Slender willows sway in the breeze

Chapter 200: Poisoned

Li Qing listened intently to their conversation with wide eyes, then nodded vigorously: "Sister, Qing'er will come too, to help you find clues!"

Liu Sijun patted Li Qing's head and said with a smile, "Okay, Qing'er, come with us. But be careful once we're inside, and don't touch anything."

The three of them walked towards the library.

The library of Yougu Palace is magnificent and ancient, with a faint scent of books and spiritual energy permeating the surroundings.

Two disciples were guarding the entrance. Upon seeing Liu Sijun and the others, they quickly bowed.

Liu Sijun presented his disciple's token and said, "We need to go to the top floor of the library to examine the ancient forbidden book that has been turned over."

The guarding disciple looked troubled and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Senior Sister Liu, Elder Cai instructed that no one is allowed to enter the top floor of the library without his permission."

Liu Sijun smiled and said, "Is that so? I just returned from Zhongzhou City and heard about the strange things that happened in the palace. I'm curious. Since the Grand Elder has made a rule, then we won't go to the top building. We can just take a look around the library. Is that alright?"

The two exchanged a glance before letting him pass.

Once inside, there were no guards watching over them, and the two went straight to the top floor.

However, at the staircase leading to the top floor, a strong fluctuation of spiritual energy was felt, indicating that someone had set up a barrier to prevent anyone from sneaking up.

Gu Changzhou tried and shook his head: "With my cultivation level, I can't get in."

This barrier was set up by a star lord of the Mahayana stage.

It seems impossible to secretly check it out!

Liu Sijun frowned slightly, secretly pondering a solution.

She knew the power of this barrier. Given their current situation, forcibly breaking in would definitely alert the elders of Yougu Palace. Not only would their investigation be hindered, but it might also arouse unnecessary suspicion.

"Since we can't get in, we can't stay here any longer, lest we attract attention."

Liu Sijun said softly, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

Gu Changzhou nodded, looked around, and said in a low voice, "Let's leave here first and then think of a solution. Perhaps we can start by investigating other people who are closely related to Chu Yanjing."

Li Qing opened her eyes wide, somewhat puzzled, and asked, "Sister, what do we do now?"

Liu Sijun patted Li Qing's head and comforted her, "Qing'er, let's go out first, and then we'll think of a solution slowly."

The three turned and left the library, pretending to be nonchalant as they walked along the path in the secluded valley palace.

As Liu Sijun walked, she kept an eye on the surroundings: "Changzhou, didn't you secretly investigate Chu Yanjing before? Did you notice if Cousin Jing has any particularly good friends or close fellow disciples in Yougu Palace these past few years? We can learn some information from them."

Liu Sijun asked in a low voice.

Gu Changzhou raised an eyebrow and said, "I did investigate before. I remember Gao Kuo saying that he had a good relationship with a disciple named Lin Yu. The two often sparred and discussed their alchemy experiences together."

Liu Sijun's eyes lit up: "Then we can ask this Lin Yu."

Gu Changzhou: "Are you going alone?"

"Okay, you and Qing'er go back to your lodgings first. I'll send you any clues via telepathy as soon as possible."

Gu Changzhou had no choice but to agree.

He had already chased them all the way to Yougu Palace. If he continued to follow them closely, it would easily arouse suspicion from others.

"Okay, then take care of yourself."

After some searching, they finally found Lin Yu's residence.

It was a small courtyard located in a secluded corner of the Valley Palace. You could smell the fragrance of herbs from afar. It turned out that his courtyard did not grow ornamental flowers and plants, but spiritual herbs that could be used to refine elixirs.

Is Senior Brother Lin Yu here?

Liu Sijun stepped forward and knocked on the door. After a while, the door opened, and a disciple of about twenty-four or twenty-five years old appeared at the door. He was clearly surprised to see Liu Sijun.

"Junior Sister Liu, weren't you in Zhongzhou City? Why did you suddenly come back?"

"Excuse me, Senior Brother Lin, may I go in first?"

Lin Yu was taken aback, and quickly stepped aside to gesture for her to come in: "I'm so clumsy with words, I forgot to invite my junior sister in to sit down."

As Liu Sijun stepped into Lin Yu's courtyard, a rich aroma of herbs filled the air.

Large and small alchemy furnaces were scattered throughout the courtyard, and the steam rising from the medicinal herbs inside transformed into colorful clouds in the twilight.

Lin Yu awkwardly rubbed his hands together and led her into the room: "Junior sister, please sit down for a moment, I'll go make some tea."

The interior furnishings were simple, with only the "Nine Revolutions of Alchemy Diagram" hanging on the wall gleaming faintly.

Liu Sijun's gaze was suddenly drawn to several talisman papers scattered on the table—the talismans outlined in cinnabar on them were vaguely similar to the patterns on the shells of the Gu worms that Li Qing had spat out.

"Senior Brother Lin, what's this?"

She lightly touched the talisman with her fingertips.

Lin Yu's hand trembled as he poured water, and the porcelain pot tilted on the table: "This is a spirit-gathering array diagram that I studied in my spare time. It's not very well drawn, so please forgive me, Junior Sister Lin."

Without making a sound, Liu Sijun mobilized his divine sense, and a wisp of black mist suddenly rose from the talisman.

Upon seeing this, Lin Yu's expression changed drastically, and he lunged at the talisman.

Liu Sijun was even faster; the Taixu Mirror rose into the air, and starlight in the mirror pierced through the black mist like swords, revealing the crimson python totem on the back of the talisman.

"This is the mark of the Blood Spirit Sect!" Liu Sijun shouted sternly. "Senior Brother Lin, you'd better explain yourself clearly, or I'll have no choice but to take you to see the Palace Master!"

Lin Yu knelt down with a thud, cold sweat pouring down his forehead: "Junior Sister Liu, I was forced into this situation."

Lin Yu seemed like a timid person. With just a little prodding, he spilled everything: "Three months ago, Junior Brother Chu suddenly changed his personality and forced me to refine a kind of Gu poison that could control minds. He said it was to help Master."

Lin Yu was a disciple who entered the sect through an examination fifteen years ago and became a disciple of Elder Cai. However, due to his cultivation level, even though he was quite talented in alchemy, he was still subject to many limitations.

He could sense that his master's attitude towards him was indifferent.

If he could help his master through this matter, he might gain his master's favor. Without much thought, he agreed.

Just as Lin Yu finished giving his instructions, a whooshing sound came from outside the window.

Liu Sijun spun around and swung his sword, severing the poisoned silver needles that had launched a sneak attack.

Lin Yu suddenly rolled his eyes back, emitted a strange hissing sound from his throat, and traces of wriggling insects appeared under his skin.

Liu Sijun understood perfectly well.

Lin Yu has been bewitched!

Just as Liu Sijun was about to take out the pill, she saw Lin Yu spit out black blood and instantly turn into a pile of white bones.

A crimson-scaled worm emerged from the bones, flapping its wings as if about to take flight.

The Taixu Mirror suddenly trembled violently, and Elder Cai's phantom image appeared in the mirror.

"Liu Sijun, you are indeed clever." His voice echoed with a metallic quality. "Unfortunately, those who know too much always die."

A crimson barrier suddenly enveloped the courtyard, and countless red-scaled Gu worms burst forth from the ground.

When Gu Changzhou burst through the window, his longsword had already transformed into a galaxy of stars, shredding the Gu worms into a bloody mist.

(End of this chapter)