Starting My Immortal Life by Upgrading Buildings

Chapter 127: I'm Really Not a Demonic Path Spy!

The island where the Disciplinary Hall was located was called Sword Island.

The name came from the fact that, when viewed from above, the island indeed resembled a sword. Its location was between the main island, Water Dragon Island, and the island where the Ancestral Hall stood.

By the time Ji Yuan and Pi Fangzhi arrived here, it was already deep into the night.

Yet there were still disciples of the Disciplinary Hall stationed here, waiting.

This time, the person who came out to receive them was not Fang Jie, but a young man whom they had never seen before. He had a hooked nose and a face that gave off a very unapproachable vibe at first glance.

“Ji Yuan and Pi Fangzhi, right?”

The hook-nosed man asked.

“That’s right.”

Ji Yuan cupped his hands calmly.

“Follow me.”

As he finished speaking, he suddenly turned around, his robe whipping through the air with a loud “swish swish” sound.

Ji Yuan followed closely behind, stepping onto the black stone ground of the Disciplinary Hall.

Previously, he had only seen it from a distance while passing by, but had never actually set foot in the Disciplinary Hall. In fact, many disciples of the Water Dragon Sect spent their entire lives without ever setting foot on this island.

After all, coming to the Disciplinary Hall usually meant one foot was already on the road of no return.

Ji Yuan looked around at his surroundings.

They were currently at the plaza of Sword Island. The ground was made entirely of black stone, and around them stood black stone pillars, each topped with a brazier.

Thankfully, the flames in the braziers weren’t ghostly blue—otherwise, it would’ve looked no different from a ghost domain.

Before them lay a corridor paved with black stone. Passing through it would lead to a building that resembled a small city. Hanging above its main gate was an enormous plaque with three large characters written on it: “Disciplinary Hall.”

As Ji Yuan approached and looked up at those three words, he couldn’t help but feel a chilling sense of dread.

“That plaque was left by the third Grand Elder of our Water Dragon Sect. Be careful—stare at it too long and you might harm your foundation!”

The hook-nosed man sneered as he said this.

“And let me give you a word of advice.”

“When someone from our Disciplinary Hall questions you later, you’d better answer honestly. If we discover that what you say differs from what we’ve found out—well, the consequences won’t be something you can bear.”

Ji Yuan nodded in agreement.

Pi Fangzhi, trembling, asked, “May I ask, fellow Daoist, what exactly did Tang Ran do?”

“Heh.”

The hook-nosed man chuckled and turned around, “Want to know? Don’t worry—you’ll find out soon.”

His tone made Pi Fangzhi shiver even more.

After entering the small city of the Disciplinary Hall, the hook-nosed man led the two of them to a row of buildings.

Ji Yuan didn’t dare to look around too much.

“All right, one room per person. Go in. Someone will come to question you shortly.”

After saying that, the hook-nosed man walked into the darkness without a second glance. He didn’t worry at all that Ji Yuan and Pi Fangzhi might flee—or rather, he might actually be hoping they would.

Pi Fangzhi glanced at Ji Yuan and sighed.

“Sigh.”

The two of them each entered the room in front of them.

Inside, a long-lasting spiritual lamp was lit. The furnishings were extremely simple—just a table and a few chairs.

Ji Yuan sat down behind the table and waited for a moment. Soon, he heard a series of footsteps outside. Then, two emotionless disciples of the Disciplinary Hall entered his room.

One man and one woman—he didn’t recognize either of them.

As soon as they entered, they locked the door.

Ji Yuan straightened up and cupped his fists to them.

“Mm, let’s sit and talk.”

The female cultivator, upon seeing Ji Yuan’s appearance, showed a rare trace of good mood.

Beautiful things always lifted the spirit.

“No need to worry too much. Our Disciplinary Hall has already screened you all. You just need to answer honestly.”

“All right.”

“Ji Yuan, correct? What is your relationship with Tang Ran?”

