The hotel had been mostly burned down. Fortunately, the residents had already been evacuated, so there were no casualties.
The celestial masters present were responsible for the aftermath, confirming that it was Xie Yun who ordered the arson, and all compensation costs were to be charged to him.
Lin Jiu drove a car and took Nan Deng and Lian Yi to their temporary accommodation.
Weng Ping Ran originally wanted to go with them but was gently dissuaded by Lin Jiu, “Teacher, please stay here… I will explain everything to you later.”
Weng Ping Ran guessed that Lin Jiu was hiding something that he wasn’t ready to reveal, so he wisely relented and reminded Lin Jiu to be careful on the road.
The remaining celestial masters were warned not to mention the events of the night, not to discuss it among themselves, and not to leave Changyang without permission.
However, while they were forbidden to talk about it openly, their thoughts were unrestrained.
Many were extremely excited at having seen the Mountain God.
After all, this was the Mountain God, the only deity with intelligence most akin to humans.
The appearance of the Mountain God signified that the Earth Spirit was no longer weakening, the calamities caused by ghosts could be controlled, and the plagues would certainly disappear.
There had long been a belief that the aura of the Mountain God nourished all things, including humans, which was why some people could practice spiritual arts and become celestial masters.
This theory had never been verified. But during the long period of the Mountain God’s absence, the new apprentices joining the inner court had shown mediocre talents.
In any case, the Mountain God finally revealing himself was an absolutely exhilarating event.
Additionally, all the celestial masters present had seen Lian Yi standing beside the Mountain God.
Even when everyone else knelt, he remained unmoved, showing no intention of bowing to the Mountain God.
Perhaps Lian Yi had seen the Mountain God before, but what gave him the right to see the deity?
Regardless of Lian Yi’s character, he was born with an evil energy that caused nearby plants to wither and human souls to avoid him.
If not witnessed firsthand, no one would believe that Lian Yi could stand by the Mountain God’s side.
Later, when the Chaos God transformed into a gigantic rabbit head, squatting behind the Mountain God with its red eyes glaring, no one dared to look up and scrutinize.
Only Weng Ping Ran saw Nan Deng quietly holding Lian Yi’s hand, suggesting a close relationship.
Weng Ping Ran sat on the steps outside the hotel, holding his communicator with a hesitant expression.
He desperately wanted to send a message to Lin Jiu, asking him what was really going on, especially about the relationship between Lian Yi and the Mountain God.
But such questions, even if only in his mind, felt disrespectful to the Mountain God.
What other relationship could it be? Celestial masters were servants and attendants of the Mountain God.
An otherworldly deity couldn’t possibly be involved in mundane romantic affairs.
Weng Ping Ran frowned deeply, hesitating for a long time before ultimately deciding to wait patiently for Lin Jiu to contact him.
As for the scene he witnessed… it was probably just the darkness playing tricks on his eyes.
He composed himself and decided to look up Xie Yun’s contact number, preparing to reach out to him.
The call connected but remained unanswered.
After three unsuccessful attempts, Weng Ping Ran stopped waiting and reassigned all personnel initially deployed by Xie Yun to his own command, instructing a search for Xie Yun’s current location.
Xie Yun, like Gu Xu, aimed to capture Lian Yi, something Weng Ping Ran originally didn’t want to get involved in.
However, ordering the arson of the hotel was highly inappropriate. Moreover, before Lin Jiu left, he had asked Weng Ping Ran to interrogate the two chief celestial masters responsible for the capture mission.
Sensing something amiss, Weng Ping Ran became more cautious.
In the dark corner at the end of the street, tendrils of mist seeped into the ground.
“Did you see that?” asked the fog-shrouded specter.
Above the ground hole, a disc slowly rotated, emitting Xie Yun’s hoarse voice, “I saw it.”
“That was the Mountain God, and he was with Lian Yi.”
“He actually transformed from a soul into a human… How did he grow so quickly?”
Xie Yun’s words were filled with resentment. “He and that monster hid in the tower for so long… This shouldn’t be possible.”
The rapid recovery of Hui Shou was also much faster than he had anticipated.
Could it be that he had missed some crucial information?
“They might have discovered you,” the fog-shrouded specter’s voice wavered, “I’ll be more careful in the near future.”
—
On the other side, Lin Jiu booked several hotels in one go, allowing Nan Deng and Lian Yi to choose one.
Nan Deng checked the locations on the map and casually chose one that was neither too far nor too close.
“Teacher was unaware of tonight’s events; the order to set the hotel on fire came from Xie Yun,” Lin Jiu explained. “Since we arrived in Changyang, we’ve been focused on the condition of the patients, neglecting other areas.”
He had guessed Xie Yun’s intentions but didn’t expect him to act so quickly. Lian Yi’s whereabouts were probably exposed as soon as he left with the rose.
Lin Jiu’s expression turned grim. “He likely timed the restriction’s activation precisely; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been so coincidental…”
Fortunately, nothing went wrong in the end, and Lian Yi woke up.
