In the Star-Moon Domain, a great many people had arrived near Xiao Zhe Mountain Villa—hundreds strong—and still more were rushing toward the location.
They surrounded the mountain villa, layer upon layer, as if to seize some spiritual treasure, leaving no gap for water to pass through.
While releasing their divine sense to probe the situation inside the villa, they discussed among themselves.
"There really is a Xiao Zhe Mountain Villa here. It seems Young Lord Chiyan is most likely hiding within."
"What do you think? Is Young Lord Chiyan real or fake?"
"He should be fake. How could someone who turned to ashes possibly return from the dead? When the flesh perishes and the soul scatters, that's true death. Not even immortals or demons can come back from that."
"I think so too. But some say while others might not be able to return from death, that doesn't mean the disciple of Lord Chixiao can't. Don't forget, Lord Chixiao himself experienced nine lives and nine deaths back in the day! Besides, no one is certain whether Young Lord Chiyan truly turned to ashes three years ago. What if he just used some brilliant technique to feign death?"
"I heard Fairy Su Hua was present at the time. She shouldn't have been unable to tell, right?"
"It's true Fairy Su Hua was there, but have you ever heard her personally say Young Lord Chiyan turned to ashes?"
"That... I haven't."
"News about whether that so-called Young Lord Chiyan is real or fake has been spreading like wildfire, with opinions divided. The pity is that Young Lord Chiyan is elusive, and no one knows where he's hiding, so it's been impossible to verify."
"Tsk tsk. Well, it's good now. We've finally caught this fellow! Whether he's real or fake, the truth will be revealed today."
"How will it be revealed? By you?"
"Don't worry, we won't need to bother. Plenty of people want to know if Young Lord Chiyan is real or fake. Someone will naturally step forward soon."
"I'm afraid the first to step forward will be Yao Yue Palace. Their disciples haven't been idle these past days, searching all over the Great Northwest for traces of Young Lord Chiyan."
"Besides Yao Yue Palace, the people from the several Chizi Tou branch offices haven't been idle either. Ever since hearing the news of Young Lord Chiyan's return from death, they've also wanted to know if he's real or fake. Unfortunately, for months they couldn't find any trace of this guy. Think about it carefully—he's only shown himself a handful of times, and each time he vanished without a trace soon after, making it impossible to track him."
"People suspect he's fake precisely because of this. Think about it—why would someone hide so thoroughly if everything was fine? There must be something fishy going on, you know? Some say this Young Lord Chiyan is someone Han Dong found to impersonate him, claiming she's worried about her Heir Apparent position being snatched away, so she deliberately said Young Lord Chiyan is her cultivation partner to intimidate the elders of Yao Yue Palace."
"Miss Han Dong shouldn't be that kind of person, should she?"
"Who can say for sure? You can know a person's face, but not their heart."
"Even if it is true, Miss Han Dong was forced into a corner. The elders of Yao Yue Palace want to seize her Heir Apparent position. Anyone in her place would think of a way! Could she just watch her position be taken away?"
"That may be so, but the fear is if Young Lord Chiyan really is fake... if he gets exposed, Miss Han Dong's Heir Apparent position will truly be taken away."
"Sigh! Miss Han Dong made the wrong move with this chess piece! Whether Young Lord Chiyan is real or fake, she's heading for disaster."
"How so?"
"If Young Lord Chiyan is fake, she'll definitely lose her Heir Apparent position. If Young Lord Chiyan is real, not only will she lose her position, but even... her life might be in danger."
"Why?"
"Don't forget, a few years ago in the Four Directions Domain, that Young Lord Chiyan not only destroyed the Nine Hua Alliance but also wiped out two Immortal Officials! In today's world, Immortal Officials represent the Immortal Dynasty. To disrespect an Immortal Official is to disrespect the Immortal Dynasty. And to kill an Immortal Official? That's openly opposing the Immortal Dynasty!"
More and more people gathered outside.
Meanwhile, inside Xiao Zhe Mountain Villa.
Han Dong furrowed her brows, her expression somewhat panicked but more confused. Ever since Ouyang Ye had someone impersonate Young Lord Chiyan months ago, she had been living in Xiao Zhe Mountain Villa. The place was remote, located at the border between the Star-Moon Domain and the Sishui Domain, and rarely saw visitors under normal circumstances.
Worried about giving themselves away, she had seldom gone out. Even when she did, she returned with great caution, fearing someone might follow or come looking for trouble with Ouyang Ye.
After moving to Xiao Zhe Mountain Villa, she had never told anyone else.
How did these people find out?
Not only did they know she lived here, they even knew Young Lord Chiyan lived here too?
"Sister Han Dong, how could these people know we live here?"
Ouyang Ye noticed the large crowd outside, and it seemed they were all here for Young Lord Chiyan. She couldn't figure out how they had found this place.
"Oh no!"
At that moment, Qian Shan seemed to remember something, his expression turning serious. "It's all my fault for being so careless. I actually forgot such an important matter."
Han Dong and Ouyang Ye were both bewildered, unsure what Qian Shan meant.
"You don't know this, but Xiao Jinr knows Young Lord Chiyan likes to drink. On the way here, she kept pestering me to buy wine for him, and it had to be good wine. I happen to know a friend who's a connoisseur, so after arriving in the Star-Moon Domain, I first went to visit that friend."
Qian Shan said helplessly, "While I was away, Xiao Jinr overheard people discussing whether Young Lord Chiyan was fake and argued with them. You know how Xiao Jinr believes Young Lord Chiyan is real. Later, when she couldn't win the argument, in a fit of anger, she told them you were living at Xiao Zhe Mountain Villa."
"What!"
Hearing this, Han Dong and Ouyang Ye were at a loss for words. They never imagined the news had been leaked by Xiao Jinr.
"Xiao Jinr is absolutely capable of doing something like this. That silly girl is utterly infatuated with Gu Qingfeng and can't stand to hear anyone speak ill of him. Back at the Taixuan Platform, just because someone said Gu Qingfeng didn't understand music, the little girl single-handedly took on a crowd to defend him..." Ouyang Ye felt like crying but had no tears. "Now that people are saying Young Lord Chiyan is fake, the little girl must be furious. If she couldn't win the argument, she'd be even angrier, so she told them the address of Xiao Zhe Mountain Villa... wanting these people to come and... use actual proof to show them her Big Brother is real."
Scratching her head, Ouyang Ye said with a woeful expression, "The people from Yao Yue Palace have always suspected Young Lord Chiyan is fake and have been searching everywhere for him. If they find out we're hiding here... the consequences are unthinkable. And besides Yao Yue Palace, there are the several branch offices of Chizi Tou. It's also likely... the people from the Immortal Mansion are involved."
Looking up at the growing crowd outside, Ouyang Ye suddenly felt dizzy. "It seems the news has completely spread... We're in big trouble now."