Bai Fanlu immediately went to find Wang Chongyu, but when he knocked on the door next door, there was no response. He pushed the door open and found the room empty.

Just as he was wondering where Wang Chongyu could be, he heard an unusual noise. Turning around, he saw Wang Chongyu jumping in through the window.

“Senior Brother!” Wang Chongyu exclaimed with relief when he saw Bai Fanlu. “So you were here!”

This made Bai Fanlu even more confused. “You went out looking for me? Then why…”

If Wang Chongyu was looking for him, why didn’t he use the front door instead of climbing in through the window?

Wang Chongyu stepped closer, calming the energy around him, and explained, “I heard some unusual noises in your room earlier and saw a figure fly past the window. I thought someone was trying to harm you, so I chased after them, but unfortunately, I couldn’t catch them.”

When Bai Fanlu first saw Wang Chongyu, he wondered if the note might have been secretly given by him. But if it were Wang Chongyu, he could have just expressed his concerns directly. There would have been no need for such a roundabout approach.

Judging by his actions, it likely wasn’t Wang Chongyu. So, who could it have been?

As Bai Fanlu was thinking, Wang Chongyu continued, “When I came back and saw your window wide open, I was worried that something had happened to you. So I went to your room, but you weren’t there…”

So in a panic, he exited through the window and came in that way as well. That made sense.

Wang Chongyu seemed a bit embarrassed by his own dramatic entrance and finally breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

The sound of the arrow shooting in earlier had indeed been loud, so it wasn’t surprising that Wang Chongyu, being a cultivator, had sensed something was wrong. When Bai Fanlu saw the worried and travel-worn look on his face as he jumped through the window, it was clear that Wang Chongyu had truly feared the worst.

Bai Fanlu handed the note attached to the arrow to Wang Chongyu and explained what had happened.

“This…” Wang Chongyu frowned as he looked at the four characters on the note. “What do you make of it, Senior Brother?”

“I’m not sure either,” Bai Fanlu replied, pondering. “The note warns me to be cautious of Yun Zhan. The more I think about it, the more I wonder… Could Yun Zhan have been possessed, just like Master Qingyang?”

Or… could he be an imposter?!

This thought suddenly flashed through Bai Fanlu’s mind.

Wang Chongyu stared at him for a moment. “Senior Brother, you still trust him, don’t you?”

“What?” Bai Fanlu was still considering the possibility of a fake Yun Zhan.

Wang Chongyu continued, “So you still believe in him—that what happened at Baihua Pavilion wasn’t his true intention, or that the person there wasn’t actually him, right?”

Why was Wang Chongyu suddenly speaking so sharply? Bai Fanlu detected a hint of tension in his words. He hadn’t made any definitive conclusions just because of a note; after all, in the original story, Yun Zhan did have a similar arc, so it wasn’t unreasonable.

However, the appearance of the note reminded Bai Fanlu of Ling Qingzi’s previous warning, and it made sense to be cautious.

On the other hand, Wang Chongyu, who had always seemed calm and composed, was clearly losing his composure now that Yun Zhan was being mentioned frequently.

“I’m not saying I definitely trust him,” Bai Fanlu said, feeling somewhat helpless. “But we don’t know whether the note is true or false. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Wang Chongyu turned his head slightly. “I’m sorry, Senior Brother. I shouldn’t have spoken that way. It’s only natural that you trust him. So, what should we do now?”

“I have an idea. Tomorrow, I’ll test him,” Bai Fanlu said, not wanting to dwell on Yun Zhan anymore. Instead, he discussed the issue of the mind-altering incense with Wang Chongyu. Wang Chongyu had also noticed the presence of the incense at Baihua Pavilion the previous day, and the two of them agreed on a plan.

Early the next morning, the previously bustling street was now deserted, with only a faint morning mist lingering. The three-story Baihua Pavilion stood gracefully amid the low buildings around it, like a beauty in the crowd.

