Chapter 328: Thinking Too Much

"Not having snuck away quietly out of fear, I really must applaud your bravery."

Clap, clap, clap.

Ren Yidao applauded with a sigh, then easily lifted his leg and stepped into Ao Tan's "battle-damaged style palace."

He looked around as he walked, then couldn't help but say:

"Although I don't really approve of your aesthetic, the fact that you dared to put it into practice is already quite good."

"Worthy of praise."

Whoosh—

Tilting his head to dodge a roof tile flying toward him like a cannonball, Ren Yidao shifted his attention from the surroundings to Cang Lan and smiled:

"Don't be so agitated."

"Can't we talk this over properly?"

Too hot-tempered!

This is no good, no good.

"Talk it over properly? Hah!"

Tsk!

What were you doing earlier?

Cang Lan let out an angry snort, but her movements didn't relax in the slightest, her cold eyes fixed firmly on every move Ren Yidao made.

After dealing with him a few times, she finally understood completely how to get along with him.

One must never let their guard down!

But even though she was so clear about it in her heart, when it actually came time to put it into practice, it was a different situation entirely.

"You..."

"What did you say?"

Ren Yidao placed a hand to his ear and said loudly:

"Speak up, I can't hear you."

You want to command a warship with a voice that small?

Speak up!

I! Can't! Hear! You!

"You!"

Cang Lan glared at Ren Yidao with hatred, her teeth clenched tight, as she squeezed the words out from her throat in humiliation:

"What... what did you do to my body?"

"What? Did what to you?" Ren Yidao blinked, a shy expression appearing on his face as he rubbed his hands together and said:

"I don't understand what you're talking about?"

"Would you like to be a bit more specific?"

Ren Yidao stared into Cang Lan's eyes, his voice low and teasing:

"For example, when exactly? And what exactly did I do to you?"

Boom!

"You're courting death!"

The Demon Qi on Cang Lan's body could no longer be suppressed, setting off massive waves on the seabed that surged toward the surrounding ruins.

The murky mud and sand that had settled on the seabed were stirred up once more, but before they could get close to the three people present, they were all pushed away by an invisible aura.

Cang Lan's aggressive outburst was impressive, but the result was all thunder and no rain.

The effect of the intimidation... well, it was almost non-existent.

It didn't stir up any waves at all, and didn't even dirty the corpse of Ao Tan nearby.

Even Ren Yidao felt a bit sorry for her and advised:

"Young people shouldn't be so hot-headed, don't be so angry, calm down!"

"Let's talk this over properly..."

Ren Yidao said this with complete sincerity, but to Cang Lan's ears, it sounded sarcastic no matter how she listened to it.

No need to doubt it.

He was being sarcastic!

A scholar can be killed, but not humiliated!

Awoo—

Overcome by humiliation and annoyance, Cang Lan, no longer able to restrain herself, let out a long howl toward Heaven, and the aura on her body began to grow chaotic.

It fluctuated constantly, rising and falling, as if she were about to lose control of her own heart.

"Calm down, Cang Lanlan."

But just as Cang Lan was about to lose control completely and pounce, Yao Yue, who was standing beside her, gently patted her back and said softly:

"Didn't we agree to talk this over properly?"

Purr...

Cang Lan's shoulder twitched, shaking off Yao Yue's soothing hand, but she didn't continue to go berserk, merely continuing to glare with annoyed eyes at the boy opposite who deserved to be cut into a thousand pieces.

"Good girl~"

"Tsk."

Oh?

Ren Yidao felt this scene was somewhat novel.

Having only been separated from them for a few days, the relationship between them seemed to have undergone some subtle changes while he was unaware.

These two, something is not right.

While fleeing in Death Valley, Cang Lan was the absolute leader in the small group of these two.

She led Yao Yue in their escape the whole way, and even when the situation was at its most critical, she had never asked for her opinion.

But now...

The status of the two seemed equal on the surface, but in reality, Yao Yue had already secretly seized the initiative.

The position of the superior had already shifted without anyone noticing.

"What happened between the two of them?"

Ren Yidao was a bit curious; what kind of story had unfolded in this short amount of time?

"Is it because she was saved by Yao Yue twice that Cang Lan handed over the initiative to her?"

"Or is it..."

As his gaze swept over the dilapidated palace buildings again, Ren Yidao's expression suddenly became quite colorful.

"Wait, perhaps it wasn't twice, but... three times?"

Cang Lan and the others didn't break ties with Ao Tan from the very beginning, and the battle wouldn't have lasted all day.

Besides, even if Cang Lan wanted to risk her life back then, she likely didn't have the capital to do so...

"So..."

"It's a backstab."

According to Ren Yidao's deduction, Cang Lan and the others would first play along with Ao Tan, and after establishing a connection, they would infiltrate the palace.

