Chapter 85: So, What Details Did the Original Story Leave Out?

By the time Chen Jianxin and the others arrived back at Wuji Peak aboard the Spirit Boat, the first rays of dawn were already painting the eastern sky. Exhausted from days of travel and a sleepless night, many of the Wuji Sect disciples were yawning before they even stepped off the boat, blinking wearily against the bright morning sun.

At Jiang Jinyue’s suggestion, the consensus was to head back to their dormitories for some much-needed rest. They’d regroup in the evening, once everyone was refreshed, to puzzle over the mysteries of the Nine-Colored Compass together.

“Brother Chen, Senior Sister Jiang, we’re heading off then!”

“Good night… Oh, wait, I guess it’s good morning now, hehe.”

Jiang Jinyue waved goodbye with a slightly tired smile as the last group of staggering disciples departed. Once they were gone, she turned to Chen Jianxin, who was standing beside her. His eyes were bloodshot from exhaustion, yet his mind was clearly still buzzing with nervous energy. He was hunched over the compass, staring intently at its needle.

“Junior Brother Chen,” Jiang Jinyue began with a gentle, slightly amused smile, “you’ve been staring at that compass all night. Aren’t you tired at all?”

Chen Jianxin looked up at her voice, rubbing his eyes before holding up the compass earnestly. “Senior Sister Jiang, don’t you find this incredibly strange?”

“What do you mean?”

“Look, Senior Sister! The strangest thing is, the compass needle pointed towards Wuji Sect the entire journey back! It perfectly matched our Spirit Boat’s return route!”

“And even weirder, I watched it the whole time, expecting the needle to shift direction at some point… but it never did! Even now, after we’ve docked right here at Wuji Sect, it’s still pointing the same way!”

“I suspect… the place the Nine-Colored Compass is indicating… it’s somewhere in the Secret Realm on Wuji Sect’s back mountain! Plus, I heard a lot of people talking recently… about strange occurrences, hauntings even, on the back mountain at night! Even Senior Brother Gu mentioned something big happening back there!”

“Senior Sister Jiang, don’t you think… when you put it all together… it’s incredibly suspicious?!” Chen Jianxin laid out his analysis, his voice filled with urgent conviction, gesturing for Jiang Jinyue to look at the compass with him.

Jiang Jinyue narrowed her captivating eyes, pretending to study the compass intently. Of course, without the subtle illusion He Yimo had cast, the compass wasn’t pointing towards the back mountain at all. It was firmly aimed away from Wuji Sect, further west, towards the territories beyond the mountain range. Either towards Xizhou City, or perhaps even deeper into the true Western Regions.

Honestly, Jiang Jinyue couldn’t fathom why He Yimo was so adamant about not returning to Wuji Sect. From her perspective, the clues regarding the Snow Village massacre were already quite clear. With He Yimo’s current strength (as she perceived it), he was perfectly capable of investigating the truth behind the mountain god shrine himself. With her guidance, he could easily become the celebrated hero who saved the younger disciples of Wuji Sect…

But now? Not only had He Yimo completely ignored this golden opportunity practically gift-wrapped for him, but he’d also run off even further away! Probably all the way to Xizhou City by now, given the time passed. Sigh. Well, Jiang Jinyue couldn’t rely solely on He Yimo anyway. She’d just have to proceed with her original plan and guide Chen Jianxin instead.

“Junior Brother Chen,” she said, adopting a slightly ditzy, concerned expression, mirroring the attitude of the other tired disciples, “I think you might be getting a little… obsessed…”

“Even if your analysis makes sense… look, the sun’s already up. We’ve all been awake for nearly a day and a night straight. No one’s thinking clearly right now.”

“Why don’t you go back and rest too, Junior Brother Chen? Then tonight, once everyone’s awake and refreshed, we can all go investigate the back mountain together? How about that?”

