The Mountain Lord's Daughter

"In your heart, I am indeed irredeemable, unscrupulous."

While Zhan Yunwei was busy recognizing people in the front hall, Yue Wujin and Yue Huilue were busy by the lake.

Yue Huilue looked at the formation compass her brother had taken out and, for some reason, felt uneasy. "Do you think this will work? Maybe we should forget it. What if something happens to Zhan Yunwei? How will we explain it to Grandfather?"

"It will be fine, it's just a Four Symbols Convergence Formation," Yue Wujin said confidently. "If you're not going to help with the formation, then stay away. Don't interfere."

Hearing that it was the "Four Symbols Convergence Formation," Yue Huilue relaxed a little. This was a mild formation, often used to trap an opponent and make those trapped inside feel unbearable hunger. One quarter of an hour outside the formation equaled a full day inside.

"Isn't it because she couldn't bear hardship that she married Yue Zhiheng? I will trap her for half an hour," Yue Wujin thought to himself. "I will make her starve for two days and suffer a bit."

Of course, he couldn't openly harm Zhan Yunwei. With this formation, he was sure that when she came out, she wouldn't even have a scratch on her. Zhan Yunwei wouldn't be able to report him either!

Once he had finished setting up the formation, he told his sister, "You avoid Yue Zhiheng and bring her over."

"But I'm not close to her, how do I bring her?" Yue Huilue asked.

Yue Wujin pondered for a moment, then said, "Just tell her that our mother is waiting for her at the pavilion and wants to talk to her privately."

Yue Huilue couldn't help but mock, "Brother, I've realized that you're pretty clever when you're not doing serious things."

This made Yue Wujin tap her on the head. "Stop talking nonsense, hurry up and go."

When Yue Huilue went to the front hall, Yue Wujin hesitated and reminded her, "Remember the position of the formation? Don't go inside later, or I'll have to figure out how to get you out."

"I remember," she replied.

It was the time of Chen when Zhan Yunwei left the house, but when she looked up again, it was already approaching noon.

She had seen countless madams, some with ill intentions, trying to slip her things beyond the proper etiquette, hinting at asking her to speak well of their family members in front of Yue Zhiheng and help their juniors secure a government position in the dynasty.

One of them smiled obsequiously, "No matter how big or small the official position is, as long as Lord Changsi is willing to show favor, my child will serve diligently, even to the point of death."

Zhan Yunwei looked at the small box with a slit in it, which contained a spirit stone the size of a fist, and a surge of anger rose in her heart.

In the Spirit Domain, the spiritual energy was thin. Even top-quality spirit stones couldn't refine much spiritual power. However, a Gathering Spirit Stone was different. Even a small one, the size of a fingernail, contained boundless pure spiritual power. But such stones could only be found in Du'e City.

The noble families or elite disciples wouldn't risk their lives for wealth. However, they would make the impoverished people of the Spirit Domain go to great lengths to obtain them.

This large Gathering Spirit Stone was probably the result of hundreds of people's lives. Zhan Yunwei closed her eyes to calm herself.

Zhan Yunwei said, "As far as I know, the dynasty is indeed lacking some officials."

The person in front of her looked delighted, "Which position?"

Unexpectedly, while Yue Zhiheng was indifferent, his wife was more perceptive. If they could enter the Che Tian Mansion, wouldn't that allow them to walk unhindered in the royal capital?

Before they could rejoice, they heard the young woman in front of them smile brightly and say, "A night incense clerk."

The person's expression changed dramatically as they realized what she meant, "You!"

Zhan Yunwei sneered. "Didn't you say that no matter the position, it's an honor?" She never expected to use an insult like that.

After successfully angering the person, Zhan Yunwei felt much less upset.

Finally, when she managed to steal a moment of rest, another young woman appeared before her.

Zhan Yunwei immediately recognized her as Yue Huilue, the second young miss of the Yue family. However, she and Yue Huilue had never been close, so they weren't familiar with each other.

Yue Huilue looked at her in awe. Before coming, Yue Huilue had wondered whether the new sister-in-law was as beautiful as the rumors claimed, but seeing her in person, she found that calling her enchanting was no exaggeration.

Her feelings were complex. No wonder Yue Zhiheng, such a cold and arrogant person, would be willing to marry Zhan Yunwei.

