Chapter 234: I Have Long Admired the National Teacher

Ye Tinglan was momentarily stunned, staring fixedly at Lu Xingzhou, unsure how to respond.

He had fallen into the Demon Emperor's hands, facing constant risk of death, and it was clear he was truly furious at her "irresponsible" behavior, cursing angrily—but even under these conditions, he still cared for her safety, going out of his way to send a message via a friend to have the Tianyao Sacred Ground evacuate, though he himself could not enter the glacier's core.

Whether as the Tianyao Sacred Master or as her mentor, she could not remain unmoved, not feel some emotion.

Yet you dared call me a stupid woman…

And he's so kind—but is it because of his role as mentor, or because of what Ji Wenchuan said about that other thing…

Is he courting her? What part of him looks like he's courting? He just tricked her into giving him a veil—and even said he'd auction it off!

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Lu Xingzhou snapped. "My advice is still that you leave—it's best. Since I don't know the enemy, I can't confirm whether other dangers lurk. The dragon bone isn't that important to you; there's no need to wade into this mess."

Ye Tinglan asked tentatively: "What if I want to strike the Demon Emperor from behind, like a yellow bird waiting to ambush?"

Lu Xingzhou glanced at her strangely—this Mr. had spoken to him in this slightly cautious tone for the first time; all his cold aloofness was gone…

Are you a masochist? Do you only feel comfortable after being scolded?

After thinking, he asked in return: "Do you have a grudge against the Demon Emperor?"

"She's the enemy commander—not someone you describe with 'grudge.' Personally, there's no grudge to speak of." In truth, it should be the opposite: Long Qinghuang would harbor hatred toward Ye Tinglan, since she lost the battle and her sacred mountain was burned by Ye Tinglan. How could the victor, Ye Tinglan, harbor hatred toward the defeated?

If Long Qinghuang knew Lu Xingzhou had come with Ye Tinglan, she'd probably be reduced to ashes already.

"The Demon Emperor already knows of your presence—she'll be on guard." Lu Xingzhou paused, then asked: "Confirm this: has the imperial court participated? Has Gu Zhanting come?"

Ye Tinglan shook her head: "The imperial court has not participated."

"The reason the Great Qian holds the upper hand over the demon clans is because the court and the Tianyao Sacred Ground have joined forces. If it were only the Tianyao Sacred Ground—even if the empire's top national teacher arrived—it still couldn't match the demon clan's full strength pouring forth… Under the Demon Emperor's current guard, acting alone is impossible; the demon clan will be the dominant side this time. My advice remains: don't get involved—it's the safest."

"Then let's observe first? Wait to see if the timing is right before deciding whether to act?"

Lu Xingzhou was even more puzzled—had her attitude really improved after being scolded? Why was she so humble now?

In truth, Ye Tinglan's attitude stemmed not only from being moved by his concern for her safety amid danger, but also from sheer astonishment. In just two hours, from a thousand li away, he had somehow unraveled the mystery that had plagued her all night—like a divine miracle. To not humbly listen to such a strategist—was she as foolish as Yuan Muyu, whose brain had been kicked by a donkey?

Ji Wenchuan was right: listen more to Lu Xingzhou, or you'd be wasting a treasure.

For some reason, though she'd only wanted to flee when beside Long Qinghuang, now Lu Xingzhou found himself unwilling to see her targeted by the Tianyao Sacred Ground. But from every angle, humans and Long Qinghuang could only be enemies—he shook off the inappropriate sentimentality and mused: "Waiting in secret for the right moment is acceptable, but I still say this: we don't know the enemy—there may be hidden turns. Stay alert."

Ye Tinglan nodded: "I understand. First, find the Tianshuang Kingdom's experts."

Lu Xingzhou said: "Keep me by your side."

"No longer worried about the danger?"

"We're the yellow bird waiting to ambush now… this level of danger is far smaller than the one you left us stranded in the ice plain."

Ye Tinglan turned her head away, too guilty and weak to argue.

