Chapter 110: “Sister Shulan, Are You Still Willing to Come With Me?”

In the main hall of the Zhao Residence's front courtyard.

Song Yan grabbed the teapot and gulped directly from its spout.

The scalding hot tea seemed unable to quench the restless fire burning in his heart.

Only after finishing the entire pot did Song Yan set it down, glancing at the three stunningly beautiful women who were watching him with curiosity.

Finally, his gaze, sharp as two nails, fixed firmly on Lu Yuan.

Damn it!!

Why?!!

We just returned to Fengtian City together yesterday, and now this damn junior brother of mine is already married?!

And not just to one, but to two such peerless beauties at once?!

This is Zhao Qiao'er, the head of the number one chamber of commerce beyond the Great Wall!!

The woman countless men dream about!!!

Forget that her looks are already the pinnacle of mortal beauty, captivating the world. Just think about how wealthy Zhao Qiao'er is!!

If one could really marry Zhao Qiao'er, they'd never have to worry about food for the rest of their life!!!

But then, good grief, really good grief!

He not only managed to get Zhao Qiao'er, but also got his hands on another peerless mature beauty!

Although Song Yan wasn't clear about Song Meiqin's exact situation.

But that day, Song Meiqin had brought along the captain of Fengtian City's Security Regiment, Song Zonghu.

So her family background must be extremely impressive too.

Wait...

How could these two peerless mature beauties choose to marry the same person?!

Who would be the principal wife, and who the secondary?

Would the one who becomes the secondary wife be willing?!!

Just how did this junior brother of mine get these two to agree?!

Thinking this, Song Yan's chubby face was now taut like a stone.

Damn it!!

I'm really getting pissed off by this damn junior brother!!

I've lived over twenty years, and even when I go to the Milk Mansion, wanting to find a prostitute to give me a free shoulder massage, I still have to watch my tone!

But this junior brother of mine...

Damn it!

Infuriating!!

Too damn infuriating!

"Senior Brother, what's up?"

Sitting to the side, Lu Yuan looked at his senior brother Song Yan with a strange expression.

He came in, drank a pot of tea, then started looking around here and there...

What are you looking at!

These are all my wives!

Coming back to his senses, Song Yan finally turned to look at Lu Yuan, the envy and jealousy in his heart turning into sheer helplessness.

Song Yan wanted to speak, but glanced at Shen Shulan beside him.

Zhao Qiao'er and Song Meiqin being here was fine.

After all, these two peerless mature beauties were already this junior brother's wives.

There was nothing that couldn't be said in front of them.

But this proud daughter of heaven from Wuqing Temple...

Before Song Yan could say anything, Lu Yuan spoke directly:

"Senior Brother, speak freely. Senior Sister Shulan is not an outsider either."

"There's nothing that needs to be hidden from Senior Sister Shulan."

"If it can't be said because Senior Sister Shulan is here, then don't say it at all."

Shen Shulan had come on her own initiative to say she would help Lu Yuan.

And she would soon be following Lu Yuan as they set out.

So whatever they were going to do next, both in terms of sentiment and reason, shouldn't be kept from her.

This was Lu Yuan's original intention, but to others, these words definitely carried a different flavor.

Especially since even Shen Shulan herself couldn't help but be taken aback for a moment.

For a moment, Aunt Qiao'er and Aunt Qin exchanged a glance with their enchantingly beautiful faces.

Their eyes were full of the resignation and indulgence that said "as expected."

Then they looked at Shen Shulan sitting opposite them, the corners of their stunning mouths curling into a playful smile.

As for Shen Shulan herself, her delicate frame trembled almost imperceptibly.

She quickly glanced at the meaningful smiles on the faces of the two "senior aunts" opposite her.

A wave of heat rushed straight to her cheeks, instantly dyeing her clear, cold jade-like face with a faint blush.

She slightly turned her head away, her gaze falling elsewhere, but her heartbeat had lost its rhythm.

Watching this scene, Song Yan's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

What the hell!!!

What does this mean?!!

What! A! Joke!!!

Shen Shulan!

Why are you blushing?!!

What does this sentence mean?!!!

What do you mean she's not an outsider?!!

Finally, Song Yan glared fiercely at Lu Yuan, you... you damn!!!

Are you never going to stop?!!

Is every woman you come into contact with destined to become your 'insider'?!!!

In the corner, Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an stuffed exquisite pastries into their mouths while silently watching this grand drama.

The two of them were already long accustomed to such scenes!

They exchanged a glance, both seeing the same emotion in each other's eyes.

Their admiration for Brother Lu had long been like a mighty river, continuous and unending!

"...Junior Brother, do you have the map of the Wang Family's Nurturing Malevolence Sites?"

Finally, Song Yan was exhausted, giving up resistance.

