I Can Reincarnate Infinitely

Of course, Du Youqian couldn’t stick to a simple question-and-answer format; that would be ceding control of the conversation.

He had fought tooth and nail to regain a sliver of initiative. To save his own skin, he had to give it his all, employing every ounce of his acting and rhetorical skills.

Du Youqian smiled. "Dear sister, I’m no Little Demon. You can’t just go around slandering an innocent man’s name. Besides, the Holy Blood Sect? I’ve never heard of it. I was born in the Immortal City Alliance, and I’m their most brilliant prodigy in the last century. In a few hundred years, I’m expected to join the Alliance’s senior leadership and sway their decisions."

"Master Su Quan" said peevishly, "I know, I know. You’ve suddenly become a lot less cute, little brother. Let me ask you, is the Holy Blood Sect so bored that it has nothing better to do? What could possibly be worth scheming over in the Immortal City Alliance?"

Du Youqian retorted, "What could possibly be worth scheming over in the tiny Chen Kingdom? Or rather, there shouldn’t be anything worth scheming over in the entire Endless Desert Sea, right?"

"Master Su Quan" let out a giggle. "Who said this was a scheme?" she cooed. "It’s just your dear sister, bored out of her mind and looking for a bit of fun."

Looking for fun?

’That’s entirely possible.’

’But it’s also possible that what seems like fun now will, in a thousand years, be revealed as a brilliant, strategic move.’

’Of course, there’s another possibility: she calls it a scheme, but it’s really just some big shot amusing themselves out of boredom...’

Either way, Du Youqian only believed three parts of what she said and doubted the other seven.

Anyone who would wholeheartedly believe the words of a Demon Sect magnate had rocks for brains.

But if you never believed a word they said, you could miss out on a lot.

Because a true member of the Demon Sect would never speak only lies.

Their words were a mix of truth and falsehood, with truth hidden in lies, and truths spoken with deliberately misleading intent. A tapestry of feints and realities.

Their main goal was to make it impossible for anyone to discern their patterns or guess the truth.

A Demon Sect Disciple whose patterns were easily figured out would never survive three Chapters in the cutthroat internal struggles of the sect.

Besides, there were many times when members of the Demon Sect weren’t deliberately being mysterious, but were simply a bit unhinged.

It was perfectly normal, perfectly logical, for a Demon Sect Disciple to have mental problems. It didn’t hinder their pursuit of the Great Dao—the Dao of man required conformity to social norms and human nature.

The Celestial Dao, however, was different.

Who ever said being mentally ill was against the Celestial Dao?

Therefore, Du Youqian reserved judgment on whether this "Master Su Quan" was laying out a grand strategy or just making a random move on the board.

Du Youqian probed, "I was just passing through, with no urgent business. Is there anything I can help you with, Sister? I would be more than willing to oblige."

"Master Su Quan" burst into laughter, patting her chest and causing a dizzying tremor. "Don’t make your sister die of laughter. ’More than willing to oblige’? Relax, I’m not going to kill you. I don’t know whose disciple you are, but since you were able to learn the Crimson Scripture of Profound Mystery and Spiritual Mechanism, you must be a True Inheritor. I’ve always been reckless, but I won’t go out of my way to provoke a True Inheritor of the Holy Blood Sect if I don’t have to."

Du Youqian put on a wounded expression. "Sister, I genuinely want to help."

"You’re just afraid I’ll hog all the benefits, aren’t you?" "Master Su Quan" sized him up. "Even if you won’t name your master, you must at least tell your sister which faction you belong to."

’Ah, too bad I really don’t know anything about the Holy Blood Sect here. I can’t risk bluffing.’

Wait... An idea sparked in Du Youqian’s mind.

’After Elder Shi Shentong came to the outside world, with his pure mastery of the Crimson Scripture of Profound Mystery and Spiritual Mechanism, he definitely wouldn’t have joined another sect. The Holy Blood Sect wouldn’t have allowed it either.’

’So, he must have returned to the Holy Blood Sect.’

Du Youqian said with a faint smile, "I can only tell you this, Sister. I don’t belong to any faction. And I’m not in the same faction as Shi Master."

"Shi Shentong?" "Master Su Quan" said peevishly. "You’re stating the obvious. Of course I know you two can’t be from the same faction. I’m so disappointed in you, little brother. Since you insist on talking in circles, you get no share of the benefits this time."

Du Youqian sneered inwardly. ’Looks like Shi Shentong isn’t doing so well in the Holy Blood Sect!’

’He’s likely a loner.’

’That’s why "Master Su Quan" isn’t the least bit surprised when I say I’m not in his faction.’

As for the "benefits" "Master Su Quan" mentioned, Du Youqian didn’t want them in the slightest. He just wanted to get far away from this dangerous Witch.

His offer to help was merely a feint, a way to orchestrate his retreat.

Hearing her words now was like a pardon from the governor. On the surface, however, he still feigned disappointment. "Sister, don’t be like that. I don’t really care about any benefits. I just feel a sense of closeness to you, like you’re my real sister, and I want to help."