Searching for hidden people was entirely different from searching for buried dead relics.

If you can't find a buried corpse, can't you find a living person playing hide-and-seek?

Lu Xingzhou didn't know what treasure Ye Tinglan used, but after a while of watching it flash, his expression turned grave: "There really are hidden people… and quite a few."

Lu Xingzhou wasn't surprised. The fact that Tianshuang Kingdom sent no one at all was itself suspicious—either they deliberately sent no one, hoping the Tianyao Sacred Ground and the demon clan would destroy each other, or someone had organized hidden forces trying to snatch the prize.

With such a grand scheme set up, it's unlikely no one came—everyone would want to snatch the fruit.

But Lu Xingzhou still felt something was off: "Only one group?"

Ye Tinglan said: "Someone is approaching from the border—likely the demon clan. There are also people in the mountains along the Great Qian–Tianshuang border, but they're probably unrelated to this; that region has always been full of demonic cultivators."

"... You can see that far?"

It felt even farther than Long Qinghuang's perception…

Ye Tinglan gazed at the sky: "My treasure is just stronger."

Without further explanation, she sent a signal to notify the Tianyao Sacred Ground members to leave the center and gather near her. She also quietly added a note: don't reveal that I'm the sect master in front of Lu Xingzhou.

After finishing, she turned—and saw Lu Xingzhou still frowning.

"What's wrong?" Ye Tinglan now felt guilty whenever he thought—she asked cautiously, seeking guidance.

Lu Xingzhou pressed his lips together: "I'm not sure, but I feel… Gu Zhanting hasn't reacted at all to this?"

Ye Tinglan knew this better: "The Emperor has never been interested in treasure-hunting like our immortal sects. He's busy governing the empire—it's normal he'd ignore such treasure disputes; his focus is different."

"If I'm not mistaken, the royal family still has a pile of ancient, corpse-like elders who only seek cultivation breakthroughs and immortality. Gu Zhanting himself may not care—but what about those royal elders? This is a dragon—or a dragon that may still be active since ancient times. Could they truly have no interest? Not even one of them came?"

Ye Tinglan: "..."

"Forget it." Lu Xingzhou shook his head. "I don't understand them well enough—I'm just imagining things. Whether they come or not can be explained either way…"

Regardless of whether he was overimagining, Ye Tinglan sadly realized he had indeed thought of problems she had completely overlooked.

Whether to consider the Great Qian royal family now became her decision to make—Lu Xingzhou, as an advisor, had offered his opinion flawlessly. Right now, her strongest thought was: my sister's brain must've been kicked by a donkey—how could she drive away someone like this?

As they discussed, distant shadows gradually appeared—over a dozen senior members of the Tianyao Sacred Ground arrived and landed beside them: "Mr. Ye, the sect master has ordered us to assist."

Lu Xingzhou: "?"

For the first time, he began to question this Mr.'s true identity.

Previously, there had been no trigger to make him suspect one person was another—he'd never even considered it. But now there was one. In an instant, his mind raced through countless possibilities…

So that's how it is.

A strategist who is skilled and suspicious is excellent for helping you plug gaps—but when you try to hide something from him, you realize you've just smashed your own foot.

Lu Xingzhou's expression didn't change, as if he'd thought nothing at all, and asked innocently: "Has the National Teacher not come?"

The Tianyao Sacred Ground members all replied solemnly: "No."

Lu Xingzhou bowed: "I am Lu Xingzhou, a student of the Dan Academy, honored to meet you all."

"No need for formalities! Lu Young Master, your brilliance is renowned throughout the capital—we've long admired you."

What nonsense—didn't they see Ji Wenchuan say this man was courting the National Teacher, and the National Teacher didn't even deny it? The attitude was unmistakable… clearly a suspected favorite of the National Teacher—who'd dare not flatter him?

Lu Xingzhou sighed: "It's a pity I didn't meet the National Teacher—I've always admired him, yet never had the chance to see him."

"Admired…" Was that the right word to use?

