Using force to make others submit may seem crude, but the results were undeniably effective.
Though Donggua's sour expression remained, her movements became cooperative.
Wukong's objective was now straightforward — head directly to Tianyan Sect without making any further detours.
"My divine sense has been tampered with by that old monk?"
Donggua had thoroughly assessed her condition and found only this one anomaly. She could not help but ask.
Wukong nodded gently.
"Your divine sense has been painted over with a great technique. The aura you now project is completely different. Even if Cui Hao stood right in front of you, he would not easily recognize you."
"That monk possesses such extraordinary ability?" Donggua's expression carried a hint of disbelief.
For a cultivator, one's divine sense was far more distinctive than one's face. Donggua had never heard of any method to alter divine sense recognition — simply because it was considered impossible.
It was not that no one had tried to change their divine sense to shed their identity. It was just that no one had ever succeeded.
Divine sense emanated from the Sea of Consciousness. If one forcefully modified the Sea of Consciousness, the best-case outcome for the subject was becoming a drooling simpleton.
Wukong answered in a calm tone.
"Since it is a painting, it will naturally fade and deteriorate over time. It is merely a temporary concealment."
Donggua felt a twinge of regret, but still had an unresolved question.
"Since you had my divine sense painted over, why not also conceal my face?"
Wukong shot Donggua a contemptuous look.
"Who do you think we are going to see? Some cat or dog that would listen to your orders?"
"Even the most brilliant disguise could fool those cultivators at the pinnacle? Altering the divine sense was merely taking a shortcut."
"If you have no reliable method to change your appearance, that is fine as well. This humble monk knows a thing or two."
A bad premonition rose in Donggua's heart, but she still asked in a small voice.
"What method do you have?"
"Smash in half your face, and your original appearance will naturally be gone. Do not worry — I have the strength for it."
Donggua laughed in spite of her anger. Was that really the concern here?
Tianyan Sect, Zhuji Peak.
Chu Xingchen rested his chin on one hand and placed a game piece on the board.
Bai Xuanling sat across from him, taking a light sip of tea. She raised her eyes toward the board.
"We have played this game of Gomoku over and over, and every match ends in a draw. What is the point?"
Chu Xingchen leaned back, draping one arm over Xie Lingyu's shoulder beside him. His tone carried a hint of regret.
"The board may be a draw, but outside the board..."
"Both of you — get out." Bai Xuanling naturally understood the implication behind Chu Xingchen's words. She snorted coldly and waved her hand to shoo them away.
Chu Xingchen remained seated, his eyes sliding toward Xie Lingyu.
"See? Your master is getting impatient."
Xie Lingyu picked up a piece and made the next move on Chu Xingchen's behalf, replying casually.
"That was a move outside the game."
Bai Xuanling laughed despite her irritation — her own disciple had not exactly taken her side either.
She did not turn to leave, however. Instead, she calmly finished the game that had essentially been bullying a lone elder.
As the game neared its end, Chen Baiqing paused outside the courtyard. She assessed the situation and, only after confirming that her presence would not disturb her master, stepped inside.
Chu Xingchen sensed the gaze and looked up inquiringly.
Chen Baiqing spoke in a low voice.
"Outside Tianyan Sect, there is a monk called Wukong who has brought someone to pay a visit."
Chu Xingchen nodded gently. He placed the piece in his hand into Xie Lingyu's palm and smiled.
"Keep your master company for now. I am going to meet a monk — I will ask him if he wants to renounce his vows and come guard our mountain gate."
Xie Lingyu waved dismissively, signaling the nonsense-spouting Chu Xingchen to go about his business.
Chu Xingchen rose, cupped his hands in farewell to Bai Xuanling, and departed with Chen Baiqing.
Bai Xuanling watched Chu Xingchen's retreating figure and suddenly remarked with a smile.
"I recall my own youth — I was much like him. Always wanting a moment's rest, yet pushed onward by one matter after another."
"The journey felt nothing but arduous. Then I turned around one day and found that I had become a legend in other people's mouths."
"Lingyu, do you think Chu Xingchen will become a legend in the next generation's eyes?"
Xie Lingyu pondered for a moment before shaking her head gently.
"I would rather he did not."
Bai Xuanling chuckled and shook her head, teasing.
"Oh? Lingyu has learned to care for someone?"
Xie Lingyu's hand paused on the game piece, her expression indignant. When Chu Xingchen was present, her master never teased her. The moment he left, the jibes would not stop.
Despicable — this was bullying her now that her mouthpiece was gone.
Outside Tianyan Sect.
Wukong stood with a composed expression, gazing calmly at the sect gates.
Normally, as the Buddhist Son of the Central State, even if he could not enter Tianyan Sect's inner grounds, he should not have been left waiting outside the mountain gate. From the looks of it, they were guarding against the Buddhist Sect tightly — to the point of disregarding the face of the Eighteen Immortal Sects.
But so be it.
Unlike Wukong's calm demeanor, Donggua's expression was considerably less composed.
During their previous battle, a single glance from Chu Xingchen had been enough to fill her with terror — the feeling of having one foot already on the path of death. Coming to seek him out now felt like walking to her own execution.
Donggua's appearance had been altered somewhat. The overall impression was similar, but the details of her brow, eyes, and facial features had been changed.
Her current form was not her true body to begin with, so making adjustments was within her capabilities.
For now, she could only hope that the so-called painted disguise would actually work...
The two of them waited in the wind and snow for quite some time.
By the time Donggua's nervousness had begun to subside considerably, a voice rang out — one that sent a fresh wave of terror through her heart. Even more frightening was the meaning behind those words.
"Is this the sincerity you bring?"
Chu Xingchen stood alone before the Tianyan Sect mountain gate — no one had seen when he arrived. His gaze swept past Wukong and settled on Donggua.
Wukong did not immediately grasp the meaning behind Chu Xingchen's words. Rather than answer directly, he pressed his palms together and offered a greeting.
"I have long admired your reputation, Benefactor Chu."
Chu Xingchen's attention never left Donggua. Under normal circumstances, if Wukong brought a disguised Donggua, he might have been willing to play along to see what the monk was after.
But this time was different.
Donggua's attribute panel had inexplicably gained a new black tag: [Seed of the Desire Demon].
In the short time since he had last seen her, Donggua must have encountered someone — or someone had tampered with her.
Chu Xingchen could not yet determine the exact effect of this [Seed of the Desire Demon], or whether it granted the ability to eavesdrop. Based on his deductions, the attempt to slay the twin demons had likely failed — and Donggua might have been sent back as a probing tool.
"Since you have brought her, there is no need to continue the act. At the gates of Tianyan Sect, where could she possibly escape to?"
Chu Xingchen's expression was domineering. The myriad forms in his hand transformed into a long sword, which he pointed directly at Donggua.
"Last time I was careless, and someone fished this little fish away. But the world is vast, and there are plenty of nets. And this time, there was even bait of her own kind to bring her back."
"No wonder you were strung along and deceived at every turn. Truly, endearingly foolish. It is a pity there are not many demons as foolish as you in this world — otherwise, my life would be much easier."
All color had drained from Donggua's face. Her eyes, brimming with hatred, fixed upon Wukong.
How... was everyone lying to her?
And all of them had managed to deceive her so completely.
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