Chapter 3 Demon Clan Mu Qingheng's gaze shifted to her lips. ...
Mu Meng had long ago prepared to secretly follow Mu Qingheng.
She absolutely had to go on this trip. With her brother's abilities, he was virtually unmatched in the Six Realms. She could tell that his claim that he wasn't dangerous was not entirely true; anyone who could make him act this way must be formidable.
Fortunately, she had the Red Heart Pill as a safety net.
Having been caught off guard and ambushed in Yunze Realm last time, Mu Meng thought to herself—this time, she would use the power of the Crimson Heart Pill to protect her brother, and she would be extremely careful.
After waiting for two days, she finally learned that Mu Qingheng had gone down to the mortal realm alone.
With lofty ambitions in his heart, Mu Meng imagined countless possible dangers and followed Mu Qingheng with the determination to brave any danger. Unexpectedly, the road became more and more familiar, and they ended up on the outskirts of Yunze.
This is a peach blossom forest, and Yunze Realm is located deep within it.
Yunze Realm was originally a branch of the Celestial Clan, who had been stationed in the human realm for generations. She had come here to play many times since she was a child, and it was as familiar as her second home.
On the day she and her brother visited the Lord of the Realm on behalf of the Celestial Clan, they were attacked here. The man attacked her from behind, and his move was swift and ruthless.
To this day, we still don't know who this person is.
Mu Meng walked through the familiar peach grove. A gentle breeze caressed her face, and the sweet fragrance of peach blossoms wafted over, bringing back a flood of memories.
Actually, these past few days she wasn't unwilling to think about it, but rather dared not. Mu Meng gently bit her lower lip: she didn't have her brother's decisiveness, and she really wanted to ask why.
Clearly... Yunze's uncles and two older brothers all love him so much.
Only when she hears them say to her that they want to tear out her heart and take her life can she willingly draw a line between them and stop having any ties.
Unfortunately, there was no one to ask about this grievance and doubt.
Looking at the familiar peach blossoms, Mu Meng pursed her lips slightly, lowered her clear black and white eyes, and sighed.
Before she could compose herself and continue walking, a strand of hair near her ear was suddenly lifted gently by the wind—
Such powerful spiritual energy!
Mu Meng immediately looked around and carefully sensed the surroundings, but he could no longer detect any fluctuations.
This person is a formidable foe. If he is one of Yunze's stragglers, he will not hesitate to attack if he harbors hatred for the extermination of his clan. My brother is in great danger!
Mu Meng was startled and immediately forgot about the rules he had set for himself, such as "following from a distance and protecting secretly," and ran forward as fast as he could.
Not long after entering the peach blossom grove, she saw a tall, elegant figure in front of her. Her flowing robes exuded a fairy-like grace, and no painting could capture such a serene and distant aura.
He walked slowly forward, completely unaware of the person behind him.
Mu Meng immediately smiled, but before she could utter a sound, the man stopped in his tracks, suddenly turned around and launched a surprise attack, grabbing at her neck with lightning speed and precision.
His eyes were extremely cold, like a snow-capped mountain that never sleeps, exuding a chilling aura and devoid of any human warmth.
Mu Meng was startled: she had never seen Mu Qingheng look at her like that before, and for a moment she could only take a step back in a daze.
The next moment, before Mu Meng could react, Mu Qingheng had already rushed in front of him. In a flash, his brows furrowed, he abruptly stopped and stood still, his eyes becoming stern.
"misty?"
Mu Qingheng's expression was serious, his dark eyes fixed on Mu Meng. He moved his lips several times as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he sighed first: "Did you hurt your brother?"
He placed his hands on Mu Meng's shoulders and carefully examined her: "I sensed someone behind me, someone with considerable spiritual power. I only thought they meant trouble, so I attacked without holding back. Are you hurt?"
Mu Qingheng's brows were furrowed. This expression might not seem like much to others, but Mu Meng knew very well that it meant her brother was anxiously blaming himself.
Seeing her brother's nervous expression, Mu Meng felt both warm and amused: "Of course not, you stopped so quickly. Brother, stopping so suddenly like that can harm yourself, are you alright?"
As she spoke, she reached out to take Mu Qingheng's hand and examine it.
He's lively and energetic, so he seems to be really alright.