If they continued to hide, Xie Yun would certainly act again. More importantly, as a highly influential elder, he could easily deceive and command uninformed celestial masters.
Tonight’s events had shown Nan Deng that many celestial masters still followed the Mountain God, who held a status above anyone else.
If Nan Deng needed support, celestial masters were always an option. This was Lin Jiu’s belief.
If anyone dared to question the Mountain God, Lin Jiu and Weng Ping Ran would handle it.
Nan Deng listened silently, and they soon arrived at the new hotel.
“You and Chief Lian should rest well tonight,” Lin Jiu said, opening the car door and leading the way. “Contact me if you need anything.”
He also booked a room on the same floor to stay alert to any developments.
As for explaining things to Weng Ping Ran, that required Nan Deng’s consent.
The Earth Spirit Parrot, still perched on Nan Deng’s shoulder, let out a heavy snort. “You humans and your convoluted schemes.”
Lin Jiu didn’t dare to refute and took out the room card to open the door for the two of them.
Before leaving, Lin Jiu respectfully said, “I’ll take my leave now.”
He kept his head down and inadvertently met the eyes of the rabbit head in Nan Deng’s hands.
Feeling a chill down his spine, Lin Jiu softly added, “You should rest early too.”
As soon as the door closed, Nan Deng immediately jumped into Lian Yi’s arms, hugging him tightly.
“Are you alright?” he asked, looking up with worry. “I thought… I thought…”
So much had happened tonight, and only now did Nan Deng fully let his guard down, feeling extremely scared in retrospect.
Lian Yi bent down, soothingly stroking his back. “It’s alright now. Tonight was just an accident.”
Nan Deng’s breathing was a bit unsteady as he hugged him tightly, resting his head against Lian Yi’s chest to feel his warmth and heartbeat.
Lian Yi kissed his hair gently. “Don’t be afraid, I won’t die.”
“Really?” Nan Deng whispered.
Lian Yi didn’t respond further, just holding him close. “We haven’t eaten anything tonight. Are you hungry?”
Nan Deng nodded honestly. “Yes.”
Lian Yi released him and went to find the room phone to order food, with Nan Deng following closely behind, not leaving his side for a moment.
The parrot perched on the cabinet by the door, tilting its head as it watched the two of them.
It had no intention of working tonight, planning instead to stay by Nan Deng’s side to ensure no reckless celestial masters would cause trouble.
The rabbit head jumped onto the cabinet, approaching the parrot.
The parrot suddenly became tense, straightening its body. “M-Master Chaos God, hello.”
It hadn’t known the identity of the rabbit head before and had been genuinely startled when the giant beast appeared.
The rabbit head twitched its ears, acknowledging it heard.
It circled around the parrot, its pitch-black eyes fixed on its long tail feathers.
The parrot’s tail feathers went cold, and it took a few steps back. “Master Chaos God, I’ll go check if the windows are closed…”
With that, it flew off as if escaping, heading towards Nan Deng.
It was already past midnight, and the hotel’s room service was a bit slow.
By the time Nan Deng finally filled his stomach, it was well past three in the morning.
Exhausted, Nan Deng still wanted to take a shower before sleeping, asking Lian Yi to blow-dry his hair.
After drying his hair, Nan Deng uncovered the blanket and laid down. He noticed Lian Yi preparing to shower as well, taking his clothes and heading to the bathroom alone.
Hearing the bathroom door close, Nan Deng tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He got up and approached the bathroom door.
He knocked softly, and the sound of water stopped inside. Lian Yi asked, “What’s wrong?”
Nan Deng, feeling uneasy, said, “I’m worried about you… Can I come in?”
He feared Lian Yi might faint suddenly again and couldn’t rest easy without seeing him.
Lian Yi remained silent in the bathroom for a moment. “I’m fine. Go to sleep.”
He never showered with Nan Deng, nor did he allow him into the bathroom.
“I can’t sleep…” Nan Deng pursed his lips, leaning his forehead against the glass door in silence.
Waiting outside like this, Nan Deng saw Lian Yi quickly finish washing up and open the door, still with droplets of water on his chin.
He stopped Nan Deng from rushing into his arms and sighed, “I’m going to blow-dry my hair.”
Nan Deng nodded obediently, yawning as he followed behind him.
Finally, when Lian Yi was ready to lie down together, Nan Deng happily snuggled into his arms and soon fell asleep.
The next morning, Nan Deng woke up early.
Lin Jiu came over with breakfast and informed them that Weng Ping Ran wanted to see Nan Deng.
Nan Deng held his milk. “Is he the one with white hair?”
“Yes, he’s my teacher,” Lin Jiu replied. “Xie Yun hasn’t been reachable since last night, and his subordinates don’t know where he went. The teacher wants to understand more.”
Lin Jiu informed Weng Ping Ran about the existence of the fog-shrouded specter and suspected Xie Yun’s involvement with the plague.
