It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

A misty rain fell from the night sky, and a long silence settled over the room. Lin Ling, her clear red eyes unwavering, stared intently at Yao Meng, glancing repeatedly at Mu Zhian.

Mu Zhian was still reeling from the shock, surprised by Lin Ling’s sudden assertiveness. He hadn’t expected the usually obedient and docile Spiritual Dragon to act so… aggressively.

After a long silence, Yao Meng raised an eyebrow, looking at Lin Ling appraisingly. “Spiritual Dragon, if I’m not mistaken, you dislike conflict. Why are you so hostile towards me?”

“I’m merely his wife, yet you’re showing such animosity. Are you jealous?”

Lin Ling, usually cheerful and carefree, frowned and remained silent. She realized she had been too impulsive. Mu Zhian and the Jade Empress were married in the Holy King City, a public event witnessed by the entire Nine Provinces. Although it was part of a plan for the Jade Empress’s ascension, a marriage was still a marriage, and the Jade Empress did call Mu Zhian her husband. Everyone knew about their marriage.

Lin Ling is too kind. If it were Gong Lianyue, she would have already started fighting… Mu Zhian watched the scene unfold, maintaining a calm facade, but inwardly, his heart was pounding.

Yao Meng’s lips curved into a faint smile, and she continued her provocation. “Or are you like the others, also… attracted to my husband, wanting to keep him for yourself?”

A brief silence fell over the room.

This is bad. Yao Meng is much stronger than Lin Ling… Mu Zhian’s eye twitched.

After all, their initial dual cultivation had been Mu Zhian’s doing, coaxing and tricking her into it to suppress the karmic fire. And although, as he had predicted, their relationship had… evolved after several sessions, she still couldn’t bring herself to admit such feelings.

Seeing the increasingly tense atmosphere, Mu Zhian’s mind raced. What should I do? If I side with Lin Ling, Yao Meng will be angry, but if I ignore her, Lin Ling might be bullied to tears.

Among the ‘big sharks’ in his pond, this usually peaceful Yao Meng was the strongest.

Just as he was pondering this, Lin Ling held up her notebook: Miss Bai was his Dao Companion before you.

Yao Meng’s expression remained calm. She smiled faintly. “So what if she was?” Her green eyes, shimmering like gems, held a hint of amusement as she caressed Mu Zhian’s face. “He can have many Dao Companions, but only one wife.”

“And I’m his only wife.”

Her casual words shifted the pressure back to Lin Ling.

Yao Meng was right. She was Mu Zhian’s only wife. With Bai Ruoxi absent, she was the only one who could claim that title.

“Even if the Palace Master hears this, you don’t mind?” Lin Ling suddenly asked.

As she spoke, a mysterious power seemed to envelop the area.

Yao Meng glanced up, sensing something. “Word spirit ability?” she murmured.

So, Gong Lianyue, who was preparing for her tribulation in the Sword Palace, could hear their conversation.

But—

So what?

“What if she does? My… conjugal relationship with him is known throughout the Nine Provinces. Even Bai Ruoxi wouldn’t object.”

Her voice, calm and elegant, echoed through the room.

Far away, in the Sword Palace, Gong Lianyue’s eyes snapped open, and after a moment of stunned silence, she gritted her teeth.

That damned Jade Empress, using my seclusion to proclaim herself Mu Lang’s wife?! Even coming to my doorstep to flaunt it?!

This was like stealing someone’s boyfriend right in front of them… and even calling him “husband” so brazenly.

She was already calling him “husband” while she wasn’t even around. What else has she been doing in private?!

Just imagining it made Gong Lianyue’s blood boil.

“Calm down. Don’t let this disturb your Dao Heart,” Bai Ruoxi’s gentle voice echoed in her mind.

Gong Lianyue calmed down slightly, but she still seethed with anger. “I can’t let the Jade Empress get away with this! I’ll see what she’s planning!”

She summoned her bronze ancient sword, which transformed into countless sword images, weaving through the air.

The sword split open the space, revealing a scene of Mu Zhian’s location.

…

Back in the Lan clan’s territory, Yao Meng, having finally calmed down Gong Lianyue, smiled triumphantly.

“I should thank you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to convey my message to Gong Lianyue.”

The pleasure of cuckolding someone right in front of them… A wave of exhilaration washed over her.

Lin Ling’s face was a picture of shock.

Her innocent heart was shaken, and she was speechless.

She hadn’t expected the Jade Empress to be so… provocative, even flaunting her relationship in front of another woman’s Dao Companion.

If Gong Lianyue weren’t in seclusion, preparing for her tribulation, she would have already attacked the Lan clan with her sword.

The advantage she had built up had vanished, and Lin Ling, biting her lip, tears welling up in her eyes, looked at Mu Zhian with a pitiful expression.

