Chapter 28: Seeking the Source Amidst the Ripples of the Banquet

The clamor of the banquet had long since faded, and the Immortal Sect seemed immersed in the relief of having survived a catastrophe. Only Yun Yao stood alone in the center of the vast, empty hall, her delicate brows knitted in a deep frown.

Moonlight spilled through the carved lattice windows, casting mottled shadows upon the floor that made her figure appear even more fragile. The scent of leftovers had dissipated, replaced by a faint, lingering aroma of sandalwood, yet this did little to dispel the misgivings in Yun Yao’s heart. She scanned her surroundings, her gaze sweeping over every table, chair, and corner, attempting to find a single clue within the silent, stillness.

"Something feels... wrong," Yun Yao murmured to herself. Her fingertips brushed against the cold tabletop as she replayed the chaotic scenes of the banquet night in her mind. The panicked expression of Liu’er, the inscrutable smile of Senior Sister Murong, and the terror in the eyes of the black-robed man... These fragmented images intertwined in her mind like a tangled knot, leaving her unable to find a clear path.

"I should check the kitchen," she thought. Without further hesitation, she turned and headed toward the kitchen.

Inside, Chef Wang was directing his assistants in clearing away the remains of the feast. Seeing Yun Yao enter, he was startled for a moment before setting aside his tasks to greet her. "Fairy Yun Yao, why are you here? The banquet is over; you should return and rest." His tone was laced with gentle discouragement, as he could see she was still dwelling on the night's events.

"Chef Wang, there are some things I need to verify," Yun Yao said with firm resolve, her eyes scanning every corner of the kitchen, searching for anything amiss.

"Fairy, are you still worrying about the poisoning? Senior Sister Murong has already been expelled from the sect; please, set your heart at ease," Chef Wang comforted her, assuming she was still concerned about the incident.

"No, that is not what I am asking about." Yun Yao shook her head, her gaze settling on a pile of ingredients in the corner. "I wish to see the ingredients used on the night of the banquet."

Though puzzled, Chef Wang complied, leading her to the storage room. Yun Yao inspected every item with meticulous care, from fresh vegetables to precious medicinal herbs, leaving no detail unexamined. Suddenly, her gaze sharpened, resting on a basket of seemingly ordinary mushrooms.

"Chef Wang, these mushrooms..." Yun Yao picked one up, bringing it to her nose to sniff, "was Liu’er responsible for preparing these?"

Chef Wang thought for a moment and nodded. "Yes, Liu’er cleaned and sliced all of these mushrooms."

As Yun Yao’s fingertips lightly traced the cap of the mushroom, a strange sensation washed over her. "These... they seem to have been tampered with," she said, her voice soft yet edged with an imperceptible chill.

Her gaze remained locked on the basket, and a sense of unease began to spread through her. To the eye, these were no different from standard edible fungi, but Yun Yao had keenly detected something wrong. She picked one up, studying the patterns on the cap and feeling the subtle texture under her skin. A faint, barely detectable scent of bitter almonds drifted into her nostrils. This scent—it was poison!

Yun Yao’s heart sank. She finally understood what was wrong. The expulsion of Senior Sister Murong did not mean the poisoning incident had truly ended. The real mastermind behind the scenes might still be at large.

***

The night was deep, and the kitchen was dim, illuminated only by the faint glow of an oil lamp in the corner. Yun Yao stayed alone, scouring every inch of the room for more clues. The cold kitchen utensils radiated a metallic chill, and the air felt heavy, as if frozen, making it hard to breathe. Seconds ticked by, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead, but she did not entertain the thought of giving up.

Suddenly, her eyes fell upon a dust-covered wooden box in the corner. She walked over and opened it, revealing old recipes and various kitchen tools. She flipped through the yellowed pages, hoping to find a trace of evidence.

"Huh?" Yun Yao let out a soft exclamation. She held up an old, tattered recipe book, her eyes fixed on a specific page. It described a fungus known as the "Phantom Spirit Mushroom." While it looked identical to common edible mushrooms, it was highly toxic; ingesting it would cause hallucinations, and in severe cases, it could prove fatal.

Yun Yao’s eyes brightened. She had found it! This "Phantom Spirit Mushroom" was remarkably similar to the ones she had just inspected, differing only in the way it was processed. If the toxins from the Phantom Spirit Mushroom were extracted and mixed into ordinary ingredients, it would be nearly impossible to detect.

Clutching the recipe, she hurried out of the kitchen. Sunlight bathed her, as if rewarding her tireless efforts. Those around her cast curious glances at the excitement on her face, yet none knew what lay within her thoughts. Yun Yao walked straight toward the Immortal Sect’s library, her steps firm and purposeful. She needed to find an old acquaintance well-versed in pharmacology; perhaps he could solve this final mystery.

"Senior, I have found you."

Deep within the library, where sunlight never reached, the air was thick with the musty scent of ancient scrolls and dust. Following her clues, Yun Yao finally located the mysterious figure—an old man with white hair and clouded eyes. He sat hunched over amidst mountains of ancient texts, as if he had become part of the silence himself.

"Senior," Yun Yao bowed respectfully, "this junior has a request."

The old man slowly raised his head, his dim gaze resting on Yun Yao for a long time before he let out a raspy sigh. "What is it?"

Yun Yao presented the recipe for the Phantom Spirit Mushroom. "I wish to consult you regarding this type of mushroom..."

The old man took the recipe, his clouded eyes sweeping over the yellowed pages. A flicker of subtle panic crossed his otherwise calm face. He slammed the book shut and said harshly, "I know nothing of this!"

"Senior," Yun Yao insisted, "this is a matter of great importance. I implore you to speak the truth."

"I don't know what you are talking about!" The old man stood up abruptly, his frail frame trembling, a flash of terror in his eyes. "Go! I know nothing!"

Yun Yao’s heart sank; the old man's reaction only confirmed her suspicions. Just as she was about to press him further, a powerful pressure descended from outside the door.

"Yao’er." A familiar voice sounded, and the figure of Jun Mohan appeared at the entrance. He walked straight to Yun Yao’s side, his gaze cold as it swept over the old man. "What is the cause of this disturbance?"

Yun Yao felt a warmth in her heart; Jun Mohan’s presence brought her immense relief. She briefly recounted the sequence of events. After listening, Jun Mohan approached the old man and said in a chilling tone, "Senior, I advise you to tell the truth, otherwise..."

Feeling the immense pressure radiating from Jun Mohan, the old man’s stubbornness crumbled. His lips trembled as he stuttered, "The Phantom Spirit Mushroom... it was... it was specially cultivated by someone... the purpose is..."

"What is the purpose?" Yun Yao pressed.

The old man took a deep breath, as if summoning his final ounce of strength, and whispered, "To control... to control the entire Immortal Sect..."

Yun Yao and Jun Mohan exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock mirrored in the other’s eyes. A far greater conspiracy was slowly surfacing. The air around them seemed to freeze again, suffocatingly heavy.

"Who is it?" Jun Mohan’s voice was low and dangerous.

The old man’s eyes darted around, but he remained silent. Suddenly, he coughed up a spray of blood and collapsed to the ground. Yun Yao rushed forward to check on him, only to find he had stopped breathing.

"It seems someone did not want him to speak," Jun Mohan said coldly. "However..." He retrieved a small jade pendant from the old man’s hand and gripped it tightly. "This might help us find the answer."

"This..." Yun Yao looked at the jade pendant, a sudden, unsettling premonition rising in her heart.

Jun Mohan tucked the pendant away, took Yun Yao’s hand, and said firmly, "Let us go."

"Where to?"

"Luoxia Peak."