Chapter 421: The Arrival of Two Talismans

Xiaomiao didn't actually know any disguise techniques. However, she had at least learned some makeup skills from Xi Lian.

On the second evening after Huai Jing flew to the moon, a clean-energy, long-distance bus with about half a load of passengers drove down through the winding mountain roads near the southern border, making its way to a nearby town.

Not far from the town was the Special Warfare Unit base that corrupt cultivators had recently poisoned.

Xiaomiao was not entirely confident she would find anything useful in the southern borderlands. Still, she couldn't bear just sitting around for days in the small hotel outside the Heavenly Dragon Temple, waiting for news that might never come.

She wanted to find evidence herself. Even if she couldn't uncover any valuable intel, she could at least fabricate some proof or produce a few videos.

The bus pulled into the county terminal and stopped. With headphones in and a tune on her lips, Xiaomiao slung her backpack over her shoulders and hopped lightly off the bus, appearing like a rebellious student on her way home for vacation.

A few curious eyes turned her way, yet she moved with such natural ease that no one found her out of place.

She had boarded halfway along the route and paid her fare straight to the driver, sparing her from any ID checks. She even gave the driver a small tip on the side.

Xiaomiao wasn't particularly worried about her safety. After all, the Hua Republic was known for good public order, and she wasn't on any wanted list. Only cultivators would ever look for her, not the ever-watchful digital network. And if the satellite systems did lock onto her, she wouldn't be able to hide anyway. She'd be completely trapped.

Besides, no one would ever imagine that she would come to the southern borderlands to investigate instead of hiding. With the Immortal Dao Conference approaching, her enemies wouldn't waste their attention on a small cultivator like her. Those reasons made her confident.

This is what it means to reverse the game.

"Xiaomiao?" a man called out deeply from behind her. A large hand then landed on her shoulder.

She froze, the faint curve of her lips stiffening.

What is going on?!

The man stepped to her side, revealing a familiar face.

The Daoist priest stared for a few seconds, then offered an awkward smile. He quickly raised his hand on her shoulder, took two steps back, and bowed repeatedly.

"I'm sorry, I must have mistaken you for someone else. Please don't take it to heart." Turning away, he muttered under his breath, "What's going on? My Seeking Talisman never fails. It's always been completely accurate. Why did it make a mistake?"

"Hey!"

Xiaomiao took two quick steps forward and clenched her teeth. She grabbed her backpack, swung it toward him, and shouted, "Cousin! It's me!"

The Daoist priest, dressed in a black Daoist robe, turned his head just as the bag struck his shoulder. He glared at her, momentarily stunned by her heavy makeup and brightly colored, shimmering hair.

Finally seeing through her disguise, his worry and anxiety from the past two days surged up. He was about to shout her name when Xiaomiao silenced him with a quick gesture.

"This isn't the place to talk," she said calmly. "There's a silver arch fast-food place over there. Aren't you going to treat me to a burger, Cousin? I've been on the road all day, you know. I'm starving."

"Of course, of course! My treat!"

Shi Qianzhang hurriedly took her backpack. He scratched his head awkwardly, unsure what to say. After searching across mountains and rivers, he had finally found her.

Food could wait. To reduce the risk of exposure, Xiaomiao first had Shi Qianzhang change into casual clothes in the restroom.

They then took a taxi together and found a hotpot restaurant. After about half an hour, they finally settled in a quiet corner. Shi Qianzhang took out two talismans and sealed the area.

Right after, he bombarded her with questions.

"Xiaomiao, what's with that outfit? If your brother saw you, he'd go mad. Did you get hurt? Why are you here in the southern borderlands, anyway? What happened to Big Sister? Why did she suddenly turn into a devil? Is someone trying to frame you two? After everything that happened, why didn't you contact me? I may not be the strongest, but I could have helped somehow."

"Brother Zhang, before you found me, did you tell anyone?" Xiaomiao asked.

"I didn't have the time," Shi Qianzhang replied. "I used seventy-two Seeking Talismans over the past two days, following your aura from the Heavenly Dragon Temple all the way here. I almost mistook you for someone else earlier. I was supposed to report back to the sect once I found you. Now, tell me, what really happened to Big Sister?"

Xiaomiao sighed and briefly recounted the recent events.

Shi Qianzhang's face flushed red with anger. He clenched his teeth as he cursed under his breath.

If the waiter hadn't arrived with the food, he probably would've cursed every last one of the ancient cultivators and even their forefathers. And had he been powerful enough, he would've gone after them himself.

In a low, firm tone, he said, "Xiaomiao, those corrupt cultivators are probably keeping tabs on you. For now, why don't you come back to the Longhu Mountains with me? The Immortal Dao Conference is in a few days. I heard from the forefather master that Daoist Master Bu Yan has already begun contacting the major factions. They're planning to confront those people openly at the conference."

Xiaomiao frowned. "Is this Chief Chi Ling's idea?"

Shi Qianzhang blinked. "Wasn't she suspended? That's what I heard from the forefather master, at least. Oh, right, now that you've mentioned it, Little Liu called me this morning asking if I had found you yet. From what I know, every sect has sent out disciples to search for you."