Yao Meng hadn’t actually done anything to help Mu Zhian, but as his wife, that alone was a victory.

Even Mu Zhian, who was used to Yao Meng’s antics, couldn’t help but rub his forehead and sigh. “Yao Meng, that’s enough.”

Yao Meng smiled faintly, glancing at him. “Are you feeling… distressed?”

Even she felt a twinge of sympathy for Lin Ling, although she hadn’t considered what Lin Ling and Mu Zhian had been doing while she was away in the Eastern Continent…

Mu Zhian sighed inwardly.

Yao Meng might enjoy playing the villain, but he was the one who had to deal with the aftermath…

Knock, knock.

A knock came from the door, interrupting the tense atmosphere.

Someone’s here! I’m saved! Mu Zhian’s heart leaped with joy as he quickly got out of bed and opened the door.

“I’ll get it.”

Standing at the doorway was a beautiful woman in a yellow dress. Wei Mengrou wouldn’t normally come looking for him, so her appearance was unexpected.

“Mengrou, what’s wrong?” Mu Zhian asked, forcing a smile.

Anyone interrupting this dangerous situation was welcome… If Wei Mengrou had arrived any later, his next meeting might be in the Jade Pool’s little room.

Wei Mengrou didn’t answer, her gaze sweeping over the room.

She saw Yao Meng sitting on the bed, her legs crossed, a calm smile on her face as she looked at Wei Mengrou.

Then, she saw Lin Ling’s state and, even without witnessing what had just transpired, she had a guess.

“Something’s happened at the Lan family’s ancestral grounds,” she said.

…

The ancestral worship ceremony was held every few years by the major ancient clans of the Eastern Continent.

The Lan family’s ceremony, however, was particularly renowned, mainly because their ancestor had been a Dao Integration expert.

The divine oracle bestowed during the ceremony was highly valued by the other ancient clans. However, no one knew that it wasn’t actually from the Lan family ancestor.

Mu Zhian had anticipated that the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox’s presence would eventually be exposed, but he hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. He wasn’t prepared.

When he and Wei Mengrou arrived at the ancestral grounds, the Lan clan members were already gathered.

Yao Meng hadn’t come. This was a Lan family matter, and she didn’t want to get involved.

“Senior Sister, what happened?” Mu Zhian transmitted his voice to Lan Mulian, whom he had spotted in the crowd.

“Something happened at the ancestral grounds. The ceremony might be postponed,” Lan Mulian replied, transmitting her voice back, but she didn’t know the details.

Mu Zhian’s eyes flickered thoughtfully.

It seemed the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox’s consciousness was awakening…

Although he was still outside, he could sense her faint aura from within the Lan family’s ancestral grounds.

If that was the case, the ceremony couldn’t proceed as planned.

Lan Mulian suddenly transmitted her voice, “What you wanted to tell us before… is it related to the incident at the ancestral grounds?” She was intelligent and understood the implication of his words that night.

Mu Zhian nodded slightly, then hesitated. He transmitted his voice, “Are you still angry, Senior Sister?”

Lan Mulian scoffed. “You flatter yourself, Junior Brother. Who would be angry because of you?”

If she had added, “Don’t misunderstand. If I’m angry, it’s not because of you, you idiot!”, it would have been a perfect tsundere line… Mu Zhian thought to himself.

He looked towards the ancestral grounds. Although there were no visible changes, he could sense a faint demonic aura, clearly concealed by the Lan family’s formations.

After a long silence, a commotion arose in the distance.

Mu Zhian looked over and saw members of other ancient clans from the Eastern Continent.

The Clear Moon Holy Land and two other ancient clans had come to the ancestral grounds.

Lan Pingzhi, the Lan Clan Leader, looked at the Holy Master of the Clear Moon Holy Land, his brows furrowing slightly as he sensed their hostility.

“What brings you to my Lan family today, Holy Master? You must have something important to discuss,” he asked.

The Holy Master of the Clear Moon Holy Land was an elegantly dressed woman. Although past her prime, she possessed a mature, alluring charm.

Three golden halos shone behind her, her aura imposing, a smile on her face. “What? Are you not welcoming us, Fellow Daoist Lan?”

An elder from another ancient clan chuckled. “We simply wanted to observe your ancestral worship ceremony. We hope you don’t mind our intrusion.”

He sighed and looked towards the ancestral grounds. “But it seems there’s been an… incident. The ceremony might have to be postponed.”

Lan Pingzhi, his hands clasped behind his back, smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. The ceremony will proceed as planned. You can all observe.”

“Oh?”

The Holy Master of the Clear Moon Holy Land smiled faintly, a glint of light in her eyes. “It seems Fellow Daoist Lan is confident in suppressing that… thing within your ancestor’s statue.”