However, the intricately carved doors were tightly shut, with no sign of the usual courtesans greeting visitors with smiles. The place seemed more desolate than usual.

According to their plan from the previous night, to be cautious, Bai Fanlu and Wang Chongyu decided to wait for Yun Zhan to come out, in case there was something wrong inside Baihua Pavilion. They didn’t want to fall into any traps, so they sat at a small breakfast shop across the street for nearly half an hour.

The middle-aged shopkeeper happened to be chatting with someone about Miss Qian Qian of Baihua Pavilion, and Bai Fanlu was listening closely when Wang Chongyu suddenly stood up and, without a word, walked across the street.

“Hey! Chongyu!” Bai Fanlu called out, but Wang Chongyu didn’t respond and quickly reached the entrance of Baihua Pavilion. Bai Fanlu hurried after him and stopped him just as he was about to push the door open.

“What’s going on?”

“I can smell the incense. It’s even stronger than yesterday,” Wang Chongyu said, his expression dark as he stared at the half-open door.

“Do you really want to go in now?”

Bai Fanlu still felt it was unwise. They had agreed to wait for Yun Zhan to come out first, but no one had come out of the pavilion since they started waiting. Something felt off.

“We can’t wait any longer. I’m worried the people inside are in danger,” Wang Chongyu said.

Feeling Wang Chongyu lightly tug on his sleeve, his expression serious, Bai Fanlu began to worry as well. After all, there were still ordinary people inside Baihua Pavilion.

They had already taken medicine to suppress the effects of the incense, so they should be fine for a short period. Though hesitant, Bai Fanlu finally agreed. “Alright, but be careful to hold your breath.”

“Yes, Senior Brother, stay close to me. Don’t get separated.”

The door creaked open slowly with a faint sound.

The interior of the pavilion looked just as it had the previous night, but it was completely empty. The aftermath of the revelry remained untouched, as if everyone had just stepped out for a moment and would be back at any second.

The eerie scene filled Bai Fanlu with a deep sense of foreboding. He tugged on Wang Chongyu’s sleeve and spoke to him through their spiritual connection. “Be careful, we might have walked into a trap.”

There was no response.

Bai Fanlu looked to his side in confusion, only to realize that the hand he was holding had somehow changed. When he looked up, the person beside him had transformed into a young woman in a white dress!

Looking around, there was no trace of Wang Chongyu anywhere.

The once familiar surroundings of the pavilion seemed to overlap with countless other images, but the girl in front of him was startlingly clear.

Bai Fanlu understood—this was likely another illusion.

The girl had bright eyes and a charming, innocent demeanor, clearly a rare beauty.

But Bai Fanlu remained unmoved. He closed his eyes and waved his hand, and the “beauty” shattered into pieces before him, dissolving into a wisp of smoke.

The space returned to its previous state, leaving Bai Fanlu alone. He stood still, observing his surroundings. One side of the hallway was lined with doors, while the other side had a railing. At the end of the hall was a door that was wide open, revealing a screen inside that blocked the view of what lay beyond. The screen depicted four beautiful women with folding fans, as if beckoning him to approach.

After a while, the first door on the right opened on its own, and another beautiful woman stepped out. Bai Fanlu continued to ignore her. Then, one by one, the doors opened, and various women with different charms appeared, even a handsome young man at the end.

But in the blink of an eye, Bai Fanlu dispersed all of them with a wave of his hand. Losing patience, he addressed the end of the hallway, “It’s time to stop this nonsense.”

The scent of the incense grew stronger.

From behind the last door, behind the screen, came a soft, melodious laugh. A woman in bright red robes finally appeared, raising her right hand and letting a handful of dust fall from her palm. She smiled with regal grace.

“These are all first-class beauties. Doesn’t a single one catch your eye, Senior Brother?”

Bai Fanlu didn’t bother playing along and spoke directly. “Master Qingyang, you really have the wrong person. I am Bai Fanlu, the first disciple of Ling Qingzi of the Tianxu Sect.”

