Chen Changsheng placed his Copper Coins on the table and performed some Divination.

After Manyue appeared, she asked, “Providence is Disrupted. How can you divine anything?”

Chen Changsheng shook the Copper Coins in his hands. “Just trying,” he replied.

The coins fell onto the table, scattering across its surface.

He glanced at the result. It didn’t surprise him.

“This Demon Sovereign truly has extraordinary power,” Chen Changsheng remarked.

Manyue couldn’t help but shake her head. She would’ve been shocked if he had predicted something else.

Chen Changsheng picked up the Copper Coins one by one and slipped them into his pocket. Every coin counted, no matter how small.

“When do you plan to leave?” Manyue asked.

“Soon,” Chen Changsheng answered. “But this time, I must go alone. I need you stay and watch over them.”

“Them?” Manyue echoed.

“Those flowers,” Chen Changsheng clarified.

“Why not take them with you?” Manyue inquired.

“I want to take them along, but lack the strength.”

Chen Changsheng wished he could bring them, but his journey led toward death.

He’d tried many times before to bring living creatures into death. Results were always disappointing.

The only exceptions were the Black Pagoda and the Rain-Listening Sword.

Probably because they were artifacts and a sword’s spirit.

A Sword Spirit wasn’t considered a living thing?

Chen Changsheng couldn’t grasp the logic behind this. After he died, he also lost all sense of the Black Pagoda and the Rain-Listening Sword.

After a moment’s reflection, Manyue agreed.

Her injuries hadn’t healed. Staying here to recover seemed a wise choice.

“Don’t forget to set up a Seal when you leave,” Manyue reminded him.

“Rest easy,” Chen Changsheng assured her.

He already had a plan.

Later on, he decided, he would need to find a Grotto-Abode. Yun Manor was nice, but it felt too crowded for his liking.

He would attend to that next time. For now, time grew short.

“BOOM!”

A low thunderclap suddenly rolled across the sky.

Soon after, the sound of gentle rain pattered against the window.

Distant rustling filled the air.

Chen Changsheng peered outside. Seeing rain drifting through the window, he rose to shut it.

Halfway there, he spotted a Tabby Cat climbing onto the windowsill.

“Seeking shelter from the rain?” Chen Changsheng asked.

“Yes,” said the Tabby Cat. “Mo Yu is right outside the door.”

Chen Changsheng replied, “I’ll see he comes in shortly.”

“Okay.”

Hearing this, the Tabby Cat entered the room.

Chen Changsheng went to open the door and let Mo Yu inside.

Mo Yu was thoroughly drenched, a pitiful sight.

In contrast, the Tabby Cat fared much better, perhaps due to its quick movements.

“Mo Yu got soaked. Lihua will blow on you!”

“Huff, puff, puff…”

Mo Yu responded, “It will dry soon.”

“Oh…” the Tabby Cat answered quietly. “Then Lihua won’t blow anymore. But Lihua is very warm. Mo Yu, come here!”

“After I’m dry.”

“Oh.”

Chen Changsheng set down his brush and glanced at the pair. “How many years have you two lived?” he asked.

The Tabby Cat blinked. “Hmm… oh, so many, many years,” it mumbled. Counting proved challenging.

“Lihua is simple by nature. Always has been,” Mo Yu explained. “Please do not mind.”

Chen Changsheng said, “I see nothing wrong with that.”

“Mmm.”

The Tabby Cat blinked again and nudged Mo Yu gently. “What secret are you both whispering? Lihua doesn’t understand…” it questioned.

Chen Changsheng answered, “Mo Yu says you aren’t bright.”

“Ah!” the Tabby Cat flushed, eyes snapping toward Mo Yu. “Mo Yu lies! Where exactly isn’t Lihua bright?”

Mo Yu stared in shock at Chen Changsheng. “Why must you resort to such petty tricks?”

“Eat my fist! Hah!”

The Tabby Cat landed its soft, feathery punch on Mo Yu, more like patting his back.

Chen Changsheng chuckled heartily. “But Chen has always been like this.”

