Chapter 79: Playing with Feelings
Just as the three of them were suspecting that this might be an Emperor’s Tomb, a voice suddenly appeared in Mingyan’s mind. “This is an Emperor’s Tomb.”
This voice belonged to Gu Hanshuang. Mingyan immediately looked up and scanned his surroundings, then found her figure. She was followed by some people, probably her followers. She herself was looking at him. “However, with these Human Gateway Realm cultivators blocking the way here, I’m afraid it will be difficult for us to gain anything.”
Mingyan looked at the few carriages. He could vaguely feel an extremely powerful aura from within. With these Human Gateway Realm existences present, it would indeed be difficult for their group to gain anything. This was also why many places used for training the younger generation directly had restrictions, preventing cultivators above a certain realm from entering.
After all, if a Human Gateway Realm cultivator entered, even an existence like Gu Hanshuang could only flee in panic. What kind of opportunity could they fight for? They should be careful not to be crushed to death.
“Brother Ming, this is probably an Emperor’s Tomb. Do you have any thoughts?”
At this time, Jade Peony also sent a mental message to Mingyan. He searched for a while but did not find her. She was much more low-key and also quite good at concealment.
“Hmph, Jade Peony sent you a mental message, didn’t she?” Gu Hanshuang snorted coldly, her tone a little disdainful. “She really is unwilling to give up.”
Before Mingyan could respond, he heard Jade Peony continue to send a mental message. “Did Gu Hanshuang say anything to you, Brother Ming?”
“…………” Mingyan was a little speechless for a moment. You two really have a tacit understanding. Not only did you send me a mental message at the same time, but you also both know that the other sent me one…
“If these Human Gateway Realm cultivators really want to divide up the opportunities inside, we have no way. We can only give up,” Mingyan sent a mental message. “Unless you have a way.”
Mingyan sent this message to both Gu Hanshuang and Jade Peony. It was really tiring to have to deal with these two women.
Huang Feiyan noticed Gu Hanshuang’s presence. Seeing her gaze fixed on this side… it was naturally impossible for Gu Hanshuang to be staring at her or Yue Qingying. It could only be Mingyan. Were the two of them communicating through mental messages?
She secretly pulled on Yue Qingying and nudged her chin towards Gu Hanshuang’s direction, motioning for Yue Qingying to look over there. Soon, Yue Qingying also noticed this phenomenon.
The reason Huang Feiyan told Yue Qingying was because she thought Yue Qingying had a better way… to “understand” what they were talking about. Although Huang Feiyan felt it was for official business, as they chatted, it was inevitable that some sparks might fly. So it was better to have Yue Qingying remind Mingyan, so that he would not be bewitched by this woman.
But Yue Qingying did not speak. She glanced at Huang Feiyan and shook her head.
Yue Qingying knew Mingyan better. She knew that he would not secretly flirt with Gu Hanshuang. If Mingyan were that kind of person, would she need to be like this now? She would have “gone a step further” with her junior brother long ago.
“I do have a way to sneak in, but… Gu Hanshuang also knows I have this ability. I’m afraid it will make her aware of the relationship between you and me, Brother Ming… at least closer than she thinks,” Jade Peony’s transmitted voice had a half-smiling tone. “Is that also fine?”
Is she forcing me to take sides? Her words just now were undoubtedly telling Mingyan that if he went with her, in Gu Hanshuang’s eyes, he would be on Jade Peony’s side. Then he probably shouldn’t think about getting together with Gu Hanshuang anymore.
Not only was she forcing him to take sides, she might even be testing his attitude. Because he had never stated his stance on whose side he was on. And he was not like before, really staying out of it. Now, not only was Mingyan trying to understand their past, he was also getting more deeply involved in the conflict between them.
If he continued to be ambiguous, he probably wouldn’t be able to gain the trust of either of them, let alone mediate their relationship.
It’s not a solution to continue being so ambiguous… Mingyan thought for a while. It’s not easy to gain their trust…
After thinking for a while, Mingyan directly sent a mental message to Gu Hanshuang, telling her what Jade Peony had just told him.
Gu Hanshuang’s expression did not change at all. She turned her head, her face not facing him, but not long after, she replied via mental message, “So? Are you planning to stand on Jade Peony’s side?”
“Compared to her personality, perhaps the straightforward you makes me feel more at ease. If I really have to take sides, your side is more trustworthy,” Mingyan said. “Originally, I didn’t want to interfere in your affairs, but since this matter was started by Jade Peony, I can’t possibly stand on her side…”
Hearing Mingyan hesitate, Gu Hanshuang knew he was waiting for her to make some promises. She replied, “If you stand on my side, what I said before still counts. Also, you will have one less enemy. I am not willing to be your enemy, and I’m sure you don’t want to be my enemy either. If you can help me deal with Jade Peony, I will definitely not treat you unfairly. I guarantee it with my surname.”
Mingyan was stunned for a moment. Guarantee with her surname… She was an Emperor’s daughter, the daughter of the master of Standing Sword Peak, that Great Emperor with the surname ‘Gu’ who had attained the Dao with a sword. To guarantee with her surname, this was a very serious statement.
“What do you think, are you willing to help me deal with Jade Peony?” Gu Hanshuang did not look this way because she knew that Jade Peony was in the dark. So, she did not want Jade Peony to see that she was communicating with Mingyan, so as not to be seen through.
“Let me think about it. After all, if I agree, although you won’t become my enemy, I will be on Jade Peony’s opposite side.”
He would agree, but before that, there was something else he needed to do.
He sent a mental message to Jade Peony, telling her about his conversation with Gu Hanshuang.
