Chapter 70: Selling a lie

Chen Ren had thought long and hard about how to free Hong Yi from the grasp of the Blood Iron Sect. There were few options available to him.

He could openly poach the young cultivator without a care in the world, daring the Blood Iron Sect to challenge him—an act of arrogance that only someone far stronger could afford. And he very well knew that wasn't going to work. He could attempt to negotiate with Ma Tianhai, pleading his case like a merchant haggling over a prized treasure. Which had a higher chance of failing than working. Or he could take the most direct approach—forcing them to let go, one way or another.

But all of these paths had one glaring flaw—he wasn’t strong enough.

Power dictated the rules in the cultivation world, and right now, he didn’t have enough of it to impose his will and stand against a well-known sect. So, he had settled on a different plan, one built on a single, simple thought,

The sect couldn’t look for Hong Yi if he was already dead.

Of course, it was a lie. But a lie only mattered if it was exposed, if he was caught. But this was better than all the other options he came up with.

The real challenge lay in making them believe it.

Now, as he sat in the heart of the Blood Iron Sect, facing Ma Tianhai himself, he felt the weight of his gamble pressing down on him. The man before him, Sect Leader Ma Tianhai, was a figure of quiet menace, his aura coiling through the hall like an unseen serpent.

“Why should I believe you, Rin Ho?”

A formless pressure settled over Chen Ren’s shoulders, threatening to drive him into the floor. His muscles stiffened, his breath hitching for just a moment before another force pushed back against the pressure. Yalan.

The tension in his chest eased as her qi wrapped around him like an invisible shield, steadying his mind. He couldn’t let the man know he was affected. He took a breath, lifting his gaze to meet Ma Tianhai’s eyes. Then, in a calm, neutral tone, he spoke,

“Sect Leader Ma, I am not here to convince you. I am merely delivering the news of one of your disciples' deaths because it is a righteous act and my responsibility as the one who confirmed it.” He forced his vocals to remain even. “If I were lying, do you think I would be sitting here, in the very heart of your sect? Are you truly willing to offend me when I am doing your sect a favor?”

As he said the last words, a silence fell over. Both Elder Kang and Sect leader Ma exchanged glances, their expressions shifting subtly. The oppressive force in the room did not dissipate entirely, but it loosened, just enough for Chen Ren to know his words had landed.

Ma Tianhai’s eyes turned towards him, dark and unreadable. Then, slowly, he exhaled and lowered his gaze just a fraction.

“You misunderstand me, fellow Daoist,” he said.

His fingers curled slightly against the armrest of his chair before relaxing. His gaze flickered downward, and for the first time, a trace of something almost human appeared in his expression.

“Hong Yi was one of our most important disciples. Hearing of his death like this… is difficult to accept.”

The chamber remained silent for a long moment. Then, Sect Leader Ma’s voice cut through the air.

“Can you give us more details on his death?” he asked. “Where did you find him? And… What did you do with his corpse?”

Chen Ren nodded slightly, as if he had expected the question. He exhaled, keeping his expression neutral as he leaned back just a fraction.

“Well,” he began, “I can say for sure that he died to a beast. From the tracks, it was clear that he had been chased for quite a while before the end.” He let that information hang in the air before adding, “I believe it happened about a year ago.”

Ma Tianhai’s expression did not shift, but Chen Ren caught the slight tightening of Elder Kang’s jaw.

“Unfortunately,” he continued, “I don’t know what he was doing there. As for the location, it was west of the heart of the Blein forest. I had ventured deeper myself, looking for certain herbs for a concoction I was brewing.”

A lie that the Iron Blood Sect had no way of knowing.

“And his corpse?” Ma Tianhai asked, his gaze sharpening.

Chen Ren met his eyes without hesitation. “I burned it.”

A sharp intake of breath came from Elder Kang. The man paled visibly, his fingers twitching against his robes. Sect Leader Ma’s eyes narrowed for a split second before his expression smoothed once more. RάＮƟ𝖇ЕṤ

“You burned it?”

Chen Ren nodded. “Yes. By the time I found him, only bits of his flesh remained. According to cultivation customs, cremation was the proper choice.” His voice remained steady, as if the decision had been entirely reasonable. “I had no artifacts capable of preserving his body long enough to bring him here, so I did what was necessary.”

A slow exhale came from Ma Tianhai. He did not speak immediately, but there was a subtle stiffness in his posture, a tightness at the corner of his mouth.

“…That is really, really unfortunate,” he said at last.

Before the weight of those words could settle, Elder Kang from behind suddenly spoke.

“Daoist…” The man paused, then continued, his voice holding an unmistakable edge. “May I ask you something?”

Chen Ren inclined his head slightly. “Of course, Elder.”