“Bai Fanlu?” Wu Yue Shuang chuckled. “Senior Brother Ling Jue, you really like to joke. Since when has Senior Brother Ling ever taken on a disciple? He said he would never take on a disciple.”

“…” Bai Fanlu was stunned.

“Senior Brother, to avoid me, you’re even making up lies like this?”

Seeing Bai Fanlu remain silent, Wu Yue Shuang suddenly furrowed her brows, her expression turning vicious.

Bai Fanlu quickly dodged her attack and countered, knocking her back. Realizing that this Wu Yue Shuang was not an illusion, he swiftly used a spell to restrain her.

But she was an immortal, and her cultivation was higher than his. The key was to find out who was controlling her.

Wu Yue Shuang, now restrained, turned pale, her face filled with hatred, her makeup unable to conceal the fury in her eyes, making her look even more terrifying.

“Senior Brother Ling Jue, is that Bai Chu Yu really that wonderful? Would you truly forsake everything for her? I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it! I’ll… I’ll kill you! If I kill you, you’ll belong only to me! I’ll kill you!”

Bai Fanlu was shocked when he heard the name Bai Chu Yu.

Wu Yue Shuang suddenly clutched her head in pain and collapsed to the ground, seemingly going mad as she muttered, “No… it’s not like that… No… I don’t want to kill you… I don’t want to… Senior Brother… Senior Brother…”

Bai Fanlu took two steps back, only to feel someone behind him. He turned around in alarm, drawing his sword, but the blade met no resistance as it stopped at the person’s neck.

Yun Zhan smiled as if Bai Fanlu’s sword didn’t concern him at all.

“What’s the meaning of this, Senior Brother?”

Bai Fanlu didn’t answer, instead slightly twisting his wrist, causing the sword to graze Yun Zhan’s skin. The spiritual energy in the sword was clearly flowing.

So this was a real person, not an illusion.

Bai Fanlu remembered why he had come here today. He didn’t lower his sword and directly asked Yun Zhan, “Where is the Bluebird?”

If he was truly Yun Zhan, he should prove it immediately. If not, Bai Fanlu wasn’t afraid to provoke him since he currently had the upper hand with the sword at his neck.

Yun Zhan simply smiled without speaking.

Bai Fanlu subtly moved the sword closer, and Yun Zhan tilted his chin slightly, the blade leaving a faint red mark on his skin.

“I’ll ask you again, where is the Bluebird?”

Yun Zhan seemed unconcerned, merely gazing at Bai Fanlu. The smile in his eyes gradually faded until it was completely gone.

Bai Fanlu had been on guard this time, so he sensed something was wrong behind him. As soon as Wu Yue Shuang, who had been lying on the ground, suddenly leaped up to attack, he countered with a fire spell.

But Yun Zhan, whom his sword had cut just moments ago, suddenly dissipated into smoke and disappeared.

Bai Fanlu immediately leaped over the railing, dodging the attacks coming from behind, and unleashed a powerful wind spell that completely shattered the luxurious room into rubble.

Like watching a mirror shatter, Wu Yue Shuang disintegrated into fragments before his eyes.

When the fragments settled, the scene changed. Bai Fanlu found himself in a room lit by two dim candles, the light flickering eerily.

He was about to search for the exit when a white shadow suddenly rushed in from somewhere.

The two of them froze when they saw each other.

Wang Chongyu didn’t lower his sword, half wary and half hesitant. “Senior Brother…?”

His posture made Bai Fanlu relax slightly. “Chongyu, it’s me!”

“Senior Brother!” Wang Chongyu’s face lit up with joy, and he rushed forward. “There’s something wrong with Yun Zhan. He attacked me just now! And Master Qingyang was with him. This is too strange!”

It seemed Wang Chongyu had encountered the same situation.

