Yuan Mianyu didn’t expect Lu Xingzhou to return so quickly after “handling affairs,” and he came straight to her.

A subtle joy bloomed in her heart, and she actively went to greet him: “You’re back?”

Anuo blinked behind them.

This scene was very much like a little wife waiting for her husband to come home, even Pei Alu and Yao-jiejie had never been like this.

But the old Lu Xingzhou had once been like this with Yuan Mianyu, rolling his wheelchair out to greet her: “Jiejie is back?”

That fleeting interplay of light and shadow made Anuo sigh with a sense of immense change, feeling like she had grown up so much.

And she really had grown up; she wasn’t much younger than Yu-jiejie, was she? Haha, turns out adults are only that big.

Lu Xingzhou was also a bit surprised but didn’t show it, only saying, “Among the disputes you and your Jiejie had back then, one important point of disagreement was that you believed Daqian wasn’t worth saving?”

Yuan Mianyu hummed in affirmation: “Just like the Huo family oppressing the villagers and slaughtering your family, yet they faced no consequences and even rose through the ranks… I didn’t know about your incident back then, but such things were rampant across Daqian, and even worse ones were common. Also, demons were already serving as officials at that time, but humans and demons seemed to be no different here; it was merely beasts enjoying stipends in the imperial court.”

Lu Xingzhou suddenly questioned his earlier belief that he understood Yuan Mianyu.

Because during their previous interactions, they had never mentioned their pasts. Just as he hadn’t told her his name was Huo Qing, she also hadn’t told him her name was Ye Fuyao until he went to Tianyao Holy Land.

The dispute between the Ye sisters, though triggered by differences in the Dao, touched upon more specific views on worldly affairs and the future direction of Tianyao Holy Land, based on their understanding of the Dao.

When they were first starting their venture, Yuan Mianyu had briefly mentioned some family disputes. Back in Tianshuang Kingdom, Ye Tinglan had also hinted at some things, but neither went into detail. At that time, the issues weren’t pressing, and Lu Xingzhou naturally didn’t inquire deeply.

Looking at it now, although Yuan Mianyu was extremist, she seemed to have a more progressive outlook than Ye Tinglan.

Seeing Lu Xingzhou lost in thought, Yuan Mianyu cautiously observed his expression and spoke somewhat tentatively: “I told you a long time ago that we should let heads roll. Originally, I wasn’t referring to everyone in general, but rather to those like the Huo family. Only through slaughter could a new era begin. It’s just that I was more extreme back then, and so, I, I killed more indiscriminately…”

Lu Xingzhou: “…”

This blame wasn’t entirely Yuan Mianyu’s; his own factors were at play. At that time, he was also filled with malevolence. The two demonic disciples instantly clicked, and they certainly weren’t thinking about grand ideals like “trampling on the bones of nobles.” However, to be fair, initially, it was for “startup capital,” and their targets were naturally rich bullies and corrupt gentry, robbing the rich to help their own poor. They certainly wouldn’t target commoners, and the outcome seemed to be similar.

It was after the assassin organization was established that they became less selective, taking on any mission and striking whoever offended them, moving deeper into the demonic path.

Yuan Mianyu watched Lu Xingzhou’s expression change and whispered, “You… don’t like this anymore, do you?”

From Yuan Mianyu’s observations of Lu Xingzhou’s actions over the past two years, he seemed to have lost much of his malevolence, with only a few traces remaining, all directed at the Huo family. His actions seemed to be increasingly similar to Ye Tinglan’s…

“Uh, not exactly.” Lu Xingzhou came back to his senses and smiled: “So, the Yama Hall, when necessary, is for your rebellion? To trample the bones of nobles in the heavenly streets?”

Yuan Mianyu shook her head: “I have no intention of rebelling, and I’m not interested in Daqian. But I want to prove something to Ye Tinglan—her soft approach and so-called supervision and interference are meaningless. They will only drag her down into worldly observation, turning her from an otherworldly immortal sect leader into a mundane national preceptor. A life of melancholy, with no progress on her Dao, will be her only outcome. I said then that she was ‘climbing a tree to catch fish’ (making a futile effort), and I took that name after leaving home.”

Lu Xingzhou: “…”

For a moment, he didn’t know what to say.

He had thought she was a rebellious runaway girl, and since Ye Tinglan was so good, the one in the wrong must be Yu. But judging from this, it turns out Yu’s judgment was correct, which feels so strange…

Yu wasn’t just a girl; she had always been a core talent of the Tianyao Holy Land, a strong contender for the next sect leader. In fact, one should say she was a cultivator overlooking the human world, accurately predicting her Jiejie’s future path, criticizing it as “climbing a tree to catch fish,” refusing to associate with it, and forging her own path.

Yuan Mianyu finally sighed: “But I never thought she would have you. From the moment I learned that her perspective had jumped out of Daqian and she began to open up Tianshuang Kingdom, I suddenly realized that while she was indeed wrong, I was also narrow-minded. Is our dispute like a joke in your eyes?”

