"Master, calm down. Your body hasn't fully recovered yet, so there's no need to get angry over Su Zimo's actions. It would be counterproductive to jeopardize your health for the sake of that despicable person. Ji Yu stepped forward to console Yang Qingqing.
Yang Jinpeng stood aside, his eyes lowered, lost in thought.
"How can I not be angry as your disciple? A formidable woman with the cultivation of a first-stage Divine Rank, capable of turning the entire capital of Haoyue Kingdom into chaos. It seems she possesses some skills. Jinpeng, Yu'er, I want you to lead a team and infiltrate the capital. By any means necessary, seize the Eight Profound Artifacts from Su Zimo's hands. Only with the Eight Profound Artifacts can we counter the Xuanming Sword. Once the Eight Profound Artifacts appear, I refuse to believe that the Lord of Xuanming Palace will not show up."
At the mention of Xuanming Palace, a deep resentment flashed in Yang Qingqing's eyes.
"Master, once Tianmen intervenes in worldly matters, the imperial court will not stand idle," Yang Jinpeng suggested, contemplating whether he should persuade his mother to give up. After all, life in seclusion as members of Tianmen was quite comfortable.
"Jinpeng, shut up! Have you forgotten our vendetta? I suffer day and night for revenge, and you can bear to see me continue like this? Xuanming Palace must be destroyed, Mu Yunxuan and Su Zimo must be killed. Only when Xuanming Palace is annihilated and Yun City falls into despair, will our day of triumph arrive. Do you want to spend your whole life in these mountains?" Yang Qingqing glared at Yang Jinpeng in anger, veins bulging on her smooth forehead, and a trace of disgust flickered in her gaze.
"Jinpeng, Master is right. If we want Tianmen to stand proudly in the world, we must remove the stumbling block in our path. Master is right, Tianmen cannot remain hidden in these deep mountains and old forests," Ji Yu turned around and smiled at Yang Jinpeng.
"Ji Yu..." Yang Jinpeng coldly stared at Ji Yu, disagreeing with his words. At this moment, his mother's heart had already been swayed by Ji Yu's words, and he feared...
"Look, it's Yuer who understands my heart and desires." Yang Qingqing looked at Ji Yu with a smile, greatly satisfied with him.
Yang Jinpeng witnessed it all, pained in his heart. His hands, hanging at his sides, clenched tightly together. He was her son, so why did she treat him so coldly? Yang Jinpeng couldn't understand. From a young age, in order to make his mother like him, he did whatever she asked without question. He never went against her will. As he grew up, he realized the twisted state of his mother's heart and felt sorry for her. He tried everything to make her forget her hatred and free herself from the twisted mentality. But his efforts only earned him her disgust.
"Mother!" Yang Jinpeng's voice trembled as he called out.
"Shut up, Jinpeng! How many times have I told you not to call me that way?" Yang Qingqing's voice was sharp, staring at Yang Jinpeng with disappointment.
Hearing her words, Yang Jinpeng turned pale, pain evident in his lowered gaze.
"Enough, Master. Stop making things difficult for Jinpeng. He's also doing it for your own good," Ji Yu interjected with a smiling face, trying to mediate.
"Look at him, does it look like he's doing it for my good?" Yang Qingqing slammed the table again in anger.
"Everyone, prepare yourselves. We must seize the Eight Profound Artifacts by any means necessary. Once we have the Eight Profound Artifacts, what is the Xuanming Sword?" Yang Qingqing's eyes filled with venomous intent. "Qin Mantian, you will regret the consequences of betraying me all those years ago..."
The next day, after breakfast, Su Zimo, Nalan Wenhao, and the others returned to Mingyue Villa together. Mu Yunxuan, still worried, accompanied them.
As soon as the group arrived at the entrance of Mingyue Villa, they unexpectedly saw Mo Wuya.
Su Zimo looked at him intently, noticing that Mo Wuya was dressed in a luxurious white attire today. It softened his originally cold and handsome face, reducing some of the chilliness.
"Why are you here?" Su Zimo thought he would have returned to the Devil's Capital after leaving last night.
Mo Wuya's gaze fell heavily on Su Zimo's face. "After all, I am your master's son. Out of courtesy, shouldn't you invite me to stay at Mingyue Villa for a few days? For someone like me, who only appears in this world twice a year, returning to Mingyue Valley can only be done as soon as possible. I only have half a month."
"Half a month is not enough time to return to Mingyue Valley. If you can't wait, my suggestion is the same as last night—let Li'er take you back," Su Zimo replied. She had already promised her father to return to Li Xia Kingdom, but her master's deep affection made it difficult for her to make a choice.
"I have already said that you must personally escort me back to Mingyue Valley," Mo Wuya insisted.
