Chapter 3: Jinx or Harbinger of Doom

Yun Zhao pondered for a moment. "If I keep pestering you, I’ll tell you, I’m cursed with bad luck. Anyone I cling to will have misfortune follow them!"

Qi Yan sneered, "You expect me to believe that?"

Thinking quickly, Yun Zhao gave examples: "The first time I tried to help you escape, we ran into Song Zhiyuan and you ended up whipped a hundred times; this morning when I came to save you, I accidentally fell on you, making your injuries worse; and there’s more..."

At this, Qi Yan’s face darkened. "Enough," he said sharply.

He didn’t want to be reminded of his failed demonic cultivation and the sealing of his powers. Today’s failure was probably even later than the time he had succumbed to demonic influence in his former life, which jeopardized his grand plan for revenge...

Qi Yan’s eyes grew cold. That made it all the more necessary for him to keep his distance from Yun Zhao.

But now that he had no cultivation, even though Yun Zhao brought him bad luck and teased him, at least she wouldn’t kill him anytime soon.

Here, there was food, drink, and cultivation resources. He decided to stay and cultivate first, then later avenge the humiliations of both his past and present lives before leaving. He would make her suffer the ultimate loss—both of wealth and loved ones...

“Fine, I’ll stay here,” he said.

Yun Zhao was relieved. "Good, I’m glad you’ve made up your mind."

“Oh, by the way, can you hide that demonic aura of yours? If it weren’t for the protective formation here, someone would have found out already.”

Yun Zhao frowned. "But I can’t keep the formation on all the time."

It consumed too many spirit stones.

Qi Yan thought for a moment, then used the concealment technique he had learned in his previous life to suppress his aura. "How about now?"

Yun Zhao sensed and said, "Gone. As long as the sect master doesn’t come here, you’re safe."

Qi Yan haughtily replied, "The sect master of Qingyun Sect? He wouldn’t be able to detect it either, unless he has a demon-revealing mirror."

Yun Zhao exhaled in relief. "Impossible. Qingyun Sect doesn’t have such a thing."

“Senior Sister Zhao Zhao, are you inside? The sect master wants you and the guest to come to the council hall.”

Qi Yan turned to Yun Zhao. "Are you sure you’re only cursed with bad luck?"

Not a jinx?

Yun Zhao was speechless.

On the way to the council hall, Yun Zhao tried subtly to find out why the sect master had summoned them.

A junior disciple whispered, “I was on guard duty today. I overheard Senior Brother Song mention demons and spies to the sect master, but I don’t know the details.”

So it was that despicable Song Zhiyuan who had reported them.

Yun Zhao wondered—didn’t he fear losing Qi Yan, who served as his scapegoat for disasters?

As the male lead, Song Zhiyuan had endured many calamities since childhood, most of which Qi Yan had taken on for him.

Yun Zhao transmitted to Qi Yan, "What do you think? Is Song Zhiyuan trying to expose your identity?"

Qi Yan gave her a look that said—

When the enemy comes, meet it head-on; when water comes, cover it with earth.

Besides, you like me. You’d protect me, right?

Qi Yan was utterly confident.

Yun Zhao curled her lips and withdrew the transmission.

At the council hall, Sect Master Guiyuan Zhenren, Song Zhiyuan, and the five peak masters of Qingyun Sect’s Five Elements Peak were all present.

“Sect Master, you called me?” Yun Zhao entered holding Qi Yan’s hand and bowed to Guiyuan Zhenren and the five peak masters.

Seeing their joined hands, Song Zhiyuan’s expression darkened.

“So Zhao Zhao is here?”

Guiyuan Zhenren said kindly, “Please sit. We called you today to ask who this person beside you is. While Qingyun Sect is hospitable, for the safety of our disciples, we need to clarify.”

Yun Zhao found a seat farthest from Song Zhiyuan, pulled Qi Yan down beside her, and recounted how she had discovered and rescued Qi Yan.

“Junior sister,” Song Zhiyuan looked uneasy, “why do you lie?”

“This person is obviously a demon, sneaking into the sect with unknown intentions. You should stay away from him to avoid harm.”

Yun Zhao stood up angrily. “Senior Brother Song, I didn’t expect you to be so narrow-minded. I know you resent Qi Yan for calling you heartless and ungrateful, but I never thought you’d slander him as a demon!”

She sniffled, feeling wronged. “Sect Master, peak masters, you all know I like Senior Brother Song and have chased after him for years, but he never responded."

“Today, at the sect’s recruitment, he acted intimately with a new disciple. Heartbroken, I went to the back mountain and unexpectedly met Qi Yan.”

Holding Qi Yan’s hand tightly, her eyes sparkled. “Seeing him, I realized everything else was meaningless. I... I like him…”

She shyly lowered her head.

A girl’s blush spoke louder than any speech. Qi Yan, though wary, wondered if she was really acting.

It didn’t seem like acting—she appeared genuinely smitten.

After her moment of shyness, Yun Zhao said coldly, “Senior Brother Song, is your grudge against Qi Yan because I’ve switched my affections?”

Everyone in Qingyun Sect knew about the tangled history between Yun Zhao and Song Zhiyuan. Guiyuan Zhenren hesitated. “Zhiyuan, Zhao Zhao makes a valid point. If you slandered…”

“Sect Master,” Yun Zhao hurriedly interrupted, “his name is Qi Yan.”

She suddenly thought to seize the opportunity to clear a path for Qi Yan to join Qingyun Sect.

Guiyuan Zhenren nodded and continued, “If you slander Senior Brother Qi as a demon, I will surely punish you.”

Song Zhiyuan’s face darkened. “Master, I have never slandered anyone. Whether he is a demon or not, you can test for yourself.”

Guiyuan Zhenren did not answer him but instead looked at Qi Yan for confirmation.

Qi Yan nodded and spoke for the first time since entering, “Please, Zhenren.”

His voice was clear and pure like water dripping onto green stone.

The five peak masters, acting as a backdrop, exchanged glances: no wonder Yun Zhao turned her affections elsewhere. He was handsome and had a pleasant voice—just her type.

The Gold Peak Master smiled, “They say appearance reflects the heart. I sensed nothing demonic. Zhiyuan, surely you don’t truly believe what Zhao Zhao says…”

Yun Zhao was the sole bloodline of the former sect master. Provided it did not affect their own interests, they were willing to lend a hand.

The stronger a cultivator, the more sensitive to foreign auras. Guiyuan Zhenren, a powerful figure at the Divine Spirit stage, released his divine awareness to examine Qi Yan.

Under Song Zhiyuan’s expectant gaze, Guiyuan Zhenren withdrew his divine awareness. “None detected.”

Song Zhiyuan blurted, “How can that be!”

Yun Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and said bluntly, “I rescued Qi Yan from the back mountain of Qingyun Peak. There are many demons and beasts there—it’s normal that he carries some of their aura.”

“Senior Brother Song, why are you so certain Qi Yan is a demon? Do you have a way to ‘turn’ him into one?”

Yun Zhao watched Song Zhiyuan warily, shielding Qi Yan behind her.

Forced to stop activating his secret technique by her action, Song Zhiyuan was at a loss.

Seeing him falter, Yun Zhao secretly gave Qi Yan a victorious hand gesture.

Qi Yan’s lips twitched with a slight smile, but he quickly suppressed it.

Just then, a disciple outside reported, “Sect Master, Senior Brother Song’s family sent a demon-revealing mirror. Should we let them in?”

Song Zhiyuan’s face lit up with confidence. “Master, whether he is a demon or not, the mirror will show it.”

“Qi Yan, do you dare to try?”