Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 314 In what capacity did you ask me for help?

Yuan Muyu glanced at Ye Tinglan subconsciously.

Ye Tinglan returned to her podium with a stern face, focusing all her attention on her obedient disciple's battle.

The other party is capable of killing, and at this moment, no fish is more important than my good disciple. Besides, Xingzhou originally didn't want to communicate with Yuan Muyu, but his sudden desire to chat must mean he has something on his mind, so it's best to leave it to him.

Seeing that Ye Tinglan ignored him, Yuan Muyu said indifferently, "Then come over here."

Lu Xingzhou followed her to the edge of the high platform, from which they could see the arena, but Ye Tinglan on the platform could not see them.

Lu Xingzhou sometimes felt that Sister Yu's childishness was quite serious.

Ye Tinglan is at the pinnacle of the Super Grade realm; her spiritual sense has long since surpassed her eyesight. What's the point of choosing this angle...? Perhaps Yuan Muyu hasn't been at the Super Grade realm for that long and isn't used to it yet? Or is it just pure self-deception...?

"What do you want to tell me?" Yuan Muyu asked in a tense voice, "Tell me how far you and my sister have progressed?"

Lu Xingzhou didn't bother to pay any attention to that, and glanced back at the arena. This time, Little White Hair didn't rush to attack, but was confronting his opponent, seemingly analyzing the flaws in his opponent's technique.

"I really underestimated you, Lu Xingzhou." Yuan Muyu said expressionlessly, "You confessed your feelings to me and I didn't accept, then you turned around and went to my sister..."

Lu Xingzhou finally interrupted: "When I was interested in her, she was wearing a mask. I didn't know about her relationship with you. I only found out she looked like you when she took off her mask. No need to imagine any more of that 'meal replacement literature' nonsense."

Yuan Muyu suppressed her anger: "So you're just blinded by lust, even taking a fancy to a masked woman? Are you that kind of person?!"

Lu Xingzhou was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I could have been different."

Yuan Muyu fell silent instantly, her chest heaving slightly.

Unfortunately, no matter how much it fluctuated, there was no real impact.

“That’s not what I wanted to talk to you about. Time has passed, and there’s no point in bringing these things up,” Lu Xingzhou said. “What I wanted to say is, how much do you know about what happened at Golden Wind Island this time?”

Yuan Muyu felt very awkward.

What's this……

Is this his way of confronting me because of Ye Tinglan?
His heart was so aggrieved he felt like it was about to burst, but he could only say coldly, "What does the matter of Golden Wind Island have to do with me? My target is Angry Dragon Island, and I'm just continuing your old alliance strategy. Angry Dragon Island only wanted to make a name for itself. If I could secretly guide them to get into the top few in the competition, they would be willing to sign this alliance. Sweeping the face of Tianyao Holy Land is just a side effect."

Lu Xingzhou said, "The competition has a loser's bracket, so we can still compete. This is to avoid being eliminated by top-tier sects right from the start, which would be unfair. Nu Jiao Island still has a chance, and the alliance can still proceed."

This was a phrase Yuan Muyu was quite used to, and she almost instinctively replied, "You think you know everything?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized that the ending sound was wrong, and quickly stuck it in his throat, closing his mouth.

Lu Xingzhou's expression was also a bit strange, but he quickly composed himself and asked seriously, "So, your appearance here wasn't part of a pre-arranged agreement with Golden Wind Island; it was just that we each did our own thing, and that's how it went?"

Yuan Muyu said coldly, "The Grand Competition in the Sea is taking place at this time, so it's not surprising that they're happening at the same time."

Lu Xingzhou fell silent, believing that Yuan Muyu was not lying.

From a very early age, Yuan Muyu's attitude towards Tianyao Holy Land was one of antagonism, but he had never actually killed anyone, a stance completely different from that of Jinfeng Island. He simply needed Yuan Muyu's personal confirmation.

Even if it is confirmed that they are unrelated, some judgments can still be made.

Aside from the general public's desire to humiliate Tianyao Holy Land, the only forces truly capable of causing trouble for Tianyao Holy Land are a few: Yuan Muyu, Gu Zhanting, the Demon Clan, and the Ancient Realm.