“We are merely neighbors. We usually have no interactions.”

Ji Yuan had already prepared for these questions.

The following questions he answered truthfully as well—what Tang Ran’s behavior was like, how he conducted himself, whether there were any neighborhood disputes, and so on.

Only the final question prompted them to press further.

“You’re saying that Tang Ran and Pi Fangzhi didn’t get along well, but you saw them go out together, is that right?”

“I can’t say for certain what their relationship was, but I did see them arguing fiercely—and I also did see them going out together,” Ji Yuan replied honestly.

“All right, then that’s all. Just wait here for our notification.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll get the result within an hour.”

With that, the two Disciplinary Hall disciples left.

Ji Yuan wasn’t worried. He didn’t try to check on Pi Fangzhi next door either. Instead, he took out a pill refining manual and studied it carefully.

In cultivation, time was always something you had to squeeze out.

After waiting for roughly half an hour, he heard footsteps outside. When he looked up, he saw a familiar face.

Fang Jie.

But this time, he came in with a clear smile on his face.

“Brother Ji.”

Fang Jie cupped his hands at the doorway, “Earlier, the situation was unclear, and the Hall found out about our connection, so I couldn’t get involved. I truly apologize.”

“No need—Brother Fang, you’re being too polite.”

Ji Yuan smiled as he replied.

“The Hall has now confirmed that you have nothing to do with this matter. You’re free to go. Of course, if you’d like to stick around for a tour, I can take you.”

“No, no.”

Ji Yuan showed an expression of fear.

In truth, of course, he wasn’t afraid at all—he just didn’t want to stir up any more trouble.

“Ha, so it seems our Disciplinary Hall has really become a place that people and ghosts alike avoid,” Fang Jie chuckled.

“How could that be? This is clearly a place of upright righteousness that makes us petty schemers afraid to approach.”

Ji Yuan laughed along.

“Let’s go then—I'll escort Brother Ji out.”

At those words, Ji Yuan finally stepped out of the room, and the two walked together toward the exit of the Disciplinary Hall.

It was still nighttime. The lighting within the Disciplinary Hall wasn’t very bright, casting the surroundings in darkness.

“By the way, which hall did Du Wanyi end up in?”

Since Ji Yuan couldn’t reach her, he had to ask Fang Jie for information.

“She went to the First Water Hall. Right now, she should be on duty over at Qingye City.”

Fang Jie didn’t mention that he had helped arrange it. Some things were best left unsaid when both parties understood.

“Qingye City?”

“That’s a great place.”

After hearing that, most of the worry in Ji Yuan’s heart disappeared.

Qingye City sat to the east of the Water Dragon Sect, on the banks of the Falling Star River. It was considered one of the core regions of the sect. Normally, nothing bad would happen there.

If something were to go wrong even in Qingye City, then the Water Dragon Sect might as well close its doors.

“It’s also because Daoist Du is strong and happened to catch the eye of Uncle Qingning. That’s how she got taken to Qingye City.”

“Otherwise, I wouldn’t have the ability to help.”

Fang Jie shook his head as he spoke. From his tone, there was even a hint of envy.

“In any case, I’m very grateful, Brother Fang.”

As they spoke, the two had already exited the Disciplinary Hall, returning to the black stone plaza where Ji Yuan had first arrived.

Fang Jie stopped walking.

Ji Yuan hesitated slightly, still wanting to ask what had happened to Tang Ran.

But before he could speak, Fang Jie stepped forward and lowered his voice.

“That neighbor of yours was a spy from the Demonic Path. When you go back, keep an eye out. See if you can find any other clues. If you do, it would be a great contribution.”

“If you find anything, you can come to my home to look for me anytime.”

A spy from the Demonic Path—no wonder the sect had gone to such lengths.

Ji Yuan nodded solemnly.

“Don’t worry, I will.”

“Farewell, Brother Fang!”

