"But you were lucky, Young Master. Anyone whom Miss Qin has troubled before, she'd invite them to the arena. If they weren't beaten until they had a few holes poked in them, she wouldn't let them off easily."
Tao Jiu'er said with lingering fear, recalling the rumors.
"She definitely wanted to beat you up just now."
Yun Zhonghe recalled that flushed face just now and couldn't help but murmur, "I think she's quite cute."
Tao Jiu'er: "..."
Chapter 14: Dual-Line Operation is Also Easy
Because of the interlude with Qin Hongye, Yun Zhonghe returned to the mansion a bit late.
After returning to the Yun Mansion, Yun Zhonghe asked Tao Jiu'er to report to his Mother on his behalf, explaining the situation of today's gift presentation.
Anyway, there were no major issues; the journey was smooth.
He now needed to seize the time to prepare well for his future.
"Jiu'er Jie, I'll leave the matter with Mother to you. I still have important things to do!"
"Young Master...!"
Yun Zhonghe disappeared in a flash, and Tao Jiu'er was also quite helpless, so she had to go to Madam alone to report...
...
In the main hall of the Yun Family, a beautiful woman listened to Tao Jiu'er's report.
She was Yun Zhonghe's Mother, Chen, and also the mistress of the Yun Mansion.
Although Chen had a child as old as Yun Zhonghe, she looked very young, as if only in her early twenties. She was tall and slender, with picturesque eyebrows and eyes, skin like snow, delicate and beautiful features, and a dignified and elegant demeanor. She was a rare beauty.
Her appearance was somewhat similar to Yun Zhonghe's.
Arranging for Yun Zhonghe to present the gift this time was also a test for Yun Zhonghe. Her son usually didn't commit major mistakes but made constant minor ones, completely a good-for-nothing idler. Fortunately, Helm Master Li was her former fellow disciple and good sister, considered one of her own people, who could help her keep a close watch. Even if he offended someone a little, there wasn't too much to worry about.
Chen was also prepared for Yun Zhonghe to act foolishly.
However, when Tao Jiu'er told Chen that Yun Zhonghe's speech and behavior were proper and perfect during his exchange with Helm Master Li, and that he had received Helm Master Li's praise, and had even helped Lin Zhongyu, who was being bullied earlier, Chen was completely stunned.
She knew better than anyone what kind of character her son had. How could he suddenly change his nature?
Chen asked, "What is He'er doing now?"
Tao Jiu'er: "It seems he went to the Scripture Pavilion. He said he wants to work hard to improve himself, and he stayed up all night yesterday too."
Chen: ???
Was this still her eldest son?
...
Scripture Pavilion.
After obtaining the copies of two profound skill Secret Manuals, Yun Zhonghe left contentedly.
As the Young Master of the Yun Family, he was the next Master of the Yun Family, so he basically had the right to use anything belonging to the Yun Family. Even the Yun Family's famous profound skills could be easily obtained as copies.
Eight Wilderness Swordplay, a High Grade Profound Tier sword technique!
Looking at the entire Cangzhou City, there were only a handful of forces that could produce Profound Tier profound skills, let alone High Grade Profound Tier. This single sword technique alone was enough to dominate the entire Cangzhou City (of course, except for the Immortal Alliance).
Coupled with the Yun Family's unique Cultivation Technique, Golden Sun Art, and a top-grade Metal element Spiritual Root, it could even unleash the Eight Wilderness Swordplay to a level comparable to Earth Tier profound skills. It was precisely because of this that the Yun Family's strength was far ahead of other noble families.
Once, Yun Zhonghe's Father, who was at the late Golden Core Stage, relied on this ultimate skill to forcefully kill a Nascent Soul Stage demonic creature, shaking the entire city.
This famous ultimate skill would sooner or later be passed down to Yun Zhonghe to carry forward.
"High Grade Profound Tier profound skill, even when I was playing the game before, I had to wait until Huang Aotian reached the Golden Core Stage to have a chance to obtain it. Now, with my identity as the Young Master of the Yun Family, I can easily obtain it."
After returning to his study, Yun Zhonghe's face was filled with excitement. This Eight Wilderness Swordplay was a profound skill that was quite difficult to obtain in the game in his previous life. In terms of power alone, the Eight Wilderness Swordplay could almost rank first among Profound Tier profound skills.
Moreover, in the game in his previous life, Yun Zhonghe's most proficient weapon was also the sword. He had considerable experience in using swords, and he even had a deep understanding of some hidden techniques.