The Heavenly Net Umbrella and the God-Slaying Whip sound very much like things from the Ancient Realm, but it's possible someone is deliberately using these items to mislead people into thinking they belong to the Ancient Realm. At least the Tianyao Holy Land has similar items, which Ye Tinglan recognized at a glance. Similarly, the Great Qian Royal Family and the Demon Clan have countless years of collections, so it wouldn't be difficult for them to pull out a few items to mislead people.

It's highly unlikely that the demonic aura of the demon race could be concealed under such circumstances, so it can be largely ruled out.

If it were Gu Zhanting, his style of doing things would often involve many connections, and there would be a very high probability that it would involve Yuan Muyu, but it didn't. Furthermore, Gu Zhanting probably couldn't find that many young, powerful individuals.

By eliminating possibilities one by one, we were able to determine that it was most likely the ancient realm, and this was not a misleading conclusion.

If this matter is related to Gu Zhanting, then at most it is just providing the Ancient Realm with the background of such a competition, using the Ancient Realm to do things, and the point of intersection between the two parties should be Zhao En.

Zhao En was defeated and injured by Ye Tinglan in Tianshuang Kingdom. He probably discovered the superficial alliance between Tianyao Holy Land and Daqian through the interaction between Ye Tinglan and Si Han, so he sought to join forces with Gu Zhanting.

With the support of the Qian Emperor, people from the Ancient Realm were able to appear in large numbers? That seems plausible.

Besides these young disciples, how strong are the others? What are the ancient realm's demands? Is it just about killing?
Lu Xingzhou was deep in thought when Dugu Qingli started her fight. His gaze unconsciously fell on the arena, and he stared at it in a daze, remaining silent for a long time.

Yuan Muyu stood silently for a few moments, then couldn't hold back any longer: "You said you wanted to talk to me, and that's all?"

Lu Xingzhou hummed in agreement: "Yes. I must find out where they came from and determine what measures they might take."

Yuan Muyu closed her eyes.

Lu Xingzhou painstakingly planned for others, while she was merely an object of questioning and even guarding against. This feeling was unbearable no matter how she thought about it.

Yuan Muyu suddenly felt that she shouldn't have come here. The whole process felt like she was being skinned and dismembered, then thrown into a cauldron to be boiled into medicine.

She murmured as if in a dream, "Is this all that's left between us? Even though you know I'm also busy."

"Otherwise what?" Lu Xingzhou asked, somewhat puzzled. "In the public sphere, you are the King of Hell, and I am merely a former subordinate. I am no longer in a position to speak on matters concerning the Underworld. Even the list of titles you just gave me didn't include anything related to the Underworld, and I understand that. In private, you still allow me to call you 'sister,' and I'm only asking you this question because of that personal relationship..."

Yuan Muyu felt extremely distressed.

How could this be a conversation like this? How could they have this attitude...?

Shouldn't.

Even a boat in a dream wouldn't speak like that, yet it actually happened in reality.

She took a deep breath: "Those titles have nothing to do with the Underworld. I just don't want your Underworld's history to be exposed to others, which would be detrimental to you." This statement sounded weak, as if she were explaining... Yuan Muyu hadn't shown this kind of behavior to Lu Xingzhou for at least three years, so much so that the words felt rather awkward coming out.

Lu Xingzhou was indeed taken aback, and after a moment of silence, he said, "That is actually irrelevant. Everyone in the Tianyao Holy Land knows this, and as for outsiders... those who are interested will also know."

"But even those who are interested may not know in the future!" Yuan Muyu's voice rose: "All your current abilities have nothing to do with the Yama Palace, so why would outsiders know! As time goes by, no one will know your true nature!"

Lu Xingzhou had known about her good intentions for a long time; otherwise, his departure wouldn't have been so peaceful.

But she only said, "This was important when I was at the seventh rank... but when I was at the third rank and could hold my own against you in cultivation, it was no longer important. Sister... Lu Xingzhou is no longer the sickly person you thought you were who needed protection."

Yuan Muyu wanted to say something, but ultimately didn't.

In the arena just now, he had personally shattered that past, the meaning of which couldn't be clearer.

Yuan Muyu took a deep breath, her voice turning cold: "Looks like I've been stirring up trouble. You don't need me to worry about your safety anymore, right? I understand."

Lu Xingzhou also pursed his lips.

The two of them would unconsciously make the conversation awkward.

Both.

This phenomenon actually existed before leaving the Underworld... Even now, despite Yuan Muyu almost giving in, the final result remains unchanged.

