"It does sound quite reasonable."
Baili Fengzhi nodded slightly, then looked at Priest Tu with a playful and suspicious gaze, whispering, "But why do I feel like you are putting on an act?"
"Putting on an act?" Priest Tu looked at her, forced a bitter smile, and said, "If the Great Commander thinks so, then it must be so, as there's no difference now."
He knew that although the Great Commander, who defended the border and commanded an army of 150,000, was young, her insight should not be underestimated — she was not so easily deceived.
However, fortunately, he had prepared a sufficiently convincing lie based on what Lin Yue had just said.
"That kind of reason won't fool me."
Baili Fengzhi squinted her narrow phoenix eyes, whispering, "Just now, Lin Yue said that since you couldn't use spells and couldn't even afford to buy wine, he bought wine for you. That's the reason you became friends with him? Doesn't that sound too much like a plot from a storybook?"
I knew it wouldn't work; the kid is still too young... Priest Tu muttered to himself.
Outwardly, he shook his head and sighed, "It was only that naive boy's own belief, nothing more. The real reason has already been spoken by me just a moment ago."
"The real reason?"
Baili Fengzhi recalled briefly and said, "Because he has a background just as lonely and helpless as yours, and you were moved by his talent?"
"If it were merely a few jugs of wine, would I consider him an heir to my mantle?" Priest Tu smiled bitterly, "But I never expected that in the end, my old eyes would be blurred, and I mistook the person..."
"Talent recognition?"
Baili Fengzhi frowned slightly as she looked at him, saying, "He is merely a secular disciple from a Daoist institution. He himself said he has no talent for cultivation. You see him as an heir to your mantle? Moreover, he knows nothing, and at his age, his innate qi is no longer pure. What kind of talent recognition is that?"
"It was just a test."
Priest Tu sighed, "But, indeed, it's meaningless now. With such a disposition, he has no qualification to be my heir."
"A test?" Baili Fengzhi said coldly, "You think I would believe you just by what you say?"
That's exactly what I was hoping for — you not believing me... Priest Tu fell silent for a bit, then suddenly said, "My lord, I can reveal a secret about Lin Yue, but there's a condition I hope you'll agree to."
Baili Fengzhi glanced at him, saying indifferently, "State your condition first."
Priest Tu slowly said, "The condition is simple: do not let Lin Yue know about this matter, and don't think about having him cultivate."
"What?"
...
With a clanging sound, the prison door opened, and Baili Fengzhi emerged from the cell, her war robe as red as blazing fire.
Under her silver mask, her phoenix eyes still held a trace of shock, which then turned into a suspicion.
"My lord."
Vice General Chu stood outside the cell door and saw Baili Fengzhi coming out, immediately closing the cell door again.
"Where is Lin Yue?" Baili Fengzhi asked.
"He's in the side room," Vice General Chu promptly replied.
Baili Fengzhi gave a slight nod, "Let's see him."
In a short while, the two arrived in front of a room used for resting by the prison guards. Two armored soldiers stood guarding the entrance.
Inside the side room was Lin Yue, alone; at this moment, he sat behind a table, silently daydreaming.
"Lin Yue."
Baili Fengzhi's voice sounded somewhat cool.
"Great Commander." Lin Yue rose to his feet, took a step back, and saluted by cupping one hand in the other before his chest.
Baili Fengzhi looked at him, seated herself opposite at the table, and said, "There's no need to stand, sit down, and stretch out your hand."
What does she mean? Lin Yue was slightly startled, but he sat down and held out his left hand.
Baili Fengzhi said nothing but stretched out her hand, resting her slender fingertips against his wrist.
Her fingers did not have the slightly chilly sensation of other women's fingertips; instead, they were somewhat warm, as if her body contained flowing flames.
The next moment, Lin Yue felt a strand of dark force, carrying a scorching breath, flowing out from her fingertips and into his body.
It seemed to be probing something, slowly circulating within him.
What is she checking?
Lin Yue didn't quite understand. What had Priest Tu spoken to Baili Fengzhi about in private?
Soon enough, Baili Fengzhi withdrew her hand, whispering, "Just as I thought."
"What does the Great Commander mean?" Lin Yue asked.
Baili Fengzhi glanced at him, said nothing, and with a wave of her sleeve, brushed past the hand Lin Yue had laid on the table.
In an instant, her fingertips grazed over Lin Yue's palm like a caress and then withdrew quickly.
Lin Yue felt a pang of pain in his palm; looking down, he saw a small cut from which a blood pearl was slowly emerging.
"That will do."
Baili Fengzhi showed no intention of explaining; she simply said, "Now, let's talk about the important matters."
"What important matters does the Great Commander wish to discuss?" Lin Yue looked at her with some confusion.
"You should be clear about the reason I brought Priest Tu here," Baili Fengzhi said nonchalantly.
"Of course, it's to find Xia Lie," Lin Yue slowly said.
"Although Priest Tu does not admit it, in the whole of Qingdu, only he has such capabilities. Xia Lie laid his hands on you, and he valued you quite a bit, so I can only suspect him. Therefore, in any case, he can't escape involvement," Baili Fengzhi said indifferently.
She looked at Lin Yue and asked, "Based on what you know of him, do you think he did it?"
Lin Yue pondered for a moment and said, "My lord, I have a question to ask you."
Baili Fengzhi glanced at him, "Speak."
"If Xia Lie's disappearance really is because of Priest Tu, but Priest Tu does not hand over Xia Lie, what would happen to him?" Lin Yue asked.