380 - It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

Fan Novel Network Search Fan Fiction Complete Stories Ongoing Stories Rankings Home > Fan Fiction > Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists Chapter 380: Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists Author: ccc Then, taking two steps forward, under the countless astonished gazes, she slightly tilted her head and gently kissed Mu Zhi'an on the cheek. For a brief moment, everything outside the Ascension Platform fell silent. Mu Zhi'an was equally taken aback, his calm smile slightly frozen. Lan Muliang slightly raised her head, a hint of shyness flickering in her eyes, yet a mischievous, alluring smile tugged at her lips. "Don't think I'll let you go after I win." She cast a nonchalant glance outside the cave; although she couldn’t see the scenes beyond, Bai Ruoxi and others felt as if she were gazing down at them. Like a deity high above, exuding immense pressure. The meaning in Lan Muliang's gaze seemed clear: the future is yours, but Mu Zhi'an is mine. Chapter 338: Ye Qingxin: It’s Cold, Here’s a Hat for You "I’m so silly..." "I know there's an unspoken tension between me and Senior Sister, which is why I supported her in winning the Ascension Tournament. But I overlooked her domineering CEO personality, which can’t stand provocation." Just having left the cave, Mu Zhi'an was in a daze, ignoring the countless hostile stares around him, mumbling to himself. He knew Lan Muliang was a reserved and aloof type, the kind of girl you had to actively pursue, not one to confess her feelings on her own. Yet, various incidents had occurred involving Mu Zhi'an, all of which stirred Senior Sister. Just now, Bai Ruoxi had openly challenged her, and predictably, Senior Sister responded to the other girls in a straightforward, forceful manner. At that moment, not only were the people below the Ascension Platform dumbfounded, but even Yao Meng unintentionally squinted her eyes. Numerous gazes fixated on Lan Muliang as she stepped out of the cave. Even though she had just reached the Return to the Void stage, she already possessed the aura of a peerless beauty. She noticed several familiar eyes among the crowd, her gaze sweeping over Ye Lingxuan and others before settling on Lan Feiying. The two sisters exchanged glances, Lan Muliang’s eyes remaining as indifferent as ever, as if what she’d just done was perfectly normal, before withdrawing her gaze. You like to provoke and flaunt? Today, I'll flaunt too. I even declare now that the champion of the Ascension Tournament will be mine, and so will Mu Zhi'an. What can you do about it? Lan Muliang pressed her lips together behind her veil, her cool face tinged with a faint blush, yet inside she felt a deep sense of relief. She had been repressed for so long; doing this today was a bit shameful, but the act of flaunting openly gave her a sense of joy. At that moment, she suddenly sensed a prominent gaze directed at the Ascension Platform. Following it, Lan Muliang looked up. Standing there in an azure dress, Qing Emperor’s sister faced her with a calm, slight smile, watching silently. Unlike the others, Yao Meng’s emerald eyes remained indifferent, with even a hint of faint amusement. Lan Muliang stared at the woman who stood as a sovereign among mortals, then courteously bowed, and gracefully departed, leaving Mu Zhi'an alone, bewildered on the martial stage. It's over... At this point, the only person who can protect me may be Sister Mengrou... But with Senior Sister's performance today, it's hard to imagine anyone defeating her... As Mu Zhi'an looked down from the stage, he quickly spotted the figure of a servant girl in a yellow dress among the crowd. She too was looking up at him, her eyes cold, with a hint of a somewhat schadenfreude smile tugging at her lips. Though serving beside Mu Zhi'an, being challenged so publicly daily makes it impossible for her not to feel a twinge of jealousy. Wei Mengrou had no desire to acknowledge her master now, turning away as if she didn't know him. Some cultivators, having come back to their senses, glanced meaningfully at Yao Meng on the Ascension Platform. The Qing Emperor’s expression remained unchanged, smiling slightly as she looked at Mu Zhi'an, her tone light and relaxed: "They’ve known each other for a long time, after