Chapter 115 - The Harem Rescue Project

She stared at Mu Weiyin's expressionless face, and a wave of revulsion suddenly surged within her. She kept saying she liked Xiao Shimei, treating her as a lifelong partner, yet could still get intimate with her senior sister. Lin Qianshuang raised her hand, initially wanting to strike Mu Weiyin's face, but ended up slapping her own cheek hard. She suddenly felt she was the one who needed a wake-up call. Mu Weiyin gripped Lin Qianshuang's wrist and forced a pill into her mouth, chastising softly, "If you have a death wish, this city lord wouldn’t have bothered saving you. Swallow this Spirit-Consolidating Pill, and our auras will blend; the stone lion outside won’t be able to detect your position." As the pill dissolved, a faint spiritual aura indeed enveloped her, acting as a barrier to contain her demonic energy. The stone beast outside lingered for a moment, then its footsteps slowly faded into the distance, seemingly having left. Lin Qianshuang realized she misunderstood Mu Weiyin, but their proximity was too close, and Mu Weiyin’s ease in kissing a stranger left her unfazed. Could it be that Mu Weiyin's affection for Xiao Shimei was not genuine? Was Xiao Shimei merely a pawn to her, despite the claims of lifelong companionship? If that were the case, her efforts to pair them would be for naught. Or perhaps, it was time to test things out. With that thought, Lin Qianshuang feigned a shy demeanor, raising her restrained wrist slightly. With a false coy smile, she leaned close to Mu Weiyin's ear and murmured, "City lord, I am already committed to someone in my heart. Holding my wrist and kissing me like this isn't behavior befitting of a mere vessel. Could it be you're harboring... feelings for me?" The words were suggestively close and intimate. Mu Weiyin reacted as if scorched, hurriedly letting go of Lin Qianshuang's hand. Her previously composed face now showed an unprecedented trace of confusion. She blinked, her lashes fluttering in an unfamiliar way. She fixed her gaze on Lin Qianshuang, a look of thoughtfulness crossing her eyes. Lin Qianshuang felt a jolt in her heart. Mu Weiyin’s expression... was it possible she did harbor feelings for her? A heavy weight seemed to settle in Lin Qianshuang's chest. She grasped Mu Weiyin's hands, eyes darkening, as she demanded, "City lord, I left Xiao Shimei’s side supporting you because I thought you'd be devoted to her. But what I see now, I was wrong about you. Even someone as lowly as me—could you possibly have eyes for me?" Mu Weiyin, looking at Lin Qianshuang's mocking expression, instantly realized she had been toyed with earlier. Her face betrayed a hint of anger, and she said, "You are important to this city lord; I trust you greatly. Your impropriety will be overlooked this time, but don’t overstep. Lan Le is my partner; how I am with her is none of your business." Lin Qianshuang released Mu Weiyin’s hands, a sense of relief washing over her, and smiled softly. "Xiao Shimei and I come from the same sect, and our bond is like that of sisters. I cannot bear to see her suffer a bit of injustice. I overstepped; if there must be punishment, I am willing to accept it." Mu Weiyin gave Lin Qianshuang's relaxed smile a glance, feeling a thorn in her throat. After some consideration, she asked, "Since you harbor hostility against me, why did you risk your life to jump into the trap with me? Everything in this world has an equivalent exchange. If you don't like me, what benefit do you seek?" Lin Qianshuang was momentarily surprised, realizing Mu Weiyin had been pondering this question, which explained her odd expressions. She couldn’t help but chuckle, "The status and position promised by you, city lord, justify my actions." As always, this woman was as materialistic and vulgar as when they first met. Mu Weiyin vanished from the bedside, only to reappear in the room an instant later. The rumpled clothes were immediately restored to their pristine state through the infusion of true energy. Annoyance creeping through, she replayed their previous conversation, feeling foolish for asking such an obvious question. Since when had she become this dull-witted? The wooden window creaked open, revealing the dim subterranean scenery; ghostly flames flickered among piles of skeletal remains hidden in the overgrown weeds. Lin Qianshuang opened her tightly grasped hand, letting a wisp of demonic energy escape, which clearly outlined the boundaries and layout of the female demon cultivator’s abandoned estate in her mind. The stone beasts that guarded the estate were endlessly patrolling outside, with a well-defined route, ready to turn back at any moment. The rescuers who were supposed to aid the city lord were nowhere in sight. The best option was to slip into the estate for shelter. Lin Qianshuang attempted to guide her spiritual senses into the estate, only to be thrown back by a blinding light. She opened her eyes, finding herself steadied by someone behind her, preventing a hard fall from the powerful influx of demonic energy. Mu Weiyin stepped to her side and said, "The estate harbors immense resentment. You're unstable in your cultivation; further rash attempts might endangeryour life." She tapped her ring to discern the external situation, then instructed, "My people are still entangled with the assaulting cultivators. Currently, the formations are down. With such strong resentment and demonic energy, the estate surely houses a significant treasure. Follow me inside to investigate." Lin Qianshuang readily agreed, following Mu Weiyin with a calm demeanor. Silently, the two made their way to the stone steps of the estate. Mu Weiyin looked up at the plaque of the estate, pushed open the door, and stepped