Chapter 716: The Contradictory Talented Woman
"What's the difference?" Mu Lingxi asked.
Even Shengshu Cainü, standing atop the clouds, raised an eyebrow, showing a curious expression, eager to know how Lin Yue would view these two matters.
Zhang Ruochen spoke unhurriedly: "First matter: she invited you and the top talents of the Demon Sect to the Sword Discussion Assembly. The initiative has always been in her hands."
"Second matter: the Qi Clan secretly colludes with the Demon Sect, plotting to seize the interests of the Eastern Domain. Clearly, she has no control over this matter, which naturally stirs great dissatisfaction in her heart."
"For someone in a high position, there is no such thing as enemies or friends. In her eyes, there are only two kinds of people: those she can control, and those she cannot."
"As long as she can control someone, even an enemy can become a friend. If she cannot control someone, even a friend might be eliminated first."
Mu Lingxi nodded gently, roughly understanding Zhang Ruochen's meaning.
"Whoosh!"
From the sky above, a white beam of light descended, connecting directly to the ground, landing not far from Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi.
The white light quickly contracted, revealing Shengshu Cainü's slender figure.
Shengshu Cainü, with an icy expression, walked toward the two and said, "Lin Yue, in your eyes, am I truly such a malicious person?"
Seeing Shengshu Cainü appear, Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi were both greatly startled.
Zhang Ruochen had already spread his spiritual power, covering the entire Zixia Lingshan. Even a Half-Saint approaching would surely have been detected. That was why he dared to chat and laugh with Mu Lingxi in the courtyard without restraint.
But he never expected that the lofty Shengshu Cainü would take notice of him and even eavesdrop on his conversation with Mu Lingxi.
Even if Shengshu Cainü had business with him, she only needed to send someone to summon him. Why would her true body appear here?
"Could she already know my true identity?"
A chill rose from the soles of Zhang Ruochen's feet. He immediately took out a pill refined from Death Evil Qi, gripping it in his hand, ready to strike at any moment.
If his identity were truly exposed, he would probably have to use Great Space Teleportation and unleash the Death Evil Qi to ambush her, just to have a chance to escape.
However, Shengshu Cainü had already suffered a setback at Qi Hong's hands, so she would certainly be more cautious. If Zhang Ruochen used the Death Evil Qi again, the probability of a successful ambush was nearly zero.
Regardless, he had to fight for it.
Mu Lingxi was also quite nervous.
After all, she had met Shengshu Cainü once before, and Shengshu Cainü had surely recognized her identity.
Shengshu Cainü's eyes fixed on Mu Lingxi, revealing a rather complex expression, and said, "Demon Sect Holy Maiden, Mu Lingxi."
Though nervous inside, Mu Lingxi remained calm, bowing to Shengshu Cainü and saying, "Greetings to the Saint."
Zhang Ruochen was well aware that the imperial court and the Demon Sect were hostile forces. Now, Mu Lingxi was disguised as an outer disciple, infiltrating the Liangyi Sect, and had been discovered by Shengshu Cainü.
He wondered how Shengshu Cainü would deal with her.
Thinking of the fate of the Qi Clan disciples, Zhang Ruochen grew worried for Mu Lingxi.
So, he immediately stood up, stepped in front of Mu Lingxi, shielding her behind him, and said, "Miss Mu came to the Liangyi Sect at my invitation. I am willing to bear all responsibility. Saint, I only ask that, considering the bond we once shared through life and death, you let Miss Mu leave."
In truth, Shengshu Cainü hadn't paid much attention to Mu Lingxi, as she had previously issued a sacred decree inviting Mu Lingxi to the Liangyi Sect for the Sword Discussion Assembly.
But when she saw Lin Yue defending Mu Lingxi so fiercely, her previously calm heart stirred with a hint of irritation. She said, "A sword prodigy of the Liangyi Sect secretly meeting with a Demon Sect Holy Maiden—if this were reported to the Liangyi Sect's Sect Leader, the two of you would surely face death."
Zhang Ruochen frowned, neither humble nor arrogant, saying, "Miss Mu and I are merely friends of ordinary acquaintance. We have done nothing to harm the sect's interests. Twisting the facts like this hardly befits the magnanimity of a Saint."
His address changed from "Saint" to "you," clearly showing that Lin Yue no longer held respect for her and had even developed a hint of hostility.
"What just happened?" Shengshu Cainü inwardly fumed. A casual remark had inexplicably turned her into a villain.
Shengshu Cainü tried to clear the negative emotions from her heart, smiled, and said, "Lin Yue, it seems in your eyes, I truly am a malicious woman. To tell you the truth, it wasn't I who ordered the purge of the Qi Clan disciples, but an internal reorganization within the Liangyi Sect."
