Chapter 138: Some People Just Don’t Understand

As the nine peak lords descended from the sky, Mu Zhi’an looked up, his heart sinking. He recognized a few of them, but there were two or three he hadn’t seen before… or perhaps he hadn’t noticed them.

Why are they patrolling my house at night…?

He bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Peak Lords. I am Mu Zhi’an.”

Peak lords…?

Zhou Cang turned to look at them, his heart pounding. Even as a noble from the Forbidden Zone, he had never seen all nine peak lords gathered together, let alone appearing at a disciple’s pavilion. They hadn’t made any noise tonight.

He glanced at Shen Lao, who also seemed surprised.

Shen Lao quickly recovered, bowing respectfully. “Peak Lords, we haven’t caused any disturbances tonight. Why are you all here…?”

Yu Ziyan smiled. “This Young Friend Mu is my junior sister’s inner disciple. And her disciple is also my disciple. I saw some people intruding on my disciple’s pavilion, so I came to investigate.”

She paused, then added, her voice turning sharp, “Why are you two here so late at night?”

The other peak lords exchanged glances, their eyes filled with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. Dao Peak and the library had been estranged for years due to a conflict between the peak lords, and now Yu Ziyan was claiming Mu Zhi’an as her disciple.

They understood. She’s doing this for Ling Long. But they didn’t delve deeper. After all, his greatest value was Ling Long’s favor.

Yu Xuanji, the peak lord of the Peak of Celestial Secrets, narrowed her eyes, sensing something off. Even with Ling Long’s connection, Yu Ziyan’s behavior was excessively enthusiastic, as if she was trying to gain his favor. It wasn’t like her.

Shen Lao, facing the nine peak lords, felt a wave of pressure, his expression turning serious. The peak lords were rarely seen. They were only gathered here because of the inner disciple selections. After this, they would retreat to their respective peaks, and even requesting an audience would be difficult.

But now, all nine of them were here… at a disciple’s pavilion…? It didn’t make sense… unless it was because of him. But why…?

“Aaaa?” a melodious voice called out from behind them.

Lin Ling tilted her head, looking at them, her crimson eyes filled with confusion, a crane leg clutched in her hand.

“Senior Lin Ling is asking what you’re doing here so late. Is that right?” Mu Zhi’an asked, glancing at her, acting as a translator.

“Aaa!” She nodded, her eyes still filled with confusion as she gnawed on the crane meat. But her gaze alone was enough to make the peak lords uneasy. They felt a surge of reverence.

The peak lord of Metamorphic Jewel Peak stepped forward, bowing respectfully. “We simply sensed some outsiders intruding, so we came to check.” He could feel her gaze lingering on him. It was because of what his vice peak lord and the Third Prince had done. She had remembered Metamorphic Jewel Peak. But it wasn’t a positive memory.

Yi Hao looked at the crane leg in her hand, then at her beautiful face, his lips twitching slightly. Even if you’re going to steal food, you should at least wipe your mouth. But she didn’t seem to understand that, still clinging to the crane leg in front of all these people.

She turned to Mu Zhi’an, then wrote on the table: Why are they here?

He sighed. “You heard them, Senior. They sensed outsiders and came to investigate.” He glanced at Shen Lao and Zhou Cang. “I told them you didn’t like to be disturbed, but they insisted on opening the door. I’m just a lowly disciple. I couldn’t stop them.”

He had placed himself in the weakest position, then subtly shifted the blame onto them. The peak lords’ gazes all landed on Shen Lao.

“Shen Lao, we might tolerate your presence within the sect, but it doesn’t mean you can act recklessly.” Yi Hao’s eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing. “If you disturb Senior Ling Long’s cultivation, can you bear the responsibility? Or was this your master’s order…?”

Senior Ling Long…?

Shen Lao stared at her, his mind reeling, then a realization dawned on him, and he gasped, his voice filled with disbelief. “Ling Long?!”

