Chapter 244 Zhu Yuyan's Plan

Ye Xiu didn't expect Zhu Yuyan to suddenly appear here.

Although Ye Xiu didn't know whether Zhu Yuyan could recognize him or whether she knew that the Heshi Bi was in his hand.

But suddenly meeting Zhu Yuyan here, no matter what, Ye Xiu felt it was a very troublesome thing.

"Is that the Heshi Bi in your hand?" Zhu Yuyan asked.

He didn't know if it was an illusion, but Ye Xiu always felt that there was something wrong with Zhu Yuyan's tone of voice. It seemed that she was deliberately speaking with a pinched throat, as if she was trying her best to make her tone of voice gentler?

This thought flashed through Ye Xiu's mind and was deleted by him directly. He didn't think Zhu Yuyan would do such a thing.

"Heshi Bi? Are you kidding? The Heshi Bi is in Jingnian Zen Temple, how could it be in my hand?" Ye Xiu answered with a look of surprise and confusion.

Zhu Yuyan wasn't particularly concerned about Ye Xiu's denial. She simply glanced at the bundle in Ye Xiu's hand, which seemed perfectly sized to hold the Heshi Bi.

"A treasure like the Heshi Bi is coveted by so many forces and individuals. I'm a wuxia artist who hasn't even joined a faction. To ordinary people, I can barely call myself a master, but how could I possibly have the qualifications and strength to compete with those people for the Heshi Bi? I..." Ye Xiu, as if trying to convince Zhu Yuyan, kept talking, trying to prove his innocence.

As he repeatedly stated that he didn't possess the Heshi Bi, Ye Xiu's internal Qi was secretly flowing, his body gathering strength.

"Don't worry, whether you have the Heshi Bi or not doesn't matter, because I have no interest in it." Zhu Yuyan observed Ye Xiu's actions, a half-smile on her face.

"Hmm?" Ye Xiu didn't believe Zhu Yuyan's words at all. If she had no interest in the Heshi Bi, why would she show up in person?

Furthermore, given the relationship between the Yingui Sect and Cihang Jingzhai, even if Zhu Yuyan truly didn't desire the Heshi Bi, she would definitely oppose anything Cihang Jingzhai planned to do.

Furthermore, the Yingui Sect was secretly cultivating its own forces, and even those who rebelled within the Sui Dynasty were supported by the Yingui Sect.

Therefore, when Zhu Yuyan said she didn't want the Heshi Bi, Ye Xiu simply believed she was lying.

"I know you think I might be lying, but as long as the Heshi Bi doesn't end up in the hands of Cihang Jingzhai, it doesn't matter who gets it. So even if you get it, I'll only be happy." Zhu Yuyan seemed to simply want to see Cihang Jingzhai suffer. As long as their plans failed, Zhu Yuyan would be delighted. As for who ultimately held the Heshi Bi, she seemed completely unconcerned.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you. After all, there's no way a nobody like me could possibly possess the Heshi Bi," Ye Xiu continued to deny.

Regardless of whether Zhu Yuyan's claims were true or false, he would never reveal the Heshi Bi's possession.

Meanwhile, Ye Xiu remained poised, ready to strike at any moment.

Facing the monk Huiming from earlier, Ye Xiu had no chance of success. After all, he was likely a Grandmaster of the Celestial Realm.

Zhu Yuyan, on the other hand, had only recently achieved Grandmaster status, reaching the lowest level of the Vajra Realm.

With Ye Xiu's own combat prowess, and if he could wield the Heshi Bi effectively, he might be able to leverage its power to kill Zhu Yuyan.

As Ye Xiu acted, a faint urge to kill rose within him. While Zhu Yuyan was beautiful, especially her alluring, mature womanly aura, Ye Xiu was not one to be deterred by beauty. When it came time to strike, Ye Xiu would not hesitate. Even when it came time to unleash his full might, he would not hold back. He was responsible for his own life.

"Okay, whether you have the Heshi Bi or not is irrelevant—it seems you're wary of me, but rest assured, I harbor no ill will toward you." Zhu Yuyan's body was also on guard.