The so-called hidden techniques were, in essence, game bugs.
"Now that I have transmigrated into the game world, I wonder if the former bugs are still useful. If they are, my strength can be greatly improved, killing enemies across Realms will be easy, and future plans will be easier."
Meeting Qin Hongye today also made Yun Zhonghe suddenly remember a plot detail that was easily overlooked, which is why he specifically came to get the profound skill Secret Manuals.
In the game, Qin Hongye had a subordinate, of course, this subordinate was also a cannon fodder character without even a portrait. Qin Hongye and this subordinate met in Cangzhou City, which corresponds to this current period.
It should be ten days later. The Immortal Alliance's Cangzhou City branch will issue a mission to investigate a missing person case in a small town thirty miles outside Cangzhou City. The Immortal Alliance suspects that it is caused by evil Cultivators or demons.
When this mission was issued, many young and middle-aged people had already gone missing from the small town.
The most peculiar thing was that only young and middle-aged people were missing, not the elderly, weak, women, or children.
Moreover, this mission was not the first time it was issued, but the second time. A team of rogue Cultivators had taken the mission before, but there was no news of them, and they might have already been killed.
Therefore, this mission was issued again, calling for Cultivators to go to the small town to investigate and see if they could rescue the previous team.
The game mentioned that the team leader this time was two Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators, plus five Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators. Qin Hongye's subordinate was one of them.
Logically speaking, in a place like Cangzhou City, which is almost equivalent to a Novice Village , such a configuration is enough to complete any mission.
But unexpectedly, the second team also failed because the mastermind was an evil Cultivator at the Golden Core Stage!
The evil Cultivator was a lunatic and almost wiped out the entire team. In the end, only two people escaped.
These two people were Qin Hongye and the subordinate she later acknowledged.
As for why Qin Hongye was there, the plot explained that she was looking for ice-attribute heavenly treasures nearby to give to Mu Jixue, but unfortunately, she was caught in the middle.
So Yun Zhonghe is now considering whether he can befriend Qin Hongye by replacing Qin Hongye's subordinate, participating in this mission, and then saving Qin Hongye.
First, befriend Qin Hongye, then assist her later, and help her get together with Huang Aotian. He can also be considered a meritorious official, and perhaps he can naturally become Huang Aotian's good brother. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
After all, it didn't say that only the heroines could be with Huang Aotian. Cannon fodder can also have their springtime.
More paths mean more ways to survive. It always feels very difficult to gain Huang Aotian's recognition now, and it's not suitable to put all the bets on the Lin Zhongyu route. If a few more people can speak well of Yun Zhonghe and put in a good word for him with Huang Aotian, his chances of succeeding will be higher.
Actually, Qin Hongye is also a good girl, she's just used to being spoiled and willful. Later, she caused a lot of embarrassing situations and couldn't back down, so she became more and more extreme. Coupled with that subordinate who wasn't a good person and always came up with bad ideas, Qin Hongye was led astray.
If Yun Zhonghe were to befriend Qin Hongye, as long as he guided her well, Qin Hongye would definitely be able to successfully ascend to the position of heroine.
Of course, to be safe, Yun Zhonghe still observed the movement of the Book of Prophecy in his Sea of Consciousness.
Fortunately, the Book of Prophecy did not send out any dangerous signals, which meant that his idea was feasible.
"Hehehe, as expected of me, I'm truly as shrewd as a demon. As long as I cast a wide net and explore more possibilities, I will become Huang Aotian's good brother one day and get rid of the Huang Mao label!"
Yun Zhonghe let out a cunning laugh.
Qin Hongye, do you like Huang Aotian that much?
Then I'll help you!
Of course, I won't give up on Lin Zhongyu's side either. Let's advance both lines simultaneously.
Chapter 15: Huang Aotian is Full of Worries
On the other side.
In the Lin Mansion, Lin Zhongyu was still cultivating tirelessly at night. The events at the Immortal Alliance today seemed to have dealt her a considerable blow, making her feel that her strength was still insufficient.
If Yun Zhonghe hadn't intervened, she wouldn't know what her fate would have been.
Not only that, because of her own reasons, she almost implicated Xue'er. Lin Zhongyu deeply felt her incompetence. Since she had finally recovered her talent with great difficulty, she definitely had to redouble her efforts to catch up on the progress she had fallen behind on over the years.
"If possible... I also want to enter the Xuantian Sect with Xue'er."
