Chapter 743 529: Surplus Positions

Li Qinghong's pupils dilated slightly, the violet hue in her bright eyes fading away considerably. She withdrew the [Du Ruo] in her hand, exhaled softly, pressed her slender hands together, and spoke in a gentle voice:

"Qinghong greets Senior."

Li Qinghong remembered the scene from that day vividly; Chi Buzi seemed to have suffered something wrong with his soul, and she wondered if he still recalled the events. Thus, she left it at a single line, only addressing her as Senior.

If Chi Buzi had lost his memory, then it was as though the two had never met; if this Immortal Official from the Water Mansion was present, her words would not be amiss.

Chi Buzi sat before her, his hair disheveled, silent, taking a seat atop a stone bench nearby, pale blue-green eyes locked upon her.

He had attained Zifu for many years; the Lu Shui Path was one of pure and impure turbulence—his appearance naturally elegant, his mien clear and transcendent. Yet his gaze was tinged with a strange and wicked menace, his lips parting slightly as he spoke in a low voice:

"Li Qinghong, you recognize me."

Though his lips curled in a smile, the words were cold as the bitter snows of a deep winter, falling ceaselessly upon Li Qinghong. She lowered her eyes and replied:

"Senior jests… Qinghong has cultivated for decades, never met a Zifu, how could I have such fortune to behold a Perfected Person's Dharma Chariot…"

Though Chi Buzi occupied merely a subordinate seat, and did not employ Divine Skills, the aura about him was too overpowering, pressing Li Qinghong's chest with a heavy weight as she stood aside awaiting orders.

"Dong, dong, dong…"

Within the Cave Mansion, the clear spring gurgled loudly, but the bright spring water gradually turned murky and grey. Chi Buzi lifted his brow and smiled:

"Li Qinghong, I see quite clearly—you fear me. Or perhaps, you are guilty to the point of dread. You may possess methods to resist Divine Skills, but I see clear through you."

Chi Buzi gazed quietly at her:

"That time, nine out of ten, I used the Soul Searching Technique, linking to that one's Metal Nature, which is how I ended up as I am now. This time, I shall not be careless."

The golden sash at his waist shimmered with Dharma Light. Chi Buzi rose, stepping onto the dais, and spoke in a low voice:

"I conjectured it was your family, so dared not return to Wangyue Lake. But after much investigation, I discovered another Sect Spring Island across the sea, so I waited here."

Chi Buzi clasped his hands behind his back, turning his back toward the light within the cave. On his pale hands were two faint traces; he spoke softly:

"Now Lu Shui has gone beyond the heavens, and lacks strength to pay heed here, so I have come, Li Qinghong."

He slowly turned, in his pale green eyes a chilling turbulence billowed forth, condensing into a haze rising along the corners of his eyes:

"Which Lord are you—Ying Ze? Society Immortal? Or the one from Mansion Water?"

Li Qinghong did not answer, only feeling the suffocating air of the mansion intensify. She weighed Chi Buzi's every word, instantly drawing a conclusion:

"'I conjectured it was your family', 'You fear me'—Chi Buzi's memory is definitely lacking, otherwise he would not need to speculate; remembering the events of that day, why would there be need for mere guessing!"

"He must have forgotten the affair upon the lake—regardless, at least he dares not recall!"

Chi Zhiyun seemed unconcerned, yet those pale azure eyes seemed to search her face as he spoke:

"Li Qinghong, that one has left methods within my soul—you ought to understand."

He smiled faintly, showing sharp white teeth, beckoning with a finger, murmured:

"So I dare not think at all. Dragging that foolish Immortal Official across the East Sea, pointing out every spot to him, utterly dismantled his tricks—his spirit wavered, and lost its support."

"With spirit in turmoil, wrong judgments follow. Until I consumed that foolish Immortal Official and devoured his cultivation whole, I dared think at last. The Lord underestimates me—so does Chi Wei, so does Yuanxiu, so does the Lord."

His tone was even:

"Buzi is not such a wretched creature easily suppressed; those tricks that tame Zifus obedient do not restrain me."

"The Immortal Official is already devoured—a rich tonic, granting me a fourth Divine Skill, called 'Chou Gui Hide'. It conceals all dharmas within my body, allowing me to accomplish much."

He strode all the way to the highest seat, sat slowly facing the brilliance within the Cave Mansion, and spoke softly:

"The Lord dares not kill me, which proves you are not yet Golden Core. The Lord yearns to reclaim his position; Lu Shui must be dealt with."

Chi Buzi smiled faintly and said softly:

"However the Lu Shui fruit is managed, Buzi does not covet it—only asks for a Golden Core, be it surplus or intercalary, I ask only for one Golden Core."

"The Lord shall need it…"

His expression was sincere, his voice gentle:

"The Lord wishes in this world to restore fruit position—or even the immortal station—you'll require a competent aide. You trust me; in such a turbid age, whether pursuing the righteous path or the evil, talents like Buzi are the keenest blades, while the Immortal Official types shall cause endless misfortune."

Chi Buzi paid no mind to Li Qinghong's answer, speaking softly:

"Whether Lu Shui is grievously wounded upon return, whether Shangyuan is destroyed and flees to its root, such petty Zifu as I cannot perceive, but the Lord has certainty. Should you order it, set fate into motion—even petty Buzi can see it."

He seemed at once to promise, yet also to probe, his low voice continued:

"Only if I die, Lu Shui shall certainly sense it—I'm afraid it would foil the Lord's plans."

Li Qinghong understood he was not speaking for her ears, only stood in silence. Chi Buzi rose from the highest seat, stepped down, walked to Li Qinghong, smiled and said:

"Buzi takes his leave."

His figure became as turbid wind, vanishing in an instant, slipping into the Great Void through the cracks in the stone.

Li Qinghong still stood in the courtyard, uncertain whether the Lord mentioned by Chi Buzi was truly watching. She stood quietly for two breaths, then sat cross-legged, silently digesting Chi Buzi's words.