504: Chapter 504 The Mu Family's Intentions, Inspired by Poetry

Mu Yaoguang looked at her daughter and asked suddenly: "Xiyao, what is your impression of this Moon Shadow Sect Master?"

Mu Xiyao was taken aback by the sudden question. She blinked, thought carefully, and then spoke: "He is not like the rumors..."

"Like what?"

"Not as hideous or licentious as rumored."

"Although he isn't as good-looking as the rumors suggest, he is quite decent. He has a certain... temperament. I like it very much. And he is very good at complimenting people."

Mu Yaoguang was speechless: "Is that what I asked?"

Mu Xiyao looked innocent: "Mother, didn't you ask for my impression?"

Mu Yaoguang rubbed her forehead. Her daughter, who was usually as sharp as a little fox at the negotiating table, why did she act so confused at times like this?

Was that what she meant?

No, she was the one who was confused. A young girl at the Nascent Soul Stage, what could she possibly discern?

Mu Xiyao realized it belatedly and said seriously: "Mother, are you thinking of the Moon Shadow Holy Land..."

She didn't finish, but the meaning was clear.

Mu Yunluo spoke slowly from the side: "I was observing just now. This Moon Shadow Sect Master has unfathomable cultivation, acts with composure, and is extremely measured. He is indeed not the 'hideous-faced, sleeping with a hundred women a night' person from the rumors—those rumors are mostly spread by the Golden Crow Holy Land on purpose."

A soft sound came from outside the door. An Elder wearing a sea-blue robe bowed and entered. Holding a Jade Slip in his hand, he walked quickly to Mu Yaoguang's side and whispered: "Family Head, the intelligence is confirmed."

Mu Yaoguang took the Jade Slip and probed it with her Divine Sense. Her expression gradually darkened.

Mu Xiyao observed her expression: "Mother, what is it?"

Mu Yaoguang handed the Jade Slip to her: "The Golden Crow Holy Land and the Yuan Family must have already joined forces. The intelligence states clearly that the two families have been secretly communicating for months."

The expressions of Mu Xiyao and Mu Yunluo also changed.

The Yuan Family was the Family of the Chief of the East Sea Chamber of Commerce. They had massive influence within the Chamber and were backed by a Mahayana Supreme. The Golden Crow Holy Land and the Yuan Family joining forces meant the Mu Family's situation in the Chamber would become even more difficult.

"Then we have no choice but to choose the Moon Shadow Holy Land?"

Mu Xiyao looked up, her tone filled with uncertainty.

Mu Yaoguang did not answer immediately. She walked to the window, turned her back to her daughter and aunt, and remained silent for a long time.

Seeing this, Mu Xiyao asked softly: "Mother, shouldn't you be happy? Since Moon Shadow Sect Master came in person, it shows he is determined to get the kan cauldron. As long as we use the kan cauldron as a gift, the chances of cooperation are high."

Mu Yaoguang turned around, the worry on her face not dissipating: "Some time ago, the Xuanwu Holy Land already sent people to the Golden Crow Holy Land, saying they wanted to join forces to destroy the Moon Shadow Holy Land. Can the Moon Shadow Holy Land withstand it? If they cannot, everything we invest will be for naught."

Mu Xiyao opened her mouth, wanting to say "maybe they can," but the voice became very soft when it reached her lips, as if even she lacked the confidence.

Mu Yaoguang sighed: "Even if we exhausted all the Mu Family's resources to win the support of the Golden Crow Holy Land, according to the news just now, it is highly likely that the Golden Crow Holy Land has already colluded with the Niding Alliance. The hundred-year deadline is approaching again. If the Central Plains nine tripods Alliance's regional inspectors discover that the Mu Family is involved with the Niding Alliance, even if it is only an indirect connection, the Mu Family will be doomed."

A dilemma; ahead is a cliff, behind is an abyss.

Mu Yunluo leaned on her cane and spoke slowly: "Does the Yuan Family know that the Golden Crow Holy Land and the Niding Alliance are together? The regional inspectors haven't appeared for a long time. Not to mention Heaven Rank, even the Body Integration Stage Yellow Rank regional inspectors haven't appeared for thousands of years. I'm afraid few people in the outer states even remember this."