He slumped in the chair, asking weakly.

Hearing this, Lu Yuan blinked.

He hadn't told Celestial Master He Xun about having the map of the Wang Family's Nurturing Malevolence Sites.

Mainly because he previously thought Celestial Master He Xun had a bad relationship with his own old master.

Naturally, such matters weren't mentioned at the time.

Now, however, there was no reason not to say it.

Lu Yuan nodded.

Song Yan glanced at Shen Shulan again, then asked:

"The Nurturing Malevolence Sites Senior Sister Shulan is currently clearing, you gave her the maps for those too, right?"

It seemed last night's conversation between Celestial Master He Xun and Shen Jizhou had laid all the cards on the table.

Lu Yuan nodded again in acknowledgment.

Song Yan's spirits lifted, immediately pressing further:

"Then right now, between your two sides combined, how many Nurturing Malevolence Sites are left untouched?"

Lu Yuan said:

"My side, seven."

Shen Shulan's clear, cold voice sounded immediately after:

"On Wuqing Temple's side, six remain."

As soon as Shen Shulan's words fell, Song Yan abruptly sat up straight in his chair, his eyes gleaming.

"Thirteen!"

"Enough! Absolutely enough!"

Lu Yuan took out the old brass pocket watch from his robe and glanced at it, urging:

"Senior Brother, if you have something to say, say it directly. I'm in a hurry to set out for the Nurturing Malevolence Sites."

Hearing this, Song Yan quickly waved his hand and said:

"Ah, don't go, what's the point of going to those Nurturing Malevolence Sites now?"

Hmm?

Then Song Yan looked at Lu Yuan and said hurriedly:

"My master said that regarding your master's Celestial Master matter, relying solely on the Petition of Ten Thousand People is just too difficult!"

"If you really want a chance to obtain the Celestial Master title, you must also have the Daoist Disc!"

"My master can use these thirteen Nurturing Malevolence Sites to do some maneuvering!"

Do some maneuvering?

Lu Yuan looked strangely at Song Yan.

Then, Song Yan began to explain in detail.

To put it simply, this matter involved using the remaining thirteen Nurturing Malevolence Sites to, well, bribe other Daoist sects.

Of course, that sounds rather unpleasant, but that's essentially what it meant.

Why did this year's Luotian Grand Offering begin?

The Life-Severing Wang Family!

Why were the common people anxious and fearful?

Nurturing Malevolence Sites!

So this year's Celestial Master selection would undoubtedly focus most on the matter of Nurturing Malevolence Sites.

And other Daoist sects naturally also wanted to clear Nurturing Malevolence Sites.

But they wanted Nurturing Malevolence Sites not because they wanted to use them to compete for the Celestial Master title.

Relying on one Nurturing Malevolence Site couldn't win the Celestial Master title anyway.

They wanted Nurturing Malevolence Sites for other purposes.

They wanted to use the "merit" of clearing Nurturing Malevolence Sites to save face!

After all, with so many renowned major temples beyond the Great Wall, would it look good if in the end, only Zhenlong Temple and Wuqing Temple solved all the Nurturing Malevolence Sites?

And other powerful Daoist sects didn't clear a single one?

Would that sound good?

And during the Petition of Ten Thousand People segment of this year's Celestial Master Grand Ceremony, on the "Merit Register" recording each temple's achievements, would there be not a single mention of Nurturing Malevolence Sites for them?

Where would they put their faces then?

So, Celestial Master He Xun's idea was very simple.

Let him distribute the remaining thirteen Nurturing Malevolence Sites, do some maneuvering.

One Nurturing Malevolence Site could be allocated to three or five temples, letting them clear it jointly.

This way, these thirteen Nurturing Malevolence Sites would be enough to put the names of thirty or forty temples on the "Merit Register"!

Shower favor equally, and everyone is happy!

Naturally, there was a requirement for this, and that requirement was, of course, during the internal voting segment of the "Daoist Disc" at the Celestial Master Grand Ceremony—

to cast their votes for Zhenlong Temple!

Lu Yuan had already secured ten Nurturing Malevolence Sites now, which was completely sufficient in terms of public sentiment.

In the Petition of Ten Thousand People segment, he would absolutely gain a lot of popular support.

Then add the Daoist sect votes from the Daoist Disc.

The Celestial Master title might not be a sure thing, but it would at least be ninety percent certain!

"How about it, Junior Brother!"

"Isn't my master clever?!"

"You've already secured ten Nurturing Malevolence Sites anyway. Grabbing more doesn't really add much meaning."

"You're already far ahead of everyone else. Securing ten Nurturing Malevolence Sites versus securing seventeen is just a change in numbers; the significance isn't great."

Song Yan shook his head, speaking with a proud expression about his master Celestial Master He Xun's idea.

