It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

Why was Feiying here?

The chief auctioneer had her own residence. He’d rarely seen her at an inn… And the second floor was for guests.

Was she visiting someone?

Mu Zhi’an looked her up and down, taking in her alluring figure. She seemed surprised to see him as well, her eyes lingering on him for a moment.

A seductive smile spread across her lips. “Did you know I was here? Are you returning my ring?” she asked, her voice soft and melodious.

Mu Zhi’an removed the ring from his finger and handed it to her. “Of course. I came specifically to see you. Thank you again for lending it to me.”

“Always the charmer,” she said, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

She then asked, “I heard you went to the Dragon Head Forest yesterday. Care to join me for tea? We could chat.”

Normally, he would have accepted her invitation.

“You know, you usually only frequent pleasure houses. It’s rare to see you at an inn, especially on the guest floors. Are you… visiting someone?”

He didn’t deny it. “Did Chairman Huang send you to invite the examiner as well?”

Feiying’s lips parted slightly in surprise.

She looked at him, her eyes filled with a knowing smile. “So you really are here to see her.”

Why does it sound like you two are close? Mu Zhi’an chuckled. “You can’t answer a question with another question, Feiying.”

She pursed her lips. “I’m simply visiting a… relative. It has nothing to do with Chairman Huang.”

She wasn’t technically a servant of the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce. Aside from important auctions, she was free to do as she pleased.

“A male relative or a female relative?” Mu Zhi’an asked, curious.

Feiying glanced at him. “Just a relative.”

A relative… that’s fine then. Mu Zhi’an smiled. “Enjoy your visit, Feiying. I have some business to attend to.”

She nodded, watching as he climbed the stairs. She shook her head inwardly.

Lan Mulian was a cold and distant woman. She had already refused invitations from the Gongsun family and the Bai family this morning. The Mu family might be powerful, but she had no need for their favors. To avoid any impropriety, she wouldn’t accept their invitation either.

Feiying turned to leave, but a soft creak stopped her in her tracks.

She turned back to see the door to the room at the end of the hallway opening.

Her eyes widened as she saw Mu Zhi’an enter the room.

After a moment, she recovered, her lips curving into a knowing smile. She descended the stairs.

Perhaps it was for the best. At least she had other acquaintances.

…

Mu Zhi’an looked around the luxurious room, his gaze settling on Lan Mulian.

She wore a moon-white robe, her long black hair cascading down her back, tied loosely with a white ribbon.

She was as beautiful and ethereal as a celestial maiden.

No… she *was* a celestial maiden.

“Senior Sister, did you sleep well?” he asked with a smile.

“I meditated,” she replied, her eyes softening slightly, a faint smile gracing her lips. She still had that aloof and elegant aura.

She really is a different person online. Mu Zhi’an asked, his voice laced with concern, “Did you have trouble sleeping because you’re not at the sect?”

She shook her head, gesturing for him to sit down. “Core Formation cultivators don’t need sleep. You’ll understand once you reach that realm.”

“I heard some interesting stories about your past exploits in Tianxuan City,” she added, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Who’s spreading those rumors? And why is Senior Sister so gossipy? Mu Zhi’an regretted his decision.

Inviting her to Tianxuan City might not have been such a good idea… His reputation was taking a hit.

“According to that demon, there are other demons lurking in the city,” Lan Mulian said, her expression turning serious. “If possible, we should uncover their identities before the entrance exams begin.”

Demons and humans were sworn enemies. A Core Formation demon hiding in Tianxuan City… it was a ticking time bomb.

Mu Zhi’an nodded. “I’ll have the Mu family investigate.”

“If you’re not comfortable staying at the inn, Senior Sister, you’re welcome to stay at the Mu Manor. It would be easier for me to inform you if we find anything.”

Lan Mulian shook her head. “You can visit me here if necessary. I’ll be staying at the inn for a while.”

As an examiner, she had to avoid any impropriety. Staying at the Mu Manor would raise eyebrows, especially if Mu Zhi’an joined the Two Polarities Sect.

He respected her decision.

He noticed a jade bottle on a nearby table, a pristine snow lotus resting inside.

