Chapter 160 Stay on the Timeline
A chill slipped into the night air, sudden and sharp.
Lian went on, his voice low but unyielding:
“Whether he’s meant to take the blade for someone, or meant to shoulder the blame—he must be in that position at that moment. Last time, we failed to push Hua Xiang into taking that strike according to the original timeline, and the result was Mu Cangli losing his sanity.”
He lifted his eyes toward us, something deep and sunken flickering beneath the surface—like drowned water hiding a current.
“This time, since Hua Xiang has already been pushed onto that critical node, we cannot disrupt his sequence. The timeline has to proceed along its true trajectory.”
Hua snapped his fan shut with a soft click, speaking under his breath:
“Looks like Hua Xiang being wronged and framed is very likely closely tied to his later ‘disappearance’ as well.”
Feng Yu nodded. “If we don’t figure out what exactly happened back then, everything that follows afterward—may very well go off track again.”
Lian’s voice carried a barely perceptible tremor, though it was suppressed to the deepest level:
“So we must investigate. Investigate how he was framed, investigate what the Three Elders did, investigate exactly what Hua Xiang experienced along this timeline—”
He lowered his eyes, fingertips tightening slightly.
“Only then can we confirm how this illusionary timeline is supposed to be corrected this time.”
“Then… how do we save him?”
I asked this while already understanding in my mind that this ‘save’ did not mean physically snatching Hua Xiang over the shoulder and running—it meant something else entirely…
Lian lifted his head, looking toward the pitch-black direction of the sect.
The night was ink-thick. His eyes held no killing intent—only a depth that felt almost fated.
“It’s not saving,” he said slowly. “It’s—seeing clearly.”
Feng Yu nodded. “We need to confirm whether Hua Xiang being detained right now is something that was always supposed to happen, or whether it’s a plot point artificially pushed into place.”
Hua unfolded his fan lightly. “If this timeline originally requires him to take the fall, we cannot take away his ‘destined position.’ If someone deliberately pushed him into this node, then we must find out who interfered.”
Lian continued:
“So—”
His tone was low, but steady like something nailed into the ground:
“First, infiltrate the sect again.
Do not rescue anyone yet.
Do not contact. Do not interfere.
Just observe clearly—what exactly is supposed to happen to Hua Xiang at this moment in the ‘correct history.’”
Feng Yu added, “After that, we decide whether we should act.”
I let out a breath of relief, then immediately tensed again. “…And me?”
All three turned to look at me.
My heart sank. As expected—whenever this happens, I never get a good assignment.
Sure enough—
Hua tapped my forehead with his folding fan. “You, of course, have a mission.”
Lian spoke slowly:
“You go—watch Elder Luo.”
Me: “?????”
My voice shot up. “You want me to deal with that scar-faced old man who keeps shouting ‘act according to rules’ and almost threw me into the eighteenth layer of the dungeon?!”
Lian nodded. “Yes. We need to determine how Hua Xiang acted in the original timeline, especially his interactions with the Three Elders. You will monitor Elder Luo and ensure he does not interfere with our reading of the true timeline node.”
Hua added helpfully, “He’s most foxy of all old dogs.”
Feng Yu solemnly warned, “Do not let yourself be countered by him.”
Me: “???”
Why!!
Why is it always me doing the most dangerous, most fatal tasks?!
I’m just a useless protagonist! I’m not some rising star of the Blood Lotus Sect!
The group prepared to set out. The wind rustled through the forest.
I clutched my head and wailed:
“Why is this damn unfinished novel getting more and more intense?!”
We moved quietly toward the outskirts of the Blood Lotus Sect in the night.
Because Hua and Feng Yu had already been wandering inside the sect these past few days, they were moving through it like fish in water, easily leading Lian and me past the most heavily guarded patrol zones.
“Lower your head.”
Hua lowered his voice at me.
I immediately obeyed.
Feng Yu raised a hand and patted powder onto my face. “Your face can’t be recognized anymore. I’ll rough it up a bit more—give you more of a commoner look. No presence at all.”
