112.1 - All Eyes Are On The Peasant Family’ Adorable Baby Girl

Chapter 112: Road Robbery By the time Shen Su climbed out of the Mirror Lake again, it was already two days later. During this period, apart from the fox and sheep tribes, the various demon kings and great elders of other tribes had all come to visit in turn. Though they all expressed their trust in Shen Su and her character, they still harbored concerns. Xu Su had come three times in a row. Both Shen Su and Wei Nan Yi were well aware that Xu Su's visits to see if the lake was full were just an excuse; he was really there to look for his son. But with Yu Jing reduced to ashes, how could he find anything? Once again, Wei Nan Yi hid her conspicuous face beneath a veil. Humans and demons have never gotten along, and given that Wei Nan Yi was once a celebrated disciple among humans, she naturally did not want to be recognized by the demons of Yan Bi Mountain. Now that Yu Jing was dead, the only demon among the higher-ups who had previously interacted with Wei Nan Yi was Jiu Cui. As long as they could keep their identities hidden from Jiu Cui, there would be no need to worry about exposure. When Shen Su emerged from the lake, the eight demon kings and the eight tribe leaders had gathered once more at the lakeside. Shen Su curiously observed a masked man standing beside Xu Su who was about the same height as Yu Jing and had the same amber eyes visible beneath his mask. Previously, Shen Su had been worried that people would get suspicious, but now it seemed he was overthinking it. Xu Su was more eager than any other demon to keep Yu Jing’s disappearance under wraps from the demons of Yan Bi Mountain. Zhu Xianer, an energetic and lively young woman, gave the fake Yu Jing a sidelong look and quipped, "How come Yu Jing has become so disfigured he can’t show his face after just two days?" Before Yu Jing could respond, Gui Cang, who stood beside her, gently tapped her. "Xianer.” With Gui Cang speaking, Zhu Xianer obediently closed her mouth. Shen Su warily glanced at Gui Cang. The old goat, as Shen Su saw it, was inscrutable and mysterious. She suddenly wondered if he might have already deduced the cause of Yu Jing's death. She wasn’t sad about Yu Jing’s death, but she did worry about being targeted by the tiger tribe. No matter how strong Wei Nan Yi was, they couldn’t withstand an entire tribe’s assault. Fortunately, Gui Cang didn’t say much. Apart from occasionally managing Zhu Xianer, he ignored what everyone else said. Bai Ruo Yi struggled to hold back her laughter. "Grandfather Goat, you shouldn’t be too strict with your granddaughter. After all, she is the leader of a tribe." She indeed believed in fate and the old goat, just as Fox Si Lian had predicted. Whenever the demon kings gathered, whether Wu Xiu, the black crow demon, liked it or not, she would stand close to Gui Cang to avoid missing any of his movements. She was no youngster, yet Zhu Xianer found it hard to accept her calling Gui Cang "Grandfather Goat." Zhu Xianer bared her teeth at Bai Ruo Yi, "I’ve told you, you’re only two days younger than my grandfather. Don’t call him Grandfather Goat." Though Zhu Xianer was menacing, Bai Ruo Yi didn’t argue with her. She tugged Wu Xiu, who naturally stepped in front of her. Her eyes shimmered gray, a few black crow feathers materializing out of thin air. Zhu Xianer glanced at Wu Xiu’s lips and swiftly retreated to Gui Cang’s other side. “Sister Wu Xiu, please keep your mouth shut.” Wu Xiu, having just opened her mouth a crack, immediately closed it. She looked back dejectedly, while Bai Ruo Yi bent over with laughter, without a trace of sympathy. She was always like this. Wu Xiu sighed softly and fell silent. Thinking it over, If the curse ability were hers, she might not give anyone a chance to speak either. Suo Li, still as dismissive as ever, cast a glance at the turquoise waters of the Mirror Lake and said indifferently, "At least you keep your promises." He and Cen Yin, both from the bear tribe, had very different temperaments. As Cen Yin’s elder, Suo Li was unexpectedly petty, quite unlike