Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

Chu Mingkong touched Zuo Qiuchi's hand, then touched Xiao Yunhan's cheek, drawing their attention to him, and said:

"Stop, stop arguing, let's talk about something important. Yunhan, are you going back to Xiling with us?"

Xiao Yunhan had originally planned to avoid suspicion and cultivate in seclusion within the sect, but now that Zuo Qiuchi had angered her, what else could she do but go to Xiling? Why would she travel all the way back to cultivate in seclusion?

The grand event in Tianya City is about to begin, and a few more days won't make a difference.

"That's right. I'll keep a low profile and won't help anyone. You can do whatever you want... But what do you plan to do?"

Even if you want to go to the martial arts arena to compete, you can't reveal your identity. Otherwise, it will be the same as failing to find the medicine for the emperor and fleeing back to Xiling, which will damage your reputation. It will also tarnish the reputation of Xiaoxiang Qin Academy, which is covering for you.

Zuo Qiuchi chimed in:

"Yunhan, why don't you go back to being the city lord? Didn't you used to be a deputy city lord? You can help Mingkong hold onto it for now."

"Then why don't you go?" Xiao Yunhan said irritably. "Putting aside whether my appearance would count as representing the Xiao family, it's against the rules for me to participate. Wouldn't that just be letting other forces send their elders to participate? The martial arts competition in Tianya City is more for the younger generation to compete, and you can only go up once in your life. I've already fought my way up once before."

"There are quite a few rules." Zuo Qiuchi shrugged.

Chu Mingkong rested his chin on his sister's soft, beautiful breasts, and said with a wistful and conflicted expression:

“My thinking has changed a bit. Before, I thought I would go back to Tianya City and keep an eye on who was most likely to win the championship. I would then secretly cripple him off the field so that I wouldn’t have to come out into the open. I don’t want anyone to become the city lord, and I refuse to let anyone become the de facto King of Xiling and humiliate me, the heir. The best way is for no one to become the new city lord. If someone does, then I will make him disappear.”

Zuo Qiuchi greatly admired Chu Mingkong's idea, and she couldn't help but pat Chu Mingkong's bottom encouragingly:

"This idea is quite good; we can stick with it!"

Feng Ying almost laughed out loud when she heard this. There was no mockery in it; she simply thought the master and disciple's ideas were quite direct and funny, but they didn't quite fit her habits.

Such a brutal approach can cause maximum disruption, potentially ruining the plans of those secretly orchestrating the conflict, but it could also turn the situation around in a way that benefits the other side.

Fengying disliked such high-stakes gambles. She preferred to plan everything out before doing her best and leaving the rest to fate, rather than waiting for the outcome from the start.

She said, "That was your previous idea, which was quite in line with your impulsive and reckless personality. So what is your idea now?"

Xiao Yunhan remained silent, her jade-like hand resting on her younger brother's back, gently stroking him, awaiting Chu Mingkong's reply.

But Chu Mingkong shook his head:

"I haven't made up my mind yet, I'm still hesitating. Because that idea I just had was just a way to buy time, it only temporarily solved the reputation crisis of being mistaken for someone else's son, but the root of the problem is still not solved."

At this moment, the option of whether or not he should actually become the de facto King of Xiling even crossed his mind.

Many factors led him to this idea, the most direct being the women in the capital. Could he abandon them and become a running man?

That's impossible. He must always have his own background and influence to ensure they can continue their lives peacefully.

Taking them away from the world to hide in a sect is not very reliable. Sects may have a mindset of transcending worldly affairs, but in essence, if they can become a collective, then there must be common interests involved.

Many of the "students" in the sect come from the Tianji Empire. If the Tianji royal family really wants to harass them, they can still win over some elder to annoy them.

There's no use in avoiding things that need to be faced head-on. Just like the Kazekage's tribe, the best approach is definitely not numbly avoiding them.

Chu Mingkong now needs to include the women in the capital in his considerations.

Chapter 175 This is unfair!

Chu Mingkong turned his head to look at Feng Ying and asked:

"Fengying, if you were me, what would you do right now?"

