Chapter 206: The Only Requirement

Shi Chun vehemently denied the rumors about him and Bian Weiying. "That's not true! Which eye saw us having an affair?"

Xiang Lan'er retorted, "When we were in the capital, Bian Weiying came to your room to spend the night every single evening. Do you think I didn't know?"

Wu Jinliang's eyes suddenly lit up as he looked at Shi Chun. *So while I was out having fun, Chun (Shi Chun) hadn't been idle either.*

Shi Chun argued, "Just because she came to my room means we had an affair? Then the two of us, a man and a woman, spent even more time together. Does that mean we also had an affair?"

Xiang Lan'er took a deep breath and questioned him, word by word, "What exactly are you trying to do?"

Shi Chun replied, "Whether you believe it or not, I just want to tell you that when I came out of exile, the first place I settled was Zhaotian City. It was the first time I saw the outside world, and you were the most beautiful woman there. I fell for you the moment I saw you."

Xiang Lan'er was amused by his audacity. "You're devious and cunning. I wouldn't believe a single word you say!"

Shi Chun insisted, "It doesn't matter if you believe me. I just feel that if I don't say some things now, I might never get the chance again. Wukang Mountain won't let me stay long. Xiang Lan'er, I'll say it again: I like you, I truly like you!"

His face showed sincerity and earnestness.

Wu Jinliang sighed inwardly, thinking, *This Chun fellow truly has no bottom line when it comes to personal gain.*

Xiang Lan'er was speechless. *Is he really trying to trick me, thinking I don't know about his pursuit of Miao Yilan?* she thought.

However, she wouldn't reveal that she knew his true colors. With a cold sneer, she said, "I don't know what you're trying to do, but I'm warning you, don't try any tricks on me. If you came here just to tell me this, then you can get out!"

Shi Chun continued, "I know you don't believe me, but I just want to ask you: Can you give me a chance? Leave Wukang Mountain, abandon the demonic path, and come with me!"

Xiang Lan'er was exasperated by him. "What exactly do you want?" she asked.

Shi Chun replied, "I truly like you. Will you leave Bian Weikang and give me a chance to prove it?"

Xiang Lan'er was furious and didn't want to say another word. "Get out!" she snapped.

Shi Chun gazed at her for a moment, then resolutely turned and left.

Wu Jinliang looked from one to the other, then pointed at Xiang Lan'er. "Oh, you... I'm telling you, you really don't understand men at all. Even a fool can see that he genuinely likes you. Sigh."

He shook his head and walked away, sighing deeply, looking incredibly regretful.

Xiang Lan'er wanted to spit in his face. *The two bastards! They actually dared to openly deceive me here. How outrageous!*

During the Heavenly Meteor Shower Convention, he had manipulated Mulan Qingqing and others so cruelly; she remembered the entire process vividly. If she believed a single word of such a man's nonsense, she would be a fool.

Yet, some images suddenly flashed through her mind.

They were images from after she was abducted by Shi Chun, leaving Zhaotian City, where he had hugged and held her, touching both appropriate and inappropriate places. *Was he intentional back then?*

Suddenly, she snapped back to reality, slapped her forehead, and silently cursed herself for being muddle-headed. *How could I believe such nonsense? It's absolutely not to be trusted, or I'll become the next Mulan Qingqing.*

Outside, Wu Jinliang quickly caught up with Shi Chun, looked around, and leaned in to whisper, "What are you doing? Disgusting others and yourself?"

Shi Chun quietly replied, "One fish can only be eaten for a while. What about the future?"

Wu Jinliang was momentarily speechless, then understood. He looked around again and whispered, "The reasoning is sound, but they won't believe it, will they?"

Shi Chun responded, "They don't believe it now, but how do you know they won't believe it later?"

Wu Jinliang was pondering this when he suddenly noticed they were heading in the wrong direction. "Where are you going?"

Shi Chun said, "To find Elder Xia. You can go back first."

