The surrounding crowd instantly fell silent, switching into spectator mode.
Perhaps because Mo Chongyang’s question was too blunt, Chi Shuyun didn’t know how to respond. After hesitating for a moment, she remained silent.
Yet her expression clearly indicated she was tacitly agreeing with him.
Immediately, Mo Chongyang’s gaze toward Chi Yu carried a hint of disgust.
Chi Yu raised an eyebrow and leaned back on the stool. “Who are you calling an ingrate?”
“Naturally, you.”
Mo Chongyang said in a low voice, “As a concubine-born daughter, with mediocre talent and no usefulness, the Chi family raised you well with food and comfort. You should contribute by obediently taking the place in the marriage alliance. Only then would you be worthy of them.”
Shu Yun possessed a special constitution and exceptional talent—she was the hope the Chi family had painstakingly nurtured.
How could she be sacrificed to the Great Demon?
In the Cultivation World, where strength reigns supreme, someone as weak as Chi Yu wouldn’t be missed even if she died.
Thus, he believed Father Chi and Mother Chi had done the right thing by having Chi Yu take the place in the marriage alliance, considering the family’s interests.
Mo Chongyang’s gaze sharpened. “Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused the Chi family by making a scene about the substitute marriage?!”
Hearing this, Chi Yu immediately sat up straight. “How much trouble?”
She looked quite tense, and Mo Chongyang thought she had realized her mistake.
But then he heard her say, “Hurry up and tell me, so I can be happy about it.”
He fumed, “You! Because of you, the Chi family has been condemned by cultivators, and you still show no remorse!”
Back at Yao Mountain, after Chi Yu exposed the substitute marriage, those cultivators returned and shamed Father Chi and Mother Chi so badly they couldn’t lift their heads, while Chi Shuyun’s reputation was ruined.
It wasn’t that they pitied Chi Yu, but they were angered by the Chi family’s attempt to deceive others into risking their lives with a mere concubine-born daughter.
The situation escalated, and for a time, the Chi family fell into dire straits.
If Mo Chongyang hadn’t brought her to Canglang City, she might have been too afraid to leave the house due to the criticism.
Chi Shuyun suppressed her anger. “Chi Yu, come back to the Chi family with me now, apologize to Father and Mother, and clarify the facts. We won’t hold your mistakes against you anymore.”
As she spoke, her tone carried a commanding edge.
Chi Yu looked at her incredulously, then burst into laughter after a moment. “What kind of daydream are you having in broad daylight?”
Mo Chongyang grew even angrier. “How dare you laugh!”
Chi Yu found it strange. “Who are you? What does my laughter have to do with you? Do you also need to taste the saltiness of a passing manure cart with a spoon, since you meddle in everything?”
“You!” He glared at her. “I am Mo Chongyang, a disciple of the Azure Flame Sect!”
System: “Host, please check the original character information.”
[Mo Chongyang, seventeen years old, has limited screen time in the original story, serving as a plot-propelling cannon fodder. He met Chi Shuyun in their youth, brought her into the Azure Flame Sect, and harbored unrequited feelings for her. Later, he died at the hands of a demon while protecting her.]
Chi Yu suddenly understood. “Ah, it’s the Boiling Sheep.”
System: “…It’s Mo Chongyang.”
Jiang Jiuming, who had been standing nearby, stepped forward. “You’re a disciple of the Azure Flame Sect?”
Mo Chongyang looked arrogant. “That’s right.”
The surrounding onlookers immediately stepped back slightly, gazing at him with awe.
Chi Yu was puzzled. “What’s the Azure Flame Sect?”
Jiang Jiuming whispered, “There are many sects in the Cultivation World, but only the Six Great Sects hold the most power: the Taixu Sect, Heavenly Evolution Sect, Ten Directions Sect, Limitless Sect, Cavernous Abyss Sect, and Azure Flame Sect.”
As a disciple of the Azure Flame Sect, Mo Chongyang had every reason to be arrogant.
Chi Yu gave an “oh” and sized him up: “So this is how Azure Flame Sect disciples behave. I see the sect isn’t much either.”
“What did you say?”
Hearing her insult his sect, Mo Chongyang was furious.
Shen Yanzhou’s expression darkened, his eyes contemptuous.
The Azure Flame Sect truly wasn’t much—in previous lifetimes, when he fell into demonic ways, killing their sect leader was as easy as slicing melons.
But right now, Chi Yu couldn’t defeat this Mo Chongyang.
