This is not how immortals cultivate

Chapter 401 He slandered me, he slandered me!

Upon hearing that Xiang Yuan's wife was named Xiao Lingyue, Xiao He was stunned for a moment, his heart seemed to stop beating, and then he burst into laughter.

"Xian... ugh, you surnamed Xiang, watch your mouth! There's no wife here, so you'd better not spout nonsense!"

Xiao He had lost count of how many times Xiang Yuan had revealed his wolfish ambitions.

He's easygoing and can tolerate a few insults when you brag or chat with him in private. But if you use foul language in front of Xiao Lingyue, he might be able to accept it, but Xiao Lingyue certainly wouldn't!
What good girl could tolerate such disrespect!

And what a shameless guy! He doesn't even take a piss and look at himself in the mirror before he speaks, to see what a toad he looks like!

If you can't pee, just say so. I, Xiao, can help you. There's plenty of it. After you've looked in the mirror, you can even play in the mud.

Xiao He stared wide-eyed at Xiang Yuan with a fierce look. This joke had gone too far, so he gave Xiang Yuan a chance to rephrase his words.

At the same time, he winked at Xiao Lingyue.

Don't give me face. I'm just a brother to that guy surnamed Xiang. Give him a good beating and see if he dares to talk nonsense again.

The effect was mediocre; Xiao Lingyue didn't understand it at all.

"Hey hey hey..."

Xiang Yuan stepped forward with a beaming smile, reached out and hooked his arm around Xiao Lingyue's waist, pulling her into his embrace.

You rascal, your brother is watching!
Xiao Lingyue was thin-skinned, not like Chan'er, nor like Shang Qingmeng, who had severed all emotions and desires and had very little sense of shame. She was unwilling to be entangled with Xiang Yuan in front of her own brother, and immediately struggled.

Unable to withstand her innate superhuman strength, after two attempts, she felt like she was being coquettish and glared at Xiang Yuan resentfully.

"Let go."

"No."

"release!"

"No."

"..."

Xiao He: (д)
No, I told you to slap him, right in the face, not just randomly. If you don't hit him, slap him again. If you don't kill him, slap him again. I didn't tell you to flirt with him!
Let go, no, just don't...

Every word was like a knife, piercing Xiao He's heart. He was stabbed dozens of times in the chest, his face turned pale, and he staggered back, staring at the two scoundrels in front of him... This dog of a bastard, he was so shocked that he couldn't even speak.

He knew his younger sister's personality; she would never be so intimate with a man unless she truly liked him, so...

Impossible, absolutely impossible, something must have gone wrong!

Xiao He racked his brains, frantically stirring his clever little brain, and suddenly realized the truth.

"I see!"

Xiao He's eyes widened: "Ling Yue, you conspired with him to deceive your brother!"

"..." x2
Xiao Lingyue: What is your brother saying?
Xiang Yuan: Who knows? They might be thinking of taking me to a brothel again!

"That's right. Because I haven't been home for a long time, my mother misses me terribly. And that guy surnamed Xiang is talking badly about me, saying he has a way to deal with me. In a fit of anger, you agreed to his request and teamed up with him to put on this show."

Xiao He's voice grew louder and louder, and his arguments became increasingly reasonable, until he quickly convinced himself.

Do not accept rebuttal!
I also beg Xiao Lingyue not to refute me!
Looking at Xiao He, whose eyes were brimming with tears, Xiao Lingyue had a string of question marks on her mind. She first looked at Xiao He with a puzzled expression, and then glared at Xiang Yuan.

What's going on? Why do you look so ignorant and stupid, brother? Have you done something inhuman again?

With just one glance from Xiao Lingyue, Xiang Yuan understood the meaning and said innocently, "Brother Xiao has always been like this, often coming up with some ingenious ideas. How would I know what he's thinking?"

Right.

Xiao Lingyue agreed wholeheartedly, pushed Xiang Yuan away, and said to Xiao He, "Brother, you...don't know that Xiang Yuan and I are engaged?"

"engagement?!"

Xiao He's voice was shrill and cracked as he said, his face red and neck thick, "How would I know? Nobody told me! No, how could we be engaged? Lingyue, a good girl shouldn't say things that would belittle herself!"

"Yes, someone told you a long time ago, and that person was me."

Xiang Yuan leaned forward, pointed to his face and said, "Brother-in-law, have you forgotten? Last June, I traveled through Guanshan Road, delivered the letter you entrusted to my mother, and even became your godfather. Afterwards, I brought back the clothes my mother sewed for you to Fengxian County... I told you immediately that Lingyue and I are engaged, in love, and have the consent of our parents. I even have Lingyue's birth date and time."

