Chapter 147: If You Can, Don't Give It

The Pinnacle!

Calculations showed it was nearly time for the agreed meeting, so Shichun called for Xiang Lan'er and set off with the wind-scaled travel.

This time, Wu Jinliang was not brought along; someone needed to stay and guard the hostage.

Also, there was the uncertainty of Mulan Qingqing setting a trap. Wu Jinliang's strength was insufficient, whereas Xiang Lan'er's was considerable.

Watching the two fly away, someone couldn't help but say, grinding their teeth, "That villain who humiliated our junior sister, what was his name again?"

These words struck a chord with everyone, as even in the Tanjin light, it was clear that junior sister was truly beautiful.

No one spoke a word in front of Xiang Lan'er, fearing they might upset her. In reality, they had all heard the full story from Chu Jingting previously: she had been humiliated but had escaped with her life.

For such a beautiful and good woman to suffer such a great calamity was truly regrettable.

Wu Jinliang immediately chimed in, "Bai Shuchuan. A disciple of Jiyun Mountain, the largest sect in Shengzhou."

Hearing it was the largest sect in Shengzhou, the previously indignant crowd immediately calmed down considerably. They no longer dared to wave Xuanzhou's banner; they themselves had to hide when encountering Xuanzhou forces.

Someone else bitterly added, "That beast will surely face retribution!"

Under the dim starlight and moonlight, her appearance was particularly striking, as if she were naturally stepping out of the darkness, draped in stars and moon. She didn't resemble a bright and upright gentleman; instead, she seemed to possess an inherent aura of darkness, a sense of vast, unsupported isolation, yet behind her was a starry sky born with her.

The first time this person was brought by Gu Zhong to meet, the narrator didn't pay any attention at all, truly never examining them closely. Now, she was scrutinizing him meticulously, even pulling out a Tanjin illuminator for this purpose.

Her original impression was only that Gu Zhong's group of seven was rather dark-skinned and thin. The deepest impression was left by the tall one with thick eyebrows and big eyes, wielding a huge saber; everything about him was memorable. As for Shichun, apart from his dark skin, she truly had no other impression.

Suddenly, she realized that the clothes of the person opposite her were ill-fitting. She knew for certain this was not his original attire; otherwise, she would have remembered.

Under the Tanjin flame illumination, she confirmed her memory: the dark skin was still there.

"This is the price your Youshou Mountain must pay. My life was fought for; how can you easily take it?" Mulan Qingqing suddenly sprang up, gliding directly across the gap between the two mountains and landing lightly in front of the two.

"Shichun, we meet again." Ultimately, Mulan Qingqing broke the silence.

Shichun: "Let's be direct. I know what you want; you merely wish to uphold Youshou Mountain's reputation. You can probably guess what I want; after all, I am Gu Zhong's disciple. As long as there's any living path, I must avenge Xu Wanyu and Yilin! This is my responsibility as a disciple of Xu Yuanzong."

Upon careful observation and perception, an image of a ferocious animal howling at the moon suddenly flashed through her mind.

She would die before admitting she had ever given such advice.

Xiang Lan'er had seen herself display all kinds of beauty: sometimes pitiful, sometimes charming, sometimes cold as frost. She was one way in front of outsiders, another in front of Bian Weikang, and yet another in front of them, constantly changing, truly multifaceted.

Seeing him again now, she had to admit, he was indeed handsome. Compared to her own beauty, this man seemed more substantial, a cold and icy beauty, whereas her own beauty was too fickle.

Mulan Qingqing had already arrived first, on the opposite mountaintop.

Shichun was also observing Mulan Qingqing. This was not his first time; he had been deeply impressed during their first meeting.

Xiang Lan'er's lips twitched slightly, and she turned her head to look at her senior brother, her eyes wide and round with surprise. A million cold crows flew through her heart.

If she didn't know the truth, even she would have believed his words.

She first observed Mulan Qingqing. Although she had heard Wu Jinliang lament their pitiful and jade-like junior sister long ago, and later heard Wang Shengdao report that she had been found, seeing her now, she was indeed captivated. As a woman, she had to secretly admit that Mulan Qingqing was truly a beauty.

Shichun: "Knowing is one thing, but it also depends on the situation. It's not that I look down on them; I dare to make a fuss, but do *they* dare?"

Upon closer inspection now, she suddenly recalled something: she vaguely remembered Gu Zhong saying that Shichun's group of seven were formidable fighters, and Shichun had specifically taken them under his wing.

Xiang Lan'er immediately turned to look at Shichun, surprised. "This fellow was already setting up a trap!"

Shichun continued: "Of course, the premise is that this matter can truly be resolved, and that there's truly no evidence, and no one can come forward to testify. As for Wang Shengdao's side, don't you think they know too much? Once they come forward to testify, the truth about Yuanjian Palace's missing people will no longer be unclear."

Shichun: "This is why you slaughtered lives and tried to silence us!"

Mulan Qingqing: "After the incident passes, other sects might not speak, and Yuanjian Palace won't dare either. I think you're just looking for an excuse to put us to death."

What was the situation? Her junior brothers were all handsome. She had seen many powerful, good-looking people, so a minor figure from a low-level sect truly couldn't capture her attention.

