C218 Hypocrite

"Gloomhollow."

Chen Qingyan's delicate brows furrowed slightly, her radiant eyes swirling with confusion.

Gloomhollow was deemed a forbidden area by the Sacred Hands, but the reasons for this designation were never publicly disclosed.

As a person of noble status with a keen interest in the art of alchemy, Qingyan had visited the Serpent Spine Mountains on numerous occasions, hoping to explore Gloomhollow.

Yet, the Sacred Hands had consistently denied her requests.

Why then, had they permitted the Hu family to enter Gloomhollow?

"Something doesn't feel right."

Hu Hang was clearly bewildered. "I'm aware that Gloomhollow is off-limits, a sacred area of the Sacred Hands where neither outsiders nor the sect's own disciples are allowed to tread. But as a forbidden area, it should still fall under the sect's jurisdiction. We're just here to make a delivery; we should be able to leave as soon as we drop off the items."

"Gloomhollow isn't as straightforward as you believe," Yu Yuan said, shaking his head.

At his words, a hush fell over the members of the Hu family.

"I am Hu Xuan."

The elderly man with a long beard and pale skin stepped forward, scrutinizing Yu Yuan with a serious gaze. "Young man, might you know something?"

Just as Yu Yuan was about to respond, he noticed that the plate of fish and rabbit meat had been cleared once again.

"I'm Hu Yue."

The young woman from the Hu family offered a sweet smile, her waist twisting as she turned away. She quickly returned with a silver platter heaped with cooked meats and presented it with both hands to Yu Yuan.

To the Hu family, Chen Qingyan of the Songbird Empire was an illustrious figure from Aetherius, a realm of legends.

Born into nobility, her innate talent for cultivation was unrivaled across the empires, and she had been handpicked by a master of the Sword Sect at an early age. Truly favored by the heavens, she embodied a convergence of fortune and influence.

And the friends of Chen Qingyan? They were anything but ordinary.

This was precisely why the Hu family held Yu Yuan in such high esteem, despite discerning that his cultivation level was merely at the Soul Awakening stage.

"The reason Gloomhollow is a forbidden area," Yu Yuan began, picking up a fish and addressing the Hu family, "is that it imprisons several former disciples of the Sacred Hands who were experts in crafting poison pills. Each of those herbalists is far from ordinary. Furthermore, the chilling winds of Gloomhollow have the power to scatter one's three souls."

"What?" Hu Xuan exclaimed in astonishment.

"What wind?" Chen Qingyan echoed, equally surprised.

"The chilling wind of Gloomhollow is known as the Nightstorm. Have you ever heard of it?" Yu Yuan inquired.

"Nightstorm!"

Chen Qingyan's tall figure shuddered slightly. "Where does the Nightstorm originate? Gloomhollow has been designated a forbidden area by the Sacred Hands. Surely it's not just to confine the elders of the sect?"

"Indeed, it's to prevent the Nightstorm from claiming lives." Yu Yuan nodded in confirmation.

"I fear that Gloomhollow might be quite perilous. I would advise the Hu family not to heed the Sacred Hands' commands," Chen Qingyan suggested after a moment's hesitation. "You should proceed directly to the Sacred Hands' sect territory, leave the furnaces your family brought for them, and then make haste to depart from the Serpent Spine Mountains."

"We were hoping to witness the herbalists' grand event," Hu Yue interjected with a pout. "It's not often we get to visit, and we're quite eager to see how these herbalists are tested and promoted."

"It's problematic to disregard the Sacred Hands' orders," Hu Hang said, his face etched with concern.

It was only Hu Xuan who appeared gravely serious, reflecting on the conversation between Chen Qingyan and Yu Yuan.

"Is there something amiss with the Serpent Spine Mountains?" Hu Xuan pondered aloud, pressing further, "Is Gloomhollow exceptionally dangerous? Could there be risks for our Hu family if we proceed there?"