Elder Kang studied him for a moment, then leaned forward. “Why did it take a full year for you to bring this news to us?” His eyes gleamed with something sharp—an unspoken suspicion, perhaps. “Our Blood Iron Sect might not be as grand as a Guardian Sect, but it is hardly obscure. It wouldn’t have been difficult for someone as esteemed and powerful as yourself to find us.”

At that, even Ma Tianhai turned his gaze back to Chen Ren, waiting for his answer.

Chen Ren did not hesitate. He had expected this. His lips curled into an easy smile, his eyes remaining relaxed as he replied,

“As I mentioned, I was searching for rare materials in the forest at the time. Afterward, I entered secluded cultivation. I only emerged last week, and as soon as I did, I made my way here to inform you.” He let his expression turn just a fraction apologetic, but his voice held firm resolve. “I understand the delay may be frustrating, but I trust you understand—my personal cultivation will always be my highest priority.”

Elder Kang squinted at him, but Ma Tianhai only exhaled through his nose, nodding once. “That is fair.”

Another voice, soft as silk, brushed against Chen Ren’s mind.

You’re doing well.

Yalan’s tone carried amusement, but he ignored her, keeping his posture steady. The moment required his full focus.

Ma Tianhai glanced at Elder Kang beside him, then turned back to Chen Ren.

“Wait here for a moment.”

Chen Ren remained silent as Elder Kang stood, stepping away from his seat and exiting through one of the side doors. A brief hush filled the hall. When Elder Kang returned, he carried something in his hands.

A map.

Chen Ren’s gaze flickered over it as Elder Kang unfurled it carefully, revealing the details of a vast, sprawling forest.

Elder Kang’s finger tapped against a specific area.

“The Blein Forest.”

Ma Tianhai’s gaze swept over the unfurled map, then shifted back to Chen Ren.

“Daoist,” he said evenly, “can you point to the location where you found Hong Yi’s corpse? And where did you encounter the beast?”

Chen Ren gave a slow nod, stepping forward to study the map. He didn’t hesitate—hesitation would only breed suspicion. Instead, he moved his finger with confidence, tapping a particular area within the Forest.

“Around here.” His voice was steady, his tone matter-of-fact. “As for the beast that killed him… I don’t know its exact den, but it was a green fang direwolf—a very powerful creature.”

Both Ma Tianhai and Elder Kang exchanged a look before nodding.

The following half-hour passed with them pressing for more details. They asked about the beast—whatever it had left as proof when it was gone. They inquired about the forest—dangerous paths, notable landmarks, known settlements near the area. Each question was answered smoothly, effortlessly. Chen Ren had already constructed the entire narrative in his mind before even stepping foot in the sect. He was careful to provide just enough detail to make it believable while avoiding anything that could be easily disproved.

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When their questions finally dwindled, he glanced up, offering them a polite smile.

“I believe you now have a solid idea of where you can find the beast,” he said. “I would love to stay longer, but I have other commitments to attend to.”

He fully expected them to try to detain him—either out of lingering suspicion or a desire to leverage his strength—but to his mild surprise, Sect Leader Ma only gave a slight nod.

“Thank you, Daoist,” he said sincerely. “You have done a great service to my sect today. Please return anytime. The Blood Iron Sect will do its utmost to accommodate all your needs.”

Chen Ren’s lips curled into a gentle smile. “Thank you for your hospitality, Sect Leader Ma Tianhai. Now, I should take my leave.”

Elder Kang beside Ma Tianhai stepped forward. “Allow me to escort you.”

Chen Ren inclined his head in acknowledgment but remained alert as they walked together through the sect grounds. He observed everything—the disciples training in courtyards, the neatly maintained pathways, the defensive formations embedded into the walls. Yet, throughout the entire escort, nothing seemed amiss. No hushed conversations. No discreet gestures signaling hidden intent.

Still, he maintained his composure, answering Elder Kang’s occasional small talk with casual politeness until they reached the sect’s barrier.

At the boundary, Elder Kang came to a halt, bowing slightly.

“Thank you, Daoist. Safe travels.”

Chen Ren returned the bow with the appropriate level of respect, then stepped through the barrier. Only once he had put some distance between himself and the sect did he exhale deeply—the breath he hadn’t even realized he had been holding.

He was calm, but his mind was already working through the next steps.

They’ll check the locations I pointed out.

That was inevitable. The Blood Iron Sect would send people to verify his claims, to look for any traces that the incident had truly occurred as he described. But he wasn’t concerned. He had accounted for this from the beginning.

Hong Yi himself had told me he passed by the edge of the Blein Forest while fleeing. He hid in a cave near the entrance for a week.

If the sect conducted an investigation, they would find villages and towns near that region. Some of the locals might vaguely recall seeing a cultivator in Blood Iron Sect robes heading into the forest. That alone would lend credibility to his words.

And if they searched for the beast?