Me: “Excusez-moi?”
Feng Yu: expressionless. “Statement of fact.”
Lian glanced at me calmly, then dipped a finger into some mud and casually smeared it across my forehead—instantly leaving a mark shaped like a horse hoof.
Me: “…Are you serious?”
Lian: “Mm.”
Hua laughed outright. “Alright, alright. A sweeping servant who got kicked by a horse—sounds reasonable.”
So—
Hua in his original appearance went to monitor Elder Number Two;
Feng Yu went to monitor Elder Number Three;
Lian darkened his face slightly and infiltrated the dungeon to observe the real ‘plot node’—Hua Xiang’s movements;
And I, with a hoofprint on my face, disguised like I’d just been kicked by a horse, went to Elder Luo’s courtyard—to sweep fallen leaves.
I seriously suspected they were messing with me on purpose.
The Blood Lotus Sect’s courtyard was deep and quiet, walls high and tiles cold. I kept my head down, pretending to be a diligent servant sweeping leaves, and slipped into Elder Luo’s courtyard from the corner.
Elder Luo sat inside his room. A dim oil lamp cast light through the paper window, outlining his terrifying silhouette—white beard, scarred face, like a butcher from hell.
Rustling sounds came from inside.
He seemed to be writing something.
I immediately focused.
Writing?
Important intelligence?
A key variable in the timeline?!
I swept while inching closer to the window.
Next second—
My foot slipped.
“PA—!!”
The broom slammed into the large water vat in the courtyard.
“DONG!!!!”
The sound shook the entire yard.
Me: “……”
Elder Luo’s voice came sharply: “Who’s outside?!”
I panicked. “S-sorry sir, just a servant… sweeping…”
“You swept into the water vat?”
I gritted my teeth. “…The vat is too big.”
A moment of silence passed. Fortunately, he didn’t suspect anything and went back to writing.
I quietly gathered the leaves into a pile, then crept to the door of his study. Peeking in, I saw the old man bent over the desk, writing furiously with grave concentration, as if drafting something earth-shattering.
I cleared my throat and knocked politely, acting like the most honest servant alive.
“Elder, would you like me to come in and clean your room as well? I’m very good at sweeping. Extremely thorough. One sweep equals three. Free of charge.”
Elder Luo paused his pen.
Looked at me.
That gaze clearly said: Who are you?
I forced a smile.
After a brief silence, he said, “No need.”
“No need? How can there be no need!” I panicked internally. Seeing him about to continue writing, I acted on impulse—
I gritted my teeth and rushed in.
Elder Luo startled so badly his hand jerked.
I pointed at a spot on the ground and shouted, “Elder!! There’s a snake!! A snake here!! A big black one—no wait, maybe green!! I just saw it spitting tongues—hiss hiss—”
Elder Luo shot up immediately. “Where?!”
In that split second while he was distracted, my peripheral vision caught the paper on the desk.
The characters were large, as if deliberately written for blind people to read:
“Hua Xiang having been captured, proceed according to the original plan.”
Only one line—but it outweighed a thousand troops.
My heart went cold.
The courtyard fell silent for a long moment.
Elder Luo looked around and found no trace of a snake. He turned back to me. I immediately crouched and held my head.
“Elder be careful! The snake can hide! I’ve seen it! I swear it was right there—behind the screen!”
I even mimicked a snake: “Hiss—”
Elder Luo fell silent for a moment.
Then, in the next instant, he grabbed me by the collar like a dead chicken and threw me out.
“Ouch—!”
I landed hard on the stone floor outside, seeing stars.
But inside, I was ecstatic: perfect! I can finally run!
I immediately got up, rubbing my waist, bowing repeatedly:
“Elder please calm down! My mistake! I’ll leave, I’ll leave right now!”
I bolted, preparing to report back to Lian and the others.
After only three steps—
A cold voice came from behind:
“Stop.”