The pursuit of balance has remained unchanged for a century.
Yan Huanyue was afraid that she would roll over onto the little golden cat while sleeping at night, so she placed it outside her pillow and stroked its head with one hand.
But after she fell asleep, she turned over as usual, curled herself up on the inside of the bed, and left the little golden fox all alone in the same spot.
Amidst the fragrant curtains, the half-asleep little golden raccoon suddenly woke up. Following her scent, it ran over and circled around her once before finally tucking its tail and lying down beside her.
Its furry body nestled against her cheek, purring softly, and occasionally tilting its head back to lick her cheek.
At dawn, Yan Huanyue was not fully awake yet, the soft, downy touch on her neck and a fragrance lingering around her.
She instinctively reached down to her neck and touched a soft, fluffy little thing. Looking down, she saw it curled up tightly against her neck, fast asleep.
This is so adorable so early in the morning.
As soon as Yan Huanyue moved slightly, it woke up, nuzzling its fluffy head against her neck a few times to relieve the lingering drowsiness of waking up.
Yan Huanyue turned around and stroked it, then smiled and said, "Why are you still here? Let me take you home."
The little golden raccoon responded softly with a meow.
Yan Huanyue gave it some food before washing up, but when she came back, it hadn't touched anything in the small dish in front of it.
She sighed, "Exactly the same...or do you need to eat something else?"
She drew out a wisp of spiritual energy and brought it to the kitten's mouth. The kitten sniffed her fingertip, its crystal-green eyes suddenly lighting up.
But it didn't open its mouth. Instead, it suddenly jumped onto the small couch, squatted on the soft pillow, and listened to the wind outside the window. Its tail swayed nonchalantly, as if it wasn't interested in her spiritual power.
Yan Huanyue knew it would like this, so she took a spirit stone and placed it next to its paw.
It then lowered its head, let out a soft meow, and began to sniff the spirit stone carefully.
Yan Huanyue put another small box of spirit stones into her treasure pouch. After it finished eating, she carried it to the stone chamber in the mountains where Pei Xuanzhi was imprisoned.
Last night's sudden rain has left the sky still hazy, and the Tianyan Sect is shrouded in mist, resembling a fairy mountain beyond the clouds.
The disciples would first go to the dining hall for a meal, and then go together to the training ground to begin their daily training.
Yan Huanyue left early, but there were bound to be people who had left even earlier than her along the way.
Therefore, she deliberately avoided crowded roads and only traveled along forest paths shrouded in clouds and mist, with morning dew gurgling through them.
The little golden raccoon in her arms obediently rested its head on her arm, blinking its round green eyes as it looked at the misty forests, trees, and exotic plants along the way.
Unexpectedly, I still ran into someone.
Beneath the verdant peaks, amidst the hazy mist, a slender woman leans alone against a tall tree, gazing at a wisp of wind in her hand.
Sensing someone approaching, she suddenly clenched her fist in mid-air, gathering the wisp of wind into her sleeve, and turned to look in this direction.
Holding the cat in one arm and making a hand seal with the other, Yan Huanyue bowed and said, "Good morning, Senior Sister Su."
The woman in the woods was none other than Xue Jingnian's senior sister, Su Henghua.
Su Henghua was also an inner disciple who returned from the north to rescue the sect.
She was originally supposed to stay in the northern border region with her master Yin Shu, just like Zhao Liujin, but perhaps for the sake of having enough manpower, Yin Shu also sent her back to the sect to be assigned by Pei Hanzhou.
Su Henghua saw a pale pink mist emerge from the thin fog, holding a golden raccoon in her arms, and smiled, "Junior Sister Yan, good morning, what brings you this way?"
Yan Huanyue strolled up to her, bringing with her the refreshing morning breeze. "I was just taking a walk when I unexpectedly ran into Senior Sister."
Su Henghua looked down at the cat in her arms with her hands behind her back and smiled, "What a beautiful golden cat! Is this a kitten or a stray?"
Seeing that Yan Huanyue seemed confused, Su Henghua explained, "In our local dialect, female cats are called 'mi-mao' and male cats are called 'lang-mao'."①
Yan Huanyue patted the cat's head and laughed, "Then it's a stray cat."