This silver-haired woman was Ling Long?! But why was she in a disciple’s pavilion?! Wei Mengrou and Bai Ruoxi’s talent had surprised him, but now, hearing the name “Ling Long,” he froze, his body stiffening, his heart pounding. No wonder he had felt a sense of dread as soon as he had seen her. She was the Two Polarities Sect’s guardian beast…!

Yu Xuanji scoffed, her gaze cold as she looked at them. “Trespassing on a disciple’s residence and disturbing Senior Ling Long’s cultivation. I’ll report this to the master of the Forbidden Zone.” Her words were both a performance for Ling Long and a display of her protective nature as an elder. It was a win-win situation. And disturbing Ling Long’s cultivation, intentionally or not, was a grave offense. Even if she wasn’t actually cultivating, but simply stealing Eight Treasures Cranes.

The Two Polarities Sect’s leadership had tolerated their presence because of their connection to the Forbidden Zone. But disturbing Ling Long… it changed everything.

“You snuck into the sect, and now you’re causing a scene at a disciple’s pavilion. Do you think our sect is empty…?”

“My inner disciple is meditating here tonight. What will she think when she finds out about this intrusion…?”

As the peak lords spoke, one after another, defending him, Mu Zhi’an felt a warmth spreading through his chest. The elders are all so kind. The men are friendly, and the women are beautiful and eloquent. It’s wonderful… Except for that Dao Peak woman. Her gaze is a bit intense. It doesn’t seem like a senior looking at a junior…

Yu Xuanji discreetly glanced at him, then at Yu Ziyan, narrowing her eyes. That Dao Peak woman’s gaze wasn’t just affection. She must be so friendly towards him because of Ling Long. But why was Ling Long attracted to him in the first place? She studied him, her beautiful eyes filled with a calculating gleam.

“You tricked us!” Zhou Cang suddenly looked up at Mu Zhi’an, his voice filled with anger. “Mu Zhi’an, you live here! How could you not know she was Ling Long?!”

Mu Zhi’an frowned, sighing. “You trespassed on my pavilion, and I didn’t say anything. I tolerated it because you’re from Lingxuan’s family. I might be easygoing, but it doesn’t mean I’ll allow myself to be bullied.”

“You deliberately set us up!” Zhou Cang accused.

“Didn’t I try to stop you when you asked me to open the door? Didn’t I tell you she was a member of the sect?” Mu Zhi’an retorted.

Zhou Cang was speechless. He had indeed said those things. But they had assumed he was simply a womanizer trying to hide his activities. But he wouldn’t dare to say that now. He couldn’t possibly say: I thought you were being intimate with her, and I wanted to protect Miss, so I asked you to open the door…? Even a fool knew that was a dangerous accusation. Being intimate with the Two Polarities Sect’s guardian beast… It would be a disaster.

“You said she wasn’t presentable. You were trying to trick us into disturbing Senior Ling Long!” Zhou Cang said, trying to drag him down with him.

Mu Zhi’an had indeed said that. And they had only questioned him because of those words. They might have disturbed her cultivation, but Mu Zhi’an had insulted her behind her back.

Mu Zhi’an, after a moment of stunned silence, glanced at Lin Ling, then said, “Is Senior Lin Ling presentable right now?”

The room fell silent. No one would dare to say that… except for him… If she was displeased… They all looked at her.

She sat there, her silver hair flowing freely, her features delicate, her crimson eyes bright, a crane leg clutched in her hand, her small boots dangling beneath her robe, as if oblivious to their presence. She finished the crane leg, licking her fingers, then picked up a small piece of meat, popping it into her mouth, her gaze landing on the steamed buns on the table. She grabbed two, stuffing them into her mouth, her cheeks bulging. She swallowed, then took a sip of tea, before reaching for the roasted crane meat Mu Zhi’an had prepared…

Silence. Her style… it was different from theirs…

Yi Hao looked away, his gaze cold as he looked at Shen Lao and Zhou Cang. “I’ll personally ask the master of the Forbidden Zone about this incident. I’ll see if disturbing Senior Ling Long’s cultivation was his intention.”