the amiable Cen Yin. Yet, could Cen Yin really be called amiable? If not for the scent of the black bear demon pellet, Cen Yin might not have spoken in their defense. Based on the original novel, Shen Su wasn’t very familiar with Cen Yin. In the story, Cen Yin encountered the male protagonist during her uncontrolled mating season after an unexpected event. The protagonist used the Li Po Pearl to control her, leaving a gentlemanly impression on her without taking advantage. Later, upon learning the protagonist was a disciple of Lin Xian Mountain, she declared she would marry him. Eventually, she died at the hands of the deranged Jiang Xu with little plot development. Still, she was definitely unlike Suo Li. At least for now, Shen Su thought well of her. Shen Su ignored Suo Li and led Wei Nan Yi to Fox Si Lian’s side. After two days, the joy on the elder’s face was unmistakable. Shen Su scrutinized him and let her curiosity lead her to ask, "How are Yuan Tong and the others?" Fox Si Lian chuckled pleasantly, "Don’t worry, chief. They are training in our fox tribe, just waiting to witness a fox wedding." A fox wedding? Shen Su was momentarily taken aback, but quickly understood. It seemed Fox Rou’s wedding to Fox Bi Niang was now imminent. Fox Si Lian was indeed eager for weddings. Having sent Fox Rou back to the fox tribe just a few days ago, not only had they chosen a fox bride, but even the wedding date had been arranged. She knew it was Fox Rou marrying Fox Bi Niang, but the other demons did not. The two-headed fathead fish, Duo Zhou, looked at Fox Si Lian’s handsome face and suddenly snickered. "Another fox is getting married in your tribe? Fox Si Lian, could it be you found love late in life?" Fox Si Lian’s eyes glinted with a smile as he retorted, "Scram." Seeing a fight about to break out between the fathead fish and Fox Si Lian, Ye Han, always relishing chaos, clapped Yu Jing’s shoulder with a laugh. "Alright, alright. Turning into your demon form and rolling away would be best. His round body would roll quite far." Yu Jing stiffened the moment Ye Han touched his shoulder. Unseen, Xu Su patted his back, prompting Yu Jing to slowly relax his rigid form. He nodded along with Ye Han’s jest. Just as things were about to spiral out of control, Cen Yin intervened with a laugh. "This gathering is first about the Mirror Lake water, and secondly about those tiaozi from Yan Bi Mountain." Her words silenced the mischief-makers. Though no one feared being killed by Cen Yin, they respected the supreme strength of Yan Bi Mountain. Black Spider Le Xian furrowed her brow with irritation at the mention of those tiaozi. Her eight eyes glowed with bloodlust as she licked her lips and revealed a black, sharp leg. "Yes, those tiaozi are too arrogant. We should just kill them." She was ready to slaughter them all. Flower Butterfly Yan Xiao, standing beside her, shrank back uneasily, murmuring, "Why do you always resort to killing without considering the consequences? What if their sects retaliate against Yan Bi Mountain?" Le Xian glared with her eight eyes, silencing Yan Xiao’s protests. Her voice softened, "You may be the tribe leader, but I’m not afraid of you." Despite her words, Yan Xiao’s demeanor suggested otherwise. Le Xian’s extended black claw wove a web of spider silk around Yan Xiao’s neck. "So, would you prefer to let those tiaozi keep hunting our insect tribe?" Yan Xiao, as a flower butterfly, was as fair and delicate as porcelain. Even a slight touch from Le Xian left red marks on her white neck. She winced in pain and tearfully glanced at Le Xian before her neck released a flurry of colorful butterflies. Her body quickly disintegrated into countless butterflies, filling the sky in a stunning spectacle. Shen Su and Wei Nan Yi held hands, marveling at the airborne butterflies with awestruck eyes. The butterflies, sensing Shen Su and Wei Nan Yi’s attention, flew over to Shen Su, gathering around her and slowly transforming back into Yan Xiao. Yan Xiao had two pink butterflies beside her eyes, quivering with her every blink. "Chief, how do we deal with those