Chapter 109 - The Harem Rescue Project

"I... of course, I understand!" Such a delightful opportunity to win favor from the Overseer of Tianshu City! Lin Qianshuang couldn't be more eager to seize it. Moreover, if the Tianshu City's Overseer and Junior Sister Xiao ended up developing feelings for each other, acquiring the Tianshu Mirror would just be a matter of time. With these considerations swirling in her mind, Lin Qianshuang spiritedly grabbed the ingredients and went to wash them, confidently proclaiming, "Overseer, leave it all to me. I assure you that when Junior Sister Xiao sees the dinner you personally prepared for her, she will be immensely pleased." Mu Weiyin watched as Lin Qianshuang hummed a tune, joy evident in every step she took, bustling around as she boiled water and lit the fire. There was a peculiar feeling about it all. From the information Mu Weiyin had gathered, there had been rumors of ambiguity between this subordinate and her betrothed, with the pair even publicly proclaiming their feelings through a divination stick. Yet, by her observations, this subordinate didn't seem as attached to her partner as the rumors suggested. "Junior Sister Xiao prefers vegetarian meatball soup. First, you must mix the meat paste. Mince the pork finely, add a raw egg, then some cornstarch..." Just as Lin Qianshuang picked up the knife to mince a piece of pork with perfect proportions of lean to fat, Mu Weiyin swiftly took the knife from her hand. "I will do it. If you prepare it, it will lose its meaning. I must make it personally." Mu Weiyin was initially puzzled by the homemade apron Lin Qianshuang handed her, but she quickly grasped its use. She slipped it over her neck and tied the strings around her waist. Meticulously, she sliced the meat, then turned to prepare the accompaniments. Lin Qianshuang watched from the side, feeling as if she were in a dream. To have the sovereign of the wandering cultivators, the Overseer of Tianshu City, personally cook, Junior Sister Xiao must be truly cherished by her. Once she finished preparing a steamy pot of vegetarian meatball soup, along with a few other vegetarian dishes, Mu Weiyin placed them before Lin Qianshuang, offering her a spoon and chopsticks. "Have a taste; tell me if this matches or even surpasses what you can make?" Lin Qianshuang sampled a few bites and was pleasantly surprised by the flavor. Looking up, she smiled and said, "Overseer, yours is definitely superior." Mu Weiyin was momentarily taken aback. The sincere smile in front of her overlapped with the image of a less frantic Mu Xiaochi from her memories. She distinctly recalled the damp, cramped compartment of the bottom ship where Mu Xiaochi had held up the scallion pancake she risked stealing, smiling with such sweetness. After savoring a few more bites, Lin Qianshuang set the chopsticks down and hesitated before finally broaching the subject, "Overseer, about the list you gave me, there's still one last person. When do you plan to proceed? I'm worried that acting rashly might expose my identity as a demonic cultivator. It would complicate future tasks for you." "The arrangements have been made. Just follow the order and get married in peace the day after tomorrow." Mu Weiyin's previously warm tone turned cold at the mention of these affairs. She glanced at Lin Qianshuang's expression before tossing her a chilling pill, "Keep it. This pill is half of the antidote for the insect in you. Once you eliminate the Chen family head, you'll receive the other half. I will personally grant you the position of Tianshu City Tower Master." Lin Qianshuang swallowed the antidote and felt considerably relieved by Mu Weiyin's reassurance. With the Overseer providing cover, this assassination mission would likely be much easier. Mu Weiyin rose from the table, instructing the servants to pack the meals into a lunchbox, her gaze naturally drifting to the suddenly silent Lin Qianshuang standing at the corner. Lost in thought, her eyes were vacant, her entire demeanor somewhat dispirited. Her dantian's demonic infant hovered precariously, and without external demonic energy, it weakened by the moment, threatening to shatter. Mu Weiyin glanced and assessed her condition. Her cultivation foundation was unstable, with a powerful, mysterious demon spirit residing within. Its leaking demonic aura was slowly corroding her internal organs. If not for her rare Nine Spirit Sword Constitution, which allowed her to cultivate pure sword intent, she wouldn’t have been able to counterbalance the demonic intrusion, though it merely delayed the erosion, leaving her lifespan dwindling. Within a century, she would be entirely demonized, replaced by the fearsome creature within, whose nature—divine or demonic—remained unknown. Mu Weiyin saw clearly that if this subordinate wished to survive, she needed the power to contend with the awakening demon spirit within her. Reflecting on this, she pondered that Jieyu still lacked a life artifact to stabilize her soul. If she had such an artifact, it might calm the demon spirit somewhat. Her grey-black eyes focused intently on the person before her. Since she had become her aide, her life should be held firmly in her hands. Approaching Lin Qianshuang, Mu Weiyin placed a passage token in her hand. "I see you lack an artifact. Conveniently, the Tianshu Sword Cemetery holds many spiritual tools. You may go and choose one, but remember, do not venture deep into the cemetery. Your cultivation level isn't sufficient for such depths." Each year, many cultivators failed ascension trials and perished at various stages, leaving behind their caves that transformed into treasure troves attracting countless cultivators eager to explore. Before becoming Tianshu City's overseer, Mu Weiyin had delighted in collecting scattered artifacts across the continent. After assuming