Xiao Lingyue was furious and stomped hard on Xiang Yuan's foot. "Don't talk nonsense! Who said you and I are in love? You're the one who's shameless!"

It seems that there is such a thing.

Xiao He's eyes widened in horror as he saw Xiao Lingyue still acting coquettishly towards Xiang Yuan. He looked as if he had seen a ghost and said in a trembling voice, "But... but... how could a joke come true?"

“It’s no joke, and you believed it at the time.”

Xiang Yuan raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "I remember it very clearly. My brother-in-law said that he wholeheartedly supported this marriage! Oh right, you also said that Lingyue and I were a match made in heaven, and even if I framed you and insisted that you introduced Lingyue to me, you wouldn't even flinch."

Did I say that?
Xiao He was dumbfounded. Recalling the past, he realized that he seemed, perhaps, most likely had actually said that.

"I never said that!"

Xiao He pointed at Xiang Yuan and cried to Xiao Lingyue, "Lingyue, he's slandering me! He's slandering me!"

As he spoke, he beat his chest and stamped his feet in frustration. He then dug a pit for Xiang Yuan, but before he knew it, Xiang Yuan had fallen in.

Xiao He couldn't understand it. He thought to himself, "Isn't this a prestigious and righteous sect in Northern Qi? How could they have produced such a person who would dig a pit for people to fall into at the drop of a hat?"
What are you two talking about so incoherently?

Xiao Lingyue frowned. Xiang Yuan and Xiao He's conversation was a mess, and she couldn't make sense of it at all. She waved her hand and said, "Brother, your voice is too loud. Keep it down and don't disturb the others' rest."

No, my dear sister, is this the time to worry about others resting?

You should worry about yourself first; you've been scammed by someone surnamed Xiang!
Xiao He took a deep breath and lowered his voice, saying, "Lingyue, listen to your brother tell you the truth. If that man surnamed Xiang tells you that I intentionally introduced you to each other, don't believe him. He's just talking nonsense!"

"Ah this..."

Xiao Lingyue blinked. Xiang Yuan had indeed said that. She had also found it unbelievable at the time; Xiao He shouldn't be that bored. Now, reconciling the accounts...

That's it, what else can we do?

Seeing Xiao Lingyue's indifferent expression, Xiao He gasped, realizing that Xiang Yuan had given his younger sister a love potion that had poisoned her very system, and no amount of words could save her.

Looking to the side, Xiang Yuan stood tall and proud, looking smug, his deep nostrils particularly irritating.

This is outrageous! I'll risk my life to protect my sister's purity!

Xiao He said in a loud voice, "Lingyue, when this fellow was in Fengxian County, he went to brothels every few days, and I couldn't stop him. While there's still time, hurry up and come with me to find Mother, clear up the misunderstanding, and let's just call off this engagement!"

“I know,” Xiao Lingyue nodded.

"you know?!"

Xiao He's eyes widened like copper bells. Xiao Lingyue's calm tone made him exclaim in disbelief. What was going on? Did good girls from decent families now like to frequent brothels?

Is this an illusion?
Yes, it's all an illusion. I haven't left Mahayana Mountain yet; it's all a lie.

“Brother, Xiang Yuan told me that you often take him to brothels, and if he doesn’t go, you threaten to speak ill of him to me,” Xiao Lingyue sighed.

"nonsense!!"

"I'm not talking nonsense."

Xiang Yuan picked up the conversation, stood beside Xiao Lingyue, and pointed at Xiao He with his sword: "That year in Fengxian, I was only sixteen, still a child. On my birthday, you and Brother Xu dragged me to... to... Brother Xiao, what was the name of the best brothel in Fengxian again?"

“Yushengfang,” Xiao He replied instantly.

"Yes, yes, yes, it's Yushengfang. My brother-in-law is indeed a regular customer; he remembers it so clearly," Xiang Yuan said admiringly.

"..."

Xiao He slapped himself. "So you're the only one who knows? So you opened your mouth! This is a trap, can't you see it?!"

"Don't worry, Madam. I've always kept myself pure and upright. I was only focused on eating when Brother Xiao tried to put the top courtesan's hand in mine. I didn't even glance at it."

Xiang Yuan, who was deep in thought, suddenly asked, "Brother-in-law, what's the name of the top courtesan again?"

