Chapter 82

Unlike Zhao Xuhe and Lu Yuanchun, Luo Wuya was not a lustful man, so he had merely observed the scene secretly with his spiritual sense from start to finish.

Yet even so, when he saw the woman who had once been as cold and pure as a snow lotus now disheveled in her silken robes, lying broken on the bed like a trampled flower, her delicate face still streaked with tears, the stark contrast stirred in him an unexpected unease.

"Yu Shimei."

Luo Wuya took a deep breath, then waved his hand—a brilliant light enveloped Yu Suzhen, easing the awkwardness between them.

Luo Wuya clearly saw a flicker of relief and gratitude on Yu Suzhen's face.

But soon, her expression turned to resignation and self-mockery: "I never imagined my brother would witness this humiliation. Please, Brother, don't let this get out."

"Yu Shimei, you worry too much."

Luo Wuya sighed; he had watched the entire scene, and though he didn't know the details, he was certain Yu Suzhen had been coerced by Lu Yuanchun.

"I will keep this secret for you, Shimei."

"Thank you, Brother."

At these words, Yu Suzhen's lovely face grew even more bitter, her beautiful eyes reddening, tears like pear blossoms in the rain, her glances brimming with a thousand sorrows and ten thousand grievances.

Soon, Luo Wuya asked for the full story.

"So it was like this. Yu Shimei, you and Zhao Shidi were originally deeply fond of each other, but then Zhao Shidi was taken as a disciple by the Master of Bu Tian Peak, and Lu Shidi interfered, making things difficult for you. Out of concern for Zhao Shidi, you went to confront him—only to be tricked, lost your body, and left with leverage, hence your current state."

Luo Wuya looked at Yu Suzhen and sighed.

As the second senior brother of Sanhe Clan, he naturally knew Zhao Xuhe was the designated son-in-law of the Bu Tian Peak Master—how could he possibly take an outsider as his Dao partner?

Without doubt, Yu Suzhen had been deceived in love.

At the same time, Yu Suzhen struggled to sit up and whispered: "Brother, it's already late. I need to rest. Please don't take offense."

"I understand."

Luo Wuya nodded, clearly seeing her distress. He wanted to help, but didn't wish to be dragged into this mess—so he could only sigh.

"I take my leave."

With that, he turned and left.

After he departed, Yu Suzhen slowly rose, sealed her cave, and her sorrowful, troubled expression vanished instantly, replaced by cold indifference.

"That should be enough."

Zhao Xuhe, Lu Yuanchun, Luo Wuya—these were the three big fish Yu Suzhen had targeted in recent times, and she had carefully devised three different schemes for each.

Each scheme differed depending on the target.

For Zhao Xuhe, Yu Suzhen had judged him to be a romantic at heart, so she pretended to fall deeply in love with him and willingly became his secret lover.

For Lu Yuanchun, Yu Suzhen had tested him repeatedly and realized he secretly resented Zhao Xuhe for being favored by their Master, Bu Tian Peak Master. So she appeared at his door posing as Zhao Xuhe's Dao partner—someone eager to strike, someone willing to be struck—and they easily fell into bed together.

As for Luo Wuya, Yu Suzhen's scheme was different again.

After all, Luo Wuya differed from the other two—he had reached the peak of Qi Refinement and aimed for Foundation Establishment; to him, beauty was little more than a painted skull.

Such men sought emotional value.

In plain terms, he was the type who wanted to save a fallen woman. If Luo Wuya truly clung to this, he'd be hooked—and Yu Suzhen would have ways to control him.

If he didn't care, and truly intended to stay out of it, that was fine too—he was merely a backup. Yu Suzhen wouldn't bother him; her pond was vast, and she didn't lack for big fish. All that had passed would simply be a good connection—perhaps one day it would yield unexpected results.

Treat the illness with the right medicine. Serve the dish according to the guest.

This was Yu Suzhen's self-cultivation as a superhuman. These were merely the big fish—she also kept many small fish utterly devoted to her.

Otherwise, how could her cultivation progress have advanced by leaps and bounds?

"Unbelievable. Unbelievable."

Inside Skull Mountain, Lu Yang couldn't help but marvel at Yu Suzhen's extraordinary talent and unorthodox path—if she continued like this, she might truly surpass all the disciples.

"Too bad her moves were still too obvious."

Lu Yang formed a hand seal, and behind him, the circular light spun, reflecting countless possible events—all pointing to one single outcome—

"What are you doing?"

