Wu Jinliang, who was eavesdropping, grinned and chuckled. He admired the Master's ability to tantalize people with promises, rousing their excitement.

He pondered a question, was Shi Chun supporting Bian Weiyin because of some smoochy reasons?

But this support felt like a thankless task—kill a person's family, help them rise in rank, would they be grateful?

Just as Feng Chi walked to the door, she suddenly stopped. She was not a three-year-old child; children only think about the benefits, while adults are accustomed to looking for problems.

After hesitating, she turned back and asked, "Was it Bian Weiyin's grandfather and brothers who were killed? In such a short time, are you sure you can persuade Bian Weiyin? This seems a little unrealistic to me.

And, the crux of Wukang Mountain lies in the refining secret method of the immobilization charm, which has been passed down from father to son in the Bian family.

Without the refining method, simply having Wukang Mountain is useless, and that is why we have spent such a long time focusing on Bian Weikang. If it could be taken by force, we wouldn't have waited until now."

Without any hesitation, Shi Chun countered, "That was then, this is now, haven't we already been exposed?"

Feng Chi did not understand, "Being exposed is one thing, but doing something useless is another."

Shi Chun immediately showed decisive will, "That's not useless effort—that's a counterattack, an attitude! Yes, we're exposed, and yes, we need to flee, but before we flee we must strike back. Regardless of whether we can drag Bian Weiyin into this, we must do so.

Opportunities are created, not run from!

Soon, a Xun Gate will be built at the foot of Wukang Mountain, and the area will become a bustling place. Simply taking over Wukang Mountain, even without mastering the refining secret technique for the immobilization charm, will still grant control over the benefits of a prosperous area. If we can pull Bian Weiyin in, the Demon Path will indirectly control a prosperous area."

Hearing this, a hesitant look in Feng Chi's eyes suddenly shone with a faint glimmer.

Shi Chun said, "If we run away the moment we're exposed, like turtles pulling their heads in, forgetting everything in our escape, fleeing like a dog that has lost its home, honestly, I'm not used to that, and I don't agree!

I'm not just talking without concern; I had a bit of an interaction with Bian Weiyin during the Sky Rain Meteor Conference. Let me try to persuade her."

Feng Chi thought for a moment, then looked up and said, "Alright, I'll report your suggestion to the higher-ups. You guys wait here for now."

After speaking, she quickly opened the door and left.

Had it been anyone else, Feng Chi would not have cooperated like this. Everything was based on a certain level of trust, and she was willing to cooperate because of it.

Once alone, Wu Jinliang approached Shi Chun and whispered, "Do we have to catch that fish right here?"

He thought Feng Chi was right—without the secret of the immobilization charm, it seemed far-fetched to let Bian Weiyin inherit Wukang Mountain. What Xun Gate, what bustling area beneath the mountain—it wasn't their problem. He didn't believe Shi Chun would consider the Demon Path in such detail. It's all for that fish.

Shi Chun whispered back, "Let's give it a shot, and if there's no chance, then forget it."

There was no helping his situation; his Cultivation Technique was different, unable to grow normally. The fish was tantalizingly plump and might help him leap an entire realm; the temptation was irresistible. If there was any chance to seize it, he wouldn't easily let go.

Of course, he also had other considerations he couldn't voice.

Not long after, Feng Chi appeared in another courtyard, exiting a hall, and approached a man under the eaves of the doorway.

A thin man in green clothes, clean-faced without a beard, his gaze empty yet profound, his hands thin and bony like chicken claws, staring vacantly at the drifting clouds in the clear sky.

Feng Chi bowed slightly and called out, "Mr. Qing."

Then she rattled off Shi Chun's recommendations.

The man in green, coming slowly to his senses, bluntly said, "No, proceed with the retreat plan."

Seeing him refuse without even considering, Feng Chi's gaze shifted and she added, "Mr. Qing, Shi Chun said running away would be like cowardly turtles, fleeing like a dog that has lost its home. He's not used to it and does not dare to agree. Judging by his contempt, if we run away without doing anything, he might not follow us."

The last comment was crucial; Shi Chun didn't understand the situation here, but she knew how to press the right buttons.

In short, facing Shi Chun's suggestion, she felt it needed consideration, so she openly and covertly argued for him.

As expected, the man in green clothes sharply turned his gaze to her and said firmly, "No, the higher-ups have said, we must take him with us."

Feng Chi asked, "So, force him to go? Let him know how important he is to us, is that suitable?"

The man in green clothes answered, "His plan, the higher-ups won't agree."

Feng Chi insisted, "Maybe not. At the Sky Rain Meteor Conference, he showed his valor. Because of his abilities, the higher-ups might consider his opinion."

The man in green hesitated, "It's complicated. A simple message won't suffice; I need to make a trip myself to bring back an answer, which won't be until tomorrow."

Feng Chi said, "You decide. Whatever you think is best."

After thinking, the man in green said, "Put the retreat plan on hold, wait for my news tomorrow."

Having said this, he walked down the steps and left on his own.

"Yes," Feng Chi bowed and took the order, waiting for the man in green to disappear before pressing a hand to her chest and letting out a sigh of relief.

It was her first time helping an outsider like this, trying to twist the intentions of those above—it was somewhat risky.