They would find an excuse for Cang Lan to recover her strength, and then strike a ruthless blow at some suitable moment.

Poor, poor Ao Tan.

Regardless of what reason was used to persuade this East Sea Eight Prince, he had already paid the price for his naivety at this moment.

"Your life as a dragon was truly ruined by a bad woman!"

To actually believe the words of a bad woman...

Little brother, you really are naive!

Mourning for Ao Tan for three seconds in his heart, Ren Yidao cast this tragically dead bystander to the back of his mind.

A bit pitiful, but not worth sympathizing with.

And while Ren Yidao was letting his imagination run wild, Yao Yue had also calmed down the bristling Cang Lan and smiled at Ren Yidao:

"Ren Yidao, let's have a talk."

"Oh?"

Ren Yidao blinked, looked her up and down, and laughed in spite of himself:

"You want to have a talk with me?"

Looking closely, compared to the disheveled state during their previous escape, the current Yao Yue had already changed into a gorgeous long dress inlaid with precious gems.

She looked entirely graceful.

"Hehe~"

Perhaps because they had already torn off the mask, Yao Yue revealed her true self at this moment.

The temperament emanating from her was completely different from her innocent girl-like appearance; she was more like a delicate, thorny rose.

"Why not?"

"Didn't you say it yourself before? We are not enemies, are we? Or are you going back on your word?"

Oh?

Ren Yidao raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, feeling that this Yao Yue was somewhat interesting.

Trying to pull this on me, are you?

Fine, fine, fine.

Very good!

Consequently, Ren Yidao laughed excitedly and shook his head repeatedly:

"Going back on my word? No, no, no. If you are willing to talk, I am more than happy; how could I go back on my word?"

His face was full of enthusiasm, as if he were truly happy for their change.

"So, what do you want to talk about? How do you want to talk? As long as you are willing to return to the Divine Path Sect with me, any conditions are negotiable."

Seeing Ren Yidao's excited appearance, the smiling Yao Yue curled her lips imperceptibly, not knowing what she was thinking inside.

"Since that's the case..." She pointed to Cang Lan's lower abdomen and said pointedly:

"Shouldn't you show some sincerity?"

Ren Yidao was taken aback, then patted his head in realization:

"Sincerity? Oh, you were talking about this just now? You should have said so earlier!"

After speaking, his fingers moved, and Cang Lan's expression changed immediately.

Cang Lan hurriedly covered her lower abdomen with her hand, but she could not block the pink light that lit up...

The pink light shining from her lower abdomen illuminated a patch, appearing exceptionally comical.

"Pfft!"

Whoosh—

Easily dodging the roof tile flying at high speed again, Ren Yidao laughed easily:

"Don't be so agitated!"

"It's just a small insurance measure, it doesn't cause you any harm, does it?"

"Besides, it wasn't me who laughed just now!"

It was your teammate who laughed, not me!

Ren Yidao looked at his own artistic creation, nodded with satisfaction, and asked Yaoyue, who was struggling to keep a straight face, with a smile:

"It's actually quite good-looking, right?"

Good-looking my foot!

Cang Lan clutched her lower abdomen with both hands, baring her teeth at Ren Yidao in annoyance, wishing she could go up and bite him.

But just at this moment, Yaoyue, who should have been on Cang Lan's side, betrayed her and nodded quite approvingly:

"I actually think it's quite good-looking too... Ahem, not appropriate, not appropriate! Don't get excited."

Having been glared at, Yaoyue soothingly patted Cang Lan's dog head and shook her head at Ren Yidao:

"It's better to erase it; just consider it as the sincerity you've shown, how about that?"

"Naturally, that is possible."

Yaoyue and Cang Lan: Huh?

Contrary to the expectations of Yaoyue and the other, Ren Yidao nodded decisively after hearing the request, waved his hand with a smile, and cleanly and efficiently removed the mark on Cang Lan's body.

!!!

What Ren Yidao did not know was that one of the most important reasons why the two of them chose to take the risk of staying here to wait for Ren Yidao after backstabbing Ao Tan was to eliminate this persistent mark.

They had devised many plans to induce Ren Yidao to remove the mark, never expecting that he would not play by the rules at all, and in the end, it was actually solved so simply.

This...

It's just this simple?

Ren Yidao stood with his hands behind his back, smiling as he admired their surprised expressions, and he guessed a thing or two.

"Is it very unexpected? Hehe... you thought too much."

In fact, Yaoyue and the others had overthought it; Ren Yidao's mark was actually not difficult to resolve, and its cultivation realm was not very profound, it just required some special techniques.

Even if they didn't take the initiative to propose it, Ren Yidao would have found an opportunity to replace this mark anyway, and put on a new one.

