adbindia Chapter 158 Unclean Until Then
Chapter 158 Unclean Until Then
Hua Xiang frowned. “What are you imagining? I’m in the main chamber. You sleep in the guest room.”
I let out an “oh,” though inwardly I was still muttering. The Blood Lotus Sect’s rules were far too strange. Lian told him to keep an eye on me, and he was truly keeping an eye on me all the way to the bedside.
I grumbled as I laid out the bedding, still cursing his stinginess, when suddenly a soft noise brushed past the window.
“Whoosh—crack!”
As if someone had jumped onto the roof.
Before I could react, a shadow flashed by and a figure burst straight through the window.
“Catch!”
Instinctively I reached out, and a bundle slammed into my arms.
Before I even saw who it was, the intruder had already leapt back onto the roof and vanished in a blink.
I stood frozen, holding the bundle, my mind caught between heaven and hell.
“This bundle… isn’t this exactly that ‘sacred item’ they lost? Does this mean I’m now… the prime suspect?”
I was just about to toss the bundle straight out the window when the door was kicked open with a bang.
“—It’s him! Seize him!”
Me: “???”
Instantly, a crowd of Blood Lotus disciples surrounded me.
The leader said coldly, “So it was you who stole it.”
I stared in shock, lifting the bundle. “No, no, no—listen to me! I didn’t steal anything! Someone threw it at me!”
He narrowed his eyes. “Still trying to deny it?”
I nearly cried.
“I’m a man of sincerity—I even share snacks with people. Why would I steal your stupid bundle?!”
Of course they didn’t believe me.
So there I was, shivering in the night wind while being marched away, staring up at the bright full moon and silently drawing one conclusion:
—Following Hua Xiang around is so unlucky even the heavens get annoyed.
Hua Xiang came out of the next room, face dark as thunder.
His expression… it wasn’t the look you give a familiar person. It was the look you give a fat rat crawling out of your treasury.
I was still clutching the bundle. I wanted to bolt, but Hua Xiang reached me in a single step.
“Give it to me.”
His voice was cold as a blade thrust into snow. Refusal wasn’t an option.
In the next moment, he snatched the bundle.
He flicked it open—
“…What the—”
That “the” wasn’t from me. It was Hua Xiang’s own mouth.
Inside wasn’t clothing or snacks. It was treasure.
Blinding treasure.
My eyes widened, my heart plunging straight into ice.
Inside lay a carved gold-thread casket, a glassy bead glowing with seven shifting colors, a spirit stone of deep violet-black streaked with natural gold, and a small dagger of unknown make shining with a killing chill. There were even several jade plaques bearing ancient imperial patterns—items that looked like you could sell them and purchase half the Blood Lotus territory.
My mind went blank. Only one thought spun wildly:
Why would someone frame me when I’ve never even offended them???
Hua Xiang’s fingers went rigid from how tightly he was gripping the bundle. His stare drilled into me, as if he were deciding which bone to snap first.
I lunged forward and grabbed his arm.
“You believe it’s not me, right? Look at me—I can’t even wander around your sect freely. How could I possibly sneak through all your defenses and, uh… swipe all this?”
The more I said, the smaller my voice became. Even I knew how weak it sounded.
More people gathered, whispering like waves behind me.
Someone pointed.
“No wonder he was sneaking around today…”
“So he’s a thief…”
“Tch, and here I thought he was some newly recruited disciple. Turns out he’s bad luck in broad daylight.”
I wanted to cover my face and flee, but both my hands were clinging to Hua Xiang’s arm like it was a lifeline.
Suddenly, the crowd parted.
An elder stepped out—bearded, with a long scar across his cheek, the sort that looked like it was once cleaved open by a blade and stitched shut in haste. His mere presence radiated killing intent.
His voice was steady and authoritative. “Protector Hua, matters like this must be handled according to sect protocol.”
Silence fell instantly.
Hua Xiang frowned, but before he could speak, I immediately raised my voice.
“Yes! By the rules! Don’t wrong the innocent and don’t spare the guilty! We must investigate—thoroughly!”
I even thumped my chest, righteous as a divine constable descending to earth.
The moment the words left my mouth—
The entire place fell dead silent.
Everyone looked at Hua Xiang in unison.
Even quieter than before. I could hear the wind brushing the leaves.
I froze. “?”
What… did I say wrong?
Hua Xiang slowly lifted his head. His gaze no longer rested on the bundle, nor on the elder, but on—me.
A faint curve tugged at his lips. It could’ve been a smile, or frost.
He said—
“Very well. Then we proceed by the rules.”
A pit dropped in my stomach.
Something was wrong.
Then came the thunderclap—
“Men, throw the suspect into the Eighteenth-Level Dungeon.”
Me: ??????
You snake, Hua Xiang!!
I barely had time to curse before two disciples rushed forward. A cloth gag was shoved into my mouth with expert precision.
My eyes were covered, my arms seized, and I was dragged like a sack.
I screamed “mmmmMMMMmm!!” until my voice almost imploded. Useless.
I didn’t know how long we walked. The sounds drifted farther away, the wind grew colder.
Then—
“Swish, swish—”
Something sliced through the air.
The hands gripping my arms suddenly slackened.
I staggered.
Before I could react, a cool voice whispered beside my ear—
“Come with me.”
—Lian.
A second later, he grabbed my waist, and my body rose lightly into the air. Wind tore past my face, stinging through the blindfold.
After a while, Lian landed.
He removed the cloth in a few swift motions.
My vision cleared—of course it was the familiar grove.
Hua and Feng Yu stood nearby, arms folded, looking as if they had long predicted my abduction.
The moment I saw them, I felt a mix of grievance and relief explode in my chest. I nearly shrieked,
“Wah—! I nearly died! I thought I’d never see you again! How come no one told me there was this timeline?!”
Lian sighed. “Because I didn’t know about this timeline either. I suspect… it happened while I was unconscious. When I woke, everyone was focused solely on the enthronement. No one explained anything to me.”
I glared at him. “Then you’re a pretty powerless sect leader.”
Lian’s ears reddened instantly, but he forced himself to stay stern.
“This timeline was always managed by Hua Xiang and the three elders. After Hua Xiang disappeared, the elders took over.”
I quickly asked, “That grey-bearded elder with the scar—he’s one of them?”
Lian nodded. “Elder Luo.”
Then added, “But don’t worry. I’ve been watching from the shadows. I won’t let you fall into danger.”
I flailed my hands. “Where were you when that rooftop thief showed up?!”
Lian’s face turned bright red. “I… I was relieving myself.”
Me: “…”