Somehow, even though she also felt Shi Chun's plan was unreliable, she felt he should be given a chance. At the very least, she believed the force of Shi Chun's arguments was right; they shouldn't flee like cowards when it was appropriate to strike back.

Returning, she informed Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang that the retreat plan was on hold.

And so, the two of them went back to their private dining room in the restaurant, eating and drinking heartily before leaving. They strolled around Lankang City before heading up the mountain.

As they ascended the mountain, the two encountered Xiang Laner coming down.

The latter's face filled with surprise and skepticism. Hadn't these two evacuated? Why were they back again?

Taking advantage of their greeting, Shi Chun briefly informed her that the evacuation plan had been put on hold.

Xiang Laner was dubious but still descended the mountain. She would surely need to confirm this with Feng Chi before she could rest easy...

The twilight had just faded, when suddenly, the night sky lit up again and the sound of bells "dong dong" echoed from the mountain summit.

Inside, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang rushed out at the sound, only to see the staff of the Punishment Court bustling and collectively dashing out to work, with figures moving everywhere in the distance.

The two looked up at the sky, at the aurora's fantastical colors high above, like ethereal silken ribbons or a phoenix circling in the void, stunningly beautiful.

Such a heart-stirring and gorgeous sight was not new to them on Wukang Mountain.

Wu Jinliang asked, "We are now disciples of Wukang Mountain, should we help out?"

Shi Chun replied indifferently, "Whatever."

Wu Jinliang noticed his absent-mindedness and asked, "What's wrong?"

"If you want to help, help," Shi Chun threw the words behind him as he walked away, gesturing to Wu Jinliang to stop following.

Wu Jinliang snorted and muttered to himself, "Off on his whims again."

He knew his friend too well. What could possibly be so inconvenient for him to tag along, if not affairs of a romantic nature?

"Ah," he sighed, looking up at the sky, also reminiscing about his pleasant life back in the capital.

Atop the mountain, Wukang Mountain's disciples were busy soaking Yulan Bamboo and then laying it out everywhere—a spare space, rooftops, walls, every inch of open ground they didn't want to miss. Shi Chun moved among the crowd, too busy to greet him.

His popularity had somewhat declined recently on Wukang Mountain, thanks to the gab of those senior brothers from East Nine Plain.

He didn't care much about it.

After all, he was indeed on his way to meet that person he'd whimsically thought of.

This time he had a legitimate reason; she had sent him a message with a parent-child charm earlier, asking him to come over at night.

When he arrived at Bian Weiyin's courtyard, where she lived, he found that the place was also bustling, with her figure among it.

Seeing him, Bian Weiyin first frowned slightly, then remembering her own invitation, she suppressed a smile, realizing she had chosen an inappropriate time but bluntly greeted him, "Aren't you going to help?"

Shi Chun, ever obedient, began to help as if naturally, imitating the others.

By the time all the soaked Yulan Bamboo had been laid out, Shi Chun and Bian Weiyin were standing on the rooftop, gazing at the resplendent sky, their feet on the freshly laid damp plants.

Shi Chun's right eye superpower was already activated, and he could see a faint blue mist high above, sprinkling down.

From his reaction, Bian Weiyin subconsciously recalled the last time a situation like this had occurred, a shadow of concern crossing her mind, aware that he wasn't admiring the aurora's brilliance, but rather making observations.

She suddenly asked, "When are you leaving?"

She knew about some matters of Wukang Mountain sooner than Xiang Laner, learning only after returning to the mountain that her brother Bian Weikang had been imprisoned. She also knew their father would not tolerate Shi Chun staying on Wukang Mountain forever for her brother's sake, and must have communicated in secret to expel him.

What she didn't know was that the situation had escalated to life and death, her father aiming not just to drive away her lover but to kill him!

And her lover was not one to be trifled with; learning that Bian Jixiong and others were plotting against him, he refused to relent, determined to strike back!

Shi Chun didn't know how to respond, withdrew his gaze from the sky, and said indifferently, "Soon."

Bian Weiyin's expression darkened, and then she stood tall, proudly facing the night's enchantment with a smile fitting of the City Lord, "Accepted. Like it, without this endless night as a backdrop, perhaps it wouldn't be as beautiful."

She spoke of this endless night, yet both the speaker and listener understood its connection to another enduring night spent together.

She didn't ask whether they would see each other again, nor did she say anything like "I'll go with you" or "Take me with you."

She felt she had taken the initiative as much as she should have, believing that some things, or at least a part of them, should be initiated by the man.

If the man had no intention of taking her with him, if he did not have her in his heart, what meaning would there be in her insisting to follow?

If he were to ask her to go with him, she would eagerly agree. She'd give up Wukang Mountain, even her home, as from then on, wherever he was would be her home.

Women are born to establish their own families.

Even if the choice was wrong, she was willing to pay the price for her decisions.

From the moment she'd been rescued in the ice cave, she knew, any price would be worth it.

However, even though her smile's stubborn arch tried to hook that longed-for phrase, it fell short.

Shi Chun, back to his rational mind, asked, "Do you want to master the refining secret method of the immobilization charm?"

Bian Weiyin didn't deny it, nodding slightly, "Very much. I must have something meaningful to myself, or else what's the meaning of living?"

Shi Chun responded, "Maybe I can try to help you."

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