Volume 4, Chapter 61 – Inquiry

After Guo Rongzhi left, Bai Xiang took out her phone and began replying to other people in order of importance.

There had been rather a lot of people looking for her lately.

Although the arrival of Taixu Temple, the Qinglan Immortal Sect, and Mingyuan Temple had not caused any stir in the “ordinary world” below the mountain, meaning there had been little chance for anyone to take photos and post them online for discussion, people who were already powerful and influential by nature did not have much difficulty obtaining news.

Bai Xiang did not spend long on this task. Every reply she sent was terse. She merely added a few polite words, saying that she had been well recently and that “if there is urgent business, we can discuss it further,” and so on.

That was because she remained clear-headed and knew that the position she held today did not come from any special talent for managing relationships. What it relied on, above all else, was her own strength.

After finishing all that, Bai Xiang did not put the phone away at once. Instead, she stared blankly for a while at the dates on the messages in her inbox.

Some of the messages were from these past few days.

But some others… the most recent one had been sent several months ago.

This, too, was a foreseeable result.

She told herself so.

As her position rose higher and higher, and as her presence in rumors and private channels of information grew stronger and stronger, the number of people who still “dared” to use her phone number to contact her directly had already been shrinking rapidly.

Back in the earlier days, when her deskmate Chen Jing ran into trouble, she still knew to call her.

This also included some other classmates. Sometimes, on holidays and festivals, they would send Bai Xiang congratulatory messages as well. But now, there was no word from any of them.

There was also Gao Feng, her former homeroom teacher at Chilong No. 1 High School, Zhang Longze, the principal of Chilong No. 1 High School, and Zhang Daoming, the Chief Inspector of the Chilong Dao Inspectorate.

These people had once called her often and spoken to her at length, but now they basically no longer dared to look for her either. Only on holidays and festival occasions did they still send routine greetings.

Bai Xiang understood very well that this was not because these people no longer had troubles, or no longer had matters for which they wanted her help.

That was not the case.

They still had many things they wanted to ask of her.

For example, some of those classmates she had once known. Even if their friendship with her had not been deep, when demon disasters drew near, they would still treat Bai Xiang as a life-saving straw and do everything they could to beg her to save people and take them out.

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Then there was Zhang Longze. She had heard some time ago that he planned to rebuild No. 1 High School in Zhennan. Whom he should ask to approve the land, which construction company he should approach, the exact details of investment… Zhang Longze’s own social network was not enough to smooth all that over.

The reason these people had needs yet did not come to Bai Xiang was that as Bai Xiang’s strength continued to rise, and as her prestige continued to rise, many things no longer needed to be asked of her in person.

Zhang Longze did not need to call Bai Xiang at all.

Because Zhennan Circuit was newly developing, it had attracted many branches of great clans. Whenever there was some social event, the sort of banquet or salon meant for building connections, all Zhang Longze had to do was carry the Dingbo Sword on his back and walk through once, introducing the weapon by saying that “this sword was once held by Dao Lord Bai, who slew demons with it at No. 1 High School.” He did not need to say more, nor do anything more, and the various difficulties surrounding the rebuilding of No. 1 High School would naturally be taken care of and smoothed away for him by others.

It was the same for everyone else. It was not as though they could use that connection to seize enormous benefits, but at the very least, it was enough to secure their lives and footing.

Such matters were handled properly by disciples under her, or by people from the State Chancery.

So what was left for them to say directly to Bai Xiang?

Thanks?

She did not need it.

A gift of gratitude?

She had no use for it.

Not a few people, in the course of all this, had surely come to feel more and more deeply the widening gap between them, and even to feel, in secret, a sense of shame before a bright moon reflected in a silver mirror.

Given that, it was only natural that fewer and fewer people would choose to contact her through that number.

Now, the only ones who still dared to call directly and speak of matters were a few familiar Dao Lords, along with high-ranking officials such as Fang Xiaochun.

And in the future?

If I keep pursuing farther down this road, will there come a day when even Grandpa no longer dares to speak to me in that same familiar way?

After indulging for a moment in this “aloof reflection from someone in a high position,” Bai Xiang suddenly gave a small smile.

She was not so trapped that she would truly spiral into the lonely dead end of such thoughts.

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Because reflections like these were something she had already simulated in her mind during those ten bedridden years of her previous life.

She simply found it interesting.

There was a kind of feeling of, so this is what it is actually like to experience it in reality.

Only after savoring that feeling for a while did she put her phone away, rise to her feet, and prepare to head for the back mountain and ask further about Dr. Hannah’s situation.

A little over ten minutes later.

Bai Xiang and Xiang Xian were walking shoulder to shoulder through the metal passageways in the rock wall of the back mountain, while Xiang Xian explained several of the main matters to her.

And Bai Zhuqing followed behind them like a maidservant. She listened attentively all the way, and at the same time one could see excitement flashing in her eyes.