Xiaomiao's brow furrowed slightly as she whispered, "Half of them are probably out to kill me."

"What makes you say that?"

"Right now, half of the Daoist sects are under the ancient cultivators' control. Can you guess why?" Xiaomiao dipped a finger into her drink and drew a small circle on the table. "I can still remember the silver-white rings of light in the eyes of the cultivators who surrounded Big Sister and me.

"They must have had their minds controlled. Otherwise, they wouldn't have charged at us so fearlessly and quietly. They didn't even hesitate."

Shi Qianzhang scratched his head. "Should I let Little Liu know?"

"

Mm...

" Wang Xiaomiao hesitated. "Brother Yunzhi's sect also has an ancient cultivator..."

"Don't worry. Mount Mao's Daoist heritage runs deep. The ancient cultivators from their sect shouldn't be truly evil."

"You're right." Xiaomiao clapped. "If Brother Yunzhi isn't being controlled, then we'll have gained another ally, making it easier to execute our next move. There's no denying the influence of the cultivation world's heartthrob over female cultivators. If he's being controlled, then we can just capture him. We'll have a living witness to expose the truth behind these ancient cultivators."

"Uh..." Shi Qianzhang frowned. Something about it felt off, but he couldn't quite put it into words.

When he returned to his senses, he realized that the girl's train of thought had completely led him along. It was rather uncanny. If Huai Jing were here, they would probably sit together and sigh in mutual sympathy.

Shi Qianzhang muttered, "Alright, I'll call Little Liu. What exactly is our next move, though?"

Xiaomiao replied, "We'll head deep into the southern border and collect evidence. As long as we can find proof of collusion or any other link between the ancient cultivators and the corrupt cultivators there, we can expose their true faces at the Immortal Dao Conference."

Shi Qianzhang shrank back. Even if we find evidence, we still can't beat them, though."

"Whether we can beat them is a completely different matter." Xiaomiao huffed. "They want fame and fortune—to indulge in vice while still being praised as saints. In their dreams!

Hmph!

"

"You're right. A nobleman's revenge can wait ten years, but Big Sister's anger shouldn't wait even ten days."

Shi Qianzhang pulled out his phone, ready to start a video call with Liu Yunzhi, but Xiaomiao stopped him.

"To be safe, just send him a message. Tell him you've found traces of me, not that you've actually met me."

"You're really keeping your guard up against him?"

Xiaomiao nodded lightly, her gaze remaining steady. "

Mmhmm.

Right now, you and Buddhist Master Huai Jing are the only ones I can trust."

Shi Qianzhang unconsciously straightened his back and blinked in surprise. "Why don't you suspect me of being mind-controlled?"

"I heard from Buddhist Master Huai Jing that the Celestial Master has been personally training you for the past few years."

Shi Qianzhang shuddered and laughed bitterly. He looked completely helpless.

Xiaomiao chuckled softly. "Besides, if you were being controlled, you wouldn't have immediately asked me if I was hurt, what I was doing here, or why Big Sister turned into a devil. Instead, you'd have asked where I was that night, what I saw, or where my brother went."

Shi Qianzhang thought about it for a moment. She had a point.

The two discussed a few more details, refined their plan, and finally sent Liu Yunzhi a message.

***

In a desolate stretch of land near the southern border of the Hua Republic.

Around midnight, Xiaomiao hid in a dense grove. She sat on a thick branch, waiting quietly while using true essence to protect herself from insects. Yellow talismans had been pasted on the trees around her.

Before long, the retro-style flip phone in her hand buzzed. She pulled it out and glanced at the screen, finding a short message.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

1.

That meant Shi Qianzhang had met up with Liu Yunzhi, and Liu Yunzhi had come alone. No one had followed or tailed him.

Xiaomiao exhaled softly. She didn't really want Liu Yunzhi to be a problem, partly out of concern for her brother's fragile social circle. Still, since his sect had an ancient cultivator, she couldn't let her guard down.

Half an hour later, two people descended from the night sky and landed near her tree.

Shi Qianzhang called out playfully, "Are you absolutely sure your sect's forefather doesn't have you under mind control, Little Liu?"

Liu Yunzhi looked puzzled. "

Hmm?

What are you talking about? How does one even do that?"

Shi Qianzhang grinned. "Better that you don't know. Xiaomiao, come on out. Your handsome guy's here!"

"Aye!" Xiaomiao peeked from the branches and leaped down gracefully, landing in front of them.

Liu Yunzhi, who was in a pale-white Daoist robe, looked calm and gentle. A faint smile touched his lips, though his brow soon furrowed. "It's good that you're safe, Xiaomiao. The situation has become pretty dangerous. Where is Fei Yu?"

Shi Qianzhang's shoulders twitched instinctively.

Xiaomiao's smile didn't falter. "My brother's far from here. He probably hasn't received my message yet, so I'm not sure if he'll make it in time."

"I hope he can," Liu Yunzhi slowly replied. "Where were you when Senior Xi Lian turned into a devil, Xiaomiao? What did you see?"

"

Oi, oi, oi!

" Shi Qianzhang cut in. His eyes blazed with a mix of shock and fury as he grabbed Liu Yunzhi by the collar. "The hell, Little Liu! Don't you dare scare me like that!"