Chapter 211: Don't Blame Him, Blame My Sister?

Lu Xingzhou still felt a faint cold sweat as he returned to his cave dwelling.Anuo looked at him with some concern: "Master... Even Mr. Ye thinks he can uncover secrets of the Yama Hall through you. Will others try to capture you because of this in the future?"Lu Xingzhou pinched Anuo's little face: "We are 'traitors' of the Yama Hall. Unless they're utterly desperate and at their wits' end due to the Yama Hall's actions, they'll only use soft tactics like Mr. Ye. Getting me to willingly confront the Yama Hall is far more useful than simply capturing me."

"So, was Mr. Ye just doing it for that?" Anuo asked.Seeing Anuo's slightly sad expression, Lu Xingzhou chuckled, "No."Anuo's eyes brightened."What, you used to call her an old woman, but now you don't want her approaching you for other reasons?""But she's really beautiful and powerful... I guess that's what immortals are like."

"First-rank..." Lu Xingzhou pondered. "Logically, at their level of cultivation, all their focus would be on breaking through to immortality. Even a worldly person like Huo Liancheng handed most matters over to Huo Xingyuan after reaching first-rank. And after reaching first-rank, Huo Xingyuan wasn't particularly keen on managing affairs either, gradually transferring them to Huo Qi. Not to mention your Sister Yu..."Anuo gave him a sidelong glance.Lu Xingzhou, however, no longer avoided the topic of Yuan Muyu. Instead, he continued, "Your Sister Yu used to love teasing me, but after reaching first-rank, she visibly began to distance herself. Her time spent in seclusion and contemplation far exceeded everything else, and she'd often stare blankly at the night sky. When discussing serious matters, the topic gradually shifted from the development of the Yama Hall to heavily incorporating 'the Dao' and 'ancient times,' which were deadly obscure to me. I really didn't enjoy talking about it with her."

Anuo rested her chin in her hand: "Is there a possibility that it's because you've grown up, or she thinks you've grown up? Who knew you were so useless."Lu Xingzhou was speechless.Anuo added, "Also, if this kind of behavior is unique to first-rank, that might not be true... Master, after I reached fourth-rank, I started worrying about the major hurdle of third-rank, much more than before... Could it be a common experience when facing a major hurdle?"

"That's a valid point," Lu Xingzhou said. "When I was stuck at the middle-third-rank hurdle, I was much more anxious than before, and it's clearly more severe at first-rank and above. So the question is, how does Madam Ye have the time to concern herself with so many worldly affairs?"Anuo scratched her head, unsure how to respond. After a moment, she managed to say, "Because she's beautiful and powerful!"

Lu Xingzhou couldn't help but laugh, "You're truly captivated by anyone who's beautiful.""No way! Pei Xiaolu is so beautiful, but I still want to hit her. She stole my bun!""Ha..." Lu Xingzhou picked up Anuo and headed out. "Let's go to the Yama Hall. We'll have them redirect their investigation."

"If even Pei Qingyan has been watching Huo Heng's altar activities, then Huo Heng surely wouldn't dare cause trouble here, right? Is this really useful?""Actually, the Huo family's true vulnerability is that alchemical furnace. Exploding that matter is part of my karma with them. But we can't carelessly use that trump card right now. Before Gu Zhanting loses trust in the Huo family, it's impossible for him to raid their home just because you said so; we'd be accused of false charges."

"So we need to undermine their trust from other angles first? But what if Huo Heng didn't do it? Are we framing him?""Since Madam Ye specifically brought this up, it likely means Huo Heng dabbled in some illicit gains here, and Madam Ye got wind of it. In fact, these people are accustomed to illicit dealings; they do certain things so habitually that they don't even consider it greed, but rather a shared rule. So it might not even be intentional. If the Pei family didn't notice any issues, it's probably because they considered the matter too trivial and meaningless."

"But for us, we just need to plant a seed in Gu Zhanting's mind?""Precisely... a seed that will gradually tear apart his trust."

Back at the temple, Ye Tinglan was also discussing matters with a white-bearded elder."She said we were 'climbing a tree to catch fish' back then, and left in anger. I originally thought, since she was cultivated by the sect from a young age, with little exposure to worldly dangers and no experience struggling for resources on her own, it might be good for her to go out and explore," Ye Tinglan sighed. "I believed that after a few years of experience outside, she would eventually realize the benefits of the sect and understand that she couldn't reach first-rank solely on her own, so she would always return..."

The elder also sighed: "Her departure wasn't as straightforward as it seemed; she also didn't accept you as the sect leader... She defied everyone. At the time, we thought it would be good for this troublemaker to be away for a few years. Once she realized how difficult resources were to obtain, she might become more docile... But who knew she would actually establish a massive organization, becoming a sect leader herself, with abundant resources, making breakthroughs a given."

"Given her talent, I strongly suspect she's already beyond first-rank," Ye Tinglan murmured. "The nine-rank division is merely for mortals. The limit of the Huiyang realm doesn't even take a century for true geniuses. She is undoubtedly a genius among geniuses."

"Given her unruly temperament back then, who would have thought she could actually develop such an organization?" the elder sighed. "To be honest, we're happy to see her achieve something significant, but she's strayed into the demonic path..."