Su Henghua laughed and said, "My servants in the courtyard have two kittens. When your little boy kitten grows up a few more months, I'll find him two wives."
Yan Huanyue was at a loss for words. When the little golden fox saw that she didn't speak, it suddenly grabbed her clothes and jumped onto her shoulder, tilting its head and baring its teeth and growling at her.
Su Henghua reached out to hug it.
The little golden raccoon hugged its tail tightly against Yan Huanyue's neck and breathed on Su Henghua.
Su Henghua chuckled and said, "Look at it, it really is a stray cat. It's quite fierce. It's not as gentle and obedient as the cat in my yard. Its teeth are like small fish bones. It has quite a temper. Be careful it doesn't scratch you."
Yan Huanyue took the cat off her shoulder and stroked it gently to comfort it, saying softly, "Don't be angry that I won't let you go."
Su Henghua looked at the cat, which was gradually quieting down, and laughed, "What a clever cat! It really recognizes its owner; no one else can touch it."
Yan Huanyue asked, "Where is Senior Sister Su going?"
Su Henghua raised her head, shifted her gaze from Jinli, and said with a slight headache, "There are some things I need to report to the sect leader this morning, so I got up early to prepare my report."
The Su family was originally a retainer of the Xue family. The land that the Su family guards now is entrusted to them by Pei Hanzhou. Therefore, Su Henghua takes Pei Hanzhou's instructions very seriously.
Yan Huanyue asked, "What is troubling you so much, Senior Sister?"
Su Henghua smiled and said, "It's just a small matter. I still need to go find Shuangying. If Junior Sister Yan wants to go see Junior Brother Pei, then go quickly."
Yan Huanyue glanced at her in surprise. She hadn't even reached halfway to the Stone Chamber, yet Senior Sister Su had made it clear that she was heading towards the Stone Chamber.
Su Henghua stood gracefully against the wind, exuding an air of nonchalance. "The Sect Leader intends to send Junior Brother Pei to the Pei family's old residence for temporary accommodation after his confinement ends. Junior Sister Yan should know that the Sect Leader is considering this matter, right?"
Yan Huanyue nodded. "The sect leader mentioned it before, but he wasn't sure where to send him."
Su Henghua said, "Going back to the old house is the best option, since it's our own home. We also happen to run into Junior Sister. May I ask what Junior Brother Pei's preferences are? We can make arrangements in advance."
Yan Huanyue said, "He has a very good temper and generally doesn't have many demands. However, he is physically weak and needs some medicine for colds and flu, as well as candied fruits and snacks to accompany the medicine. I'm afraid we'll have to trouble your family then."
Su Henghua paused for a moment, thinking of the aloof young man she remembered who had played a few games of chess with her in Chang'an, and smiled, "So Junior Brother Pei is afraid of hardship? No problem, no problem."
Yan Huanyue, carrying the little golden fox, bid farewell to Su Henghua and went to the stone chamber in the mountains where Pei Xuanzhi was imprisoned. She placed it in the woods, dug a pit, and buried a box of spirit stones inside.
After finishing his work, he tapped its head and instructed, "I'll bury the spirit stones here. If you want to go out for a walk, you can only come here to eat the spirit stones. You're not allowed to run around anymore. Go back now. Running around all night must have taken a toll. Cat, try to stay out less in the future to avoid getting caught. You also need to take good care of yourself, understand?"
The little golden leopard crouched down, its tail held high, its head tilted back, and its clear, bright eyes squinted as it rubbed against her fingertips, fawning and enjoying itself like a fox.
Yan Huanyue urged, "Hurry up, I still need to go to the martial arts arena."
The little golden raccoon then leaped onto a tree branch, glanced at her several times, and then turned and darted into a grove of trees.
Yan Huanyue turned around and headed straight for the martial arts arena.
Upon arriving at the training ground, before even arranging the ranks, I overheard several fellow disciples discussing the rankings within the Heavenly Stele.
During this period, everyone has been constantly undergoing trials with the Great Demon. Everyone is constantly fighting for their lives within the Heavenly Stele, which has resulted in the rankings remaining almost unchanged day after day, except for those with extremely strong talents who can break through the encirclement.