Suddenly, the voice startled Yu Suzhen into a jolt; she whirled around—and even Lu Yang, though prepared, swallowed hard.

There, without warning, stood a young man clad in black-and-white Dao robes, white-haired and ruddy-faced, radiating immortal grace—his face wore a gentle smile, but his eyes were icy, fixed unblinkingly on Yu Suzhen as if piercing her soul.

In that instant, Yu Suzhen's lovely face froze in place.

Worse still—her thoughts, her intentions, even her fears were frozen solid, as if she had instantly turned to a cold, hard statue.

This was merely the residual ripple.

For at this moment, the Bu Tian Peak Master was not looking at her—his spiritual sense, embedded in his gaze, was locked firmly on Lu Yang behind her!

"Who are you, Daoist, daring to scheme against my disciple?"

"Where did you obtain the stolen heavenly mechanism?"

Facing the Bu Tian Peak Master's questions, Lu Yang remained calm—he was not surprised by his appearance, since Zhao Xuhe and Lu Yuanchun were both his disciples.

Moreover, the stolen heavenly mechanism was originally acquired by his past self from Zhao Xuhe.

But such a wondrous technique—where had Zhao Xuhe obtained it? Considering its dual-cultivation nature, the answer was obvious.

It was created by the Bu Tian Peak Master himself!

Therefore, from the moment Lu Yang began crafting Yu Suzhen as the destined girl, he had prepared for the Bu Tian Peak Master to discover him and come knocking.

Of course, he himself could never meet the Bu Tian Peak Master directly.

So he could only make Yu Suzhen suffer first—as bait to lure the Bu Tian Peak Master out—then use her hand to arrange their meeting.

"Petty tricks, humbling the Elder's gaze."

Lu Yang's mind shifted—the stolen heavenly mechanism activated, seizing control of Yu Suzhen's body. He smiled lightly: "I merely wish to make a deal with you, Elder."

". You?"

Before Lu Yang finished speaking, the Bu Tian Peak Master raised an eyebrow: "That day, it wasn't Hong Yun who took it—it was you who stole the ancestral inheritance of Pan Long True Person?"

Then, instead of anger, the Bu Tian Peak Master smiled: "Interesting."

"On what grounds do you presume to bargain with me?"

"On the grounds of your elder's blood kin."

Lu Yang said calmly, "Senior Brother Chen was saved by me, and right now he still holds a sliver of hope for rebirth. Surely you don't wish to watch your own son's soul scatter and vanish?"

"Xinan!?"

The moment those words left his mouth, the expression of the Butian Peak Lord changed at once.

He immediately began to divine cause and effect, and in short order, Liu Xin—stripped of his talisman's protection—was dug out by him.

Yet no matter how he plumbed the workings of fate, he could never obtain any further intelligence, let alone grasp Chen Xinan's present state.

This only made the Butian Peak Lord all the more curious. After all, to be able to block his divination of heavenly secrets meant that behind the other party there stood either a Foundation Establishment True Person, or else a rare treasure of fate. But whichever it was, for this person to dare threaten him could only be called brazen beyond measure.

"Worthy indeed of being a disciple of our Holy Sect!"

"…Speak, then."

After a moment, the Butian Peak Lord finally spoke: "What do you want before you'll return Xinan to me? A Foundation Establishment wonder? Or a great divine ability…"

"Neither."

Lu Yang shook his head: "I intend to have Yu Suzhen use the art of Stealing Heaven's Secrets to harvest Xiao Shiye, but I need an elder to help Yu Suzhen conceal the karmic traces."

"…Oh?"

The moment those words left his mouth, the Butian Peak Lord's expression finally shifted noticeably. He looked at Lu Yang with keen interest: "You mean to scheme against Daoist Hong Yun?"

Lu Yang smiled: "Exactly!"

Xiao Shiye was bait laid by Daoist Daoist Hong Yun. If Yu Suzhen rashly harvested him, she was bound to be discovered, and on his own he had no way to conceal the workings of fate.

Therefore, if he wanted to snatch food from the tiger's mouth, the only way was to find a Foundation Establishment True Person to cooperate with—and the Butian Peak Lord was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate. On one hand, he had Chen Xinan as a hostage; on the other, the Butian Peak Lord's relationship with Daoist Daoist Hong Yun was clearly poor.

Of course, Lu Yang understood perfectly well the risks of cooperating with the Butian Peak Lord.

One careless slip, and cooperation could turn into one party devouring the other.

This was a bargain with a tiger for its skin!

(End of this chapter)