"In that case, there's no other way. I will depart for Li Xia Kingdom three days from now. The round trip will take at least one month," Su Zimo said. Since Mo Wuya couldn't compromise, she couldn't either. Offending Mo Wuya was inevitable.
"Is a six-year master-disciple relationship less important than meeting your parents for the first time?" Mo Wuya's ethereal words made Su Zimo's brow twitch.
Nalan Wenhao and Situ Ruoyan furrowed their brows, as did Su Nianzhen and Su Qingjue. How could Mo Wuya make things difficult for Mo'er like this?
Su Qi's eyes flickered. Why was Mo Wuya so stubborn? Then he smiled and said, "Uncle Mo, you're thinking too much. Master will understand. After all, Master's wish is for Mo'er to lead a happy life. Moreover, the love between a master and disciple can't be compared to the love between parents. In my mother's heart, they are equally important. But Uncle Mo, can you guarantee that you can balance the two bowls of clear water in your hands if you were in my mother's situation?"
Wanting to make things difficult for his mother in front of him, Su Qi felt exasperated. They had already decided to go to Li Xia Kingdom, and as for his master, he had no intention of returning to the Devil's Capital or seeing anyone from there. Otherwise, why hadn't he sent a message to let them know he was alive in all these years?
Upon Su Qi's question, Mo Wuya smiled lightly. "It's difficult to balance two bowls of water."
"If Uncle Mo knows it's difficult, then why make things difficult for my mother?" Su Qi smiled calmly.
Mu Yunxuan, seeing this, knew exactly what his son was thinking.
Despite his seemingly innocent appearance, his schemes were hidden deep in his heart. Those who didn't understand him often ended up thoroughly confused.
"From the way you speak, you must be Qi'er, right?" Mo Wuya smiled as he approached Su Qi.
"Yes, Uncle Mo, I am Qi'er, my master's disciple. Master really likes me," Su Qi nodded.
Mo Wuya nodded with belief. "You have an endearing character indeed."
Mo Wuya lifted his gaze and looked at Su Zimo. "Since I can't go to Mingyue Valley within half a month, can you do me a favor?"
Su Zimo agreed without hesitation. Helping him meant helping her master, and she would naturally not refuse.
"Help me preserve the prosperity of the Devil's Capital."
That single sentence felt heavy to Su Zimo.
"Mo Wuya, you overestimate me. I am just an ordinary person. How could I possibly help you preserve the Devil's Capital? The Devil's Capital has followed the laws of nature for hundreds of years, appearing for one hour on the fifteenth of every month and lasting for a maximum of half a month each year. No one has ever thought of changing this rule. I can't understand why you, who had a peaceful life, would want to get involved in this chaotic world."
Her master had never mentioned the matters of the Devil's Capital to her, only occasionally talking about Mo Wuya's affairs and the fantastical natural laws at the pinnacle of the Devil's Capital.
"You don't understand. Everyone wants to find a peaceful place to seclude themselves, but for the people of the Devil's Capital, this world is the bustling place we yearn for," Mo Wuya said longingly, showing his thirst for exploration of this world.
"Then let's talk inside," Su Zimo said and took a step forward.
Mo Wuya glanced at Mu Yunxuan triumphantly and followed Su Zimo into the villa.
"Momo." From afar, Heyun Ting, Shaoyu, and Tianhen came to greet them.
"Hmm! Are you going out?" Tianhen asked.
"No, we're waiting for you to come back. Qinglian has returned," Heyun Ting said, glancing at Mo Wuya. They had gone out for a day, but how did they bring another man back?
"Who is he?" Heyun Ting couldn't help but ask.
"He is Mo Wuya, the Palace Master of the Devil's Capital. Find him a guest room," Su Zimo said, arranging for Mo Wuya.
Heyun Ting was bewildered. Why did everyone bring someone into Mingyue Villa? He glanced at Su Qi, who nodded, and only then did Heyun Ting believe it.
Back in the main hall, Qingfeng and Qinglian joined them.
Mu Yunxuan's eyes flickered, knowing that there must be some progress with Tianmen's matter.
"Brother, sister, why don't you accompany Mom and Dad back to rest first? You've had a tiring journey. Momo and I have something to discuss," Su Zimo said, knowing that if her parents found out about what they were going to discuss next, they would surely worry.
"That's fine! Brother can take Mom and Dad to visit the paper mill," Su Qingjue understood her sister's intention.
"Momo, after discussing it with your father, how about giving him face and doing business with him? Your paper is much better than what the Mu family produces. Once you return to Li Xia Kingdom, your brother can establish a paper mill there and won't need to transport it from here," Nalan Wenhao joked, showing his admiration for his daughter.
"Dad, you're joking. My brother has already mastered that technology. After returning to Li Xia Kingdom, he can establish a paper mill there, so there's no need to transport it from here," Su Zimo clarified.