Master's secret order: Lan Cai'er knocks on the gate late at night!

Ye Youmeng laughed, her body shaking like a trembling flower branch.

Her voluptuous and enchanting figure swayed gently with her laughter, every curve radiating a ripe, deadly charm.

Her red lips parted slightly, her voice languid and seductive:

“Now that the matter here is settled, the three of you, follow me.”

Before her voice faded, she had already turned, taking graceful lotus steps into the depths of the Moon Gathering Pagoda.

Lin Yuan, Mu Wanqing, and Lan Caier exchanged glances and immediately followed.

“I just received a message from the old ghost Xuan Yin.”

Inside the spacious pagoda, Ye Youmeng's voice echoed, dispelling the ambiguity and adding a touch of solemn severity.

“The Misty Immortal Sect has abandoned the Blood River Spirit Mine and is currently retreating at full speed toward Black Stone City with their remaining forces, attempting to rendezvous with their Disciples there.”

“The old ghost Xuan Yin wants us to join forces with him in Black Stone City to... completely cripple the Misty Immortal Sect.”

Lin Yuan's face remained calm, but his heart instantly churned like turbulent seas.

Black Stone City.

That crazy woman Yue Qingyao is also there!

If they run into each other, when that woman goes crazy, she might draw her sword and chop him up right then and there!

No way.

This massive trouble must be avoided if possible.

His thoughts raced, yet Lin Yuan maintained a look of thoughtful solemnity, cupping his hands toward Ye Youmeng and saying, “Senior, Junior believes we should indeed support this battle; the opportunity to beat a drowning dog is extremely rare.”

He first affirmed Ye Youmeng's strategy, then immediately changed the subject.

“However, Junior has one concern.”

“The Misty Immortal Sect's main base has been taken; they are cornered beasts with nowhere left to retreat. A cornered beast's fight is the most dangerous. Black Stone City is the territory of the Yin Corpse Sect, yet they chose to meet there. I fear they have set up some trap waiting for us.”

Lin Yuan's voice was steady and strong, and his analysis was clear and logical.

“To ensure safety, having Senior lead the main force to Black Stone City for support is naturally the best course of action. However, we have just captured Lanyue City, and morale is unsettled. More importantly, we have captured so many important hostages.”

“We must dispatch a team of absolutely trustworthy personnel to safely escort these future bargaining chips back to Tianyuan City, ensuring we are prepared for any eventuality.”

He paused at the opportune moment, his face filled with sincerity as if truly concerned for her burdens.

“Junior is untalented, but I believe I have some minor cleverness. I am willing to share Senior's burden and take on this escort mission!”

His speech was flawless, analyzing the risks, proposing a solution, and finally volunteering to take on the dangerous yet tedious logistics task—a true model of righteousness.

Mu Wanqing listened from the side. Had she not spent decades with Lin Yuan and known his Heart-Nature, she might have almost believed the old fox's nonsense.

“Not bad.”

After listening, the appreciation in Ye Youmeng's phoenix eyes deepened.

“Not arrogant in the face of great victory, recognizing danger from small gains, meticulous and thoughtful. Kid, you truly surprise me more and more.”

Her red lips curled slightly, and she nodded in approval.

Lin Yuan was inwardly delighted, thinking his scheme had succeeded.

However, Ye Youmeng's next words made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cavern.

“However, regarding the escort of the captives, I have my own arrangements.”

“And for this trip to Black Stone City, you must go!”

Ye Youmeng's tone was casual, yet carried an undeniable pressure.

The smile on Lin Yuan's face instantly froze.

“Why?” He frowned, looking directly into Ye Youmeng's eyes. “Senior should know that Junior is only at Foundation Establishment; my utility on the front lines is limited.”

“No.” Ye Youmeng shook her head, her languid expression turning serious.

“Precisely because they might have set a trap, you must go.”

She looked deeply at Lin Yuan.

“You were able to silently break the great Formation of Lanyue City. My team happens to be lacking a Formation Master. I need your eyes and your methods.”

Lin Yuan let out a long sigh inwardly.

Well, now there's truly no way to avoid it.

Forget it. If soldiers come, use generals to block them; if water comes, use earth to cover it. At worst, he'll just find a way to stay far away from that crazy woman.

“Since Senior has put it this way,” Lin Yuan composed himself, cupped his hands, and said in a deep voice, “Junior will naturally follow through to the end.”

“That's better.” Ye Youmeng smiled contentedly and waved her hand languidly. “Alright, the two of you go down and rest first. I still have some matters to instruct Cai'er on privately.”

Lin Yuan and Mu Wanqing bowed and withdrew from the pagoda.

Inside the spacious hall, only Ye Youmeng and her Disciple, Lan Caier, remained.

“Cai'er, what do you think of Lin Yuan?” Ye Youmeng asked casually, playing with a jade scorpion that was entirely emerald green.

Lan Caier stood respectfully nearby. Hearing her Master's question, her pretty face flushed slightly, and she whispered, “Senior Brother Lin... he is very capable, meticulous, and bold. He is a... rare talent.”

“Just a talent?” Ye Youmeng chuckled softly, her phoenix eyes that could see through people staring straight at her precious Disciple. “The way Master sees you look at him, it seems a little unusual.”

“Master!” Lan Caier, having her thoughts exposed, was both shy and anxious, and stomped her foot.

“What is there to be shy about?” Ye Youmeng pulled Lan Caier's hand and said earnestly, “This boy is a Hidden Dragon, deep in schemes and overbearing in action. If our Five Poisons Sect's shallow water wants to keep him, ordinary methods won't work.”

Her voice became faint and deep.

“Master means...” Lan Caier was quick-witted and vaguely guessed her meaning.

“You have reached the age, and his talent is extraordinary. I see that you are not entirely indifferent toward him either. If you can achieve a good marriage, making him willingly become an asset to my Five Poisons Sect, wouldn't that be wonderful?”

...Lin Yuan and Mu Wanqing found two adjacent, detached small courtyards, agreed to depart together tomorrow, and then returned to their respective rooms to rest.

Lin Yuan returned to his room, casually set up several warning Formations, and sat cross-legged on the bed. He had been quite exhausted recently, so he took the opportunity to adjust his condition to cope with the dangers that lay ahead.

The night deepened.

Just as his Divine Soul settled and merged with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, the most hidden warning Formation in the courtyard was lightly triggered.

Lin Yuan suddenly opened his eyes.

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes and disappeared. The magical power inside his body circulated silently, but he did not act immediately.

A moment later, the door was pushed open a tiny crack with a soft “creak.”

A delicate and graceful figure, like a startled fawn, tiptoed stealthily slipped inside.

The cold moonlight shone through the window lattice, falling perfectly upon her, outlining her attractive curves with a hazy halo.

The person who came was none other than Lan Caier.

She tightly clutched the corner of her clothes, seemingly having gathered immense courage just to walk to the side of the bed.

“Lin... Lin Yuan!”

Lan Caier's voice carried a hint of imperceptible tremor, and her pretty face quickly blushed crimson under the moonlight.

Although the love gu between the two of them had long been extracted, the God-Sealing Technique planted by Lin Yuan was still inside her body.

More importantly, this overbearing and hateful man had already taken her purity.

Since their parting at Demon Falling Valley, she had thought she would hate him to the bone.

But for some unknown reason, whenever the night was quiet, his figure would uncontrollably appear in her mind.