Little Hua was talking to someone.

"Pavilion Master..."

"Is it Du Hong?"

Tao Mian's mind was filled with suspicion, but anyone with a discerning eye would know that now was not the time to alert the enemy.

Standing at the doorway was a bit conspicuous, so he lightly flipped onto the roof, crossed his legs, and found a comfortable position to sit.

The voices from inside the room reached his ears, and Tao Mian lowered his gaze to listen carefully.

"Pavilion Master, I have successfully infiltrated Peach Blossom Mountain and become Tao Mian's Fifth Disciple.

Just as you foresaw, Tao Mian is simple-minded and did not inquire about my past. Instead, he directly offered to teach me two cultivation techniques, the 'Burning Jade Sword Technique' and the 'Tong You Technique.'

This trip to Phoenix Rest Manor is precisely because Tao Mian entrusted his friend Xue Han to find a suitable place to cultivate the latter technique.

Although Tao Mian is easily trusting, his cultivation is profound. If we attack rashly, we might not succeed.

In my humble opinion, we must slowly draw closer, gradually approach, and let him lower his guard step by step."

Rong Zheng explained her actions and thoughts to Du Hong one by one. She had already infiltrated the inside of Peach Blossom Mountain, and most of the task was complete; the rest was just a matter of time.

When facing Du Hong, her voice and tone were completely different from usual—cold, calm, with a touch of respectful submission.

He initially intended to casually eavesdrop, but ended up hearing something directly related to himself.

The little Peach Blossom Immortal on the roof found it both amusing and exasperating.

His expression remained unchanged, showing no shock or anger upon learning the truth.

To put it bluntly, he thought his initial interaction with Rong Zheng was quite good. She had fulfilled the dying wish of his Third Disciple and had traveled a long way to bring the letter back to Peach Blossom Mountain.

At that time, Tao Mian thought, this young lady is not bad, a person who keeps her promises.

But now it seemed that these "thankless" efforts were all just groundwork for her entry into Peach Blossom Mountain.

The Immortal thought to himself, the disciples he took in were truly... each one more worrisome than the last.

Rong Zheng methodically recounted her recent actions, while Du Hong remained silent for a long time.

A small thrush bird slipped from the willow branch, and the Immortal opened his palm, allowing the clever little creature to hop onto it, pecking here and there with its short beak.

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The chirping of the bird echoed, and changes began inside the room.

Du Hong finally decided to speak.

"Xiao Zheng, it's been a long time since we last met. You've become quite thin."

As he spoke, he sighed.

"I've made you suffer."

Rong Zheng didn't respond, but she was probably deeply moved.

Since the disciple didn't speak, Tao Mian, sitting on the roof and feeling bored, decided to voice her thoughts.

After all, no matter what noise he made now, the two people below wouldn't hear him.

When Du Hong mentioned Rong Zheng's weight loss, Tao Mian pinched his voice and replied from above.

"Oh dear, Pavilion Master, if you hadn't sent me to Mist Tower, how would I have suffered?"

"During the turbulent times in the pavilion, I had no other choice but to send you to Mist Tower to gather information for me."

"Pavilion Master, you have a way with words. With so many Shadow Guards, why did you have to send me, the leader? If it really couldn't be helped, you could have had my brothers dress up as women."

"The moment I issued the secret order, I regretted it. But the trusted aides in the pavilion advised me that it was only temporary. Sooner or later, I would personally bring you back from Mist Tower."

"Strange, I haven't even eaten, yet I feel full. I must say, Pavilion Master Du, your skill in painting a rosy picture is truly profound. Little Hua, I admire you greatly, bowing to the ground."

"......"

This time, Du Hong in the room didn't respond, while Tao Mian continued to chatter away above.

"Pavilion Master Du? Why aren't you speaking? Have I exposed your hypocritical facade, and now you're feeling guilty?"

The Immortal entertained himself for a while, not caring about others, as long as he was happy.

He wasn't satisfied yet, and finally, he muttered a small curse, "Scumbag."

It wasn't that he was siding with his disciple, but if he were Rong Zheng, he would have set two fires long ago, burning everything down without a care.

One fire for Mist Tower, another for Floating Pavilion.

Was it Du Hong or his father who saved her life? How could Little Hua endure such humiliation for so many years?

Tao Mian listened for a while, completely forgetting that he was the main subject of this drama. Despite someone plotting against his life, he still had the mind to daydream.

Regarding Du Hong's concern, Rong Zheng only replied with a "Thank you for your concern, Pavilion Master," before discussing Tao Mian's matter with him.

Du Hong wanted something from Tao Mian.

This might sound awkward, but to be precise, he wanted Tao Mian's heart to refine pills and help him survive the next heavenly tribulation.

Demonic cultivators, like other cultivators, naturally had to face the immense heavenly tribulation whenever they broke through.

The higher the realm, the fiercer the tribulation.

If lucky, they might get through with minor injuries.

If unlucky, failing to withstand the tribulation would result in their soul being scattered, with no chance of reincarnation.

Not just in this life, but even in the next.

Tao Mian was a rare existence in this world. He had achieved immortality in the flesh, nourished by the spirit of Peach Blossom Mountain, becoming one with it.

This was a unique fate, with Peach Blossom Mountain protecting him from heavenly tribulations, and he, in turn, repaying the mountain with his cultivation and good deeds.

Man and mountain became one, creating the Peach Blossom Immortal.

Such a rare fate and immortal body, once exposed, would attract much malice.

If someone could refine his body, they could achieve immortality.

From the snippets of conversation between Rong Zheng and Du Hong, Tao Mian pieced together the situation.

Well, hadn't he become a walking piece of Tang Monk's flesh?

Originally, Tao Mian stayed in the mountain, minding his own business, with no one bothering him.

Later, he took in the First Disciple. But Gu Yuan only asked for his help a few times in the early years, and then, out of guilt, didn't see him for many years. At that time, Tao Mian's fame wasn't that great.

Lu Yuandi became the Emperor, and as the Imperial Teacher, he stirred up some waves. But after the new emperor ascended, he deliberately erased much of the late emperor's history, and Tao Mian was buried in the dust of the past.

The real attention from certain interested parties came after his intervention at the banquet in the Netherworld Hall of the Demonic Realm. Tao Mian didn't want to see his two disciples fight, so he intervened.

By coincidence, he caught the attention of some guests, who privately investigated his identity.

Possessing a treasure invites trouble.

Tao Mian just wanted to see his disciples, but ended up being targeted.

But ultimately, it was the special nature of the Demonic Realm. The Thousand Lantern Tower dared to present the remains of an Immortal, which showed the attitude of the demons and monsters there towards immortals.

Later, Tao Mian learned that Rong Zheng's original plan was to use poison.

"Although poisoning is a convenient method, Tao Mian mentioned in passing that his Third Disciple was a master of poison. With such a skilled disciple, the master wouldn't be any less. Pavilion Master, the matter of poisoning needs careful consideration."

Although Rong Zheng didn't mean it as a compliment, Tao Mian still touched his nose sheepishly.

When it came to poison, he was far inferior to Liu Xue.

After listening to Rong Zheng's explanation, Du Hong pondered for a moment before responding.

His words carried a hint of hidden questioning.

"Xiao Zheng, do you think poisoning is inappropriate, or are you unwilling?"

"I..."

Rong Zheng was momentarily speechless.

The thrush bird, after pecking for a while, found nothing of interest and flapped its wings to fly away.

Tao Mian lay half-reclined on the roof, gazing at the vast morning glow, and murmured to himself.

"Oh dear, my life hangs by a thread. What should I do now?"