298: Chapter 298 Schemes

After the welcome banquet concluded, Hun Feng led Xiao Yan and his family of three on a tour around the Imperial City—the Martial Arena, the Scripture Pavilion, and the hot spring valley behind the mountain. At each location, he provided detailed introductions, his manner so warm and enthusiastic that it was as if they were old friends who hadn't seen each other for years.

Xiao Yan listened along the way, occasionally nodding or offering a few words of praise, but he always maintained a perfectly appropriate distance.

Upon returning to the flower hall and seating themselves again, Hun Feng picked up his teacup and changed the subject: "Brother Xiao, you and I have known each other for many years. Now that you have ascended to the Great Thousand World, you are surely in need of people."

"The Spirit Hall is currently in a period of expansion. If Brother Xiao is willing to stay and serve as a guest elder, you may choose any resources, cultivation techniques, or spiritual veins you desire. If we join forces, this Great Thousand World will sooner or later be within our grasp. What do you think?"

Xiao Yan held his teacup in silence for a moment, then set it down: "I appreciate your kindness, Brother Hun, and I am grateful for the offer. However, I have become accustomed to a free and unrestrained life. I fear I am not suited for the position of elder in the Spirit Hall."

Hun Feng tried to persuade him a few more times, covering everything from resources to status to their old friendship—he said everything that could be said. Yet, Xiao Yan never gave in; his tone remained gentle, but he did not yield an inch.

Yao Yao watched this scene from the side, a flash of impatience flickering in her peach-blossom eyes—since when had her husband become so long-winded? In the past, whenever he set his sights on something, he would either take it directly or decisively give it up; when had he ever resorted to such back-and-forth persuasion?

Just as Hun Feng was about to say something more, Xiao Yan suddenly set down his teacup, his tone frank: "Brother Hun, there is no need to persuade me further. Since my ascension, I only wish to take my wife and child to travel around and see the customs and cultures of this Great Thousand World."

"My first stop is the Tianluo Continent—I have heard it is the center of the Great Thousand World and incredibly prosperous. My son has also been wanting to go and see it. I have troubled you enough today, so my family of three will take our leave now. Brother Hun, until we meet again."

Tianluo Continent. The lid of the teacup in Hun Feng's hand tapped lightly against the rim, producing a very faint, crisp sound.

He maintained that same calm smile on his face, stood up, and personally escorted the Xiao family out of the city. At the city gate, he even patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder and said, "Until we meet again."

Once the figures of the three disappeared into the spiritual light of the teleportation array, the smile on his face slowly faded as he turned to walk back, replaced by a meaningful curve at the corner of his lips.

In the flower hall, Yao Yao was the first to speak: "Husband, that expression you had just now—what bad idea have you thought of again?"

"What bad idea could I have?" Hun Feng sat back in the main seat, picked up his teacup, and took a sip. His tone was casual, but the sharp glint in his eyes could not be hidden from everyone present.

"Every time you are up to no good, your right eyebrow gets a little higher than the left," Cao Ying said, holding her teacup, a teasing light flashing in her phoenix eyes. "Just now, when you said the four words 'Tianluo Continent,' your eyebrows were almost misaligned."

"Is that so?" Hun Feng raised his hand and touched his eyebrow.

"Yes," Yao Yao, Xun'er, and Yun Yun said in unison. Even Xiao Yi Xian looked up at him once before lowering her head to continue reading her book.

Cai Lin held her teacup without saying a word, but her purple snake-like eyes had been fixed on him ever since he entered the room; that gaze clearly said—fess up already.

Only Qing Yanjing frowned slightly. She had not spent much time with Hun Feng, but it was enough for her to grasp this man's style of doing things—he was absolutely not the type to let someone go just because they exchanged a few polite words.

Furthermore, that black-robed man named Xiao Yan, although his cultivation was not high, clearly had a very deep history with Hun Feng, and had an indescribable entanglement with Cai Lin and Xun'er. How could Hun Feng possibly let such a person go just like that?

She studied the curve of Hun Feng's lips and vaguely guessed a few things—he likely wanted to let Xiao Yan make the first move, and then he would close the net from behind.