tiaozi?" With no one beside Le Xian, her spider silk fell empty, and her red eyes darkened ominously as black mist swirled around her, emanating a thick bloodthirsty aura. "I have yet to acknowledge her as our leader." Yan Xiao nervously retreated behind Shen Su, lacking the courage or authority of an elder. Her voice trembled as she tried to defend, "She is our rightful leader." As Fox Si Lian had said, the insect tribe’s elder and leader diverged in opinion. If one supported Shen Su, the other would certainly oppose. But Fox Si Lian hadn’t mentioned how frightened Yan Xiao was of Le Xian. Shen Su could feel someone hesitantly tugging at her sleeve, seemingly with the intention of clinging to her. Her body stiffened and her back straightened, afraid to move. Wei Nan Yi glimpsed Yan Xiao’s hand from the corner of her eye. Without moving, she sent a lotus petal fluttering to Shen Su’s hand. With a flash of spiritual light, a piece of Shen Su’s sleeve was torn off. Yan Xiao grasped the torn piece of fabric, momentarily dazed. In her daze, spider silk coiled around her waist, lifting her into the air. By the time she regained her senses, she had been pulled back to Lei Xian’s side. Lei Xian, smiling, nodded in satisfaction. "See, your revered leader dislikes you." Why did this spider resort to slander? Shen Su gave Lei Xian a deep look, finding her pride increasingly peculiar. While some sought Shen Su’s opinion, others wanted to hear Cen Yin’s, such as the Water Tribe leader, Duo Zhou. "Cen Yin, are we just going to let those tiaozi rampage through our Yan Bi Mountain, killing our demons?" Cen Yin smiled gently and passed the question to Shen Su. "What does the chief think we should do?" With that, even Gui Cang chimed in. "What’s your take, chief?" Cen Yin, the strongest in Yan Bi Mountain, and Gui Cang, the most respected, had both acknowledged Shen Su’s authority by seeking her opinion. This left the others, despite any discontent, waiting for Shen Su’s response. Shen Su had only considered inheriting the Mirror Lake bloodline with its accompanying dangers, she never imagined she might one day also inherit Yan Bi Mountain itself. She hadn’t even managed to control the modest Gui Yi Sect of just over twenty people, let alone an entire mountain. Shen Su had a rough idea of who among the tiaozi had come to Yan Bi Mountain. Some were people she did not wish to harm, and she truly didn’t know how to handle the situation. Seeing her hesitation, Fox Jinjin spoke up. "Since you’re the new master of Mirror Lake, you are also our new chief. You should decide on matters like this." Shen Su was placed in a role beyond her capabilities, yet her expression gave away little, leaving only herself aware of her internal turmoil. Wei Nan Yi seemed to sense this and gripped her hand tighter. With Wei Nan Yi’s support, Shen Su gradually calmed down. Normally, cultivators who came to Yan Bi Mountain to train were cautious, hiding their tracks. Even if a demon was killed, it was well-concealed and rarely made its way to the demon king’s ears. However, this time, because the four major sects had come together to train, the situation was different. With elders accompanying them and led by the protagonist, who had harbored a deep hatred seeking revenge, they were bold enough to provoke the powerful demons openly. Given that the tiaozi initiated the conflict and did not hide their tracks, Yan Bi Mountain would appear weak if it ignored them. Shen Su's eyes flashed with determination. If they could leverage the power of the demon kings to kill the protagonist now, they could avoid offending him while eliminating a problem. This aligned with Shen Su’s earlier thoughts of fortuitous action. Besides, Jiang Xu might be among them. While she disliked him, she couldn't let him be harmed before he grew powerful. Wei Nan Yi would be sad. Yuan Tong had mentioned that Xu Rong and Mu Yuan were with the protagonists. If they could leverage the power of the demon kings to retrieve them, that would be ideal. "I understand everyone’s concerns. The four major sects stand behind them, and any