Chapter Sixty-Four: The Hidden Realm Behind the Mountain

After a bout of exercise, Song Qiuling dusted off her delicate hands and walked ahead slowly, leaving behind two deep pits in the ground and two bedraggled figures.

“Brother Dao Yi, really, I just can’t understand what you see in my sister. What kind of requirements do you even have?” Song Cheng muttered softly as he lay in close embrace with Mother Earth.

“A ball,” replied Yu Daoyi from the other side, also pressed to the ground, struggling to move his legs.

He gazed hopelessly at his swollen left hand, battered by the violent spin—Ah, after my right hand and my kidneys, old friend, you’re gone too…

“Hmm, do you have any requirements?” Song Cheng asked, still in a daze.

“A ball.”

“What?” Song Cheng was still confused.

“A ball! Important things must be said three times! I value your sister’s potential!”

Yu Daoyi struggled to his feet, then naturally leaned on Song Cheng, pressing him back down, so that Song Cheng, who had just managed to get up, was once again kissing Mother Earth with deep affection.

……

Fine, I’ll endure it!

“Although it’s just the tip of the lotus now, two rows of egrets will soar into the sky in time!” Yu Daoyi rose, staring unblinkingly at Song Qiuling’s chest, his eyes shining, lost in some secret thought…

Then, unable to help himself, he glanced at Miss Duan Yin beside him. Wow, tsk tsk tsk, Miss Duan Yin, if we ever have the pleasure of embracing, the distance between our hearts would surely be vast.

Sensing this lecherous gaze, Duan Yin turned to Yu Daoyi with a sweet smile.

Adorable, like the sun, truly~ Am I out of my mind~ Falling for that brute~

Yu Daoyi seemed to melt under the sweetness of her smile and flopped back onto Song Cheng with a thud, sending the latter, who was struggling to his feet, into another intimate encounter with the ground.

I’ll endure again!

Lost in reverie, Yu Daoyi was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of footsteps behind him. Looking up, he saw Old Lin and two people from Xiaoyue Pavilion approaching, their faces cold and unfriendly—a clear sign of ill intent.

Yu Daoyi suddenly realized he was lying on the ground, looking up and seeing only their nostrils, which was rather unpleasant. With great effort, he hauled his battered body up, only to plop down again on Song Cheng. A muffled groan followed.

Don’t overthink it, it was just Song Cheng’s face meeting the ground again. At the bottom of the food chain, there’s no dignity.

“Huh, Song Cheng, how come you’re under me? Don’t gaze at the ground with tears in your eyes. I know how deeply you love this land,” Yu Daoyi said innocently.

I’ll keep enduring—hell, no! He’s doing this on purpose! I’ll reclaim my dignity!

I’m telling my sister!

“Well, you three, is your master done with his business?” Yu Daoyi rose slowly, addressing the three cold-faced newcomers as if entirely unconcerned.

Song Cheng, after struggling three times, finally managed to get up, only to find three more unwelcome guests. He could only grit his teeth and glare at them with eyes that could barely see.

“Young Master He has no need of us for his affairs,” said one of the Xiaoyue Pavilion members, expressionless.

“Tsk tsk, you two sure respect Lin He. Why’s that? Because of that Mister Mo?”

Yu Daoyi rubbed his aching side and shook his head, still feeling the effects of the blow. Luckily, years of physical training—thanks in no small part to his dear old father’s frequent beatings—had left his body resilient. Some of his injuries were slowly healing, aided by that strange body-forging art.

“Whether Young Master He or Lord Mo, neither are for you to comment on!” the Xiaoyue Pavilion man said angrily.

“So that so-called Mister Mo is with your Xiaoyue Pavilion. I suspect his background isn’t small,” Yu Daoyi replied with casual indifference.

“There’s no need to waste words with them. He’er will soon be finished. He doesn’t like us meddling, but as his uncle, it’s my duty to clear obstacles for him,” rasped Old Lin, his voice ancient and frail, yet the spiritual pressure he emitted kept everyone on guard.

