It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

Chapter 125: I’m a Devoted Man, I Only Like Beautiful Women p1

Chapter 125: I’m a Devoted Man, I Only Like Beautiful Women p1

Metamorphic Jewel Peak.

Ren Ka Tai, the peak lord, sat on his throne in the grand hall, towering above the clouds.

He was the son of the Jade Pool Empress Mother of the Eastern Realm. He had joined the Two Polarities Sect a hundred years ago, earning the favor of the founding peak lord, and thirty years ago, he had succeeded his master, becoming the new peak lord.

He was one of the younger peak lords.

But in the last sect tournament, Metamorphic Jewel Peak had ranked in the middle. This year, their goal was to reach the top three.

It wasn’t an impossible goal.

If they recruited a talented disciple and nurtured them properly, they could surely achieve it.

Most of the promising candidates this year were from Tianxuan City… It was to be expected. The city was blessed with abundant spiritual energy and a history of producing exceptional individuals.

But the other peaks were surely competing for those candidates. If they didn’t offer something enticing, they might not be able to secure the disciples they wanted.

Metamorphic Jewel Peak could offer everything the other peaks could, and they had one more irresistible advantage…

…Spirits…

The spirits they had imbued were rare and valuable.

And several of this year’s candidates were worthy of them.

Ren Ka Tai tapped his finger against the armrest, lost in thought.

“What brings you here today?” he asked, looking up as Ning Shuwen, the vice peak lord, entered the hall.

Ning Shuwen usually spent his time refining weapons or researching spirit imbuement. The two peak lords rarely interacted.

“Senior Ling Long has appeared,” Ning Shuwen said, his expression grim.

Ren Ka Tai chuckled. “She appears every few years to bestow destiny upon the disciples… Who received it this time? Bai Ruoxi? Or Ye Lingxuan?”

Ning Shuwen shook his head. “It’s not about that. It’s something else.”

Under the peak lord’s intense gaze, he continued, “She’s currently residing at a disciple’s pavilion.”

Ren Ka Tai’s smile vanished. “Who?”

“Mu Zhi’an.”

His eyes flickered. “She’s staying with him?”

He pondered for a moment, then asked, “Does anyone else know?”

“The peak lords of Dao Peak, Pure Yang Peak, and Boundless Sea Peak know, but they’ll probably keep it a secret.”

Ren Ka Tai shook his head. “They might not be able to. The library will surely find out first.”

The library and the Enforcement Hall were both neutral factions, and they were close. Yan Ruyu rarely left the library, but she was well-informed about the sect’s affairs.

It was because the Enforcement Hall provided her with intelligence.

We have to act quickly… he thought to himself.

He hadn’t considered Mu Zhi’an for an inner disciple position.

But if he had been chosen by Ling Long… it changed everything.

Seeing the thoughtful expression on his face, Ning Shuwen hesitated, then said, “The Third Prince went to the Jade Glass Palace earlier… The Demon Measuring Ruler reacted to Senior Ling Long’s demonic aura and shattered…”

Ren Ka Tai snapped out of his thoughts, staring at him, his silence heavy.

While they were both peak lords, their authority differed significantly, and Ning Shuwen felt the pressure of his gaze.

“You gave him permission to investigate?” Ren Ka Tai asked, his voice sharp, his eyes piercing.

“I thought if there truly was a demonic cultivator, apprehending them wouldn’t be a loss… But I didn’t expect Senior Ling Long to be there.”

Ning Shuwen wiped the sweat from his forehead, quickly adding, “Don’t worry, Peak Lord. Mu Zhi’an didn’t complain. He only punished Ning Long.”

Ren Ka Tai’s expression softened slightly. “He’s quite tactful. Prepare two spirit imbued weapons from the armory. We’ll need them for the inner disciple selections in two days.”

No other peak had as many magical weapons as Metamorphic Jewel Peak.

“Two…?”

Ning Shuwen hesitated. “Peak Lord, we’re only allowed to choose one inner disciple… Are you considering someone else?”

He thought of a name. “Mu Zhi’an?”

Ren Ka Tai nodded, and Ning Shuwen frowned. “But isn’t he a disciple of Boundless Sea Peak?”

Having taken the trial on Boundless Sea Peak, he was considered their disciple, unless another peak lord chose him during the inner disciple selections.

