It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists
Chapter 576: Lan Shihuai: I’m Sorry, Lian’er, Feiying

Silence filled the ancient ship.

Mu Zhian, hearing Lan Shihuai’s sudden ‘demand’, was momentarily speechless.

He didn’t know how to respond appropriately.

He had just been making polite conversation, but this beautiful ancestor of the Lan Clan suddenly threw him a curveball…

“What’s wrong? You seem surprised,” Lan Shihuai asked, a playful smile in her beautiful eyes as she looked at Mu Zhian, her arms crossed. “Or did you not expect me to ask for something in return?”

Her tone was teasing.

Mu Zhian pondered for a moment, “This junior has just recently reached Soul Transformation, my strength is meager, and there’s not much I can do for you, Senior…”

“But as long as Senior commands, this junior will do his best,” he added.

Mu Zhian’s reasoning was simple: she was Senior Sister and Feiying’s ancestor, and she seemed to be cooperating with Sect Master Sister, she wouldn’t deliberately make things difficult for a junior like him.

Moreover, she had allowed him, an ‘outsider’, to stay on this ancient ship and even read the numerous scrolls and scriptures within. This alone was a tremendous favor.

Lan Shihuai considered Mu Zhian’s words and casually asked, “Truly, your best?”

“As long as it’s within my power, even if it means becoming a cow or a horse, I will do my best to satisfy Senior,” Mu Zhian said sincerely, his gaze earnest.

It was clear that the young man was sincere. Although she couldn’t read minds, Lan Shihuai had seen countless juniors in her time. Whether someone was lying could be easily discerned from their eyes and tone.

However… his sincerity made her feel slightly embarrassed.

Although the Innate Celestial Furnace was indeed irresistible, and dual cultivating with him would greatly nourish her spiritual sense, which hadn’t been replenished for a long time,

however—

This young man was the Dao Companion of Feiying and Mulian, her descendants…

Those two descendants of the Lan Clan trusted and respected her so much… If they found out about her actions today, would they still respect her as their ancestor?

Looking at the sincere young man, Lan Shihuai’s heart was filled with complex emotions.

And judging from Mu Zhian’s behavior, he probably also respected her deeply, just like her two descendants.

If she were to say those words now… Lan Shihuai pursed her lips slightly, gazing at the young man, but remained silent.

A mere boy, barely twenty years old, if Lan Shihuai wished, seducing him would be child’s play.

But even if he agreed, Lan Shihuai felt she wouldn’t be able to live with herself afterward.

Even if she could convince herself, even if she was confident in winning him over, how would she face Feiying and Mulian later…?

They call me Ancestor, and I call them ‘Sister’, each addressing the other according to their respective positions?

Both Lan Mulian and Lan Feiying had been intimate with Mu Zhian before her. If she followed this logic, Lan Shihuai, the latecomer, would naturally have to address the two as ‘Older Sister’.

Imagine, if Lan Shihuai, with Mu Zhian’s help, regained her physical body and left the Second Ark, and then encountered members of the Lan Clan, she would have to address those two exquisite sisters as ‘Older Sister’ in front of her own descendants.

…What kind of mortifying scenario was that?

Just imagining it made Lan Shihuai’s heart churn with complex emotions.

Ultimately, as their elder, competing with her descendants for a man wasn’t appropriate.

After a brief silence, Lan Shihuai sighed softly and said faintly, “I was just joking, don’t take it seriously.”

“I wouldn’t make things difficult for a junior like you.”

Her cold voice softened slightly, and the look in her eyes wasn’t as indifferent as before.

No matter what, Mu Zhian’s earlier attitude made Lan Shihuai quite satisfied. This child wasn’t just looking for a free ride.

His response had been filled with sincerity. He truly wanted to help Lan Shihuai.

And this made Lan Shihuai quite pleased with this future son-in-law of the Lan Clan.

However, Mu Zhian frowned slightly and said, “This junior isn’t one to forget kindness. If you have any requests, Senior, please don’t hesitate to ask. You are Senior Sister and Feiying’s elder, naturally also my elder… I will do my best to fulfill your wish.”

Lan Shihuai’s eyes softened, and she said gently, “I was just testing your character. Your willingness is enough to make me happy.”

