The Immortal Clan begins with deductive intelligence.

Finally, a humming sound, like heavenly music, came from the depths of his consciousness.

Xu Changqing's feet were practically burning with anger; if he kept making things up, he might even drag out the ancestral graves of Cangwu Island for a stroll.

[The simulation is complete]

[Zhongji: This person is seriously injured and arrogant. He has no intention of seizing power yet; he only seeks a place to live. Taking him in, although there are karmic entanglements, will allow us to leverage his influence. There is no immediate danger.]

Upon seeing the words "China-Kyrgyzstan," Xu Changqing finally felt relieved.

……

Half an hour later.

Cangwu Island, the outer wall of the Xu family mansion.

Xu Changqing skillfully avoided the outer sentries and walked to the corner of the wall he usually climbed over.

He had compacted the snow at the base of the wall, making it very easy to step on.

Without much thought, he moved with fluid grace, his toes barely touching the cracks in the wall bricks before he rose high, his hands gripping the top of the wall as he prepared to climb over.

"Wait a minute."

A cold snort came from behind.

Xu Changqing, perched on the wall, turned around and met Wan Huaiyi's eyes, which looked at him like he was an idiot.

Wan Huaiyi stood at the base of the wall, clutching his wound, his face filled with absurdity.

"Didn't you say... this is your home?"

Xu Changqing was taken aback: "Yes."

"Since it's your house, why didn't you use the front door?"

Wan Huaiyi took a half step back, watching the figure perched on the wall warily, the Thunderflame Pearl in his hand glowing a dangerous red light again.

"Why insist on climbing over the wall when there's a proper gate? Is this some kind of den of thieves? Were you just trying to trick me into coming here to kill and rob me?"

It's no wonder Wan Huaiyi had so many thoughts.

What respectable clan leader would climb over the wall to get home in the middle of the night?

"Cough cough..."

Xu Changqing coughed awkwardly twice, jumped down from the wall, and dusted off his hands.

These days I go out every night to steal, either to kill or to dig for treasure. I've gotten so used to scaling walls that I can't break the muscle memory.

"Fellow Daoist, you've misunderstood..."

Wan Huaiyi looked at him coldly, clearly not believing him.

Xu Changqing had no choice; once this person decided to move in, it was impossible to keep it a secret forever.

But if we don't cover it up, who knows what kind of trouble they might cause.

"then."

Xu Changqing took out a mask with green faces and fangs and a black robe from his storage bag and casually tossed them to Wan Huaiyi.

"Put it on."

Wan Huaiyi took the mask, frowned as he looked at it. Although he disliked the mask's rough workmanship, he understood Xu Changqing's meaning.

He is now a disgraced disciple of the sect and a wanted criminal; his face is indeed something that cannot be seen in the light of day.

Without saying a word, he put the mask on his face, revealing only a pair of gloomy eyes.

He then put on the black robe to cover the bloodstains on his left shoulder.

Xu Changqing straightened his robes before swaggering to the main entrance and pushing open the heavy vermilion door.

"Squeak—"

"who!"

A sharp shout came from the inner courtyard, and Xu Dayou rushed out carrying a fine iron cudgel. He didn't even put on his shoes properly and ran out in slippers.

"it's me."

Xu Changqing stepped over the threshold with his hands behind his back.

Xu Dayou recognized the clan chief's voice and breathed a sigh of relief. He tucked the whistle stick under his arm, picked up the lantern, and approached.

"Chieftain, what brings you here so late at night... Oh dear! And who is this?"

The lantern light flickered, illuminating the black-robed figure behind Xu Changqing, wearing a mask with blue faces and fangs, and exuding a bloody aura. Xu Dayou was so frightened that he almost dropped the lantern.

Who is this evil spirit now?

"A distant cousin came to seek refuge, but encountered misfortune on the way."

Xu Changqing made up a reason on the spot, not expecting Xu Dayou to believe it.

"Uncle Dayou, go to the storeroom and get two bottles of the best 'Rejuvenation Pills' and deliver them to that empty little courtyard on the west side."

Xu Dayou glanced at the "cousin" who exuded a menacing aura, swallowed hard, and didn't dare to ask any more questions.

"Okay, I'll go right away."

"No need."

Wan Huaiyi, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke, his voice sounding muffled as it was muffled by the mask.

"This kind of pill is useless to me; I have my own medicine."

He glanced at Xu Dayou, then looked at Xu Changqing.

"Find me a quiet place, and don't let anyone bother me without my permission."

Xu Dayou was so choked up that he rolled his eyes.

Hey! This poor relative who came to stay with me has quite a temper!

The Rejuvenation Pill is a good medicine that costs ten spirit stones a bottle, so how come it's considered low-class?

Xu Changqing, however, knew this man's background. As a true disciple of the Qinghe Sword Sect, he was used to delicacies and naturally looked down on such coarse food.

"Then so be it."

Xu Changqing turned to Xu Dayou and instructed him, "Take him to the innermost quiet room in the west courtyard and remove all the servants from the surrounding area."

Although Xu Dayou was full of questions, seeing the clan chief's serious expression, he knew that things were not simple, so he could only nod and lead the "cousin" who was emanating a cold aura inside.

Wan Huaiyi has been settled.

Xu Changqing returned to his study and had barely sat down, not even having a sip of water, when Xu Dayou rushed in, bursting through the door in a flustered manner.

"Chieftain, what exactly is this person's background?"

Xu Dayou lowered his voice, his old face full of worry.

"Judging from the bloody smell on him, he's probably responsible for quite a few deaths, isn't he?"

"Could it be that our robbery incident last time has been exposed, and we've made enemies?"

Don't make wild guesses.

Xu Changqing rubbed his temples; the night had left him physically and mentally exhausted.

"Not an enemy, but almost a nuisance."

"Just treat him like he's invisible. Don't ask him anything, and don't let the kids in the clan run to the west courtyard."

Xu Dayou rubbed his hands together, still feeling uneasy.

"Well... should I send two smart guys to keep watch outside the yard?"

"What if this person has designs on our Xu family..."

"Staring?"

Xu Changqing chuckled and waved his hand.

"Who would you send to keep an eye on this kind of person? You'd barely get close to the wall before your head is gone."

"Go to sleep. As long as we don't provoke him, we'll be fine for now."

After seeing off the preoccupied Xu Dayou, Xu Changqing sat back down cross-legged on the prayer mat.

From the most intimate storage pouch in his bosom, he pulled out the broken jade bottle that had been soaking in the mud for who knows how many years.

This thing looks really shabby.

Xu Changqing leaned closer to the bottle opening and squinted to look inside.

That single drop of milky-white liquid lay quietly at the bottom of the bottle.

Neither increasing nor decreasing, neither defiled nor pure.

"I just hope this trip wasn't in vain."

Xu Changqing took a deep breath to calm his somewhat agitated mind.

Now that Wan Huaiyi has joined the family, even though the Tongtian Mirror says he is "medium-good," the feeling of having his life hanging by a thread makes him extremely insecure.

Only strength, genuine cultivation, can allow him to stand up straight in this chaotic situation.

Xu Changqing no longer hesitated, formed hand seals, and began to circulate the "Eternal Spring Skill".

He waited until his spiritual energy had circulated through his body for a full cycle before swallowing the drop of jade liquid.