Mu Zhi’an was wary. He had a talent for surviving in this dangerous ‘fish pond.’ He sensed something was amiss when Wei Mengrou entered his room. He greeted her, his Spiritual Sense scanning the room, but found nothing unusual.

Must be my imagination… His pseudo-Innate Spiritual Body could detect consciousnesses at or below his level.

“Why did your bath take so long?” he asked, smiling and taking her hand, pulling her onto the bed beside him. “I was just thinking of checking on you.”

Wei Mengrou lowered her head, her hands clasped in her lap, her long legs pressed together, her hair concealing her blushing face. “I was cultivating. You worry too much,” she murmured.

Mu Zhi’an looked at her legs, his gaze lingering on the black butterfly mark. “It seems the Primordial Witch’s mark doesn’t wash off… Can it move to other parts of your body?” he asked, curiously touching the mark, feeling only the smooth texture of her skin.

“I haven’t mastered it yet… Why do you ask?” she asked, biting her lip, wanting to pull his hand away, but stopping herself, her legs pressed tightly together.

“Just thinking… it would look… sexy… on your lower abdomen…” he suggested with a smile.

She glared at him, knowing he had ulterior motives.

“It’s… reacting…?” he suddenly said, noticing the butterfly mark glowing faintly, then detaching itself from her skin and floating in the air. He looked at her, apprehensive. I was just touching her leg… She’s not going to summon her chains, is she?

“That’s strange… I didn’t summon the Immortal-Devouring Chains,” she said, her brow furrowed in confusion.

“Is it like Lingxuan’s Desolate Time Lock, with its own consciousness, sensing my… desires…?” Mu Zhi’an wondered. The Desolate Time Lock, an ancestral artifact, had its own sentience, understanding Ye Lingxuan’s desires, even helping her ‘solve problems’. However, its solution usually involved binding him and taking him back to the Forbidden Zone. Does Mengrou’s Immortal-Devouring Chains have a similar function?

“No one desires you. I have no such thoughts,” Wei Mengrou retorted, glaring at him. “I didn’t summon it. The chains are connected to the bronze fragment you gave me. I use it to control them.” The chains resided within her, but had been suppressed by the Heavenly Dao. Now, with the Chosen One’s luck, the suppression had weakened.

“The chains are connected to the fragment… Are there other fragments…?” Mu Zhi’an’s eyes flickered. The Primordial Witch was a mysterious Dao Integration expert. She had said Wei Mengrou was the Primordial Witch, but she had no memories of her past. If he could collect all the fragments, he might be able to lift her curse and even uncover the truth behind her conflict with the Heavenly Dao. “Can you use the chains to find them, Mengrou?”

She closed her eyes, the Immortal-Devouring Chains transforming into countless black threads, like a spiderweb, a black mist swirling around her as she focused. She seemed to be walking down a dark path, then, like parting clouds, the reason for the chains’ reaction appeared in her mind.

“I don’t know if it’s a fragment, but the chains are pointing north,” she said softly, opening her eyes.

“The Chaos Lands…?” Mu Zhi’an instantly understood. Not only the World Sea and the Southern Wilderness, but even the Chaos Lands were connected to the Primordial Witch? “Ye Yu truly is a treasure-hunting rat. He’s already found a suitable ruin…”

Wei Mengrou glanced at him, a shy blush on her face, but her tone remained cold. “Can you remove your hand while we’re discussing serious matters?”

“I’m just massaging your legs. It improves blood circulation,” he said with a grin, continuing to caress her thighs.

Her face burned. “You’re still thinking about such things after being injured and… exhausted?” she whispered, glaring at him.

“It’s not for pleasure. It’s for your health,” he said seriously, enjoying the feel of her soft, smooth legs. They’re the best… If I could just rest my head on them…

“There’s no rush for the Chaos Lands. Ye Yu is still outside, trying to find a way in. We can wait,” Mu Zhi’an said. “If there’s a fragment there, the opening of the ruins won’t be quiet.” And with the Void Nightmare monitoring Ye Yu, there was no need to worry about him getting there first.

The black threads transformed back into the butterfly mark on her thigh, and he continued to massage her legs. A faint blush colored her cheeks. “You really like legs, don’t you…?” she murmured, glancing at his hand.

