Praise from the Moon Demon Race, Shifting Hearts

As Xuan Ye's voice faded, the elders present all fell into deep thought.

Xuan Ye's gaze finally landed on the figure in the main seat—Yueye, whose complexion was eerily pale—delivering the final blow.

"As for the Undead Demon Race..."

"Is it them begging us, or us begging them?"

"It is clearly they who need our trade routes for convenience. If we offended them, so be it. What does it matter?"

His words were earth-shattering.

Yueye, Yue Chen, Yue Xing, and the dozens of elders in the Council Hall who had lived for over a century all stared blankly at the youth before them.

[Ding! Choice Three completed!]

[Difficulty: Hard]

[Reward: Innate Dark Inner Spiritual Power +1.5, Revenge Evolution progress +10%]

The crisp system notification sounded like music to his ears.

Xuan Ye felt a surge of dark, pure power erupt from within his body, flowing into his limbs and bones.

The deathly silence in the Council Hall was broken by a series of irrepressible gasps.

The elders who had previously been full of doubt and anger now had their eyes wide open, staring fixedly at Xuan Ye.

One man subconsciously stroked his beard, his fingers trembling slightly.

Another lowered his head, lips moving as he frantically calculated, the light in his eyes shifting from shock to a burning sense of approval.

Reputation damaged?

Compatriots starving?

In the face of naked profit, such things were fragile and easily shattered.

The Moon Demon Race were never saints; slaughtering lower races was as common as a daily meal to them, and in their eyes, the Undead Demon Race were merely slightly stronger prey.

What they truly cared about had always been profit.

And the concept Xuan Ye proposed could bring tangible benefits to the Moon Demon Race—it was even more far-sighted than the schemes of these old foxes who had managed trade for centuries.

To have such methods at such an age.

His value was immeasurable.

"Ahem..." An elder cleared his throat, the stiffness on his face rapidly melting away to be replaced by a warm, enthusiastic smile.

"Young Master Xuan Ye's line of thinking is truly novel and practical. Why didn't we think of that before?"

The atmosphere reversed in an instant.

Only the Goatee Elder remained, his aged face flushed the color of pig liver, unable to step down from the awkward position.

He had intended to use the caravan's losses as a pretext to seize a portion of the management rights from Yueye. Now that his scheme had fallen through, he naturally refused to let the matter rest.

"It's nothing but empty talk!" he said, bracing himself and forcing a rebuke. "Who knows if an untested method will actually work? If it goes wrong, the losses will be even greater!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than another elder let out a scoff.

"Elder Yue Ning, that's not right. What Young Master Xuan Ye is talking about is the principle of resource control. Our Moon Demon Race already holds the initiative regarding cultivation resources and food supplies; what is so difficult about raising prices?"

The elder shifted his tone, his gaze burning as he locked onto the Goatee Elder.

"I think Elder Yue Ning isn't worried about losses, but rather that your own private stash won't be able to be sold off on time, right? I heard before that you were lining your own pockets by using the caravan's channels..."

"You... you are spouting blood!" The Goatee Elder trembled with rage, pointing at the crowd, unable to utter a single word.

Yueye had been watching coldly from the sidelines, and only now did she speak slowly.

Her voice was not loud, yet it carried a bone-chilling coldness.

"Elder Yue Ning, you questioned someone who has rendered meritorious service, and now you've been exposed for lining your own pockets. According to clan law, your entire share in the caravan shall be revoked, and you are sentenced to three years of guarding the Border!"

"How dare you!" The Goatee Elder glared at Xuan Ye with venomous hatred, turned around, and prepared to storm off.

"Did I say you could leave?"

Yueye's voice suddenly deepened.

She didn't even need to move herself. Two black shadows darted out from her side instantly. Two experts of the Moon Demon Race appeared on his left and right, and in just a few strikes, they had broken the Goatee Elder's bones and sent him coughing up blood.

Afterward, they dragged him out of the Council Hall like a dead dog.

The scent of blood began to permeate the air.

In the hall, no one dared to raise any further objections.

The ice melted from Yue Xing's cold, pretty face as she hurried to Xuan Ye's side.

"Xuan Ye, you're amazing! You left those elders speechless!"

"They deserved it! How dare they question the Princess!"

As she spoke, she waved her small fist lightly.

She didn't show even a shred of her usual aloofness.

Yue Chen stood as gracefully as ever, though her gaze toward Xuan Ye had softened considerably.

"Young Master Xuan Ye, thank you for your hard work in devising these solutions for the clan."

Waves of emotion surged within her.

She had often seen the youth lost in deep thought, assuming he was worried about his own predicament. She never expected that he had been contemplating how to help the Moon Demon Race recoup their losses all along.

He might not have known at the start how much the Princess and her sisters had sacrificed for him.

Yet, he had taken the initiative to repay that kindness.

Such a grateful and principled nature was truly rare.

Xuan Ye was in a good mood as well; he had finally triggered a system reward and had genuinely helped Yueye.

However, when he looked toward Yueye on the main seat, he froze slightly.

Yueye's state was somewhat off.

She was staring blankly at Xuan Ye, her eyes dazed, her fair fingers unconsciously clutching the corner of her garment, twisting the luxurious fabric out of shape.

She was whispering something very softly to herself.

"Not like... not like him at all."

Xuan Ye did not know what kind of emotions were churning within Yueye at this moment.

She had expected this youth to be like her younger self—helpless, weak, and in need of her pouring out everything to protect him.

But the youth before her was too strong, too decisive, and had even begun to shelter her in return.

She felt an instinctive discomfort, even a sense of distress.

Yueye felt...

The shadow she had been trying so hard to protect was currently shattering before her eyes.

"Ugh..."

Yueye covered her mouth, dry-heaving slightly.

Xuan Ye was startled, but he did not think much of it. How could he possibly see through such complex thoughts?

He simply assumed that Yueye was the type to remain calm even if Mount Tai collapsed before her. After all, as the head of the merchant caravan and a Princess of the Moon Demon Race, it was perfectly normal for her to have such composure.

He gave it no further thought.

Returning to his quarters.

Incense curled through the room, dispelling the lingering scent of blood from the Council Hall.

Yue Chen and Yue Xing, the two sisters, stood on either side of Xuan Ye once more to help him undress.

This time, their movements were completely different from before.

Their warm fingertips, trembling ever so slightly, traced over Xuan Ye's sturdy arms as they carefully applied healing ointment to his skin.

The pressure was as gentle as a feather brushing against him.

Yue Xing's pretty face was pressed extremely close, and the warm breath from her exhales brushed against the side of Xuan Ye's neck, sending a tingling sensation through him.

The faint fragrance in her hair was no longer subtle; it had transformed into an invisible hook, lingering at the tip of his nose and burrowing deep into his heart.

Yue Chen remained dignified, yet her eyes, usually as calm as an ancient well, were now shimmering with moisture, her gaze glued to Xuan Ye.

Being served in such a manner, Xuan Ye felt every muscle and bone in his body relax, the tension from the Council Hall vanishing completely.

He closed his eyes, content to enjoy this rare moment of tranquility.