Her seemingly casual words were like a bombshell, shocking the Lan family’s high-ranking members.

Lan Pingzhi’s face hardened. He said in a deep voice, “If you have something to say, just say it directly. There’s no need for such cryptic talk and such a grand display. If you’re here to observe the ceremony, fine… But if you’re here to challenge my Lan family, you’ve chosen the wrong opponent.”

A slight commotion arose near the ancestral grounds.

Many realized that the Lan family was hiding a secret. Otherwise, the Clear Moon Holy Land wouldn’t have made such a grand entrance.

“You’re joking, Fellow Daoist. The Lan family is one of the most powerful forces in the Eastern Continent, besides the three major powers. Although your territory is rich in resources, it’s rightfully yours. We have no intention of challenging you,” an elder from another ancient clan, who had come with the Clear Moon Holy Land, said with a smile. “However, I’m skilled in divination and sensed something… ominous within your ancestral grounds, so I invited the Holy Master to help.”

“What exactly did you discover in our ancestral grounds that requires such a grand display?” Lan Pingzhi asked calmly, his hands clasped behind his back.

The elder from the Lin family smiled. “Demonic qi.”

These words caused an immediate uproar outside the ancestral grounds. Lan Pingzhi clenched his fists, a surge of killing intent flashing in his eyes.

But it quickly vanished.

He said calmly, “You’re joking, Elder Lin. Our ancestral grounds are a sacred place. No demon would dare to trespass. You must have misread the signs.”

“The Second Elder of the Lin family has been studying divination for a thousand years. He wouldn’t make such a mistake,” the Holy Master of the Clear Moon Holy Land said, her voice gentle as she smiled faintly. “Why don’t you let him… examine your ancestral grounds and clear your name?”

“Are you challenging my Lan family, Holy Master?” the Grand Elder of the Lan family roared, a strange glint in his cloudy eyes.

The Holy Master shook her head and chuckled. “You misunderstand.”

She paused. “However, there’s a rule in the Eastern Continent that those who collude with demons are considered traitors.”

“The Two Polarities Sect has always held this stance, and even the Forbidden Zone once emerged to purge such traitors. If word gets out that the Lan family is harboring a demon cultivator… it won’t be good for your reputation, regardless of whether it’s true or not.”

Her words put the Lan family in a difficult position. If they refused to be inspected, it would only fuel the rumors.

But if a demon cultivator, especially a powerful one, was found within their ancestral grounds… the Lan family would be destroyed.

Their resources would be divided among the clans present today.

However, if no demon cultivator was found… these three powers would face the Lan family’s wrath.

But the potential reward was worth the risk.

Besides, it wasn’t even a risk.

Clearly, the Clear Moon Holy Land and the other two powers had come prepared.

Lan Pingzhi’s face darkened. He said coldly, “Are you questioning my Lan family’s integrity?”

“I apologize, but this is for the sake of the Eastern Continent. Even if the world finds out, they’ll understand,” the Holy Master of the Clear Moon Holy Land said with a smile. “So, have you decided, Fellow Daoist Lan? Will you allow Elder Lin to inspect your ancestral grounds?”

The Lan family elders were silent.

Lan Pingzhi’s eyes were cold. “No.”

“Your refusal will only make people think you’re hiding something,” someone said with a sneer.

The next moment, a bloody flower bloomed on the speaker’s chest, his eyes wide with shock as his consciousness was extinguished.

The earlier commotion died down instantly.

Lan Wu wiped the blood from his hand and said calmly, “You’ve accused my Lan family of harboring a demon cultivator. I hope you’re prepared to face the consequences if you find nothing.”

My brother-in-law is so cool… Mu Zhian, watching the scene unfold, was impressed.

He had a good impression of Lan Wu. Among these geniuses, Lan Wu was quite decent, although he had his pride, he wasn’t malicious.

Then, Mu Zhian glanced towards the Lan family’s ancestral grounds.

Ripples appeared in the space before it, and a strand of silver hair seemed to flutter in the wind.

He looked at the Lan sisters in the crowd and transmitted his voice, “Senior Sister, Feiying, do you want there to be a demon cultivator in the ancestral grounds, or not?”

Lan Mulian was stunned, a flicker of surprise in her clear eyes.

She understood the implication of his words.

Mu Zhian was leaving the fate of the Lan family in their hands.

Lan Feiying exchanged glances with her sister and transmitted her voice back to Mu Zhian, “You clearly know something. Is there a demon cultivator inside or not?”

Mu Zhian smiled. “Whether there is or not isn’t important. What matters is what you want.”

The two sisters fell silent.

To be honest, they didn’t care much about the Lan family, but they didn’t want to see its downfall because of this…