Her words, delivered with practiced naivete, seemed to douse Chen Jianxin’s fiery enthusiasm. His hopeful expression immediately dimmed, replaced by disappointment. He sighed, opened his mouth as if to argue, then closed it again, a look of resignation settling on his face. It was clear he’d given up expecting anything from Jiang Jinyue. Figures. Chen Jianxin felt a wave of disillusionment wash over him. These fellow disciples… they were either cowards, afraid of danger, or complete idiots easily fooled by villains…

The iron-clad evidence was right here, staring them in the face! A chance to achieve great merit, served up on a silver platter! And these guys were actually thinking about going home to sleep?! Saying they’d check the back mountain tomorrow?! By tomorrow, the opportunity would be long gone! He Yimo would probably be back by then! And Chen Jianxin absolutely did not want to wait for He Yimo to return and then have to share the credit for the discovery he’d spent all night working towards! No way!

“Fine. None of you experienced the massacre of your clan. You’ll never understand how important uncovering the truth about Snow Village is,” Chen Jianxin muttered coldly, lowering his gaze. He wouldn’t waste any more breath arguing with this foolish woman. Besides, if Jiang Jinyue didn’t come with him, that was one less person to compete with for the glory! This was actually a good thing!

With that thought, Chen Jianxin waved a dismissive hand and started walking resolutely towards the Wuji Sect’s back mountain. “If Senior Sister Jiang is tired, then go rest with the others.”

“And what about you, Junior Brother Chen?”

“Me? I’m not tired.” His voice was firm. “Until I uncover the truth behind the Snow Village massacre… I wouldn’t be able to sleep even if I wanted to!”

“Don’t worry, Senior Sister Jiang! Just go get some sleep! By the time you all wake up tonight, you’ll probably find I’ve already solved the entire mystery!” Chen Jianxin scoffed, a hint of smug satisfaction in his voice, and walked away without looking back.

Jiang Jinyue watched him go, the feigned concern in her mesmerizing eyes melting away, replaced by cold contempt. ‘Idiot. Rushing headlong towards his own death…’ she sneered internally. ‘If it weren’t for me secretly protecting you all this time, you’d have died at Mu Yanran’s hands long ago!’ Knowing Chen Jianxin looked down on her still stung, prompting the silent curse.

Once Chen Jianxin was out of sight, Jiang Jinyue glanced around quickly, confirming she was alone. Then, she turned and started walking purposefully towards Soot-Stained Peak (Mo Yuyan’s residence). As she walked, she kept glancing up at the western sky, where the full moon was beginning to set. Her captivating eyes seemed to shimmer, a faint blood-red sigil appearing within them. Through this special filter, the pale, silvery moon took on a ghastly, blood-red hue.

`According to the plan, Gu Wanglan’s side should have everything ready by now,` she mused. `However, dawn is breaking, and the blood moon has already set. He’s missed the optimal time for the sacrifice today.`

`It’ll take Chen Jianxin about two hours to reach the depths of the back mountain following the Nine-Colored Deer Compass’s route (the falsified one). Considering Chen Jianxin’s hidden potential for explosive power… Gu Wanglan will need at least another hour to capture him alive. And he’ll have to lure Chen Jianxin deep into the Secret Realm’s core to avoid the battle’s shockwaves alerting the sect elders…`

Jiang Jinyue calmly analyzed the situation, two possibilities forming in her mind.

One: Gu Wanglan ignores the optimal ritual conditions and kills Chen Jianxin immediately just to silence him. But sacrificing during the day, without the blood moon’s amplification, means he most likely won’t be able to successfully seize Chen Jianxin’s Innate Sword Saint Physique.

Two: Gu Wanglan prioritizes maximizing the ritual’s benefits. He captures Chen Jianxin alive, imprisons him, and waits until the blood moon rises again tonight to perform the sacrifice and steal the Sword Saint Physique.

`Knowing Gu Wanglan, based on my observations over this long period… he’ll definitely choose the second option!` she concluded confidently. `After all, the entire reason Gu Wanglan joined the Waning Moon Cult was specifically to sacrifice someone and seize a Sword Saint Physique!`

`If he just killed Chen Jianxin during the day to be ‘safe’, wasting the Sword Saint Physique in the process… what would be the point of his meticulously laid plans all these years?`

A cold smirk touched Jiang Jinyue’s lips. Her earlier tension eased considerably.

