Chapter Fifty-Six: Exposed

Jiang Yiyi’s interest was piqued. If this Zhou Qi truly was the one from the Medicine Immortal Sacred Palace, she wanted to see if he still possessed such boldness.

“Vice Gate Master Han, is Zhou Qi present?” Jiang Yiyi asked.

“Reporting to the Saintess, Zhou Qi is on the Qi Refining battlefield,” Han Yuanzheng answered promptly, not daring to neglect her. He remembered Zhou Qi as the logistics leader of the Qi Refining battlefield—a position he himself had assigned.

“Summon him here,” Jiang Yiyi said, anticipation lighting her eyes. She was eager for Zhou Qi to see her—how dare he take advantage of her before? She wanted to know just how audacious he truly was.

“Yes, Saintess.” Han Yuanzheng bowed, then channeled his spiritual power and shouted, “Where is Zhou Qi? Step forward immediately. The Saintess summons you!”

Han Yuanzheng’s voice echoed across the entire battlefield. Everyone was startled—so Zhou Qi was a hidden master, familiar even with the Saintess of the Heavenly Dao Sect? Was the Heavenly Dao Sect deliberately placing him in the Life-and-Death Gate to incite conflict between the sects? For a moment, all eyes in the Life-and-Death Gate turned toward the Qi Refining battlefield.

Zhou Qi wished he could dig a hole and bury himself. The last person he wanted to see now was Jiang Yiyi. Originally, he hid behind his logistics team, but when they heard their leader’s name called by the gate master, they thought he was about to be praised for valor. Each hurriedly stepped aside, exposing Zhou Qi to the crowd, their expressions tinged with pride: Look—this is the logistics leader who always leads us to victory.

With no other choice, Zhou Qi began walking toward Jiang Yiyi, pondering how he might survive this ordeal.

Five kilometers separated them. Zhou Qi took more than half an hour to reach midway, a pace that, for a cultivator, meant he could have traveled a thousand miles in that time.

The crowd watched Zhou Qi’s slow, reluctant approach, wishing they could kick him forward. To delay the Saintess’s summons seemed audacious, but since Jiang Yiyi hadn’t spoken, no one dared intervene.

“True Lord, once the Bewitching Immortal Array is activated, how wide is its coverage?” Zhou Qi asked. If Jiang Yiyi revealed he had obtained the Medicine Immortal Sacred Palace, he might be forced to flee.

“It should easily cover Huaiwu Dam,” said True Lord Tianxuan.

Zhou Qi was reassured and continued forward at his steady pace.

After waiting for ages and seeing Zhou Qi still inching along, Jiang Yiyi’s expression darkened. She turned to the maid beside her: “Go help him.”

The maid nodded, raised her hand, and with a gesture, Zhou Qi was forcibly brought before Jiang Yiyi and her companions.

Zhou Qi hurriedly bowed to the maid, “Disciple Zhou Qi greets the Saintess of the Heavenly Dao Sect. May the Saintess enjoy health and prosperity, and all things go as you wish!”

The maid was startled and quickly pointed at Jiang Yiyi, “This is the Saintess. You’ve greeted the wrong person!” His lack of perception was astonishing; Jiang Yiyi stood in the center, radiating a unique aura, yet he mistook her identity.

Zhou Qi obediently turned and bowed to Jiang Yiyi. “Disciple Zhou Qi greets the Saintess of the Heavenly Dao Sect. May the Saintess enjoy health and prosperity, and all things go as you wish!”

Jiang Yiyi couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation. “Is that the only phrase you know?”

“Disciple is not skilled with words. I beg the Saintess’s pardon,” Zhou Qi replied, keeping his head low, admiring Jiang Yiyi’s shoes—small and delicate, also white.

“Brother Zhou, it’s been a while since we last parted. I trust you’ve been well?” Jiang Yiyi smiled at his manner.

“Saintess, you must be mistaken. I have never met you, so how could there have been a parting?” Zhou Qi looked up, his face calm and unflustered, filled with confusion.