Someone said, "Now everyone is training like crazy, and the difference is no longer noticeable. Soon, when people from other sects come to train, we will be able to see our level. If we are successful in this battle, we may be able to occupy a spiritual vein in Tengzhou, set up a grand formation, and establish a family. Who knows?"
Yan Huanyue was not a prodigy. After the group trial, her ranking in the inner sect climbed five places with difficulty, but it never changed again.
In the past, the trials between different sects were meant to determine a winner and a loser.
Today, all the sects under heaven have gathered in the Heavenly Stele Secret Realm to slay demons. All the sects under heaven and all the methods of the world have come together here. She doesn't know how much she can learn from this.
Some profound methods, even if only a glimpse is made, could greatly benefit her understanding of the Taoist practices she cultivates.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. The cool morning breeze after the rain cleansed her heart, and she gradually tightened her grip on the horizontal sword in her hand.
.
Yun Ruofan held a small knife and carved a wooden hairpin.
A woman sitting at a table laden with delicacies hesitated and said, "Second Young Master..."
Yun Ruofan focused intently on whittling the wooden hairpin, and asked softly, "If it were you, would you want to be the head of the family, or the head of the family's woman?"
Mu Wuhuan said without hesitation, "If possible, of course I'd be the head of the family. What are the women of the family head compared to him?"
Yun Ruofan chuckled and said, "You have quite the ambition."
Mu Wuhuan blinked his bright, watery eyes, leaned closer to Yun Ruofan, and said in a low voice, "I understand, Second Young Master doesn't want to be the head of the family's brother, is that right?"
Yun Ruofan smiled coldly, raised the small knife in her hand, gently lifted her chin, and whispered, "Do you want to die?"
Mu Wuhuan gently lifted his thin chin with his chopsticks and said sincerely, "Second Young Master, you have lost all your subordinates. Do you no longer have anyone around you who dares to speak the truth? In the West Ninth Mansion of the Eldest Young Master, such matters are not taboo to be discussed."
"You're now competing with your subordinates just so you can kill them in a fit of rage. If you were the head of the family, killing your subordinates would be one thing, but you haven't even become the head of the family yet. You're killing even those who have risked their lives for you. People in the West Ninth Mansion who were suppressed by the eldest son's confidants and wanted to join you should think twice, shouldn't they?"
Yun Ruofan shoved her away, "Are you stupid?"
Mu Wuhuan started eating again, crunching away, his eyes shining, his mouth oozing oil, his greed frightening.
"Second Young Master, when have I ever been a fool? When have I ever not told the truth? Fei Yi died, and I had just returned with you. My injuries hadn't fully healed when the Eldest Young Master wanted to use me to make pills. If you hadn't come to protect me as soon as you got out of the death row, I would probably be dead. I can only beg for your protection. If you insist on killing me, I can't beat you."
A faint smile appeared on Yun Ruofan's lips. "If you can beat me, do you think you can fight back?"
"certainly."
She used a spoon to scrape a large spoonful of fish meat from the sea bass from head to tail, stuffed it into her mouth, and shook her head with satisfaction at the delicious taste. "Even if I can't beat you, I will fight back. I'm not a stupid donkey with my brains removed."
Yun Ruofan suddenly threw her head back and laughed loudly: "If you're not stupid, who is? If you're not genuine, who is?"
Mu Wuhuan, too lazy to waste time with him, ate the fish in four or five spoonfuls, drank three cups of wine along with the fish, and then muttered listlessly:
"Second Young Master, those who refine pills in the West Nine Mansions eat spiritual fish and shellfish. Look at our feast, I feel sorry for you. Seeing you grinning like an idiot, I feel heartbroken."
Yun Ruofan glanced at her. "Weren't you enjoying your food?"
"What I eat is mine, but the heartache is yours, Second Young Master."
Yun Ruofan stood up and said, "It's all gone into your dog's belly, and you still have the energy to pity me?"
Yun Ruofan placed the wooden hairpin on the table and said, "Go, put it in the jade box, and send it to my elder brother."