all, so it’s not surprising they’re close." Her words made it clear she didn't mind the relationship between Mu Zhi'an and Lan Muliang, opening up the conversation. Ye Qingxin’s eyes flickered as she casually asked, "Does the Qing Emperor not mind her companion having other girls around?" "Of course, I care. But if you must say, I'm the latecomer here." Yao Meng smiled casually, her manner relaxed. Ye Qingxin glanced at Yao Meng meaningfully, then her gaze fell onto Mu Zhi'an. He bowed to the crowd and glanced at the Ascension Platform, showing a trace of helplessness before bravely flying away on his sword. Ye Qingxin watched this scene with a soft laugh, fingertip resting against her lips, her enchanting red eyes reflecting Mu Zhi'an’s figure. Earlier, based purely on Ye Yu’s biased words, she felt dislike towards him, perhaps a little hastily. Lan Muliang's actions today, coupled with the respect from her sect members, demonstrate she's an icy beauty with substantial charisma. If such a beauty can openly express her feelings, it speaks volumes about Mu Zhi'an’s exceptional qualities. Not just a naturally gifted cultivator, but in daily conduct and winning the hearts of girls, Mu Zhi'an excels in many ways. He’s already proven this on multiple occasions. ... What others thought about Mu Zhi'an at the moment was unknown to him. Ultimately, he didn’t want to stay, fearing an immediate challenge from the crowd. The earlier incident with the Qing Emperor had already sown jealousy among many, and now, seeing their respected Senior Sister act this way, who knew what their thoughts were? As Mu Zhi'an left on his sword, the heavy silence enveloping the scene finally broke. Everyone came to their senses. Even Ye Lingxuan, Bai Ruoxi, and others were previously stunned. Although they were aware of Senior Sister's feelings, seeing her publicly express them was infuriating. "Sister, if Senior Sister wins, will Brother Mu really be taken away by her?" Amidst the commotion, Ye Qian, with anxiety and unease in her eyes, tugged at Ye Lingxuan’s sleeve. Hearing this, Bai Ruoxi, standing nearby, also held her breath, listening closely. Ye Lingxuan maintained her typical calm demeanor, saying, "This is just Senior Sister’s one-sided confession; Brother Mu hasn't replied. Even if she wins the tournament, the final decision still rests with Brother Mu." "Moreover, I don't think I'll lose to Senior Sister." Ye Qian nodded lightly, but there was still a hint of concern in her eyes. Dressed in a gray robe, the graceful Xiao Shui Xian watched the scene unfold, her eyebrows arching slightly, hinting at surprise. This Young Master Mu, while gentle and refined on the surface, seems to have a rather complicated love life? But given her mother's orders to make friends, especially those with profound backgrounds, the benefits outweigh the downsides. As long as she's cautious, avoiding too much intimate contact should be fine. The chatter around the Ascension Platform got louder, and Xiao Shui Xian slowly retreated, following the direction Mu Zhi'an had taken. At this moment, most sect disciples were filled with mixed emotions of anger, envy, and admiration for Mu Zhi’an. Lan Muliang’s status was unparalleled in their eyes, and if the one she favored were a regular cultivator, it wouldn’t be a problem. But Mu Zhi'an already had the Qing Emperor and Bai Ruoxi... this was hard for them to accept. However, while their jealousy was evident, they also respected Mu Zhi'an. With the connection to the Qing Emperor—especially after she showed no reaction to her companion being publicly kissed—none dared to openly criticize or attack Mu Zhi’an. After all, right now, he was favored by the Qing Emperor herself. ...At most, they'd issue a challenge for a friendly duel. "This Mu Zhi'an is not only the Qing Emperor's savior, their bond runs deeper than I'd imagined... with her having no reaction to seeing him with other girls, this could be problematic…” Xiao Hua’s face showed a hint of concern as he looked toward the Ascension Platform at the outwardly calm Qing Emperor. Yet having lived another life, with experiences reaching unparalleled heights in his previous one, formidable but not without solutions. At the very least, he could avoid many pitfalls with past experiences, expecting quicker enlightenment. And that would be