Chapter 77: Angry to the Point of Trembling Blade

Exactly!

Lan Qiaoyan nodded thoughtfully. "Considering what you've said, that's certainly a possibility."

Miao Yilan, who was listening in, interjected, "Then what about that big fellow, and the top courtesan from Liyun Tower? Is it the same for all of them?"

"Hmm," Lan Qiaoyan acknowledged the reminder. "That must be it. They just happened to push out three outsiders to take the fall; it can't be a coincidence. Those three ran off to Wukang Mountain and fell right into a trap. Wukang Mountain really would do something like that. Still, it's not hard to understand. Who wouldn't be angry if a courtesan was made their sect leader's daughter-in-law? Not killing them on the spot was lenient enough. Oh, those two boys are so audacious; I don't know what to say about them."

Miao Dingyi smiled faintly. "You two, mother and daughter, are quite concerned."

"After all, we had a lot of dealings with them before," Lan Qiaoyan said, reaching out to pour him some wine. "You have many connections. If possible, why not put in a word for them? If you can rescue them, just do it."

"If they were truly your son or son-in-law, I'd rescue them," Miao Dingyi teased, causing one person to blush and another to roll their eyes. He himself found it increasingly amusing. After a laugh, he quickly regained his composure, picking up food with his chopsticks and speaking softly, "Those who are on the betting roster have already arrived in the capital and are under supervision. It's difficult, and it's not worth the trouble."

When he said this, Lan Qiaoyan understood. This assembly involved very high stakes, with too many people paying attention. The participants were already in the game. It wasn't impossible to rescue them, but it would require a significant favor and be very troublesome. In short, the cost would be considerable, and his comment about "son or son-in-law" was indeed no joke.

Given the situation, Lan Qiaoyan could only sigh softly. "That boy, Shi Chun, always seemed to have great potential. If he stops here, going back to look at those people in the land of exile would become even more uninteresting. *Sigh*." She then changed her expression, pointing to a bowl of soup and saying, "It's been simmering for a long time. Taste it and see how it is."

"Good, quite good."

"By the way, how many people like Shi Chun are offering a thousand-fold payout?"

"They say there are several thousand, all with cultivation levels below high-level martial arts. Their situations are probably all similar; they're just there to make up the numbers, not expected to achieve anything. Otherwise, why would they offer a thousand-fold payout...?"

As the couple chatted and laughed, Miao Yilan at the table seemed somewhat heavy-hearted.

The couple understood this; after all, she had known Shi Chun for many years and, to some extent, they were friends.

The couple didn't offer any advice, understanding that this was a lesson their daughter would have to learn sooner or later.

The capital was bustling, like a magnificent painting. From their vantage point on the railing, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang had never imagined they would one day be able to ascend this immortal mountain and gaze down upon the capital.

It should be known that, under normal circumstances, only active Heavenly Court personnel could reside on the immortal mountains of the capital. Many of the pavilions on these mountains housed Heavenly Court yamen offices; naturally, the Royal Court here represented the Heavenly Court.

Just being able to stay here once, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang already felt it was well worth the trip.

However, the check-in process was somewhat troublesome. They were searched repeatedly and extremely thoroughly. They were told not to carry any magic artifacts for external communication or any poisons, for fear that competitors might arrange for someone to poison them.

Indeed, external contact was forbidden. The immortal mountain had activated its formation barrier; without permission, no one inside could leave, and no one outside could enter.

Want to go sightseeing in the capital? No!

After the Heavenly Rains Meteor Shower Assembly concludes, you can explore as much as you like, but not before then.

"Chun Tian, will there be a house here for us someday?" Wu Jinliang suddenly asked, pointing at the pavilions below.

Shi Chun calmly replied, "I hear it's quite expensive."

Wu Jinliang, resting his large saber on the ground, casually lifted it and pointed. "With my saber in hand, why worry about mere worldly possessions?"

Shi Chun gave him an annoyed side-glance, realizing that after this fellow's cultivation broke through to high-level martial arts, his tone had become increasingly arrogant, even going so far as to say things like he would protect Shi Chun.

Xiang Lan'er, standing nearby, looked at them with some surprise, her eyes glinting. Apart from anything else, just based on those two spontaneous remarks from the duo, they certainly didn't seem like members of an organized power.

"Haha, that big oaf is quite interesting. Are these three the ones your Wukang Mountain just brought in?"

A mocking, teasing voice came from behind.

The three by the railing turned to look. It was a man in white, appearing distinguished and with a good face. Though not old, he already carried an air of self-importance.

He walked out of the house side-by-side with Bian Weiying.

This person's surname was Bai, the same as the color of his clothes. His name was Bai Shuchuan, a disciple of Jiyun Mountain, the largest sect in Shengzhou. The three men and one woman who followed him out were also dressed in white, and it was said that all of them had reached the peak of high-level martial arts cultivation, the highest level allowed by the assembly rules.

As soon as the Wukang Mountain group settled in, these people came looking for them. Bian Weiying seemed to know they would come. While greeting the guests, she ushered Shi Chun and the other two outside to look at the scenery, leaving one to wonder what she discussed with these guests inside.