mishandling on our part could lead to trouble. However, if they openly provoke us and we do nothing, we will be deemed weak. If they accidentally kill any relatives of the demon kings here, it would not be unreasonable for us to keep them all in Yan Bi Mountain." Duo Zhou, with his two heads, still didn’t get Shen Su’s meaning. He snickered, "Easy for you to say, but I don’t have any family for them to kill." Fox Si Lian, looking briefly disgusted, retorted, "Idiot. The chief means that if any tribe members die, we retrieve the bodies and spin our own narrative. The words are ours to control." Shen Su quickly praised Fox Si Lian, "As expected of Elder Fox, quite cunning." Fox Si Lian grit his teeth and glared at Shen Su, as that was no compliment. Still, it was Shen Su’s idea, so how did he end up appearing as the cunning one? Hearing this strategy, Gui Cang’s stern face showed a hint of discomfort as he stepped back. "I do not act. I will not go." With his retreat, it was ensured that Bai Ruo Yi wouldn't go either. Bai Ruo Yi clamped a hand over Wu Xiu’s mouth, forcibly dragging her back with Gui Cang. Lei Xian spun her spider silk and raised an eyebrow. "I won’t go either. If it comes to killing, let's kill. What’s the point of an act? It’s embarrassing." Yan Xiao, on the other hand, wanted very much to go. She had just taken half a step forward when she was suddenly ensnared by silk and pulled back. Struggling, she couldn’t break free of the webbing. Duo Zhou and the others, not understanding at all, naturally had no intention of going. When Ye Han took a step forward, Yu Jing grabbed his hand, signaling that the wolf and tiger tribes wouldn't go either. Seeing Shen Su in a tight spot, Fox Si Lian quickly volunteered. "I’ll go." He was dependable, and the task suited him since he was adept at deception. With Fox Si Lian volunteering, Zhu Xianer followed suit. "I'll go, it sounds fun." Although Gui Cang didn't want to go himself, he didn’t stop Zhu Xianer. One demon king and one great elder would be more than enough to handle the tiaozi, but with the sect elders accompanying them, it remained uncertain if they could handle them all. They needed to scout the situation first. Just as they were about to set off, Cen Yin joined them. Seeing Cen Yin following them, Suo Li angrily called out, "Cen Yin." Naturally, he didn't want Cen Yin to befriend Shen Su, deeming it unseemly for her to undertake such a task. Cen Yin didn't stop, even quickening her pace. "Uncle, I’m just going to see." Shen Su looked at the two powerful demons beside her, feeling a sense of bewilderment. Was this fate? Two powerful demons, both of whom were the protagonist's close female friends. Hopefully, Cen Yin and Zhu Xianer wouldn’t fall for the protagonist under such circumstances. If that happened, she might curse fate for its blindness. In the original story, the ones participating in the training were the top seven disciples of the four major sects, those who had obtained inheritances. Since they were considered the next generation of their sects, each sect had sent elders to accompany them. Based on the original story, there should have been two disciples from Lin Xian Mountain, two from Sheng Lian Sect, and one each from Han Feng Forest and Gu Yun Sect. However, Jiang Xu’s appearance changed the rankings of the sect competition, altering the final top seven disciples. Normally, this would mean the four major sects wouldn’t have come together to train. But the demons indicated that the four major sects were still training together. Could they have added more people? On the way, Shen Su couldn’t help but ask Fox Si Lian, "Elder Fox, how many are there in total?" Fox Si Lian didn’t respond, but Zhu Xianer did, holding the corpse of a small goat, blood dripping from its severed neck. What began as a fun endeavor for her turned serious at the sight of a clan member’s corpse. "According to the reports from the lesser demons, there are seven disciples and four elders at the Yuanshen stage." Still seven disciples, yet the original four elders at the Nascent Soul stage had been replaced