Chapter 52: Won’t They Have Objections?

After listening to Zhao Chengyun's explanation, Luo Xing basically understood...

Tianyan State regarded the Star Sect as its true love, but in reality, the Star Sect only treated Tianyan State as one of the many fish in their pond.

Tianyan State did not lack and could not have cultivators, so even if the number of cultivators within the country decreased, it didn't matter. As long as it wasn't a crippling situation like losing tens of thousands of people all at once, they wouldn't go to the Star Sect.

On the Star Sect's side, even if the number of disciples recruited from Tianyan State might be a bit less, they had other empires to supplement them, so naturally they didn't care about Tianyan State's situation.

You're not in a hurry, I'm not in a hurry, so the ones who were in a hurry were the lower-level sects within Tianyan State.

But Luo Xing still had one thing he didn't understand. Since the Star Sect chose to protect Tianyan State, why didn't the Frost Pavilion go directly to the Star Sect for help instead of going to the Xuantian Sect?

And Hong An gave the answer to this question.

"Junior brother, are you really that clueless or just pretending?" He hugged the beauties in his arms and smiled at Luo Xing. "Since the Star Sect wants to obtain Spirit Stones and talents from Tianyan State, they naturally want those small sects to be as few as possible. That way, no one will compete with them, right?"

Saying that, he kissed each of the two beauties and chuckled, "Just like you—you must be thinking the fewer women here, the better. Ideally, just you alone, so when I come next time, I'll have no choice but to come to you. Am I right?"

"Hehehe~ The young master is absolutely right~"

"Oh dear~ Young master, if you come here and don't look for us, who else would you look for? Are we inferior to those common, vulgar women?"

Hong An was amused by the two beauties, laughing heartily. He raised an eyebrow at Luo Xing, his eyes seeming to say:

See, junior brother! I told you this feeling is different! Can the junior sisters and senior sisters back at the sect act like this?

Luo Xing: "..."

'You're so impressive, so clever. Now you've got a sharp mind? Why couldn't you control your mouth just now?'

If he had had this level of intelligence just now, Luo Xing wouldn't be so passive right now...

After all, this was his first time out for training. Who doesn't want to do their best?

Because if he messed up, Ye Li would likely say...

..."Too useless! Extra training!"

..."Don't dodge! Charge into the sword aura!"

Ewww...

Just thinking about it made his scalp tingle!

"But..." Just as Luo Xing was staring at Hong An with resentment, Zhao Chengyun spoke up. "After all, they are citizens of our kingdom. Since I know about it, I can't stand by and do nothing."

Saying that, he said sincerely to the two, "Two immortal masters, I will now go to the palace to meet His Majesty and explain this matter to my father. Tomorrow, I will invite you both to discuss with my father in detail, to plan how to solve this and how we can help."

With that, he stood up, bowed to Luo Xing and Hong An, and left without looking back.

Zhao Chengyun's proactive actions made Luo Xing couldn't help but feel puzzled...

He seemed really anxious just now?

And he even offered to take the initiative to assist in the investigation...

Could it be that he's not the villain?

That this matter has nothing to do with him?

But if Zhao Chengyun was the mastermind behind the scenes, then there were only two possibilities: either the entire Tianyan imperial family was involved, or he had covered his tracks so thoroughly that no one could find any evidence.

If he wasn't...

"Junior brother, then I'll trouble you to go to the palace tomorrow."

"Huh? Why me?"

"Aren't I going to the Frost Pavilion tomorrow with Junior Sister Cheng and Junior Sister Jiang to ask if they have any clues?" Hong An said matter-of-factly. "As for why you should go... Junior brother, don't blame your senior brother for speaking out of turn, but I see that you still have a bit of a mortal mindset. When facing these mortals, you still lack the proper disposition of a cultivator."

As they say, immortals and mortals are different. If a cultivator didn't break free from a secular mindset, it would greatly affect their future cultivation.

So he deliberately arranged for Luo Xing to meet the mortal emperor directly tomorrow, allowing Luo Xing to issue orders to the mortal monarch, thereby solving this problem once and for all.

Luo Xing: "..."

'Is that even a thing?'

"Um... young master..."

Luo Xing turned his head at the sound and saw Er Ya looking at him with watery eyes. "Um... should I leave first?"

Although she was young, she understood some things and knew that she had just heard something she probably shouldn't have.

"It's fine. Sit down and keep eating," Luo Xing said with a smile. "But you absolutely must not speak of those things just now. No matter who asks, don't say a word. Understood?"

Er Ya quickly nodded. "Mm-hmm! Er Ya knows!"

"Oh, that's right." Mentioning this, Hong An also reminded the two beauties in his arms. "You two must keep your mouths tightly shut about what just happened! If you talk, it might cost you your lives!"

The two women naturally knew—after all, they were arranged by Zhao Chengyun.

"Oh dear~ Is that so~ This concubine is so scared~ My little heart is pounding so hard~"

"Giggle~ Young master~ This concubine's mouth is very soft~ Maybe it might accidentally slip out~"

Seeing this, Hong An immediately snickered. "Oh, really? Come! Let me see how soft your little mouth is!"

Unable to watch any longer, Luo Xing turned his face away, only to find Er Ya staring blankly at Hong An's direction with flushed cheeks...

"Ahem... Er Ya, turn your face away," Luo Xing said, pretending to be serious. "We don't look at that."

Er Ya obediently turned her face away, but still sneakily glanced over there when Luo Xing wasn't paying attention...

She was learning in advance, for when Luo Xing came next time...

---

Near dawn, Luo Xing and Hong An walked out of the Zhenyue Tower.

But before leaving, Luo Xing slipped a low-grade Spirit Stone into the madam's hand and said, "That girl Er Ya is very good. I hope I can still see her next time I come."

He had thought about buying Er Ya's freedom, but considering this was ancient times, a little girl like her couldn't protect herself at all, so he gave up on that idea.

The Zhenyue Tower might not be great, but at least it provided a shelter from wind and rain. With his words, Er Ya's food and clothing from now on should be fine.

Seeing this, the madam beamed and repeatedly promised, "Of course! Young master, you can rest assured! This servant will take care of Er Ya as if she were my own daughter!"

In her eyes, Er Ya, this "merchandise," had already been "reserved" by Luo Xing, so as the "seller," she naturally had to take good care of Er Ya.

Luo Xing nodded slightly, then turned to look at the small figure on the second floor, full of reluctance. He smiled faintly and left with Hong An.

---

"Hehehe! How was it, Junior Brother Luo! This trip wasn't for nothing, right?"

"Yeah, it wasn't for nothing, but I don't want to come next time."

Luo Xing rolled his eyes, silently wondering if he was stupid for thinking this method would make him immune to Ye Li...

"Hey! Don't say that! Junior brother! I..."

"By the way, Senior Brother Hong, let me ask you something." Luo Xing didn't want to argue with him anymore and changed the subject. "Won't the Star Sect have objections to us meddling in Tianyan State's affairs like this?"

After all, in a sense, Tianyan State was considered the Star Sect's territory.

"Not really." Hong An waved his hand. "First, we're not helping Tianyan State, but the Frost Pavilion. Second..."

Both the Xuantian Sect and the Star Sect were upper-middle tier sects, basically on equal footing. Even if they had objections, they would only say something like "Just don't go too far."

Luo Xing: "..."

'Is that even a thing?'

"What else?" Hong An shrugged. "Could the Star Sect really fall out with our Xuantian Sect over a small mortal kingdom?"

How stupid would the people of the Star Sect have to be to do something like that?