A ray of spiritual light surged from the transmission token and merged into Chu Yunlan’s brow.
Visual sharing.
He closed his eyes and sensed the images the scout was seeing.
On the third floor of the tea house.
In that small private room.
The sunset’s afterglow streamed in through the window at an angle, dyeing the entire room in a warm, orange-red hue.
On a soft couch.
Ji Xuanyuan sat cross-legged, circulating her energy and breathing; below her, Chu Yuan lay on the couch with his face toward the ceiling, looking entirely lifeless.
Such a bizarre scene caused Chu Yunlan’s smile to freeze on his face instantly.
Half a second later, his eyes snapped wide open.
[ “What are they doing???” ]
Because of his extreme shock, his voice even shifted in pitch.
Hearing this, the scout reported cautiously:
[ “Young Master… according to my observations, the Crown Prince said she was researching a cultivation technique called the Yin Yang Harmony Sutra…” ]
Researching a cultivation technique?
Chu Yunlan stared fixedly at the curves wrapped in martial attire within the tea house, those arcs that trembled slightly with her breath… His fists clenched with fury!
On what basis?
Why was it that trash?!
Chu Yunlan’s fingernails dug deep into his palms.
He gritted his teeth, his voice squeezing out from the gaps between them.
“Why is the Crown Prince rewarding him?!”
Hearing his young master’s increasingly strange attitude, the scout felt depressed.
[ “Young Master? Are you… all right???” ]
Facing his subordinate’s concern, Chu Yunlan finally regained his senses.
[ “It’s nothing! Continue observing. If those two make another move, inform me!”]
[ “Yes! Young Master!”]
As the light from the token dissipated, Chu Yunlan took a deep breath.
While slowly steadying his mind, he could not help but feel confused.
Why?
Why is my heart so restless?
He suddenly recalled that brief glimpse on the street during the day; the phantom-like figure on the tea house balcony had a gaze as cold as frost.
But why was it that when she looked at that trash, there was actually a hint of concern hidden beneath her icy demeanor?
Chu Yunlan could not help but close his eyes.
How many years had it been?
Ever since he was born in the Taixu Sacred Realm and began walking the Realm of True Emotions, no woman had ever made him lose his composure like this!
Those so-called proud daughters of heaven and the pearls of great families were nothing more than connections he needed to cultivate in his eyes.
‘Could it be that from the first moment I saw Her Highness, I already considered her my possession?’
When this thought surfaced, he was surprised, yet he quickly became calm about it.
Chu Yunlan never denied his own ambition.
He wanted the Immortal Alliance and the greatest power in the world.
And Ji Xuanyuan, the future Empress of the Immortal Dynasty, was undoubtedly the most brilliant piece on this chessboard—perhaps even the game itself that was worth his personal command.
But the problem was—
“Chu Yuan… that trash!”
The name slipped through his teeth, carrying a jealousy he had not even noticed himself.
On what basis?
A discarded child of a branch family!
A loser who had been dumped by his childhood sweetheart!
An idiot who could not even see his own situation clearly!
Why was he able to receive such favor from the Crown Prince?
He slowly opened his eyes, and something seemed to be burning in the depths of his pupils.
That was not ordinary anger, but a Dao Heart seed known as “Envious Passion.”
For many years, Chu Yunlan had used Envious Passion to enter the Dao.
Whenever he felt a strong impulse that something “must belong to me,” his cultivation would faintly loosen, and his Dao Heart would become more refined.
A cold smile appeared on Chu Yunlan’s face.
‘Perfect! I will use this trash as nourishment to properly advance my cultivation!’
Entering the Dao through Envious Passion meant turning all jealousy, resentment, and possessiveness into the sharpest blade to eliminate dissidents.
He closed his eyes, Ji Xuanyuan’s figure appearing in his mind again as he thought, ‘No need to rush! Your Highness, you will eventually be mine!’
‘As for the stones blocking the path… I will clear them away one by one!!!’
—
At the same time, Fang Henian also sought help from Ji Xuanyuan.
[ “This is bad! Your Highness, something has happened!”]
In the tea house.
Hearing the City Lord’s transmission, Ji Xuanyuan was confused.
[ “What is it?”]
Fang Henian quickly and briefly explained the situation.
The more Ji Xuanyuan heard, the more puzzled she became.
The Chu Clan had suddenly intervened?
Chu Yuan was playing both sides?
She felt something was wrong the moment she heard it, and she immediately stepped down from the couch.
Feeling the weight on him vanish, Chu Yuan breathed a secret sigh of relief.
Seeing Ji Xuanyuan glancing at him with a strange expression, he propped himself up and teased, “Your Highness, could it be that the City Lord used every method but still could not break the formation?”