Mu Qingheng didn't let her grab him, but instead gently tapped her forehead with his other hand and said in a low voice, "Of course I'm fine."
After knocking, he smiled slightly, his beautiful eyebrows and eyes shimmering with a gentle and captivating light.
Mu Meng raised her hand and rubbed her forehead, which wasn't even red, and chuckled twice—her brother only showed such a childlike side in front of her.
"What are you laughing at? I haven't even said anything to you yet." Mu Qingheng grabbed Mu Meng's snow-white ear with his big hand. He didn't use much force, but Mu Meng knew that this was settling scores after the fact, and her brother was definitely a little angry.
After all, the few times her older brother had ever gotten angry with her since she was little, it was by pulling her ear like this.
She knew why her brother was angry with her; it all came down to him worrying about her. Mu Meng stood up straight obediently, letting him pull her ear without flinching.
After thinking for a moment, she softened her voice and argued, "Brother, I didn't come here to cause trouble."
Mu Qingheng's expression remained unchanged, his eyes conveying just the right amount of sternness and heartache: "You little rascal, you're right. You're not fully recovered yet, what are you doing secretly following me here?"
Mu Meng blurted out, "I'll protect you."
Her eyes were so clear that it was almost unbearable to look directly at them. Those clean eyes were like a blank sheet of paper, filled with a naive yet courageous determination, every word of which was sincere.
Like a clear mirror, no darkness can hide from it.
Mu Qingheng's hand involuntarily loosened.
The temperature emanating from the small ear at his fingertips was even a little hot. When he realized it, he found that he had lowered his eyes without even noticing.
Soon, Mu Qingheng looked up again and gently patted Mu Meng's head: "You're such a child. How are you going to protect your brother now? Do you want us to have a sparring match when we get back?"
Mu Meng straightened her back, her voice sweet and crisp: "I'm serious. If I encounter a powerful enemy that you can't defeat, I'll use the power of the Crimson Heart Pill to deal with him."
Mu Qingheng pursed his lips slightly, and his lips appeared somewhat pale amidst the sparse shadows of the peach blossoms.
After a pause, he said, "Nonsense. You haven't fully mastered the Crimson Heart Pill yet. Rushing into it will only harm your health. You mustn't say that again."
Mu Meng opened her mouth, but didn't make any more solemn promises—never mind, she had read many books and knew the principle that actions speak louder than words.
Protecting the person who has always been there for you, the one you cherish most, is never a foolish thing to do.
Thinking of this, Mu Meng became wary again: "Brother, there is indeed something strange here. Just before I came in, someone swept past me, but his spiritual power was so strong that I couldn't even see his shadow clearly."
Mu Qingheng gave a soft "hmm" and turned slightly to shield Mu Meng, a subconscious protective gesture.
Mu Meng's heart softened, and he secretly activated the Crimson Heart Pill, following Mu Qingheng as they slowly walked forward.
"Brother, why did you come back here? Isn't there...no one here anymore?"
Mu Qingheng said in a low voice, "Mengmeng, the Azure Phoenix Feather I brought back from Yunze Realm is fake."
He sighed, his voice tinged with regret: "If I hadn't been so cautious when you were born and had taken the Azure Phoenix Feather back for safekeeping, none of this would have happened today."
The Azure Phoenix Feather is an ancient treasure, kept in Yunze Realm for countless generations; it's no exaggeration to say it's the lifeblood of the family. However, since Mu Meng's birth, the relationship has become complicated.
Who would have thought that the little princess of the Celestial Clan was born with a Red Heart Pill in her heart?
Mu Meng remembered that when she was young and had only vague memories, Mu Qingheng had suggested bringing the Azure Phoenix Feather back to the Celestial Clan, but this was not an easy task—
If they take it, the reason for doing so would be distrust, and besides, it's a treasure passed down through generations, not something that can be easily taken away. But if they don't take it—their only nemesis is in someone else's hands—they'll always feel uneasy.
And so many years have passed since then.
Hearing Mu Qingheng's low voice, Mu Meng felt a pang of heartache: "Brother, so you did this for me. You were afraid that if the Azure Phoenix Feather fell into the wrong hands, it would be detrimental to me."
Yes, that's why my brother insisted on returning here. The Azure Phoenix Feather that Yunze Realm placed in the clan shrine was just a decoy; the real treasure must be hidden in the Peach Blossom Formation, which is fraught with danger.
