After being reborn as an ugly cannon fodder, my appearance stats are off the charts!

Xie Shihong arrived at Chuiyun Stream.

Efeng's body lay on that couch.

His eyes were still open, and the burning, obsessive look on his face had completely frozen.

It was clear that Efeng and Yan'an had become husband and wife, and the two lived together in this secluded valley for half a year...

Hmph, so this is the Heavenly Demon True Technique.

Since Efeng broke the rules, he was destined to die; the only difference was who would kill him.

He managed to keep his whereabouts a secret for half a year, especially from a behemoth like Zhaoyue Manor; half a year is the limit.

If he hadn't died at Yan An's hands, he would have died at Xie Shihong's hands at this very moment.

After examining the state of the body, Xie Shihong confirmed that he had died no earlier than 5:00 PM.

If Yan'an left on his own, he probably hadn't gone too far at this point.

But there were no other people or corpses in the valley, not even a servant could be found... It was more likely that Yan An had been taken away by outsiders.

Xie Shihong didn't look at it any longer. He ordered the body to be buried on the spot, which was a fitting tribute to their friendship over the years. Then he turned and left to chase after the person.

Xie Shihong was able to remain so calm, but his subordinates were not.

Looking at the dead E Feng, I was deeply shaken.

No matter how powerful or influential a person once was, they were no longer a force to be reckoned with.

After death, one is nothing more than a handful of dust.

In a daze, the butler seemed to see a predetermined destiny.

If it belongs to Efeng, then perhaps... it also belongs to Xie Shihong.

The thought only flashed through my mind.

The deacon's mind had already turned to how to extract more benefits from the inevitable disintegration of the Hidden Demon Sect after E Feng's death.

…………

Moling City, City Lord's Mansion, Yimei Residence.

Yan An sat on the cushion, facing a young man whose appearance was unfamiliar.

The young man, who called himself Qin Bing, said with barely concealed madness in his expression, "Your Highness, it was Xie Shihong who wanted to make you lose your memory. My master and I both practiced the Soul-Capturing Technique, so he came after us... But I didn't do it; it was all my master's doing!"

Does your master know how filial you are...?

"After that incident, I've always wanted to find you, Holy Son, and help you regain your memories! But not long after, you disappeared in Ruiyun City..."

Yan An disappeared for half a year.

The Qin Bing in front of me probably doesn't know where I'm going or when I'll appear.

Yan An said almost with certainty, "It was City Lord Zhongli who found you first, right? Tell me, when was that?"

Qin Bing nodded hurriedly, "Yes... that was about half a year ago..."

More than half a year ago, Yan An lost his memory, and only two months later, he was taken away by E Feng.

No sooner had he lost his memory than Zhong Lijun found Qin Bing.

However, during the two months he lived at Xie Shihong's residence in Ruiyun City after losing his memory, he only saw Xie Shihong and E Feng, but never Zhong Lijun.

Where exactly is Zhongli Jun hiding?

…………

Zhong Lijun watched over Yan An as she regained her memory.

After much effort, Qin Bing finally managed to break the spell that blocked Yan An's memories.

But seeing Yan An half-lying on the couch, in a dazed state, as if he were at the mercy of others, he couldn't resist pouncing on him.

Before he could even touch Yan An's finger, Zhong Lijun slapped him away.

He coughed up blood, but still desperately tried to lift his head to look at Yan An. He was so obsessed that he was trembling all over. The pain was not from being injured, but from the endless desire that was tearing at his heart and soul, driving him almost to madness.

If Zhong Lijun weren't here, if only he and Yan An were here...

When Yan An finally regained full consciousness, he saw Qin Bing still coughing up blood.

He remembered.

The day I lost my memory.

He had seen this young man before.

The young man was also slapped twice by an elderly man with white hair...

At that time, Xie Shihong was standing next to him and called the old man Qin Jing.

Yan An remembered everything, including how Wu Xiang had held off E Feng in Linjiang City, allowing him to escape with Han Tianshuo.

He remembered Han Tianshuo, Qian Longyuan, Shi Xin, the Han family that Shi Xin mentioned, and the past secrets between E Feng, Jie Shihong, Zhong Lijun, and Ruiyun Sect...

I recalled what I learned later: Wuxiang was both Zhongli Xiang and the master of Tianji Pavilion.

Therefore, Tianji Pavilion is probably also inextricably linked to Moling City.

He also remembered the Lingchun Banquet.

There's no need to look for relatives anymore.

Because Chu Chenhuan had already died at that time.

This is why he hated E Feng, and also loathed Xie Shihong and Zhong Lijun.

……

Yan An sat on the soft couch by the window, gazing at the old plum tree in the courtyard outside.

Suddenly, he turned around and looked at Zhongli Jun, who was sitting by the table, like an old monk in deep meditation—but was actually looking at him in deep meditation.

"Lord Zhongli, now that my memories have returned, I wish to leave this place."

As Yan An uttered his last words, he suddenly thought of E Feng.

Before killing Efeng, he also told Efeng that he "wanted to leave".