by Yuanshen stage elders. This explained why only the protagonist had provoked the demons in the original story, but now the demon kings were enraged. With four Yuanshen stage elders in tow, the protagonist acted even more arrogantly. Since there were still seven disciples and the four major sect elders were gathered, the missing one was likely a disciple from Lin Xian Mountain. Yu Mu Han had met Bai Ruo Yi. So, the missing ones could only be Jiang Xu or Chu Yuhan, who had originally accompanied the protagonist. According to the original plot, while training at Yan Bi Mountain, Chu Yuhan developed feelings for the protagonist after multiple rescues, becoming one of the close female friends. Shen Su glanced at the demons beside her. The upcoming scenario might spiral out of control, with all of the protagonist’s close female friends colliding. Yu Mu Han and company were so brazen, moving openly and leaving tracks; it wouldn’t be hard to find them. When Shen Su could already hear the voices of the protagonist and his group, she pulled a thin veil from her bosom and covered half her face. Cen Yin raised her eyebrow and teased, “What’s this, Chief? Are you traveling with us, or do you fear for your reputation?” Shen Su wiped some imaginary sweat and coughed, “Ahem, my cultivation isn’t high. I’m worried they’ll remember my face and seek revenge later.” Her words were half true. She genuinely believed the protagonist would hold grudges, but she also worried that Jiang Xu might be among them. If he saw her and demanded to know where his mother was, Wei Nan Yi’s identity would be exposed. She didn’t think Jiang Xu would consider the broader situation. However, the veil was thin and could fool strangers, but familiar faces would recognize her even with it. If Jiang Xu truly were among them, he would recognize Wei Nan Yi immediately. Asking Wei Nan Yi not to go was obviously futile. Shen Su knew Wei Nan Yi wouldn’t agree. Wei Nan Yi, having experienced trauma, was now very reluctant to leave Shen Su alone. Just as she had expected, before she could even persuade Wei Nan Yi, Wei Nan Yi’s fingers stroked her veil. “Xiao Su, if anyone tries to take revenge on you, I’ll kill them.” Her voice was calm and clear. Shen Su knew Wei Nan Yi was serious, but how had she become someone who would default to killing? It was getting a bit out of hand. Shen Su heard it, and so did Cen Yin. Cen Yin curiously glanced at Wei Nan Yi and then laughed, “With the lady by your side, Chief, those tiaozi won’t stand a chance against her.” What did she mean? Had she recognized Wei Nan Yi’s identity? Shen Su sensed something and cautiously glanced at Cen Yin. She didn’t remember Cen Yin and Wei Nan Yi having any interaction, and Wei Nan Yi hadn’t mentioned meeting Cen Yin, so it shouldn’t be possible. Yet Cen Yin’s words suggested she knew Wei Nan Yi’s true strength. When Shen Su looked over, Cen Yin’s voice transmitted to her mind, “She killed Yu Jing; do you think she’s afraid of those humans? You must be wondering how I know. I forgot to tell you, Chief, my gifted ability is scent detection. She carries the scent of Yu Jing’s demon pellet.” Scent detection was unexpected. Being the strongest of Yan Bi Mountain, Cen Yin’s gifted ability was non-offensive, and not particularly powerful. Does she also know Yu Jing is an imposter? She didn’t expose Xu Su’s lie or reveal that Wei Nan Yi killed Yu Jing. What is Cen Yin planning? Before Shen Su could figure it out, they arrived near the tiaozi’s group. Cen Yin’s powerful aura made it impossible for them to go unnoticed. As they approached, four figures appeared from the shadows, the four Yuanshen stage elders protecting the tiaozi. These four elders—two men and two women—stood at the forefront, led by a woman in white with a jade belt engraved with “Xian.” When she looked closely at Wei Nan Yi, the hand holding Shen Su’s faltered. Shen Su could then guess her identity. She was from Lin Xian Mountain. According to the rules where elders change with the sect leader, this woman should be Wei Nan Yi’s junior sister. The woman also stared at Wei