Yet that didn’t stop her mouth from continuously firing. She pointed at Chi Shuyun: “Back then, her mother knew my scumbag father was already married, yet secretly climbed into his bed, relying on her family background to force my mother to step down and become a concubine. Who exactly is the illegitimate daughter here?”
“And, she could have volunteered to go to Yao Mountain herself. She doesn’t want to sacrifice herself but still wants a good reputation—what is that if not a scheming woman?”
She rolled her eyes at Mo Chongyang: “If your eyes are blind, that’s fine, but how is your heart blind too? Unable to distinguish right from wrong—with disciples like you in the Azure Flame Sect, it’s doomed sooner or later. I’m not wrong about that.”
The surrounding people were stunned by her explosive revelations, instinctively looking at Chi Shuyun. She was both angry and embarrassed, tears falling, yet unable to refute.
Because what Chi Yu said was all true.
Seeing his beloved’s tears, Mo Chongyang immediately panicked: “I forbid you to insult Shu Yun and the Azure Flame Sect!”
He raised his hand to draw his sword, but before it was fully unsheathed, Chi Yu shouted: “Azure Flame Sect disciple bullying people! Molestation!”
“Azure Flame Sect” and “molestation”—these two words together instantly attracted countless attention.
Seeing more and more spectators gathering, Chi Shuyun couldn’t bear it, tugging Mo Chongyang’s sleeve: “Mo Senior Brother, let’s leave first.”
She didn’t want to lose face in Canglang City too, regretting even more that she had joined the crowd and encountered Chi Yu.
Considering the sect’s reputation, Mo Chongyang gritted his teeth: “You wait for me!”
After throwing down this line, he turned and left.
“Ha, who can’t throw threats!”
Chi Yu dismissed it disdainfully.
After they left, the lottery continued as usual.
But disturbed by Mo Chongyang and them, fewer people participated.
They believed Chi Yu had offended Azure Flame Sect people, fearing to be implicated, unwilling to linger near the stall.
Gradually, fewer and fewer people came.
The sky darkened, Chi Yu persisted in running the stall, yet few patrons remained before it.
Jiang Jiuming couldn’t help saying: “Should we close up? There’s no one left.”
Chi Yu shook her head: “We can earn a bit more if possible.”
“We can come again tomorrow.”
“Can’t come tomorrow.” Shen Yanzhou gathered all the Spirit Stones, placing them in Chi Yu’s hands, saying this, “Mo Chongyang’s disturbance today—those cultivators can’t afford to offend the Azure Flame Sect, won’t come again.”
Chi Yu nodded: “We’ve been in the spotlight these two days, others naturally envy. Today I saw several stall owners seemingly planning to start lotteries too.”
She asked the System—the Mo family was now considered a major clan in Canglang City.
Mo Chongyang had reluctantly stopped earlier due to the Azure Flame Sect’s reputation, but who knew if he wouldn’t secretly send people to trouble them?
Night fell, Chi Yu closed the stall. After returning, she continued guiding Shen Yanzhou in cultivation.
Early next morning, Jiang Jiuming, unwilling to give up, ran to the trading area. Sure enough, many stall vendors including shops had adopted lottery modes.
He returned crestfallen, complaining to Chi Yu, clearly treating her as his best friend.
Chi Yu reassured him: “Alright, alright, we have enough money to spend. Besides, we came here to participate in the sect selection, not to earn Spirit Stones.”
She hadn’t forgotten her original goal—to complete the task, ten billion.
Jiang Jiuming felt a bit happier upon hearing this.
Recalling yesterday’s events, he couldn’t help but complain: “Your sister is too hypocritical. Mo Chongyang kept protecting her, but I don’t know what he’s after.”
Chi Yu narrowed her eyes: “There’s no way around it. That’s how their kind of admirers are.”
Sitting on one side, Shen Yanzhou’s eyes flashed with a dark glint.
Admirers?
That might not necessarily be the case.
South of the city, Mo family residence.
Mo Chongyang looked serious: “They didn’t go today?”
“Yes.”
Upon hearing this, he frowned and glanced at Chi Shuyun beside him.
After returning yesterday, she had been depressed and hadn’t spoken to him.
This made Mo Chongyang very anxious. He sent many treasures and finally managed to appease her, only to hear her say: “Mo Senior Brother, the trading area is crowded and chaotic. If Chi Yu says something inappropriate again, how should I handle myself then?”
Upon hearing this, he immediately arranged for people to disrupt their business the next day and drive them away.
But unexpectedly, Chi Yu didn’t set up a stall.
He thought for a moment and said: “Shu Yun, don’t worry, I will protect you. I will never let that ungrateful person ruin your reputation again.”