After all, Zhu Yuyan knew Ye Xiu didn't have much of a favorable impression of her at the moment. More importantly, Ye Xiu had defeated Luo Kong, whose strength was almost comparable to that of a Grandmaster, at Jingnian Zen Temple.

In Zhu Yuyan's mind, no matter what methods Ye Xiu used, he at least possessed the ability to threaten her.

Therefore, facing Ye Xiu's uncertain attitude, Zhu Yuyan needed to be wary of him.

Ye Xiu couldn't help but laugh when he heard Zhu Yuyan reiterate that she held no ill will toward him. How could

the leader of the demonic Yin Gui Sect, and a subordinate recruited by Pang Ban, hold no ill will toward him?

Even if Ye Xiu believed Zhu Yuyan didn't know his true identity, the mere presence of the Heshi Bi in his hand would instill hostility and ill will in her.

Zhu Yuyan realized her words had no effect on Ye Xiu. She knew that continuing would only make the situation worse.

Without Ye Xiu's approval, without any assurance that she held no ill will towards him, Zhu Yuyan found herself unable to take any corrective action.

"I can see you're very wary of me," Zhu Yuyan said after a moment's hesitation.

"How could that be?" Ye Xiu quickly dismissed it.

"Don't be so quick to reject it. After all, a treasure like the Heshi Bi in one's possession will naturally make one wary of anyone but oneself."

"I—"

"Don't deny it. Since I said so, I'm sure of it. But don't worry, I truly harbor no ill will towards you. Furthermore, I know that the Heshi Bi, besides being a symbol of imperial power, is also a treasure possessing miraculous powers. Even the treasures within it can cleanse a person's hair and marrow, completely transforming their aptitude. It can transform a mediocre person into a genius, or a genius into a freak. I assume, since you're not from a powerful position, you're drawn to the Heshi Bi for its cleansing properties." Zhu Yuyan's eyes flickered, and she unceremoniously shared what she had read in Ye Xiu's diary.

Ye Xiu was startled. He hadn't expected Zhu Yuyan to even know about the Heshi Bi's cleansing properties. Ye Xiu's heart skipped a beat.

He felt that since Zhu Yuyan knew about the He Shi Bi's function, she had even less reason to give it up.

Ye Xiu's Qi circulated rapidly, almost like a spring that had been compressed to the bottom, ready to spring back the next moment.

Just as Ye Xiu was about to throw the package in his hand, and then take advantage of Zhu Yuyan's attention being distracted by the package, he launched a sneak attack on her, aiming to kill her right there and then.

Unexpectedly, before Ye Xiu could make a move, Zhu Yuyan retreated.

"To prove I have no ill will towards you, I'm leaving now. I'll come back to you after you've found a safe place and used the He Shi Bi to cleanse your hair and marrow." As Zhu Yuyan spoke, she vanished, and within a few cups of tea, she was gone from Ye Xiu's sight.

Ye Xiu was stunned, stunned, and dumbfounded.

He felt that Zhu Yuyan was truly inexplicable.

The Heshi Bi! This item, not to mention its symbolism of imperial power, possesses an insatiable appeal to those in the martial arts world simply for its ability to cleanse the body and remove all impurities.

And yet, Zhu Yuyan, knowing full well the Heshi Bi's effects, managed to retreat calmly, leaving without even a hint of regret.

Ye Xiu frowned, wondering if Zhu Yuyan was just pretending. She was actually hiding in the shadows, poised to launch a surprise attack at any moment, attempting to snatch the Heshi Bi from his grasp.

Ye Xiu no longer cared to conceal his thoughts. His Qi shifted its course, and his perception was instantly activated. He began to use his senses to locate Zhu Yuyan.

However, as he hurried, Zhu Yuyan's figure rapidly retreated. After a few breaths, she had completely left his range of perception.

"Could it be that Zhu Yuyan truly wouldn't be tempted by the He Clan Bi? Especially since she herself knows that it possesses the ability to cleanse a genius, transforming them into even more gifted, even monstrous beings? Is Zhu Yuyan truly unmoved?" Ye Xiu's doubts grew.

