Wayfarer

Chapter 931: Intimidating the Saint

In the imperial study in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng was perusing a stack of official documents when a streak of blue light flashed outside the study, indicating that a formation had been activated. The disturbance caused a commotion outside.

"Someone has breached the palace's defenses! Protect His Majesty!" Blue Lantern shouted urgently.

Startled, the guards rushed toward the study, only for Xiao Nanfeng to command, "There's no need to come in. Return to your posts. Let Blue Lantern know not to enter as well."

The guards hesitated, confused, but ultimately obeyed. "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Inside the study, Xiao Nanfeng remained composed—not because there wasn't an intruder, but because the intruder was already standing before him.

"Blue Lantern is truly a master of formations. He's the first to have been able to sense my presence through such means," the visitor said, smiling faintly.

"Void Saint? What brings you to my imperial study?" Xiao Nanfent set down his brush.

"You are bold, Xiao Nanfeng. How dare you deceive me?"

"What do you mean, Saint?" Xiao Nanfeng asked calmly.

He had expected this visit. After all, the revival of the Heavenly Emperor Yu Fuli was no small matter, and the Void Saint was bound to investigate. Xiao Nanfeng was also certain that the figure before him wasn't the Void Saint's true body—he wouldn't have dared bring his main body into such a confrontation.

"Back in the purple moon illusory realm, wasn't that Yu Fuli all a lie?" the Void Saint demanded coldly.

His voice carried an oppressive power that caused the study to tremble. He was attempting to intimidate Xiao Nanfeng.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Please explain yourself," Xiao Nanfeng said calmly, unfazed.

The Void Saint's expression turned dark. "Where are Yang Chuan, Xia Yu'er, and Xia Xingchen? Where are the other disciples of the Yuqing holy land? What have you done with them?"

"Aha. So there must have been spies among the disciples feeding information to you," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling knowingly. "I suppose those are Su Tianxin's spies. Did he instigate you to cause trouble for me?"

The Yuqing disciples that had initially left the Yuqing holy land with Yang Chuan had subsequently returned to it. Su Tianxin had to have spies among their number.

"This doesn't matter. More importantly, the figure I saw that day wasn't Yu Fuli at all, was he?" the Void Saint demanded.

"Who else could he have been?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"The Yuqing Grandmaster!" the Void Saint declared, his voice sharp.

"Do you trust Su Tianxin all that much?" Xiao Nanfeng chuckled.

The Void Saint's gaze grew colder. He was indeed suspicious, which was why he had come to confront Xiao Nanfeng personally.

"You know exactly who it was. If you doubt me so much, why not investigate on your own? If you can't enter the purple moon illusory realm, I'm happy to help you," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

The Void Saint: ...

The Void Saint stiffened. Go back into the Purple Moon Realm? Absolutely not. Even if he was given the opportunity, he wouldn’t risk it—not after what he had experienced.

“If I discover you’ve been lying, I’ll make your death unbearably painful,” the Void Saint warned, his voice icy.

“When did I ever deny that it was the Yuqing Grandmaster you saw?” Xiao Nanfeng replied “What?” The Void Saint froze, momentarily stunned.

Was Xiao Nanfeng admitting to his deception?

“Weren’t you alive during the calamity ten thousand years ago? As one of the saints chosen by the heavens, surely you witnessed the era of the three Qing Grandmasters. Didn’t you meet the Yuqing Grandmaster back then?” Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"What are you implying?" the Void Saint asked.

"Didn't you know? The Yuqing Grandmaster is the Heavenly Emperor."

The Void Saint's eyes widened in shock. "What?"

"It looks like you must have been an insignificant figure ten thousand years ago, if you didn't even get a chance to meet the Yuqing Grandmaster yourself. No wonder Su Tianxin can manipulate you so easily," Xiao Nanfeng mocked.

“Ridiculous! The Yuqing Grandmaster often concealed his face or changed his appearance. How was anyone supposed to know he was Yu Fuli? How many people in this world have actually seen Yu Fuli’s face?” the Void Saint retorted, his voice tinged with frustration.

"Ha!" Xiao Nanfeng continued to laugh.

“What are you laughing at?”

“At how strange you are. Instead of believing what you saw with your own eyes, you let yourself be swayed by Su Tianxin’s baseless claims. He doesn’t dare face me himself, so he sends you to do his dirty work. It’s pathetic,” Xiao Nanfeng said, his tone laced with disdain.