Wu Jinliang was surprised. "You just saw him. Why are you looking for him again?"

Shi Chun replied meaningfully, "If I don't continue, they certainly won't believe it. If I keep going, anything is possible."

Wu Jinliang immediately chuckled, wondering what mischief this boss was up to now. He promptly said, "Then I'll go too."

He couldn't miss this show.

"I can go alone. Some things are inconvenient with too many people around," Shi Chun said, waving his hand as he went off by himself.

All right. Wu Jinliang watched him for a moment, shrugged, and returned to the Disciplinary Hall alone.

"Senior Brother Chun."

"Junior Brother Chun."

Along the way, Shi Chun occasionally met Wukang Mountain disciples who greeted him politely, and he would respond with a smile.

Honestly, being accepted felt quite good. He found a sense of belonging, like family.

However, he also knew deep down that they were fundamentally different. He could enjoy the feeling, but he mustn't delude himself.

Soon after, he found Elder Xia's office.

Outside an assembly hall, he was announced and then escorted inside.

Meeting again, Elder Xia was also puzzled. They had just met, so why had Shi Chun come to see him again? According to his informants, hadn't Shi Chun gone to Xiang Lan'er's side?

"Greetings, Elder Xia." After bowing, Shi Chun looked around without speaking.

Xia Fuli understood immediately. He beckoned Shi Chun to follow him to the back. Once away from prying eyes, he pointed to a quiet room and asked, "What is it? You can speak freely."

Shi Chun thought for a moment, then asked, "Elder Xia, you mentioned before that Wukang Mountain could force Xiang Lan'er to leave with me and make her my woman. Is that true?"

Xia Fuli froze, wanting to ask what Shi Chun meant by that.

*Is he messing with me? The idea of him pretending to like Xiang Lan'er and using Bian Jixiong to get him into Wukang Mountain was my suggestion. Does he think I don't know the truth about him and Xiang Lan'er coming to the mountain?*

After a few turns of thought, he nodded and said, "Of course it's true. What do you mean?"

What he meant by "true" referred to the sect's resolution. The premise for this resolution was also the mistaken belief that Shi Chun had truly come to the mountain for Xiang Lan'er.

For the sect, severing the romantic entanglement between Bian Weikang, Shi Chun, and Xiang Lan'er, expelling Shi Chun, and letting him and Xiang Lan'er leave together was currently the best option.

Why would Xiang Lan'er go with Shi Chun? He was the first-place winner of the Heavenly Meteor Shower Convention, defeating Mulan Qingqing of the Suyuan Sect—a classic case of beauty admiring a hero.

This would also serve to provoke Bian Weikang, thereby achieving the goal of motivating him.

Shi Chun stated, "I don't mean anything special. I don't want money or anything else. As long as you can make Xiang Lan'er my woman, I will immediately take her and leave the sect. Our names will be cleared, and we will never bother you again."

Xia Fuli froze there, his expression shifting unpredictably. After a long pause, he asked, "Are you sure?"

Shi Chun's face was resolute. "I only want Xiang Lan'er. Nothing else!"

Xia Fuli hesitated, wanting to inquire about his reasons but unable to ask. He had to pretend to know nothing else, only that Shi Chun had come to Wukang Mountain for Xiang Lan'er. After much deliberation, he nodded and said, "All right, I understand. You go back first. I will contact you when everything is ready."

"Thank you, Elder. Shi Chun takes his leave," Shi Chun said, cupping his hands and backing away respectfully before departing.

Xia Fuli remained rooted to the spot, stroking his beard with narrowed eyes.

This situation felt a bit off. He couldn't stay put. After pacing back and forth for a while, he finally found an excuse to go down the mountain.

Outside the Disciplinary Hall, Wu Jinliang, with his hands clasped behind his back, was also pacing back and forth. When he suddenly saw Shi Chun return, he quickly went over and asked, "How did it go? Are you alright?"

