Chapter 170 - Is It Funny That the Reincarnated Senior Sister Is Also Being Pursued?

It seemed that Xiao Chengyin had noticed Bai Lian's movement and slowly withdrew his gaze, revealing a gentle and graceful smile. He spoke softly, "I see that the sword aura around the lady is like a lotus, could it be that you are the White Lotus fairy from the Taihua Sword Sect?" Bai Lian was slightly taken aback by the question. She thought Xiao Chengyin would first focus on Mu Xinghe, but unexpectedly, he inquired about her first. Without much thought, she instinctively replied, "Fairy is an overstatement, but I am indeed Bai Lian from the Taihua Sword Sect. May I ask what brings you here?" If possible, she really didn't want to have any interaction with this second prince. She knew very well, having played games, that Xiao Chengyin was definitely the most sophisticated among all the princes in Daya Dynasty. He would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, and he wouldn't even hesitate to sacrifice his own sister. In terms of background, talent, and appearance, he was akin to the male lead in those romantic novels. He had countless women vying for his attention, but he had never been rumored with anyone, maintaining his purity and devotion to one love. She lightly bit her lip, feeling somewhat annoyed. But she failed to notice the peculiar emotions in Xiao Chengyin's eyes when she revealed her identity. Indeed, she was the White Lotus fairy. She was even more beautiful than the rumors and the paintings. He felt a bit fervent inside, but he didn't show any emotions. Instead, he demonstrated etiquette appropriate for peers of martial sects. "I am Xiao Chengyin, the second prince of Daya Dynasty, and I am honored to meet the White Lotus fairy." "I have heard of the beauty of White Lotus fairy for a long time and have been looking forward to meeting her. It's truly a pleasure today. The White Lotus fairy is, as rumors say, stunningly beautiful, like a celestial being." These flattering words nearly left Bai Lian flustered. She was utterly puzzled. Why was he flattering her? Wasn't he just Mu Xinghe's lackey? Could it be some kind of ploy, perhaps to approach her through her friend? Phew, that was close. She almost fell for it! Bai Lian felt as though she had seen through everything and decided to deflect all of Xiao Chengyin's praises. Maintaining her aloof image, she said emotionlessly, "Prince, you overestimate. I'm just a nobody from the Jianghu, and I can't bear such a beautiful title." "Hehe, White Lotus fairy, do not belittle yourself. In my eyes, the rumors seldom do justice to your beauty," responded Xiao Chengyin. Bai Lian: Why does this guy sound so oily? In the game, he didn't speak that way at all. Is there a difference between the in-game and the real Xiao Chengyin? It feels a bit nauseating – what to do? As Xiao Chengyin interacted with Bai Lian, Chen Yuan on the side felt awkward. He was kneeling respectfully, yet he hadn't received any response from Xiao Chengyin. He didn't dare to stand up and could only continue kneeling. He felt extremely confused. As a prince, shouldn't he stand beside me, the representative of the imperial forces? Why did he leave me kneeling and attend to these two martial sect disciples first? Was it because they were women and pretty? The more he thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt. He gritted his teeth and said, "Please, Your Highness, help me!" His tone sounded pitiful, as if he had suffered a great injustice. Only then did Xiao Chengyin finally turn his gaze towards him. There was a faint surprise on his face, as if he had just realized that Chen Yuan was still kneeling there. "Lord Chen, what are you doing? Please get up," Xiao Chengyin said. "Yes!" Chen Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and stood up respectfully. "Lord Chen, what has happened here?" Xiao Chengyin inquired. He had been too focused on Bai Lian before and hadn't taken much notice of the surroundings. It was only now that he saw the many bodies of the black-clothed individuals on the ground. The Five Thunders Heart-Reason Art... these must be the works of Mu Xinghe, right? He was truly extraordinary, akin to a transcendent cultivator despite his young age. Despite enjoying the unattainable resources as a prince, he was still in the late stage of the Qin Mind Realm. The difference was truly disheartening. Xiao Chengyin had once harbored affection for Mu Xinghe. When they were young, Mu Xinghe had been the brightest star among their group. It was until one visit to Unending Palace, where he saw a portrait of Bai Lian hidden by Xiao Weiyang. At that moment, he realized what it meant to encounter someone rare not