Yuan Muyu suddenly said again, "You still acknowledge me as your sister."

Lu Xingzhou said, "That's for sure. I've been raised by you since I was nine years old..."

Yuan Muyu interrupted, "Although Ye Tinglan is not much older than me, she did help me change my diapers as I grew up."

Lu Xingzhou: “…”

"She wants me to call you brother-in-law." Yuan Muyu seemed to have reverted to her former charming and seductive self: "I dare to call you that, do you dare to respond?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled and said, "If you dare to shout, I dare to respond."

Yuan Muyu, suppressing her rage, forced a sweet smile and whispered in his ear, "Brother-in-law~"

Then he clearly noticed that Lu Xingzhou's muscles, which were originally relaxed, suddenly tensed up and stiffened, and his old face even turned a little red.

In that instant, Yuan Muyu found her past, and everything came back to her...

After enduring so much torment, I felt like I had finally won a victory. I smiled and stepped back, saying, "As expected... Ye Tinglan is still a virgin. She won't give it to you, no matter how nicely she puts it."

Ye Tinglan is a virgin, but I am not, sister.

Lu Xingzhou hesitated for a moment, but ultimately didn't say it.

I feel like saying this might cause a big problem.

Fortunately, there are techniques for judging women's virginity, but no one can tell if a man is a virgin... Yuan Muyu probably felt that her blushing was just the same "shy" as before, but the old woman still didn't understand that whether a gentleman or a lecher, anyone would have an instinctive reaction when a woman whispered in their ear...

Seeing Yuan Muyu regain her confidence, Lu Xingzhou was speechless and didn't know what to say, so he simply remained silent and ignored her, focusing on watching the duel on the stage.

He had been watching for a while now, and with such an important matter at hand, he really didn't have much time to get caught up in emotional entanglements.

Dugu Qingli's duels are usually swift, even the time she sparred with me lasted only a few rounds. This was probably the only time I'd seen Dugu Qingli get entangled in a prolonged fight with an opponent of similar skill.

But regardless of the circumstances, what exactly is the significance of the outcome of this arena match for the people of Golden Wind Island, who may be from the ancient realm?

"Sister." Lu Xingzhou's gaze remained fixed on the arena as he suddenly called out.

Yuan Muyu was in a good mood and casually replied, "What?"

"Could you help me investigate the area outside the island to see if there are any high-level spies or traces of formations?"

"You want me to help Tianyao Holy Land?" Yuan Muyu sneered. "Ye Tinglan is invincible and has his own methods. He probably doesn't need someone like me who's been expelled from his family. Besides, what's your status now in asking for my help? My brother-in-law?"

Lu Xingzhou shook his head: "This is very likely not a matter of the Tianyao Holy Land, but a major event in this world."

"What does this have to do with me?" Yuan Muyu sneered. "When you negotiate with others, you usually force a connection between things that have nothing to do with them. Are you using that trick on me now?"

After saying that, she vanished in a flash, leaving only her last words in the air: "Just as you will no longer plot for the Underworld, I will no longer do anything for Tianyao. Put yourself in my shoes and don't force me."

Lu Xingzhou stared blankly in the direction she had disappeared, muttering to himself, "But when the Underworld needs me, will I really not lend a hand?"

Almost at the same time, Yuan Muyu was also muttering to herself somewhere in the sea: "What do you mean by it being because of the Tianyao Holy Land, because of the major events in this world... I just want you to say that you yourself wanted to ask your sister for help, is that so hard? Why don't you say it?"

After saying that, he snapped his fingers.

A short while later, a masked figure appeared beside him and bowed, saying, "Lord Yama."

Yuan Muyu said calmly, "Have people search the surrounding sea area. Report any strange occurrences to me immediately. Note that the Tianyao Holy Land must already be searching. If they can't find anything, it proves that conventional search methods are unusable. Try using corpse puppets, shadow techniques, and methods that don't show any signs of life or spiritual fluctuations."

"Yes."

"What Tianyao Holy Land can't do, my Yama Palace certainly can." Yuan Muyu muttered to himself, then suddenly flashed into the sea, heading straight for the seabed.

The masked man watched her enter the water, shook his head, removed his mask, and revealed Ji Wenchuan's face.

Ji Wenchuan tapped the mouth of the mask in his hand and sighed, "Even tougher than this. Both of them are."

(End of this chapter)