"When you smile like that, you are either scheming against someone or thinking about someone," Qing Yanjing said, setting down her teacup, her voice soft but hitting the nail on the head. "Xiao Yan just left, and it is impossible for you to be thinking of him—so you are scheming against him."

Hun Feng finally couldn't help but laugh out loud. He set down his teacup, leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and spread his hands: "Alright, you have seen through me. Xiao Yan wants to wander around—fine. His first stop is the Tianluo Continent—also fine. But think about it, whose territory is the Tianluo Continent now?"

"Mu Chen." Yao Yao's peach-blossom eyes suddenly lit up, and she twirled her bone whip in her hand.

"Exactly." Hun Feng turned his head and called out to the door: "Hun Qian, have Hun Jing come to see me immediately."

Vermilion Bird Hall. Hun Jing was sitting at her desk processing patrol orders. Upon hearing the message, she threw on an outer robe and hurried over. She was now a Spirit Grade Heavenly Sovereign, her crimson dress outlining her sharp figure, her black hair pulled up into a high bun with a Vermilion Bird jade hairpin. Her face remained cold, but it was a bit softer than in years past.

When she pushed the door open and entered, the wives in the flower hall had not yet dispersed. Each of them held a teacup and watched her, the atmosphere like they were waiting for a good show to begin.

"Hall Master." Hun Jing cupped her hands.

Hun Feng walked out from behind his desk, a sealed communication jade slip already in his hand. He walked up to Hun Jing and handed it to her, instructing her in a calm tone: "You are to make a trip to the Tianluo Continent in person and deliver this jade slip into Mu Chen's hands."

"Tell him that there is a black-robed man named Xiao Yan who just left the Imperial City today with his wife and child. His cultivation is at the peak of the Upper Earth Sovereign, his wife Tang Huo'er is also an Upper Earth Sovereign, and they have a twelve-year-old son named Xiao Lin. These three will be going to the Tianluo Continent; have the Mu Mansion spies investigate their specific location."

Hun Jing took the jade slip and waited for the rest.

"Tell Mu Chen to detain these three, and preferably recruit them for his own use." Hun Feng paused here. His tone remained as calm as before, but every word that followed carried an unquestionable weight: "If Xiao Yan is willing to stay, treat him with the courtesy of a guest elder and arrange for him to be within the borders of the Tianluo Continent; he does not need to return to the Mu Mansion headquarters—just place him on the outskirts of the Great Luo Territory. If he is unwilling—" He paused again, "then there is no need to leave him alive."

Hun Jing's fingers tightened slightly, gripping the jade slip more firmly. She did not ask why, only nodded. She knew that the Hall Master sending her specifically to deliver this message already indicated the gravity of the matter.

"As for who Xiao Yan is, tell Mu Chen not to concern himself with it; just do as I say. But there is one thing that must be conveyed—keep a close eye on him and do not let him develop. This person's talent is not inferior to mine." When Hun Feng said this, the corners of his mouth curved slightly; his smile contained a hint of complex appreciation, as well as an unquestionable resolve.

"This subordinate understands." Hun Jing turned to leave, but was called back by Hun Feng.

"And one more thing—tell them this is Master's private matter, and they need not worry too much about it."

"Yes." Hun Jing strode out of the flower hall, her crimson dress brushing lightly against the threshold, and her figure quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Tianluo Continent, Mu Mansion. Mu Chen had just returned from the Martial Arena and had not yet had time to unbuckle his heavenly emperor sword. Luo Li was pouring tea for him when they heard Mandala say from outside the door, "Someone has come from the Imperial City." Mu Chen and Luo Li exchanged a glance, simultaneously set down what was in their hands, and went out to greet them.

The person who came was Hun Jing. For the Vermilion Bird Hall Master to make the trip in person was something that had only happened twice since the establishment of the Mu Mansion—the last time was when Master sent the black dragon patterned spear and Saint Grade medicinal pills, and the time before that was when Hun Feng visited in person. Mu Chen did not dare to be negligent; he invited Hun Jing into the main hall, and Luo Li personally brewed tea.