"But if we take these remaining Nurturing Malevolence Sites and distribute them to others, letting everyone share the meat and drink the soup together."

"And then gain support within the Daoist sects, the Celestial Master title can be said to be ninety percent certain!"

Song Yan thought his master was incredibly clever!

Don't be fooled by his usual rough, hot-tempered appearance.

But when it came to some matters, he really thought things through carefully~

Of course, the biggest problem with this matter was whether Shen Shulan would be willing to return the six Nurturing Malevolence Sites on her side.

Looking at Lu Yuan who was still stunned, Song Yan shook his head and stood up.

Forget it, forget it. Who made him the senior brother?

He might as well be the good guy to the end!

After all, those Nurturing Malevolence Sites were given by Lu Yuan to Shen Shulan. Once given, how could one have the face to ask for them back?

This kind of villainous task should be done by him, the senior brother.

Junior Brother, with a senior brother like me, you should be secretly delighted!

Steeling his heart, Song Yan turned to Shen Shulan beside him, giving a slight bow with clasped hands.

"Senior Sister Shulan, you've understood the matter. I wonder if you could return the six Nurturing Malevolence Sites in your possession?"

"You've already cleared many on your side, with remarkable achievements. Honestly, you really don't need these last six."

"How about returning them to my junior brother?"

As soon as Song Yan finished speaking.

Shen Shulan's clear, cold eyes blinked. Without the slightest hesitation, she immediately nodded.

"Of course, I'll go back and inform the temple right now."

However, before her words fully faded, Lu Yuan, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.

His voice wasn't loud, but it was heavy.

"No need, Senior Brother."

"I don't want to do it this way."

As soon as these words were uttered, the room instantly fell deathly silent.

Everyone's gaze, in that instant, was nailed to Lu Yuan.

Especially Song Yan, whose eyes nearly bulged out, his expression as if he'd seen a ghost in broad daylight.

Every pore on his face seemed to be screaming:

Lu Yuan, are you out of your mind?

Seeing Song Yan's expression, Lu Yuan instead smiled helplessly and shook his head.

"I know Senior Brother finds it hard to understand, but... it really isn't necessary."

Lu Yuan could certainly understand Song Yan's thinking. Objectively speaking, this method was absolutely brilliant.

He himself acknowledged that this method was good!

"No... wait... why not?!"

Song Yan was completely baffled, his voice rising an octave as he couldn't help but loudly question.

"What exactly do you want to do?!"

Even Shen Shulan beside him cast a puzzled look, completely unable to fathom Lu Yuan's reason for refusal.

It seemed... there was no reason at all.

Lu Yuan didn't beat around the bush or pretend to be profound. He looked at Song Yan and solemnly bowed with clasped hands.

"I hope Senior Brother will convey my words exactly as they are to Master Uncle."

"If this matter didn't involve my master, I would use this method."

"No, I would definitely use it. At the very least, over a year ago, before I became my master's disciple, I would have wholeheartedly supported it!"

Hearing this, everyone's hearts skipped another beat.

Right, he should use it!

Not using it would mean his head wasn't working right, wouldn't it?

But Lu Yuan let out a soft sigh and shifted the topic.

"It's just that, in the end, this isn't about me becoming a Celestial Master. It's about me striving to earn the Celestial Master title for my master."

Hearing this, Song Yan's frown deepened.

"So what?"

"Of course I know it's to earn the Celestial Master title for your master!"

Looking at Song Yan's expression, Lu Yuan gazed at him with a somewhat strange look and said:

"Senior Brother, having followed Master Uncle for so many years, you must know a bit about what happened between those two back then, right?"

"Including their temperaments and such."

Song Yan blinked, then said:

"I know a little, so what?"

"What does that have to do with this matter?"

Seeing Song Yan like this, Lu Yuan couldn't help but curl his lip.

"Then Senior Brother is rather slow on the uptake, huh?"

Song Yan: "??????"

Before Song Yan could explode, Lu Yuan gave a slight wave of his hand and continued:

"Although I've only followed my master for a little over a year, I can still tell roughly why Master and Master Uncle went their separate ways back then."

"My master, to put it nicely, sticks to his principles. To put it bluntly, he's stubborn, incredibly stubborn, and obstinate."

"Back then, my master probably also competed for the Celestial Master title. His strength was certainly sufficient, but in the end, he wasn't selected."

"I think a big reason for that was that he didn't know how to 'maneuver,' or perhaps disdained to 'maneuver'?"

Song Yan looked at Lu Yuan, blinked, and said nothing.

Lu Yuan continued on his own.

"To be honest, I personally don't care about the Celestial Master title at all, but this... is my master's obsession."

"I want to fulfill this dream for him in his later years, to make him happy, but..."