Nan Yi. Only when someone behind her coughed did she regain her composure and ask Cen Yin, “Why have the demon kings of Yan Bi Mountain shown themselves?” Cultivators could sense each other’s strength. Though they hadn’t seen Cen Yin, they guessed her status and level. Cen Yin chuckled lightly and intentionally diverted the human cultivators’ gaze to Shen Su. “Chief, that beauty is asking why we’re here.” Hearing Cen Yin call Shen Su “Chief,” the lead woman’s phoenix eyes grew cold. “Jingqin, where is my senior brother, Yi Wen?” Even now, she called Shen Yiwen her senior brother, indicating his high status in Lin Xian Mountain. Her voice carried a hint of longing, but it was pointless since both Jingqin and Shen Yiwen were dead. Being stared at by such a strong cultivator made Shen Su feel intense pressure. “I’m not Jingqin.” She coughed lightly and called out to Zhu Xianer, who was carrying a goat’s corpse. Zhu Xianer seemed distracted, staring at the tiaozi behind the elders. Already displeased with Cen Yin drawing their attention to her, Shen Su grew even more annoyed seeing Zhu Xianer’s distraction and nudged her, “Zhu Xianer.” Zhu Xianer snapped back and excitedly grabbed Shen Su’s arm. “Chief, that black-clad male cultivator is so handsome!” Shen Su looked over at the tiaozi, spotting the eye-catching, black-clad protagonist, Yu Mu Han. Having sensed the commotion, the seven tiaozi, two women and five men, ran over. Jiang Xu wasn’t among them. It was Jiang Xu who hadn’t come. Whether Zhu Xianer’s infatuation with Yu Mu Han or the absence of Jiang Xu, both made Shen Su uneasy about how the plot was evolving. Fox Jinjin chuckled, but pinched Zhu Xianer hard from the shadows. “Zhu Xianer, do you remember what we’re here for?” Tears welled in Zhu Xianer’s eyes from the pain, and she began to cry, laying the goat’s corpse on the ground and wailing, “You killed my brother and now dare to ask what we’re here for? Of course, we’re here to claim your lives.” The sword wounds on the goat’s corpse left the elders speechless. They exchanged glances before tentatively asking, “May we know the lady’s name?” Fox Jinjin sneered, about to speak with a mix of bitterness and indignation when the protagonist interrupted, staring deeply at Zhu Xianer with full affection. “Xianer, I didn’t know you had a brother.” Seeing Zhu Xianer about to be exposed, Fox Jinjin quickly pushed her head down and coldly glanced at Yu Mu Han. “You killed Xianer’s kin and won’t admit it, even making up lies. If he’s not Xianer’s brother, is he your brother?” Yu Mu Han, seeing Zhu Xianer ignoring him and standing with a man more handsome than himself, looked aggrieved, as if Zhu Xianer had wronged him. Beside him, Bai Ruo Yi glanced at him but said nothing. The leading female elder quickly reacted, pointing to the weeping Zhu Xianer. “Mu Han, who is she?” Yu Mu Han politely answered, “Aunt Feng, she is Zhu Xianer, the demon king of the sheep tribe, ranked last among Yan Bi Mountain’s eight demon kings.” Feng Yin Yue’s face paled, and she quickly bowed. “Demon King Zhu, this must be a misunderstanding.” Demons could be killed, but the brother of a demon king was a different matter entirely. Yu Mu Han recognized not only Zhu Xianer but also Cen Yin. His gaze was equally affectionate, though with added complexity. He said, “Aunt Feng, that is Cen Yin, leader of the bear tribe and foremost demon king of Yan Bi Mountain.” Feng Yin Yue’s face darkened even more. Yu Mu Han, oblivious to the shifting expressions of his companions, continued to gaze at Zhu Xianer and Cen Yin sorrowfully. “Did you come looking for me?” After he spoke, Bai Ruo Yi couldn’t help but pull him back. “Junior Brother Yu, don’t cause more trouble.” Shen Su noticed the woman beside Bai Ruo Yi also looking at Yu Mu Han with concern. That must be Chu Yuhan. The original plot was strong. The protagonist’s close female friends all cared for him deeply, no matter whom they were with. Even Zhu Xianer, meeting the protagonist for the first time, developed a crush on him. The only change in the plot seemed to be Jiang Xu’s absence. No, Cen