In reality, Zhu Yuyan certainly coveted the He Clan Bi.

She also wanted to use it to enhance her own talent.

Perhaps, if the He Clan Bi's energy cleansed her, cleansing her, she could simply ignore the flaws of the Heavenly Demonic Art, and through her own efforts, rise from a Vajra Realm Grandmaster to a Zhixuan Realm Grandmaster, then to a Celestial Realm Grandmaster.

She even harbored a faint dream of becoming a celestial being.

However, Zhu Yuyan wasn't entirely sure of

the He Clan Bi's cleansing effects. What if they weren't as potent as she'd hoped?

Most importantly, Ye Xiu's favorability was paramount.

If she were to personally snatch the Heshi Bi from Ye Xiu, He Xiu's favorability towards her would likely plummet, perhaps even reaching negative territory.

She wasn't sure of the Heshi Bi's effectiveness, but she had personally experienced the diary's power. And Ye Xiu's favorability was paramount.

Of course, there was also the fact that Ye Xiu's strength didn't seem much worse than hers.

Crucially, Ye Xiu might be guarded by a Grandmaster of the Profound Realm.

Indeed, Zhu Yuyan felt that Ye Xiu must be protected by a master,

just like the aftermath of the previous clash between a Grandmaster of the Profound Realm and a Grandmaster of the Profound Realm.

Zhu Yuyan suspected that one of those who had attacked him might be Ye Xiu's secret guardian.

Zhu Yuyan felt she had no chance of snatching the Heshi Bi from Ye Xiu, so among the many options she had, she chose to tell him that she knew of its cleansing properties. But even if she knew, she wouldn't compete with him.

Zhu Yuyan's actions were designed to win back Ye Xiu's favor.

She had no reason not to trade the Heshi Bi, something she couldn't possibly obtain, for Ye Xiu's favor.

Ye Xiu was naturally unaware of Zhu Yuyan's intentions.

Even after Zhu Yuyan appeared and left immediately, Ye Xiu couldn't help but wonder if she had some other scheme.

"So, what exactly is Zhu Yuyan up to?" Ye Xiu muttered to himself, still remembering the importance of strength.

If he could become even stronger, now he would be a Grandmaster, or even higher, and he wouldn't have to worry about Zhu Yuyan's schemes.

"Forget it. No matter what Zhu Yuyan is up to, I'll use the Heshi Bi to cleanse her hair and marrow first. By then, even if Zhu Yuyan has any ideas, it will be too late."

Finally, unable to guess Zhu Yuyan's thoughts, Ye Xiu gave up.

Concentrating his energy once again, Ye Xiu began to sneak swiftly, even in the process, changing his appearance once again. His previous disguises had always been relatively ordinary, but this time, Ye Xiu's appearance had a more scholarly air, resembling a frail young man.

He changed his appearance, his clothes, and even practiced special techniques to make his body slightly thinner.

Ye Xiu's new appearance, aside from his previous gender, bore almost no resemblance to his previous one. This

time, if Ye Xiu stood before Zhu Yuyan again, she would probably have a hard time recognizing the current Ye Xiu as the same person.

After changing his appearance, Ye Xiu continued to circulate the Changsheng Qi, working hard to improve it in all aspects, constantly making his sharp five senses more sensitive.

Along the way, Ye Xiu kept trying to find out if anyone was watching him in secret.

But with Ye Xiu's keen perception, he couldn't sense anyone appearing.

Ye Xiu first found a remote and seemingly safe place to hide in, and then Ye Xiu became silent, acting as if he was using the He Shi Bi to cleanse his hair and marrow. For more than half an hour, no one showed up.

Ye Xiu felt a little relieved, and at this time, Ye Xiu finally opened the brass box containing the He Shi Bi.

In an instant, a radiation wave invaded Ye Xiu's body, causing the Qi in Ye Xiu's body to slow down and even run away.

However, Ye Xiu had already prepared himself mentally, and he circulated the Changsheng Qi, constantly adapting to the abnormality brought to him by the He Shi Bi, and then suddenly grabbed the He Shi Bi.