“Tch, old man, such bold words,” Yu Daoyi replied after a long silence, his tone full of defiance.

“You have the spirit of a man facing death,” Lin observed with mild surprise, noting that this flighty youth neither begged nor retreated—until he noticed Yu Daoyi’s trembling legs.

“Song Cheng, help me up, my legs are shaking from fear,” Yu Daoyi stammered, feigning weakness.

“…Brother Dao Yi, can you be serious at times like this? They’ll lose face,” Song Cheng said helplessly as he helped him up.

“Serious, my foot! They’re about to kill us! What’s wrong with stalling for time!”

Boldly stalling for time…

“Heh, still a clown,” Lin’s expression twisted slightly, as if being mocked.

“Aren’t you afraid Lin He will blame you?” Yu Daoyi interjected.

“If you die, you die. He might even be glad to see it,” Lin chuckled hoarsely.

“Oh, is that so? Then let me say this: If I die here, do you really believe Lin He won’t turn around and kill you?” Yu Daoyi waved his hand, but the motion tugged at his injured wrist, sending a wave of pain through him.

“Empty threats. No matter what happens today, you’re not getting out alive.”

“No matter what happens? You’re confident, but I say something will happen today. Let’s see you try to kill me!” Yu Daoyi forced himself to sound strong, perhaps still playing for time.

“Smooth talk—”

But before Lin could finish, the ground began to tremble violently. Birds and beasts scattered in terror, and from deep in the back mountain came the roars of countless creatures.

Hundreds of towering trees toppled one after another with deafening crashes. Yu Daoyi saw both famous and unknown monsters fleeing in all directions, as if something unspeakably terrifying had awakened in the mountain’s depths.

It was as if a foot had stamped down on a sand dune—the entire back mountain was shifting dramatically. In an instant, smoke and dust filled the sky, blotting out the sun’s brilliance.

All I did was stall for time with some nonsense! My mouth isn’t enchanted—why does it always work, and each time more so than the last!

“Song Cheng, what did you do to Mother Earth? All you did was give her a little kiss, and now—look what’s happened!” Yu Daoyi turned to the stunned Song Cheng, speaking in a daze.

…… Brother, are you a demon?

After the violent shaking, a pillar of black light shot into the sky, piercing the clouds. Suddenly, a fierce wind arose, and leaves and dust whirled everywhere.

Within a few breaths, the black pillar expanded outward, quickly engulfing Yu Daoyi and the others, and continued to spread until it covered most of the back mountain before finally slowing.

Yu Daoyi looked up. It was as if they were shrouded by a black curtain, imprisoned in a pitch-black cage. All around, there was only darkness. The sunlight was gone, the sky oppressively gloomy, the wind raging, and dust and bamboo leaves filled the air so nothing could be seen clearly.

Everyone turned a strange gaze on Yu Daoyi. It was undeniable—his mouth was truly terrifying.

“The secret inheritance realm of the back mountain has opened at this very moment,” murmured Old Lin, gazing up at the oppressive sky. His wrinkled, aged face darkened, and his eyes fixed sharply on the group. “Things have changed. We can’t delay any longer. You two, come with me—let’s end this quickly. If He’er asks, just say it was my doing.”

“Fine, then I’ll just stand here. Do your worst. You’ll see why Lin He doesn’t want you to interfere,” Yu Daoyi took a deep breath, as if gambling everything, but still forced himself to stand tall.

“You’re insane! I can’t tell if you’re truly stupid or just pretending! That’s a Foundation Establishment cultivator—even a light touch would shatter you!” Song Qiuling could no longer contain her fury at Yu Daoyi’s unconcerned manner and shouted at him.

Even Yu Yunfan, usually aloof and cold, showed a hint of puzzlement—what was he thinking, and where did he find such confidence?