As long as they were on this Second Ark, even the weakest spiritual sense wouldn’t completely dissipate. This was due to the ‘temporal matter’ within the Second Ark, constantly influencing everything within.

Mu Zhian mustered his courage, stepped forward, and held Lan Shihuai’s delicate hand, “Senior, although I’ve just reached Soul Transformation, if your spiritual sense enters my Innate Celestial Furnace, it can continuously nourish your spiritual sense. This junior just wants to do his part to help you recover.”

His words were incredibly sincere, making Lan Shihuai’s heart tremble slightly.

She naturally understood what “repairing her spiritual sense” meant.

How would Mu Zhian repair and nourish her spiritual sense?

With his Innate Celestial Furnace, of course.

And currently, within his Transcendence Realm Innate Celestial Furnace, only that seductive fox was slumbering.

The other spot in the Innate Celestial Furnace was currently empty.

“Are you serious?” Lan Shihuai asked, trying to maintain her composure, her beautiful eyes gazing into Mu Zhian’s. “If I tell Mulian and Feiying about your words today, your image in their hearts will be completely ruined.”

After all, Mu Zhian’s philandering ways had already displeased Lan Mulian and Lan Feiying. If they knew he had said this to their respected ancestor…

The consequences would be unimaginable.

Mu Zhian gently shook his head and said seriously, “Even so, I don’t want you to stay on this ancient ship forever.”

These words were sincere. In his opinion, if Lan Shihuai was willing, the Lan Clan could have prepared heavenly materials and earthly treasures for her to condense her spiritual sense, even rebuild her physical body. Yet she chose to stay on this Second Ark, fulfilling some promise.

For this, she didn’t even mind the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox replacing her position in the sacrificial rituals.

And after that, she even selflessly passed on her entire inheritance to Lan Mulian and Lan Feiying, this exquisite pair of sisters…

Yet she herself had nothing left.

Lan Shihuai’s eyes changed slightly, “You’re saying you want my spiritual sense to enter your Innate Celestial Furnace, and even… you want to… be with me?”

“Do you even realize what you just said to your elder?!”

Her tone was reproachful, but for some reason, her gaze was slightly evasive.

Mu Zhian looked shy and hesitant, but he still mustered his courage, looked up at the Lan Clan ancestor, and said, “I know these words are disrespectful to you, but this junior sincerely wants to do something for you.”

“Because of Mulian and Feiying?” Lan Shihuai asked.

“No.”

Mu Zhian shook his head and said seriously, “You’ve been guarding the Second Ark alone for who knows how long. Although I don’t know the details of your agreement with Sect Master Sister, I know it’s related to me… I don’t want someone I care about to live on this ancient ship alone and lonely.”

“And even during the past Lan Clan Ancestor Worship Ceremonies, they worshipped the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox, not you… I can’t accept that either!”

Lan Shihuai’s eyes finally changed, her gaze at Mu Zhian momentarily dazed.

After all these years, who knew the loneliness she endured, guarding this empty ship?

She could understand the Lan Clan worshipping the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox during their Ancestor Worship Ceremonies.

But understanding didn’t mean she wasn’t saddened.

After reaching Dao Integration, leading her clan to become a prominent Ancient Family, worshipped by all, yet after death, not even her descendants remembered her.

This was a great sorrow.

In the end, the one who understood her the most wasn’t a descendant of the Lan Clan, but an ‘outsider’ completely unrelated to them.

Just then, a gentle voice echoed softly in her ear, “In my heart, you’ve always been a respected elder. I respect you just as much as Senior Sister and Feiying do.”

“So even if I repair your spiritual sense, we don’t have to be Dao Companions.”

Mu Zhian looked at her with hopeful eyes and asked carefully, “What do you think, Senior…?”

“You mean, keep this a secret from those two girls?” Lan Shihuai immediately understood Mu Zhian’s meaning.

Although Mu Zhian’s proposal was exactly what she had intended initially, hearing him say it still made her hesitate.

How should she respond to this young man…?

If she agreed, it meant future intimacy with him…

However, according to Mu Zhian, this intimacy would be purely physical, without any emotional attachment, simply to replenish her spiritual sense.