Following her brother's instructions, she said, "Miss Zhan, I am Yue Huilue, Yue Zhiheng's cousin. My mother is looking for you, she wants to talk to you privately."

The second madam is looking for her?

The second madam of the Yue family was a clever woman who understood the principle of moderation. She neither flattered Yue Zhiheng excessively nor provoked him, maintaining a superficial balance with him.

"What does the second madam want to talk to me about?" Zhan Yunwei asked.

Yue Huilue turned her face and replied, "I'm not sure, maybe it's about our cousin?"

At first, Zhan Yunwei didn't suspect anything, since the Yue family was currently ruled by Yue Zhiheng, and Yue Huilue's identity couldn't be faked. Though the young lady wasn't particularly friendly towards her, she hadn't shown any significant malice either.

But when they reached a fake mountain, Yue Huilue stopped walking.

Her gaze flickered slightly. "Hmm, my mother is in the pavilion behind, I have some other matters to attend to. You go ahead."

Zhan Yunwei halted, eyeing her with suspicion.

They were now in the Yue family's courtyard. The fake mountain was grand, and the stream babbled gently. It was summer, and the weather was pleasant, making the scenery of the garden quite beautiful.

Rationally speaking, the person in front of her was indeed Miss Yue, but Zhan Yunwei couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The Second Madam was always meticulous. If she had something to say to her, she shouldn't have called her to such a secluded place alone. Such actions would only make Yue Zhiheng suspicious of her intentions.

"You... you should go quickly, my mother is still waiting for you," Yue Huiluo urged anxiously.

Zhan Yunwei decided to test her. "I'm not feeling well. I'm afraid I might accidentally offend the Second Madam. I'll visit her another day." With that, she turned and began walking back.

Just a few steps away from the formation, Yue Huiluo grew desperate. She stomped her foot and blocked Zhan Yunwei's path. "No, you can't leave..."

Zhan Yunwei fixed her gaze on her and said, "Miss Yue, just tell me plainly, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Yue Huiluo gritted her teeth. She hadn't expected Zhan Yunwei to see through her, and for a moment, she didn't know how to cover up the lie. Her eyes involuntarily darted to the artificial mountain ahead, knowing that her brother was hiding there and might help her.

Yue Wujue, however, never anticipated that the pampered spirit master he doted on would act so unpredictably. When he saw that he couldn't deceive Zhan Yunwei, he gritted his teeth, stepped out from behind the mountain, and raised his hand to send a sword Qi at her.

Zhan Yunwei felt a sharp pain in her shoulder as the sword Qi struck, sending her flying several steps back. She hadn't expected anyone to attack her at Yue's mansion. Before she could figure out who it was, a burst of white light appeared under her feet. Her heart sank. A formation? No, this wasn't right!

The white formation dimmed almost immediately, replaced by a surge of crimson and jet-black energy, converging from eight directions, swallowing her whole.

Having studied a variety of texts in her youth, Zhan Yunwei immediately recognized it. This was a killing formation... Floating Dream Mirage Realm?

Before she lost consciousness completely, she caught sight of two figures outside the formation, their faces changing drastically. The person behind the mountain rushed out to grab her, but it was too late.

Zhan Yunwei clearly saw the person's face, and her anger surged. Yue Wujue, just wait!

Outside the formation, Yue Huiluo stammered, "Brother, what's going on? Didn't you say this was the Four Symbols and Harmony Formation? Why is it this color?" The rich crimson and ominous jet-black colors were completely different from what they had expected.

Yue Wujue's face turned pale as he stared at his fingertips, his mind flashing back to the last moment when he saw Zhan Yunwei's eyes, filled with anger yet unexpectedly clear and pure.

He muttered to himself, "How could this happen...?"

He had caused trouble many times before, but never had he felt this much regret and panic. He had been sold a regular Four Symbols and Harmony Formation, yet it had turned into a Celestial-level killing formation. Even if he wasn't a formation master, he could see how dangerous it was.

"I have to save her!" Yue Huiluo saw her brother acting like a headless chicken, intending to rush into the killing formation. She quickly stopped him. "You'll die if you go! Calm down, we need to tell Yue Zhiheng, he might know what to do."