Almost no one in the Six Realms could break through Yunze's Peach Blossom Formation. In the past, she had gone as far as the ninth level for the trial, while her brother had only reached the twelfth level. They were still one door away from the final core of the formation.
Mu Meng pondered repeatedly: "Brother, why don't you just not go and get it? I've thought about it. This Peach Blossom Formation is the strongest forbidden area in the Six Realms. It's impossible for anyone to complete all thirteen levels. Thinking about it this way, it's actually quite safe for me to just leave the Azure Phoenix Feather here."
“No,” Mu Qingheng shook his head in rejection. He looked at Mu Meng, his deep eyes filled with a complex emotion: “Leaving it here is ultimately inappropriate.”
The elder brother was resolute; once he made up his mind, he wouldn't listen to advice. Mu Meng frowned slightly, her tone quickening: "But you'll definitely get injured by the thirteenth level of the defenses. Besides, there's a hidden expert in this peach blossom forest..."
Mu Qingheng's eyebrows curved slightly as he gently interrupted her, "Alright, Mengmeng, no rush."
“I should have sent you home immediately, but I did sense that there were more than just the two of us in this forest. There is only one remaining value here, and this person who appeared at this time is definitely not a good person. If we leave, I'm afraid the Azure Phoenix Feather will be lost.”
"But it would be even worse to take you with me to brave the Peach Blossom Formation."
At this moment, they had reached the edge of the formation. Mu Qingheng stopped and gently pinched Mu Meng's soft cheek: "Brother will set up a barrier here. You stay put and don't wander off. I'll know if you encounter any danger."
Mu Meng was stunned for a moment before she finally understood what was going on. She lowered her head and murmured, "Brother, I've caused you trouble."
It turned out that the fleeting worry in his expression that day was the unknown danger of the Peach Blossom Formation, not that he was about to encounter a powerful enemy.
She had misunderstood and rushed over rashly, and her brother even had to distract himself by using a barrier to protect her.
In this way, if he were to actually encounter that person again, his chances of winning would be reduced.
Mu Meng knew that the Peach Blossom Formation couldn't be broken through by brute force alone, and she knew she couldn't help her brother with her current abilities. She rolled her eyes and said firmly, "Brother, don't use the barrier to protect me. I'll stand guard outside the door for you. If that expert appears, I'll risk my life to stop him and never let him in to hurt you."
Her voice was clear and resonant, and she unconsciously clenched her hands at her sides.
Mu Qingheng did not speak immediately, but moved his gaze from the little girl's eyes to her lips.
Her words, as delicate as the soft petals of a newly sprouted flower on a branch in early spring, were as sweet and gentle as she was.
Every step was carefully planned, but there were always unexpected details.
Mu Qingheng unconsciously touched his chest.
He turned his head slightly, a hint of barely suppressed impatience and disgust flashing in his eyes.
"Don't worry about me. Take care of yourself and wait for your brother here." Before entering the Peach Blossom Formation, Mu Qingheng left without saying a word, leaving behind the barrier.
...
Mu Meng gently touched the edge of the barrier, and the barrier immediately emitted a layer of light white light.
The abundance and strength of this spiritual energy means that my brother should still be safe.
Nearly two hours have passed since he entered the Peach Blossom Formation. It took him three hours to return from the twelfth level. Therefore, he should be in the thirteenth forbidden area now.
While secretly calculating in her mind, Mu Meng closely surveyed her surroundings: apart from the slightest gust of wind at the beginning, there had been no further movement since. If her brother hadn't also said that he had noticed it, she would have wondered if she had been paranoid all along.
Mu Meng silently calculated the time, her small hand lightly stroking the barrier, as if she could send some comfort to Mu Qingheng.
Suddenly her fingertips paused—the barrier was trembling, very small, but very clear.
My brother is injured... Mu Meng clenched her fists and instinctively ran outside. Before she could rush out of the barrier, two figures suddenly appeared outside the gate.
They were dressed in light blue and red robes respectively, and their faces were completely covered by iron masks.
Mu Meng narrowed her eyes slightly, a strong sense of vigilance rising in her heart—since she could remember, her memories of the demon race were only from conversations with her elders.
Unexpectedly, I've encountered two living demons today.
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