Mu Yaoguang shook her head: "The Yuan Family likely doesn't know. Given the Yuan Family's style, if they knew the Golden Crow Holy Land was colluding with the Niding Alliance, they wouldn't dare to get so close. But whether they know or not, it's the same for us—either way, it's a blade to the neck."

She picked up her teacup and took a sip, her gaze calming down: "In this world, ultimately, might makes right. If the Moon Shadow Holy Land is strong enough, we won't need to consider so much. Let's take a gamble."

"The kan cauldron cannot be kept anyway. Instead of letting the Golden Crow Holy Land or the Niding Alliance get it, it is better to gift it to the Moonshadow Sect as a sign of sincerity, and use it as an opening to discuss cooperation."

She paused, her gaze falling on the deepening twilight outside the window: "However, let's first see his performance at the auction and afterwards. If that Moon Shadow Sect Master can truly obtain the kan cauldron under the covetous eyes of the Golden Crow Holy Land, it shows that the Moon Shadow Holy Land's foundation is deeper than rumored, and the Mu Family will go all out to secure this ally. If he takes the kan cauldron, it basically indicates that he will stand in opposition to the Golden Crow Holy Son, leaving no room for mediation with the Golden Crow Holy Land."

Mu Yunluo nodded slightly: "That is exactly what should be done."

Mu Xiyao stood by the window, looking in the direction where Ling Hao and the others disappeared, her fingertips unconsciously flicking the seashell bell on her wrist, making a series of crisp, faint sounds.

In the backyard of the East Sea Chamber of Commerce.

After entering, Ling Hao raised his hand to set up an isolation Formation. Faint spiritual light spread out like water waves, enveloping the entire room, cutting off all outside sounds and surveillance.

Yue Xinlan walked back to her room expressionlessly, deliberately using some force when closing the door, and the bamboo door made a "pop" sound.

As soon as she turned around, she saw the painting on the wall.

It was a silk handscroll, one foot two inches high and six feet wide, very elegant.

In the distance, twelve peaks were hidden in the clouds and mist, half a cold moon appeared where the clouds broke at the waist of the peaks, and a waterfall poured down from the clouds. A streak of rainbow appeared on the horizon, and the bell tower of an ancient temple was vaguely visible in the depths of the distant peaks.

In the middle ground, a clear stream meandered through, peach blossoms lined the banks, falling petals followed the current, a small boat was half-hidden under the peach branches, with a bamboo pole resting diagonally; amidst the slanting wind and fine rain, several clusters of banana trees swayed.

In the foreground, there was a thatched cottage by the stream, warm red candlelight shining through the window, a stone bridge spanning the stream, a few scattered red petals flying over the east of the bridge, the surface of the stream spotted with remnants of red, the flowing water silent as it went east.

She couldn't help but take a few more looks, thinking: It's actually quite beautiful.

Just then, low whispers and the rustling of clothing could be heard from next door, occasionally mixed with Yu Lingshuang's cold, low hums, and Ling Hao's extremely low laughter.

Yue Xinlan sat on the edge of the bed, covering her ears with both hands, staring at a dim candle flame, her little face tense.

These two—they didn't treat her as an outsider at all.

She turned over hatefully, pulled the quilt over her head, and just as she was about to seal her five senses, the voices from next door drilled in again.

"There is a painting here, it's quite beautiful."

Ling Hao's voice carried a smile, "One line each?"

Yu Lingshuang hummed softly, seemingly with a hint of bashful annoyance: "I'll accompany you."

After a moment of silence, Ling Hao recited slowly:

"Candle shadows dance red, reflecting off snow-capped peaks; spring marks divide the middle, the mood is hazy."

Yue Xinlan was startled under the quilt, her eyes couldn't help but peer through the crack of the quilt, subconsciously looking at the thatched cottage in the painting with warm red candlelight, then shifting to the snow-capped peaks in the distant clouds.

She frowned slightly, vaguely feeling something was amiss.

Then she heard Yu Lingshuang continue: "Green peaks stand opposite in the clouds; the jade tree stands in the wind, its stance inherently majestic."

Green peaks... opposite? She swept her gaze across the twelve peaks in the painting, seeing two steep mountain peaks facing each other across the clouds, and a giant tree on the cliff of the left peak rushing straight into the firmament.

Yue Xinlan's ears felt hot, and she cursed inwardly.

These two, could it be that they want to... Before her thoughts could finish, the tone next door changed indeed.