Fengying thought for a moment, and then gave his answer without hesitation:

"It's not difficult. If I were you, I would take revenge on those I truly have a deep-seated grudge against. If I can't deal with them, I'll just accept the loss, endure it for a while, accumulate strength, and make my move when the time is right. In this world, the root of many problems and troubles is inseparable from the incompetence of the person involved."

Become someone who wields power, become an authority, and all problems will be solved.

Zuo Qiuchi patted Chu Mingkong's buttocks again. The pat was very light, almost like suddenly placing her slender hand on his buttocks. However, after placing her hand on his buttocks, she would also squeeze his buttocks in her palm.

However, this time she pinched the wrong spot, and it didn't feel as smooth. Although it was full and plump, it had some soft wrinkles.

Zuo Qiuchi didn't react at first, only feeling a pleasant sensation. Suddenly realizing something was wrong, she silently withdrew her hand, pretending nothing had happened, and then preemptively accused:

"You little rascal, you can't even put your pants on properly! And why don't you ask me what I think? I've taken care of you for so long, and now when you ask for my opinion, the first person you consider is Feng Ying?"

Chu Mingkong was having a bit of a headache. These two people on his left and right were really problematic. They only cared about starting the fire but didn't care about putting it off. There were so many places to go, but they insisted on focusing on one spot. Weren't they afraid of ruining it... cough cough, ruining it with patina?!

He looked at Zuo Qiuchi resentfully and said:

"There's no need to ask Master first. Our thoughts are pretty much the same, and we think about things in the same direction. This should be considered a unity of mind between master and disciple, so it's more practical to ask Feng Ying first."

Zuo Qiuchi was fairly satisfied with his answer. Thinking about it, it was indeed true. If she was sure that her little disciple hadn't forgotten his master after finding the maid, then she had no objections.

Feng Ying could somewhat sense the change in Chu Mingkong's state of mind; he was probably thinking about reducing unnecessary enemies.

He used to be so easily provoked that he would want to retaliate to the death against anyone who offended him in the slightest or who was even remotely suspected. But now that he's more at peace, he no longer thinks about such extremes.

Unless it is truly unavoidable.

What he's considering now is the relationship with the Xiao family. During their combined cultivation, Feng Ying overheard Chu Mingkong recounting recent events. The conflict between him and the Xiao family ultimately boils down to the issue of his status as the heir apparent. This is a problem forced upon Chu Mingkong by King Huai, a status Chu Mingkong doesn't need.

However, the Xiao family now feels that Chu Mingkong covets the position of heir and does not want to lose this wealth and honor. This suspicion, which symbolizes power, makes it difficult to build trust through mutual understanding. It is perfectly normal for the Xiao family to have resentment towards him.

As for the Fifth Prince, that's his personal problem. If the Xiao family is only complaining about him and saying unpleasant things behind his back, without actually trying to kill him, then Chu Mingkong's idea is to ease the tension with the Xiao family.

This indirectly increases Chu Mingkong's power in the secular dynasty.

While avoiding putting Xiao Yunhan in a difficult position, it also allows the women of the capital to settle down. When they feel they have nothing left to hold them in the secular world, it will take them away from the mundane world.

But the key question is whether the Xiao family is truly clean in their dealings and whether they have ever laid a hand on Chu Mingkong.

Chu Mingkong refrained from asking due to his relationship with Xiao Yunhan, so Feng Ying asked on his behalf, directly asking Xiao Yunhan:

"I have something I'd like to ask the Xiao family. Given Miss Xiao's status in the Xiao family, does she know the Xiao family's attitude towards Chu Mingkong? Or rather... has the Xiao family done anything out of line behind the scenes?"

Chu Mingkong eased the suddenly serious atmosphere and said:

"Feng Ying, you don't need to address Yun Han so formally. Just call her Yun Han like I do."

Xiao Yunhan did not evade this delicate question; since the other party had asked directly, she answered directly:

"The Xiao family is very large, and there are many things I cannot control. I have stated before that I do not want them to take action against Mingkong. My mother married into the Chu royal family of Xiling, so they are from Xiling. I told the Xiao family, as her maternal family and in-laws, not to meddle in other people's business. So if they haven't kept it from me, then the Xiao family should not have taken any action."

But if they were really up to something, they would definitely hide it from me.

"I see."