Yin also didn’t show any particular interest in the protagonist, instead praising Feng Yin Yue’s beauty. Shen Su glanced at Cen Yin from the corner of her eye. Cen Yin was now hiding behind her, observing Feng Yin Yue, Bai Ruo Yi, and Chu Yuhan with more interest than the protagonist. Shen Su suddenly remembered what Yu Jing had said when cursing Cen Yin, “Cen Yin, couldn’t you be naturally drawn to anything related to Lin Xian Mountain?” Could it be that Cen Yin, although she pursued the protagonist in the novel, wasn't genuinely interested in him? Instead, she was always attracted to his status as a disciple of Lin Xian Mountain, not to the protagonist himself. The more Shen Su thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Cen Yin’s behavior had been too abnormal. She didn’t come along to avenge the demons; perhaps she was looking for a potential demon consort. It appeared that none of them were reliable, with only Fox Si Lian retaining some sense of their mission. Zhu Xianer was responsible for crying, while Fox Si Lian spoke on her behalf. “If you don’t hand over the culprit today, we won’t let this matter rest. We may even kill you all right here.” While Fox Si Lian confronted them, Shen Su’s eyes darted around, searching for Mu Yuan and Xu Rong. Wei Nan Yi suddenly tugged at Shen Su, gesturing towards a hawthorn tree not far behind Bai Ruo Yi. In the tree's shadow stood a woman, completely covered despite the hot weather. She kept her head bowed, hiding half her face in the shadows, and clutched a golden retriever while a golden eagle perched on her shoulder. Both animals bore bandages over their wounds. Shen Su recognized the half-visible face—it was Lin Qinghuai’s face. No, the actual owner was Lin Qingqi. Lin Qingqi seemed to be taking good care of Mu Yuan and Xu Rong, with their wounds clean and regularly tended to. Despite being part of the group, she seemed isolated, lingering in the shadows. Seeing Mu Yuan and Xu Rong, Shen Su felt somewhat relieved. When Shen Su turned her attention back, Fox Si Lian was already in an argument with Feng Yin Yue and the others. Despite Yu Mu Han’s evident involvement, Feng Yin Yue was determined to protect him, and Yu Mu Han—full of sorrow—gazed at Zhu Xianer, “Xianer, do you really want to kill me?” Shen Su shuddered at the protagonist’s feigned deep affection. But Zhu Xianer hesitated, her grip on the sheep’s corpse faltering as she looked up at Yu Mu Han, “Have we met?” Her glittering eyes lost their sparkle upon seeing Yu Mu Han, her expression filled with ambiguous emotions. Even Cen Yin couldn’t bear it, “Xianer.” Cen Yin’s voice drew Yu Mu Han’s attention. He sighed deeply. “Sister Cen Yin, will you really let me die?” Cen Yin was no Zhu Xianer. Her eyes turned cold, “There’s nothing more to say. Let’s kill them all.” She moved first, aiming for Feng Yin Yue. Though there was no killing intent in her eyes, a smile appeared when she got close to Feng Yin Yue. Cen Yin didn’t seem intent on killing but rather on capturing someone. Clearly, she wasn’t there for the mission. She wanted to capture Feng Yin Yue, a fact that wasn’t lost on Shen Su or Wei Nan Yi. Wei Nan Yi, having picked up a branch, intercepted Cen Yin, directly confronting Feng Yin Yue first. Cen Yin, wanting to continue her scuffle with Feng Yin Yue, was approached by two Yuanshen stage elders simultaneously. She smiled lightly and turned to fight them instead. Zhu Xianer, unwilling to confront Yu Mu Han directly, targeted the remaining Yuanshen stage elder, leaving the six tiaozi—including Yu Mu Han—to Fox Si Lian. “Why hand the kids to me?” Fox Si Lian wailed, glancing at Shen Su, who was now rushing towards Lin Qingqi under the tree. Left with no other choice, he braced himself to confront the six tiaozi. As Shen Su moved closer, Lin Qingqi instinctively removed the golden eagle from her shoulder and clutched it to her chest. A long sword, controlled by her spiritual energy, flew towards Shen Su. The golden eagle in her arms flapped its wings, making a soft sound, “Miss Lin, she is our sect leader.” Lin Qingqi paused