“So there really is a Xiao Hong.”
Xiao Wen stared at A Zhen with a look of infatuation.
The Xiao Hong of the past had completely captivated them.
But when they learned that she was actually Hong Lemon in disguise, their dreams were shattered. Now, they had encountered the real Xiao Hong.
No, she now goes by A Zhen.
“What are we waiting for? You’re hired!”
The senior brother and Xiao Wen both made the decision at once. After all, A Zhen was the most appealing to their senses.
Even though the senior brother already had a girlfriend, his old lecherous nature led him to choose to keep A Zhen.
Yun Yi watched without stopping, a meaningful smile playing on his lips as he looked at A Zhen.
“Senior brother, why do I have a bad feeling about this?”
Xiao Long, who was still unfamiliar with these matters, whispered to Yun Yi.
She felt something was off about A Zhen, as if she had seen the horrifying angel from that time.
“You’re much more sensible than them.”
Yun Yi praised Xiao Long.
Compared to Xiao Wen and the senior brother, Xiao Long was far more outstanding. As for Hai Yuan, he was completely bewildered. He had no idea what was going on.
Hearing Yun Yi's praise, Xiao Long first felt embarrassed, but then she understood what he meant.
She hadn't been wrong. There was something definitely wrong with A Zhen.
However, the two of them didn't say anything.
Meanwhile, the senior brother and Xiao Wen dismissed the applicants and took A Zhen into the Wulong Temple.
It seemed as though the matter had been settled, but Yun Yi knew it was only the beginning.
…
With the arrival of A Zhen, the Wulong Temple once again became lively, especially for those who still held a lingering affection for Xiao Hong.
Every day, A Zhen would be surrounded by a group of people, among them the senior brother and Xiao Wen.
Faced with this situation, the abbot said nothing, seemingly pleased with the development.
Thus, three days passed.
Late into the third night.
A shadowy figure crept stealthily towards the abbot's meditation chamber.
At this moment, the abbot appeared to be asleep. The figure began searching cautiously for something.
Suddenly, the shadow turned towards the abbot's pillow. There, lying quietly, was a book.
It was the Marrow Cleansing Scripture.
The figure, overcome with excitement, grabbed the Scripture.
But in the next moment, the meditation chamber was illuminated.
The figure's identity was exposed—it was A Zhen.
“How?”
A Zhen looked in astonishment at the abbot, who was awake, along with Yun Yi. Both of them remained calm, showing no sign of urgency at the theft of their sect's treasure.
“I must say, I admire your audacity. You even came here without bothering to disguise yourself.”
The abbot said, gazing at A Zhen.
Since the last invasion by the Demon Cult, he had conducted a thorough investigation. He discovered that, besides Green Lemon, there was another surviving member of the Demon Cult—the sister of the terrifying angel.
The Xiao Hong that Red Lemon had disguised as was actually the appearance of the Demon Cult's Saintess. The only one who could resemble her so closely was the current A Zhen.
They knew that the previous incident couldn't be easily forgotten. So, they had been waiting.
Seeing A Zhen now, they instantly understood she had come for revenge.
“I just didn't expect you old monks to be so cautious.”
A Zhen, now realizing she had been discovered and her true identity revealed, said with a hint of frustration.
“To face the likes of you, disciples of the Demon Cult, caution is a necessity.”
The abbot sighed.
He wondered when this centuries-long struggle would finally end.
“You are the ones who are the Demon Cult! You destroyed my family, and I will never forgive you!”
A Zhen, unable to bear the abbot's words, roared in anger.
“It seems you were the ones who started this. Such consequences are your own fault.”
Yun Yi said calmly.
The Wulong Temple did not seek trouble. If the Demon Cult had not tried to steal the Marrow Cleansing Scripture, the previous incident would not have happened.
Yet, A Zhen blamed them for what had happened?
Even now, A Zhen's objective remained the Marrow Cleansing Scripture. It was clear that the Demon Cult was always the Demon Cult.
“Hmph, I won't let you get away with this.”
Knowing she couldn't argue with Yun Yi, A Zhen leaped to her feet and rushed out of the chamber.
In a flash, her figure vanished from the Wulong Temple.
“Master, why did you let her escape?”
Yun Yi turned to the abbot.
If the abbot hadn't signaled, there was no way he would have let A Zhen get away.
Yun Yi didn't want to keep a Demon Cult remnant like A Zhen. Unlike Red Lemon, she was related to the horrifying angel by blood. There was no chance she would abandon her hatred.
“Letting her go was a test, for Xiao Long and the others.”
The abbot smiled.
“Master wants them to find A Zhen themselves and retrieve the Marrow Cleansing Scripture?”
Yun Yi nodded, understanding. He remembered that in the original story, the abbot had done the same thing, although the reason back then seemed to be that he found Xiao Wen and the others annoying.
“Yes. You go with them, but don't intervene unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
The abbot nodded with a smile.
Actually, there was no need to pursue the Marrow Cleansing Scripture. They had a copy, and both of them knew the Scripture by heart.
“I understand.”
Yun Yi nodded again.
Since his master wanted to train Xiao Wen and the senior brother, he wouldn't spoil his fun.
“Then let’s go back. I'll tell them tomorrow morning.”
The abbot waved his hand at Yun Yi.
Yun Yi nodded and left the abbot's meditation chamber.
“Sigh, for the sake of you brats, I’ve aged a lot.”
The abbot sighed as he watched Yun Yi disappear.
This situation seemed to be a test for Xiao Wen and the others, unrelated to Yun Yi. But in fact, the abbot's main goal was to get Yun Yi to go out and explore, with the test being secondary.
He didn't want his heart to remain within the walls of the Wulong Temple forever. Now that the Ancient Demon Fortress was destroyed, A Zhen's whereabouts were hard to find. The abbot believed Yun Yi would be gone for a long time, and thus, his purpose would be achieved.
…
The next day, dawn broke.
Everyone got up for morning classes, and the abbot recounted the events of the previous night.
A Zhen's escape and actions seemed to come as no surprise to the Wulong Temple's disciples, since they had already experienced it once.
Except for the senior brother and Xiao Wen.
The two of them really hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary, nor had they ever suspected A Zhen’s true identity.
Now, hearing that A Zhen had run away, their faces turned ashen.
“The same trick, and you fell for it twice? You two are really geniuses.”
The abbot said, with a hint of disappointment in his voice.
Even Xiao Long had noticed. These two guys hadn't detected a thing. It was embarrassing.
The senior brother and Xiao Wen both hung their heads in shame.
“Alright, get ready. You two are going to retrieve the Marrow Cleansing Scripture. If you fail, you won't be coming back.”
The abbot glared at them before saying this.
“Yes, Master.” x2
The two replied weakly.
They knew this time would be difficult, for they had no clue where A Zhen had gone.