However, the fog-shrouded specter had always hidden in the shadows, avoiding detection by the celestial masters. Currently, only Lian Yi and Nan Deng had contact with it.
Regarding Nan Deng’s experience in Yezhang Tower, Lin Jiu wouldn’t mention it without his consent.
Nan Deng hesitated. “Alright…”
He also wanted to visit the hospital, so Lin Jiu arranged to meet there in the afternoon.
The parrot didn’t return to its own place but stayed by Nan Deng’s side.
Even during the day, it felt tired and curled up to sleep in Nan Deng’s pocket.
Halfway through its nap, the parrot was jostled awake.
It opened its eyes and met the gaze of the towering rabbit head.
“Lord Chaos God…” The parrot shrank its neck. “I-I’ll sleep on the other side…”
It quickly escaped, darting into the pocket on the opposite side.
—
The hospital lounge had been cleared early, and Weng Ping Ran anxiously awaited inside.
Finally, a message from Lin Jiu arrived, saying they had arrived.
The door to the lounge was soon pushed open. Lian Yi entered first, followed by Nan Deng.
Lin Jiu followed behind and closed the door.
Outside in the corridor, several senior celestial masters awaited. They were personally selected by Weng Ping Ran from the adjacent area overnight, his trusted subordinates.
Seeing Nan Deng, Weng Ping Ran was as excited as the previous night, about to kneel before him again.
Nan Deng took a half step back. “No need…”
Weng Ping Ran stopped promptly, respectfully gesturing aside. “Please, have a seat.”
There were no others in the lounge, and the chairs were neatly wiped clean.
Nan Deng sat near the door, with Lian Yi standing by his side.
Lin Jiu introduced his own teacher first, and Nan Deng nodded. “Elder Weng.”
His voice was soft. He looked young, with clear and innocent eyes, more like a lovable junior next door than the legendary god.
Weng Ping Ran had never been as at a loss as he was now, organizing his words carefully. “Just call me Old Weng…”
Nan Deng quietly appraised him, sensing his goodwill, and relaxed a bit. “I’m Nan Deng.”
The rabbit head heard them talking and crawled out from the pocket, rolling into Nan Deng’s palm.
Weng Ping Ran saw it and involuntarily flashed back to the brutal beast from last night in his mind.
Nan Deng held up the rabbit head. “Its name is Xiao Tu.”
Weng Ping Ran managed a smile. “Ah, I see…”
The rabbit head wasn’t interested in him and crawled back into the pocket to continue sleeping.
“How did you rest last night?” Weng Ping Ran asked with concern. “Should I arrange more people around you?”
Nan Deng shook his head. “No, thank you.”
Weng Ping Ran nodded in acknowledgment. Lin Jiu brought over a chair and placed it nearby, and they began discussing the matter at hand.
At Nan Deng’s prompting, Lin Jiu explained everything known so far and some speculations, including Nan Deng’s encounter with the rabbit head and suspicions about Xie Yun.
As Weng Ping Ran listened, he grew increasingly alarmed, feeling weak-kneed. “The fact that you and the Chaos God were in Yezhang Tower… This is negligence on the part of the Inner Court and myself.”
He immediately instructed Lin Jiu to issue a statement removing Xie Yun from his position and assured Nan Deng, “Rest assured, I will investigate this matter thoroughly and swiftly!”
“And…” Nan Deng’s eyes held a hint of hope as he asked, “Elder Weng, can you cure Lian Yi?”
Weng Ping Ran paused, looking at Lian Yi.
Lian Yi stood by Nan Deng’s side since entering, not uttering a word.
He was like a cold statue, showing slight reaction only when Nan Deng spoke up.
Weng Ping Ran hesitated, “You mean the restriction on Lian Yi’s body? That’s Zhuo Qing’s doing. I’m not very familiar… but we can try.”
Even with the Mountain God speaking, they had to attempt to unlock it somehow.
Weng Ping Ran pondered further, “How about I take Lian Yi away? With Lin Jiu serving by your side…”
Nan Deng was puzzled, “Take him where?”
It was just for medical treatment, so why take him away? Even if he needed treatment elsewhere, Nan Deng could accompany him.
Weng Ping Ran looked hesitant, meeting Nan Deng’s gaze without hiding anything, and said frankly, “Taking him away would be to examine his physical condition and because he was previously dismissed and is still on the list of dangerous individuals.”
Nan Deng understood the implications, his lowered eyelashes trembling slightly.
“This person is actually quite dangerous. We don’t know if he might act recklessly,” Weng Ping Ran continued, “If you wish to keep him, it’s best to complete the review process first.”
After the review, clear up some of the suspicions surrounding Lian Yi, and then decide whether to reinstate his position.
As Weng Ping Ran finished speaking, the water cup on the table inexplicably trembled, and the idle chair beside it slid across the floor, making a faint noise.
The room was filled with an invisible force, affecting everything around.
Nan Deng pursed his lips, clearly not pleased.