Zhong Lijun remained silent for a moment before speaking: "The news of E Feng's death is already known throughout the world... The Hidden Demon Sect is leaderless and has completely collapsed, with too many disciples escaping... And you are both the Holy Son and the Young Demon Lord, and it is no secret that you killed E Feng... Many people want to capture you. They believe that you obtained some divine elixir, rare treasure, or secret poison to kill E Feng... Now, the outside world is very dangerous for you."

The only people who knew that he had killed E Feng were Zhong Lijun, Xie Shihong and their subordinates, and the group of deaf and mute servants... It just goes to show that the more people there are, the harder it is to keep a secret.

Even so...

Yan An said softly, "It seems I can't keep any secrets. I wonder how Wu Xiang, or Zhongli Xiang, or perhaps we should call him Pavilion Master Wuming, managed to keep his secret for so many years? I really want to ask your brother, Lord Zhongli, for some advice."

Zhongli Jun shook his head and said, "There's no need to ask. His secret is already common knowledge."

Yan An choked for a moment.

He glared at Zhong Lijun: "So, in the end, you just don't want me to leave?"

Zhong Lijun actually nodded honestly.

Why?

"Look at you," Zhong Lijun pointed to his head, "there's no sound here."

Yan An noticed that Zhong Lijun's mind seemed to be a bit unclear.

He recalled what he had heard at the Lingchun Banquet: that Zhongli Jun and the other two were once nothing more than a beggar, a fool, and the son of a down-on-his-luck merchant.

Was Zhong Lijun really a fool before?

But even if he is a little silly, Zhong Lijun is definitely not stupid in the sense of being mentally challenged.

His "foolishness" must have some other reason.

In short, it seems that now whatever he asks Zhong Lijun, the other party will answer.

"How did you know I had amnesia? And how were you able to find Qin Bing so quickly?"

"...Because I've always been here."

"What do you mean by 'always been'... What else do you know?" Yan An said kindly, "Tell me everything."

Zhongli Jun then recounted everything in detail: "Since the Lingchun Banquet..."

Yan An's vision went black.

To translate what Zhongli Jun said, he had actually been secretly following Yan An ever since the Lingchun Banquet.

It all started when E Feng led Yan An to hunt down the sects that had tried to assassinate him...

Zhong Li was never absent from the journey.

Unless E Feng and Yan An stay in a certain place for a long time, such as during the Linjiang City period, then according to the agreement between E Feng, Xie Shihong, and Zhong Lijun—unless the location is agreed in advance, they will never step into the area where the other party has settled—Zhong Lijun will not enter the city's territory, but will only wait outside the city.

When the rumors about the so-called divine pill first came out, E Feng only sent a decoy, while he himself was near Linjiang City.

Unexpectedly, Yan An actually managed to escape that time.

Only Zhongli Jun, relying on the many secrets he had learned from the Tianji Pavilion, quickly guessed the existence of the underground waterway.

Then, during the time when Yan An eloped with Han Tianshuo.

Zhong Lijun was actually the first to find Yan An and Han Tianshuo. Even Shi Xin, who relied on the things he had arranged on Han Tianshuo in advance, was a step behind Zhong Lijun in tracking him.

Even when Yan An and Han Tianshuo went to Qianlong Abyss later, Zhong Lijun was also watching from the shadows.

For E Feng and Xie Shihong.

Because of the unique nature of the Fetal Transformation Limitless Shadowless Record Technique, unless Zhongli Jun takes action, they can only guess that Zhongli Jun is nearby, but cannot confirm his hiding place.

Although Zhong Lijun always just watched from afar, never showing himself or doing anything...

However, neither of them dared to make a move rashly, for fear that if they started fighting, Zhong Lijun would sneak up behind them and take advantage of the situation.

It wasn't until later, not long after Yan An was forced to lose his memory, that Zhong Lijun's cultivation technique caused him to enter a period of rejuvenation again. Only after finding Qin Bing did he have to leave temporarily.

Six months after Yan An was taken away by E Feng, Zhong Lijun's period of rejuvenation was also about to end.

The alliance between Moling City and Tianji Pavilion allows them to obtain information faster than Xie Shihong.

Therefore, Zhongli Jun was able to find Yan An in Chuiyun Stream before Shi Hong could.

Yan An, who could cheat using his special perception, had never noticed Zhong Lijun before. At this moment, he couldn't help but say helplessly, "What if I don't allow you to follow me like this anymore?"

Zhong Lijun nodded, then suddenly asked, "What should I do for you to allow me to?"

Yan An was unsure whether to say that he was observing etiquette or not.

This person is the type who can do anything, even if it's kept from you.

When you actually asked him, he told you the truth.

When you tell him to stop doing that, he acts like he's obligated to uphold the spirit of the contract.

Just then, a familiar voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

A familiar figure then appeared.

"My wife! I've been looking for you for so long!"

It's Zhongli Xiang!

Yan An slammed the window shut and said to Zhong Lijun, "Tell him to stop bothering me, and I'll consider whether I'll allow you to secretly follow me!"