Chapter 506: Situ Zengyan - Pan Yuezhi

"Master."

Xuanyuan Yueyao, Zhu Xuan’er, and Huo Mianmian turned to Ruo Lan, who had just arrived.

"The Song and Shangguan clans have decided to send people to the Misty Ridge. Huangfu Meizhen also decided to go there, and members of the Nine Profound Sect will be joining the two clans."

Zhu Xuan’er looked at Xuanyuan Yueyao, who responded with a nod. "Song Tianzun and Shangguan Qingyue will lead the Song and Shangguan Clans, while Huangfu Meizhen will lead the Nine Profound Sect."

"What’s their purpose? Aren’t they busy looking for Song Tianlin?"

"What else if not cultivating resources? There are so many precious resources in that place, and the opportunity to enter is only once a year. If they don’t enter this year, other clans will overtake them." Xuanyuan Yueyao paused, thinking about her uncle’s message. "The situation at the Misty Ridge this year will probably be more dangerous than previous years, so we have to be more careful when we’re there."

Zhu Xuan’er didn’t argue with Xuanyuan Yueyao; she had entered Misty Ridge in previous years, so she was well aware of the dangers and risks involved.

Ever since Shangguan Qingyue kidnapped her a few years ago, Huo Mianmian hadn’t set foot in Misty Ridge for a long time. She had no memory of what happened there a year ago, and she was quite apprehensive about entering that place again.

"What about the Zhan Clan?"

"Zhan Yiran originally insisted on looking for Song Tianlin, but her parents forced her to go to the Misty Ridge after Huangfu Meizhen talked to them." Ruo Lan looked at Xuanyuan Yueyao. "Master, there is movement from Liao Yexue and Song Chenglin, and they are on their way to the border with the Shenwu Kingdom."

"Oh?" Xuanyuan Yueyao wasn’t surprised by that. "Do they intend to join forces with the people from the Shenwu Kingdom?"

Ruo Lan nodded. "As soon as Song Tiankun returned, he spoke with his wife, and they left for the border this morning."

"Do Song Zhentian and the others know about their departure?"

"They knew, but they didn’t stop them."

Xuanyuan Yueyao fell silent for a moment. "What about Liao Yexue and Song Chenglin’s relationship? Does Song Tiankun already know about it?"

"Wait a minute." Zhu Xuan’er interrupted them. "What do you mean by that, Yueyao?

"Haha," Xuanyuan Yueyao explained Liao Yexue and Song Chenglin’s relationship to Zhu Xuan’er and Huo Mianmian, leaving them in shock. "Tang Xiao did that to them at Huangfu Meizhen’s request."

Zhu Xuan’er instantly understood the crux of the problem. "She was worried about their connection with the Shenwu Kingdom and the demons from the south."

"That’s right." Xuanyuan Yueyao looked up at the night sky. "Return to your post, Ruo Lan."

"Yes, Master."

After Ruo Lan left, Zhu Xuan’er asked Xuanyuan Yueyao again. "Why doesn’t your uncle make a move on them straight away?"

"My uncle promised to protect the Song Clan, but he will only make a move if Song Zhentian is unable to handle the situation." Xuanyuan Yueyao glanced at Tang Xiao’s room. "It’s getting late; let’s rest first."

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"Does your master have no problem if you join Tang Xiao’s group?"

Xuanyuan Wenxuan shook his head at Taixu Wuxian. "Actually, my master asked me to persuade Tang Xiao to let my brothers and sisters join our group, but I refused his request."

"Oh?" Taixu Wuxian raised an eyebrow. "Is that because the four of us joined his group?"

"Yes." Xuanyuan Wenxuan nodded. "My master knows that the seniors of the four clans will protect us, and he hopes they can protect his disciples in that place."

Taixu Wuxian exhaled softly. "I understand your master’s wishes, but our group leader this time is Tang Xiao, and he is not interested in having a relationship with them."

"Do you believe he can protect everyone?"

"My parents believe in him, so I also believe in him." Taixu Wuxian tilted his head. "Moreover, your uncle also believes in him, so you don’t need to doubt him."

Xuanyuan Wenxuan neither agreed nor disagreed with Taixu Wuxian. Although he had decided to join Tang Xiao, he still had some reservations about him, mainly because of his cultivation. "Let’s rest; we’ll be leaving in a few days."

"Yeah."

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In the room, Situ Zengyan wore a gloomy look, as did Pan Yuezhi by his side. They had previously asked Situ Chengyan, Dugu Xinyue, Murong Xianyin, and Hong Ruoyan about their travels in the past few days.

However, none of them were willing to explain their departure and Situ Lingxi’s whereabouts to the two, which made them feel marginalized within their own clan.