Using the Golden Emperor Sacred Eyes to see specks of spiritual energy starlight being absorbed into her body, Lin Zhongyu couldn't help but have this thought.
In a few more days, Mu Jixue would officially enter the Xuantian Sect, and then the two would be separated, not knowing when they would meet again.
Lin Zhongyu didn't want to be separated from Mu Jixue. In the past, she could only reluctantly let go, but now that she had a chance, she didn't want to give up and wanted to give it a try.
However, the spiritual energy in Cangzhou City was thin. Even though the Golden Emperor Sacred Eyes could clearly see the existence of spiritual energy and allow her to efficiently absorb spiritual energy that matched her attribute, directly skipping the refining process, her efficiency in accumulating spiritual power was still low.
So far, her spiritual power has barely reached the level of being about to break through the sixth level of Qi Refinement.
Breaking through in just a few days, such efficiency could be considered Genius throughout the Eastern Continent.
But Lin Zhongyu was not satisfied.
"It's too slow. After the sixth level of Qi Refinement, each small Realm requires more spiritual energy, but in seven days, the Xuantian Sect will have an additional Outer Sect Disciple selection ceremony in Cangzhou City. I wonder if I can make it."
This was Lin Zhongyu's only chance. If she didn't want to be separated from Mu Jixue, she had to be selected, otherwise, the next time the Xuantian Sect came to Cangzhou City to select Outer Sect Disciples would be five years later.
Waiting another five years, it's uncertain whether the two will still be people from the same world.
Just as Lin Zhongyu was lost in thought, her door was suddenly knocked.
"Xiao Yu, are you still awake?"
It was Mu Jixue. Why was she here so late?
Lin Zhongyu's heart stirred. She quickly called out "I'm here" and went to open the door.
Opening the door, she saw Mu Jixue standing outside in a plain dress, holding a pillow.
Lin Zhongyu was curious: "Xue'er, are you...?"
Mu Jixue couldn't sleep at night, and her mind was always filled with the figures of Lin Zhongyu and Yun Zhonghe, which made her heart feel restless and confused. Unconsciously, she came to Lin Zhongyu's door.
Mu Jixue was a little embarrassed and shy. She held the pillow to cover her pretty face, with her eyes peeking out from behind the pillow.
"I... I want to sleep with Xiao Yu. Is that okay?"
Through the faint moonlight, Lin Zhongyu could see the longing and anticipation in Mu Jixue's eyes.
Lin Zhongyu smiled happily: "Of course."
"Yay! ヽ(??▽?)ノ"
Mu Jixue immediately became overjoyed like a child. The two of them often slept together when they were young, but ever since Lin Zhongyu's cultivation began to decline, Lin Zhongyu didn't sleep with Mu Jixue much.
But now that Lin Zhongyu finally agreed, Mu Jixue was very excited, as if she had returned to her childhood.
"Xiao Yu, just like before, you sleep on the inside, and I sleep on the outside, okay?"
Seeing Mu Jixue so excited, Lin Zhongyu found it both amusing and heartwarming.
It seemed she wouldn't be able to Cultivate tonight.
However, compared to that, being able to sleep with Xue'er again made her not feel it was a pity.
It was late at night.
Lin Zhongyu and Mu Jixue held hands. Although the room was dark, Lin Zhongyu could feel Mu Jixue tossing and turning.
"Xue'er, can't you sleep?"
"Huh? Xiao Yu, you're not sleeping either."
"Well... I have something on my mind."
"Me too... the same..."
After saying this, the room became quiet again.
After a long while, Mu Jixue finally couldn't help it. She turned around to face Lin Zhongyu's direction, and her small hand involuntarily clenched.
Lin Zhongyu also felt the strength coming from her side.
Mu Jixue finally spoke: "Xiao Yu, do you believe me?"
The sudden question made Lin Zhongyu pause, but seeing Mu Jixue's sparkling purple eyes in the night, she understood that Mu Jixue was asking the question very seriously.
Lin Zhongyu pondered for a moment, then lightly exhaled: "Xue'er, of course I believe you. You are the most trustworthy person in my world."
There was no falsehood in this sentence.
After a long while, Mu Jixue continued: "Xiao Yu, actually, I've been struggling with the matter of that Yun Zhonghe."
"I know he has shown you kindness, and he helped you a lot today. Logically, I should also thank him."
"But I always feel that he is not a good person. I feel a dangerous aura on him."
"Xiao Yu, do you think I'm being too sensitive?"
After Mu Jixue finished speaking, she heard Lin Zhongyu's prolonged silence.