Chapter 90: Final Attack Begins

                       

Back in her room, Meng Ruji sat on the bed, feeling the clean bedding beneath her hands. She looked at Shang Lan:
“You were thoughtful. It’s still so clean—you must change it regularly?”

Shang Lan’s gaze lingered on her Master. Her eyes reddened slightly before she steadied herself:
“Not knowing when the Master would awaken, I had people prepare clean bedding at all times. Now that you’ve truly returned… I still find it hard to believe. I’m afraid it’s a dream.”

Meng Ruji smiled. “I even killed someone, and it still feels like a dream?”

Shang Lan hesitated. “Master, why did you kill Immortal Lord Mi Yuan? His personality was annoying, but he was still an immortal who could face Nether Monsters alone…”

“Mm… call it a personal grudge. He killed countless innocents for cultivation. A life for a life—that debt had to be paid. Moreover…” Meng Ruji’s lip curled, “If he could face Nether Monsters alone, he wouldn’t have been at the foot of the mountain in pristine clothes, asking you to kneel. Scum—killing him first is no loss.”

Shang Lan’s lips curved faintly. Just then, a commotion sounded outside.

“The Master returned? Truly returned?”

It was Qing Rao. She rushed in, eyes red, and hugged Meng Ruji, crying:
“It’s real! Not a dream—I see the Master! You’ve truly returned!”

Meng Ruji smiled bitterly, patting her back. “With people outside wanting to destroy the world, how are you still acting like a child?”

Shang Lan asked, puzzled: “How did you return so quickly?”

“Wasn’t I following that Mu Sui…” Qing Rao sniffled. “He came to Hengxu Mountain today. I followed him back.”

Both Meng Ruji and Shang Lan froze.

“Why didn’t you say so earlier! Where is he now? Hengxu Mountain has a protective formation—we could capture him!” Shang Lan pressed.

“But he already left.” Qing Rao looked innocently at her.

Shang Lan sighed.

“At least I tracked him. He stopped at the foot of the mountain for a while.”

Meng Ruji thought of the sudden malevolent thunder. Could it be… Mu Sui was backing her up? Standing in the villain’s place, yet supporting her? Intimidating those who disobeyed her?

Sweet.

Her face reddened. Shang Lan noticed. “Master, why is your face somewhat red?”

Qing Rao quickly pushed Shang Lan out. “The Master just returned—let her rest. That Mu Sui came, so let’s check Hengxu Mountain’s formations.”

The two left, tugging at each other.

Meng Ruji sighed, glancing at the bronze mirror. Her reflection was unfamiliar, her face indeed flushed. Why had Mu Sui come? For his plan—or because he knew she had returned?

Suddenly, black aura rose before her. She raised her hand to attack, but a shadow seized her wrist, pressing her down onto the bed.

“You found the acupoint quite accurately.” Meng Ruji smiled lightly. “Qianshan Jun.”

Mu Sui pressed her wrist—the same position as at the Nai River, when he kissed her and transferred the Inner Core.

“You like this position, don’t you?” Meng Ruji teased. She freed her other hand, grabbed his collar, and pulled him down. Her lips brushed his—like a dragonfly touching water.

“This is me returning the favor.”

Mu Sui froze, expression darkening. “Meng Ruji, you’re being absurd! Stay in the Land of No Reprieve—stop causing trouble. You’ll die here in the mortal realm.”

“You’re the one being absurd.” She lay calmly beneath him. “I would return, and you know it well.”

He did know. But he hadn’t expected her so soon. His plans were nearly complete, yet she had returned.

“You will die.”

“Everyone dies. I want to choose my way. Besides, you’re destroying the world anyway—what’s wrong with killing one more person like me?”

Her calm provocation met his trembling eyes.

“Why did you help me at the foot of the mountain?” she asked. “Wouldn’t their fighting be good for you?”

“Just watching the excitement. It doesn’t interfere.”

“Then why are you here now?”

Mu Sui fell silent.

“Mu Sui. Why did you come to see me?”

His grip tightened. “Clearly, if I had just waited one more day…”

Meng Ruji’s face trembled. “What do you mean?”

But he didn’t answer. He released her, retreating with emptiness in his eyes.

“The Land of No Reprieve, buying life with a thousand gold—yet it let you obtain it so easily…”

“Because everyone was helping me. Mo Li, Tuzi, Ye Chuan, Zhuliu City, your former subordinates—they don’t want to see you destroy the realm, or yourself.”

“Too late. The formation is already set. Tomorrow it will activate.”

“What formation?”

Meng Ruji tried to bind him, but his body dissolved into malevolent energy. A puppet.

She cursed, rushing outside. “Shang Lan! Qing Rao! Did you find abnormalities in Hengxu Mountain?”

But outside, overwhelming malevolent energy gathered, Nether Monsters shrieking against the barrier.

“Master!” Qing Rao tumbled forward. “The malevolent energy suddenly increased! Shang Lan just received word from Xiao Yi, Xiao Bu, and Shang Yan—their mountains are the same. The deity… they’re making their final attack…”

Meng Ruji clenched her teeth.

“Where did Mu Sui go when he came earlier?”

“We don’t know! But there’s one place where the spiritual energy is abnormal!”

Meng Ruji steadied herself. “Take me there.”

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