They might find it. Beasts of that level do inhabit the area.

But what could they even do with it?

Hong Yi’s metaphorical remains had long been digested, his tracks erased by time. Even if the sect suspected that verifying the full truth was futile, they would still go through the motions. It was their last ditch attempt to confirm that Hong Yi was dead and they would never get their hands on the inheritance.

Now, only one major problem left.

As Chen Ren walked deeper into the forest, he slipped a hand into his robe and pulled out Yalan. He looked at the small kitten and fought the urge to pet it once again before he whispered.

“You think they’re following us?”

The little kitten stretched in her palm, her amber eyes searching behind.

“Yes,” she replied without hesitation. “But I’ll deal with them. They won’t send anyone too strong, so it’ll be easy. They won’t even know what hit them.”

Chen Ren gave a slight nod. He didn’t need to say more—Yalan already knew what to do. With a flicker of movement, she crawled down his arm and disappeared into the underbrush. While moving away, he saw how her size increased to normal.

He continued walking, his ears tuned for anything out of place. Minutes passed. Then ten. Then twenty. By the time thirty minutes had gone by, a faint sense of unease began to creep in.

Did something go wrong?

Just as the thought took root, a rustling in the trees made him pause. His muscles tensed instinctively, but before he could react, a familiar figure dropped soundlessly in front of him.

Yalan had returned without a scratch.

“They sent three disciples,” she reported casually. “All at the qi refinement realm. The last one was a bit tricky—probably had some kind of stealth technique—but I disposed of him. When they wake up, they won’t even know what hit them.”

She stretched lazily on the ground. “Ma Tianhai will probably assume you noticed them and handled it yourself. And if he has half a brain, he won’t bother with you any further.”

Chen Ren exhaled quietly and nodded. “Let’s keep moving.”

They continued their way out of the forest. Even though Yalan had assured him there was no one tailing them, Chen Ren found himself glancing over his shoulder more than once, a habit born of caution rather than fear. Only when they finally stepped into the outskirts of the small town did he let his shoulders relax.

This time, instead of slipping into an alley, he walked straight toward the inn they had booked earlier. Moving with purpose, he headed for their room, pushing the door open before stepping inside. Only then did he reach up, remove his mask, and let out a long breath.

“I felt stuffed in that. Fuck, it was horrible,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair, and his face, and then he straightened. “Anyway, we should get to the carriage. They’re probably worrying by now.”

Yalan smirked. “Then let’s not keep them waiting.”

He nodded, and with that, they made their way out of the town. The road stretched before them, quiet under the waning moonlight. Chen Ren ran for an hour, his movements swift yet steady, conserving energy as he covered the distance. Eventually, the familiar outline of a slow-moving carriage came into view.

As he neared, Zi Han caught sight of him first, a knowing smile tugging at her lips as he looked back from driving the carriage. Chen Ren merely nodded and signalled for it to stop and stood right besides it.

The doors creaked open, and one by one, the others stepped out. Hong Yi was the first to approach him, his gaze wary, yet undeniably hopeful.

“So?” Hong Yi asked, moving from one foot to another. The man was clearly eager to know what had gone down with his previous sect. He knew how dangerous it had been for Chen Ren to go alone, considering that one little, subtle mistake could cost him his life.

Chen Ren met his eyes evenly, and licked his lips that had been dried due to the wind. “Well, what do you think, considering I’m standing here?”

For a moment, Hong Yi’s face twisted with disbelief. He didn’t

want

to trust the words, but the proof was undeniable—Chen Ren was right in front of him, alive and well.

“It took some time, but I sold the story. They’ll probably head to Blein Forest to verify it, but we’ll be far gone by then. If you stay careful and keep a low profile for a while, you won’t have any problems.”

A sharp breath escaped Hong Yi. His shoulders slackened, and for the first time since their escape, the tension in his body truly faded. Chen Ren caught the subtle tremble in his hands, the way his eyes glistened as emotion welled up. Then, suddenly, Hong Yi dropped into a deep bow.

“You don’t–”

He stayed there.

“Thank you, Sect Leader Chen,” he said while his voice quivered with emotions. “I, Hong Yi, won’t disappoint you.”

Chen Ren smiled faintly, shaking his head. “I hope you don’t,” he replied and placed his hand on top of Hong Yi’s shoulder. “Because I took a real risk for you.”

Hong Yi straightened, clenching his fists and nodding. “I’ll make sure to prove my usefulness.”

Chen Ren’s smirk widened. “You will. After all, we’ll have plenty of opportunities where we’ll need your puppets.”

“Yes, sect leader Chen Ren. Anything you say, I will do. You’ve saved my life!”

“Well, as long as you stay out of trouble that is.” He let the words hang for a moment before exhaling and stretching his arms. “But first of all… we have alcohol to sell.”

***

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