the true moment for his extraordinary rise. Although he felt that before he could attain enlightenment, he would likely face countless disruptions from Mu Zhi'an. He couldn't quite explain why, but Xiao Hua sensed a premonition that if he were to return to the Dao Enlightenment Realm, he would inevitably clash with Mu Zhi'an. It seemed to be a destiny laid out for him...or perhaps, guidance from the Way of Heaven itself. In light of this, Xiao Hua resolved that regardless of the circumstances, he needed to know his adversary. Understanding Mu Zhi'an’s origins early on would help in future preparations. His eyes gleamed with resolve, beginning to formulate plans for what lay ahead. At that moment, he noticed a gray-robed woman quietly leaving the crowd, flying in the same direction Mu Zhi'an had just taken. Xiao Hua steadied his mind and quietly departed. He was slightly concerned about his sister. If Mu Zhi'an made a move first, this obsession in his heart might have a deeper impact on his future. ... Back at the Ascension Platform, discussions about Mu Zhi'an buzzed, while on the other side, Mu Zhi'an was still perplexed by Lan Muliang’s various reactions. "Sister Mengrou, it seems the Ascension Tournament will have to rely on you." Returning to Tianhe Courtyard, Mu Zhi'an sighed softly, turning to Wei Mengrou, who had already appeared beside him, ever-shadowing. Wei Mengrou, who had been silently following, shot her master a disdainful look. "Hmph." She let out a mocking laugh. Now he appreciates her value? Quite late, indeed. Though Wei Mengrou appeared indifferent, a subtle jealousy stirred within her. Mu Zhi'an noticed this and was about to console his maidservant. Just then, a slight disturbance came from the courtyard’s magical array. "Looks like we have a visitor, Sister Mengrou. Would you mind greeting them?" Mu Zhi'an sensed an unfamiliar presence outside and asked Wei Mengrou. If it were someone familiar, they wouldn't have triggered the array upon entering Tianhe Courtyard. The reaction indicated a new visitor. Wei Mengrou gave Mu Zhi'an a glance, responded with a bland "hm," and walked gracefully towards the entrance. Outside the courtyard stood Xiao Shui Xian in her simple gray robe, her innate beauty undeniable. Her natural face alone was captivating, leaving one to wonder how stunning she would be with even a touch of makeup. In her hand was a small jade vial, exuding a strong herbal fragrance. If she remembered correctly, this woman was likely a servant to Young Master Mu? Upon seeing the visitor, Xiao Shui Xian discerned her identity. With a graceful, modest smile, she softly said, "Young Master Mu exhausted a lot of spiritual energy in today's competition. This is a recovery elixir I crafted back in Yuzhou, a small token of appreciation." Wei Mengrou accepted the vial, a faint smile on her cool face. "Thank you, Miss Xiao, for your thoughtfulness. If you don't mind, perhaps you could stay for a chat." "My master seems particularly fond of making friends and conversing with others." Wei Mengrou emphasized the word "conversing," casting a glance at Mu Zhi'an, who lingered in the background. "Miss Xiao, if you have time, why not come in and sit?" Mu Zhi'an, unfazed by Wei Mengrou’s implications, welcomed Xiao Shui Xian with a smile. The gray-robed woman nodded gracefully. "Then I shall intrude upon you both." Inside the courtyard, snow lay over the ground, and carefully cultivated snow lotuses bloomed silently around the pond. Following Wei Mengrou, Xiao Shui Xian entered a courtyard and took a seat. Her bright, clear eyes subtly examined Mu Zhi'an not far from her. Though she had previously aimed to connect with Mu Zhi'an, her focus had largely been on his influential background. However, today, seeing even the most acclaimed peer show interest in him made his personal talent and charm impossible to ignore. This Mu Zhi'an must have some exceptional qualities, or he wouldn't have captured the interest of someone like Lan Muliang. In contrast to Xiao Shui Xian’s covert scrutiny, Mu Zhi'an was more open in his demeanor, casually gazing at Xiao Shui Xian. His attention, though, was devoid of any inappropriate intent, and he occasionally pretended to admire the scenery. Appreciating beauty is normal, but one should never appear lecherous; this, Mu Zhi'an understood well.