Chapter 0: A’Yuan’s Horror
Seeing that the atmosphere was clearly not right, Qin Gou immediately raised his wine cup towards A’Yuan, blocking their line of sight and saying, “Pious younger brother, elder brother will toast you.”
Only then did A’Yuan snap back to reality and clink glasses with Qin Gou. The angle of her wine cup was much lower than her own father’s, her cup rim touching Old Qin’s cup body. This wench was always a bit too persistent about strange details.
“Clink!”
As the two cups met, Mu Tangchun had already walked to their table.
“You all look unfamiliar, I presume you are not cultivators from Fengnan City?” Mu Tangchun sized up the four people and asked thoughtfully.
“I am Li Fuqing, greetings, Madam Mu,” Qin Gou cupped his fists humbly and politely, smiling.
Li Yuanzhen’s expression was startled. A’Qin was blatantly plagiarizing.
“This young scholar is Yi Ye Qin. My brothers and I are from Beiguo City, known as the Four Great Talents of Beiguo City, the ‘Elegant Gentlemen of a Troubled World.’ How could Madam Mu not have heard of us!” Qin Yuan said confidently. With such smooth talk, he intended to make it even harder for her to see through his true identity.
After hearing this, Mu Tangchun’s mind was filled with only one thought: a peerless face and intelligence truly cannot coexist. Such a handsome young man’s brain was clearly not working well. This person… is he perhaps an idiot?
Qin Gou’s mouth twitched, but he couldn’t lash out on the spot. Instead, he looked at Mu Tangchun seriously and said, “Actually, Madam Mu, you’ve come at the perfect time. I was just about to report something to you…”
As he spoke, Qin Gou used his spiritual power to restore the appearance of the three villains he had encountered earlier.
“They were plotting to ambush you midway, and we happened to stumble upon them.”
At the same time, Qin Gou began to observe Mu Tangchun’s reaction carefully.
A hint of bewilderment flashed in Mu Tangchun’s eyes, which did not seem fake. She asked in confusion, “I am not acquainted with them. Do you know where these three are now?”
“They were struck by a spirit charm and all died,” Qin Gou replied truthfully.
“Spirit charm.” Mu Tangchun’s eyes shifted, as if she had thought of something.
“Young Master Liang, what are you…”
“I heard Madam Mu has returned. What? Is your Taiping Tower truly still not allowing this young master to visit?”
A flippant and arrogant laugh rang out. A young male cultivator, dressed in snow-white robes, carrying a curved saber, and adorned with a peculiar jade at his waist, strode into the main hall despite his attendant’s attempts to stop him. His sharp eyes immediately locked onto Mu Tangchun, who stood gracefully beside Qin Gou and the others.
This person seemed quite famous in Fengnan City, for as soon as he appeared, the attention that had been focused on Madam Mu, the Taiping Tower Master, shifted entirely to him. Everyone regarded him with both respect and fear, and the entire hall fell silent.
“Liang Tiantian, I seem to recall saying that Taiping Tower does not welcome you.” Mu Tangchun’s dark eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a hint of displeasure appeared on her fair, beautiful face.
Upon hearing this, Liang Tiantian chuckled and shrugged, “What do you mean, Madam Mu? The rules of your Taiping Tower clearly state that as long as one is willing to pay spirit stones, everyone is an honored guest. Why would you single me out? When have I, Liang Tiantian, ever shortchanged your Taiping Tower by even half a spirit stone?”
“Taiping Tower’s purpose is to provide a sanctuary for cultivators and protect them. However, in this Lin’nan Prefecture, how many people dare to provoke Fellow Daoist Liang? Your purpose for coming here is clearly something else,” Mu Tangchun’s tone was somewhat indignant, as she had dealt with him many times before.
“I admit to that. For example, I have come today to invite Madam Mu to go to Hantan Palace together. This secret realm is a place where we can enjoy beautiful scenery and temper our souls, truly a place of both pleasure and benefit. I wonder if I have the honor of receiving Madam Mu’s favor?” Liang Tiantian asked with a smile.
Mu Tangchun’s eyes were cold and clear, “I am not so foolish as to believe that, given Fellow Daoist Liang’s status, your persistence is merely for romantic reasons… But regardless, I believe I have explained to Fellow Daoist Liang many times. Do you not understand yet, whose Dao companion I truly am?”
At these words, Liang Tiantian’s smile widened, and he suddenly transmitted his voice to Mu Tangchun with a playful look, “Madam Mu, are you trying to bring out that terrifying existence, the Demon Master, again to scare me? Your Taiping Tower has always claimed that Madam Mu has a close relationship with that Demon Master, but according to the information I have obtained, the reality seems to be otherwise… And this information even came from someone within your own Taiping Tower!”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
“What? Is Madam Mu worried that I will make this public? Don’t worry, I have no intention of doing so for now.”
Mu Tangchun did not continue the transmission. Her pretty face was icy cold as she said, “I am simply too lazy to listen to your nonsensical ramblings and provocations. Fellow Daoist Liang, have you forgotten that my cultivation is above yours?”
Liang Tiantian did not mind at all, and said with great amusement, “Madam Mu, you jest. Are you planning to personally violate the ironclad rule of no fighting within Taiping Tower? Furthermore, Madam Mu should also know that if even a single hair on my head were harmed, all the forces belonging to Taiping Tower in the surrounding five prefectures would suffer along with me.”
“Are you threatening me, Fellow Daoist Liang?” Mu Tangchun’s eyes flashed with anger. “What we truly respect is the existence behind you.”
“I just hope Madam Mu’s attitude towards me will not be so hostile in the future. I merely wish to befriend Madam Mu. Why are you so suspicious, always suspecting my intentions?” Liang Tiantian said with a harmless smile.
Mu Tangchun gritted her teeth. “Back then, before you knew I was Mu Tangchun of Taiping Tower, your arrogant and dissolute attitude was far worse than mine. I haven’t seen Fellow Daoist Liang’s true face before, have I? It’s a bit late for you to display gentlemanly demeanor now.”
Liang Tiantian remained unperturbed, speaking eloquently, “As the saying goes, ‘The lost can find their way back, and the sinner can repent.’ Is Liang Tiantian not allowed to fall in love at first sight with Madam Mu and mend his ways…”
“Enough.”
Mu Tangchun seemed to have endured it repeatedly out of great fear of a certain power behind this person. However, in the end, she could no longer suppress her true feelings and, filled with extreme anger, flicked her red sleeve and declared, “I will say this one last time: Mu Tangchun already has someone in her heart. The Master of Arc-Moon Mountain is my Dao companion, and Taiping Tower is my dowry!”
As soon as she finished speaking.
Qin Gou was suddenly grabbed by the shoulder and shaken by A’Yuan.
Old Qin turned his head, completely bewildered, and saw that Qin Yuan’s face was already filled with a look of horror and paleness.
“A’Yuan, are you alright?” Qin Gou asked with concern.
Qin Yuan’s face was flustered as she quickly transmitted her voice, “Daddy, is this ‘Dao companion’ that Mu Tangchun mentioned something you both agreed on beforehand? So she could use your name to rapidly expand her influence?”
“No, there seems to be some misunderstanding here. A’Yuan, what’s wrong with you? Why is your face so pale?”
“This blasted woman, Mu Tangchun, when she mentioned Daddy’s name, the look in her eyes at that moment, that tender affection… it’s exactly the same as when Mother talks about you! She’s got a problem, a big problem!” Qin Yuan’s little face was ashen, beyond disbelief.