atop the peak but under the moon. He never imagined that Bai Lian had a connection with Mu Xinghe. Bai Lian, known as a reclusive figure, rarely left the Yaoji Peak, secluded from worldly affairs and was difficult to meet even for disciples of her own sect. Moreover, Taihua Sword Sect and Tianxu Divine Sect were separated by thousands of miles. How did these two meet? Thinking of this, he couldn't help but glance at Mu Xinghe, only to find him completely focused on Bai Lian, not sparing a glance in his direction. It made him quite annoyed – was this how friends looked at each other? He wondered if he could use their friendship from their youth to have Bai Lian act as a bridge between him and her. However, the intense gaze Mu Xinghe directed at Bai Lian didn't seem right. It was thick as though pulling threads, and there was something eerie about it. "Your Highness, let me explain what happened," Chen Yuan respectfully said, "My fellow comrades from the Demon-Suppressing Division and I were patrolling nearby and noticed traces of unauthorized spellcasting. Upon arriving, we spotted these two ladies engaging in combat and causing casualties." "I inquired about the reason and they claimed to have fought due to the obstruction by these black-clothed individuals." "I understand their predicament and wasn't intending to pursue their responsibility for private combat and killing. But I planned to take this unruly demon back to the Demon-Suppressing Division for interrogation." "Your Highness, if this unruly demon grows stronger, it could become a menace to the region." "Punishing villainy is the duty of the Demon-Suppressing Division. Apprehending harmful demons is just." "However, these two ladies obstructed us and attempted to resist arrest with force." "If we allowed this unruly demon to escape, the consequences would be unimaginable. If His Majesty holds us accountable, my head would be on the line." "Reluctantly, I decided to bring these two ladies to the Demon-Suppressing Division." Language is a deeply perplexing tool. In its expression, it's not a matter of speaking the whole truth or lies; what's frightening is the half-truths and the deception, leading the listener to make a misjudgment under deliberate language guidance. Certainly, Chen Yuan, with his long experience in officialdom, was well-versed in this art. His words contained not a hint of falsehood and were saturated with the responsibility of a member of the Demon-Suppressing Division. To the unfamiliar, he would appear as the symbol of righteousness. However, what he didn't mention was the origins of the unruly demon or the responsibility of the Unending Palace guards in capturing it. Furthermore, he omitted the fact that at the last moment, he had forcibly intervened for the credit. After hearing his story, most would think that Bai Lian and Mu Xinghe were in the wrong, and the Demon-Suppressing Division were the righteous ones. Most crucially, he invoked the Daya Emperor to intimidate the "official personnel" present. After all, if they assisted Bai Lian in taking the unruly demon from them and it caused a catastrophe, both Mu Xinghe and Bai Lian had their sects' protection against repercussions. But these "official personnel" running afoul wouldn't be as fortunate. Even Prince Xiao Chengyin, bearing the wrath of his father, would need to weigh the potential consequences. His strategy was clear as day. Even if his narrative were exposed, he could explain that he had been unaware of the previous events, leading to a misjudgment. Ultimately, whether he succeeded in claiming the credit or it backfired, he wouldn't be at a loss. This was a straightforward plan. If the audience were Xiao Weiyang, she would have instantly seen through Chen Yuan's intentions. Unfortunately, Mu Xinghe, despite his noble birth, had been immersed in Unending Palace since childhood, solely dedicated to cultivation, and was oblivious to politics. Bai Lian, born in modern times, was more concerned with trivialities and festering grudges. As for political maneuverings? Come on, she was merely a homebody! She didn't pay attention to the news, let alone be interested in politics or governance. Expecting her to understand political intrigue was like asking her for resources. Fortunately, even if they didn't understand, Du Lin, as the commander of the princess's guards, had a clear understanding. She knew that by speaking out at this moment, she might face retaliation from Chen Yuan and other important figures in the future. But she couldn't accept any defamation against the untainted White Lotus fairy in her heart. "Chen Yuan, stop spouting nonsense!" She suppressed the pain, gritted her teeth, and stood up. "This unruly demon