"Trouble?" Zhang Rongfang squinted slightly, "Dare I ask, Uncle, what sort of trouble?"

Unconsciously, he thought of the recent provocations from the Wish Girl and the Blood God. Long ago, he had kept the token away from him to avoid having his cultivation watched by Yue Shi.

Now, hearing what Ran Xinyue said.

His heart stirred, secretly connecting certain things.

Recently, there had been one incident after another, increasingly frequent, causing his attention to be somewhat scattered. It was truly a mistake to have overlooked this doubtful point before.

Ran Xinyue did not answer immediately, but looked around her.

"Something here seems off. It appears someone has come looking for you, but since they didn't find you, it means the result wasn't too bad."

"This is not the place to talk. Uncle Ran, please come this way, and we can chat over the banquet." Zhang Rongfang, maintaining his composure, pinched the token in his hand, opened his palm, and invited the other to walk with him outside the venue.

His Toad Seal Skill could support up to a hundred breaths. If he didn't remove the token and distance it in time, his true identity would no longer be concealable.

"I don't have time to eat. Since everything is fine with you, I must leave immediately. There are still urgent matters nearby that need handling," Ran Xinyue said in a deep voice.

"But...."

"No need to say more. Lastly, let me ask you, why don't you carry the token?" Ran Xinyue's gaze was fixed on Zhang Rongfang, scrutinizing his every expression.

Clearly, his answer at this moment might determine something.

"Just because my literary cultivation is too slow, I'm afraid of disappointing Yue Shi... Whenever I see the token, I feel ashamed of not living up to the Daoist title personally engraved by the master, hence I feel guilty..."

Zhang Rongfang sighed with a convincing air of remorse.

"What's your current level of cultivation?" Ran Xinyue frowned.

"Late-stage Nascent Soul," Zhang Rongfang replied softly.

"..." Ran Xinyue was momentarily speechless, nearly unable to catch her breath.

She had thought this guy's literary skill was weak, failing Yue Dewen's expectations.

Unexpectedly....

At this age, he was already a Nascent Soul expert!?

For heaven's sake.... When she first offered her prayers, she was at most late-stage Nascent Soul, and that too after fifty years of cultivation, yet she was considered a young prodigy.

To think this kid, barely in his thirties, reached where she was back then, still putting on a facade....

Looking at Zhang Rongfang's ostentatious pretense, Ran Xinyue felt a pang of pain in her chest.

Fortunately, she could console herself with the thought of dual cultivation.

"Forget it, in the future, I'll steer clear whenever I see you. I don't want to see you, and you better not come looking for me either."

Without another word, she turned around and left.

With a light tap on the ground, she leapt over the wall and vanished from sight.

Zhang Rongfang watched her leave, feeling a slight relief in his heart.

Then he quickly headed towards the study with the token.

The time of a hundred breaths was approaching, and he had to hurry...

With a creaking sound, he pushed open the door of the venue.

"By the way!"

Suddenly a face covered with a white veil was looking directly at him.

It was Ran Xinyue!

Zhang Rongfang shivered slightly all over, did her body technique not make a sound??

"I forgot to mention earlier. Your master is currently in his prime, plotting major affairs. Do not cause trouble on your side."

"Oh, I understand! Thank you for the reminder, Uncle." Zhang Rongfang replied solemnly.

Feeling the camouflage aura of the Toad Seal Skill within him gradually fading, externally he kept a calm face, but internally he was beginning to feel anxious.

"And also," Ran Xinyue continued. "Once you finish up here, it's best to return to Qingchuan Prefecture. Don't wander outside, it's not safe. Many are scheming against your master now. If they can't find his weak points, they'll target you."

"Qiankun understands!" Zhang Rongfang nodded heavily.

"Good, that's settled." Seeing Zhang Rongfang's good attitude, Ran Xinyue nodded with satisfaction, turned around, and leapt over the wall, disappearing again.

Swish!

Just as she disappeared, Zhang Rongfang flicked his hand, tossing the token accurately into a nearby flower bush.

Once the distance was increased, it took less than three seconds.

All the pores on his body suddenly relaxed and opened up, releasing thin threads of steam.

In a moment, Zhang Rongfang was drenched in sweat, as if he had just completed intense exercise.

The stronger his literary cultivation.

The more effort he needed to suppress his disguise.

After resting for a while, he resumed his disguise, retrieved the token, and quickly entered the study, discreetly placing it in a hidden compartment in the wall.

Recalling everything Xue Tong had told him.

Zhang Rongfang suddenly had the urge to dismantle the token directly to see if there was indeed a spiritual line inside.

But hesitating for a moment, he decided to close the hidden compartment on the wall, returning everything to normal.

Looking at the hidden compartment where the token was, Zhang Rongfang sighed lightly.

'Managed to handle things with Yue Shi, now it's a matter of dealing with the Wish Girl, and investigating who is leading the master here behind the scenes.

Also, paying attention to the movements of the chaotic armies, in case it affects my sister....'

More and more things to handle.

Everything was coming at him at once, like layers of gauzy white veils, constantly covering his face, preventing him from tearing them away quickly and solving everything promptly.

Outside the chaos was similar, the struggle for the throne among the five kings, the grand ambitions of Yue Shi, making the situation increasingly intricate. The world growing more chaotic, as if the days of stability were ending.

"There's still one piece left to complete the flesh, and no news of the Golden Toad Skill medicine either."

