I Became the Alchemy Master by Picking Up Trash-Chapter 295 - 293: Mingzhen Reveals Himself

The night was as cool as water.

Chu Yunyi sat alone under the Moon Cherry Tree, in front of him was the heavy curtain-like thick shade, immersing in his thoughts. At this moment, he finally somewhat understood the mood Ye Lan had when sitting under this tree back then.

Scenes from the past floated through his mind until familiar footsteps came from behind, waking Chu Yunyi from his thoughts. He turned his head to look at Li Xing, who was slowly walking towards him.

"Yun You, why aren’t you asleep yet?"

With his energy and blood rushing to the surface, an abnormal blush reflected in Chu Yunyi’s eyes, softening his aloof temperament and adding a bewitching quality to those purple eyes, making it hard for anyone to look away.

Li Xing sat down beside him, slightly sorrowful as he said, "There’s an honored guest tonight, I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep."

For a moment, Chu Yunyi’s expression was surprised, then it returned to calm as he quietly watched Li Xing’s profile.

"I really didn’t expect it to be him."

Since Li Xing mentioned that Mingzhen would come, they must have already met him today, and with just a little thought, Chu Yunyi knew who it was.

"Hmm, no wonder his name wasn’t on the list."

A well-known critically ill person, no one would be tactless enough to disturb them with a party. He wasn’t on the list not because of guilt or unwillingness to attend, but because he was never invited in the first place.

Knowing Mingzhen’s current identity and looking back at the many doubts in the Xi Yuan tournament, all the answers became clear.

As a specially invited guest and Array consultant for the competition, of course, he had many opportunities to tamper with the Transmission Array.

The so-called injury was just to cover up his eyes and ears, going from overt to covert, entering the Sand Snake Tunnel with elaborate plans to secretly attack Chu Yunyi, a well-thought-out self-mutilation scheme.

Sensing Chu Yunyi’s gaze, Li Xing turned his head to meet his eyes and softly said, "It’s almost over, aren’t you afraid?"

Chu Yunyi looked at Li Xing, his purple eyes seemingly shattered with countless starlights, shining brightly, yet there was deep regret and reluctance in his gaze.

"A little bit."

Li Xing’s heart couldn’t bear it, just as he was about to offer comfort, Chu Yunyi continued, "My fighting power has drastically reduced now, I’m afraid I can’t kill Mingzhen for you."

Not afraid of dying, only worried that in his final moments, he couldn’t help her. Chu Yunyi’s answer suddenly pained Li Xing’s heart.

"You’ve already helped me plenty, regardless of success, I’m thankful to you."

"I don’t need your thanks, I want you to live well."

The tender and gentle look in Chu Yunyi’s eyes was almost drowning her, just as Li Xing was about to divert her gaze, he suddenly reached out and stroked her cheek.

Li Xing’s heart flustered, her reason told her to dodge, but her whole person seemed glued to the spot, unable to move.

The warm palm paused just a few millimeters from her skin, and from Chu Yunyi’s gaze, Li Xing could clearly see the struggle and pain, yet the next second, these emotions were all hidden deep within his purple eyes.

Chu Yunyi’s hand changed direction, gently tucking a stray strand of Li Xing’s hair behind her ear, never touching an inch of her skin from beginning to end.

"Ah Xing, you must remember, once Mingzhen parasitizes, the Chu Yunyi you know will no longer exist. No matter the sweet words he says, you mustn’t believe them, follow the plan."

Li Xing’s voice carried a tremor even she hadn’t noticed, as she softly said, "Rest assured, I won’t hold back."

Sealing the "formless" Mingzhen within the "formed" Chu Yunyi, then shattering both the container and the monster inside, that was their ultimate plan.

Li Xing removed the Moon Cherry Blossom Hairpin and pinned it to Chu Yunyi’s collar, making it look like a decorative brooch. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Wear this, I hope it brings you good luck."

The hairpin still held a faint aroma from Li Xing’s hair, Chu Yunyi gently brushed the petals, as if he could see the night of the Moon Cherry blossoming again.

"Let’s go."

——————

Mingzhen effortlessly dismantled the Chu Family’s outer defensive formation, strolling leisurely with his hands behind his back across the small square in front of the main courtyard, as if he were comfortably at home.

Suddenly, a crisp female voice shattered the night’s tranquility.

"Mr. Lin has such high spirits, wandering in someone else’s garden in the dead of night instead of sleeping, is that polite?"

Mingzhen stopped, looking at the two people slowly approaching from afar, his gaze gradually sharpening.

"I apologize, it was my abruptness. I rang the doorbell for a long time without a response, so I had to come in on my own."

Mingzhen carefully sensed something, feeling particularly strange: "But what I didn’t expect is that the enormous Chu Family would be so desolate, not even a gatekeeper. And I’ve been here for so long, yet the patrolling guards haven’t responded, that’s—not reasonable."

Before coming to the Chu Family, Mingzhen had used the Spying Technique to connect with Wei Chen to scout, yet got no feedback. He contacted over a dozen other parasitized informants, still to no avail.

Mingzhen thought it was due to the informants’ heavy sleep and his recent fatigue, but now that he’s in the Chu Family, inches from the informants, still unable to connect, it was puzzling.

Li Xing gave him a "Are you stupid?" expression and languidly said, "Did you leave the guards for your assistance? Dream on, I’ve drugged them all, you won’t find a single Puppet to help in the Chu Family."

Mingzhen’s dark red pupils suddenly constricted, the expression on his face became feral.

"So you already know my tricks, did Xue Han tell you?"

Li Xing looked at him with a faint smile, the answer was self-evident.

Mingzhen gritted his teeth: "Hmph, Xue Han, that useless fool, death isn’t enough for him!"

Despite all precautions, Xue Han still leaked the secret to the least suitable person, Xue Han deserved death, and Lin Yin, who failed to stop him in time, was equally a waste.

Why couldn’t his subordinates be as excellent as Chu Yunyi and Li Xing? Thinking of this, Mingzhen’s gaze towards Chu Yunyi turned to obsession and greed.

"But don’t be too pleased, if you hadn’t made the Innate Holy Body emit a strange fragrance to lure me here, you still wouldn’t know my true identity."

This scent was simply irresistible for him, knowing it was Li Xing’s tempting trap, he couldn’t stop himself from jumping in.

Li Xing: "That might not be the case, Xue Han said Mingzhen’s current form is an acquaintance of Lin Caier, so the Lin Family’s friends and relatives are prime suspects. Even if the banquet guest route doesn’t work, I would still have traced it to you, just delayed by a day or two at most."

Li Xing waved her hand in front of her nose and continued: "You think you disguise it well? Hehe, stop deceiving yourself. Even with a strong perfume, you can’t cover up the stench of rotting flesh on you, if I’m not wrong, your hand is almost rotted away."

Mingzhen’s expression momentarily collapsed, Li Xing was right, Lin Zhian’s form had long since needed replacement.

But since the Xi Yuan tournament, Chu Yunyi had secluded in the Heaven-Reaching Tower, coupled with Xue Han’s betrayal and multiple Zhuxian Cult strongholds facing devastating blows, Mingzhen was occupied and hadn’t gotten the chance.

Now, the long-desired form was right in front of him, glowing and in much better shape than expected. Mingzhen was particularly pleased, he didn’t bother bickering with Li Xing.

Mingzhen’s gaze moved past Li Xing, landing on Chu Yunyi, wickedly grinning as he said:

"Mr. Chu, you’ve really made me wait so painfully!"