"Master Su Quan" revealed a sardonic smile. "Like your real sister? Then first, tell your sister how your real sister died."

This was another hidden test. As an old Demon Sect boy, Du Youqian knew what the standard Demon Sect answer should be.

He gave a shy smile and waved his hands dismissively. "I didn’t kill her."

Seeing "Master Su Quan" shake her head in disbelief, he added, "I really didn’t kill her with my own two hands!"

"Master Su Quan" snorted. "So if you didn’t do it with your own hands, we can just round down and say you didn’t kill her at all, right?"

"That’s exactly how it works!" Du Youqian breathed an inward sigh of relief, knowing he’d passed another test.

He felt that this mysterious "Master Su Quan’s" suspicions about him had finally, for the most part, been dispelled.

As for completely dispelling her doubts, Du Youqian knew that was impossible.

Having lived for a thousand years himself, he could count the number of people he truly trusted on one hand.

He wasn’t foolish enough to talk to someone for ten minutes and then trust them implicitly just because they were handsome like Jin Chengwu, a smooth talker, or had a shy smile like the photography master Chen Jiu.

He assumed "Master Su Quan" was no different.

"Master Su Quan" pondered for a moment, then suddenly her smile was like a warm spring breeze. "Actually, sister does have a little job for you."

Du Youqian cursed inwardly, but his face bloomed into a smile. "Just say the word, Sister. I’ll get it done beautifully!"

"Master Su Quan’s" face hardened. Pointing west, she said, "I want you... to get out of Huailai City now. And don’t come back for a hundred years. That would be the best way to help me."

Hearing her sudden harsh words and change in address, Du Youqian laughed inwardly but still feigned a look of dejection. "This... Alright, I’ll listen to you, Sister. However, my caravan will be using this route from now on. I hope Sister can do me a small favor. When my caravan passes through Huailai City and the Chen Kingdom in the future, I hope they won’t be given any trouble."

"Master Su Quan’s" expression softened slightly, and she spoke in a chiding tone. "Little brother, you’re so young, but your memory is already so poor? The Chen Kingdom is not under my control."

Her form of address had changed again.

’Unpredictable and ever-changing. The true mark of a Witch!’

Du Youqian smiled. "The insignificant Chen Kingdom? If you wanted it, Sister, wouldn’t it be as easy as reaching into your pocket? That Chen Hongbo is a powerful Cultivator who I could never hope to stand against. But if you wanted to deal with him, Sister, wouldn’t it be as easy as snatching a snail from its shell? A guaranteed success!"

"Master Su Quan" simply sneered.

That sneer was rich with meaning.

There was mockery, contempt, and perhaps even a hint of pride.

Du Youqian lowered his head in thought, then looked up with a smile. "So Chen Hongbo has already been replaced by one of your people, or he’s already cooperating with you. But what’s the purpose of all this, Sister? Are you fishing? And what big fish are you trying to catch?"

"Master Su Quan" stood on her tiptoes and patted Du Youqian’s head. "Good little brother, don’t worry your head about things that don’t concern you. Go do what you need to do! In the future, when your caravan passes through the Chen Kingdom and Huailai City, I’ll give you a discount on the taxes."

"You’re too kind, Sister. It’s a deal, then. After I finish this run, I’ll come find you for another chat. And if there’s anything you need help with, please don’t hesitate to ask."

"Master Su Quan" let out a charming laugh. "Oh, I won’t be shy with you, little brother. Now go, attend to your business."

Du Youqian smiled and took his leave.

He maintained the smile all the way back to his rented residence, where he immediately ordered everyone to pack up and leave, deciding to skip the upcoming wedding.

Only after rushing west for several thousand miles did Du Youqian truly let his guard down.

That was far too close.

If he had mishandled any part of that conversation, he would have been sent straight to the cycle of reincarnation.

But speaking of which, what exactly was this "Master Su Quan" planning?

From beginning to end, Du Youqian never asked for her real name.

And she never asked for his.

𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Between them, there was an unspoken understanding.

~~~~~~~

「Chen Kingdom, The Royal Palace.」

"Your Majesty, the Jade Scroll from the Tributor." A young Eunuch arrived before an archway hung with tassels.

"Pass it in," a hoarse voice said. A withered-looking hand extended from behind the tassels.

The Eunuch quickly bowed and presented the Jade Scroll with both hands.

The withered hand took the Jade Scroll and retracted.

The old Tributor, dragging a lame leg, walked slowly to the front of the throne.

He sat down, with less than respectful posture, in front of the imposing, middle-aged man on the throne. He extended his Divine Sense and read the Jade Scroll in his hand.

"Senior Martial Brother, the Holy Blood Sect has made a play in the Immortal City Alliance, planting a prodigy suspected of having a Celestial Spirit Root. They might be after that thing as well!"

The old Tributor slowly crushed the Jade Scroll, muttering, "The Holy Blood Sect?"