Ji Xuanyuan walked back to the window and sat down to pour some tea.
“Young Master Chu Yuan’s formation is indeed mysterious. I am willing to admit defeat; I will not withhold that 1,000,000 spirit stones from you. However, as for that 10,000,000 spirit stones in information fees, I am afraid we cannot give it to you.”
Chu Yuan frowned. “Your Highness, what do you mean by this?”
Ji Xuanyuan replied, “When the City Lord was preparing to seal the mountain, your Chu Clan’s Great Elder arrived, saying that you were the one who reported the news. Now, both factions are in a standoff in front of the mountain. Young Master Chu Yuan, how do you see this matter?”
“Huh?”
Chu Yuan was startled and quickly bowed with his hands clasped. “Your Highness! If I had already made a deal with the Chu Clan, there would be no need for me to come here and toy with you. Wouldn’t that be seeking death? With your brilliant mind, you must be able to see that there is something suspicious about this, right?”
Ji Xuanyuan nodded subconsciously.
In her view, it was unlikely that he was double-dipping.
Setting aside which family he might offend, Chu Yuan would not have a good ending either way—not to mention that this would directly offend both powers.
Even if this kid really dared to do such a thing, he would have to get the spirit stones first.
Since he had not obtained any money yet and let both sides discover him, it would be far too stupid.
But if it was not Chu Yuan who exposed it, then who leaked the information?
Was someone intentionally eavesdropping?
Ji Xuanyuan could not help but think of that Chu Yunlan, and a realization suddenly dawned on her.
If that was the case, then everything made sense.
Once she understood this, she raised her right hand and set up a [ Sound-Proofing Formation ] in the room to prevent outsiders from spying.
Ji Xuanyuan should have set it up earlier, but she had not felt the business Chu Yuan mentioned was that important, so she had not specifically used it.
Perhaps this was also what had led to their transaction being easily overheard.
At this moment, she looked at the youth before her and asked curiously, “Young Master Chu, even if the Chu Clan was not brought here by you, the person behind the scenes is aiming for you. How do you think… this matter should be handled?”
Chu Yuan pondered for a moment before answering, “That… is also simple!”
As he spoke, he also became cautious and chose to use sound transmission directly to state his thoughts.
[ “…Your Highness, what do you think?” ]
Ji Xuanyuan nodded slightly. [ “Mm! Let’s do it that way then!” ]
After she finished speaking, she gave instructions to Fang Henian, who was far away at Qingmang Mountain.
—
Qingmang Mountain.
After hearing Her Highness’s instructions, Fang Henian felt certain.
On the other hand, seeing that the other party remained silent for a long time, Chu Linfeng sneered and said, “Lord City Lord, do you have anything else to say?”
Fang Henian snorted coldly. “Hmph! Since you say this is some formation set up by that Chu Yuan? Then please… let the Great Elder of the Chu Clan disable the formation now. As long as you can disable the formation on this mountain, we will no longer fight the Chu Clan for the ownership of this mountain.”
The Great Elder of the Chu Clan, Chu Zhenshan, had a sharp glint appear in his cloudy eyes. He stroked his beard and said, “Good, good, good! Lord City Lord, you said it yourself.”
As he spoke, he glanced at Chu Linfeng. “Linfeng, use the Chu Clan token to order that Chu Yuan to come here immediately. Let the Lord City Lord see clearly who this mineral mountain belongs to!”
“Yes!”
Chu Linfeng clasped his hands and immediately took out his token to summon Chu Yuan.
[ “Chu Yuan, get your ass over to Qingmang Mountain immediately. If you’re late, don’t blame the Great Elder for enforcing clan law!” ]
In his view, no matter which side Chu Yuan chose, he would inevitably offend the other faction.
Presumably, after tonight, his notorious reputation for double-dipping would spread throughout Xuanji City.
Chu Linfeng could also use this to let Gu Qingwan see the “true face” of this fellow clearly.
[ “Fine! I’m coming!” ]
—
Inside the tea house.
Chu Yuan stood up and said to Ji Xuanyuan, “Your Highness! Then I will take my leave first!”
But Ji Xuanyuan said, “No! Following Young Master Chu’s plan, it would be better if you and I went together. My Imperial Carriage is outside the city; it can save us a lot of travel time.”
Chu Yuan hesitated. “This… might not be appropriate, right?”
Ji Xuanyuan smiled. “What is inappropriate? Countless people saw me invite you up to talk business during the day. I believe the person behind the scenes will use this matter to attack you later. Instead of letting that happen, it is better for us to travel together; it will appear more upright instead.”
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