Mu Wuhuan hurriedly got up and ran to the door to respectfully open it for him. "Second Young Master, I really can't stand seeing you be so humble and subservient."
Yun Ruofan said expressionlessly, "I'm delivering a wooden hairpin to my elder brother, what's it to you? It would be too fake for me to go in person. You go and deliver it, and say it exactly as I taught you. If you make a single mistake, I'll come back and take your head."
Mu Wuhuan repeatedly agreed, saying, "This subordinate would not dare to speak nonsense."
After Yun Ruofan left, Mu Wuhuan carefully placed the wooden hairpin into a jade box and went to Yun Ruoqing's courtyard.
As soon as she arrived, she was led into the inner hall, where Yun Ruoqing was drinking tea with several advisors and retainers, discussing matters in the north. Upon seeing her enter, the advisors and retainers all stopped their discussion.
Yun Ruoqing asked, "How is the Second Young Master?"
Mu Wuhuan, holding the wooden box, replied, "I was just released from death row by the patriarch and came here to protect me. I carved a wooden hairpin on my sickbed, saying it was a gift for the eldest young master."
Yun Ruoqing sighed, ordered her attendants to take away the jade box, and said with a sigh, "Alas..."
One of the advisors said, “Young Master, the Third Young Master is now missing. The Second Young Master used to think highly of himself, but now he has been tricked and lost all his own men. He has also been imprisoned in the death row by the Patriarch. Yet he still has the audacity to come and steal pills... no, he steals people. Young Master, are you perhaps being too lenient?”
Mu Wuhuan said out of the blue, "They're all brothers, what are you all doing stirring things up? You bunch of scoundrels, you're helping people bring down their brothers, causing them to fight each other, and you're just sitting back and reaping the benefits, rewarding your brothers and sisters by buying them land and fields, and your whole family getting rich."
Upon hearing this, Yun Ruoqing couldn't help but laugh out loud: "I'd heard he was a straightforward person, and now I've seen it for myself."
The staff members were furious that this fool had exposed their very foundation, but they seemed unable to retort and all put on a disdainful expression towards her.
Mu Wuhuan raised his head and said, "Young Master, the Second Young Master is nothing now, with only me as his subordinate. Even after he came out of the death row, he is not favored by the Master. He keeps saying that he wants to be your slave, which is really unbearable."
"Oh?" Yun Ruoqing smiled and said, "My second brother is not the kind of person who would stoop so low."
Mu Wuhuan said, "Who knows? Maybe he's been scared out of his wits by the sect members and the death row. How can he still pretend to be calm and collected like before? When people are in trouble, don't they have to change their minds? Once things get better, he can just regain his dignity."
The advisors exchanged glances, all understanding the meaning in each other's eyes.
This outspoken fool immediately revealed her stupidity and bluntness upon arrival. Now that the Second Young Master is behaving so humbly, it's hard to say that it might lower people's guard and allow them to make their move. If even this fool can see this, they must have already thought of it.
Mu Wuhuan felt little fear or anger towards Yun Ruoqing, the person who had recently tried to use her to refine pills while she was seriously injured.
When asked by others, she only said, "The second young master said that he would help me get revenge on anyone who bullies me. He said that I am his person and anyone who covets me will be dealt with. Don't tell anyone, or you'll make them feel embarrassed. I don't understand what he means."
These words, which left people bewildered and filled with speculation, quickly stirred up a storm within the Yun family.
With Yun Ruoqing's power growing, in order to take this opportunity to completely eliminate Yun Ruofan, his advisors and retainers demanded that Yun Xuanchen continue to intensify the punishment of Yun Ruofan.
Despite this overwhelming situation, Yun Xuanchen unexpectedly redistributed a portion of his manpower and the Dark Mansion to Yun Ruofan.
He then executed several of Yun Ruoqing's most troublesome retainers and transferred Yun Ruoqing's manpower and secret residence to Yun Ruofan.
As for whether Yun Ruofan can win his loyalty and allegiance, that depends on his own abilities.
Mu Wuhuan grabbed a handful of wind and put it into his sleeve. "Second Young Master, I understand. This is called the way of balance. The eldest young master has made the patriarch wary, is that right?"