intended to harm Her Highness the princess. White Lotus fairy inflicted severe injuries upon it. We were pursuing her under the orders of the princess and have no affiliation with your Demon-Suppressing Division!" "When those black-clothed individuals of unknown origin tried to kill us, where were you in assistance? Now that they have been killed by the two fairies, you have come out to boast about it." "With the rampant demons in the capital, even Her Highness the princess has been grievously affected. These black-clothed individuals blatantly tried to obstruct the Unending Palace's guards. Your inaction is inexcusable." "And yet you dare to claim you're sacrificing for the people? Ridiculous! I see all of you as parasites!" "You!" Chen Yuan's face turned pale with anger. His eyes brimmed with killing intent as he coldly stated, "How dare a mere guard captain slander an official of the court? You deserve to die a thousand times over!" "I am just speaking the truth. What wrong have I committed?!" Du Lin showed no signs of fear, locking eyes with Chen Yuan. Unfortunately, she had only just reached the mid-stage of the Tengyun, unable to compare with the old cultivator like Chen Yuan, who had stayed at the late stage of Tengyun for hundreds of years, especially with injuries to contend with. Their auras clashed, and she was instantly forced to her knees by the pressure, blood oozing from the corner of her mouth. "You're overreaching," Chen Yuan said disdainfully, his face black in anger. Just then, an illusory white lotus appeared, accompanied by twinkling starlight, beneath Du Lin. The oppressive force emanating from her body immediately lightened. This was the work of Bai Lian and Mu Xinghe. Though not as advanced as Chen Yuan in their cultivation, they had an exquisite control over their spiritual power, which momentarily held its own even against a late-stage Tengyun cultivator like Chen Yuan. "It's you two again, repeatedly obstructing my actions. You know not the gravity of your actions!" Chen Yuan's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. He had stagnated in the late stage of Tengyun for hundreds of years and saw no hope of breaking through to Huifang. Instead, he had focused on refining his control over spiritual power. And now, he was outmatched by these inexperienced younglings? Why them? Just because luck had smiled on them, born with good looks, and were taken in by those powerful sects? He burned with jealousy and nearly made a move. "Enough!" Xiao Chengyin shouted darkly. "As officials of the court, to show such a disgraceful sight in front of me and the two fairies, is it that you do not even regard me?" At the same time, a shadow suddenly appeared behind him. In an instant, a terrifying pressure spread out, instantly neutralizing the spiritual power of several people. Bai Lian and Mu Xinghe's faces couldn't help but change. An Huifang cultivator, who very likely had experienced the battle against malevolent beings and emerged from it. Furthermore, the An Huifang cultivator hidden behind Xiao Chengyin was likely extremely skilled in concealment, as their spiritual perception was stronger than a typical An Huifang cultivator's, yet they hadn't sensed the other's presence at all. The two glanced at each other and silently reined in their spiritual power. They wouldn't stand a chance against an An Huifang cultivator of this caliber if they were to strike. Chen Yuan turned even paler, trembling all over. Despite being at the late stage of Tengyun, he was only a step from An Huifang, but for most Tengyun cultivators, this step was insurmountable. Xiao Chengyin's anger was directed at him, and naturally, the An Huifang's oppressive force was also directed at him. In that instant, he saw death. It was as if the other could simply crush him with a finger, like crushing an ant under a tree. He quickly bowed in deference. "I have erred, Your Highness. Please forgive me!" "Humph," Xiao Chengyin snorted. He looked at the severely injured unruly demon lying on the ground, squinting his eyes. Suddenly, he said, "This unruly demon managed to infiltrate the princess's sleeping quarters under the guards' noses and plot against her. There must be deeper secrets hidden behind it." "How about this: Since both sides can't settle the dispute over this unruly demon, why not let me take custody of her?" "At that time, both the Demon-Suppressing Division and the Unending Palace can interrogate her. How does that sound?" Substandard work The previous chapter was completed too quickly, leading to a mismatch in the storyline, which caused a block in the story. Reorganizing the plot, let's continue with the great sequel to the big fire! Check out 5 comments>