`Good thing the Spirit Boat was slow and didn’t reach Wuji Peak last night,` she congratulated herself. `If Gu Wanglan had performed the sacrifice last night, I wouldn’t have had much time to prepare!`

`This works out perfectly. Since there’s still plenty of time… I’ll head to Soot-Stained Peak first and lay the groundwork…`

`Then, tonight, when Gu Wanglan begins the sacrifice… I’ll subtly, secretly alert Mo Yuyan… leading her to the back mountain just in time to rescue Chen Jianxin!`

Bathed in the gentle morning light, the fox demoness walked with a light spring in her step, her mood significantly improved.

***

(Meanwhile, somewhere far away, likely heading towards Wuji Sect…)

`In the original story, Yun Jin, who knew the most about Snow Village, reached Wuji Sect first. But she didn’t act rashly; she planned to wait for Chen Jianxin to investigate the back mountain together. However, when Chen Jianxin’s group arrived later via Spirit Boat, everyone was exhausted. After some discussion, they decided to sleep first and explore the back mountain the next evening…`

`Yun Jin, though consumed with anxiety, considered everyone’s feelings and agreed to rest first at the female dormitories.`

`But she couldn’t sleep. Tossing and turning, she kept hearing the faint, mournful cries of deer from the back mountain in her mind. Unable to rest, and unwilling to disturb the others, Yun Jin finally decided to investigate alone, taking only the Nine-Colored Compass…`

`Later, she was captured by Gu Wanglan, kept alive alongside the Nine-Colored Deer, intended for sacrifice.`

`That evening, Chen Jianxin was woken up by Jiang Jinyue, who claimed Yun Jin had disappeared during the day. Chen Jianxin rushed to the female dorms, only to find a letter left on Yun Jin’s pillow.`

`Frantic, Chen Jianxin hurried to the back mountain… where he witnessed the deaths of both the Nine-Colored Deer and Yun Jin… leading to his final confrontation with Gu Wanglan…`

…

Riding on the back of the Nine-Colored Deer (who was presumably flying), He Yimo gazed into the distance, his expression thoughtful as he mentally reviewed the original plot progression.

`In this life, Yun Jin didn’t return to Wuji Sect, and the Nine-Colored Deer didn’t die… Therefore, the first person Jiang Jinyue will manipulate into investigating the back mountain will undoubtedly be Chen Jianxin.`

`And based on my understanding of the original plot… when Chen Jianxin arrives at Wuji Sect this morning, regardless of whether he goes to the back mountain immediately or not… Gu Wanglan will definitely capture him alive first, imprison him in some hidden dungeon, and then wait until the blood moon rises tonight to kill him!`

`At that point, when the sacrifice begins on the back mountain… Mo Yuyan should arrive within about half an hour, just as Chen Jianxin is on the brink of death.`

He Yimo’s brow furrowed, a familiar headache starting. There was one detail from the original story he’d never quite figured out. The game’s protagonist (Chen Jianxin) hadn’t received Mo Yuyan’s life-saving jade pendant like He Yimo had. Yet, Mo Yuyan still showed up just in the nick of time to save him.

Back when he was just playing the game, He Yimo hadn’t thought much about it – the protagonist getting saved was normal, otherwise, how could the game continue? But now, living inside the world of “Fallen Immortal,” He Yimo deeply felt how much of a plot hole, a deus ex machina, Mo Yuyan’s timely appearance really was. She shouldn’t have been there.

`Which means…` He Yimo pondered, `…if I want room to maneuver tonight, I need to find a way to delay Mo Yuyan, otherwise, if she gets there too early, Chen Jianxin will be saved! Damn it! But the key problem is, I still don’t know how Mo Yuyan, all the way over on Soot-Stained Peak, even found out about the battle on the back mountain in the original story! Who told her?!`

The more He Yimo thought about it, the worse his headache became. He took a deep breath, trying to clear his mind. Lost in thought, he barely noticed the ahoge-girl behind him slumping forward, drowsily resting her head on his back, her arms wrapping around his waist.

“Yun Jin?”

“Mmmhmmm~” the girl mumbled sleepily, her eyes still closed.

“There’s something… I need to ask you to do for me tonight,” He Yimo said softly, his plan solidifying.

“Mmm… want me to… wash clothes for Young Master again~?” she murmured, still half-asleep, her mind fuzzy.