Zhou Cang stiffened, opening his mouth to speak, then swallowing his words. If their master found out about this, they would be punished. And the others in the clan would gossip.

Shen Lao looked at Mu Zhi’an, his expression grave, remaining silent. The peak lords were supporting him, and Ling Long was living here… It seemed he had underestimated him. With her favor, he would never be ordinary. Her blessings would benefit him for a lifetime. It was no wonder the peak lords were on his side… If the situation were different, he would also support Mu Zhi’an. The reason was simple. Ling Long’s favor was everything.

“Why is it so lively here?” A clear, melodious voice echoed through the pavilion, breaking the tense silence.

Mu Zhi’an looked up to see Ye Lingxuan approaching, her purple dress flowing gracefully, her gaze sweeping over the room, landing on Lin Ling, then on Shen Lao and Zhou Cang. She seemed to understand the situation. She bowed politely to the peak lords, then looked at Shen Lao, her voice calm. “What are you doing here?”

Zhou Cang opened his mouth to speak. “Miss—”

“I’ll write to my father and explain everything,” she said, cutting him off. She turned to Mu Zhi’an, her eyes filled with a hint of apology. “I’m sorry for causing you so much trouble.”

He shook his head, smiling, then bowed to the peak lords. “I apologize for the disturbance, Peak Lords. It’s getting late. We should leave and let Senior Lin Ling rest.”

They nodded, agreeing. They left the room, and he glanced at Lin Ling, who was still eating steamed buns, then he closed the door quietly.

Yi Hao looked at Shen Lao and Zhou Cang, his voice cold. “You should leave. Don’t disturb the disciples’ cultivation.”

Shen Lao glanced at Ye Lingxuan, his composure gone, his voice hesitant. “Miss…”

She frowned. “I’ll return in half a year.” She ignored them, watching as the peak lords escorted them out of the Two Polarities Sect.

The peak lords lingered in the Garden of Heavenly Harmony, their gazes lingering on Mu Zhi’an, their expressions filled with a newfound respect. They seemed to regret not having recruited him themselves. If they had known about Ling Long, they would have done anything to secure him. Sister Yan is truly perceptive. To think she recruited him beforehand… The peak lords who hadn’t known about Ling Long sighed inwardly, but it was getting late. They couldn’t stay any longer. They said their goodbyes and departed.

Ye Lingxuan watched them leave, then she turned to Mu Zhi’an, smiling. “My master seems to like you.” Yu Ziyan had spoken to him encouragingly before leaving, her gaze filled with approval. Even though they hadn’t known each other for long, she understood her master’s personality. She didn’t usually acknowledge ordinary geniuses. But she was clearly interested in him. Seeing him being appreciated by her master made her happier than being praised herself.

He chuckled. “She must admire my exceptional talent.”

Don’t brag. She glared at him playfully. Then she sighed. “I’m truly sorry. I didn’t expect them to come after you.” She knew what they had intended. They had tried to intimidate him.

She looked at him, her voice soft. “Did they tell you to stay away from me…?”

He shook his head. “They threatened to make me marry you if I didn’t.”

She rolled her eyes, scoffing. “They wouldn’t say that.”

He smiled, studying her beautiful face, bathed in the moonlight. He took her hand, his voice gentle. “It’s getting late. Let me take you back. Your hands are cold.”

She frowned, glancing at him. She felt like he was trying to get rid of her. She was right. Her visit tonight hadn’t been part of his plan. He hadn’t expected that old man to summon her. While they all knew about his womanizing, it was one thing to know it in their hearts, and another to see it with their own eyes.

“Let’s go.” He took her hand, about to lead her out of the Garden of Heavenly Harmony.

A door creaked open. Bai Ruoxi stood in the doorway, her white nightgown clinging to her curves, her long hair flowing freely, her gaze fixed on them.

“My Dear, why was it so noisy outside?” She glanced at him, then her gaze landed on Ye Lingxuan.

(T/N)

I changed Mu Lan to “My Dear”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay