12: Don't let the system lead you.

After Ling'er announced them, she led the two into the hall.

The doors of the Holy Son's Palace were pushed open once again, but this time, two people in vastly different states entered.

Shen Yueyao held Lin Qingxuan's wrist, her steps firm.

Meanwhile, Lin Qingxuan kept her head lowered, her steps full of resistance, almost being half-dragged and half-pulled inside.

Unlike the last time Lin Qingxuan came alone, Lu Yi was not seated high on the main seat today, but was standing in the center of the hall.

This was considered a basic show of respect for the arrival of Saintess Shen Yueyao.

Technically speaking, this was the first formal meeting between Lu Yi and Shen Yueyao.

When Lu Yi's gaze fell upon Shen Yueyao, a flicker of an imperceptible glint flashed through his calm eyes.

And as Shen Yueyao observed this reclusive Saint, a strange feeling also arose in her heart.

Both of them actually felt a sense of compatibility from the depths of their Bloodlines.

But the feeling vanished in a flash, so quickly that both thought it was an illusion, and neither looked deeper into it.

“I have long heard of Your Highness the Saintess's great name. Seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary.”

Lu Yi spoke first, offering a polite greeting.

“The Saint overpraises me.”

Shen Yueyao nodded slightly. She was not one to dilly-dally and directly stated her purpose for coming:

“I take the liberty of visiting today because I have a request. I would like to ask the Saint to step in and save my friend's brother's life. If this succeeds, consider it that I owe the Saint a favor.”

Just as Shen Yueyao's voice fell, the familiar System notification sounded in Lu Yi's mind once again:

[Ding! The destined female protagonist has made a request to you. Please make your choice:]

[Option 1: Agree to Shen Yueyao's request and step in to protect Lin Tian; Reward: Low-Grade Spirit Stone × 10,000]

[Option 2: Agree to Shen Yueyao's request and demand she repay this favor with her body; Reward: Bone-Cleansing Pill × 1]

[Option 3: Agree to Shen Yueyao's request but demand Lin Qingxuan's 'service' time be extended by another ten days; Reward: Spirit Gathering Array Map × 1]

Looking at these three options before him, Lu Yi's brow furrowed instantly.

These rewards—whether Spirit Stones, the Bone-Cleansing Pill, or the array map—had no attraction for him; they were practically useless.

Making Shen Yueyao pay with her body was basically impossible; she wasn't as timid and easy to manipulate as Lin Qingxuan.

As for Lin Qingxuan's “service,” once he had completely won her over, wouldn't he have it for as long as he wanted?

Moreover, no matter which one he chose, the final result would benefit Lin Tian.

This damn System... was it because he had fleeced it too hard last time that it was deliberately sanctioning him now?

Lu Yi quickly thought it over in his mind.

According to his speculation, someone with great Luck like Shen Yueyao could likely only trigger a System option once.

If he wasted this precious opportunity for these insignificant rewards, it would be too much of a pity.

Since he could select multiple options last time, then this time... could he choose none?

He decided to make a bold attempt and ignore the choices given by the System.

Lu Yi's expression instantly darkened. He looked at Shen Yueyao and said firmly, in a tone full of righteous indignation and Sect loyalty:

“Your Highness the Saintess, I cannot agree to your request. Lin Tian harmed a fellow disciple and refuses to admit his guilt. Such a scourge must never be condoned!”

Shen Yueyao clearly didn't expect him to refuse so bluntly. She was stunned for a moment and pressed:

“What does the Saint mean by this? Lin Tian only made a mistake in the heat of the moment...”

“A mistake?”

Lu Yi sneered and interrupted her:

“Your Highness the Saintess has been out training for a long time and probably doesn't understand the recent affairs of the Sect very well. Then let me tell you what ‘good deeds’ this Lin Tian has done!”