Everyone stole glances at Ye Tinglan's expression, all saying: "The National Teacher knows your name too. You'll surely meet someday—I'm certain the National Teacher will favor such a young, talented man."

Ye Tinglan's hands turned icy at this attitude, thinking his reputation was ruined.

Seeing the others still awkwardly chatting, he could no longer bear it and swiftly interrupted: "What are you still blabbering about? Suppress your qi, fly silently, and follow me."

With one hand he grabbed Lu Xingzhou, with the other he seized Anuo, and vanished into the horizon in an instant.

The others exchanged glances—some winked and nudged, others worried in silence… The Holy Lord had always been stern; how had he started associating with men? And stranger still, it wasn't Lu Xingzhou pursuing him—it was the reverse. It looked exactly like the Imperial Tutor had been hiding his identity to court young boys!

What kind of absurd imperial behavior is this? Do you think you're some emperor in a romance novel, sneaking out to flirt with beauties? Look at how randomly you acted—after all this time preparing the dragon-slaying trap, you're just abandoning it?

Forget it, let's obey orders first.

The others suppressed their qi and quietly flew after Ye Tinglan's direction; not long after, he suddenly halted and raised a hand to stop them.

No sooner had they stopped than they saw monstrous demonic qi surging from afar, black clouds crushing the horizon, violent killing intent and malevolent energy rushing eastward—the entire ice plain darkened instantly, icy winds howling.

A dragon's roar echoed through heaven and earth: "Cowards hiding here—have you already chosen your own graves?"

"Boom—!" Wind and thunder roared, rain poured down in torrents.

A massive dragon claw descended from the sky and slammed onto a Bingshan.

"Crash—!" The Bingshan collapsed at once, rocks flew in all directions, ice layers shattered.

Countless figures scrambled wildly from the mountainside, while many too slow to escape were crushed into pulp by that single blow.

The might of the Demon Emperor was terrifying indeed.

Lu Xingzhou and Anuo's faces turned ashen—had they just been flirting with this monster, talking about love and admiration? Had that finger teasing their chin already inflicted some hidden injury? Would they die suddenly when they returned…?

The Tianyao Sacred Realm's people immediately hid themselves; Ye Tinglan waved his hand and set up a dimensional barrier: "Stay hidden. Wait for your chance."

In the distance, demonic qi surged violently as countless great demons surrounded and intercepted the fleeing figures spilling from the Bingshan.

A golden dragon pierced through the black clouds and dove toward the central ritual array in the ruins.

"Swoosh!" A blade of light shot skyward to meet the golden dragon: "Witch, how did you know we were here?"

The hidden ones were utterly baffled—there shouldn't have been any traitors. Even if there were, how could news have been passed in this environment where everyone was hiding together?

"Did you really think it was hard to guess there were rats?" Long Qinghuang claimed Lu Xingzhou's credit as her own.

The dragon claw pressed down, scattering the blade light; again came "Boom—!" as the earth shook violently, and the enemy's long-prepared array shattered completely.

A furious voice rang out as sword qi coalesced around them: "Long Qinghuang, do you truly believe yourself invincible?"

The golden dragon transformed into human form—wearing, of all things, the pale yellow dress Anuo had chosen, utterly out of place on this battlefield: "Ye Tinglan isn't here—what are you lot even worth?"

"Crash!" The sword array shattered like straw; one figure spewed blood and tumbled headfirst from the sky.

The ambushers, now on the receiving end of a full-force assault, suffered crushing blows both strategically and psychologically—the battle had been one-sided from the start, as if a massacre were imminent.

Ye Tinglan asked for opinion: "Should we move in?"

"Wait a moment," Lu Xingzhou held her hand: "With their strength, even hiding here won't let us snatch an advantage—there must be more changes coming."

Ye Tinglan looked down at his hand, expressionless: "I never planned to rush in. Why are you pulling me?"

————

ps: Sorry I'm late… I heard there are monthly votes—please, a few monthly votes~

(End of Chapter)