My Trouble Is Your Trouble

Yunmeng Grotto-Heaven.

Although the name implied a grotto, this estate was not built inside a cave.

Instead, it was situated amidst towering mountains, flowing waters, and lush, branching trees.

Elegant courtyards seemed to grow naturally from the forest, connected by paved woodland paths.

A distant waterfall had been diverted, sending a direct stream flowing right into the courtyards.

In the central pools of spring water, several spirit fish splashed about. A surge of spiritual energy continuously welled up from the pond, nourishing the seemingly carefree fish.

None of the buildings featured magnificent or expensive materials; the basic foundation consisted merely of these massive timbers.

However, a faint, lingering scent of sandalwood permeated from the wood.

The fragrance was light and mellow, seemingly there yet not.

The essence of elegance permeated this entire estate.

Yunze pinched some fish food and scattered it by hand, his eyes calmly watching the spirit fish below fight over the food, their bodies colliding and splashing water everywhere.

He scattered it very slowly, only dropping a tiny bit each time.

Only when the fish had exhausted themselves fighting for the food would he drop another tiny pinch, rousing their strength once more.

Yunze always fed these fish personally, never leaving the task to anyone else.

Yunze's gaze was tranquil, yet he seemed deeply thoughtful as he watched the fish begin to fight again.

Master, Zheng Zhaoling requests an audience.

Beside him, a pitiful-looking little demon girl reported in a soft tone.

Yunze's gaze solidified. He placed the fish food in his hand onto a nearby table and gave a light, self-deprecating chuckle.

It is not like I can refuse to see her. Skip the word requests next time.

Yes.

The little demon complied and then turned to leave.

After only a brief moment.

Zheng Zhaoling strode over, heading straight for Yunze.

Yunze still wore that gentle expression, a subtle ripple of emotion flowing in his eyes as he spoke softly:

It has been some time since I last saw you. Is everything well?

Zheng Zhaoling's expression remained unchanged, her tone indifferent:

If things were well, I would not have come to see you.

Hearing this, Yunze lowered his gaze slightly. Noting the change in Zheng Zhaoling's tone and manner of speaking, his voice became even softer:

Is there something that has dissatisfied you? Our humble abode cannot compare to the grandeur of the Yunmeng Pavilion. If there is anything lacking, just tell us and we will change it.

Zheng Zhaoling glanced at the nearby fish pond, a hint of displeasure in her tone:

Change? Change you, or change me? Or change me back to the Yunmeng Pavilion?

Yunze raised his eyes, realizing that Zheng Zhaoling was here to stir up a major issue this time.

The moment smart people intend to get things done, their way of speaking changes entirely, everything serves as a buildup and preparation for their ultimate goal.

Whether it be words of concern or angry reprimands.

Naturally, we are the ones who will change, Yunze's tone was no longer as gentle. However, you must at least tell us what the matter is, right?

Zheng Zhaoling looked at the fighting spirit fish and said:

Recently, many people who should not be here have entered the Yunmeng Marsh. Do you know about this?

Who exactly are you referring to?

Any cultivator not from the Yunmeng Pavilion is someone who should not be here.

Yunze did not reply immediately; he gently gathered his long white sleeves.

Yunze naturally understood who the foreign cultivators were, but he also believed that Zheng Zhaoling understood what she needed to understand.

The elders of Yunmeng Marsh would certainly have shared this information with Zheng Zhaoling as well.

Calculating the time, Zheng Zhaoling had been here for over two months now. Why was she suddenly picking a fight over this out of nowhere?

Yunze sighed softly before slowly replying:

The esteemed elders of your sect within Yunmeng Marsh know the details of certain matters much better. Furthermore, Yunmeng Marsh is vast, and our cultivation bases are low. It is naturally impossible for us to completely prevent cultivators from sneaking in.

For some things, making things difficult for me is of no use.

If you feel this is unacceptable, you can always request an order to set up a grand array enclosing Yunmeng Marsh, so we cannot leave and outsiders cannot enter.

The outside world is harsh anyway, and Yunmeng Marsh is our only path to survival. Do as you will; we only ask to be allowed to live, even if it means being like these splashing fish in the pond.