That crane was fast… “We’ll continue to communicate through letters then, Senior Sister,” he said.

Lan Mulian nodded.

She preferred written communication.

However, she would have to reconfigure the crane’s destination. It was currently set to fly to her courtyard at the Two Polarities Sect. She needed to imprint her consciousness on this inn so the crane would come here instead.

But it was a small price to pay for the pleasure of exchanging letters with him.

After chatting for a while longer, Mu Zhi’an excused himself, leaving the inn.

He had intended to tell her about the Demon Empress.

But he held back.

If he told her now, she would likely report it to the sect elders.

But… what if there were demons among the elders?

If that were the case, his revelation would lead to his demise.

Never underestimate your enemies.

If the Demon Empress had dared to approach him so openly, to recruit him as a spy, she must have had a plan.

She had instructed him to report every three months. He would join the sect, identify the demon infiltrators, and then decide his next move.

For now, his priority was finding the third demon in Tianxuan City.

…

Ye Manor.

Ye Yu sat on his bed, his eyes closed, his brow furrowed in concentration.

After a while, he opened his eyes, his gaze burning with anger.

“Calm yourself. The loss of the Heavenly Dao Aura, it’s not entirely a bad thing,” a calm, ancient voice echoed in his mind, soothing his rage.

“What do you mean, Master? How can losing the aura be a good thing?” he asked, his voice trembling with frustration and regret.

He had been blinded by anger, failing to question why Mu Zhi’an had chosen the Dragon Head Forest as their duel location. It wasn’t until this morning, when the rumors began to spread, that he realized the truth.

The duel had been a distraction. Mu Zhi’an’s true targets were the demons, and his Heavenly Dao Aura.

The aura, it was probably in Mu Zhi’an’s possession now!

“Your cultivation might slow down without the aura, but its presence prevented me from teaching you my secret technique,” the old man’s voice explained.

“A secret technique?” Ye Yu echoed. “What kind of technique?”

Could any technique be more valuable than the Heavenly Dao Aura?

“The aura purified your spiritual energy, making cultivation effortless. But the technique I’m about to teach you requires you to absorb impure energy, to walk a… darker path. It will be arduous, but your achievements… they might surpass even those you could have attained with the aura.”

“However, it will be painful. Think carefully before you decide.”

“I want to learn it, Master!” Ye Yu replied instantly.

The old man chuckled. “I have faith in your resolve. Close your eyes. I will impart the technique to you.”

Ye Yu’s eyes gleamed with a newfound determination.

He might have lost this battle, but the war wasn’t over!

He would endure, reach Foundation Establishment, pass the entrance exams, and earn the examiner’s favor. He would skip the outer disciple stage and become an inner disciple!

Even without the Heavenly Dao Aura, he was still a genius!

He closed his eyes, calming his mind, focusing on the old man’s instructions.

…

Bai Manor.

Bai Ruoxi sat on her bed, meditating.

The Heavenly Dao Aura was working tirelessly, refining the surrounding spiritual energy and channeling it into her body. Her cultivation was progressing at an incredible rate, three to four times faster than before!

After half an hour, she opened her eyes.

Her expression was a mixture of joy, helplessness, and pain.

She was overjoyed by her rapid progress, but the situation with her mother… it was agonizing.

She had returned home earlier, expecting to find her parents arguing, but to her surprise, they were sitting together in the main hall, their interaction as harmonious as ever, as if nothing had happened.

Her father knew about her mother’s betrayal, yet…

She wanted to confront her mother, to demand an explanation, but the words wouldn’t come.

What would Young Master Mu do?

She sighed, feeling a pang of longing.

She hadn’t realized how much she’d come to rely on him.

Even though her cultivation was higher than his…

*Knock, knock.*

As she pondered her situation, a soft knock interrupted her thoughts. A servant’s voice called out from behind the door. “Miss, the young master of the Mu family requests an audience.”

Why is he here so early?

She felt a surge of happiness, her voice brighter than usual as she replied, “Let him in.”

She paused, then added, “Don’t disturb Father and Mother. Bring him to my room through the back.”