“Not really.” Lu Xingzhou finally spoke: “People’s perspectives are always limited by their environment or by their era; even the most outstanding individuals struggle to break free from these confines. Regarding your dispute… I agreed with you then, and I still do now.”

A surprised light bloomed on Yuan Mianyu’s face.

“It’s been almost four years since I stepped back from power in the Yama Hall, and I’m not very familiar with some of the changes that have occurred during this time,” Lu Xingzhou said calmly: “Over these years, you’ve still been pushing the original plan for the Ten Yama Halls, seemingly still laying the groundwork for what you want to do… So, how far along are you now?”

Yuan Mianyu’s surprised light dimmed, and she whispered, “I’ve set up a killing array based on Daqian… At a certain point, I’ll simultaneously instigate the killing of officials in corresponding locations. At that time, the land will be stained, Daqian’s national fortune will collapse, becoming fuel for my killing array, aiding my Qianyuan. This is a sacrifice of the rivers and mountains.”

Lu Xingzhou’s eyes widened, Anuo’s sweet potato dropped from her hand, and she forgot to swallow the bite she was chewing.

Indeed, she was Yama, not just Yu-yu.

Her original dispute with his Jiejie seemed to have changed, completely turning demonic.

Lu Xingzhou couldn’t help but ask, “You weren’t afraid I’d object at the time, were you?”

Yuan Mianyu whispered, “Yes, I was a little. I know your true nature is actually very kind. I, I was afraid you would hinder me, and Ji Wenchuan and the others, they listen to you more…”

Lu Xingzhou blurted out, “But at that time, even if you asked me to kill everyone in the world, I would have done it!”

The atmosphere fell silent. Anuo subconsciously craned her neck, staring eagerly at their expressions, thinking that Yao-jiejie absolutely had to activate her divine ability at this moment, otherwise she would regret it.

Yuan Mianyu grabbed Lu Xingzhou’s sleeve: “Xingzhou, I know I was wrong…”

Lu Xingzhou sighed: “Alright, let go.”

Yuan Mianyu didn’t let go; instead, she continued: “Xingzhou, at that time I thought, once I finished what I wanted to do, I could give you the entire Yama Hall… just a few years of hardship, just a few years… but I…”

“It doesn’t matter who gets the Yama Hall. What would I want that for?”

“I know, I know. You’re only angry at my attitude, and even more angry about my legs.” Yuan Mianyu said: “Long Qinghuang scolded me, saying I couldn’t empathize, but that’s not it… I…”

This time, Anuo couldn’t help but ask: “Then what is it?”

Yuan Mianyu didn’t answer this time.

Because it was actually harder to articulate.

Since she had marginalized him, she would naturally be afraid of him running away… How could she tell anyone about that yandere desire to break his legs and keep him confined for life? Who could understand such a thing? If she said that, would Lu Xingzhou think she loved him very much?

No, he wouldn’t. He would only be more annoyed, deepening the feeling of being a “toy,” which was even worse than “not being able to empathize.”

Yet, precisely that yandere mentality, which no one in this world could understand, Lu Xingzhou actually understood a little, and his expression was quite strange.

Playing games, one might find yandere characters quite cute, but only when actually encountering one does one realize how troublesome it is.

But was it truly yandere? Lu Xingzhou still felt it was purely a lack of love.

Anyway, what’s past is past. Now Lu Xingzhou himself didn’t love her either and didn’t want to keep dwelling on these old messes, so he didn’t press the matter, only saying, “Since that’s the case, is the arrangement of the Yama Hall almost complete?”

Yuan Mianyu breathed a sigh of relief when he didn’t ask: “It’s not time yet, and our forces haven’t spread to every inch of the land. But some large commanderies are covered… By the way, Xingzhou…”

“Hmm?”

“I’ve found that many of the prefects Gu Zhanting recently deliberately arranged correspond to the locations I need for the ‘sacrifice of the rivers and mountains.'”

Lu Xingzhou’s heart skipped a beat: “Are you sure?”

“Sure.” Yuan Mianyu said: “Not only that, I also found that several of the places where those prefects are demons also correspond to this sacrifice, such as Dongjiangxia Prefecture.”

Lu Xingzhou paced back and forth, a vague framework of judgment forming in his mind.

What Gu Zhanting was planning might be very similar to Yuan Mianyu’s…

But ironically, Yuan Mianyu was of the demonic path, yet Gu Zhanting was the Emperor.

The ferocity of Mi Fu, contrary to the way of a monarch. Ye Tinglan’s divinations were always eerily accurate.

Lu Xingzhou stopped pacing and asked very cautiously, “Can you mark those places for me? Don’t worry, we won’t disrupt your killing array; we’ll discuss this later.”

Yuan Mianyu said, “If you only start dealing with them now, how will you have enough time?”

Lu Xingzhou said, “We have to try, don’t we?”

Yuan Mianyu looked at him intently, then suddenly said, “I’ve already had Situ Yue, Ji Wenchuan, and the others focus on those areas. They’re your friends too; just ask them for help, why send others?”

Lu Xingzhou nodded: “Alright, then I’ll trouble Jiejie to inform them? We can coordinate our actions then.”

Yuan Mianyu smiled: “Good.”