"Of late, the Serpent Spine Mountains have been rife with peculiar occurrences, and many from the Binders of Shadows have been spotted," Chen Qingyan confirmed with a nod. "But the critical point is that Gloomhollow is, in fact, dangerous."

Yu Yuan added, "She means well."

"Take some time to think it over," Chen Qingyan suggested before giving Yu Yuan a playful glance and strolling toward the lakeside.

Yu Yuan, carrying a tray laden with food, followed her to the water's edge. As they gazed out over the gently undulating lake, he murmured, "Nightstorm..."

"I was just about to question you on that very topic!" Chen Qingyan abruptly turned, her gaze piercing as she faced him. "You hail from the modest town of Asvetaesi; how do you come to know of the Nightstorm? Had you not mentioned it, I wouldn't have imagined the Nightstorm's presence in the Serpent Spine Mountains, much less in Gloomhollow."

She was brimming with curiosity about Yu Yuan.

Recently, he had used dust to shield Bai Shenshen and others from harm, and had cunningly employed purple dust to damage Zanas' flag, inflicting severe harm.

Despite being a mere practitioner at the Soul Awakening Realm, he managed to manipulate Zanas with ease.

Now, his knowledge of Gloomhollow was impressive. He even knew that the so-called nightstorm was, in fact, the fearsome Nightstorm.

Who exactly was this man?

"Liu Zaihe!" Yu Yuan exclaimed, clearly astonished.

"How did he get here?" Chen Qingyan wondered with curiosity.

At that moment, Liu Zaihe, the descendant of the King of Wraiths, made his appearance.

As soon as Liu Zaihe arrived, Hu Yue from the Hu family was visibly thrilled, calling out, "Brother Liu!"

She hurried toward him.

Hu Hang, Hu Xuan, and the other members of the Hu family all smiled warmly at the sight of Liu Zaihe, as if greeting an old friend.

"Brother Liu, do you know them?" Hu Yue approached, babbling excitedly as if offering up a treasure, and relayed everything Chen Qingyan and Yu Yuan had said.

She flitted around Liu Zaihe like a joyful bird.

It was obvious to anyone that she was deeply enamored with Liu Zaihe.

Liu Zaihe, with a stoic expression and standing resolute like a solitary peak, listened to her before slightly furrowing his brow. "A young master from the Yu family of Asvetaesi, what could he possibly know about Gloomhollow? Is there really danger there, or is it just alarmist talk?"

"Asvetaesi, from the Silvermoon Empire?" Hu Yue questioned, her brow creasing. "You mean he's from the Yu family of Asvetaesi?"

Liu Zaihe gave a nod.

"Such a small family." A hint of scorn crept into Hu Yue's expression. "I had thought he was a distinguished young talent from the Songbird Empire, like Sister Chen. Turns out he's nothing but a pretender. And to think I was so generous with him, only for him to spout such nonsense."

In a flash, she aligned herself with Liu Zaihe's perspective, leveling accusations at Yu Yuan.

Hu Hang and Hu Xuan also listened intently to Liu Zaihe's words.

"Little brother, are you a member of the Yu family from Asvetaesi?" Hu Xuan hesitated briefly before raising his voice in a soft call.

Yu Yuan responded with a smile and a nod. "You're correct. I hail from the Yu family of Asvetaesi, within the Silvermoon Empire."

Setting down the silver plate in his hands, he beamed. "Thank you for the hospitality."

Without lingering by the lakeside or offering any explanations to the Hu family, Yu Yuan casually strolled away, heading in the direction of Gloomhollow.

Chen Qingyan of the Songbird Empire observed him with a keen interest.

Once she noticed he had departed, a smile played at the corners of her mouth beneath her veil, and she promptly set off after him.

"Miss Chen!"

The calls from the Hu family members fell on deaf ears as Hu Yue completely disregarded them.

Liu Zaihe stared after her retreating figure, his expression a mix of confusion and dejection.

​