Jiang Yiyi was filled with doubt. Was there really someone who looked exactly like him, with the same name and demeanor? How could he fabricate such an implausible story?

“So you truly aren’t the one from the Medicine Immortal Sacred Palace?” Jiang Yiyi pressed, seeing Zhou Qi refuse to acknowledge.

“I did go to the Medicine Immortal Sacred Palace, but I only reached the first trial. I was imprisoned there and only released at the very end,” Zhou Qi replied, echoing his previous explanation to Han Yuanzheng and Long Chengye.

“Is that so? Since you aren’t that person, I must hand you over to Vice Gate Master Long, as he requested,” Jiang Yiyi said with a smile.

…

Whether he admitted it or not, it was over. Zhou Qi was stunned. Jiang Yiyi, with such a beautiful face, seemed almost simple-minded. Clearly, he had secrets he couldn’t reveal—what was he supposed to do in front of so many people?

At that thought, Zhou Qi steeled himself. If she wouldn’t let him be, then he’d make her uncomfortable as well.

“Saintess, wait. Since our last parting, I have often recalled your figure, unable to forget your delicate hands, tossing and turning, sleepless at night. Only now have I learned that the woman who shared tender moments with me was the exalted Saintess of the Heavenly Dao Sect, while I am merely an elder’s disciple. How could I dare to acknowledge you?” Zhou Qi’s face showed regret—bitterness and resignation mingled. His spiritual sense had already entered his storage pouch; the Bewitching Immortal Array could be activated at any moment.

His words stunned everyone. Did the Saintess and Zhou Qi share a secret? Tender moments? Long Chengye’s heart tightened—if Zhou Qi and the Saintess truly had something between them, his own plans would fall apart.

Jiang Yiyi’s face visibly reddened. So he was indeed that person. To say such things before everyone—who shared tender moments with you? How could she face anyone after this?

“You’re talking nonsense…” Jiang Yiyi said, both embarrassed and angry.

To the crowd, her response sounded like a feeble denial. Truly bold—he dared touch even the Saintess of the Heavenly Dao Sect. From the look of it, he must have succeeded, some thought.

“Young man, mind your words. How dare you slander the Saintess? If you utter another word, I’ll erase you with a single finger,” scolded a maid behind Jiang Yiyi. She was in her thirties or forties, dignified and composed, her rebuke carrying innate authority.

“If you want to know whether I speak nonsense, ask the Saintess, not me,” Zhou Qi retorted, fearless.

“You…” The maid was about to act, but Jiang Yiyi stopped her.

“Sharp-tongued and deceitful. I thought the one chosen by the Medicine Immortal would be a gentleman. I wanted to ask you about alchemy, but you’ve disappointed me greatly,” Jiang Yiyi scolded, cheeks flushed, though her voice remained melodious and her bearing graceful.

Her words silenced the crowd. The Medicine Immortal Sacred Palace was truly in his hands, Long Chengye realized.

Even Han Yuanzheng’s mouth formed an O. This boy was hiding so deeply, even he had been deceived.

Only after speaking did Jiang Yiyi sense something was amiss. The maid stepped forward, fixing her gaze on Zhou Qi. “The Medicine Immortal Sacred Palace is in your possession?”

Jiang Yiyi quickly stopped her. “Aunt Bing, what are you doing? I was only speculating.”

“Saintess, the Medicine Immortal Sacred Palace is of grave importance. Even if it’s speculation, we must seize him now. Forgive my boldness,” the maid called Aunt Bing replied.

“Zhou Qi, so it was you who killed my son. I’ll avenge Feiyu’s death!” Long Chengye saw that obtaining the Medicine Immortal’s legacy was now a fantasy. The Heavenly Dao Sect knew—the opportunity was lost. All that remained was revenge.

“And if I did?” Zhou Qi said coldly.

“Seize him!” Aunt Bing commanded. Three people behind her and Long Chengye moved to act.