Chapter 301: Countering Their Strategy
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"Would you like to hear how your own First Disciple was impaled through and through by Ye Qinghan's sword?"
"Youwei didn't know of Master's plan. I thought you intended to thoroughly torment them, but instead you've been brainwashed by this group of seductresses?"
"Master, acting this way—doesn't it break Yuwei's heart?"
Leaning against Su Cheng's shoulder like lovers sharing secrets, Youwei spoke words that wounded the enemy eight hundredfold while inflicting twelve thousand wounds upon herself.
Truthfully, Su Cheng understood this was unfair to her. It was obvious that getting Chu Youwei to accept Ye Qinghan and her sisters would be incredibly difficult.
"Mm, I understand."
"I thought you'd be begging for forgiveness and asking me to tolerate you~"
Chu Youwei had always been this way. Their bond long transcended the need for apologies.
"Everything you need is within the jade pendant. You can also use it to access the treasures of the Moon-Winding Pavilion. Try it out, and you'll see what's available."
"Alright~ Master, I'll be back soon~"
Pulling her hood low, Chu Youwei backed away, disappearing into the crowd of spectators.
Her beautiful eyes were concealed by the hood, revealing only strands of hair peeking from her collar and a faintly curved red lip—an expression Su Cheng couldn't decipher.
As if she were saying something, but Su Cheng couldn't hear it.
Chaos reigned. Su Cheng couldn't even hear his own thoughts.
Troubles seemed to follow him relentlessly. Su Cheng barely had time to patch one hole before another one needed fixing.
"Is my master tired?"
"Heh, Xiao Ai once said I'm unworthy of complaining about fatigue… Hmm, Jue'er?"
Su Cheng jumped in surprise. When the hell did this guy show up? Wasn't he just riding on Su Muchan a moment ago?
"Is that so? Let Jue'er massage your shoulders for you?"
"Er… well, Jue'er, that's not necessary…"
"Is Master thinking about Sister Youwei?"
"Even if I hadn't said anything, with your sisters' sharp wits, you'd probably have guessed the gist of it already, right?"
Dongfang Jue nodded. "Master, is it really Jue'er and the two senior sisters who killed Sister Youwei?"
Su Cheng felt a bit helpless. To say it wasn't them would be impossible to justify.
Had his arrival not triggered a butterfly effect, this world's course would have unfolded according to its predetermined narrative.
His three direct disciples would have joined the Celestial Path Pavilion, becoming the murderers of Chu Youwei.
But now, these three disciples had done nothing wrong, yet they had to bear the brunt of Chu Youwei's hatred. Was that fair?
Likewise, it was only natural for Chu Youwei to hate them after they had jointly killed her. It would be strange if she could remain calm and befriend them.
This is unfair—both to Chu Youwei and to the three direct disciples.
"Of course not. Rest assured, Youwei wasn't a bad girl. She wouldn't harm you."
"Hmm… Jue'er, I'm willing to be friends with Sister Youwei… I won't put Master in a difficult position…"
Before Dongfang Jue could finish, Su Cheng interrupted.
"Jue'er hasn't done anything wrong. This isn't your fault. You don't need to do this. Understand?"
"If Youwei bullies you, you must tell your master. I will stand up for each and every one of you."
"Since you've taken me as your master, I will never let any of you suffer injustice."
"Just let things take their natural course. Do you understand?"
Dongfang Jue understood her master's meaning perfectly well. He didn't want them to go out of their way to curry favor.
"But I hope Master…"
"Hehe, with a sensible disciple like Jue'er, this master has it much easier."
As he spoke, Su Cheng affectionately ruffled Dongfang Jue's hair, silencing any further protests she might have had.
"Jue'er, you were in the Eastern Realm last night too, weren't you?"
"Hehe, Master, Jue'er thought you went to sneak some tasty treats! That's why I went to check—I wasn't following you on purpose!"
Of course, that wasn't what Su Cheng meant. Whenever a treasure was summoned, the system would alert him. As long as he wasn't asleep, he'd almost always notice.
"Never mind. That mist-shrouded area—let's call it a death zone for now—may very well appear in the Southern Domain too. You'd best prepare accordingly, Jue'er."
Dongfang Jue narrowed her beautiful eyes, furrowing her brow in deep thought.
"Hmm, Jue'er has seen it too. Ordinary cultivators likely couldn't stand against such monsters. We'll probably need to organize a specialized expeditionary force to kill them."
Su Cheng watched Dongfang Jue like this, a smile on his face, as if he were looking at his daughter-in-law…
"Right. Continue."
Uh…
Dongfang Jue clearly misunderstood, thinking her master was laughing at her…
"Um… Master, Jue'er overstepped. What did you say, Master…"
Su Cheng froze: "No, I have nothing to say. I'm only concerned with matters of the Lingxian Hall~"
Dongfang Jue pouted, her face brimming with displeasure!
"Master, you've gone bad!"
Su Cheng smiled indifferently.
"Heh heh, everyone has their own responsibilities, don't they?"
"I merely offered Jue'er a reminder. Protecting you is indeed my duty, but safeguarding the common folk of the Southern Realm—that is a matter for a princess like Jue'er to contemplate."
Dongfang Jue narrowed her eyes, crossed her arms, and gave a cold snort!
"Master, you're so cunning!"
"Then Jue'er plans to first post notices and dispatch patrols around the Southern Realm. Upon any discovery, immediately seal off the surrounding areas to minimize civilian casualties."
"Simultaneously, we'll arrange for nearby residents to evacuate, then deploy elite troops to take control of the surrounding areas."
Su Cheng nodded, but also offered some insights.
"The toxic mist in the Deadlands is no ordinary phenomenon. It may mutate nearby animals or humans, turning them violent and uncontrollable. Even Jue'er's elite troops must proceed with utmost caution."
"Will they turn into man-eating monsters?"
"They likely won't eat people, but they will become bloodthirsty monsters."
Li Shiyu of Holy Mountain slowly opened her eyes. Today's cultivation session was essentially over, and Second Grandma was starting to feel hungry.
"Third Elder! Stone Elder! Shiyu's tummy is rumbling!"
Several old men came running at the sound, shouting as they approached!
"Hurry up! Can't you hear the Holy Maiden saying she's hungry?"
The elders abandoned all dignity. Usually ethereal and dignified, they now looked like they were about to rush a clearance sale…
"What's wrong with you? What do you mean 'just reheat it'? Make it again!"
Truth be told, the elders had fallen asleep waiting for Shiyao. Before her cultivation session, she’d promised to instruct them afterward.
The elders had assumed Li Shiyu would just go through the motions for a bit, so they'd sent someone to prepare a feast for her instead!
But no one could have imagined that the meal prepared for Immortal Su would go untouched.
The meal prepared for the Holy Maiden also went untouched!
That gluttonous little thing had actually cultivated for a full day!
In the past, getting Li Shiyu to cultivate for even two hours required a mix of deception and coaxing!
Sometimes she even had to lock the Holy Maiden in a cave to force her to practice!
Who would have thought that after a single cycle in Lingxian Hall, she'd developed such excellent cultivation habits!
But this was largely thanks to Lingxian Hall's cultivation environment—no one supervised them, and their master often tempted them with delicious food!
"Woof~"
Come mealtime, Li Shiyu’s mood visibly brightened. Fresh from her bath, she changed into clean clothes and devoured three bowls of rice with gusto!
"Shiyao, did Immortal Su give you some advice?"
"No. Just call that guy over tomorrow and tell her to come collect the sacred blood."
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