Sitting in his seat, Zhang Rongfang closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It felt as if his heart was accumulating suppression, suffocation, and irritation.

Yet he couldn't find a place to vent this frustration.

Because none of the problems he faced could be completely resolved in an instant.

He just wants to live quietly and safely. Why can't he ever find peace?

*

*

*

In Wushan Prefecture.

Two green pine trees stubbornly grew out from a gap between buildings, rooted in the stone slabs, their tops reaching the sky.

Under the shade of the pine trees, various handwoven small animals were displayed in several baskets.

An elderly man with white hair watched over them, selling the crafts.

People came and went on the street, occasionally stopping to glance at the items.

"How much is one of these?"

A young woman wearing a white veil stood by the stall, casually picked up a small woven bamboo camel, and asked.

"One large coin each, take your pick," the old man replied with a cheerful smile.

"That's a bit expensive. I'm buying it as a gift for a child, can you give me a discount?"

One large coin was ten wen, and these handmade items were just for fun; they'd break after a few plays.

"If you take five, I'll charge you four large coins," the old man said with a smile.

"Alright." The woman quickly chose five items: a rabbit, a monkey, a pony, a small camel, and a woven ant.

She handed over the money and took the items.

The five small woven items were placed in a small bamboo basket and handed to the woman.

The woman took them and left.

But she didn't get far.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, the woman paused slightly. Inside the basket she was examining while walking, there was an extra item besides the five small things—a pale yellow slip of paper.

She looked back at the stall, but the old man seemed unaware, still selling his bamboo crafts.

"Interesting trick. Let's see who dares to play games in front of me." A gleam flashed in the woman's eyes.

She was Ran Xinyue, who had come to deliver a token, verified Zhang Ying's identity, and then wandered around the city for a break.

As for telling Zhang Ying she had urgent matters to attend to, it was all just an excuse.

She merely wanted to take the opportunity to rest a bit and relax in the city.

Unexpectedly, even her relaxation was clearly within someone's sight, which gave her a slight sense of alarm.

In a secluded corner, Ran Xinyue quickly took out the slip of paper and held her breath as she unfolded it. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

'Zhang Ying secretly colludes with the rebel army, takes the initiative to rescue the rebel leaders, murders Daoist experts, and wantonly slaughters nearby large families, all for the self-interest of the Barbarian Race. This person is selfish and ruthless, completely disregarding the Great Spirit Court. I request the teacher to discern clearly!'

The paper was filled with accusations against Zhang Ying written in rice-grain-sized characters.

Ran Xinyue glanced at it and frowned.

She flipped it over. There was more writing on the back.

'If you don't believe, you can inquire with the Shang family of the Jade Void Palace and the Flying Bear King of the rebel army about the details.'

"With names and details, they sure know a lot," Ran Xinyue's eyes flashed with amusement.

Colluding with the rebel army, yet holding a dignified position as a Daoist of the Great Dao Teaching, if true, this matter was indeed no small affair.

She had originally intended to buy a few items and leave Wushan Prefecture.

She didn't expect someone would bring the accusation directly to her. And they knew her whereabouts so well.

This, behind the scenes, is interesting....

Ran Xinyue began formulating a plan in her mind.

Immediately, she crushed the slip of paper into fragments and turned to leave quickly.

To verify this matter, the best way wasn't to follow the path provided by the other party.

But to directly observe Zhang Ying himself!

As long as she secretly watched for some time, whether Zhang Ying was colluding with the rebel army, with her ability, she could easily find out.

After she left the original place and disappeared at the end of the street.

Opposite the stall selling bamboo crafts.

On the second floor of a two-story tavern, an old man in black slowly stood up by the window.

The old man looked toward the direction where Ran Xinyue had left, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

"Yu Wenxing, is all this trickery of any use? In the end, doesn't he still dare not make an actual move?"

On the seat opposite the old man, an elderly woman in white leaning on an iron staff spoke with displeasure.

"With the establishment of the Great Brightness Religious Alliance, actions will naturally be taken by them. We, Zhenyi, are merely filling in gaps for Yue's sake, with no ulterior motives," the old man in black replied with a faint smile.

"You're still so disgusting. Hiding and scheming, manipulating a junior, aren't you ashamed to lose face like this?" the old woman admonished bluntly.

"I'm just following the Sect Leader's orders, no matter the reasons. Three of the Five Sons of Ming Mountain have died, and what? I only retaliated against one of his disciples, and that's excessive? That's losing face?" the old man in black retorted.

"Besides, Zhang Ying has a lot of secrets, really interesting.... I now, I'm merely finding some amusement to pass the time," he said, his face resuming a smile.

The old woman in white snorted coldly, clearly displeased with his manner. She immediately got up and left the seat.

"Then play your own game. I have many matters to attend to and no time for your childish games. When you need me to act, send word," she said, turning and leaving without hesitation.

Yu Wenxing sat alone in his original spot, his smile unchanged.

"Next, I'll add fuel to the fire...."

He cooperates with the Shang family, delivering Zhang Xuan and others, verifying the truth that Zhang Ying is indeed Zhang Rongfang. Also verifying that Zhang Rongfang indeed has ties with the Righteous Alliance.

Then, through the investigation, he obtained all the details about Zhang Rongfang.

Now, compared to Yue Dewen, Zhang Rongfang's weaknesses are far too many....