Feng Ying nodded. She had gained a new understanding of Xiao Yunhan. People outside said that she was cold-hearted and indifferent. But after seeing her intimacy with Chu Mingkong tonight, she thought it was just a rumor. But now, hearing her calm statement, it was clear that she was truly cold-hearted and indifferent, even towards her family!

They were only particularly enthusiastic towards Chu Mingkong; this brother and sister were really strange.

Zuo Qiuchi, puzzled, asked curiously:

"So what's the situation now, Mingkong? Do you still want to rob the city lord? If you want to kill all the people who came to participate, I can help you."

Chu Mingkong felt he needed to think things through carefully. When feeling lost, it's always good to think things through before taking action.

“Yunhan, I’m taking Xiao Zuo out for a walk so we can think things through. Don’t worry about me, I’ll figure out my feelings soon.”

"Little Zuo, you're so disrespectful." Zuo Qiuchi pinched his cheek.

"it is good."

Xiao Yunhan nodded, somewhat dissatisfied that Zuo Qiuchi was the one accompanying him in contemplating his true feelings, but she couldn't refuse her younger brother's request as he hugged her neck.

Outside the hotel was a vast expanse of yellow Gobi desert, already sparsely populated, and even more deserted at night, with hardly a bird chirping.

Chu Mingkong held Zuo Qiuchi's hand and strolled around with his beautiful master for a while. He began to face his true feelings. He had no doubt about what to do next. He should go and get to know his mother to find out if he could get the Xiao family to shoulder some of the pressure for him. The position of heir was useless anyway, so what difference would it make if he gave it to him?

The most important thing right now is...

Think it over before you act

The key is his butt! A beautiful butt is the turning point in his life!

"Master, let me touch your butt! You just touched me twice, it's my turn to touch it back, otherwise it's not fair. I even touched the wrong place once, but since you don't have any walnuts, I'll reluctantly use your butt to pay off my debt, sigh!"

"..."

Zuo Qiuchi looked down at Chu Mingkong's self-righteous appearance. She looked around and saw that no one was around, but she still threw out a sword energy barrier to prevent the scandal of her sect from spreading.

"You really dare to say that! Why don't we go back now and ask Yunhan what she thinks?"

"No!"

Chu Mingkong clung to her jade-like legs playfully, his arms and legs wrapped around Zuo Qiuchi's beautiful legs. However, her thighs were so smooth and delicate that Chu Mingkong slid down after a while, and then climbed back up.

The friction of going up and down,

Chu Mingkong's legs were so tired and stiff that they were almost covered in sticky white sweat.

The woman-dressed Zuo Qiuchi had no way to deal with this little rascal and was considering giving in, but first asked:

"Sure, but you have to tell me your little secret with Kazekage!"

Chapter 176 No Pants: Foreshadowing

Zuo Qiuchi asked him at this particular moment to see if he would really confess. She found Chu Mingkong's current half-dazed, half-awake state rather strange. Was he faking it, or was he genuinely influenced by the childlike state?

If it's an act, Zuo Qiuchi can only say that he has indeed cultivated a very thick skin.

"Hurry up and confess!"

Zuo Qiuchi pressed her hands against her skirt, the fabric clinging to her figure and outlining the shape of her plump, round buttocks. She squatted down and placed her palms on Chu Mingkong's cheeks, not giving him a chance to look away.

Chu Mingkong asked for confirmation: "What secret?"

Simply saying it's a secret is too broad a scope. What kind of secret is it? If we don't confirm it clearly, we might be tricked into revealing information they wouldn't expect. Chu Mingkong has been in the capital for so long that he's long since developed the basic mindset of avoiding being tricked into revealing information.

"Then I don't know. It depends on what secrets you think you and Fengying are hiding. But the fact that you're asking 'what secrets' means there are definitely a lot being concealed!"

Zuo Qiuchi acted indifferent, saying "you little thing, say what you want," but he had already noticed Chu Mingkong's hesitant expression and was increasingly suspicious that he was pretending to be stupid.

That's ruthless! They've actually gone so far as to completely abandon all pretense!

After hesitating for a moment, Chu Mingkong asked the question that was currently influencing his decision the most:

"I told you, Master, are you really going to let me touch your butt?"

Zuo Qiuchi: "...Is this what you were hesitating about just now?"