The Void Saint felt a pang of unease. He knew Su Tianxin was using him, but he had hoped to learn that the figure in the purple moon illusory realm wasn’t Yu Fuli after all.

“If Yu Fuli is alive, why hasn’t he revealed himself? What’s he hiding? You must know something!”

“Yu Fuli has hidden nothing. He simply hasn’t announced his presence. If you want to inform the world, go ahead,” Xiao Nanfeng replied indifferently.

The Void Saint’s eyes narrowed. “What is Yu Fuli planning?”

“I don’t know. I’m just the Eastern Aspect—it’s not my place to know the Heavenly Emperor’s plans. But I’ll give you a piece of advice.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve been authorized by Yu Fuli to hunt down the remnants of the heavens' forces. Su Tianxin is my first target. If you interfere, you may regret it,” Xiao Nanfeng said firmly.

"How bold of you. And do you intend to hunt me down as well?" the Void Saint asked, his tone laced with menace.

“I’m no match for you, and I have no intention of targeting you. If the Heavenly Emperor wanted you dead, he’d send someone stronger to deal with you. It’s not my responsibility,” Xiao Nanfeng said matter-of-factly.

“And why shouldn't I just kill you outright, while I have the chance?” the Void Saint demanded.

“Feel free to try. But I suggest bringing your true body, or you’ll accomplish nothing,” Xiao Nanfeng said with a shake of his head.

The Void Saint glowered. He couldn’t ignore the possibility that Yu Fuli might act against him directly.

Xiao Nanfeng's words had filled him with unease. He didn't dare make a move against him.

“Void Saint, someone will come for you eventually. You missed your chance to make amends in the purple moon illusory realm. The Heavenly Emperor’s stance toward you is now... uncertain.”

The Void Saint’s heart sank. If Yu Fuli really were alive, had that meeting been intended to recruit him? Had that opportunity been squandered because of Su Tianxin’s meddling?

“Tell me: just what does Yu Fuli want from me?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps you’ll find out soon enough,” Xiao Nanfeng said, cryptic.

The Void Saint: ...

The Void Saint fell silent, his thoughts a turbulent mix of fear and hope.

He was worried that Yu Fuli would finish him off, and hopeful that Yu Fuli might recruit him.

“Is there anything else?” Xiao Nanfeng asked.

The Void Saint said nothing.

“If not, you may leave,” Xiao Nanfeng said dismissively.

If Xiao Nanfeng had displayed even a trace of fear and panic, the Void Saint would have doubted him—but Xiao Nanfeng's mental fortitude was incredible. The Void Saint noticed nothing amiss; he believed that Xiao Nanfeng was acting that way because Yu Fuli would protect Xiao Nanfeng no matter what happened.

"If I find out that you've tricked me, you'll pay for this," the Void Saint threatened.

Then, he turned and vanished from the study with a flick of his sleeves.

Xiao Nanfeng's lips curled into a disdainful smile. Were saints really this easy to manipulate?

In a grand hall in Dachi's capital, Su Tianxin and Su Qingchan stood beside one of the Void Saint's avatars. Seeing his conflicted expression, Su Tianxin asked, "Saint, did Xiao Nanfeng try to deceive you? I told you, he's a liar. Whatever he says, don't believe him!"

The Void Saint’s face was grim. “He admitted it. The figure we saw in the purple moon illusory realm was the Yuqing Grandmaster.”

“I knew it! Xiao Nanfeng slipped up. He lied to you, Saint. You should crush him!” Su Tianxin shouted in excitement.

The Void Saint’s expression darkened. “He also said the Yuqing Grandmaster and Yu Fuli are the same person.”

Su Tianxin froze. His expression turned stiff. “That’s nonsense! How dare he spout such lies? Does he think he can fool you, Saint?”

The Void Saint remained silent, his unease growing.

“You don’t believe him, do you?” Su Tianxin asked, alarmed.

"What do you think?” the Void Saint snapped.

“Saint, you can’t let Xiao Nanfeng’s lies sway you. You’re a saint! Don’t let yourself be manipulated by someone like him!” Su Tianxin pleaded.

The Void Saint glared at him. “I won’t let myself be manipulated by him—or by you.”

He was thoroughly frustrated. He desperately wanted Xiao Nanfeng to be lying, but he couldn’t take the risk.@@novelbin@@