Turning Point
Under a sky of perfect midnight velvet, under stars so brilliant they drew the eyes heaven bound, the lyrics of bugs and insects softly played. Meanwhile, a turbulent breeze threatening to send one to hell and promising to take another paradise started to stir at Formation Sect.
“Xiaoshuai, Dragon Vine, I’ll need your help tomorrow,” Mu Yu softly muttered from the tallest peak.
Crunch! Xiaoshuai took a bite of his apple and, with a full mouth, replied, “Naw broblem.”
“Mu Yu, I think it’s better to not invite Rodent. He’s a hazard.”
“When hab I eber mezzed up, Gaterbillar?!”
“Says the one who loses sight of the objective whenever food is involved.”
“Right, I take that as an ‘okay’. Stick to the plan, and I’ll handle the rest.”
Noticing Mu Yu musing over something, the dragon vine queried, “You thinking about Situ Yangtian and Mu Chenghong?”
“Yeah. If they don’t enter Formation Palace, the entire plan goes out the window.”
“By the way, why did Mu Chenghong insist you check out the third formation tablet?” prompted the dragon vine.
“I… don’t know. I don’t know if I should go check it out.”
“If we lose tomorrow, Formation Sect is toast. If Formation Sect is toast, what does first, second or third formation tablet even matter?” Xiaoshuai commented.
Mu Yu moved his line of sight to Advancement Hall. It was arguably one of the quietest places all night as everyone was resting up for tomorrow’s tournament – or invasion.
“You’re right. There’s no reason for us to bother with it.”
Mu Chenghong watched Mu Yu leave. The formation cast on himself gradually faded as he hid in the darkness. He cast his eyes to the moon’s bright friends and muttered under his breath, “Formation Sect’s demise draws closer.”
With that, Mu Chenghong vanished into the night.
Mu Yu wasn’t the only insomniac that night. Lu Deyi, who wore a long face at a stone table, had tea that had gone cold in front of him. He couldn’t put his figure on why he felt uneasy ever since meeting Zhou Jinglin today. He knew there was a lapse in memory for a brief second when their eyes met, leading to him feeling paranoid. He once had the same experience when they locked eyes at Celestial Star Sect.
“Could Zhou Jinglin have cast some talisman technique on me? There’s no way he could’ve cast one without me being aware.
Suddenly, a disturbance in Lu Deyi’s residential formation alerted him of a trespasser. Seeing Situ Yangtian’s somewhat haggard and despondent visage set alight a fire in Lu Deyi. The two had known each other for decades and, although they bickered over the most trivial of things, Lu Deyi never resented Situ Yangtian.
Voice deep, Lu Deyi questioned, “Situ Yangtian, what are you doing here?”
Situ Yangtian meandered over and sat down on the stone seat. It was the first time Lu Deyi saw Situ Yangtian so troubled. Both of them were wary of each other tonight. Situ Yangtian summoned the teapot to his hand and poured himself a cup of tea. Frowning after a nip, Situ Yangtian commented, “The tea has gone cold.”
“My tea is not for cold-blooded people.”
Situ Yangtian stared into Lu Deyi’s eyes and asked, “The two of us have known each other for eighty-two years, haven’t we?”
“You’re not here to catch up, are you?” Lu Deyi picked up his teacup and heated it with his spiritual energy.
Situ Yangtian’s smile perturbed Lu Deyi, who remained vigilant of his old friend. Situ Yangtian uttered, “I’m here… to kill you.”
Crack! Lu Deyi crushed his cup and churned spiritual energy up for a confrontation. “You can’t even wait one more night?!”
“I can’t because Formation Sect will be exterminated by then. I must stop you before you can ruin Formation Sect,” answered Situ Yangtian, sounding as strange as his answer.
Lu Deyi furrowed his brows. “What are you talking about?”
“You can stop with the façade. I’m cognisant you’re Talisman Sect’s spy.”
Lu Deyi flinched and then shrouded himself in purple formation patterns, crushing the table with his power and thundered, “Situ Yangtian, that’s the most shameless thing to ever come out of your mouth. You’re the spy around here! I’ll thwart all of your schemes!”
“I’ve done my homework; I know you and Mu Chenghong are Talisman Sect’s spies. You’re the reason we’ve been losing clients. Did you really think nobody noticed? Did you really think the eighty-two years we’ve known each other amounts to nothing? You may be able to slip under someone else’s radar but not mine. You and Zhou Jinglin are in cahoots, no?” Situ Yangtian also prepared himself for battle.
What is he talking about? Could Situ Yangtian be innocent? Feng Mu said he’s a spy. I don’t get it, deliberated Lu Deyi.
Lu Deyi heard scampering footsteps encroaching, amplifying his unease.
“Situ Yangtian, you really are perceptive.” Zhou Jinglin emerged from the darkness, revealing his victorious simper.
Situ Yangtian and Lu Deyi regarded each other with a frown. Both men could see mutual confusion.
“You brought an ally to assassinate me?” questioned Lu Deyi.
“Me? Isn’t he your master?” Situ Yangtian snapped.
“Okay, okay, you two. Greater Heaven Caster Lu, look over here,” Zhou Jinglin playfully demanded.
Lu Deyi couldn’t help looking Zhou Jinglin’s way. As a dark-brown light flitted across Zhou Jinglin’s eyes, Lu Deyi blanked out.
“I am at your service, Master.”
Lu Deyi’s voice and eyes were devoid of any emotion. The same phenomenon was seen when Mu Yu put the Heaven Stage disciples and formation casters under his control using Divine Soul Formation. Lu Deyi was completely unaware he was under Zhou Jinglin’s control.
The real spy working for Talisman Sect was Lu Deyi!
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