Ren Ka Tai stood up, smiling. “We’ll simply poach him…”

“I’ve been peak lord for thirty years, and I haven’t made much progress… It’s time to recruit some new blood…”

The top three peaks in the next sect tournament would receive significant resources from the Elders’ Council, and the three peak lords would receive a destiny opportunity…

It was worth paying a price for that.

…

“Senior Lin Ling, this is the most tender part of the Eight Treasures Crane. Have some more.”

Mu Zhi’an returned to the pavilion and prepared a crane stew, bringing a bowl to Lin Ling’s room.

She hadn’t done anything, said anything, but she had still been instrumental in his victory.

A person’s reputation preceded them. A being like Ling Long, she didn’t even need to actively help him. Her presence alone was enough to inspire awe and reverence in the peak lords and elders.

“Thank you for your help, Senior. If not for you, Ruoxi might have been in trouble…” he said, looking at her, her expression unchanged.

She sipped the stew, savoring the flavor.

She wrote on the table: Delicious. You’ve improved.

He chuckled. “It’s my second time preparing Eight Treasures Crane. It’s natural for me to improve.”

He changed the subject. “Senior, it seems Ruoxi releases a bit of demonic aura whenever her cultivation increases. Is there a solution?”

The higher her cultivation, the more her Nine-Tailed Fox bloodline would awaken. He had informed the sect, but with the current climate, it was best to keep it a secret.

She pondered for a moment, then wrote: A Nine-Tailed Fox’s demonic aura is undetectable.

“Reaching Nine Tails is difficult,” he said, sighing.

By the time she reached Nine Tails, she would probably be at Soul Transformation or even Dao Integration. And then, she wouldn’t need to worry about hiding her aura.

He studied her, her expression calm as she sipped the stew, her silver hair flowing freely, her side profile delicate and beautiful, her crimson eyes bright and focused.

He suddenly reached out and grabbed her bowl, trying to take it away.

She looked at him, tilting her head. “Aaa?”

It sounded like she was saying: Are you testing me?

She’s protective of her food… He chuckled. “I was just wondering if you wanted another bowl…”

Her eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly.

So she does care about something… He smiled, his understanding of her deepening.

He left the room to refill her bowl, then he brought another bowl to Wei Mengrou, before leaving the Garden of Heavenly Harmony and heading towards the Ye sisters’ pavilion.

He found Ye Lingxuan sitting in the courtyard, sipping tea, a book in her hand, her pale skin glowing in the afternoon sun.

Beside her sat Ye Qian, her head resting on the table, her ample bosom pressed against the surface as she watched her sister, her legs crossed, her blue embroidered shoes dangling playfully.

“Lingxuan, Qian’er,” he said, greeting them with a smile.

Ye Qian’s eyes lit up, and she looked up at him, her voice soft. “Brother Mu!”

Ye Lingxuan, however, was more reserved, maintaining her usual elegance, her posture straight and proud, her gaze meeting his. “Young Master Mu.”

Brother Mu in private, Young Master Mu in public… She’s so concerned about appearances… He smiled, taking a seat before them.

He retrieved two bowls of crane stew from his storage ring, placing them on the table. “Try it. I made it myself.”

Ye Lingxuan’s eyes widened, and she glanced at him. “Eight Treasures Crane?”

He nodded, smiling. “Drink it while it’s hot. It might even help you break through”

“Are you leaving, Brother Mu?” Ye Qian asked, noticing that he hadn’t sat down, her voice laced with disappointment.

He patted her head gently, his voice soft. “After drinking this stew, you’ll both be close to a breakthrough. The inner disciple selections are approaching. You should focus on preparing.”

“As for me…”

He paused, meeting Ye Qian’s gaze, his smile gentle and reassuring. “Where else would I go?”

She blushed, lowering her eyes, then murmured softly, “Okay”

He looked at Ye Lingxuan, who met his gaze briefly, then quickly looked away, her expression calm, but her eyes, they held a complex mix of emotions he had never seen before.

“I’ll go now, Lingxuan,” he whispered, his voice a mental message.

She looked up, their eyes meeting, her heart skipping a beat.

“If you’re reluctant, I can stay,” he teased, his voice a playful whisper.

“Don’t joke like that… Please leave, Young Master Mu!”

She glared at him, but her eyes held a hint of flirtation.

The turmoil within her seemed to be fading, replaced by a warmth…