535: Chapter 535 Find some fun for yourself

Deep in the eastern alley of Fusang Main City, an inconspicuous courtyard was hidden behind a few old locust trees.

Ling Hao pushed the door and entered.

Mu Xiyao looked up and saw Ling Hao, her gaze passing over his shoulder to land on the several figures behind him—Baili Rou, Zhu Jin, Bai Zhi, and Shu Lan.

Mu Xiyao's expression tightened, and she stepped forward quickly:

"Senior, are they Disciples of the Moonshadow Sect? Why did you bring them here too? That Zhu Xuanni of the Golden Crow Holy Land and the Supreme Elder Xuanshui of the Xuanwu Holy Land are both currently overseeing Fusang Main City. If they were to be discovered..."

Ling Hao tilted his head to look at her, a playful smile appearing at the corner of his mouth:

"Are you... doubting my strength?"

Mu Xiyao waved her hands hurriedly: "I dare not, I dare not. This Junior is just worried—"

"No need to worry."

Ling Hao's tone was casual as he walked into the courtyard.

"With me here to conceal their auras, those two Mahayana Stage Cultivators won't be able to detect anything, even if they have the intention to investigate."

In fact, as long as Yu Zhaohua and the others disguised themselves properly and did not appear swaggeringly in front of those two Supremes, they would not be exposed.

The entire Tanggu Kingdom had been turned upside down; even the Giant Clan had been pressured into allowing Meigu Valley to be half-searched.

The so-called "half-search" referred to the location of the fusang wood stump deep within the Abyss. The Giant Clan refused to let outsiders set foot there no matter what.

At that time, Yu Zhaohua and the others were hiding in the Peach Forest. They had set up a Formation in advance, and the Divine Sense of Mahayana Stage Cultivators could not scan them at all.

The Golden Crow Saint suspected as much, but he did not want a mutual destruction. However, after failing to find anyone for so long, Yang Ritian gradually felt that they were probably no longer in Tanggu Kingdom.

Continuing the search now was also to prevent them from sneaking back in before the Dingding Ceremony; after all, the Golden Crow Saint did not want any external factors to disrupt that ceremony.

Ling Hao sat down on a stone stool in the courtyard, his gaze falling on Mu Xiyao.

She was wearing a sea-blue wide-sleeved dress today, wearing that pair of East Sea pearl earrings, and faint spiritual power fluctuations from several high-grade Magic Treasures could be felt from her.

"You said in your letter that you wanted to ask for my protection?"

Ling Hao looked her up and down, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.

"With the defensive items you have on you, plus the top-grade Dao Artifact I gifted you previously, who could hurt you unless a Mahayana Stage Cultivator appears?"

Hearing him say this, a trace of embarrassed redness appeared on Mu Xiyao's face as she lowered her head and twisted her sleeves:

"What this Junior is asking for... is not personal protection."

She raised her eyes, her gaze flickering for a moment.

"It is the hope that you could provide some offensive means. After all—in case something happens, I cannot just rely on taking hits."

"As long as Senior is willing to provide them, whatever Senior needs, as long as my Mu Family has it, we can bring it out."

Ling Hao picked up the teapot on the stone table and poured himself a cup, taking a slow sip before saying:

"How about this, you just need to do me a favor."

"Do you know where the best place to stay in Fusang Main City is?"

Mu Xiyao was slightly stunned, then replied:

"The best place to stay is naturally the 'Four Seasons Courtyard'. It is a garden that can adjust the scenery of the four seasons according to the owner's wishes. There are flowers in spring, cool breezes in summer, bright moons in autumn, and the first snow in winter. Within one courtyard, one can experience the changing of the four seasons; hot springs, exotic rocks, and ancient trees and famous flowers are all available."

"In the entire Fusang Main City, one cannot find a second place as exquisite as this. Come to think of it, it is a property of my East Sea Chamber of Commerce."

She stopped suddenly at this point, a flash of inspiration appearing in her mind as her gaze fell on Ling Hao's amused expression:

"Senior... do you want to stay there? ...But being so high-profile, aren't you afraid of the Golden Crow Saint..."

"Correct."

Ling Hao put down the teacup, the curve of his mouth deepening.

"Before destroying the Golden Crow Holy Land, one must find some amusement for oneself."

"Amusement?"

Mu Xiyao was stunned for a moment, not understanding what he meant. But she understood the smile at the corner of Ling Hao's mouth.

"Senior, you mean..."

"Since it is your Mu Family's property, that makes things easy." Ling Hao stood up and patted her shoulder.

"I need you to—"

He leaned in slightly, whispering into Mu Xiyao's ear.

Warm breath brushed against her earlobe, causing Mu Xiyao's shoulder to tremble slightly. Her ear roots turned red instantly, and even her breathing stalled for a moment.

She did not dare to move, only feeling that low voice tickling her heart through her ear canal; she barely heard a few words of what followed.

By the time Ling Hao finished speaking and straightened up, she was still frozen in place, only regaining her senses after a while.