“…” Mo Yu sighed softly. He’d known many Daoist Cultivators, none quite as shameless as the one before him.

A dignified air and saintly grace? Both seemed entirely absent.

…….

The rain lasted over an hour.

The Tabby Cat bounced energetically around inside the room. Perhaps tired, it curled up asleep within Mo Yu’s embrace.

An Oil Lamp flickered upon the table.

Chen Changsheng held a book detailing Alchemy. Though unlikely he’d master it fully or even find use for it soon, a bit more knowledge never hurt.

Nearing dawn, Chen Changsheng sensed movement within his sleeve.

He raised his hand and released Yin Mingcheng from confinement.

“Daoist Friend Chen, do you know when I can return to the Immortal Mountain?” Chen Changsheng replied, “When Yun Li finishes his investigation, the Azure Phoenix Palace will be notified to come and pick you up.”

Yin Mingcheng said, “That young friend must be troubled on my behalf then.”

Chen Changsheng asked, “You truly recall nothing at all?”

Yin Mingcheng answered, “Regarding why I ended up inside that Evil Spirit, I have no memory whatsoever.”

“Oh.”

Chen Changsheng acknowledged and then lowered his head to continue reading.

Yin Mingcheng pondered inwardly, wondering if he had revealed some flaw, or if this man knew something.

Boom…

The rain had stopped, but distant rumbles of thunder still echoed in the sky.

Chen Changsheng glanced outside, seeing flashes of lightning within the clouds.

He looked at Yin Mingcheng and asked, “Evil Spirits are abandoned by Heaven. So, do you know how Heaven abandons the wicked?”

Yin Mingcheng replied, “Naturally, it’s the Heavenly Thunder of Heaven’s Punishment.”

“So you do know that.”

Chen Changsheng remarked.

Yin Mingcheng’s heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean, Daoist Friend? Are you implying I am an Evil Spirit? Though ambushed by that creature, surely I haven’t become one myself?”

“What defines ‘evil’?” Chen Changsheng pressed. “Do you think only those possessing Evil Qi can be called evil?”

Yin Mingcheng answered, “Of course.”

Chen Changsheng shook his head. “Does Yin Energy count as Evil Qi?”

“It certainly does.”

“Yet I’ve heard of Yin ghosts who saved lives and sacrificed themselves righteously. Were they evil too?”

“This…”

Chen Changsheng continued, “What if a righteous Daoist Cultivator entered the Mortal World, slaughtered countless people, and bathed in blood? Would that be evil?”

Yin Mingcheng opened his mouth. “No… not necessarily…”

Chen Changsheng stated, “In my view, the term ‘Evil Spirit’ speaks to the wicked mind. Ultimately, it comes down to character. Imagine a cultivator dwelling between Heaven and Earth, dispelling Evil Spirits and wicked minds to protect a region’s peace, while also sustaining himself. Would such a being be righteous… or evil?”

Yin Mingcheng opened his mouth but found no words.

Chen Changsheng went on, “It really boils down to the intent within the heart. And this Disrupted Providence… it gives too many people opportunities. Some will always try to muddy the waters. But even amid Disrupted Providence, how could it ever be the turn of lowly scoundrels to cause chaos?”

Yin Mingcheng froze, realization suddenly dawning.

Bang!

In an instant, he transformed into a plume of black smoke and fled towards the window!

Chen Changsheng did not give chase, merely watching calmly.

Suddenly, a brilliant flash of lightning erupted.

BOOM!!

A bolt of Heavenly Thunder crashed down.

Yin Mingcheng, now outside the house, felt terror grip him.

“Why?!”

He screamed as the thunderbolt struck him.

A piercing shriek followed.

Yin Mingcheng’s Soul Spirit was completely destroyed; the Evil Qi within him dissipated at that very moment.

Chen Changsheng glanced at the scene, then gently blew out the window towards the settling dust kicked up by the Heavenly Thunder.

The Green-Robed Gentleman lowered his head and resumed reading.

As if nothing had happened at all.