After all, the Yue family was knowledgeable about formations, and only Yue Zhiheng could handle such a situation.

Half an hour earlier, Yue Zhiheng had been called to the Refining Pavilion. Before leaving, he glanced at Zhan Yunwei, who was surrounded by a group of ladies. It was all female company, so he couldn't approach directly. He sent for Shi Hu and instructed, "Tell Zhan Yunwei I'm going to the Refining Pavilion. She's in the mansion, she won't run away."

When Shi Hu returned, he reported, "The young mistress said you don't need to worry, she's in the house and won't be leaving."

It seemed she was still holding a grudge. Yue Zhiheng didn't mind how Zhan Yunwei saw him, so he went straight to the Refining Pavilion.

Over the years, the Yue family patriarch had rarely interfered with his actions. Whether it was entering the Du'e City, fighting evil people, or harming the Immortal Sect, the patriarch had always remained silent. But now, from the Refining Pavilion, an elderly voice spoke:

"Do you still remember the agreement we made all those years ago?"

Yue Zhiheng replied, "Yes."

The elder continued, "Now, there's one more thing. You are not to use or harm the Zhan family girl."

Yue Zhiheng fell silent for a moment, then smiled coldly. "It seems you really think I'm unscrupulous, resorting to any means."

The huge phoenix tree beneath the high pavilion rustled as the wind blew. Above, there was a long silence, almost as if it were tacit approval.

Yue Zhiheng understood his grandfather's unspoken meaning. He had originally wanted to argue, but a feeling of resentment and sorrow rose within him. In the end, he found it pointless. With a cold smile, he said, "Understood. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

A faint sigh echoed from the high pavilion. "Tell me, do you have any personal intentions in marrying her?"

The leaves scattered at Yue Zhiheng's feet. He lowered his eyes, staring at them, and coldly replied, "No."

The elder seemed to have anticipated this response. "If you have no intentions, then after you finish your business, let her go."

A long time passed before the elder heard the young official's fatigued response: "Alright."

At that moment, Yue Zhiheng still didn't know the trouble his cousins had caused. As he looked at the Floating Dream Mirage Realm, the emotions he had suppressed surged upwards, and the patterns of the Compassion Lotus began to move.

How foolish could one be to mistake a Floating Dream Mirage Realm for a regular Four Symbols and Harmony Formation?

Yue Huiluo kept wiping her tears, while Yue Wujue stood by, pale-faced. If they didn't have brains, then what use was their head?

Yue Zhiheng smiled coldly and pulled his cousin's head, slamming it into the nearby artificial mountain. With his Nine Layers of Spirit Veins, Yue Wujue had no strength to fight back and couldn't break free.

Yue Wujue grunted as blood poured from his forehead.

"Big brother!" Yue Huiluo cried, rushing to stop him. "Please spare my brother. We know we were wrong."

"Get lost. What did I say?" Yue Zhiheng's voice was calm, but cold. "You don't remember a word of it."

Yue Huiluo gasped for breath, crying, "I remember! I'll never forget!"

Yue Zhiheng curled his lips. "In the future?"

His Dantian churned with suppressed energy, and the patterns of the Compassion Lotus on his robe shimmered, shining brightly in the sunlight like swimming fish, blooming like a lotus—pure yet malevolent.

These lotus patterns disappeared from his clothes and entered his body.

Yue Huiluo had never witnessed such a scene, but she didn't dare let go, afraid that if she did, her brother would be killed.

She regretted it deeply. Her mother had warned them not to provoke Yue Zhiheng, but they didn't listen.

When the last of the Compassion Lotus patterns sank into his body, Yue Zhiheng raised his hand, and a Yang Spirit Cauldron appeared. He pressed Yue Wujue, whose face was covered in blood, into it.

Yue Zhiheng lowered his eyes and said, "I'm going into the formation now. You'd better pray I return. If I don't, the Yang Spirit Cauldron will activate in three days, and Yue Wujue, you'd better be prepared to accompany her in death."

As the Floating Dream Mirage Realm grew dimmer, the moment to enter the formation had arrived. Yue Zhiheng unsealed the Compassion Lotus patterns on his right hand. As the lotus fully bloomed on his wrist, his figure disappeared into the formation.