Bai Fanlu nodded. “There’s not only illusion magic here but also a formation. From now on, we must stay close to each other and not get separated…”

His words were cut off as Bai Fanlu’s eyes widened in shock. Wang Chongyu had suddenly reached out and struck a pressure point on him.

“Chongyu…” Bai Fanlu was immobilized, and Wang Chongyu stood before him, his eyes cold and unfamiliar.

He couldn’t believe it. Had Wang Chongyu been controlled too?!

Bai Fanlu shuddered as a strong, overwhelming fragrance filled his nose. With his pressure points sealed, the spell protecting him from the incense also failed, and he realized he was in deep trouble…

“Senior Brother, do you find me that terrifying?”

A familiar voice spoke from behind, tinged with amusement. A hand gently rested on Bai Fanlu’s shoulder, pulling him into an embrace, and he found himself unable to resist.

There was a half-length bronze mirror next to the bed, and in it, Bai Fanlu saw himself being placed on a stool, facing the mirror by Yun Zhan.

He could still see Wang Chongyu in the mirror, standing motionless by the door, his face blank.

“What did you do to Chongyu?”

“Senior Brother, you still have the energy to worry about others?” Yun Zhan smiled slightly, his fingers lightly pinching Bai Fanlu’s earlobe. “If you keep thinking about others, I might get jealous.”

Bai Fanlu felt a sharp pain in his earlobe, as if needles were pricking him, and his body grew even weaker.

“If I get jealous, your beloved Junior Brother will be in trouble.”

“…” Bai Fanlu glared at Yun Zhan in the mirror.

Yun Zhan chuckled softly and finally released him, taking a step back as if to admire the reflection. Dissatisfied, he shook his head and flicked his wrist, revealing a piece of light purple cloth.

Unfolding it, Bai Fanlu saw that it was a woman’s dress!

Seriously? He couldn’t even avoid the crossdressing trope? Bai Fanlu gritted his teeth. “You’re not Yun Zhan. Who are you?”

“What makes you so sure I’m not Yun Zhan?”

Bai Fanlu wasn’t entirely sure; he was trying to bait him. “Yun Zhan likes real women, not men dressed as women.”

“And what makes you think that?” Yun Zhan had already draped the dress over Bai Fanlu’s shoulders and was meticulously helping him put it on, moving with patience and gentleness. “How do you know I’m not just testing your feelings?”

“…Yun Zhan wouldn’t bother with something so pointless.”

Yun Zhan clicked his tongue. “Pointless or not depends on the situation. For example, right now, I’m not bored at all.”

He walked over to the vanity, selected a redwood comb, and pulled the white ribbon from Bai Fanlu’s hair, letting his long black hair cascade down to his waist.

“…”

Bai Fanlu felt like he had reached his limit.

But Yun Zhan seemed to be in a great mood as he carefully combed Bai Fanlu’s hair, moving from top to bottom, from left to right, ensuring every strand passed through his hands.

Then, he took a red brush from a makeup box and placed a dot of vermillion on Bai Fanlu’s forehead.

The contrast against Bai Fanlu’s pale skin only enhanced his beauty.

“You really are beautiful,” Yun Zhan said, his gaze filled with undisguised obsession.

Bai Fanlu couldn’t tell whether this Yun Zhan was real or not. Was he trying to humiliate him, just like in the original story? And even after coming here, Yun Zhan had repeatedly played tricks on him.

What kind of grudge did he hold that even after Bai Fanlu had kept his distance, he would go to such lengths to torment him?

As he hesitated, a translucent veil was suddenly draped over Bai Fanlu’s face, turning his vision into a hazy purple. Then, he was lifted up and carried toward the bed.

“You…!” Bai Fanlu nearly exploded with rage. “Don’t push me too far!”

“Push you too far? How should I push you, Senior Brother?”

