Chapter Twenty: A Plan?

However, Bai Jingyan did not share his thoughts with Nanmen Chuyao and Li Qing. On one hand, he feared they might overthink; on the other, he lacked evidence to prove anything.

“Brother Jingyan, what should we do next?” Nanmen Chuyao hesitated before asking.

“Let’s keep watch tonight first,” Bai Jingyan said after a moment’s thought. “If I’m right, this formation needs to be infused with spiritual energy daily to keep it running. Tomorrow night, the person should appear, and that’s when we come back.”

“Tomorrow night...” Li Qing fell silent for a moment before speaking. “Tonight, Elder Sun and two other disciples are on watch. I’ll talk to him and have us take over for him tomorrow night.”

“No!” Bai Jingyan shook his head firmly. “Junior Brother Li, remember, tonight’s events must not be spoken of. Not only that, but act as if nothing happened. When it’s our turn to rest tomorrow, we rest.”

He told Li Qing to rest first, leaving only himself and Nanmen Chuyao to handle the rest.

Nanmen Chuyao looked puzzled.

“After all, nothing is clear yet. Besides you and me, no one in this sect can be trusted, understand?”

“Okay, I’ll follow your lead.” Nanmen Chuyao nodded, then suddenly lowered her voice. “Brother Jingyan, should we make a battle plan first?”

A plan...

Bai Jingyan was momentarily taken aback. “No need. Tomorrow night we just wait and see.”

Hearing this, Nanmen Chuyao seemed a little disappointed.

Perhaps recalling something, she then whispered mysteriously, “Then... should we make a secret code or something?”

A secret code?

Bai Jingyan was stunned.

“What kind of secret code?”

“A meeting password!” Nanmen Chuyao said eagerly. “I read it in books! For example, we could mimic the call of a ground spirit cat. Tomorrow, we use that to identify each other. Like this: meow, meow!”

“Can you do it? Like this, meow, meow!”

“If you can’t, I can teach you!”

Nanmen Chuyao looked excited, like a little girl who had just found a favorite toy.

Seeing this, Bai Jingyan could only smile wryly.

“Yao Yao, it’s just the two of us. Isn’t that overcomplicating things?” Yang Chen chuckled. “Besides, we know each other. Secret codes are for strangers. We don’t need that.”

Hearing this, Chu Rou stuck out her tongue, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“Anyway, let’s head back for now. We’ll talk again after tonight.” Bai Jingyan stretched and started a fire.

Nanmen Chuyao followed right after.

Afterward, the two exchanged little more. Each found a spot to sit cross-legged and cultivate. Apart from the crackling fire, the forest returned to silence.

The following night.

The entire Xingyu Sect gradually fell into stillness.

According to their plan, tonight Bai Jingyan and Nanmen Chuyao would investigate the formation.

As he opened the door, there stood Nanmen Chuyao, striking and poised at the doorway, dressed in a black tight suit that blended perfectly into the night.

They exchanged a look and set off into the deep woods.

At this hour, Elder Sun Fuyou was already on watch. To avoid him, Bai Jingyan and Nanmen Chuyao took a different path through the woods—thorny and rugged, seldom traveled.

Even the elders on watch chose easier routes.

Thus, Bai Jingyan was certain that whoever they were tracking would choose this same hidden path to avoid detection.

But after only a few steps...

Bai Jingyan suddenly stopped. “Yao Yao, don’t move!”

He stretched out a hand, placing it in front of Nanmen Chuyao.

His hand seemed to touch something soft...

He was unsure and gently pinched twice.

“Ah!” Nanmen Chuyao let out a soft cry from behind. Her face flushed deeply, her cheeks burning red to the ears. She glanced at the hand resting on her chest, then at Bai Jingyan, her eyes flashing a murderous glare.

Just as she was about to strangle him, Bai Jingyan quickly said, “Yao Yao, look ahead. What’s that?”

Sure enough, her attention snapped forward.

Before them stood a mysterious formation, identical to the ones they had seen before.

“There’s a formation here too?” Nanmen Chuyao whispered.

Bai Jingyan sneered coldly but said nothing.

He led Nanmen Chuyao forward, carefully circling around the formation, then pressing on for another five or six minutes.

There it was again—a formation!

Bai Jingyan didn’t stop, and every five or six minutes, they discovered another formation.

Third, fourth, fifth...

Within just these few minutes, they had found no fewer than five formations.

“So many formations...” Nanmen Chuyao gasped, her heart pounding wildly.

“Just as I thought,” Bai Jingyan exhaled coldly. “This person must know this path is rarely traveled, so the chance of being discovered is slim. That’s why the formations are placed here.”

He pondered briefly. “Also, since this person knows this path, he must be very familiar with Xingyu Sect—most likely someone from our own sect.”

At that moment, Yang Chen suddenly crouched down and examined one formation closely. Slowly, he said, “Miss Chu, we may be late tonight. This formation has already been infused with spiritual energy. It seems the person has been here already.”

Nanmen Chuyao asked, “What should we do? Leave now?”

“For now, yes,” Bai Jingyan replied. As he was about to stand, his eyes suddenly fixed on something. He reached out and felt along the formation.

A wet sensation came through.

“Water?” Bai Jingyan frowned.

The nearby soil was quite dry—why was there water on the formation?

He dipped his finger, smelled it.

Unfortunately, due to the formation’s absorption, the liquid had no scent.

Bai Jingyan thought no more and stood, heading back with Nanmen Chuyao.

Though they had found nothing tonight, it was still a valuable gain.

At least now they knew the person’s route. Next time, they only needed to arrive earlier and wait patiently.