"Did you hear clearly?"

Mu Xiyao shook her head.

Ling Hao said it again with a smile.

This time, Mu Xiyao heard it clearly and nodded vigorously:

"Okay! This Junior will follow Senior's arrangements!"

Ling Hao took out a stack of Talismans and a Formation Plate and handed them to her:

"Keep these well."

Mu Xiyao took them with both hands and carefully put them into her storage ring, the smile on her face impossible to suppress.

She was about to turn around to make arrangements when she suddenly remembered something and scratched her head:

"By the way, Senior, that Four Seasons Courtyard has been vacant for a while, so it needs to be cleaned and tidied up. It will take at least until tomorrow to get it ready. Why don't you rest here tonight—"

"No need."

Ling Hao waved his hand. "The Giant Clan side has already arranged a place for me."

He took out a sound-transmission Talisman, twirled it at his fingertips, and smiled slightly at Mu Xiyao.

"I will go over when the time comes. You go ahead and get busy."

"Okay!"

...

Hundreds of thousands of miles away from Tanggu Kingdom, in a courtyard of a quiet city.

When Zhu Xuanni stepped into the courtyard, Yang Ritian was standing with his hands behind his back under the veranda, his golden-red interwoven magnificent robes flowing with dazzling luster in the sunlight.

He turned his head upon hearing footsteps, and when his gaze fell on Zhu Xuanni's face, his pupils dilated for a moment.

He had been looking at this face for over a thousand years, yet every time he saw it, he would still feel dazed.

"Mother..."

He almost blurted it out. But in the end, Yang Ritian suppressed those two words and put on a smile: "Auntie Ni is here."

Zhu Xuanni stood still in the center of the courtyard, her plain-colored Daoist robe fluttering slightly in the draft, the silver hairpin in her hair gleaming with cold light. She did not return his smile, but asked indifferently:

"Saint, what is the matter?"

Yang Ritian took a jade box from his sleeve; the Nine Heavens Purple Jade Bamboo Shoot inside emitted a warm luster in the sunlight. This was a Heaven And Earth Treasure he had specifically bought at an auction and carefully cultivated.

He knew that Auntie Ni had always liked this.

"Auntie Ni, this was specifically sought out for you."

He held the jade box and stepped forward.

Zhu Xuanni looked down at the jade box, then looked up at him, her gaze as calm as a pool of stagnant water.

"Your mother is your mother, and I am your aunt."

"If you consider me your aunt, you shouldn't have these thoughts."

The smile on Yang Ritian's face stiffened slightly: "Auntie Ni, I just want to treat you better..."

Zhu Xuanni interrupted him:

"If you weren't my nephew, and because of your mother's dying wish, I wouldn't even want to see you again."

As she spoke, her gaze fell on the wall in the distance of the courtyard, as if she were too tired to look at him even for one more second.

"You called me back just for this? There is nothing to talk about."

She turned to leave, and Yang Ritian hurriedly took a step forward:

"Auntie Ni—if you are unwilling, then forget it. I only ask that Auntie Ni can protect my safety during this period."

Zhu Xuanni paused, turned her head to scan the surroundings of the courtyard, and frowned slightly:

"What about that Elder Hong who follows you?"

Yang Ritian lowered his eyes:

"I sent him to do something."

Zhu Xuanni asked again: "Does the Golden Crow Saintess not need me to keep an eye on her side?"

Yang Ritian shook his head: "No need."

When he recalled Zhu Xuanni, he had sent several Void Tempering Elders to secretly protect Saintess Yan Xueyuan.

Zhu Xuanni was silent for a breath, turned around to look at him,

"Fine. Then protecting you this time, does it count as one request?"

Yang Ritian gritted his back teeth, looking at that cold face, and finally squeezed a word out from between his teeth:

"It counts."

"Very good."

Zhu Xuanni turned and walked towards the door, the sleeves of her plain-colored Daoist robe drawing a sharp arc in the wind.

"You have one last time. Once the last request is finished, you and I will have no further ties."

"Think about it yourself. But don't think about those filthy things; I won't agree to them."

Her figure disappeared outside the door, leaving only the sound of the draft in the courtyard and the creaking sound of Yang Ritian's clenched knuckles.

Yang Ritian stood in place, looking in the direction where she disappeared, his eyes churning with gloom and unwillingness.

He, the Golden Crow Saint, was considered a homosexual by outsiders, but he had improper thoughts only for his aunt.

However, Zhu Xuanni would not let him touch her at all, and because of this nephew's actions, she was extremely disgusted by him.

What exactly is wrong with me?

Auntie Ni, little aunt, I must have you!

Wait until I refine that Dao Fruit and the fusang wood stump, and break through to the Mahayana Stage.

Yang Ritian's aura suddenly turned stern, the pressure of the Late Stage Undergoing Tribulation firmly restrained within a certain range, and a layer of dark red, scarlet aura seeped from the surface of his skin, wrapping around his body.

That external Void Tempering Realm was merely a disguise.