"Alright, my sincerity has been shown, now it's your turn."

The smiles on the faces of Yaoyue and the other paused; they did not expect Ren Yidao to be so direct.

Ren Yidao looked at them with a smile and asked faintly:

"How do you intend to prove that you truly have the sincerity to have a talk?"

Looking at the two who were somewhat at a loss, Ren Yidao's voice was also somewhat playful:

"Or is it that... you actually didn't really intend to have an honest and sincere chat with me? Were you just playing with me?"

The aura radiating from his body gradually changed, seemingly transforming from a sunny and cheerful youth back into that evil ghost that followed persistently behind one's back.

"Uh... wait, I've thought of something."

Sensing Ren Yidao's change, Yaoyue hurriedly coughed lightly and smiled:

"I am willing to go to the Divine Path Sect with you."

After saying this, Yaoyue added with a smile:

"Besides, isn't the fact that we are willing to talk to you sincerity in itself?"

Regarding this point, Ren Yidao was noncommittal; he did not dwell on these minor details, but instead pressed:

"Then when shall we depart?"

For a promise, merely making it is not important; when it is fulfilled is what matters most.

Taking out a loan is easy, but repaying it is hard.

The corners of Yaoyue's mouth curled up slightly, and she said lightly:

"Let's talk about that after I go to the Demon Emperor City."

Ren Yidao:?

"If you are worried, you can go with us, and we can depart together then. What do you think?"

Wait, wait, wait, wait...

Ren Yidao raised an eyebrow, interrupting Yaoyue's eloquent speech, and asked strangely:

"Um, are you... serious right now?"

"Of course."

Yaoyue lifted her nose and said as a matter of course:

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

"In any case, I've given you the condition; whether you agree or not is your problem."

Ren Yidao put away his smile and watched Yaoyue quietly for a moment, and she looked back without flinching, a faint mockery in her eyes.

The two stared at each other for a while, then Ren Yidao was the first to look away, sighing:

"Then it seems there is nothing to talk about?"

The talks have collapsed.

Thinking this, Ren Yidao suddenly laughed.

"This really is... haha!"

It was not a hypocritical friendliness faked, nor was it a cold sneer of mockery.

What appeared on the youth's face was a self-deprecating smile.

He was not laughing at others, but laughing at himself.

He cupped his hands toward the two and said:

"It is my fault."

"I mistakenly held too many expectations for you; that is my own problem."

"I thought you could bring me a bit more amusement, but in the end... sigh, I overthought it."

I had assumed you were a naturally gifted wicked woman, a born evil seed.

But as it turns out, you are just a bratty girl who has never been beaten down by reality.

It is truly... disappointing!

Ren Yidao shook his head helplessly, looked up at Yao Yue, and asked sincerely:

"So, do you really think you have the capital to negotiate with me?"

Two stray dogs who have been chased for so long, do you really have the qualifications?

Cang Lan, who had been silent for a long time, walked in front of Yao Yue, blocked Ren Yidao's slowly rising malice, and said sternly:

"We do!"

Seeing her so confident, Ren Yidao asked with a toothache:

"No, what gives you such confidence?"

Ren Yidao spread his hands and asked in bewilderment:

"Is it because you have recovered to your peak? Or is it because of the feelings between you?"

You can fool your brothers, but don't fool yourself too!

"I finally understand... what villains actually feel when the protagonist rushes over shouting about friendship, love, bonds, justice, and the like."

It is just too funny.

Muttering for a while, Ren Yidao sighed in self-abandonment.

"Forget it."

"Since you are unwilling, I can only do it myself."

Ren Yidao approached Cang Lan and the others step by step.

Step by step.

Thump, thump, thump...

Each of his steps was like the drumbeat of a musical movement, striking against their hearts that were beating ever faster.

Cang Lan and Yao Yue stood ready in battle formation, nerves tightened, staring closely at Ren Yidao's movements.

One step, two steps...

But just at the climax of the music, the drumbeat stopped abruptly.

Thump—

Ren Yidao stopped his footsteps without any warning.

"What?"

Amidst Cang Lan's involuntary exclamation, the anger on Ren Yidao's face vanished, replaced by a different expression.

A smile.

He looked joyfully at the astonishment on Cang Lan's face and the darkening expression of Yao Yue.

He said:

"Or are you relying on this Array you prepared?"

Just one step away from him, there was a Killing Array hidden by an illusion.

This was the original Killing Array within the palace of Ao Tan, enough to kill or injure all cultivators below the Heaven Realm!

Even if someone in the Heaven Realm fell into it, one careless move could cost them a layer of skin.

Just one step away, and he would have stepped into the gates of hell, with no possibility of returning.

Ren Yidao looked at Yao Yue and asked mockingly:

"When... did you get the illusion that I was blinded by the illusion?"