion. Please grant it.”