He shook his head, gazing at her tenderly. “Only yours, Mengrou.”

Her eyes flickered, and she glanced in a certain direction, as if exchanging a look with someone hidden in the shadows. Then, her face flushed crimson, and she whispered in his ear, her voice seductive, “If you like them so much… how about… we continue?”

“Continue… what?” Mu Zhi’an asked, not because he didn’t understand, but because he couldn’t believe she would suggest such a thing after their earlier intimacy. He had just been casually touching her leg and chatting…

However, Wei Mengrou seemed to have shed her shyness, taking the initiative. “Isn’t this what you’ve been waiting for?” she whispered. “Being intimate with your maid while your Dao Companion is cultivating… staring at my legs…”

“You’re excited, aren’t you, you pervert~”

Her words, and her warm breath against his ear, sent shivers down his spine.

“Mengrou, while I’m still sane, you should leave… You’ll be begging for mercy soon,” he said, trying to control his excitement. He was almost spent… and Yao Meng would notice.

Wei Mengrou smiled faintly, and the butterfly mark on her leg transformed into black threads, binding his wrists.

“We’ll see who’s begging for mercy,” she purred, her voice seductive.

For a moment, he thought it was the Primordial Witch, not Wei Mengrou.

“Isn’t this a bit… much…?” he asked, his heart skipping a beat as she took out a black blindfold. He tried to get out of bed, but she gently pushed him back down, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.

“I’m sorry…” she whispered.

She blindfolded him.

“Let me help you… You’re not very experienced at this,” he said, hoping she would remove the chains.

She didn’t answer.

Silence.

“Mengrou…?”

She smiled faintly, looking at him, his wrists bound by the black threads.

“Mu Lang…”

A soft, melodious voice echoed in his ears, and the blindfold was removed.

Bai Ruoxi stood beside the bed, her lips glistening with rouge, her ample bosom straining against her dress, her gaze filled with a playful resentment as she looked down at him.

His heart pounded as he realized what had happened.

I’ve been betrayed!

“You and Ruoxi are Dao Companions. I met her while taking a bath. We chatted, and I brought her here,” Wei Mengrou said, a hint of apology in her voice, but her eyes twinkled with amusement. This was her revenge for him calling her ‘Master’ earlier.

“That’s why your bath took so long…?” Mu Zhi’an muttered, trying to remain calm. He gestured towards the chains. “Could you at least remove these, Mengrou?” “I was worried about Ruoxi’s match, but since she’s here…” Although he was tired, he wouldn’t let them bully him.

Bai Ruoxi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her ample bosom prominent. “I told Mengrou I wouldn’t unlock them,” she said softly, her eyes moist as she looked at him, then sat down on the bed, removing her stockings. Her voice was gentle, but her eyes held a dangerous glint. “The Jade Empress is with the Holy Maiden. I’ll make sure she doesn’t… bother you during the Ascension Ceremony.”

Mu Zhi’an looked at her, feigning panic, but inwardly calm. Although he was tired, and the Heavenly Phoenix Manual was on cooldown, his Dao focused on strengthening his physical body. And Ruoxi cared about him, and Mengrou was watching… She wouldn’t do anything too extreme.

As if sensing his gaze, Bai Ruoxi blushed and lowered her eyes.

“Mengrou, perhaps you should blindfold him… He’s staring…”

Mu Zhi’an’s smile froze.

…

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed through the window as Mu Zhi’an, his body aching, his legs weak, leaned against Wei Mengrou, tears of joy streaming down his face.

“It’s… finally over…”

Wei Mengrou glanced at him, a faint smile playing on her lips, then she quickly looked away, maintaining her composure.

“Whose side are you on, Mengrou? You betrayed me last night!” he said, his expression complex. Where’s my loyal maid?

“She’s your Dao Companion,” Wei Mengrou replied calmly. “She’s the mistress of this house.”

“Isn’t the mistress… also a master…?”

Mu Zhi’an: “…” He rubbed his aching back, vowing to get his revenge later. “Any gossip outside?” he asked, changing the subject.

“Xiao Hua is dead, but not many know,” Wei Mengrou replied. She had left early this morning, while Bai Ruoxi and Mu Zhi’an were still… occupied, to gather information.

