Lou Mu Yan rode her horse straight to meet Yun Lan outside the Imperial Capital.
She asked Lou Zhan Tian and Lou Mo Yu, for the time being, to carefully select two hundred Sword Masters with potential from the Lou Clan’s army, and then she’ll personally select a hundred of them to raise as private soldiers after returning from the Ye Clan.
The news that she hadn’t died in the Glacial Mountain Range was also temporarily sealed, so aside from the reliable people of the Lou Clan, only a few superiors of the Imperial Family knew. The Imperial Family and Empire Academy also left a place for her to participate in the event after the Trial Selection.
Taking advantage of the chaos in the Imperial Capital during this period, she rushed to the Ye Clan to cure Elder Ye and Ye Qing Le. Meanwhile Yun Lan wanted to find Ye Qing Han to exchange pointers, so she invited him to accompany her.
When Lou Mu Yan arrived at the appointed place outside the Imperial Capital, she saw a tall, sturdy man riding on a pure black Tailwind Horse, waiting.
“Elder Cousin Brother, I made you wait.” Lou Mu Yan rode up to Yun Lan’s side and said apologetically with a smile.
Yun Lan turned his head with compassion in his eyes, “No problem, I also just arrived.”
“Let’s go.” With a cue from Lou Mu Yan, her horse galloped away.
Upon seeing this, Yun Lan quickly followed and asked as they rushed: “Yan’er, how’s your eldest brother?”
“He’s already awake, but because he previously used the Blood Spirit Skill, he injured some of his origin, so he needs some time to recover.” Lou Mu Yan’s eyes were filled with coldness. She must make those behind the scenes pay a heavy price.
Originally, Lou Mu Bai wanted to follow them in their plan to go to the Ye Clan, but because he was injured and received backlash from when he was in the Glacial Mountain Range, he needed to recuperate, so he had to give up. Fortunately, she had learnt some methods of managing and healing one’s origin, otherwise without maybe three to five years, her eldest brother wouldn’t be able to recover.
“Then that’s good.” Yun Lan sighed in relief, “Yan’er, how do you plan on taking care of the Gu Clan?”
The methods used by those in black to forcibly increase their strength was exactly the same as that displayed by Gu Yan Ran. It was absolutely impossible to say that there weren’t any connections between the two.
“I’ll wait until they reveal their own cloven hoof1. I always have a feeling that the Gu Clan’s very weird. What they want to achieve isn’t trivial.” She decided to lure the snake out of the cave to see what the Gu Clan’s purpose was.
“If they’re really colluding with other kingdoms, Yan’zhou Kingdom would be in a disadvantageous position. I wonder if Emperor Father is on the alert.” Yun Lan sighed.
Lou Mu Yan chuckled, “Paternal Uncle Emperor is very shrewd. Always indulging the Gu Clan’s growth was probably for the purpose of throwing out bait to catch the bigger fish. In the future, he can use the wealth and resources that the Gu Clan accumulated over the years for himself too.”
It was just a pity that everything was almost ruined by the bait. But she had cured Yun Tian Chen’s poison before she left, so she believed Gu Yan Ting wouldn’t succeed.
“Are you saying that Emperor Father knew that the Gu Clan’s hearts were impure?” Yun Lan had an epiphany.
Lou Mu Yan nodded: “I guess Paternal Uncle Emperor is playing a game of chess, and the Gu Clan is a key chess piece.”
“So that’s how it is. No wonder some of the actions of Emperor Father made me slightly puzzled. But now that I think again, it seems normal.” Yun Lan thought deeply.
Lou Mu Yan didn’t tell Yun Lan about his Emperor Father being inflicted with the Love Making Poison, “How is Paternal Aunt?”
“Empress Mother has been fascinated by Arrays recently and has been studying Arrays all day long. I think she’s been pretty well.” Yun Lan’s expression softened a lot when he mentioned Lou Mo Zi.
His former Empress Mother constantly revolved herself around Emperor Father and had no self to speak of. Now that she had something that interested her, it appeared that her whole person had a brilliance she previously lacked with a strange charm.
“Mm, as long as Paternal Aunt knows what she wants, then that’s fine.” Lou Mu Yan also smiled in relief. On this Continent where strength was respected, women couldn’t always rely on men.
The two chatted while rushing, and ten days passed quickly.
