Chapter 57: Identity Exposed

Chapter 57: Identity Exposed

On the fifth floor of the Divine Spirit Pagoda in the dark and silent night, strands of Profound Yin energy continued to flow into Ning Yao's sea of consciousness.

Luo Hongyan hovered within her sea of consciousness, growing increasingly defined and radiant as time passed.

Darkness blanketed the outside, but the white pagoda emitted a faint glow from its bone-like walls.

Luo Hongyan stared coldly at the staircase leading to the fifth floor, eyes narrowed. Soon, the figure of the intoxicated Pang Jian emerged, clutching a jar of liquor.

Chuckling, the icy coldness vanished from her eyes and her demeanor eased.

This was Pang Jian's first time drinking alcohol, and he found himself unable to refine the liquor permeating his bloodstream. His mind was muddled and heavy.

Luo Hongyan teased, "What happened? First time drinking?"

Even from within the White Pagoda, Luo Hongyan could hear the voices of Pang Jian, Zhou Qingchen, and the others chatting and drinking around the bonfire.

"Yes," Pang Jian replied, reeking of alcohol as he took a seat. He glanced at the nearby Profound Yin stones and took another gulp of liquor. Suddenly, his gaze sharpened as he asked, "Why help me?'

Luo Hongyan was startled. "What are you talking about?"

Pang Jian answered coldly, "I'm asking you, why did you use the scarlet lotus and Spirit Devils to help me attack Dong Tianze?"

Luo Hongyan's smile faded and a playful glint flickered in her bright eyes. Casually picking up a Profound Yin stone, she asked coolly, "When did you figure it out?"

Pang Jian's face darkened. "I had my suspicions earlier on, but I couldn't confirm them until now. What sealed it for me were the Profound Yin stones. I've cultivated with cracked Profound Yin stones before. I know what happens when the Profound Yin energy inside is drained."

Pointing at the Profound Yin stone closest to Luo Hongyan, he coldly said, "These Profound Yin stones are visibly cracking. That's a clear sign that the Profound Yin energy within them is nearly depleted. The true Ning Yao would never resort to Profound Yin stones for cultivation as it would bring her more harm than good.

"That is, unless you are not Ning Yao!"

Luo Hongyan said nothing.

Pang Jian continued, "After I dove back into Blackwater Pond, the Shadow Specter Sect's Hong Tai vanished without a trace. Considering Ning Yao's capabilities, she shouldn't have been able to escape from Hong Tai. I should've known. You killed Hong Tai and took over Ning Yao's body!"

Luo Hongyan sighed in resignation and admitted, "I killed several of Zhou Qingchen's subordinates using Spirit Devils in the stone pile. That's why I didn't reveal my identity. Inhabiting Ning Yao's body was just a way to ensure that you would continue to lead us through the Solitary Mountain Range.

"Pang Jian, I hope you know that I mean you no harm."

Luo Hongyan's eyebrows knitted, clear eyes brimming with sincerity as she sought to dispel Pang Jian's hostility.

Pang Jian frowned. "Why did you help me kill Dong Tianze?"

When he recalled their seamless coordination, Pang Jian felt she would be a great asset if she became his battle companion.

However, Pang Jian's voice remained unfeeling as he replied, "I hope you're gone by tomorrow morning."

With that, he leaped out of one of the windows.

"I won't go!" Luo Hongyan screamed.

***

At the bonfire, after Pang Jian left, Zhou Qingchen quietly asked Su Meng about the relationship between Pang Jian and Luo Hongyan.

Despite her grief, Su Meng mustered her strength and replied uncertainly, "It appears Sister Ning has strong affections for Brother Pang, but he seems dissatisfied with her. He's been acting distant toward her."

Zhou Qingchen slapped his thigh in admiration and said, "Pang Jian really has his ways! Ning Yao has always looked down on everyone from the seven major clans, even disregarding her fiance, He Ziren. I heard she was planning to look for someone worthy in the Star River Alliance in the Third World, but Pang Jian seems to have won her affection."

How long had they been separated?

Ning Yao had previously acted cold and indifferent toward Pang Jian, but now unexpectedly harbored affection for him. Zhou Qingchen was beyond impressed and even considered seeking advice from Pang Jian.

"Pang Jian has only just reached the first stage of the Meridian Opening Realm and opened up four of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. He hasn't delved into the Twelve Principal Meridians surrounding his organs." Han Duping coughed lightly. His tiny eyes gleamed mischievously as he chuckled, "In other words, he still can't use his spiritual power to refine or expel the alcohol in his stomach."

Perplexed, Zhou Qingchen commented casually, "Hmm, it's his first time drinking. Although he holds his alcohol well, he's probably quite drunk by now."

Han Duping winked at Zhou Qingchen. Smiling ambiguously, he said, "He's going to look for Ning Yao all tipsy and in the dead of night...I wonder what will happen between them?"

"Oh!" Zhou Qingchen finally realized what Han Duping had been hinting at.

At that moment, they saw Pang Jian leap out from a fifth-floor window and land with a resounding thud.

The strange materials used to construct the white pagoda glowed faintly in the darkness, illuminating Pang Jian's figure as he stood at the base of the white pagoda. They saw him knit his brows as he adjusted his clothes.

Zhou Qingchen was dumbstruck.

Han Duping clicked his tongue in amazement.

Su Meng appeared lost in thought.

"What're you all looking at?" Pang Jian asked, puzzled at their reactions.

Han Duping chuckled mischievously. "Oh, nothing much. We're all just surprised to see you come out of nowhere like that."

Zhou Qingchen said nothing and merely grinned widely as he gave Pang Jian a thumbs-up.

Worried that Pang Jian would not see his gesture from a distance, he even moved his raised thumb above the bonfire.

Pang Jian was baffled. Shrugging it off, he casually found a patch of grass to sit down and continued sipping the liquor from his jar.