Bai Fanlu was so angry that he nearly choked. This Yun Zhan was determined to provoke him, wasn’t he? So be it…

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Bai Fanlu’s mind, and he shivered. Could it be that because he had been avoiding Yun Zhan, Yun Zhan was now forcing him into this situation to make him turn dark?

Was this the so-called inevitability of the plot?

It was very likely. Despite Bai Fanlu’s interference, the plot had still reached similar outcomes to the original story.

For example, this whole crossdressing situation was proof.

No way… could this madman really be the real Yun Zhan?!

Bai Fanlu’s thoughts were racing as he tried to process everything. Yun Zhan noticed his rapid blinking and smiled slowly.

“What are you thinking about so intently, Senior Brother? Haven’t you heard that a moment of passion is worth a thousand gold?”

Yun Zhan chuckled softly, and Bai Fanlu felt his back sink into the bed as he was laid down.

It wasn’t just the pressure points; the incense was potent, and Bai Fanlu felt completely weak, unable to muster any strength.

As the purple veil fluttered with his erratic breathing, his vision blurred, and a sense of disorientation set in.

But what he didn’t expect was that the worst was yet to come. Yun Zhan leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Are you afraid, Senior Brother? Don’t worry, I’ll be very gentle with you…”

Before he finished speaking, a sharp snap echoed, followed by a furious shout—it was Wang Chongyu’s voice. “Yun Zhan! What are you doing? Let go of Senior Brother!”

Bai Fanlu jolted, and his chin was suddenly grabbed, forcing him to face the door.

At the door, Wang Chongyu was trapped in a magical formation, his eyes wide with rage as he stared at Bai Fanlu. His body was covered in sword wounds, and his white robes were stained red.

And the anxious, angry look in his eyes clearly showed that he had regained his senses!

Bai Fanlu felt Yun Zhan’s breath on his neck, like a hungry wolf about to strike, causing his blood to run cold. His pulse pounded violently at his throat.

You bastard! Doing this in front of a fellow sect member…

But it wasn’t over yet. From somewhere outside, there came the sound of many footsteps, growing closer by the second.

“There are quite a few fellow disciples coming to eliminate demons. They’re arriving sooner than I expected. Senior Brother, what do you think they’ll say when they see this scene?”

“Yun Zhan! You’re insane!” Wang Chongyu roared.

Yun Zhan smirked. “That’s right, I’m insane. And I can get even crazier!”

His hand slowly moved from Bai Fanlu’s forehead to the top of his head.

Suddenly, Bai Fanlu felt a tremendous pressure, causing his head to throb painfully as if something was being forcibly extracted from his skull. But as he struggled to resist, the pressure gradually eased.

“Tsk! You’re quite resilient,” Yun Zhan shook his head, withdrawing his hand with a wicked smile. “In that case… I’ll just have to try something even more intense.”

He reached for Bai Fanlu’s collar, casually undoing the belt he had just fastened, revealing the white disciple’s robe beneath the slightly disheveled women’s dress.

But Yun Zhan’s hand didn’t stop there, as if he was about to take things further.

“Yun Zhan! Stop! If you do this, Master will—”

Before Wang Chongyu could finish, Yun Zhan waved his hand, and an invisible force struck Wang Chongyu, slamming him into the barrier of the formation. He fell to the ground, clutching his chest, his sword supporting him as he knelt. Blood spread rapidly across his already crimson-stained robes, and he gasped for breath, unable to speak another word.

“…” Bai Fanlu couldn’t believe Yun Zhan had been so ruthless to Wang Chongyu.

“Senior Brother Chongyu, you’d better stay quiet, or…”

Suddenly, there was a loud crash, and a blue light broke through the window, disrupting the balance of the barrier. The air in the room became chaotic, rippling like raindrops on a still lake. Everything around them blurred.

When the room became clear again, there was another person present.

Bai Fanlu was probably the first to notice the newcomer, standing just a few steps away, separated by the purple veil. For some reason, Bai Fanlu felt a strange sense of hope.

If only time could reverse and never move forward again.