Ling Hao started again, his voice lower: "Warm wind enters the peach blossom path first; lightly probing the spring stream, the water gradually melts."

Yue Xinlan stared fixedly at the peach blossoms on the banks and the meandering clear stream in the painting, where the falling petals were drifting towards the stream surface.

She wanted to sit up and scold them, but she wanted to listen... what else these two could recite.

Yu Lingshuang, however, continued unhurriedly: "Suddenly light thunder arises as clouds gather; a river of misty rain provides temporary shelter."

"Clouds open and mist clears, leading to a secluded place; a pole is pushed into the clear stream."

The small boat in the painting, with the bamboo pole resting diagonally, was placed right on the clear stream. Yue Xinlan clenched the corner of the quilt, her teeth gently biting her lip.

"Fine rain and slanting wind wet the emerald peaks; the sound of the stream becomes rapid, water murmuring."

Yu Lingshuang followed very quickly, her cold voice hiding a slight tremor.

Yue Xinlan looked at the emerald peaks in the wind and rain in the painting, the stream flowing in a murmuring manner, as if she could really hear the sound of water getting faster. But, was it the sound coming from the painting?

Ling Hao recited again: "Light pole taps the water in the stream; nine twists and turns, letting it go west or east."

The bamboo pole of the small boat in the painting lightly tapped the stream water, traveling through nine twists; Yue Xinlan stared dead at the painting, as if she had penetrated the canvas and seen next door? She couldn't take her eyes off it for a moment.

"Peach blossoms on both banks move with the water; the spring scenery of the river is at its peak."

"Wind is fierce and rain is heavy, the sound of the stream is chaotic; scattered red petals fly over the east of the small bridge."

Yue Xinlan's gaze swept across the stone bridge, a few scattered red petals were flying over the east of the bridge.

"Waves hit the small boat, drifting without destination; clouds are deep and mist wraps around, locking a thousand layers."

At this line, Yu Lingshuang's voice trembled slightly at the end, as if suppressing something.

Yue Xinlan saw the small boat rising and falling in the waves in the painting, clouds and mist locking deeply; her heart pounded wildly, and she even felt a trace of admiration—they could even continue this?

Truly worthy of...

"Strong wind urges the flower branches to tremble; rain hits the banana trees, the night is deep."

Banana trees. Her gaze rested on the clusters of banana trees swaying in the slanting wind and fine rain in the painting. At this moment, in her eyes, every trembling banana leaf had changed its flavor.

"The sound of the stream has turned into thunder; a small boat rushes through the waves."

Yu Lingshuang's voice seemed to spill out from between her teeth.

The sound of the stream in the painting was like thunder, the small boat rushing through the waves.

"A pouring rain leaks down from the clouds; sprinkling over the twelve peaks of Wushan!!!"

Ling Hao recited this line wantonly and lazily.

Yue Xinlan stared instinctively at the waterfall pouring down and the twelve cloud-mist mountain peaks in the painting.

"Spring tide splits the shore with a thousand piles of snow; the moon breaks through the clouds to illuminate the clear sky."

Yu Lingshuang continued intermittently, her breathing audible through the wall.

Yue Xinlan looked again, seeing the cold moon on the painting breaking through the clouds, the stream tide hitting the shore like snow; she closed her eyes tightly, muttering to herself: It's not over yet...

"Rain passes and the sky clears, clouds gradually disperse; a rainbow hangs over the distant peaks."

Ling Hao's tone relaxed, as if finishing the poem.

Her gaze softened along with it, falling on the streak of rainbow on the horizon and the distant peaks, and she couldn't help but quietly breathe a sigh of relief.

Yu Lingshuang's voice was slightly hoarse, slowly concluding:

"The remaining red still carries the color of rouge; the flowing water enters the evening bell without a sound."

Yue Xinlan stared fixedly at the scattered red petals floating on the stream in the painting, the flowing water going east without a sound, the bell tower of the ancient temple in the distance sinking into the twilight.

The room fell silent for a moment.

She pulled down the quilt covering her head, took a deep breath, her little face still flushed.

This Moon Shadow Sect Master, should she call him refined or what...

Yue Xinlan stared at the dim candle flame, squeezing a few words out from between her teeth:

"So many tricks."

Then she turned over hatefully, wrapping herself into a cocoon with the quilt.

She realized she was really despicable! Knowing what it was, she still wanted to keep listening!

There is no saving her...