Yun Ruofan pointed at her lightly and said, "You, from now on, will stay in this inner courtyard and are not allowed to go out and embarrass yourself anymore."
Mu Wuhuan pouted and said, "Are you just putting away your tools after you've used them all? That's hilarious. Sects and aristocratic families are fighting openly and secretly, and you're fighting even more fiercely than the sects and aristocratic families."
Yun Ruofan said, "Fool, sects and aristocratic families, such grand titles, do you think everyone there is truly harmonious? Would they even be human? Even if a family has two acres of meager land, brothers will still fight over it. If your mother only gives your brother egg noodles and only gives you clear soup noodles, would you be happy?"
Mu Wuhuan thought for a moment, "That won't do, it's too infuriating to think about."
Yun Ruofan laughed and said, "Then why are you spouting all that big talk? What should you be doing?"
Mu Wuhuan said earnestly, "To be a mother."
Yun Ruofan couldn't help but clasp her hands together and say, "You fool, you really do have a cleverness that surpasses ordinary people. You didn't even think of snatching the eggs or complaining that your mother didn't give you any. But, what a pity..."
Mu Wuhuan asked, "What's a pity?"
Unfortunately, his life was short.
Do you think your elder brother would dare to use you to refine elixirs without your father's consent? The only reason you are still alive is because your father suddenly changed his mind last time and has not yet made it clear who he intends to refine the inner elixir for.
Yun Xuanchen's attitude made it hard for Yun Ruofan not to feel that his father was considering his well-being.
After all, if he were to kill this fool who had shared life and death with him at this moment, it would indeed be difficult to win the hearts of the people.
Yun Ruofan said calmly, "It's a pity he's a bit foolish."
.
Yan Huanyue looked at her ranking in the Heavenly Stele and saw that she had fallen from the middle of the class to somewhere far beyond.
However, she was not discouraged. Countless cultivators from all over the world were now gathered in the Heavenly Stele Secret Realm of the Heavenly Evolution Sect. If she could make even a little progress at this time, it would be a good thing.
Those disciples of the Tianyan Sect who had previously performed exceptionally well were selected to serve as assistants for various teams from other sects, helping them to quickly adapt to the Tengzhou Secret Realm.
Yan Huanyue's ranking on the Heavenly Stele is only tenth from the bottom among her fellow disciples who were chosen as supporters.
Among her fellow disciples, some were only suited to follow orders, not to cooperate with them, and therefore were not chosen as assistants.
Originally, the team she led was one of the best in the Mingde Sect. Although they were respectful to her on the surface, they couldn't help but feel a little uneasy about her strength.
However, Yan Huanyue had been to the Tengzhou Secret Realm countless times and was very familiar with the place.
She had also borrowed books about various great monsters from the library and memorized them one by one, so she could explain the details of each monster clearly and concisely, which quickly dispelled everyone's doubts.
She is very patient and quick to react in the face of danger. When faced with a crisis, she can quickly arrange sword cultivators, talisman cultivators, array cultivators, and medicine cultivators into their best positions, making her a very competent support.
These people were all more powerful than her, and they originally only regarded her as a disciple who explained secret realms and demons.
However, in less than three days, these people vaguely sensed that this relatively low-ranked support player seemed to be using their arrangement of them to complete the deductions she had made countless times in her heart, which she had overturned and rebuilt, in order to achieve her goal of killing one large monster after another.
If my talisman skills were good enough, I'd set up a few lightning talismans here and shatter his head...
If I were skilled in swordsmanship, I would unleash a few sword energies right here and seal his throat...
If I'm skilled enough at creating magic arrays, I'll plant some here and break his legs...
These must be the resentments that these Tianyan Sect disciples had unleashed countless times after dying in the trials.
Once these resentments reach a certain level, coupled with the intervention and guidance of teachers, some of them will inevitably develop a similar way of thinking.
These people were selected to become assistants.
Facing demons whose cultivation was more than ten times their own, and leading fellow cultivators whose cultivation was several times their own, the assistants remained calm and composed in the face of danger, and were skilled in strategizing and deploying troops.
