Chapter 347

As they reached the courtyard gates, just wondering why Bao Xi hadn’t followed, he emerged from behind a thicket at the corner.

Draping his fur cloak back on, the three bade farewell to Jia Shenshi and retraced their steps toward the Sacred Mountain marketplace.

---

The Central Temple, Second Level

Three beastmen dressed in Shensi garb sat before a table. Standing respectfully before them was Zhan Shenshi.

“Did you see clearly?”

“Replying to Chang Shensi: those two acted very cautiously, and with Jia and Bao Xi covering for them, I couldn’t make out their faces.”

Chang Shensi’s eyes turned cold and sharp. “You didn’t see clearly? Do you want me to guess?”

“Of course not,” Zhan bowed and scraped. “But the patrol led by Tuo outside the marketplace and the ones who trailed them just now all confirmed—those two came out of Hei Yao’s camp with Bao Xi, and have just returned to Hei Yao’s camp. They must be people from Hei Yao.”

Across from Chang sat Qin Shensi, smiling like a benevolent Buddha. “That should be right. If those two had nothing to hide, why so secretive? Instead of doubting whether they belong to Hei Yao, better to wonder what that half-dead one above us is plotting. If not for Zhan chancing upon them, wouldn’t schemes be brewing right under our noses?”

Zhan bobbed his head repeatedly, hurriedly wiping the sweat from his brow.

Though Chang Shensi wasn’t his superior, his temper was notoriously unpredictable. Zhan dreaded being blamed for something trivial.

The third Shensi looked younger than Qin and Chang—this was Wang Shensi, newly appointed as one of Ji Cheng’s three Shensi after Cang Shensi’s death.

Wang Shensi glanced toward the upper tier. “Wasn’t that one’s condition poor? How can he still spare thought for a little city like this?”

Qin Shensi smiled faintly. “Don’t underestimate him. If you really think he became Great High Priest merely because Chi Hu and Hong Chai weakened each other, you’re gravely mistaken.”

“But even then, their Mu Xiang clan only had one Shensi seat. How could he possibly have had a chance...” Wang frowned, thought for a moment, then gave up. “Never mind what he wants. Don’t forget—Hei Yao killed Cang Shensi. We should rightfully seize Hei Yao. Once we take Beizhou, whatever schemes he hatches won’t matter.”

“Qin Shensi, Chang Shensi, stop hesitating. First Ling Bao, now Mu Xiang. If we don’t strike, this fat lamb will be eaten by someone else!”

Qin and Chang knew full well Hei Yao was a fat prize. But with Cang already fallen once in Beizhou, they needed a perfect opportunity to crush Hei Yao in one blow. Otherwise Ling Bao and Mu Xiang would lunge at Hong Chai from behind. They had already suffered such a fate once before—never again.

Qin’s fingers tapped against his hand, the smile fading from his face.

Wang was right. They couldn’t delay any longer. Perhaps now was the best time.

“Summon the troops. Not a single Hei Yao person leaves alive.”

---

The Temple of Yong Shensi (same tier)

Bao Tan raged: “I think Bao Xi has forgotten his clan! He clearly knows how Hei Yao insulted the Ling Bao envoy, yet still sneaks to Hei Yao behind Grandfather’s back. Unforgivable!”

Yong Shensi reclined, eyes closed as if asleep, giving no reaction.

Bao Tan nervously peeked at his expression, then rolled his eyes and pressed on: “A mere first-rank warrior, somehow caught the Great High Priest’s eye. Now Bao Xi disdains our Ling Bao clan, currying favor with the Hei Yao city instead!”

“Zuo, you’ve also been to Hei Yao—tell me your view.”

Bao Zuo, standing behind Yong Shensi, wished he were invisible. But called upon, he bowed his head. “I was too dull to see anything.”

“You’re not dull—you’re afraid to speak.”

Yong Shensi’s eyes snapped open. Bao Tan’s knees nearly buckled beneath the gaze.

“You thought because those you brought were yours alone, you could lie to me? I may be old, but I’m not blind!”

Thud! Bao Tan dropped fully to his knees.

“Grandfather...”

The cane struck his back. “Do you not know Hei Yao’s importance? For a trifling gain, you forgot your mission? Wretched! Foolish!”

Bao Tan lay prostrate, crying out through gritted teeth: “Grandfather, I was wrong, I know I was wrong—ow!”

The cane halted midair. Seeing this, Bao Tan crept forward and clung to Yong Shensi’s legs. “Grandfather, I was wrong. Beat me if you must!”

“Do you even know what you did wrong?”