Jade Peony was silent for a while, then replied, “Brother Ming… are you planning to stand on Gu Hanshuang’s side? I can’t make a decision for you. If you make a choice, I also know that it’s the result of your thinking. I respect it. But in that case, I will have to see you as an enemy.”
Even knowing that Mingyan was going to take a side, and on the opposite side at that, Jade Peony was still very restrained. Her tone was full of regret…
…Mingyan couldn’t see through this woman. If she wasn’t acting, he felt she was really worth being friends with. If she was acting, then this woman’s disguise was too good.
“Celestial Yu has told me about the cause of your conflict before. I’ve thought about it. Although I can’t be sure, compared to that unruly Gu Hanshuang, it’s better to get along with you. I am willing to help you… ‘destroy’ Gu Hanshuang’s pride.”
“Then what about what you said just now, Brother Ming?” Jade Peony was a little hesitant.
“To destroy her pride, perhaps if I directly stand on your side, I won’t be able to do it at all. Two against one, naturally, we can defeat Gu Hanshuang. But the problem is, two against one can’t destroy her pride,” Mingyan said. “I have a better way, but, can you give me a reason to do so?”
Hearing that he could destroy Gu Hanshuang’s pride, Jade Peony paused for a while, then said, “If you can really do it, then I can do one thing for you, Young Master Ming. As for what this thing is, as long as it’s within my ability, you can ask for anything. How about it?”
Mingyan didn’t actually need this “reason.” After all, he was the one who was asking for something. To get the two of them to tell the truth, he should have tried everything to gain their trust.
But because the two women were trying to win him over, Mingyan had the opportunity to take the initiative. He made a request, on one hand, to let them know that they were the ones trying to win him over, and he was the one making the decision. On the other hand, it was also to reduce their suspicion. Otherwise, it would be too strange for him, who had previously expressed his unwillingness to get involved, to suddenly say he would help someone. So he needed a reason to act or to take a side.
“Are you sure?” Mingyan replied.
“I’m sure. Doesn’t Brother Ming trust me?”
Mingyan paused for a while, then sent a mental message to Jade Peony. “To destroy Gu Hanshuang’s pride, it’s not enough to just defeat her. You have to subdue her, conquer her.”
“What do you mean, Brother Ming?”
“Remember my conversation with Gu Hanshuang just now? I’m going to pretend to be on her side to gain her trust. To conquer her, it’s impossible to directly stand on your side in public,” Mingyan said.
“…Brother Ming… are you playing with me?” Jade Peony was silent for a while, then replied.
“No… I’m just saying the method I thought of. Whether you accept it or not is up to you, Celestial Yu,” Mingyan said. “I can be your ally in public, but that way, even if we can defeat Gu Hanshuang, it’s not a humiliation, and it can’t resolve your hatred, right?”
“I just need you to be on my side, Brother Ming. I don’t need you to do so much for me,” Jade Peony was very cautious and did not agree rashly. Mingyan smiled. “Are you worried that I will really side with Gu Hanshuang? If that’s the case, then forget it. I’ll just stand by your side directly.”
His words were too decisive. “Then I’ll reply to Gu Hanshuang.”
Mingyan’s reply was too decisive, and it seemed that seeing she didn’t agree, he immediately made up his mind to stand by her side openly, leaving her with little time to think.
But she thought about it for a short while. It was indeed as Mingyan had said. Her strength and Gu Hanshuang’s were similar. Unless an outsider interfered, it would be difficult to determine a winner. They would have to fight to the death. And two against one, to make Gu Hanshuang lower her noble head?
Impossible. Two against one was an unfair method. Even if Gu Hanshuang was defeated, she would only look at them with a cold smile.
Even if they could force Gu Hanshuang to bow her head at that time, she would not truly admit defeat.
“…Wait… what’s your plan?” Jade Peony finally couldn’t help but ask.
“Gu Hanshuang once said that if she thinks it’s appropriate, she is willing to be my Dao companion… If I gain her trust and make her… fall in love with me, then, at that time, I will dump her… what do you think Gu Hanshuang will do?”
“She will kill you,” Jade Peony said.
“…” Mingyan was a little speechless. Was that what I was asking?
“I mean, do you think she will be hit hard?”
“That depends on whether she really falls in love with you,” Jade Peony, hidden in the crowd, curved her lips upwards slightly.
“And if, at this time, I choose to separate from her, and then… become your Dao companion? Of course, just pretending,” Mingyan continued.
“Then she… would be too pathetic…” Jade Peony thought about that scene. Gu Hanshuang looking at her angrily and unwillingly, because Jade Peony had stolen her Dao companion, but she couldn’t win a fight, so she was extremely depressed, but had nowhere to vent…
“If it’s handled properly, if I make her love me deeply enough, my departure will probably deal a heavy blow to her that is difficult to heal. At that time, Gu Hanshuang’s pride will naturally no longer exist. Think about it, she kneels in front of you, begging you to give me back to her,” Mingyan continued.
Jade Peony’s face was a little flushed, her eyes flashing with excitement. “That would be… great… but… will Gu Hanshuang really be so humble as to come and beg me?”
“Then, this will require your help, Celestial Yu, to let me gain Gu Hanshuang’s trust…” Mingyan smiled, but he was muttering in his heart… I’m still very vague about this thing called love. And now I’m playing with feelings… I need to ask my senior sister for advice.
But he didn’t need Gu Hanshuang to really fall in love with him, just trust him enough. As long as she trusted him and told him the truth of the past, then whether she fell in love with him or not, it didn’t matter at all.
Sin, oh sin…