Getting straight to the point and confirming the answer, Mulan Qingqing breathed a quiet sigh of relief. "Good, if so, it will be easy to handle. This trip won't have been in vain, and it's worth continuing the discussion."

Besides, Shichun even dared to admit to her face his involvement in Yan Ji's death. Was there still a need to avoid such unverified gossip?

"To some extent, I admit Yan Ji's death is related to me, but I definitely did not give Yan Ji any advice. Believe it or not, that's the fact."

Shichun: "Since you know, why bother saying it explicitly? That's right, those who dare to stab me in the back will face the consequences of my retaliation. It's either you die or I live, so there's no need for pleasantries. I will have Wang Shengdao's head. If you have the ability, try to stop me!"

At the time, the senior and junior disciples hadn't taken this seriously. Now, they were terrified, realizing they had overlooked a crucial piece of information: Shichun's group was powerful, which they knew, but had forgotten due to their arrogance.

Shichun's words did not stop. "As long as the matter can be resolved peacefully, even if they get out, they won't dare to speak carelessly. Their sects won't dare either. You should be well aware of Youshou Mountain's deterrent power over them. Once the matter is over, with no tangible evidence, who would dare to slander us? Do you really think Youshou Mountain is just a decoration?"

Perhaps it was due to the sinister nature of the demonic path, or perhaps it was because he was trained in brothels since childhood.

The cause was his forcing her to enter the Moon Sea to guide those forces. Gu Zhong was already in danger, and she didn't dare go further. He insisted on forcing her, so she pulled him along. If he didn't go, she wouldn't go; she would only go if he went. Otherwise, she couldn't guarantee she could keep her mouth shut about others once inside.

Shichun frowned, appearing very confused, and retorted, "Who said I instigated anyone?"

Under the clear moonlight, the people on the two mountains faced each other from afar.

She couldn't have suffered such a significant loss at his hands and still not clearly remember what he looked like after seeing him a second time.

Mulan Qingqing raised an eyebrow slightly, quietly observing his words and actions. Indeed, his words were accurate and completely aligned with her judgment of him. This person was truly unlike others from other sects; she couldn't find anyone like him anywhere in Youshou Mountain.

Mulan Qingqing: "Yan Ji himself told me in a personal message when he requested forces from me."

"Also, your junior brother Huozhi Lin, I will not let him live. No discussion!"

This answer, ironically, made Mulan Qingqing fall silent, because she believed it. She thought it was truly possible that the idea was Yan Ji's own.

So, she didn't want to bring up who was right or wrong. It was shameful and embarrassing to talk about it. She directly changed the topic: "Let's not beat around the bush. Since you're willing to talk, it means you don't want a fight to the death either. Speak, what do you want?"

Mulan Qingqing: "I have to admit, we underestimated you."

However, her attention quickly focused on Shichun.

Outwardly, she maintained her icy demeanor, like a snow lotus, saying, "The people from eleven sects ran off from Wang Shengdao's side. Don't tell me it has nothing to do with you, and don't tell me they weren't aware." The meeting place was not the original site of the ice spike incident, but a slightly relocated spot, lower on the mountain, on a peak between two other mountains.

These words had a somewhat heartfelt quality.

There was no other way. Shichun's group had their backs to the bright moon, so the light was poor, making them hard to see clearly.

Mulan Qingqing: "You and I both know that the idea for Yan Ji to send people into the Moon Sea to search for Shichun was actually yours, or rather, you instigated it."

Thus, her opinion of those junior brothers worsened. They caused trouble, ruined things, and were despicable. She truly didn't know what to say.

Conversely, it was quite unfortunate for Shichun's side to encounter their Youshou Mountain. Being pushed to such an extent, it was no wonder they fought back fiercely.

After landing, Shichun activated his right eye ability and scanned the surroundings. He noticed the other party had come alone, which surprised him, indicating a high level of skill and boldness.

She knew her junior brothers liked her and didn't want to leave a bad impression. It was entirely possible they would find others as excuses or scapegoats.

So, what reason did Mulan Qingqing have not to believe her?

She felt a slight curiosity towards the person before her, and even more so towards Xu Yuanzong.

Shichun: "I didn't expect to meet again in such a way."

This matter absolutely needed to be clarified; otherwise, it would cause the other party to distrust her subsequent statements. If she was already planning, what would she want to do?

She wondered how much trouble those two had caused after leaving the group; it seemed they even found time to cultivate in seclusion.

Mulan Qingqing only admitted one thing: Yan Ji originally didn't want to enter the Moon Sea, and she forced him to.

Shichun coldly shook his head. "I don't know if you're slandering me, or if Yan Ji really said that. If it's true, then Yan Ji truly deserved to die. He clearly didn't care about others' lives but still looked for a cover-up. I can tell you very responsibly that I have never given Yan Ji any advice, nor do I have any friendship with him. Our relationship was not such that I would give him that kind of advice, nor would it be possible for me to give him that advice, nor would he listen to me."

Mulan Qingqing: "With so many people knowing, and so many mouths, how can Youshou Mountain's reputation be maintained?"

Excluding prejudice based on skin color, upon closer inspection, he actually had a handsome and spirited face, though not particularly beautiful, at least not as handsome as her own junior brothers. Yet, he possessed a unique aura. His appearance and temperament were one, combining to produce an undeniable sense of resolute strength.