inside. Dust fell from the gilded door rings, and a few crimson grave insects crawled out from the cracks in the stone floor, their numerous legs sliding haphazardly over the tiles, comically amusing. With an unfazed expression, Mu Weiyin began, "In the Sky Axis Intelligence Tower, four centuries ago, someone paid heavily to erase the scandal of the Penglai Immortal Sect. It's rumored that Sect Master Xiao Linsha of the Penglai Immortal Sect was entangled with the fallen immortal Chen Luoyun; they secretly had two daughters together." At that time, there was no Sky Axis City, and rogue cultivators were looked down upon, despised, and suppressed by various sects. The righteous cultivators' greatest taboo was entanglement with demon cultivators, let alone with one of the founders of a major righteous sect. Xiao Linsha, already criticized for being a woman, faced instability in her own sect. To protect over one hundred and twenty sect members, she was forced to part ways with Chen Luoyun, severing their relationship. Chen Luoyun felt bitter at Xiao Linsha's heartlessness, abandoning the two children in the nascent Sky Axis City built by rogue cultivators, swearing never to meet her again. Meanwhile, the Chen family, upon discovering their estranged clan member had given birth to these 'cursed' children, pursued them relentlessly within Sky Axis City for a whole century. It wasn't until thirty years ago, when the Chens surrendered, that peace returned to Sky Axis City." Following Mu Weiyin inside the estate, Lin Qianshuang casually settled into a seat in the grand hall, listening to her tale and couldn't help but comment, "If Chen Luoyun swore never to meet Xiao Linsha again, why is her estate located within the subterranean mausoleum where Xiao Linsha was buried? She must still have cherished feelings for Xiao Linsha. And that Chen family... even if a girl leaves the clan, they remain stubbornly involved." The ability of a demon cultivator to bear offspring wasn't surprising to Lin Qianshuang, especially since she knew that her cauldron physique could similarly nurture life in her dantian through spiritual cultivation methods. Mu Weiyin's words evoked a profound sense of familiarity; they echoed like a background introduction from the Sky Axis City Lord's backstory. "City Lord," Lin Qianshuang asked hesitantly, "I've heard that you and the young city lord were left to wander in Sky Axis City in your youth. You mentioned that Chen Luoyun abandoned two children... Those two children wouldn’t happen to be you and the young city lord, would they?" "Chen Luoyun and Xiao Linsha’s final outcome, having seen this estate, I've deduced. They must have truly loved each other; otherwise, they wouldn't be buried together within the same mausoleum." Mu Weiyin, neither confirming nor denying, cast Lin Qianshuang a faint glance. Running her fingers along the dusty coffin's edge, she mused, "Centuries have passed; I've long forgotten their appearances. I once held grievances against them, but destiny is preordained. Had Chen Luoyun not abandoned me, I wouldn't have risen to become the Sky Axis City lord with Mu Louzhu's help, nor would Xiaochi have fallen victim to deception and abduction, scattering us sisters for decades. The heavenly way shows no favoritism; for all creatures, fate is prescribed." In her heart, Lin Qianshuang quipped silently, "City lord, you’re mistaken. There is an exception—one who neither dies nor fades away, like an indestructible cockroach. Without lifting a finger, he receives the best resources and is deemed a VIP by the heavens. Last time I saw him close to death, the heavens even sent down a divine thunder to whisk him away." The thought of Liang Jingxuan potentially appearing again in her future made Lin Qianshuang's head spin and her spirits sink. On either side of the grand hall, two exquisitely painted portraits hung. In a fit of irritation, Lin Qianshuang approached the paintings out of curiosity. The poised, white-robed woman and the stunning, red-clad beauty seemed to gaze at each other, their exchanged verses conveying an intimate connection in their challenge and response. As she admired the lifelike portraits of Xiao Linsha and Chen Luoyun, adorned with romantic poetry penned by each other, Lin Qianshuang glanced over at Mu Weiyin, who stood beside the coffin. Inwardly, she regretted that while the city lord had inherited her mothers' looks, she had not inherited their flair for romance. Mu Weiyin's speech was always formal and distant, with an oppressive air, making her not the easiest to engage with. Mu Weiyin ran her hand along the coffin’s seam, eyes closed and opening again with a spirit mark gleaming between her brows. Suddenly, she infused her hand with true energy and struck forcefully. The coffin lid slid off instantly. Inside lay a red-robed woman, identical to the image on the wall, her closed eyes and youthful features as vivid and beautiful as ever, her cheeks still as rosy and supple as if she were merely asleep. Mu Weiyin's heart trembled, her eyes wavering, as she involuntarily reached out to touch the red-robed woman. Just then, the body disintegrated into ash, leaving only a bright red sword resting alone among the silk tapestries. Her forlorn hand paused midair, a thoughtful gaze sparked within her eyes. The sword suddenly wavered within the coffin, slowly levitated, and disappeared before her eyes. In an instant, it drifted to hover behind Lin Qianshuang, who stood immersed in the painting. Startled, Mu Weiyin rushed forward urgently. "Are you the wife my daughter chose?" As Lin Qianshuang was engrossed in observing the painting on the wall, a cold hand suddenly rested on her shoulder. A chill surged up her neck, causing her to shiver involuntarily.