The girl with the zither is proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She is also very beautiful and has a great figure!

"I have no idea!"

Xiao He wasn't fooled this time. He angrily stepped forward and said, "Sister, don't listen to his nonsense. What respectable person goes to a brothel just to eat? Trust me, I'm your own brother. He touched your hand back then."

"Furthermore, I had no idea you had arranged... In short, I knew nothing. How could I possibly use something like a brothel to blackmail him? He framed me!"

That makes sense.

Xiao Lingyue nodded, took two steps back, and looked speechlessly at her husband and brother in front of her.

Forgive her bluntness, but neither of them are good!

Xiao Lingyue didn't need to speak; with just a glance, Xiang Yuan knew what she was thinking. Seeing that he and Xiao He had become accomplices, he immediately spoke up and pulled out his trump card.

"Madam, the top courtesan of Yusheng Brothel is Chan'er's maid, and also the culprit who kidnapped me and Brother Xiao into Southern Xinjiang. It was because of this that I met Chan'er..."

Looking up at the bright moon in the sky, he recalled the past and said softly, "You may not believe it, but it was my brother-in-law who introduced me to Chan'er... At that time, I didn't know Madam yet; Chan'er came first."

This devastating blow dealt maximum damage to Xiao Lingyue.

She glared at Xiao He, wishing she could draw her sword on the spot and give her good-for-nothing older brother a good beating.

Who is Chan'er?

Xiao He frowned. Was it just his imagination? Did Xiang Yuan's words imply that he had another lover outside? "Brother-in-law, don't change the subject. Your sins are grave, yet you dare to argue like this!"

Having successfully outshone Xiao He, Xiang Yuan sneered repeatedly. He had made numerous preparations for today's accounting, digging one trap after another. Xiao He would fall into any one of them and not be able to climb out, so he shouldn't expect to turn things around.

Xiao Lingyue raised her hand to her forehead. Upon learning that Xiang Yuan and Chan'er had met, and that Xiao He had done a great service, she felt exhausted and too lazy to listen to the two scoundrels bickering anymore. She told them to go somewhere else and make a scene, so as not to disturb the peace of the courtyard.

After saying that, he turned around and went back into the house to have some peace and quiet.

Xiang Yuan, shameless as ever, followed, intending to reveal the truth about their marriage and deliver another blow to Xiao He.

The result was not good. How could Xiao Lingyue let him into the house? She closed the door and gave him the cold shoulder.

Tuk-tuk-tuk!
"Madam, open the door! Let me come in and tell you about my experiences at Tianzong Mahayana Mountain. Good heavens, it was truly fascinating!"

Xiang Yuan knocked on the door outside, but Xiao Lingyue inside did not respond. Despite her great curiosity, she did not want to let Xiang Yuan into the house tonight.

My brother is still watching outside. It would be so embarrassing to let someone in at this time!

Let's talk about it another day!

"hehe."

Seeing this, Xiao He's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, slowly relaxed. Fortunately, although the situation had developed beyond his control and was in many unexpected ways, on the bright side, it had not yet reached a dead end.

Now go talk to your mother and make things clear. My sister is still a pure and innocent girl!
If you want to be Xiao's brother-in-law, go back, wash up, and go to sleep. You'll have all sorts of dreams!
Xiang Yuan was turned away, but seeing Xiao He's forced smile, he remained calm and composed. This was nothing, and he said loudly, "Brother Xiao, I suddenly remembered that I am also engaged to your half-sister Xiao Lingyan. So you are not only my brother-in-law, but also my brother-in-law."

Xiao He: (⊙⊙)
What? This is real too?

Xiang Yuan straightened his clothes and glanced at the closed door behind him: "It's getting late. You should go back and rest. I should also go and rest at Lingyan's place."

Squeak!

Gah!
boom!
Three sounds in a row: the first sound was the door opening, the second sound was Xiang Yuan being grabbed by the collar and pulled into the room, and the third sound was the door closing.

His movements were fluid and seamless, so skillful that Xiao He could hardly comprehend them.

Staring at the tightly closed door, he snorted and sniffled, tears streaming down his face. He burst into tears, turned around, and jumped out of the yard.

She went to find her mother.

……

Inside the room, Xiao Lingyue stood by the window, listening to the crying fade into the distance. Then she looked at Xiang Yuan, who had a smug look on his face, and turned her head to spit lightly.

They're not children anymore, can't they be a little more mature?

Xiao Lingyue rolled her eyes at Xiang Yuan: "You and my brother are sworn brothers, you call him elder brother, why make fun of him?"