He Yimo glanced back at her, then gently took her small hands that were clasped around his waist. “It’s something much more important than washing clothes, Yun Jin. And it’s something only you can do for me.”

“Hmm…? What…?” Being held like that jolted Yun Jin awake. She sat up straighter, rubbing her eyes, her mind slowly clearing.

He Yimo looked at her, his expression serious, his tone earnest. “Yun Jin, when we get back to Wuji Sect… I still have some things I need to do alone, so I’ll be leaving for a bit. When I’m gone, I need you to go to Soot-Stained Peak… and deliver a message to Senior Sister Mo for me—”

“Eh…? Wh-What do you mean?” He Yimo’s gentle yet solemn tone sent a shiver of unease through Yun Jin. It sounded almost like… a final farewell. Her large, Kalanzi-blue eyes widened, suddenly alert. “Young Master He, what’s wrong? Is there something you absolutely need me to tell Senior Sister Mo?”

“Yes. Only you can do it, Yun Jin—” He Yimo smiled faintly, took another deep breath, and paused for a moment. Then, as if an idea struck him, a cold, calculating glint appeared in his eyes. “Alright. Go find Senior Sister Mo, and tell her this— He Yimo discovered a mysterious clue back in Northfall Snow Village. He followed the clue to investigate further… but accidentally stumbled into the main stronghold of some evil cultists.”

“Then… tell her that He Yimo, in order to uncover the truth about the cultists’ plans, has decided to continue infiltrating their ranks. He’ll be going deep undercover and won’t be returning to Wuji Sect for the time being.”

“But! Tell her not to worry! He Yimo is carrying the life-saving jade pendant she gave him. If he encounters true danger, or if he discovers the cultists’ grand conspiracy… he will activate the pendant, and Senior Sister Mo will immediately know his location!”

***

“Senior Brother Gu? What… What are you doing here?”

Deep within the Secret Realm on Wuji Peak’s back mountain, Chen Jianxin stood before the entrance of a huge, ruined shrine, staring in confusion at the grey-haired man waiting within. Cautiously, he stepped inside the Mountain God Shrine. As the swirling mist parted, the terrifying sight in the center of the temple hit him: a bizarre altar constructed entirely of pulsating, blood-red vines.

And seated cross-legged in the very center of this gruesome altar was Gu Wanglan, his cold eyes fixed on Chen Jianxin with unnerving, predatory intensity, like a spider watching a fat fly walk willingly into its web.

“Wh-What… is this… Why…” The grotesque scene slammed into Chen Jianxin, the blood-red altar triggering traumatic, buried memories of his clan’s annihilation. His legs buckled. A splitting headache flared, mingling with the raw terror and burning grief churning in his chest. With a choked gasp, Chen Jianxin collapsed to his knees.

Clatter…

The Nine-Colored Compass fell from his grasp, spinning on the dusty stone floor. After a long moment of stunned silence, Chen Jianxin pushed himself up slightly, bracing his hands on the ground, and looked up. He saw the compass needle, still spinning slightly, stubbornly pointing straight ahead. Following the needle’s direction with his eyes, Chen Jianxin looked up further… and saw the tall figure in dark Daoist robes, the grey-haired man standing before the altar.

“S-Senior… Brother Gu…” Chen Jianxin stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief and dawning horror. “Why… Why is the Nine-Colored Compass… pointing at you…?”

Before he could even finish the question, Gu Wanglan brought his foot down, shattering the compass into pieces.

“Hehehe~” Gu Wanglan chuckled, squatting down to better appreciate the look of utter despair dawning on the boy’s face. He couldn’t contain his malicious glee any longer. His eyes glowed with a dark, blackish-red light, which seemed even more sinister in the gloomy, sunless mist pervading the shrine. Pure, unadulterated terror seized Chen Jianxin, making him tremble uncontrollably.

“Senior Brother Gu… Wh-What is going on?!”

“Silly boy,” Gu Wanglan purred, his voice dripping with mock pity, his pupils contracting into demonic slits. “Have you truly forgotten?” He reached out two fingers and gently tapped the center of Chen Jianxin’s forehead.

“That night… you saw him clearly yourself, hiding at the cave entrance… didn’t you~? You saw… a man with grey hair… personally sacrifice your entire village…?”