and turned her head dully, “Sect Leader Shen, you’re too close.” Seeing they were still half a meter apart, Shen Su took a silent step back. Lin Qingqi visibly relaxed. Lin Qingqi was very different from Lin Qinghuai. She forced a smile at Shen Su, “Sect Leader Shen, I need your two disciples with me. Can you...” She seemed to find her request excessive and didn’t dare to continue. The golden eagle, Xu Rong, swayed his head and asked, “Sect Leader, Miss Lin saved us. We haven’t repaid our debt yet. Can we stay with her?” Shen Su was surprised and looked at Mu Yuan, who gently nodded his head too. Their willingness to stay with Lin Qingqi surprised Shen Su. She was there to rescue them, not to forcibly take them away. Since they didn’t want to leave, she’d comply. “Of course, it's your choice.” Lin Qingqi didn't want to fight, and Shen Su glanced at the intense battle. She smiled at Lin Qingqi, “Should we pretend to fight a bit? It might save you some trouble.” Cen Yin and the others wouldn’t question her lack of combat, but the elders from Sheng Lian Sect might. Lin Qingqi shook her head, the starlight in her eyes dimming. “There's no need.” Her mood seemed bleak. Seizing the role of sect heir hadn’t helped her ease her situation. Considering Mu Yuan and Xu Rong wanted to stay with her, Shen Su deduced that the elder possibly knew her real identity. Fighting today wouldn’t change much, and Lin Qingqi’s life would still be tough. Since Lin Qingqi didn’t want to act to avoid unnecessary trouble, Shen Su decided to leave. Shen Su’s eyes followed Wei Nan Yi, noticing how the fierce battle between her and Feng Yin Yue gradually drew them away from the field. A voice suddenly transmitted to her mind from Wei Nan Yi, “Xiao Su, follow me.” Ready to move, Shen Su cast a worried glance at the animals in Lin Qingqi’s arms. She retrieved the communication jade flute that Fox Si Lian had taken earlier from Fox Ping’s dark hand, and discreetly sent a message to Lin Qingqi. “Miss Qingqi, thank you for saving Xu Rong and Mu Yuan. Please take good care of them. I must go.” Shen Su’s figure vanished, but her voice lingered. She called her Qingqi, not Qinghuai. She knew her name. The light in Lin Qingqi’s eyes flickered but eventually returned to dullness. She seemed unbothered by everything, including her constant companions. Lin Qingqi coldly watched the chaotic battle. Despite their skills, the tiaozi were at a disadvantage against Fox Si Lian’s superior power, with Yu Mu Han unable to use his peculiar tricks. Perplexed, Lin Qingqi glanced at Yu Mu Han, unsure of his intentions. However, the fate of her companions held little interest for her. But when Bai Ruo Yi was knocked down, Lin Qingqi moved to catch her, letting go once Bai Ruo Yi regained some balance. Bai Ruo Yi still fell, though less harshly. Lin Qingqi hesitated. Bai Ruo Yi, unperturbed, dusted herself off and stood up, still wearing a smile despite her injuries. “Miss Lin, remember I taught you to only let go after helping someone regain their balance. You’ve dropped me twice now.” Lin Qingqi stepped back, murmuring, “Sorry.” Bai Ruo Yi wasn't necessarily looking for an apology. Still smiling, she extended her hand, intending to gently pat Lin Qingqi, but stopped midway and retracted it. Her smile grew even more radiant. "But Miss Lin, you’ve made great progress. This time, you didn’t throw me away." --- As Shen Su observed Bai Ruo Yi interact with Lin Qingqi, a mix of emotions stirred within her. Although the situation was dire, the warmth and sincerity in Bai Ruo Yi's words and actions evoked a certain tenderness. Wei Nan Yi's calling voice, urging her to follow, pulled Shen Su back into the reality of the current volatile situation. She took a deep breath and made her way towards Wei Nan Yi, leaving behind the serene yet perplexing scene of Bai Ruo Yi and Lin Qingqi. --- Thank you for reading on Bimi Read. All novels here are uploaded by members. If you find your rights being infringed, please contact us. We will delete the content promptly. Previous Chapter | Directory | Next Chapter Bimi Read All Rights