Shi Chun mumbled softly, "I'm fine. No need to worry about being forced down the mountain for now."

He knew very well that the demonic path had been preparing for Wukang Mountain for a long time and would not easily let Xiang Lan'er leave with him. Xia Fuli, as a high-level mole within Wukang Mountain, would naturally not easily satisfy his request.

In other words, he wouldn't be able to leave the mountain anytime soon.

And that "fish" was too powerful; he couldn't act hastily. He needed time to find an opportunity to strike. This meant he couldn't let Wukang Mountain expel him for now.

Without Xia Fuli, the high-level informant, and given his current situation with Bian Weikang and Xiang Lan'er, Wukang Mountain would find it difficult to tolerate his and Xiang Lan'er's continued presence. With a little manipulation, he could "fly away" with Xiang Lan'er, letting her lead him to the coveted "fish pond" for a swim. The thought itself was beautiful.

Wu Jinliang asked for details. After understanding Shi Chun's intentions, he genuinely clicked his tongue twice and, with a sly grin, gave a thumbs-up. "The boss is brilliant!"

In the mid-afternoon, Xiang Lan'er received a signal to meet down the mountain. She used an excuse to descend and entered Linkang City.

She knew very well that with contacts on the mountain, Feng Chi would not send her a meeting signal unless it was a crucial situation.

After wandering around the city for a while, and once someone had created a diversion to prevent being followed, she entered the secret meeting room.

Inside the secret room, Feng Chi and Xia Fuli were already seated at a table, waiting for her. When she arrived, both stood up and saluted, "Miss."

Unlike before, Xiang Lan'er had already had multiple secret communications with Xia Fuli on the mountain, so Xia Fuli no longer needed to wear a mask when meeting her.

Xiang Lan'er raised a hand to waive the formality. After sitting down, she gestured for them to also sit and asked, "What is it?"

She found it very strange. Since Xia Fuli was already there, why couldn't he convey the message? Every extra trip down the mountain for a rendezvous increased her risk of exposure.

Feng Chi directly asked, "Miss, did Shi Chun meet you today?"

Xiang Lan'er glanced at Xia Fuli and nodded. "Yes, he did."

Feng Chi pressed, "What did you talk about?"

Xiang Lan'er was immediately speechless. Recalling the conversation, she was still somewhat annoyed and unsure how to begin.

Seeing her hesitate, Feng Chi and Xia Fuli exchanged glances.

"Can't you say?" Feng Chi asked.

Xiang Lan'er tightened her lips and said, "There's nothing I can't say. He just spouted some absurd nonsense, and I don't see the need to repeat it."

Feng Chi pressed her, "Please, Miss, tell us exactly what absurd things he said. It's very important that you tell us in detail!" The last sentence was spoken with unusual seriousness.

Xiang Lan'er paused slightly, observed their reactions, then thought for a moment and confessed, "That fellow actually dared to flirt with me, saying he liked me..." She remembered Shi Chun's words quite clearly and generally recounted them, naturally emphasizing her angry rebukes.

After listening, Feng Chi and Xia Fuli stared at each other, speechless.

Observing their reactions, Xiang Lan'er asked, "What do you mean?"

Feng Chi thought for a moment, then mused thoughtfully, "Honestly, there are no beauties in the land of exile. Coming out of prison and arriving in Zhaotian City for the first time, seeing Miss's captivating beauty, it's entirely possible he fell for you at first sight. Now it seems that as soon as he was released, even before understanding the outside world, he was eager to redeem Miss. The previous explanation indeed wasn't as plausible as him genuinely liking Miss..."

Xiang Lan'er, a little anxious, quickly interrupted, "No, you can't possibly believe that kind of nonsense from him, can you?"

Xia Fuli spoke up, "Miss, he came to me and offered terms for leaving the mountain. He promised to leave and have no further involvement with Wukang Mountain, on the sole condition that you become his woman!"

Xiang Lan'er instantly froze.