The Mo family had some influence, so driving them out of Canglang City shouldn’t be a problem.
Chi Shuyun softly replied: “Thank you, Mo Senior Brother.”
Mo Chongyang gazed at her, his eyes filled with affection: “Why be so polite with me? Just call me Chongyang Brother as you did when we were young.”
Throughout their journey, he had cared for Chi Shuyun greatly, and she could certainly feel his affection.
Thus, she shyly called him Chongyang Brother.
Mo Chongyang felt satisfied and then left.
The door closed.
The smile in Chi Shuyun’s eyes gradually faded, replaced by coldness on her delicate face.
She looked at her fair, jade-like wrist, her expression deep and inscrutable.
Everyone said she was fortunate, born with a Pure Yin Body. Her constitution was weaker than average, but her speed of absorbing Spiritual Qi was faster than others.
But what they didn’t know was that she had a Fire Spiritual Root, which conflicted with her Pure Yin Body. She couldn’t rely on herself to cultivate, and her current Cultivation Base was entirely built up through Elixirs.
Elixirs could only sustain her temporarily, not for her entire life.
She could only utilize her special constitution to absorb others’ cultivation through dual cultivation.
She couldn’t practice the Harmonious Union path either, because the Pure Yin constitution leaned toward being a furnace vessel, and any carelessness could endanger her life.
While in the Chi family, she painstakingly maintained her reputation, aiming to find a cultivation partner with higher cultivation who could protect her and help her cultivate.
With a cultivation partner contract, the other party would consider her life during dual cultivation.
She hadn’t expected her good reputation to be ruined by Chi Yu. Fortunately, she met Mo Chongyang, who was willing to bring her to Canglang City.
Although he was devoted, his talent was too mediocre. He could be used temporarily, but she wouldn’t marry him.
Her low cultivation prevented her from participating in the sect selection; he was her stepping stone into the Azure Flame Sect.
If she maintained her positive image and entered the Azure Flame Sect, she wouldn’t worry about finding a suitable cultivation partner.
She absolutely wouldn’t allow Chi Yu to ruin her life again.
Chi Shuyun planned meticulously in her heart, unaware that someone else’s thoughts were even more thorough.
Mo family side hall.
Mo Chongyang sat high in the main hall, having long shed the recklessness he displayed in the trading grounds. His eyes were calm and unreadable as he lifted a cup and took a sip of fragrant tea, speaking softly, “Have someone keep a close watch on her. If she leaves the house, report it immediately.”
A shadowy figure below the hall acknowledged the order and vanished.
The sun set behind the mountain slopes, casting slanted rays across the swallows’ backs.
Soon, night fell like a black curtain, enveloping all of Canglang City.
At Cloudwater Residence.
Chi Yu slowly drew Spiritual Qi into her body, channeling it into her Dantian.
The incident at the trading grounds made her realize that without sufficient Cultivation Base, one would be at the mercy of others.
Even if she managed to rely on clever tricks for a while, it wouldn’t last a lifetime.
Over these past days, she had immersed herself in cultivation. Without a lifebound sword, she rose at dawn to swing the firewood chopper—five thousand strokes in total.
In less than ten days, she had nearly developed “qilin arms,” and her Cultivation Base finally loosened today, breaking through to the third stage of Qi Refining.
Meanwhile, Shen Yanzhou was also nearing the threshold of the second stage, which pleased Chi Yu greatly.
After all, completing the task would earn her another 3 points.
With this in mind, she stood up and walked out, intending to check on Shen Yanzhou’s cultivation progress.
A cool breeze swept through the long corridor.
Chi Yu knocked on the door, “Zhouzhou?”
But there was no response.
“Could he be asleep?”
She knocked again, still without any reply. Just as she was about to return to her room, she caught a faint scent of blood as she turned around.
Chi Yu’s expression sharpened—the smell of blood was coming from Shen Yanzhou’s room!
Without hesitation, she kicked the door open and rushed in.
“Shen Yanzhou!”
As soon as the words left her mouth, the door behind her slammed shut.
The room was plunged into darkness and silence.
Just as Chi Yu was about to call for the System, a pair of hands reached out from the shadows, instantly grabbing her and pinning her against the windowsill.
Caught off guard, she let out a startled gasp, but in the moonlight, she could clearly see the scene before her.
Shen Yanzhou’s delicate face was bathed in a layer of pale light. His eyes were blood-red, fixed intently on her. A pair of beast ears had sprouted from his head, and two small, sharp fangs gleamed coldly, looking razor-sharp. Behind him, a white tail swayed back and forth.
Chi Yu: “Holy shit.”
What the hell is going on?