Bai Shuchuan's mocking words secretly startled Bian Weiying, who had come out with him. She worried that Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang would explode in anger and cause trouble. Those two were truly audacious, having proven it more than once on Wukang Mountain.

The outcome, however, greatly surprised her.

Not only did Wu Jinliang show no signs of anger, he even adopted a bowing, fawning posture, greeting them subserviently.

Shi Chun, standing next to him, also smiled and nodded in greeting to the mocking visitors.

Bian Weiying was quite taken aback. Were these truly the two individuals from Wukang Mountain who would explode at the slightest provocation? This made her realize that these two weren't simply ignorant of proper etiquette; rather, they differentiated between people. No, there were far more powerful experts on Wukang Mountain than Bai Shuchuan and his group. So, wasn't Wukang Mountain more formidable than Bai Shuchuan?

Xiang Lan'er was also startled at first, then a faint smile curved her lips. She probably understood what was happening. Bai Shuchuan's group didn't have any demonic sect undercover agents setting up a bottom line; they would genuinely fight to the death. Those two were very adaptable.

Her charming smile made Bai Shuchuan's eyes light up. After descending the steps, he walked straight towards her, his gaze sweeping over her quite brazenly, with a peculiar appreciation. Yet, he spoke with considerable grace, "Jiyun Mountain and Wukang Mountain are now united and working together. Since you are Young Master Bian's woman, you are one of us. If you need anything later, just come to me; there's no need to worry."

His words clearly indicated he knew Xiang Lan'er's background.

Xiang Lan'er responded with a polite, neither humble nor arrogant nod. "Thank you for Jiyun Mountain's consideration."

Before everyone, Bai Shuchuan, who seemed to have many more things to say, nonetheless nodded and bid farewell. "See you later."

Bian Weiying followed to see them off, and Gan Tangyu followed Bian Weiying.

By now, Shi Chun and the others knew that Gan Tangyu was the strongest fighter among Wukang Mountain's peak high-level martial artists. To put it simply, Wukang Mountain had sent him to protect Bian Weiying; Xiang Lan'er had secretly told the two of them.

"Chun Tian, I'm so angry, but I can't beat him. What should I do?" Wu Jinliang, holding his saber, now revealed his anger, his saber trembling.

Shi Chun wanted to ask him where his previous bravado, with saber in hand, had gone.

Of course, Shi Chun also knew that Wu Jinliang hated being called "big oaf," but Shi Chun himself was helpless against them. After all, they were five peak high-level martial artists.

Shi Chun didn't ignore it; he just pursed his lips and gestured towards Xiang Lan'er.

Wu Jinliang understood instantly, his eyes lighting up with realization: *We're with the demonic sect now!* He immediately leaned close to Xiang Lan'er and whispered, "Don't you have people who will intervene? Later, give your people a heads-up and a hand. I want him alive, and I want to personally smash his mouth in."

Xiang Lan'er shot him a look that told him to be sensible. *What are we here for? Are my people here to avenge you?*

Wu Jinliang immediately became dispirited, stroking the blade of his saber back and forth, a look of intense hatred on his face.

Bian Weiying returned after seeing off the guests.

Jiyun Mountain's people sought them out immediately for assistance, but not in terms of manpower; they didn't value Wukang Mountain's personnel. Instead, they were interested in their talismanic power. Before coming, Bian Weiying had received instructions from her sect. Jiyun Mountain had already contacted Wukang Mountain in advance, so it was difficult to refuse them.

The sect's intention was to avoid offending them, provide appropriate support, and simultaneously maintain a distance to ensure their own safety and get through this assembly peacefully.

"What did they come for?" Shi Chun asked as he approached.

Bian Weiying replied, "To join forces and support them in their competition. After the assembly begins, we'll team up and travel with them."

Shi Chun frowned. "Didn't we say we wouldn't contend or compete this time? Support is fine; just give them some talismans. Why do we need to team up and travel with them? Our strength is insufficient, and if we encounter danger, they could easily force us to act as scouts."

He had experienced similar situations too many times in the land of exile and knew well that what he described would inevitably happen. Therefore, he was completely unoptimistic about this cooperation.

Bian Weiying calmly said, "This is the sect's instruction."

In reality, the sect's intention was quite similar to Shi Chun's, but Bian Weiying didn't want to come here for nothing. She wanted to achieve something to take back, as combining with Shengzhou's strongest team made the chances of success quite high.

Many hands make light work, so Bai Shuchuan's side was naturally eager. The two parties hit it off immediately.

Before coming, Elder Ke had given her another instruction: once Xiang Lan'er, Shi Chun, and Wu Jinliang, who were traveling with her, had been used, they were to be eliminated, not given a chance to return alive to Wukang Mountain. This was also the primary reason for sending her, trusting that she would consider her brother's welfare.

She had verbally agreed to this, but secretly had no intention of carrying it out.

Shi Chun's furrowed brows would not relax. He believed Bian Weiying's words; just from observing their meeting, he knew that the two factions had communicated beforehand. However, for him and Wu Jinliang, their situation would be very dangerous, and the reason for the danger was exactly as he had stated.

Even Xiang Lan'er's situation would be much better than theirs, evident from the lecherous look on that man named Bai's face.