"She picked up a scoundrel, and who knew he'd turn out to be a treasure," Ye Tinglan gnashed his teeth. "The most infuriating thing is that her decision to walk the demonic path was instigated by that scoundrel. If no one had fanned the flames, she might not have taken that road."

The elder remained silent.Ye Tinglan squeezed his temples, a headache brewing. "Now that her foundation is growing larger, and the topic harks back to that year, our family quarrel has evolved enough to create a dispute of principles today. Things are getting very troublesome."

The elder said, "It should still be alright. Her nature isn't bad... That time we tried to capture her, she still showed mercy, only injuring and not killing."

Ye Tinglan sighed, "She is someone with truly firm convictions... Once she genuinely possesses the capital to realize her ideas from back then, we will become targets to be eliminated, even if we are like fragrant orchids on the path. By that time, I fear even this bit of past camaraderie won't be considered."

The elder fell silent."Ultimately, that scoundrel who helped her build her power is truly the culprit. If she hadn't succeeded, she would have long ago meekly returned home, and none of this would have happened," Ye Tinglan said through clenched teeth. "You said that time we tried to capture her, she showed mercy... Later, it was confirmed that even that battle was orchestrated by the Judge. Without that fellow, we would have captured her two years ago!"

The elder's mouth twitched. "Sect Leader, isn't it a bit... excessive to blame everything on a low-ranking disabled person who merely offered advice?""If I don't blame that strategist, should I blame my own sister?""...It would be more normal to blame your sister, then."Ye Tinglan looked puzzled.

The elder cleared his throat: "Anyway, this scoundrel, as the Sect Leader calls him, is now completely under your control. Haven't you already seized the decisive piece? Maybe you can even infuriate her to death."Ye Tinglan replied, "...That's not why I'm doing this."

"That's not important. What's important is that he will help you now, not Muyu," the elder said. "What's strange is why she would let him go back then. Didn't she know what serious repercussions it would bring upon herself?"Ye Tinglan pondered for a while, lost in thought. "Perhaps his departure reminded her of her own departure back then, and she felt a connection. Her nature is ultimately not bad... It couldn't possibly be because she couldn't bear to part with him, could it?""That's definitely impossible!"

"Never mind," Ye Tinglan said, massaging his temples. "Ultimately, I don't want a true conflict with her. To resolve this through appeasement, we'll likely have to rely on Lu Xingzhou. I will personally oversee this matter. You should also temporarily suspend your usual actions against the Yama Hall to avoid provoking any uncontrollable large-scale conflicts, lest the damage be irreversible."

"Yes.""Please call Qingli over for me."

The elder acknowledged the order and left. Before long, Dugu Qingli entered. "Master, you called for me?"

"Yes. I have a task here. I hadn't decided who should do it, but since you've broken through to third-rank, it's a good opportunity for your training."

Dugu Qingli cupped her hands and bowed. "Please instruct me, Master."

"In the Western Frost Kingdom, a demonic force is currently colluding with the Yama Hall, secretly plotting to form an Alliance of the Ten Yama Halls. Go investigate which force they are and what stage the Alliance of Ten Halls has reached. Specifically, find out how their meeting with the Yama Hall is being conducted and see if we can find a way to insert our influence... Be extremely careful; safety is paramount."

Dugu Qingli acknowledged the order. "Yes."Then, remembering something, she hesitated slightly. "Go now?"

"Of course, now," Ye Tinglan asked, puzzled. "What, do you have unfinished business?"

"N-nothing much," Dugu Qingli scratched her head. "I'll just go say goodbye to a friend."

"Your friend, Lu Xingzhou?""Yes."

Given her straightforwardness, Ye Tinglan didn't think much of it. "If nothing unexpected has happened, he should be at the Western Suburbs Altar right now. You may go."

Dugu Qingli was stunned.How could Master know Lu Xingzhou's whereabouts so intimately? Had the importance of the Yama Hall reached such a point that even the former Judge was constantly monitored?

Ye Tinglan added, "There's something fishy about the Western Suburbs Altar. I don't know if he'll discover it, but if he doesn't, you can give him a hint."

Dugu Qingli grew even more puzzled. "What's fishy? I don't know, so how can I hint at it?"

Ye Tinglan tossed her a small mirror. "This mirror can reveal the patterns of shamanistic or voodoo arts. It's normal for a Saint Land successor to have some treasures, isn't it? Coincidentally, this item will also be useful for you on your trip to the Frost Kingdom."

*Is she saying it's useful for me, or is she actually thinking it's useful for Lu Xingzhou?* Dugu Qingli thought. Of course, she couldn't dwell on such irrelevant thoughts. She honestly accepted the mirror and thanked him, "Thank you, Master."Without lingering, she calmly turned and left.

It was clear that after breaking through to third-rank, even with Lu Xingzhou's fire-element elixir as a foundation, she had become much colder.Watching his disciple leave, Ye Tinglan stood quietly in a daze for a long while before muttering to himself, "The Huo family was never the key... I wonder what you'll think once you realize the true crux of the matter. Will you, like your old superior, believe that mass slaughter is the righteous path?"