Ji Yuan cupped his hands slightly, then summoned the Red Dawn Boat and departed.

After Ji Yuan left, a sword light suddenly shot out from within the Disciplinary Hall, landing beside Fang Jie and forming into a figure in black robes.

Upon seeing him, Fang Jie quickly cupped his hands and greeted, “Captain.”

The black-robed man gave a slight “Mm,” and looked in the direction Ji Yuan had gone, saying nothing.

The two stood in silence for a while. Then Fang Jie finally said, “Captain, my friend should be clean, right? Whether in background or in his movements since joining the sect, it’s impossible for him to have any ties to the Demonic Path. Isn’t this just setting a trap?”

The “trap” Fang Jie referred to was naturally his last few words to Ji Yuan.

Telling him that if he found any clues, he should seek him out.

If that happened, the sect would give Ji Yuan a great reward. But at the same time, the Disciplinary Hall would also mark Ji Yuan as a key surveillance target once more.

“How can that be called a trap? Just taking a shot in the dark,”

The black-robed man exhaled deeply. “Based on what he knows right now, it’s impossible for him to find anything related to the Demonic Path. But if he does—well, then something’s fishy.”

Fang Jie still wasn’t convinced. “But if he really isn’t a spy and somehow still manages to find something related to the Demonic Path, then wouldn’t we have wrongly accused a good man and wasted all our effort?”

The black-robed man laughed after hearing that. “If he really has that kind of ability, why not recruit him into the Disciplinary Hall?”

“With that kind of talent, he’d be someone who actually gets things done—far better than the useless loafers we have in the Hall now.”

At that, Fang Jie shut his mouth.

Some things, the captain could say.

But if he said the same, that would be crossing the line.

As for Ji Yuan, after leaving the Disciplinary Hall, he immediately forgot most of what Fang Jie had said.

He didn’t know anything about clues related to the Demonic Path—and asking him to investigate on his own? That was even more impossible.

First, it was too difficult. Even the Disciplinary Hall couldn’t find those clues, and they expected him to?

Second, the struggle between righteous and demonic paths—what a massive affair that was!

Ji Yuan had no intention of getting involved.

Even if he encountered such things, he’d avoid them from afar—let alone take initiative to participate.

So as far as he was concerned, this matter was over.

Still, what Fang Jie said did weigh heavily on Ji Yuan’s mind.

Even the Water Dragon Sect had a Demonic Path spy—what about the outside world?

If Water Dragon Sect had one, then places like Medicine King Valley or even Sword Ruins likely did as well.

What Ji Yuan was most puzzled about was—where exactly was the Demonic Path based?

Back when he was in Yunyu Marshlands, he thought the Joy Palace was a demonic sect. But after meeting Li Changhe, he learned that Joy Palace was not demonic at all.

In fact, the Water Dragon Sect was now even working together with the Joy Palace.

So could it be that the Demonic Path lay west of Shang Mountain?

The Water Dragon Sect was just one of the six righteous sects east of Shang Mountain. What about west of Shang Mountain?

Or… did the Demonic Path come from overseas?

Looks like he would have to find time to investigate this.

Having spent the entire night at the Disciplinary Hall, Ji Yuan returned to Hatchling Dragon Island just as dawn broke.

He didn’t waste time. After a brief preparation, he headed once again to Dong Qian’s residence.

With yesterday’s experience, Ji Yuan was more composed today.

He stepped forward and knocked on the door. Before long, Dong Qian, wearing a wide purple robe that still couldn’t conceal her graceful figure, opened the door.

The moment she saw Ji Yuan, a look of delight and surprise lit up her eyes.

“Junior Brother Ji, what brings you here?”

But to her surprise, Ji Yuan looked even more shocked—his voice even raised noticeably.

“Senior Sister Dong—why is it you?!”

That left Dong Qian utterly confused.

“What do you mean—‘why is it me’?”

“Junior Brother Ji, do you not recognize me?”