"What are you hiding from us?"
Li Mucheng's eyes flickered briefly upon hearing Su Yuxin's words, but she quickly masked her reaction.
"Yuxin, why don’t you clarify? I’m not sure what you mean."
Su Yuxin knew Li Mucheng was trying to probe her. The topic was straightforward—how could she not understand? But given the current situation, she had no intention of wasting energy on mind games with Li Mucheng.
"Mucheng, do you remember that day at the cliff?"
"Yuxin, are you talking about... when Xie Yuyan stabbed our teacher with a dagger?"
"Yes!"
Su Yuxin didn’t shy away from bringing it up. Now that Li Mucheng was no longer withdrawn, she finally had the chance to discuss it with her.
"I saw it clearly—Xie Yuyan’s dagger plunged straight into Ye Feng’s heart without hesitation. There was no trick, no illusion."
When Li Mucheng remained silent, Su Yuxin continued.
"But the moment the dagger pierced his heart, it bounced back right before our eyes, and Ye Feng was completely unharmed."
Li Mucheng nodded thoughtfully, agreeing with Su Yuxin’s account. "That’s right. I saw it too. The blade went straight for his chest, but his reaction was oddly calm, as if..."
"As if he knew the dagger wouldn’t harm him!" Su Yuxin cut in, finishing Li Mucheng’s sentence.
"Exactly. And given Xie Yuyan’s actions, it means she knew about his... protection. She understands his secrets better than we do."
Li Mucheng bit her lower lip, her expression cool and composed.
As they exchanged their thoughts, the mystery surrounding Ye Feng gradually became clearer.
"Mucheng, should we go ask Xie Yuyan now? Maybe she knows more than we do?"
Li Mucheng shook her head slightly. "It’s not realistic. Even if she were willing to talk, her current mental state wouldn’t allow it. She wouldn’t say a word."
"Mental state? Did she... become like you?"
Li Mucheng shot Su Yuxin a glare but nodded. "Yes. Since we brought her back, she’s been in a similar state—no, worse. She stays in her room all day, silent, like... a lost soul."
"She’s really like that?"
Su Yuxin gasped. The Xie Yuyan she knew was always cold and ruthless, especially when it came to Ye Feng—her methods were extreme, her actions merciless. To hear she’d fallen into such a state was hard to believe.
"Mucheng, do you think she’s... faking it?"
"Faking? You think her grief is an act?"
"I don’t know. It’s just a guess. She’s deceived me before, so of course I’m wary of her."
Su Yuxin huffed, her tone dripping with disdain.
"I... can’t say for sure, but your theory isn’t impossible."
Li Mucheng closed her eyes, deep in thought. Logically, Xie Yuyan’s obsession with Ye Feng ran deeper than anyone else’s. For her to act this way now was undeniably suspicious.
It seemed the only way to know what she was thinking was to confront her directly.
When Li Mucheng opened her eyes again, they were sharp and clear, no longer clouded by confusion—as if she’d solidified her next steps.
"Yuxin, you go back and keep searching for our teacher. I’ll talk to Xie Yuyan myself."
"Huh?"
Though puzzled, Su Yuxin nodded in agreement.
"Alright. But... are you sure it’s safe? Going alone..."
"Xie Yuyan won’t hurt me. She’s not in the state to do so."
Li Mucheng’s confidence came from Xie Yuyan’s behavior at the cliff. When Ye Feng shielded her and fell into the river, Xie Yuyan’s expression had shifted from fury to shock, then to desperate regret. After he disappeared, she didn’t run or lash out—just sat there, utterly lost.
"Fine. But be careful, okay? I’ve never trusted that woman."
Su Yuxin clenched her fists, as if itching to taunt Xie Yuyan if she were here.
"Let’s focus on what matters. I’ll get myself together. Finding our teacher is up to you."
"Got it. I’m just glad to see you’re back to your old self."
Su Yuxin smiled warmly before turning to leave. Just as her hand touched the doorknob, Li Mucheng called out.
"Yuxin."
"Hmm?"
Su Yuxin turned back, expecting further instructions.
"What is it, Mucheng?"
Li Mucheng rose from the bed and stepped closer until barely a fist’s distance separated them. Then, she extended her hand.
"What’s this?"
"A truce."
Li Mucheng smiled softly.
"We’ve fought so much over our teacher. But I’ve realized now—this rivalry only hurts him. Until we find him, let’s go back to how we were before. Okay?"
"..."
Su Yuxin blinked in surprise. She hadn’t expected such words from Li Mucheng. After a pause, she reached out and clasped her hand firmly.
"You’ve changed, Mucheng... but I don’t hate it. I’m sorry for how I treated you before. But just so you know—I won’t give up on Ye Feng."
"Neither will I."
They shared a smile, as if returning to sweeter, simpler days.
ts me of treason?" "Correct. The host must return to the capital and gradually build up influence." "Wait—I have half a million soldiers, and you want me to go back to the capital to 'build influence'?" "Host, you are currently the Northern Garrison General, loyal to the Great Xia Dynasty." "Of course I am loyal to Great Xia! Absolutely loyal!" "But you keep referring to yourself as 'We'..." "Never mind the details! Summon all the regional commanders and military officers! We suspect treacherous officials are manipulating the court! They shall march with Us to the capital and purge the corrupt!" "......"
+【Epic Battles!】 "Your Highness, they say Linxi Temple is miraculous. Won’t you make a wish?" "A wish? It should be making wishes to me." "That may be so, but since you’re already here..." "..." "Fine. Then grant this princess a consort to play with." "He must be obedient, devoted, and utterly infatuated with my body—so much so that he’d kneel and kiss my feet." "Your Highness, that’s not a consort. That’s a dog." "Then add clever, witty, heroic, ambitious yet pragmatic..." "Hmm, that’s enough for now. I’ll add more later." After tossing out these words half in jest, Princess Anle departed the temple—only to catch a fleeting glimpse of the Bodhisattva statue smiling at her. Meanwhile, Yang An, fresh out of university, was having a very bad day. Good news: He’d transmigrated into another world with a cheat granting tenfold combat power. Bad news: He’d immediately fallen into the clutches of a certain villainess. Good news: Said villainess possessed peerless beauty and royal status. Bad news: She was absolutely monstrous!!! In the frozen wilderness, Yang An knelt beneath Qin Guo’er’s feet, drenched in sweat despite the cold. Desperately clutching her porcelain-perfect foot—the very one poised to crush his throat—he could only think: How do I survive this?! Need answers NOW!
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
d intelligence to keep the plot moving, and sometimes even the protagonists are forced into absurdly dumb decisions. Why does the A-list celebrity heroine in urban romance novels ditch the top-tier movie star and become a lovestruck fool for a pockmarked male lead? Why do the leads in historical tragedy novels keep dancing between love and death, only for the blind healer to end up suffering the most? And Gu Wei never expected that after finally landing a villain role to stir up trouble, she’d pick the wrong gender! No choice now—she’ll just have to crush the protagonists as a girl!