After saying this, she immediately regretted it.
After all, she was a Saint. Why did she need to explain her actions to a Fish-Dragon Realm cultivator?
Zhang Ruochen secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Since Shengshu Cainü could still speak with him calmly, it meant his true identity had not been exposed.
As long as his true identity remained hidden, there was still room for recovery.
Zhang Ruochen stared at Shengshu Cainü and said, "In the Fallen God Cemetery, you once said that if I ever encountered difficulties, I could come to you, and you would help me with one thing."
"You saved my life, and I do owe you a favor." Shengshu Cainü nodded.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Then, I wish to use that favor to exchange for Miss Mu's life. Let her leave."
Shengshu Cainü gave him a deep look, her left hand behind her back tightly gripping the purple-black bell, and said, "Lin Yue, you probably don't realize how valuable the favor I owe you is. Even if you wanted to become one of the nine Realm Sons, I could agree to it. Are you sure you don't want to reconsider?"
"No need to consider. If Shengshu Cainü is a person who keeps her promises, please let Miss Mu leave the Liangyi Sect." Zhang Ruochen's stance was firm.
Mu Lingxi also stood up, quickly reaching out a hand to tightly grasp Zhang Ruochen's wrist, standing shoulder to shoulder with him. Even facing a Saint, she remained unflinching.
Seeing their intimate posture, Shengshu Cainü's brow furrowed slightly, then she smiled again: "Mu Lingxi is a guest I invited to the Liangyi Sect. Even if you offered that favor in exchange, I wouldn't accept it. Lest in the future, you call me a petty person who takes advantage of others, ruining my reputation."
Mu Lingxi understood Shengshu Cainü's words and was overjoyed, saying, "Thank you, Saint."
Shengshu Cainü glanced at Lin Yue and added, "I came to Zixia Lingshan mainly to inform you that next month, I will hold a Realm Son Banquet at Shentai City. I hope you will attend on time."
After speaking, Shengshu Cainü turned to leave. But after taking just a few steps, she stopped, turned back to look at Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi, and said, "The two of you must be more careful when meeting in the future. This time, you were lucky it was me. If some Saint of the Liangyi Sect had discovered a Demon Sect Holy Maiden hiding among the outer disciples, they wouldn't have let you off so easily."
Originally, Shengshu Cainü had intended to return the bell to Lin Yue, but a strange thought arose in her heart. In the end, she didn't return it and took the bell away.
Though a faint smile lingered on her face, her heart was quite bitter.
Mu Lingxi parted her red lips and let out a long breath, saying, "I never expected Shengshu Cainü to be so reasonable. No wonder many say she is a perfect woman, without a single flaw. Even as a woman, I have begun to admire her."
Zhang Ruochen countered, "Don't you think she's too reasonable?"
Mu Lingxi thought carefully and also felt something was off.
No matter what, Shengshu Cainü was a transcendent Saint, a female official by the Empress's side—what a grand figure!
Even if she were reasonable, she couldn't completely lack the dignity of a Saint; otherwise, how could she keep the unruly Saints of the imperial court in check?
Mu Lingxi said, "Perhaps it's because you saved her life, and she feels grateful to you. She might even see you as a friend, so there's nothing strange about it."
"Could it be that because of Chi Yao, I instinctively guard against Shengshu Cainü as well?" Zhang Ruochen shook his head lightly, deciding not to dwell on it.
As for Shengshu Cainü, Zhang Ruochen had no ill feelings.
After all, his enmity with Chi Yao had nothing to do with Shengshu Cainü.
Mu Lingxi seemed to recall something, her phoenix eyes secretly glancing at Zhang Ruochen, and said, "There's something I've been wanting to tell you."
"Hmm?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Mu Lingxi bit her lip and said softly, "Chen Jie has already arrived at the Liangyi Sect. She's in Shentai City now. Do you... want to go see her?"
As the Sword Discussion Assembly drew nearer, sword cultivators from all over had been arriving at the Liangyi Sect one after another.
However, they were all housed in the five market cities of the outer sect area and couldn't enter the Liangyi Sect's mountain gate until the day of the assembly.
Huang Yanchen was now one of the heirs of the Eastern Domain Saint King Manor and naturally qualified to attend the Sword Discussion Assembly.
"Yanchen."
A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Zhang Ruochen's mouth. He nodded and said, "Since I'm at the Liangyi Sect, I should go see her."
Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi left Zixia Lingshan together, heading toward the mountain gate. (To be continued.)