Purely dual cultivation… This made Lan Shihuai feel slightly better, less guilty about cuckolding her own descendants.

After all, she was the ancestor of the Lan Clan and had to be considerate.

Lan Shihuai gazed at Mu Zhian tenderly and said softly, “You don’t just want to help me, do you?”

Clearly, Mu Zhian wasn’t content with just ‘helping’ her. He wanted to know more unknown secrets.

For example, the true purpose of the Second Ark.

And also, the agreement between the Sect Master and Lan Shihuai.

“Yes, I don’t just want to help you,” Mu Zhian nodded slightly, frankly admitting this.

His voice held a hint of shyness as he peeked into Lan Shihuai’s eyes, “Actually, since I met you last time, I’ve had feelings for you.”

This sudden confession stunned Lan Shihuai.

Then, a faint smile appeared in her eyes, “You mean, you want to pursue me?”

Mu Zhian nodded gently, but his eyes held a hint of regret, and he said softly, “I know I’m not worthy of you, so I never intended to become your Dao Companion or anything… This junior just wants to help you, that’s all.”

Looking at Mu Zhian’s dejected expression, Lan Shihuai’s heart skipped a beat.

Mu Zhian was the Jade Empress’s husband and Gong Lianyue’s Dao Companion. In the current Nine Provinces, countless young ladies from Ancient Families were secretly eyeing him.

Yet this young man had just confessed to her…

And Lan Shihuai couldn’t sense any falsehood in Mu Zhian’s eyes.

His words, and even his gaze, were so sincere.

However, his gaze did occasionally drift towards her legs beneath her blue dress…

Of course, this was understandable. After all, Mu Zhian was a young man in his prime, it wasn’t strange for him to be attracted to a mature and beautiful older woman’s alluring figure.

It had to be said, Mu Zhian’s proposal, and even his confession, were quite moving.

At least, Mu Zhian gave himself full marks.

But even so, he didn’t have much hope.

Lan Shihuai was different from the other women he had met. She was the ancestor of the Lan Clan and had some agreement with the Sect Master. She might not be willing to leave the Second Ark.

Moreover, both Senior Sister and Feiying respected her deeply… Even with the allure of the Innate Celestial Furnace, Lan Shihuai might not be able to overcome her own reservations.

Just as Mu Zhian thought of this, he heard Lan Shihuai suddenly say, “Actually, there’s something I haven’t told you.”

“This Second Ark actually holds a bigger secret.”

Sensing Mu Zhian’s piqued curiosity, Lan Shihuai’s lips curved slightly upwards, and she playfully placed a finger against her lips, deliberately keeping him in suspense, “Want to know?”

She tilted her head slightly, a playful glint in her beautiful eyes.

Although he naturally wanted to know, it was obvious Lan Shihuai was teasing him and might not tell the truth.

However, Mu Zhian still nodded gently.

“But you won’t tell me directly, will you?”

Mu Zhian looked into Lan Shihuai’s eyes, “What are your conditions?”

“Do you remember what you just said?”

I said a lot just now, which part are you referring to…? Mu Zhian wondered inwardly.

Lan Shihuai’s voice was soft and calm, “Lian’er and Feiying are cultivating and studying scriptures in the cabin next door. They often come to me with questions. It’s not very convenient to… do anything on this ancient ship.”

Mu Zhian fell silent.

Although he knew this was an indirect rejection, he still felt a twinge of regret.

This beautiful ancestor’s beauty surpassed the snow, and a faint, chilling aura emanated from her. Even her delicate jade feet were probably cool to the touch…

And most importantly, she was Senior Sister and Feiying’s ancestor; all descendants of the Lan Clan could be considered her children.

This added a whole new dimension to things.

Mu Zhian sighed softly, “In that case, then—”

Before he could finish, Lan Shihuai walked over to him.

A cool fragrance wafted over him as Lan Shihuai gently placed a hand on the back of his head and pulled him closer, his face buried in her bosom.

While Mu Zhian was still in a daze, Lan Shihuai brought her rosy lips close to his ear and whispered, her cool and pleasant voice laced with a moist, seductive charm, “So, keep it down, okay?”