How could she not be excited?

The back mountain… good grief, she had never known there was a place like this here!

For Bai Zhuqing, whatever reason Bai Xiang had previously had for not telling her about this place or allowing her to enter it, the girl only cared whether she could draw closer to Bai Xiang.

And what counted as drawing closer?

That certainly could not mean only sharing a bed or nestling against each other. It also had to mean whether Bai Xiang was willing to entrust more trust to her.

For example, the fact that she was now allowed in here. To Bai Zhuqing, that was proof of trust.

“There’s nothing unusual in Liu Yong’s biological tissue,” Xiang Xian said, clearly puzzled herself. “I don’t understand what is so special about this person.”

“Could this be a smokescreen deliberately set up by Blood Soul Heaven?” She looked at Bai Xiang. “Meaning their real target was still you, and seizing this person was only a way to lure you over?”

“I don’t think so…” Bai Zhuqing’s soft voice came from behind them.

“Hm?” Xiang Xian turned her head and stared at her. “Explain your reasoning.”

“Because the enemy set up two separate obstacles to block Big Sister from pursuing them,” Bai Zhuqing said. “The first was timing their request for an audience to coincide with everything else. The second was having that envoy from the Lishan Sword Sect stir up trouble. The purpose of both actions was very clear. It was to prevent Big Sister from interfering.”

“I came back in too much of a hurry, so I didn’t learn those details.” Xiang Xian nodded and gave her analysis her approval. “Nicely said.”

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Bai Zhuqing brightened at once, her expression turning into an almost comic 0v0.

Wearing that expression, she looked toward Bai Xiang as well, obviously wanting to hear Bai Xiang’s verdict too.

Showing off over something laid so plainly out in the open…

Bai Xiang was speechless.

But since the moment had already arrived, she thought about it and decided to go through the motions a little. “Mm… not stupid, at least.”

“But not everyone is like you, you know~” Xiang Xian laughed as she glanced at the two sisters, then made a suggestion regarding Bai Xiang’s attitude. “For Xiang’er, some of the old rules can no longer restrain you anyway. I think you don’t need to hold yourself so tightly. You can loosen up a little where appropriate.”

“All right.” Bai Xiang nodded and agreed steadily.

But Xiang Xian knew perfectly well that inwardly she had not taken it seriously at all.

This disciple of hers really was good in every way, except that whether in cultivation or in daily life, she was too rigid, too severe. She carried herself so formally that it made people feel she was always holding herself in place.

Xiang Xian truly could not understand it. Living like that all the time, didn’t Bai Xiang find it exhausting?

That rigidity was almost like a set of monastic rules and prohibitions.

No wonder Li Sheng always spoke in that doting tone over the phone.

Honestly, it made one grind one’s teeth to hear it.

“What have you learned about Dr. Hannah’s situation,” Bai Xiang suddenly asked, switching topics, “since Master came back?”

“…That one is rather troublesome.” Xiang Xian frowned.

“Come this way first.”

There had been further progress in the laboratory’s renovations. She led Bai Xiang and Bai Zhuqing into an elevator, went down all the way to the isolation zone, and entered a circular white corridor filled with a futuristic feel.

“The outside has been wrapped in special materials.” Xiang Xian introduced the place as they walked. “It can block certain things like magnetic field detection… This place was originally prepared for those affected by Loss of Order.”

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For prisoners, you mean.

Bai Zhuqing’s expression turned a little strange.

The Shenming disciples all cultivated the Path of Qi, which followed the route of orthodox Profound Gate methods. They did not need to draw power from Void Tribulation, and naturally had no risk of falling into Loss of Order.

Those who needed to be confined here in order to keep their condition stable could therefore only be captives.

After opening a metal door, the three of them stood outside a glass wall and looked into the hospital room. In the middle there was a metal bed set into the floor, and around it were rings and restraints fastening down Dr. Hannah’s lizard-like body. Meanwhile, Dr. Hannah herself was lying on her side eating a hamburger and playing a computer game.

Knock, knock.

Xiang Xian tapped on the glass once.

Dr. Hannah turned her head. The moment she saw them, she immediately put aside her entertainment. She then pressed something at her side, and when she spoke again, her voice came directly from a speaker outside the glass.

“My lord…!”

“My… this… my condition may be somewhat special. Please forgive me for being unable to bow to you.”

Xiang Xian nodded to Bai Xiang and stepped aside, giving her the place.

Bai Xiang stepped forward. Dr. Hannah’s face was reflected in her golden pupils, and she said nothing at first, only studied her carefully.

Dr. Hannah looked noticeably thinner.

The lizard-like snout of her face had shortened and flattened, and her figure looked slimmer and more delicate.

It was just that her gaze seemed exhausted.

Logically speaking, a face like that of a monster should not make its exact emotions easy to judge.

And yet Bai Xiang clearly had the feeling that, over this stretch of time, Dr. Hannah had been very tired.