Zheng Zhaoling did not respond to that. Looking at the fish pond before her, she said:

I heard that you feed the fish here personally?

Just a small hobby.

You have not raised these fish very well. They are emaciated, their scales are shattered, and they are covered in scars. Zheng Zhaoling turned her gaze back to Yunze and said, I know where the problem lies.

Yunze looked surprised and quickly asked:

Please enlighten me.

Zheng Zhaoling picked up the bowl of fish food Yunze had set aside and dumped the entire bowl into the pond all at once.

Instantly, water splashed violently in the pond as the fish darted about endlessly.

You feed them too little. A smile hung on Zheng Zhaoling's lips. If you are too busy to feed them, appoint someone specifically for the task.

If you do not feed them, yet refuse to let anyone else do it, naturally they will not be fed properly.

Yunze's originally gentle expression instantly froze. He tried his best to suppress the surging emotions in his heart, staring at Zheng Zhaoling with a look of bewildered confusion.

Zheng Zhaoling slowly placed the bowl back in its original spot:

You always think I am targeting you, but you never consider that I did not even know you before. Why would I go out of my way to come to Yunmeng Marsh just to target you?

There are some things I do not explain clearly because I cannot, and it is for your own good. But obviously, you do not appreciate it.

You always say that Yunmeng Marsh has been like this for thousands of years. But there are also principles that have remained true for thousands, even tens of thousands of years, and they are far greater than the principles of your Yunmeng Marsh.

Before I came to Yunmeng Marsh, you should have heard the news: Chu Xingchen privately invited me to the Tianyan Sect, nominally as a meeting of geniuses.

Then, as soon as I returned to my sect, I hurriedly came to Yunmeng Marsh.

Do you think these two events are connected?

Do you really think Chu Xingchen just chatted with me about geniuses?

If I do not lay things out clearly, you will not know, and Yunmeng Marsh will not know. Then, if something happens, there will be an excuse.

Once I state it plainly, are you expecting the Yunmeng Pavilion to stand up against the Tianyan Sect's only living True Immortal for you?

Yunze's expression could not hide his shock. He lightly pinched his cuffs, suspicion and bewilderment suddenly flooding his mind.

Why would Chu Xingchen be keeping an eye on a small place in the Northern Luzhou?

As for demons, Yunmeng Marsh naturally did not dare to have any contact with them; after all, the higher-ups at Yunmeng Pavilion would never tolerate such a massive issue.

As for evil cultivators, Yunmeng Marsh had always acted with extreme restraint.

The world is so vast, and there are plenty of places far more outrageous than Yunmeng Marsh.

By logic and reason, it was impossible for Chu Xingchen to come looking for trouble with them.

Seeing Yunze's expression, Zheng Zhaoling softened her tone and continued:

By the looks of it, you still do not understand. Do you think I defied the pressure from my own sect's elders just to cause trouble for you?

If I wanted to cause trouble, would it not be easier for me to do it in the future?

If you truly understand nothing, I might as well tell you everything so you can understand perfectly.

Yunze quickly shook his head slightly:

What I should not know, I naturally cannot know.

Hearing this, Zheng Zhaoling nodded in satisfaction:

Do not think I am here to cause you trouble. I came to solve your troubles for you.

For now, we will lock down Yunmeng Marsh and forbid anyone from entering or leaving.

Zheng Zhaoling emphasized her tone:

I will not make things difficult for you. We will not arrest any humans or demons, nor will we investigate any humans or demons. We are just putting on a show.

"I don't care about what happens in the future, nor do I have any interest in meddling. Your unspoken rules have absolutely nothing to do with me."

"But right now, there is one thing you must understand."

"My problem is, in fact, your problem."

"It is true that Yunmeng Pavilion does not want other factions interfering in the Yunmeng Marsh."

"But it is also true that Chu Xingchen and Bai Xuanling are the exceptions."

"Do you understand now?"

Yunze fell silent for a moment before forcing the words from his throat:

"I understand..."

Satisfied with his response, Zheng Zhaoling turned away, not lingering in the area for a moment longer.

What Cui Hao had said was indeed effective.

It was just that in the future, she would inevitably face interrogation and punishment from her own master.

But so be it. To achieve one's goals, a price always had to be paid.