"Hun Jing, you have come from afar. Does Master have any instructions?" Mu Chen got straight to the point. He had dealt with Hun Jing too many times and knew that this Vermilion Bird Hall Master never beat around the bush.

Hun Jing repeated Hun Feng's words exactly, her phrasing precise, even relaying the "no need to leave him alive" part without missing a word. Finally, she took the sealed communication jade slip from her sleeve and presented it to Mu Chen, adding: "The Hall Master asked me to tell the Young Master—this is his private matter, and the Young Master need not worry too much. Just do as instructed in the jade slip."

Mu Chen took the jade slip and probed it with his divine sense to scan it. The jade slip detailed the appearance, cultivation realm, and possible activity range of the three, Xiao Yan and his family, as well as Hun Feng's line: "If he is unwilling to stay, there is no need to leave him alive." He handed the jade slip to Luo Li and frowned slightly: "Who is this Xiao Yan? Why did Master send you specifically to deliver this message? Wouldn't a direct transmission suffice?"

"The Hall Master said that the Young Master need not concern himself with who Xiao Yan is. As for why he sent me—" Hun Jing paused, the corners of her mouth curving slightly, "perhaps it is because the Hall Master does not want to leave any traces regarding this matter."

Mu Chen was silent for a moment. He had been by Master's side for so many years and had rarely seen Master entrust a matter so solemnly. Peak of the Upper Earth Sovereign—this cultivation level was not weak in the Tianluo Continent, but it was certainly not a level that would make Master take such an interest. Yet, Master had specifically sent Hun Jing to make the trip in person and had specially warned him "not to concern himself." This could only mean one thing—Master cared about this person immensely.

Luo Li listened quietly from the side, a glint of thought flashing in her blue eyes. She was more perceptive than Mu Chen and had captured several key pieces of information from Hun Jing's words—Xiao Yan was a black-robed man, traveling with his wife and child, had just left the Imperial City, and Master said "this is his private matter." A man who could make Master care so much, who had taken his wife and child to the Imperial City and left unscathed—this was almost unprecedented in the history of the Spirit Hall. She suddenly thought of a possibility, but that thought flashed by in an instant. She looked at Hun Jing, her voice still cold and calm as she spoke: "Hun Jing, does Master mean—if Xiao Yan is willing to stay, he should be arranged on the outskirts of the Great Luo Territory and does not need to return to the Mu Mansion headquarters?"

"Yes." Hun Jing nodded.

"And what if he is unwilling?" Luo Li pursued.

Hun Jing glanced at Luo Li, the corners of her mouth curving slightly: "The Hall Master said, there is no need to leave him alive."

The side hall was silent for a moment. Mu Chen's brows were furrowed so tightly they could hold a chopstick. Luo Li lowered her head to sip her tea, no emotion visible in her blue eyes. A moment later, Mu Chen tucked the jade slip into his robes and cupped his hands to Hun Jing: "Thank you for making the trip in person, Hun Jing. Please report back to Master—Mu Chen will obey his command. No matter who Xiao Yan is, this disciple will not let him leave the Tianluo Continent alive."

Hun Jing nodded, said nothing more, turned, and stepped out of the side hall.

Mu Chen sat back in his chair and took a large gulp of the tea Luo Li had poured for him. The tea had already gone cold, but he didn't notice. Luo Li sat down beside him and tapped her fingers lightly on the tabletop: "Are you not planning to ask Master who this person is?"

"Since Master said I need not concern myself, it means he does not want me to know." Mu Chen set down his teacup. "Furthermore, Master has never been this concerned about anyone before. A person who could make Master specifically send Hun Jing to make a trip—either he owes that person a massive favor, or this person makes him feel threatened. Regardless of which it is, since he has arrived on my territory, he should not expect to get away easily."

Luo Li nodded lightly and said no more. She looked at the Mu Mansion banner fluttering wildly outside the window and suddenly felt that this black-robed man named Xiao Yan was likely more complex than what was written on the jade slip. But it didn't matter; once he arrived at the Tianluo Continent, it would be her territory. She did not mind solving this trouble for Master—in whichever way necessary.