Bao Tan only knew he’d ruined things through greed. Beyond that, he was clueless.

Yong Shensi sighed heavily, withdrawing his cane. “Hei Yao—wrong is wrong. But you dare not admit it, instead trying to pin blame on Bao Xi. He is your elder brother, and will be Qi Cheng’s next Shensi. He will be your greatest support. His friendship with the Great High Priest—good or bad for Ling Bao—you cannot see?

“With this attitude, how can I entrust everything to you?”

Bao Tan steadied his heartbeat. “Grandfather, why speak like this? You’ll live many more years, countless years. You won’t need to entrust it to anyone.”

Yong Shensi said helplessly: “Until the Grand Assembly, stay quietly at home. Do not bring me more trouble.”

Bao Tan raised tearful eyes. “Grandfather, I will reflect well.”

“Begone.”

Backing out of the hall, Bao Tan’s taut nerves released, his face breaking into irrepressible joy.

He had thought all was lost—yet it had turned. Yong Shensi had personally admitted he was to be heir!

Hah! The Shensi seat would be his.

Kicking a stone, pain shot from his lashed back. His grin twisted. If only he hadn’t tattled in the first place—he wouldn’t have taken such a beating.

Inside the hall, Bao Zuo kept his face serene, as if he’d heard nothing.

“You,” Yong Shensi chuckled, “you’re the sharpest of them all.”

Bao Xi had reported to him before heading to Beizhou under the Great High Priest’s order, and on return had even earned his praise. Clearly Bao Tan knew nothing.

His questioning Bao Zuo was a test of loyalty, and the answer satisfied him well.

Not caught between Bao Tan and Bao Xi, but loyal to him alone—that was the aide he needed.

“Go. Find out everything about Hei Yao’s Bao Bai.”

Bao Zuo asked carefully: “You mean...?”

“Dong Yi, Feng Bao, the white snow leopard... There are too many coincidences in this world. Find out everything.”

“Yes.”

---

Back at the Hei Yao Camp

Qi Bai and Lang Ze, having seen Bao Xi off, returned to their carriage. Only then did Qi Bai take out what he had kept hidden in his pocket:

A leather cord necklace, strung with a bone pendant.

Qi Bai frowned deeply. “The bone bell stirred. There are God-blooded in the Central Temple.”

Indeed—this was the shamanic talisman Cang Xi had given them before departure, to sense God-blood.

Lang Ze’s eyes darkened. “If you sensed him—could he sense you?”

Then he stiffened. “Wait. How can you even use Cang Xi’s talisman?”

Qi Bai looked down at his hands, then up, bewildered. “Right... why can I?”

The two stared at each other, then sat to reason it through.

Qi Bai drew a pentagram on paper. “The divine gifts of the God-blooded clans: Shenmu of the Xian Ling, Shenyin of the Yan Ling, Shenshen of the Ju Ling, Shensi of the Qi Ling, Shenli of the Jiang Ling. Five in total.”

Lang Ze added: “Feng Bao was a small Dong Yi tribe, no trace of God-blood. When they entered our city, Cang Xi himself tried with the bone bell and confirmed—none had God-blood.”

Qi Bai nodded, pointing to Yu Shenshi’s name. “My mother-father’s tribe is impossible. Then could it come from my father’s line? Their clan has a white-albino bloodline. Could it be like the Silver Moon royals, needing awakening?”

He shook his head. “No... those albino leopards were never valued. They weren’t even allowed to grow up. If awakened, they wouldn’t be treated that way.”

Lang Ze asked suddenly: “Do you feel unwell?”

Qi Bai blinked. “Unwell? No.”

“Last time Cang Xi used the bone bell, it drained him heavily.”

Qi Bai patted himself down. “Nothing. And I didn’t even use it consciously.”

Indeed, he’d never studied the bell’s use. He only carried it so Lang Ze wouldn’t lose it in beast form.

Thinking quickly, Qi Bai flipped the pendant over for closer look.

It was hollow—no clapper inside. The bell-sound had always been in the mind. He remembered now—he’d heard it before, the first time Cang Xi used it.

Silence fell as they realized: Qi Bai’s resonance wasn’t from blood, but from soul.

Qi Bai muttered in regret. “I should’ve realized sooner.”

Lang Ze pocketed the pendant. “I didn’t hear it in the temple. Likely they won’t sense you. Still, it’s unstable—let me keep it.”

Qi Bai nodded. “Then what about the God-blood issue?”

Lang Ze’s gaze sharpened. “Whoever hides in the Central Temple has their scheme. As long as they don’t cross us, we leave them be—for now.”