The Ten Distinguished Clans were First-Rate forces of the Eastern Region. They were distributed in ten big cities near each other, and they were located in the core area of the Eastern Region.
The prosperity of each of the Ten Distinguished Clan’s cities were not inferior to that of the Imperial Capital and was even larger and more prosperous.
When the two approached Luo’xi City near the Ye Clan, the sky had gradually dimmed already, and the afterglow of the rays of evening sunlight enveloped the entire towering city, giving it a taste of dusk.
Entering Luo’xi City was the same as entering Glacial City, both needing to pay a certain amount of ink-gold coins which could guarantee one’s safety in the city. Fighting and killing weren’t allowed, otherwise they’d be punished by the Ye Clan of the City Lord’s Mansion
After entering Luo’xi City, the two didn’t live in an inn, but instead directly went to the City Lord’s Mansion.
The City Lord’s Mansion was located in the golden location of the southernmost section of Luo’xi City. It was towering and dignified, and even carried a simplistic and unsophisticated aura.
There were two teams of guards guarding the gate, but there weren’t any qi’lin statues at the gate of the mansion like other mansions. Instead, there were two tall and majestic Tier 4 White Lin Lion Demonic Beasts guarding it.
Both Demonic Beasts carried a strong sense of righteousness and squatted on their heels on the side without being distracted. As long as someone approached, they would cast fierce gazes towards them, and those who had little courage simply wouldn’t even dare to pass.
“It deserves to be a Clan of Spirit Beast Masters well-known throughout the entire Eastern Region. They use Tier 4 Demonic Beasts just to guard the house.” Yun Lan couldn’t help but sigh with emotion as he dismounted his horse and stared ahead.
Lou Mu Yan smiled: “How can you rank second without the means and skills?”
[ROAR!] Seeing outsiders approaching, the two White Lin Lions roared at them with warning.
With a smile on Lou Mu Yan’s face, the Beast Taming Method operated in her dan’tian, and she pulled Yun Lan, walking directly forward.
Ever since she advanced to the cultivation base of Sword King, she could start to use some secret skills. The first layer of the Beast Taming Method could also begin to operate. As long as the cultivation base of the Demonic Beast was lower than hers, then she could soothe them all.
The two White Lin Lions suddenly felt a sense of comfort from her, and instantly became quiet.
The two groups of soldiers that guarded the outside were surprised to see the two pass by the White Lin Lions safely. The two lions reacted a little at first, but now they just squatted on the ground and the ferocious looks in their eyes had long disappeared.
The captain of the guards who had better judgement scrutinised the two, then greeted them with a smile: “May I ask what the reasons for your arrivals at our City Lord’s Mansion are?”
Lou Mu Yan took out a jade pendant with the word ‘Ye’ engraved on it and handed it to the capital of the guards with a faint smile, saying: “I’m the friend of your Young Lord Ye Qing Han. Give him this pendant and he’ll naturally know who we are.”
The head guard took a look at the jade pendant and his eyes couldn’t conceal the shock. This was the Young Lord’s personal token. It was now in the possession of this gorgeous woman with an otherworldly temperament. It seemed that their relationship wasn’t simple.
“Young Miss, Sir, please wait a moment, I will report it right away.” The head guard’s attitude became much more friendly, and after speaking, he asked others to take Lou Mu Yan and Yun Lan into the Ye Clan’s reception hall.
Lou Mu Yan and Yun Lan exchanged a glance, then walked through Ye Clan’s gate with a smile.
The Ye Clan’s City Lord’s Mansion had white marbled steps and carved railings, fine terraces and exquisite rooms, crimson roofs and glazed tiles, high buildings and towers, waterside pavilions and caved fences—all covered with one glance. The most important thing was that every other scenery would be separated by an Array. If someone accidentally broke in and didn’t understand Arrays, then they’d be trapped and be unable to find the exit.
After the guard brought the two to the reception hall, they told someone to serve two cups of tea, then stood aside like an old monk sitting in meditation, unmoving.
Lou Mu Yan picked up the blue and white porcelain teacup with inked bamboo and took a sip. Suddenly, there was a rush of footsteps from outside the door.
“Mu Yan!”
There were strange emotions hidden in Ye Qing Han’s voice and a tone of pleasant surprise spouted out from his lips and echoed in the hall.
Translated product by May Our 梦 Come True
1saying meaning she’ll wait until they reveal their own true nature