Chapter 261

He raised his right hand as if to give her a high five, just like Little Monk Yonggui did: “I’ll leave it to you now.”

Ning Ning stared at his hand, which was charred black like a roasted duck’s claw.

Ning Ning just wanted to refuse.

—After all, this didn’t look like a proper gesture but more like a guaranteed way to pass on bad luck. Whoever high-fives him is bound to spin 720 degrees in the air.

She originally intended to check on Bai Ye’s injuries but was stopped halfway by Pei Ji.

The black-clad young man holding a sword mirrored her earlier action, bending down slightly as he quietly said, “I’ll do it.”

Ning Ning could only nod and look toward Xie Yu in the distance.

Although she didn’t know why there was a hint of fear on his face, what was expected was that Xie Yu was already radiating killing intent.

She thought the next step would inevitably be a fierce battle.

However, she never expected that a man, looking like a servant, would hurriedly approach the stage and whisper something in Xie Yu’s ear.

Xie Yu’s initial fury gradually softened, showing a mixture of surprise and delight.

Xie Yu left the stage without a word.

A moment later, he returned with a tall young man dressed in white by his side.

“Meng… Meng Jue?” With all the sudden changes, He Xiaochen could no longer follow the direction of the plot: “Why is he so close to Xie Yu?”

Ji Yunkai, stuffing his mouth with sweets as if sensing something, let out a chuckle.

“The selection of a concubine will be postponed for now.”

Like all male leads in old sadomasochistic novels, Xie Yu had an exceptionally handsome appearance.

When he smiled lazily, his eyes tilted slightly at the corners, revealing a bit of insolent charm: “This man by my side is Elder Tian Xianzi of the Xuanxu Sword Sect. From today onwards, he is a distinguished guest of Chongling Town. Anyone who disrespects the elder will be killed without mercy.”

Why is it always Elder Tian Xianzi?

Recalling He Zhizhou’s actions in Xiaochongshan , Tian Xianzi followed Sect Master He’s example, accidentally spitting his mouthful of cake all over the table.

Despite their playful banter, everyone always likes to make fun of Elder Tianxianzi.

The grand demeanor of Fanyin Temple, Liuming Mountain, and Xuanxu Sword Sect had all collapsed one after another.

The elders of the three sects sat expressionless, silently hoping the Ten Methods Assembly would soon be over.

At the scene of the incident, Ning Ning was equally bewildered.

At the start of the selection, Meng Jue had mentioned that he would leave briefly.

She thought this senior brother, who was like the flower on the high mountain, would drop his idol-like airs and participate in the concubine selection 101 with the other two, but unexpectedly, not only did he quickly deal with the Demon Lord, but he also openly admitted that he was an elder of the Xuanxu Sword Sect—

(T/N: This is a playful version of the <Produce 101> reality show where idols are produced.)

Why hasn’t Xie Yu killed him yet?

“Meng, Fellow Taoist Meng?”

Bai Ye, full of disbelief, mustered the last bit of spiritual energy in his body and sent a secret voice transmission: “What’s going on?”

“Oh.”

Meng Jue’s smile didn’t falter as he leisurely glanced down at the stage, not even sparing them a glance: “I used our master’s name to betray the sect and told Xie Yu all the future plans and attack routes of the major sects.”

Yonggui: …?

Bai Ye: …?

“This place is, after all, just an illusion of the past. No matter what he learns here, it won’t affect the future in any way.”

Meng Jue continued, “And this gives us the perfect opportunity to make Xie Yu fully believe in our defection—far more reliable than entering the mansion as concubines, don’t you think?”

Two silent tears finally slipped down two soot-covered faces.

Bai Ye’s heart ached.

If the plan was already set, why didn’t Meng Jue give them a heads-up?

What was the point of all their dancing and singing?

Could these sword cultivators show some humanity?

The elders outside the mystic mirror couldn’t hear the voice transmissions, and as they exchanged confused glances, they suddenly saw Xie Yu burst into laughter inside the mirror.

With a hint of mockery, he patted Meng Jue on the shoulder.

Then, his booming voice echoed through the mirror, reaching everyone present:

“Elder Tian Xianzi has defected from Xuanxu and joined my Demon clan. What a joyous occasion! I always thought Tian Xianzi was the light of righteousness, but it turns out he’s just another coward who fears death, haha!”

No one respects a coward who deserts in battle, not even the demons.

Meng Jue played dumb, “Thank you, Demon Lord. You flatter me.”

Tian Xianzi himself: …

As a fellow sufferer, He Xiaochen sympathetically patted him on the shoulder.

Under the many sympathetic gazes around him, Tian Xianzi expressionlessly sipped his tea, his fingers trembling slightly.

Inside and outside the mirror, a heart-wrenching cry simultaneously rang out from the hearts of three people—

Meng Jue, you traitor!!!

=====

Although Meng Jue was cursed in everyone’s hearts, it had to be admitted that thanks to him, the group finally had a reasonable excuse to stay in the Zhou residence.

—Under the guise of “a defector elder and his cronies of scoundrels.”

The information Meng Jue provided was entirely accurate, revealing the future attack routes of the major sects down to the last detail.

Xie Yu discussed matters with him behind closed doors for a long time, and when he reemerged, he radiated an air of vitality, as if he could flatten the entire cultivation world tomorrow.

To thank “Elder Tian Xianzi” for the information, the Zhou residence, under the Demon Lord’s orders, specially arranged a banquet to entertain the guests.

“It turns out the performance by the two young Taoists was just for fun; I was mistaken.”

Xie Yu, sitting in the host’s seat, smiled sinisterly, exuding the vibe of a sadistic male lead who has cut ties with all his relatives: “But I do have a question: The major sects should treat their disciples well. Why did you choose to defect?”

This man was naturally suspicious.

If the reason wasn’t convincing enough, it would undoubtedly cause trouble.

A brief silence fell over the banquet.

Ning Ning took out a handkerchief from her storage bag and wiped away nonexistent tears from the corners of her eyes.

“All of this is thanks to Sword Sovereign Zhen Xiao—can you understand the feeling of being treated as a substitute for the White Moonlight by the Master?”

The gazes outside the mystic mirror instantly shifted from Tian Xianzi to his dear senior brother.

Zhen Xiao’s eyes flashed with sword intent; He did not want to understand.

“At first sight, I fell deeply in love with him. My master treated me well, but I never imagined that the reason he favored me was because I bore a seven-point resemblance to the woman he could never have.”

Ning Ning became more immersed in her role, fighting dog blood with dog blood, leaving the actual ancient male lead speechless and utterly convinced.

After all, from his perspective, everything she said made so much sense—it was logical, perfectly fitting, and completely flawless.

“To save that woman, he saw me as a mere stand-in, used my blood, cut out my liver, spleen, and kidneys, and carved out my spiritual marrow. The anesthesia numbed my body, and I slowly closed my eyes. To him, I was nothing more than something insignificant. If there is a next life, I swear, I will never fall in love with him again!”

Bai Ye’s pupils shook, and he buried his head in his food, desperately trying to suppress the shock in his heart.

As expected, the sword cultivators of Xuanxu Sword Sect were terrifying.

While everyone else in the cultivation world was fighting to grow stronger, they were pushing the limits of perversity.