She wouldn't speak ill of Xiang Yuan in front of Xiao He, but behind closed doors, she had to say a few words in defense of her brother.

Xiang Yuan smiled slightly: "Madam, you only know one side of the story. Brother Xiao is not as simple as he seems. You already have the cultivation of a Grandmaster. Did you see how much cultivation Brother Xiao possessed just now?"

Xiao Lingyue was stunned upon hearing this, and her face instantly froze.

“He has the Xiao family’s concealment technique, and he deliberately hides his Nascent Soul stage cultivation. It’s understandable that you were fooled by him when you were not paying attention.”

"..."

Xiao Lingyue looked at Xiang Yuan in surprise. Her impression of Xiao He was still that he was an uneducated and idle person. Suddenly learning that Xiao He had the cultivation of the Nascent Soul stage, she found it hard to accept.

My brother is not a good-for-nothing. He has realized his childhood talent, which is indeed a good thing. But why hide it from his family?
Xiang Yuan casually put his arm around his shoulder: "He's a secret agent of the Imperial City Guard. He wasn't sent to Fengxian County as punishment from my father-in-law, who disapproved of his lack of diligence. He was on a mission from the Imperial City Guard..."

Xiang Yuan explained Xiao He's identity and how he had been dragged into the mess by Xiao He. Seeing Xiao Lingyue's beautiful eyes light up, she was delighted that Xiao He was not a spoiled brat. She then curled her lips and brought out her ultimate weapon for attacking Xiao Lingyue.

"That year, when the lady heard that her brother-in-law had been kidnapped, it was actually his own doing. He used the kidnapping as an excuse to sneak into the southern border and complete the mission of the Imperial City Guard."

"So, you didn't protect him, he protected you?" Xiao Lingyue's lips twitched, unsure of who to blame.

She was quite fond of Xiang Yuan when she first met him, and protected and took care of him. The main reason was Xiao He. Xiang Yuan saved her brother, and she repaid him with a kind smile. This led to their ill-fated relationship.

fraud!

Xiao Lingyue snorted coldly, turned her head to the side, and twisted her toes back and forth on Xiang Yuan's feet.

“Hiss, hiss, hiss—”

Xiang Yuan gasped, put his arm around Xiao Lingyue's shoulder, and whispered in her ear, "Back then, my skills were weak. Brother Xiao took me to wander around the Southern Frontier and we encountered the demoness of the Yellow Springs Path. She drew her sword and tried to kill me. If Brother Xiao hadn't desperately protected me, I might have been killed by the demoness on a whim."

Putting aside the facts, it was indeed Xiao He who held off the others for a moment. Xiang Yuan took the opportunity to revise and embellish the story, and it immediately became a story of Xiao He going to great lengths to act as a matchmaker and introduce his brother-in-law to the demoness of the Yellow Springs.

Xiao Lingyue was numb from listening to it. She cursed Xiao He in her heart and stomped on Xiang Yuan's toes a few times.

I don't want to hear this!
"If my wife doesn't want to hear it, then I won't say anything more. Let's talk about serious matters. I already know who the mastermind is."

Xiang Yuan's expression turned serious: "The other party has a very powerful background. He is a great supernatural being from the Nine Heavens, the ruler of the Heavenly Court in the Upper Realm, the Heavenly Emperor!"

Xiao Lingyue's beautiful eyes widened in shock as she looked up in surprise.

"I'm not joking, it's that Heavenly Emperor!"

"If the other party is the Heavenly Emperor, then you, the True Martial Emperor..."

"Cough cough!"

Xiang Yuan clenched his fist and coughed lightly: "Madam, please don't talk nonsense. I have explained many times that I am not the True Martial Emperor. It's all a misunderstanding, a frame-up by a treacherous villain. I didn't know who the villain was before, but now the case is solved. It is this Heavenly Emperor hiding behind the scenes."

"..."

I'm not Zen Master, you can't fool me with these words.

"Madam, do not panic. He is not the real Heavenly Emperor, but merely the reincarnation of the Heavenly Emperor, and..."

Xiang Yuan looked towards the direction of the Heavenly Sect: "We also have a Heavenly Emperor on our side!"

Despite his humble origins, Ji Wuzhou's dilapidated state as a broken sampan is undeniable, and no one can deny that he is the reincarnation of the Heavenly Emperor.