“The Enforcement Hall is good at keeping secrets… And Luo Tan wouldn’t want the news of a possession to spread,” Mu Zhi’an murmured.

“There’s something else…” Wei Mengrou looked at him. “There are rumors of a strange phenomenon in the Chaos Lands, a surge of spiritual energy from the Heavenly Court.”

“News from last night reached the sect already…?” That was fast.

He quickly dismissed his surprise. “It seems Ye Yu is in the borderlands, trying to enter the ruins.” With the demons’ help, it shouldn’t be difficult.

Buzz! He received a message from the Void Nightmare.

“The Demon-Devouring Rhinoceros clan made a move. They gave Ye Yu a token to enter the Chaos Lands. Although the ruins aren’t open yet, a Nascent Soul expert tried to force his way in last night, but his cultivation was suppressed to the fifth-grade Core Formation, and he was cursed and died.”

Mu Zhi’an wasn’t surprised. The Heavenly Dao couldn’t interfere directly, but it could influence events. And Ye Yu was its Chosen One. This ruin, suppressing cultivation to the Core Formation Realm, was a perfect opportunity for him.

“The Heavenly Dao’s favor… No wonder Xiao Hua was so arrogant. He was likely a powerful being in his past life, and with the Heavenly Dao’s blessing… No one would suspect a possession.” If it weren’t for Ye Yu’s case, and his own awakened memories, he wouldn’t have suspected Xiao Hua either.

“Are you going to the Chaos Lands now?” Wei Mengrou asked.

“Not yet,” he chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s too chaotic now. The Void Nightmare is monitoring the situation. That’s enough for now.”

She nodded thoughtfully, then released him, intending to return to her room.

“Mengrou, help me back… My legs are weak,” he said, his voice filled with exhaustion.

She glanced at him, leaning against the railing, his legs unsteady, and couldn’t help but smile, her beauty surpassing even the plum blossoms in the courtyard. “You deserved it,” she said, her voice cold, but a hint of amusement in it.

…

As Wei Mengrou had said, Xiao Hua’s death didn’t cause much commotion. The Enforcement Hall had cleared the area beforehand. However, news of a strange phenomenon in the Chaos Lands, a surge of Heavenly Court’s spiritual energy, possibly related to the path to immortality, spread like wildfire, reaching even the Demon Realm and the World Sea.

That morning, a brilliant beam of light erupted from the depths of the Chaos Lands, illuminating the borderlands and attracting countless cultivators.

Unlike the Sword Palace, which required a special talent to enter, the Chaos Lands had no such restrictions. However, its entrance was on the Demon Realm’s side.

Despite the danger, the allure of the inheritance within was too strong to resist.

The borderlands were now filled with cultivators and demons, the tension between them escalating.

Deep within the Demon Realm, the Demon Empress sat on her throne, her long hair loose, her alluring figure clad in a loose robe, her beautiful face adorned with light makeup, her captivating eyes casually scanning the book in her hands.

“What is it?” she asked without looking up, sensing someone’s presence, her voice soft and seductive.

“There’s been some… commotion in the borderlands, due to the Chaos Lands. Cultivators from the Eastern Realm and the World Sea have gathered… Should we send more people to monitor the situation?”

The Demon Empress glanced at her. “You wouldn’t ask me about such a trivial matter. Just say what you want.”

“Your Majesty is wise.” The maid’s eyes held admiration. “There’s an ancient formation in the Chaos Lands that suppresses cultivation to the Core Formation Realm. I heard that Young Master Mu… lost in the Ascension Ceremony, so I spread the news about the Chaos Lands. He might go there to improve his cultivation…”

The Demon Empress’s red eyes, filled with a seductive allure, narrowed slightly, and a faint smile curved her lips. “You’re clever.”

“Send someone to monitor the situation. You know what to do if he appears.”

The maid, overjoyed, bowed her head. “Yes!”

Ever since hearing the Demon Empress’s… rather explicit thoughts about Mu Zhi’an, she had been paying close attention to him. She had deliberately spread the news about the Chaos Lands to lure him there.

And she had earned Her Majesty’s praise.

“What are you reading, Your Majesty?” the maid asked curiously, glancing at the book in the Demon Empress’s hands as she was about to leave.

The Demon Empress glanced at the cover.

“The Art of Managing Your Husband,” she said calmly.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay