Three-thousand-year Blood Essence Stones, thousand-year Flesh Ganoderma, two-thousand-year Snow Spirit Ginseng, Earth-grade Heavenly Spirit Pills, Earth-grade Armor, Heaven-grade Soul Banners... and more. There were quite a few of these precious items in these storage rings.
Even if the treasure vaults of the Nine Splendor Sect and the Ye Family were added together, they likely would not amount to even one-tenth of the value of these treasures.
"Elders, aren't these things... a little excessive?"
Chu Yun looked at Fang Zili and Yang Muqian with meaningful eyes and spoke.
"How could they be?"
"These are all things Your Highness deserves."
"The Nine Splendor Sect and the Ye Family offended Your Highness, and it happened in Qingzhou. As Qingzhou's overlord, Wangxian Dao Sect should naturally make some gesture."
"To demonstrate our sincerity." Yang Muqian smiled warmly.
Hearing this, Chu Yun immediately understood what they meant.
He thought for a moment before replying, "Very well."
"Then I shall accept your sect's sincerity."
"Elders, how long do you plan to remain in the Imperial City this time?"
"If you have nothing else to do, why not stay at my residence?"
No one would send such costly gifts for no reason.
There were only two possibilities behind Wangxian Dao Sect's move.
The first was that they had something to ask of him.
As for the second, they intended to extend an olive branch to him—in other words, they wanted to befriend him.
In Chu Yun's view, the first possibility was unlikely.
He was more inclined to believe that Wangxian Dao Sect wanted to take the initiative to befriend him, or perhaps... take his side?
"We truly have no business this time, nor are we in any hurry to leave."
"Since the Ninth Prince has said so, then the two of us will have to impose upon you." Fang Zili smiled faintly.
"Think nothing of it."
"Atai, immediately have two of the finest guest rooms cleaned up!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Chu Yun called out and directly instructed Atai to handle it.
At that moment, Fang Zili's eyes shifted. Keeping a composed expression on his aged face, he asked, "Ninth Prince, before we came, the Sect Master specifically instructed us that if Your Highness needs any help from Wangxian Dao Sect, you need only speak."
"The two of us will certainly give it our all!"
Chu Yun nodded solemnly upon hearing this. "Your Sect Master is truly thoughtful."
"When you two return, be sure to convey my gratitude to him."
"You are too polite, Ninth Prince."
After chatting for a while longer, Chu Yun personally hosted a banquet for the two of them.
They drank until deep into the night before returning to their respective rooms to rest.
Accompanied by Luo Feng, Chu Yun returned to his own room.
"Your Highness, Wangxian Dao Sect's overture was rather unexpected."
"It seems they wish to place their bet on Your Highness?"
Chu Yun wore a contemplative expression. "It is too early to draw a conclusion."
"Let us observe them for now."
"Very well, it is getting late. Commander Luo, go rest first."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The next day.
Within the Prime Minister's Residence.
"Miss, we found out."
"Yan Song has kept three concubines outside, and he values them greatly. The three run a small shop within the city. With Yan Song looking after them, although they are exceptionally beautiful, no man has dared set his sights on them."
The beautiful married woman reported to Meng Ruoxue.
"He certainly knows how to enjoy himself."
"I once heard Father mention him. Though Yan Song is old, his lust has not died. Yet at the same time, he is a man of loyalty and feeling toward women."
"If that is the case, then let him fulfill that old saying."
"To die beneath peony flowers, and remain dashing even as a ghost."
"How are those three women now?"
Meng Ruoxue's expression remained as cold as ever.
"I had people drug them unconscious and take them out of the city. They have most likely reached Crescent Moon Valley by now."
"The Shadow Recording Stone has also been prepared. Once Miss gives the order, the operation can begin."
The beautiful married woman had made every preparation and remained as respectful as ever toward Meng Ruoxue.
"Then tonight."
"Deliver this Shadow Recording Stone to Yan Residence yourself. Let him know that if he wants to save them, he must come alone to Crescent Moon Valley." Meng Ruoxue spoke calmly.
"Yes, Miss!"
Soon afterward, as dusk approached, Meng Ruoxue concealed herself and quietly left the city.
She headed to Crescent Moon Valley in advance, awaiting Yan Song's arrival.
At the same time, at the Ninth Prince's Residence.
Chu Yun had just fished for a while in the pond of his rear courtyard when the Sky Demoness arrived.
"Xin'er?"
Seeing the Sky Demoness come again, Chu Yun spoke instinctively.
Yet he was somewhat puzzled. At this time, Chu Yuan should have been waiting in the Eastern Palace to have dinner with her. Why had she come to his residence?
Could it be...
"Stop guessing."
"This is my true body. My avatar is still in the Eastern Palace."
Seeing the puzzlement on Chu Yun's face, the Sky Demoness immediately explained.
Hearing this, Chu Yun could not help giving her several more looks.
Unfortunately, judging by appearance and aura alone,
there was almost no difference between the Sky Demoness's true body and her avatar.
"Xin'er, did you come because Meng Ruoxue is about to make her move?" Chu Yun asked.
The Sky Demoness nodded. "Yes."
"Tonight. At Crescent Moon Valley outside the city, she has already laid out an array within the valley and is merely waiting for the prey to walk into the trap."
"She intends to use several concubines that Yan Song, the Yan Family's Grand Elder, keeps outside as leverage to lure him there, then refine and kill him."
Chu Yun was somewhat surprised to learn that Meng Ruoxue's target was actually Yan Song, the Yan Family's Grand Elder.
What a coincidence.
The Yan Family itself was one of the targets he intended to win over.
It seemed that, no matter what, he had to save this Yan Family Grand Elder.
"I understand."
"But Xin'er, I am curious. How did you learn of Meng Ruoxue's plan?" Chu Yun asked curiously.
The Sky Demoness did not hide it from him. "She was born into a good family, and her reputation is great enough. Therefore, it was not difficult for me to control some of the people around her."
"She has some death warriors under her command. At least half of them have had their souls secretly controlled by me."
Chu Yun was truly shocked upon hearing that.
Half of Meng Ruoxue's death warriors were actually under Xin'er's control.
It seemed that being born at the right time did not necessarily mean one was truly well-born.
The two women stood one in the light and one in the shadows.
Although the resources and intelligence Meng Ruoxue commanded were beyond anything the Sky Demoness could match,
the Sky Demoness lurked in the shadows, while Meng Ruoxue could not even lock onto her enemy. Each had their own advantages and disadvantages, their own strengths and weaknesses.
"Alright."
"It will soon be dark. Let us leave the city now and head for Crescent Moon Valley."
The Sky Demoness asked, "You are going alone? Wan Lei is not coming?"
The Sky Demoness did not know that Chu Yun could control the Evil Infant. Chu Yun had not used it even once until now.
Therefore, she felt that if Chu Yun went alone, then with his current cultivation—even if his talent was extraordinary—his strength was still not enough in Meng Ruoxue's eyes.
Chu Yun raised his brows. "What are you saying? Who are you looking down on?"
"If I dare go alone, then I naturally have my own confidence."
"Enough nonsense. Let's go."
The Sky Demoness was half-convinced and half-doubtful, but in the end, she chose to trust him.
Chu Yun ordered Luo Feng to remain behind at the residence. If anyone came looking for him, he was to say that Chu Yun had gone to bed early.
Afterward, Chu Yun and the Sky Demoness left the city together and hurried toward Crescent Moon Valley outside the city.
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