Chapter 89 - The Harem Rescue Project

She seemed to have really done something to Xiao Lanyue, yet she had no memory of it whatsoever, and the system had crashed, unable to restore what happened back then. “……” Lin Qianshuang stared mutely at Mu Weiyin, who was glaring at her, cheeks puffed in anger. She felt a bit wronged, but there was no way to argue her case. Mu Weiyin snorted coldly, bending Lin Qianshuang's fingers inward with a force that seemed intent on crushing her hand bones. "I tasked you with protecting her well, yet you did something like this." "Subordinate was unaware, I beg the City Lord for forgiveness." Lin Qianshuang felt her finger bones cracking, the pain intense enough to make her forehead sweat. Yet, she dared not use her demonic energy to withdraw her hand for fear of inciting further displeasure from Mu Weiyin. Her submissive and well-behaved demeanor slightly eased the resentment in Mu Weiyin's heart. "When Lanyue was about to leave, she asked me for a dual cultivation method, saying she wanted to study it. I didn’t want her to get hurt, so I gave her a method to nourish and preserve her essence. Now that I think about it, she might have asked for it because of you." "Jie Yu, Lanyue thinks too highly of you. You need to avoid her, cut off your relationship with her. If you make the same mistake again, I'll kill you. Remember this." "Do you want the position of the tower lord, or to become a vessel toyed with by others? You're a smart person; you should have made your decision by now." Mu Weiyin, feeling slightly tired, leaned against Lin Qianshuang’s shoulder, her eyelids half-closed like raven feathers, carrying a hint of lethalness. The body she inhabited, Xiao Lanyue's, was still weak and had not fully healed. Lin Qianshuang thoughtfully adjusted Mu Weiyin to a more comfortable position on her shoulder and respectfully said, "I understand. I'll keep my distance from Xiao Lanyue and completely sever any thoughts she has about me. Humans and demons are eternally at odds; there could never be anything between us." The abundant spiritual energy of the Jade Ruyi enveloped them, merging with the dual cultivation technique, channeling into their dantians. "As long as you understand." Mu Weiyin felt that Xiao Lanyue’s body had mostly recovered. She turned toward Lin Qianshuang, their palms touching as they circulated the cultivation technique. She gazed steadily at the woman before her, whose face was flushed and slightly panting. The pure and elegant face was now alluringly enticing, her autumn water eyes inadvertently emitting a hint of charm, enhanced by the mesmerizing beauty mark beneath her left eye. Mu Weiyin's gaze seemed glued to Lin Qianshuang's innocent face. Despite having seen countless extraordinarily attractive individuals, she had never encountered someone whose appearance improved with each glance, revealing new layers of charm. She found it curious, like discovering a rare treasure, causing her demeanor toward Lin Qianshuang to soften slightly. Having examined Lin Qianshuang's pulse, Mu Weiyin knew she urgently needed a demon pill and cautioned, "Being with her like this would inevitably make you suffer later. The extraction technique, if unsatisfied by one side, continues until exhaustion. You’ve significantly depleted your vitality and need several days of rest. Consider this a lesson. If you truly wish to become her furnace, prepare yourself and first nurture and strengthen your body properly." No wonder she felt so weak and drained of power the next day, her mind buzzing and vision darkening—it was due to the extraction. She had even wondered why Xiao Lanyue seemed so refreshed and unaffected afterward. Why, no matter how she thought about it, did it seem like she was the one at a loss? Hearing Mu Weiyin mention the furnace again, Lin Qianshuang quickly put on a display of ambition, boldly stating, "City Lord, don’t tease me. I only wish to serve you wholeheartedly." Mu Weiyin stretched languidly, standing up using Xiao Lanyue's body. With the dual cultivation complete, she placed one hand behind her and studied the treasured artifact from Penglai Immortal Gate before turning it into a hairpin, deftly inserting it into Xiao Lanyue’s hair. As she tidied Xiao Lanyue's strands, she softly remarked, "I originally intended for this Liuli of the Buddha to be mine. But since it's your ancestral item, and the Penglai Immortal Gate will belong to me eventually, Lanyue, consider this an engagement gift." Lin Qianshuang, watching Mu Weiyin murmur to herself while grooming hair, was reminded of a ghost film, feeling slightly creeped out. When Mu Weiyin’s eyes turned toward her, she thought Lin Qianshuang looked timid, perhaps worried about the black water in the furnace overflowing. Mu Weiyin took a few steps toward her and lifted her collar. "..." Lin Qianshuang was dumbstruck as Mu Weiyin hoisted her by the collar into flight. Her neck was squeezed to the point where she nearly couldn’t breathe. Heaven knows what was on this master’s mind; she could easily fly by herself, yet Mu Weiyin insisted on dragging her along. The souls within the Nine Cauldrons had entirely escaped from the forbidden area, their ghostly wails echoing over the mountains of Penglai Immortal Gate. After leaving the furnace, Lin Qianshuang and Mu Weiyin, possessing Xiao Lanyue’s body, saw Liang Jingxuan detained by a crowd of disciples, being led to the water prison. Support. Sensing. With difficulty holding the extremely heavy Purple Cloud Sword, six loose cultivator nails pierced his scapula. His brows furrowed, his handsome face twisted in resentment as he glanced at the Penglai Immortal Gate’s leader Xiao Shen and Xiao Lanyue. His gaze paused briefly but