In the forest, the two shadows who had been following them all this time were startled.

the younger one chuckled while conversing telepathically with his companion.

the older one snorted.

But away from his companion's line of sight, the first shadow's lips curled up.

Back in the clearing, Jing Shui did not understand the point in casting a sound barrier, their juniors were after all asleep. But he trusted Qinghe's judgment, so he took out a talisman to cast the spell.

Technically, only the Drifting Clouds Sect was able to make talismans and they seldom gave them away, but the Golden Sun Sect was the exception to most rules. They were the ultimate traders, merchants, and businessmen of the cultivation world. They not only exchanged goods and favors for items like talismans and artifacts, they also learned cultivation methods from the other sects while visiting them as guest disciples. This served to expand the range of skills they could sell and make a profit from.

Jing Shui, for example, had a spiritual weapon and learned the skills of a warrior from the Heavenly Peak Sect. For sums of money, the sect would send him and a few capable others out to help cleanse towns and villages from ghost or ghoul infestations. They only asked for prices that their clients could afford, their services costly for the rich and cheap for the poor. They also notified the other sects and spread out the tasks evenly so that the disciples from other sects might also gain some experience. The present state of the cultivation world was this unified and orderly.

Feeding the talisman a trace of spiritual power, Jing Shui set up a sound barrier around the log they were resting on.

Feeling the barrier activate, Qinghe smiled. "You may ask now."

"When fighting the Behemoth, did you go all out?" Jin Shui began the questioning.

"Nope," Qinghe answered offhandedly.

"Then…could you have finished it off quicker?"

"Yes. I could have killed it on my own much faster," his tone was still casual.

"Why didn't you then? Why create such an elaborate, roundabout strategy, making us all run around so much and expend so much effort? Did you like seeing us all panicking and das.h.i.+ng about like headless chicken? Was it fun for you?!" Jin Shui started getting angry. He'd had his heart in his throat the whole time while facing the huge beast, not knowing whether they'd live or die, and here Qinghe was telling him that all that worry had been unnecessary?

Qinghe sighed and replied seriously, "Brother Jing, calm yourself. I hated putting you all through it, but it was necessary."

"How was any of that necessary?!" Jing Shui's fury only mounted.

"Do you not remember what I was telling you before we encountered the Behemoth?"

Jing Shui tried but couldn't recall anything specific. He shook his head to say he didn't remember.

With a put-upon sigh, Qinghe enlightened him, "I said we were here to gain experience, that we should 'take advantage of this time and experience as much as possible'. Did you forget already?"

"…" Jing Shui's mouth twitched in disbelief.

So what he meant was that he had them all scurry around in panic to make them gain experience? And that not only the juniors, but even Jing Shui was included in his special 'lesson' this time?

"You… You are just so…" Jing Shui covered his face with his hands in utter defeat. He really had gained valuable experience, but still…

Jing Shui let out a long, soul-weary sigh. He would never be able to win against this man. Maybe he should just gratefully accept his 'education' and be done with it. Arguing with this fellow would only shorten his own lifespan.

Seeing his defeated expression, Qinghe asked cheerfully, "Does Brother Jing have anything else to ask?"

Jing Shui let out a breath and said, "Yes. I want to ask you, do you trust me?"

Qinghe looked at him with surprise. Why ask this now? Though doubtful, he still answered truthfully, "Yes, I do. Aren't you my friend?"

Jing Shui was visibly startled. "You really mean it? You consider me your friend? You?"

With a wry smile, Qinghe affirmed, "Yes, me. Surprising, isn't it? Someone with such a bad personality actually admitting it out loud. I've observed you for a month now, and I know you are trustworthy." Then he promptly ruined it with his arrogance by continuing, "Now, now, no need to be overwhelmed at your good fortune. There is no need to proclaim your undying devotion to me or anything. Professing your grat.i.tude will be enough." Qinghe chortled in amus.e.m.e.nt at his own words.

What little grat.i.tude remained flew right out the window. Jing Shui was about to strangle the arrogant b.a.s.t.a.r.d! But Qinghe's next words forestalled his actions.

"If you are not convinced that I truly consider you my friend, then shall I tell you about my childhood? I know you're curious."

Jing Shui really did want to know, but he also didn't want to rip open Qinghe's wounds just to sate his own curiosity.

As if reading his mind, Qinghe chuckled lightly. "It's not that big of a deal, really. I wouldn't have offered if it wasn't alright with me."

Jing Shui hesitated, then opened his mouth to say, "Okay then, but in return, I will also tell you of my past to show that I trust you." This was actually a big deal for the Jing Shui who had been running from his past for so long, haunted by the fear that he'd be dragged back again.

"Ah, there's no need to force yourself on my account. I already know you trust me, otherwise, why would you have followed all my instructions without question?" Just when Jing Shui wanted to argue, Qinghe dropped a bomb on him by continuing, "Besides, I already know the gist of it, so there's no need, really."

His throat felt dry and his heart seemed to stop beating as Jin Shui looked at the man sitting beside him with wide eyes. "You-You know about my…ident.i.ty?"

"Yes," Qinghe answered simply.

"How did you… For how long?"

"I've known it for years, maybe even more than a decade. It's been so long since I investigated you."

"Investigated me? Why?" Jing Shui asked mechanically. He was still numb from the shock that his ident.i.ty had been known to the other person all along.

Raising an eyebrow, Qinghe stated matter-of-factly, "The Yong Dynasty is the largest and most influential empire in the current world. Though cultivators set themselves above mortal affairs, it is still natural for us to keep an eye on important matters and news now and then. And a nation-wide search for someone in the empire carried out by the imperial family's direct orders is definitely important news, don't you think? And it just so happens that a certain disciple was admitted into the Golden Sun Sect a few days after the news spread out. Though I only met you for the first time when you came over to Heavenly Peak Sect as a guest disciple, would I even be me if I didn't investigate you?"

Jing Shui gulped. Most cultivators really wouldn't have paid any attention, even his own master had a.s.sured him so. It was just that Qinghe wasn't most cultivators, there was no way he would overlook anything.

"I…see. So you knew that I was… that I am…" Jing Shui stumbled over his words, fl.u.s.tered.

"Yes," Qinghe answered without a change in his expression as if they were just chatting casually. "I already know who you are, Your Highness―the crown prince Jing Shui of the Yong Dynasty."

The firelight flickered as if surprised by the revelation.