Tianyan Sect merely used the opportunity of letting other sects familiarize themselves with the secret realm to briefly demonstrate the small-scale troop deployment skills of its disciples, which quickly suppressed the arrogance of the disciples from other sects.
The minor frictions that were inevitable when various factions gathered together quickly subsided.
Yan Huanyue quickly understood the sect's arrangements.
Xu Fengqiu once said: "The world is vast, and everyone is unique. We must allow for friction and different opinions among people, as well as allow for their own pride and flaws. As your assistants and as the hosts, you only need to help them make the best arrangements and maximize their advantages. Don't flaunt yourselves too much, understand?"
However, with news constantly arriving from the North, she knew that the Demon Clan would not simply wait for the Human Clan to keep sharpening their swords in the face of such a crisis.
However, for some reason, the sect leaders, including Pei Hanzhou, kept their sect members at Tianyan Sect, leaving the aristocratic families to guard the natural barrier, and delayed issuing the decree to depart.
Originally, everyone in the sect could wait, but when the news came that the Northern Demon Clan was attacking the Heavenly Barrier Formation again, these disciples, who were already full of enthusiasm, began to stir.
Yan Huanyue had been tricked before and panicked without thinking. This time, she calmed down and did not join in the arguments.
The news of the North's assault on the natural barrier was initially very tense, but it soon subsided, and it wasn't until much later that things resumed.
By the time they had made their round trip, it was already the dead of winter.
Yan Huanyue sat alone on the small couch at home, pen in hand, calculating all the possibilities.
She came to several conclusions that were most convincing to her.
First, the chances of the demons winning this battle are probably not within a safe range. Moreover, apart from purging the remaining internal forces, the human race has not taken any action against the demons. Therefore, there must be differing opinions within the demon race regarding the risky start of the war.
Secondly, the arrangement of aristocratic families guarding the natural barrier and sects hiding inside is a clear defensive posture, more like a precautionary measure taken to prevent the demons from misunderstanding the current internal purge of the human race. For those demon groups who do not want to fight, it is also a factual support.
Third, third...
Why were the differing opinions from the demon race so great that they actually affected the rhythm of their attacks?
One possibility is that the demons who chose to retreat to Tengzhou without being stopped when the natural barrier was formed were not particularly aggressive among the demons. After so many years of being defeated, those who advocated self-preservation must have gained some power.
However, the predatory nature inherent in most of these demons, coupled with the harsh conditions of Tengzhou, will drive their ambition to seize the world and break free from the icy land.
Furthermore, after their descent into the world, they claimed to be "the reflection of God," sweeping away the filth of the world, seizing the world as their dwelling place, and enslaving and devouring all living beings—this was the purpose of their actions.
Thus, the conflict between them will inevitably grow, and an internal strife that will occur later than the human race's current great cleansing is almost inevitable.
The question is, how come the sect leader and the others are able to accurately grasp the situation within the demon race? And why aren't they afraid that the aristocratic families will be unable to defend the natural barrier?
"A hidden agenda... stirring things up..."
Yan Huanyue quickly wrote down the two words on the paper.
These two words are actually easy to guess, but the meaning behind them is chilling.
After the natural barrier was erected, the two sides rarely interacted.
If there are hidden agents who can influence the rhythm of the demons' attacks, then those agents must be absolutely trusted.
The most likely time to plant these spies was when the demons were still rampaging in the world. After that, as the Heavenly Barrier Tree rose, those spies remained in the snow and wind of the old Tengzhou with the demons.
A century has passed in the blink of an eye, but his aspirations remain unchanged.
Yan Huanyue put down her pen.
She quietly looked at the densely written papers in front of her, which filled an entire sheet of paper on the wooden table.
Jiao Gu, within the divine soul, sat atop the immortal cauldron, his foot bones gently tapping it.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, she got up, collected all the papers, and took them to the courtyard to burn them all.
He returned to his room and meditated alone on the small couch all night amidst the sound of winter wind and snow.
The next day, she went out as usual, behaving no differently than before, and continued to act as an assistant to Emperor Mingdezong's group.
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The author's note: ① In some parts of Shaanxi, there are colloquial terms for male and female cats. I looked it up out of curiosity and found that other parts of the country also seem to have similar colloquial terms for cats.
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