forlornly on Lin Qianshuang before retracting. Lin Qianshuang watched calmly as events unfolded; this part of the story remained true to the original. Liang Jingxuan had used the Star-Picking Sword to open the door to the forbidden area, subduing a black dragon as his mount and acquiring the high-grade Violet Thunder Fire. However, he also destroyed the formation core set by previous sect leaders, releasing the demons and spirits imprisoned within the Nine Cauldrons, leading to his detention in the water prison by the sect leader's orders. Aside from Liang Jingxuan's original heartfelt farewell and vows to Xiao Lanyue, now turned into resentment and the addition of Lin Qianshuang as the male lead's muse, leaving him despondent, everything else remained unchanged. This part set the stage for Liang Jingxuan to kill the leader of the Penglai Immortal Gate, Xiao Shen, and ascend to leadership, marking a turning point for his cultivation to skyrocket. She had gone through great lengths to obtain the Star-Picking Sword in hopes of thwarting Liang Jingxuan's chance, but it was all in vain. Xiao Shen, standing with his hands behind his back, glanced toward her and Xiao Lanyue. Seeing how close they stood, his gaze lingered darkly on Lin Qianshuang. Lin Qianshuang returned Xiao Shen’s stare, her eyes flickering slightly. In the original story, the heart demon of Xiao Lanyue never manifested, which was related to Liang Jingxuan. She never figured it out before, as seeing things from Liang Jingxuan’s first-person perspective was too narrow. Though the system could show third-person views, it mostly revolved around those near the male protagonist, leaving this mystery unexplained. But listening to Mu Weiyin, clarity dawned on her. The heart demon within Xiao Lanyue was formed from the malevolence of the Buddha Liuli and her inner barriers. To separate the Buddha Liuli, Xiao Lanyue needed to consummate with her beloved. In the original story, Xiao Lanyue and Liang Jingxuan had long cherished each other and, while watching lanterns in Tianshu City, they consummated, naturally leading to Buddha Liuli separating from Xiao Lanyue, causing her no further trouble. Xiao Shen coveted the Buddha Liuli, knowing it resided within Xiao Lanyue. He used his own daughter as a vessel for purification treasures. At that point in Penglai Immortal Gate, Liang Jingxuan loved Xiao Lanyue deeply. Seeing her endure such indignity might have been one of the reasons why Liang Jingxuan eventually killed the sect leader. Lin Qianshuang contemplated for a moment, then asked Mu Weiyin, who still possessed Xiao Lanyue, "City Lord, there’s something I don't understand. Xiao Shen placed Buddha Liuli inside Sister Xiao. Did Sister Xiao know?" "She was unaware, and the City Lord would prefer she remains so." Mu Weiyin turned to Lin Qianshuang and said, "Jie Yu, Lanyue has already separated from the Buddha Liuli. Now, using the melody I taught you, you can delve deep into the dispelled heart demon to see the truth. Then, you’ll understand why I ordered you to kill Xiao Shen." "I understand." Lin Qianshuang replied earnestly, though her mind wandered. Even if she didn't act, the male lead would eventually return to kill the sect leader after being expelled from Penglai Immortal Gate. There wasn’t a need for her concern; her real worry was that Xiao Lanyue was now on Liang Jingxuan's list of grudges. She feared that when Liang Jingxuan returned, Xiao Lanyue would be in danger. With the Penglai Immortal Gate's barrier broken, the formidable spirits and wicked demons imprisoned for a hundred years in the Nine Cauldrons were unleashed. That night, the ancient temple bell over the fairy mountain tolled solemnly and urgently, echoing through the mountain coves. The villages at the mountain's base were massacred, and when the sect's disciples arrived, they found no survivors, only bodies strewn across the fields. Lin Qianshuang, carrying the still-unconscious Xiao Lanyue, rode her sword above a village now a river of blood, staring at the scattered limbs and collapsed homes below. Initially reluctant to come, she was driven by a yearning to discover the fate of the demons and spirits long imprisoned. Terrified ghostly wailed as they were devoured by unknown monstrous creatures, their cries becoming nourishment. Fleeing demons feasted on the weak, some growing larger and becoming jet-black humanoid figures, vanishing beyond the sky. Their direction... was towards the Wuji Buddhist Sect. The Wuji Buddhist Sect's demon-sealing tower imprisoned ancient evildoers; they sought to destroy the tower and release those prehistoric fiends. Lin Qianshuang’s eyes narrowed. Her master's teachings told her the Demon Subduing Tower was under construction. If Tianshu City forged the tower, it would connect with the five major sects to form an unbreakable demon-exorcising barrier. The demons would never allow the tower to manifest, and a catastrophe awaited Tianshu City. Liang Jingxuan, now different from before, barely reached the Gold Core stage. He lost face among the sect's disciples. The Northern Liang family severed ties with him once he entered the forbidden area. The three great families that once befriended him were silent after his betrothal to Xiao Lanyue was annulled. His association with the holy maiden of the demon domain never occurred, and the pearl meant for him fell into Xiao Lanyue’s hands. Tianshu City Lord Mu Weiyin regarded Xiao Lanyue as her partner, leaving him without Tianshu City as backing. Lin Qianshuang cradled the sleeping Xiao Lanyue on her back, intently studying her serene face, tinged with worry. This impending calamity, heralded by Liang Jingxuan, was originally for him to resolve; now, it remained uncertain.