Chapter 48
Chapter 48: Temptation
***
“Isn’t this the life you’ve always wanted? Immerse yourself in it.”
A seductive female voice whispered in her ear, like an evil venomous snake trying to drag her into the quagmire.
Yet this quagmire was precisely the paradise she had once fantasized about.
Cold sweat streamed down Lin Muyu’s forehead as she struggled:
“This isn’t right, this isn’t real…”
“Does it really matter whether it’s real or not?”
This question sent Lin Muyu into deep contemplation.
Voices seemed to whisper continuously in her heart:
“This is the familial love you’ve always yearned for. Why don’t you treasure it?”
She was too starved for love. Even if it was just an illusion, she couldn’t bear to let it go.
“Xiao Yu, are you alright?”
Her parents’ concerned voices reached her ears, constantly striking at Lin Muyu’s heart.
Yes, only here were there people who truly loved her.
But…
Lin Muyu endured the dizzy pain and struggled to open her eyes, gazing at her parents’ slightly graying temples.
She forced out a faint smile.
Gripping her parents’ hands tightly, she responded with a smile:
“I’m fine…”
“Come on, let’s go see a doctor!”
Father Lin remained as impatient as she remembered, speaking with a face full of worry.
Having recovered her composure, Lin Muyu shook her head vigorously and refused:
“No need, I’m really fine.”
Seeing Lin Muyu regain her spirits, Mother Lin said gently:
“This child probably stayed up late again last night and gave herself a headache. You can’t stay up late anymore, okay?”
Hearing Mother Lin’s words, Father Lin no longer insisted:
“Then let’s eat first. If you feel uncomfortable at all, tell your old dad immediately!”
Hearing this familiar concern, Lin Muyu unconsciously agreed:
“Mm, I definitely will!”
Her parents’ love remained as passionate as ever.
Only, at some point, a string of scalding tears had already slid down her delicate cheeks.
…
Elder Zangjian flashed and infiltrated the mountain in an instant.
Mist filled the air before him, completely blocking his vision.
“Hmph, childish tricks to obstruct vision!”
He snorted coldly and took out a giant fan, waving it forcefully.
A violent wind howled past, mercilessly dispersing the mist.
After the mist cleared, unconscious disciples appeared sprawled across the ground.
Elder Zangjian hurried forward to investigate, but the disciples’ condition made him furrow his brow tightly.
“This is bad. They’ve all fallen into illusions! If we don’t find the source quickly, they may never wake up.”
He immediately formed hand seals to send a transmission:
“An illusion set up by the demonic clan has appeared at Wanbing Mountain. Come for support immediately!”
However, the moment he sent the transmission, the mist that had just been dispersed began to spread once again.
This time, the mist carried heavy demonic energy without any concealment.
Sensing the demonic energy’s assault, Elder Zangjian’s brow twisted as he drew his treasured sword and slashed forward.
In an instant, the approaching mist was split open with a crack.
Taking advantage of the gap before the mist could close again, Elder Zangjian sprinted wildly toward the source of the demonic energy.
“What are you standing around for? Keep up!”
Elder Feng urgently urged Ye Fan, who was hiding nearby.
“Elder Feng, the concealment technique you gave me is indeed useful, but is such dense demonic energy really safe?”
Ye Fan hesitated somewhat.
Although spirit weapons could greatly enhance one’s strength, he could steadily advance through his own abilities, so there was really no need to risk it for a spirit weapon.
“Since we’re already here, don’t you really want to try?”
Elder Feng asked unhurriedly in return.
Since we’re already here…
“…Then I’ll give it a try. If there’s danger, I’ll be counting on you, Elder Feng.”
Ye Fan responded reluctantly, taking advantage of the passage Elder Zangjian had carved before it disappeared, and hurried to follow.
Borrowing Elder Zangjian’s path-clearing, he quickly infiltrated a mountain cave.
“Who exactly are you? Why are you harming my Qinglan Sect disciples?”
Just as he entered the cave, Ye Fan heard Elder Zangjian’s ice-cold interrogation.
What responded to him was an extremely seductive mature female voice:
“I’m just a weapon spirit, conducting trials to select a master. Would this Elder also like to participate in my trial?”
The woman’s voice was gentle and smiling, yet carried a powerful mental impact.
Although Ye Fan stood at a distance, he was still stirred dizzy by this voice.
“Quickly recite the Clear Heart Mantra!”
Elder Feng’s voice timely pulled him back to reality.
Ye Fan hurriedly silently recited the Clear Heart Mantra, barely managing to resist the voice’s interference.
Elder Zangjian, however, was completely unaffected and snorted coldly:
“Hmph, I think you’re the weapon spirit of a demonic artifact!”
Without saying more, he drew his sword and slashed toward the woman.
The woman showed no fear, playing with a transparent bead in her hand as she said coldly:
“Oh? Don’t you want these disciples to live?”
This sentence made Elder Zangjian forcibly halt his attack, his gaze fierce as he countered:
“If I destroy you, can’t I dispel the illusion?”
“You underestimate me far too much.”
The woman laughed both happily and evilly.
“My illusion draws part of the dreamers’ souls into my main body. If you destroy my main body now, these souls will have to be buried with me~”
Elder Zangjian fell silent upon hearing this.
If what she said was true, destroying the main body might wake the disciples, but it could also leave them as idiots due to incomplete souls, no different from death.
But if he didn’t act, the disciples’ fate of being lost in illusions would be equally tragic.
“What do you want?” He could only soften his tone first, employing delaying tactics.
“Very simple.”
The woman played with her slender fingers, speaking in a calm tone: “Take me out of here. I’ll only take a few disciples with me, and the rest can be returned.”
“Impossible!”
Elder Zangjian flew into a rage.
“I won’t give you a single disciple! Qinglan Sect never abandons anyone!”
The woman’s expression turned cold: “Then let this group of disciples die with me.”
Just as the two were at an impasse, Ye Fan slowly walked in and called out:
“I agree to your terms, but you must first satisfy one small condition of mine.”
“You…” Elder Zangjian, seeing him intrude, was about to question him when he was shocked by his words.
“Elder, for the greater good, sacrificing some people is inevitable.”
Ye Fan interrupted him.
“After all, this happened in your territory. You can’t bear the consequences either, right?”
Elder Zangjian fell silent.
This was his jurisdiction. If all the disciples were lost, he would be Qinglan Sect’s sinner.
“This young master is quite sensible.” The woman smiled even more seductively. “Speak up, what’s your condition? Big sister can satisfy anything~”
Hearing the woman’s seductive words, Ye Fan couldn’t help but look at the woman’s body.
Beneath a purple dress was a curvaceous figure.
Although she was a weapon spirit, she really made Ye Fan drool.
But Ye Fan still forcibly suppressed the temptation, focusing his gaze on the bead in the woman’s hand.
Ye Fan forcibly suppressed the restlessness in his heart, his gaze locking onto the bead in her hand: “I want that bead.”
“How difficult could that be?” The woman smiled radiantly.
“However, its weapon spirit was thrown into the illusion by me. Once I get out, I’ll hand it over to you~”