My Twin Dao Companions Are Reincarnated Empresses

Beside a quiet pond where clear water reflected the sky and lotus flowers drifted gently across the surface, a small pavilion stood in elegant solitude.

Inside sat an elegant woman dressed in white. Her long silver hair flowed down her back, while her purple eyes calmly stared at the pond. She appeared to be looking at the lotus flowers, yet her unfocused gaze made it difficult to tell whether she was actually watching them or simply lost in thought.

Into this serene scene, a woman clad in black robes stepped forward and knelt beside the pavilion.

Luo Yunjin, an Elder of the Black Desolation Sect, possessed a heroic and imposing air, yet before Ji Yue, she behaved with complete reverence and did not dare disturb her.

Silence stretched for some time before Ji Yue finally turned her head, her purple eyes falling upon Luo Yunjin.

”Any progress?”

”Yes.” Luo Yunjin nodded. ”Searching the Black Meridian River was more troublesome than expected. Its main course branches into countless tributaries, so tracing each of them to its endpoint took some time. But I found the place Master was looking for.”

Luo Yunjin’s tone remained measured and formal, yet a trace of pride could not be completely hidden.

”It is within the forbidden grounds of the Crimson Flame Sect.”

Pleasantly surprised by the news, Ji Yue smiled and generously offered her praise.

”You worked hard. Good job.”

”No, it was my duty.” Luo Yunjin tried to remain composed, but the joy and satisfaction in her voice were difficult to hide.

She was about to take her leave when she suddenly halted and added, ”Master, there is actually another matter. Recently, a spy from the Crimson Flame Sect was discovered in the outer sect, and the matter has caused some disturbance.”

”Oh?” Interest flickered in Ji Yue’s eyes. ”Tell me more.”

”The spy was an outer disciple named Xu An. He had already completed his mission and was preparing to return to the Crimson Flame Sect. However, after remaining undetected for so long, he grew overconfident. Greed followed. Before departing, he decided to investigate Hidden Gate Peak, where an ancient treasure is rumored to be sealed, in hopes of claiming additional contributions from his sect.”

A faint gleam passed through Ji Yue’s eyes. For a brief moment, interest sharpened in her expression... then she suddenly chuckled.

”There are still people who believe that a secret realm is hidden there?”

”There are all kinds of rumors surrounding that secret realm. The truth that it is actually hidden beneath the Sect Leader’s residence is even harder to believe, so every now and then, some spy still falls into this trap.”

”Well, that’s fine.” Ji Yue hummed. ”Continue.”

”Xu An was determined to investigate Hidden Gate Peak, where the entrance to the secret realm was rumored to be. But, unwilling to take that risk himself, he cooperated with a female disciple named Wang Ling, who was proficient in charm techniques. Together, they planned to ensnare an outer disciple named Gu Yuan and use him for the task...”

”Gu Yuan?” Ji Yue repeated softly.

”Yes. Gu Yuan, a young disciple who had attracted some suspicion.”

”And what happened to him? Did their plan succeed?”

”No, it didn’t. Nothing happened to him, and that is the problem.”

Luo Yunjin continued, failing to notice the faint change in Ji Yue’s expression.

”After becoming involved with Gu Yuan, Wang Ling suddenly disappeared. Xu An apparently believed that she had been exposed and that his own identity might have been compromised. Suspicion and fear took hold of him. He abandoned his usual caution and attempted to leave the sect abruptly, thereby exposing himself.”

”So, what happened to Gu Yuan?”

Finally noticing something unusual in Ji Yue’s tone, Luo Yunjin became more careful with her reply.

”Currently, he is still alive and has not been formally charged with anything. Even so, he remains under suspicion. The Disciplinary Hall is already investigating him, while a core disciple who had intended to use Wang Ling as a furnace for his cultivation is furious after losing her and intends to pursue the matter personally.”

Luo Yunjin carefully chose her final words.

”With all these factors combined, Gu Yuan’s situation is not looking favorable.”

Ji Yue’s lips curved into a faint smile.

”Hmm... is that so?”

The atmosphere around the pavilion suddenly changed. Luo Yunjin’s body stiffened, and she immediately lowered her head.

”I don’t want this trivial matter disturbing me, nor do I want it causing any problems with my plans. Take care of it. Quietly.”

Luo Yunjin immediately nodded.

”Understood. I will speak with the Disciplinary Hall and deal with that core disciple myself.”

Ji Yue did not object. Seeing that, Luo Yunjin secretly sighed in relief before respectfully bowing once more and turning around to leave.

Soon the pavilion returned to its previous tranquility. Alone once more, Ji Yue turned her gaze back to the pond. For a while she remained still, her expression calm as the lotus flowers swayed gently across the water.

Then, without warning, she chuckled.

”So, I have to clean up your women problems even before we are married?”

”What next?”

She shook her head.

”Will you bring a child before me one day and claim it is yours?”

The absurd thought made Ji Yue shake her head again.

Yet the smile on her lips remained.

-------

Elsewhere, unaware that the predicament awaiting him had already been resolved by Ji Yue, Gu Yuan stood in front of his small shack, calmly facing the three unwelcome guests.

From their black robes and faint murderous auras, their identities were obvious.

Disciplinary Hall disciples.

What were they here for? Had they discovered that he had killed Wang Ling?

Several thoughts flashed through Gu Yuan’s mind in an instant, but he did not allow any of them to show on his face. He was confident that he had left no evidence behind. And even if they had somehow discovered the truth, he could still find a way out of the situation.

Killing a fellow disciple was against the rules of the Black Desolation Sect.

But Wang Ling was a traitor.

There should be ways to deal with this.

At least, that was what Gu Yuan told himself as he calmly greeted the two men.

He maintained a composed expression, though an invisible tension hung in the air around him.

The man leading the other two stepped forward and spoke in an indifferent tone.

”Regarding the rumors that have spread about you among the outer sect disciples, we have a few questions. I hope you will cooperate.”

His tone sounded neutral at first glance, yet the faint smile on his face gave Gu Yuan a different impression.

Why did it feel like this guy was actually hoping he would resist? And why had they come now, after the rumors had already begun dying down?

Gu Yuan kept these thoughts to himself and simply nodded, gesturing for him to proceed.

”First and foremost, are you actually a spy?”

Is there something wrong with his head? Or perhaps he had cultivated some technique capable of detecting lies?

Gu Yuan’s mind raced. He quickly dismissed the thought and shook his head.

”No, I’m not.”

”Then why do you think those rumors were spread about you?”

”I’m not sure.”

”Then, do you know Xu An?”

”Yes. Not personally, but he is fairly well-known among the outer sect disciples. He is at the peak of the Qi Refinement Realm.”

”Is that really everything?” Mo Chen’s faint smile deepened. ”Xu An was the one behind those rumors. Are you sure you have no grudge against him?”

”I have never interacted with him. What kind of grudge could I possibly have?”

One question after another came from Mo Chen.

Gu Yuan answered each one briefly and precisely.

The only genuine surprise he showed was when Mo Chen revealed that Xu An had been responsible for the rumors.

He did not overreact or deliberately make his responses dramatic.

Naturally, he did not lie either.

He simply told the truth, using vague wording whenever necessary.