Xiang Yuan explained the trip to Dacheng Mountain, the small world that Yan Xuanhe had transformed into, Ji Wuzhou's identity, the restoration of order and the recapture of Dacheng Mountain, and how they accidentally found Xiao He.

"The Heavenly Sect will release the news that it will switch its support to the Zhao Prince's Mansion. In this way, the Zhao Prince's Mansion will have the strong support of the three families of the Heavenly Sect, the Great Awakening Temple, and the Yellow Springs Path. Oh, and also the Liu family of Tai'an in Northern Qi and the Benxin Path."

Xiang Yuan complained that the Zhao Prince's Mansion had a terrifyingly strong background, which would make even the Xiao family of the capital tremble. What could the other candidate princes possibly use to fight against Xiao Yan?
The only capable fighter, Prince Jing, Xiao Ning, is supported by Baiyun Manor and Wangjian Manor. He doesn't have a single expert in the Upper Three Realms. He's like a grasshopper in autumn, he won't be able to jump around for long.

Both families are businessmen and wouldn't turn down money. Xiang Yuan firmly believes that as long as the news about Tianzong is released, both families will bow down and pay homage, saying that what they just said was just a joke.

In this way, the Prince Zhao's residence moved to the capital, and Xiao Lingyue became a legitimate princess.

Seeing the young sect leader of the Heavenly Sect speaking eloquently with an air of command, Xiao Lingyue said with a strange expression, "You look exactly like the mastermind behind everything."

"Why do you say that, ma'am?"

"In the eyes of the Xiao family of the capital, this move is forcing them to make their father the emperor..."

This is the effect you want!

Xiang Yuan explained the mastermind behind the scenes several times, but the Xiao family of Shendu just shrugged, indicating that they were willing but powerless. In that case, they should step aside and let someone more capable take their place.

Heavenly Sect!

Xiang Yuan used to support the Xiao family of Shendu, but now that he has become the young sect master of Tianzong, he has a better choice and decisively abandoned the Xiao family's group of traitors.

How could we possibly defeat the mastermind behind this horde of insects?
Tianzong is different. Poshanban is the reincarnation of the Heavenly Emperor. Two tigers cannot share one mountain. He has no choice but to fight to the death with the mastermind behind the scenes, even for his own sake.

Xiang Yuan was trying to find a way to win over some experts from the upper three realms, such as the Sword Master of the Doorway, Bai Wuyan, and the Heartless Old Daoist...

Through Lingxiu's connections, there's also Abbot Huixing of Dajue Temple.

With numerous powerful allies by your side, even a dilapidated sampan can be transformed into an aircraft carrier. There's no need to talk about chivalry with the mastermind behind the scenes; just rush forward and beat them to a pulp.

Without the mastermind behind the scenes, the world is at peace, everyone is happy, and everyone can live a comfortable life.

This is sure!

The struggle for the throne is no longer important. Xiao Yan becoming emperor is just a side effect. The young sect leader of the Heavenly Sect does not care what the Xiao family of the capital thinks. The key is to make the Heavenly Sect bigger and stronger, to make the broken boat stand up, and to win the struggle for the reincarnation of the Heavenly Emperor.

Xiang Yuan put his arm around Xiao Lingyue's shoulder and said, "I will visit Jianxinzhai as the young sect master of Tianzong to discuss an alliance with... Sword Venerable Su Ran to fight against the mastermind behind the scenes."

"Are you confident?" Xiao Lingyue asked, frowning.

"It's hard to say. Master Poshanban is just the reincarnation of the Heavenly Emperor. Sword Master Su Ran might not give him face. But we have to go. Man proposes, God disposes. Let's try our luck. What if it works out?" Xiang Yuan replied.

"No, I'm worried you'll be detained by the Sword Heart Sect."

Xiao Lingyue shook her head repeatedly. Some powerful medicines probably forgot their experience at Wushuang Palace. If they were discovered by Sword Venerable Su Ran on their way to Jianxinzhai, they might not be able to leave.

"That's true, after all, they are from a reputable and righteous family."

Xiang Yuan nodded first, then said happily, "Don't worry, Master Poshanban said that as long as I reveal my sect, Jianxinzhai won't dare to do anything to me."

"Be careful."

Xiao Lingyue gave a reminder, especially to Xiang Yuan, who has a loose tongue, not to talk nonsense and offend people in Jianxinzhai's territory.

"It's natural."

Xiang Yuan patted his chest, thinking that things were different now and it wouldn't be so easy to detain him.

Come and go as you please, okay!
"..."

Next time, please pat your own heart!
(End of this chapter)