Lu Yuan's tone suddenly turned heavy.

"But even if we ultimately don't get it, we absolutely cannot use the 'maneuvering' he disdained back then!"

"Otherwise, obtaining the Celestial Master title would not only be meaningless and wouldn't make him happy, but as his disciple, it would be my betrayal of my master!"

These words fell like metal striking stone, resounding and firm!

Everyone in the room was rendered speechless.

In Shen Shulan's clear, cold phoenix eyes, sparks seemed to ignite at this moment, shining with brilliant, dazzling light as she gazed intently at Lu Yuan.

As for the two stunningly beautiful aunts, the look in their eyes towards their man was so tender it seemed about to drip water.

Those two pairs of soul-stealing peach blossom eyes were filled with unconcealable pride and adoration.

At this moment, Lu Yuan slowly stood up, looking at the dumbfounded Song Yan, and bowed again with clasped hands.

"I am truly grateful for Master Uncle's kind intentions, but Master Uncle should also consider what kind of person his junior brother really is."

"I don't blame Master Uncle. His approach isn't wrong. As I said, if it were before I became a disciple, I would absolutely choose to do this."

"But now, I cannot."

"Even if everyone in the world calls my master a fool, thinks he's out of his mind, I cannot!"

"I am his disciple. In this world, anyone can stand against him, but I cannot!"

"I must not only inherit his skills and abilities, but also his will, his Dao heart!"

Having said this, Lu Yuan suddenly turned his head, looking towards Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an in the corner, his voice like a great bell!

"Erxiao! Cheng'an!"

The two jolted, abruptly standing up, responding loudly.

Lu Yuan slightly raised his head, his gaze sharp as a torch.

"You two remember this well."

"Our Zhenlong Temple lineage!"

"Walks the path of the great Dao with integrity!"

"Relies on our own genuine, solid abilities!"

"Even if we can't obtain it, we will never engage in any of this 'maneuvering'!"

"And we absolutely disdain making any private deals with other Daoist sects!"

"Do you understand?!"

Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an straightened their chests, responding with all their might:

"Understood!!"

Song Yan stood rigidly in place, his mind a complete blank, as if struck by a thunderbolt on the crown of his head.

He watched dumbly as Lu Yuan, this junior brother of his, bowed solemnly with clasped hands in his direction.

"Senior Brother Song Yan."

Lu Yuan's voice was calm, yet carried an indisputable decisiveness.

"Forgive me, but I must depart immediately and cannot stay to chat longer."

"Please, convey what I just said exactly as it is to Master Uncle He Xun."

Having said that, he gave a slight bow.

"Lu Yuan, on behalf of my master, thanks Master Uncle for his kind intentions."

With that, he no longer looked at Song Yan.

As if Song Yan and the "clever" proposal he represented had become dust not worth another word.

Lu Yuan's gaze passed over the stupefied Song Yan, landing on the clear, picturesque woman opposite him.

Shen Shulan.

In her eyes was no longer a lake of ice that kept people at a distance, but rather a surging, seething, almost erupting emotion—hot, blazing.

Lu Yuan's voice softened somewhat, yet still carried that unique steadfastness.

"Senior Sister Shulan, those six Nurturing Malevolence Sites, since I've already given them, there's no reason to take them back."

"They are yours. How to handle them is entirely up to you."

"But, don't go against your own wishes because of me."

Shifting the topic, Lu Yuan's gaze swept over Song Yan, but his words were directed at Shen Shulan, and even more so at everyone in the room.

"And even more so, don't use them to perform that 'maneuvering' on behalf of our Zhenlong Temple."

He looked back at Shen Shulan, his gaze incomparably serious.

"Sister Shulan, this is my decision."

"Although this decision indeed seems very foolish, this is my Dao."

"Sister Shulan, are you still willing to come with me now?"

As soon as Lu Yuan's words fell.

Shen Shulan had already stood up.

Without the slightest hesitation, not a trace of doubt.

Then, she bowed deeply to Lu Yuan.

This bow was not a bow between peers, but the reverence of a disciple towards a teacher!

Her clear, cold voice held an unprecedented heat and determination, resounding through the main hall!

"Shulan is willing to follow!"

Having said that, Lu Yuan turned and left, Shen Shulan immediately following.

Wang Cheng'an and Xu Erxiao had long since shouldered the work chests and walked ahead.

"Qiao'er, prepare another fast horse."

By now, Zhao Qiao'er and Song Meiqin, who had also stood up, immediately followed their man ahead, responding as they went:

"Alright~"

In the end, within the vast, luxurious main room of the Zhao Residence's front courtyard, only the dumbfounded Song Yan remained.

Crap...

Came running first thing in the morning without eating, and got lectured instead!!

Damn!!

This is so damn unfair!!