leadership, she stored a century's worth of collection within the city's largest relic site of a late God Transformation stage cultivator, the Sword Cemetery. Being granted access to the Sword Cemetery signified extraordinary trust from Mu Weiyin. Lin Qianshuang's heart leapt with joy. She looked at Mu Weiyin with newfound brightness, clutching the passage token tightly and bowing her head, "Thank you, Overseer, for your generosity." Noticing the maid picking up the lunchbox, Mu Weiyin told Lin Qianshuang, "Carry this and accompany me to Penglai Immortal Sect." Stowing the passage token in her storied jade slip, Lin Qianshuang accepted the hefty lunchbox from the maid. Inside the first compartment were several adorable pink bunny-shaped buns. She glanced at Mu Weiyin, offering a subtle smile. When dealing with Mu Weiyin, she was usually cautious, fearing to trigger her fury, mostly viewing her as a distant, cold authority figure. It turns out, she also had such a whimsical side, although it was all simply to please Xiao Lanle. Mu Weiyin lifted the curtain intending to step into the carriage but was halted as Lin Qianshuang gently tugged on her sleeve. Quickly realizing it was inappropriate, she released her grip. "Overseer, are you planning to just head straight to Penglai Immortal Sect like this? If you go now, given your status, Junior Sister Xiao might become the subject of unwanted gossip. I'm concerned some may attribute her efforts to relying on your power," Lin Qianshuang anxiously expressed. Mu Weiyin remained expressionless at Lin Qianshuang's words, only replying after a long pause, "Then what do you propose, how should we approach Penglai Immortal Sect?" In her palm, Lin Qianshuang conjured a sword from condensed demonic energy, which she rarely used. Standing steadily on the blade, she smiled and suggested, "Overseer, we might enter through the rear gate of Penglai Immortal Sect's back mountain. This approach is less likely to attract attention and could provide Junior Sister with a pleasant surprise." The sword wavered unsteadily, prompting Mu Weiyin to step down from the carriage, performing a technique to transform into a petite girl in purple, seating herself upon Lin Qianshuang's spirit sword. Securing her position, she declared with a child-like voice, "Penglai's spirit-seeking gate might detect my cultivation level. Sealing a portion of my spiritual power, we can disguise and pass through. Lead the way to avoid unnecessary complications." Pushing back the hair blown to her face by the breeze, Lin Qianshuang smiled faintly. "Rest assured, Overseer, I will successfully sneak us into Penglai Immortal Sect." She glanced sideways at Mu Weiyin, sitting motionless like a porcelain doll, a flicker of guilt passing through her eyes. Within Penglai Immortal Sect, many had coveted the position of headmaster and the sect's treasured treasure, the Buddha-glazed Liuli. She intended to leverage Mu Weiyin's might to eliminate those scheming individuals and simultaneously retrieve the Jinshi containing their sect's first master's legacy hidden in the forbidden grounds. Recollecting how the male lead emerged unscathed from the headmaster's trial, it must have been the legacy stone's effect. Without the male protagonist's halo, Junior Sister Xiao faced formidable odds in the headmaster's trial without the legacy spirit stone. As Lin Qianshuang focused back on controlling the sword, Mu Weiyin's grey-black eyes opened briefly to glance at her, seemingly aware of her schemes, before dismissively closing them, slipping into contemplation. As the sun shone brightly, a slender thread of demonic energy silently swept past the foot of Penglai Immortal Sect mountains. The towering bell on Tianzhu Peak trembled faintly, Daoist incantations flickered across the mystical barrier, which parted to create a pathway for the two figures who emerged through the faint light. Together, Lin Qianshuang and Mu Weiyin appear within the barrier. Mu Weiyin stretched out her stubby little hand, observing the dim spiritual light in her palm, frowning, "My spiritual power requires some time before the seal is lifted. You carry me. I do not wish to deplete excessive spiritual energy right now." Cautiously, Lin Qianshuang knelt to have Mu Weiyin climb onto her back. The purple-clad girl appeared stout yet surprisingly light, essentially weightless. Bearing Mu Weiyin, Lin Qianshuang set off for the Leisurely Cave Mansion, soon arriving at the small building's courtyard. Approaching, Lin Qianshuang carried the lunchbox and gently pushed open the cottage door. At this hour, Junior Sister Xiao should have returned to her dwelling. As she stepped into the room and placed the lunchbox on the table, an iron cage suddenly descended from above, trapping both her and Mu Weiyin together. The cage was constructed of ordinary cold iron, and Lin Qianshuang knew that even a hint of her magic could bend its bars. These people sure had guts. They hadn't even waited for Xiao Lanle to begin her headmaster trial before ambushing them. For them to act so brazenly suggested that the seemingly calm surface of Penglai Immortal Sect concealed a tumultuous undercurrent. Perhaps all the peak elders were already under someone’s control. Even Jinghua Fairy had been unable to pass a message to her from within Penglai, indicating a dire situation. Lin Qianshuang deliberately feigned fear, clutching Mu Weiyin protectively in her arms while scanning the surroundings for signs of the intruders. Finding it all quite amusing, Mu Weiyin cooperated by nestling into Lin Qianshuang's embrace. To keep her identity hidden, she discreetly ran her hand over her face, transforming it into the appearance of a sallow and malnourished girl. Just as Lin Qianshuang pretended to be tense, a faint, labored breathing could be heard from the corner by the screen.