His voice suddenly rose:

“A few days ago, because he was disrespectful to this Saint, he was thrown into the Fierce Beast Garden to reflect. This is the first: lack of respect for hierarchy!”

“After being rescued, the very next day, he got into a dispute with a fellow disciple over a trivial matter, resorted to violence, and even insulted an Elder of the Hall of Enforcement. He was then imprisoned in the Netherworld Water Prison. This is the second: a violent temperament!”

“And this time, just after being rescued, he committed a public assault at the Martial Arts Arena, killing Elder Shen He's direct grandson with a single palm strike!”

“Afterwards, far from showing any remorse, he even tried to frame this Saint and shift the blame onto me. This is the third: repeated offenses without reform!”

With every sentence Lu Yi spoke, his voice rose a notch.

That righteous appearance made it seem as if these things had nothing to do with him... He stared at Shen Yueyao, his tone becoming severe:

“Your Highness the Saintess, such an unrepentant and lawless scourge of the Sect—and you want me to step in and protect him now?”

“Where do you place the Sect's rules? And where do you place your duties as a Saintess? Acting so impulsively, are you worthy of the Sect's cultivation of you?”

This barrage of criticism from a moral high ground left Shen Yueyao completely dazed.

She knew nothing of Lin Tian's previous actions.

She turned to look at Lin Qingxuan beside her, silently asking with her eyes:

“Is what he said true? Why didn't you tell me?”

Lin Qingxuan was already overwhelmed with shame.

She had thought that with the Saintess's status, it would be enough to easily rescue her brother, so she had deliberately hidden those unsavory past events.

Who would have thought that Lu Yi would expose everything right in front of her best friend?

Thus, she could only bury her head even lower, wishing a crack would open in the ground for her to crawl into.

Seeing Lin Qingxuan's reaction, Shen Yueyao knew that what Lu Yi said was true.

And she was also made to flush with embarrassment by Lu Yi's moral kidnapping in the name of “for the Sect.”

Her heart felt both a bit of anger and immense awkwardness, yet she couldn't refute him.

Then she took a deep breath, took Lin Qingxuan's hand, and said:

“In that case, I won't trouble the Saint any further!”

She could only leave here first and find another way.

However, just as the two turned to take their leave, Lu Yi's voice drifted lazily from behind:

“Wait! I didn't say I was unwilling to help, did I?”

Shen Yueyao's steps paused, and she clenched her teeth.

He had just scolded her so vigorously, and now he was willing to help?!

Lu Yi continued:

“I can help. But there is a prerequisite: Miss Lin must first clear the ‘debt’ she owes before we discuss further conditions...”

“Debt?”

Shen Yueyao was even more confused. She turned around, looked at Lu Yi, and instinctively spoke:

“What debt does she owe you? I'll help her repay it—”

Before she could finish her sentence, Lin Qingxuan beside her acted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

“Don't!”

She gave a startled cry, lunged forward, and firmly covered Shen Yueyao's mouth.

Then, she desperately pushed her best friend, who was full of question marks, out of the hall.

“Sister Yueyao! I beg you! Please go out first! Let me talk to His Highness the Saint alone! Please!”

Shen Yueyao was even more bewildered by this sudden move, but seeing the eyes of Lin Qingxuan filled with plea, she finally gave up resistance.

After being pushed out of the hall, because she was worried, she decided to wait outside, wanting to ask Lin Qingxuan what exactly was going on when she came out.

Her face was now full of question marks; she really couldn't understand what had happened during the time she was away.

The moment Shen Yueyao's figure completely disappeared outside the hall doors, the System's voice sounded in Lu Yi's mind again:

[Detected that the requester has left. This choice is invalid, and the options have been reset!]

Lu Yi was overjoyed.

He had gambled correctly! Indeed, he couldn't be led by the nose by this damn System!

He pulled back his thoughts and looked ahead, only to see Lin Qingxuan slowly turning around after pushing her friend out, her head lowered as she walked toward Lu Yi step by step...