Situ Zengyan tried to contact Situ Lingxi, but his eldest daughter didn’t give him face and didn’t reply to him. "Damn it! I am the only son and patriarch of this clan, but they treat me like an outsider!"

Pan Yuezhi chose to keep her mouth shut; she had long been aware that Situ Chengyan and the others’ attitudes were because of her, especially after she persuaded her husband to marry Situ Lingxi to another man. ’Could it be that she already has a new lover after Sun Weitian’s death? If so, who is her new lover? Why did they deliberately hide it from us?’

"Wife," Pan Yuezhi turned to her husband. "Do you think Lingxi has found another man? I feel like their attitudes changed after I tried to match her with another man."

Pan Yuezhi sighed softly. "Actually, I’ve thought about that possibility, and I feel like they’re hiding everything from us on purpose."

"Why do they have to hide it from us? I’m her father, so they should tell me the truth."

"I can’t guess their train of thought, but I have my own guesses."

"What’s that?"

"If Situ Lingxi does have a new lover, they deliberately hid it because of the Sun Clan."

"The Sun Clan?"

Pan Yuezhi nodded. "Situ Lingxi was the late Sun Weitian’s former fiancée, and his death was less than a month ago. Given her character, they would be suspicious if she already had a new lover, and they would connect their relationship with his death."

"Isn’t that too ridiculous? Sun Weitian has been dead for almost a month, so my daughter has every right to find a new lover."

"That problem may be ridiculous to us, but that doesn’t mean they will think the same." Pan Yuezhi recalled some things. "Before Sun Weitian’s death, Situ Lingxi suddenly came to the Sun Clan to cancel their engagement, and they found him dead in the forest a few days later. Do you think those two incidents were a coincidence?"

Situ Zengyan frowned. "You mean my daughter and her new lover were the cause of Sun Weitian’s death? Didn’t he die at Ci Xing’s hands?"

"Ning Zhiya witnessed her son’s death, so it’s undeniable that Ci Xing killed Sun Weitian." Pan Yuezhi paused. "Situ Lingxi told the Sun Clan that they were separated because he was chasing another woman, and they haven’t seen each other since. However, you must remember her character and relationship with him, so they will be suspicious if she suddenly has a new lover."

Recalling Situ Lingxi and Sun Weitian’s past relationship, Situ Zengyan felt his second wife’s words were true. "Who was her new lover? How did he convince my daughter to betray him? Why did he kill him?"

"I’m not saying that Situ Lingxi’s new lover killed Sun Weitian, but he probably used some means to lure him to Ci Xing’s nest, and he ultimately died at the hands of the female spider beast."

"That’s possible." Situ Zengyan nodded in agreement. "The Sun Clan is still in mourning for Sun Weitian’s death to this day, and your previous guess might come true if my daughter appears with her new lover."

Pan Yuezhi patted his shoulder. "For now, this matter is still just our speculation, and we don’t have any proof yet. However, I think we should stop matchmaking Situ Lingxi with other men, or your parents and the others will continue to treat us like that."

"Alright, I’ll do as you say."

"So, how are our son’s preparations for Misty Ridge? Have you prepared everything properly?"

"I’ve prepared everything, and our son will definitely be safe there."

"That’s good then."

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"Qingyao."

Sun Qingyao turned to her mother. "Is something wrong? Why are you coming to see me so late at night?"

"Your cousin will be leading the Zhan Clan’s people to Misty Ridge." Sun Qingyao looked at Zhan Ningxi in surprise. "Your grandparents only decided on this matter today, and she will be joining some other people."

"Who are they?"

"Song Tianzun, Shangguan Qingyue, and Huangfu Meizhen."

Sun Qingyao knew that Zhan Yiran had long been good friends with Huangfu Meizhen, and the latter had recently married Song Tianzun. As for Shangguan Qingyue, she had never liked her because she was a problematic woman, and she often caused trouble, including kidnapping Huo Mianmian.

"Do you want me to join them, Mother?"

"Yes." Zhan Ningxi nodded. "Even though Ning Zhiya is strong, I don’t believe that she will protect you in that place, and she might try to harm you. I’ve discussed this matter with your father and grandfather, and they agreed to let you join your cousin’s group."

"So, should I go to the Zhan Clan? Or should I meet my cousin at the Misty Ridge?"

"We’ll depart for the Song Kingdom early this morning, and you’ll enter the Misty Ridge with your cousin." Zhan Ningxi handed her daughter a storage ring. "I’ve prepared everything for you, and there are two high-grade artifacts inside. If you’re in danger, you can use one of them to protect yourself."

Sun Qingyao accepted the storage ring. "I’ve prepared everything, so we can leave immediately tomorrow."

"Get some rest first, and I’ll take you there tomorrow."