It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists
Chapter 581: Your Disciple’s Dao Companion, How Delightful

With Mu Zhian’s words hanging in the air, silence fell upon the small cabin.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating Lan Shihuai’s beautiful, cold, and delicate face.

Compared to Lan Mulian, this woman exuded a more mature charm, less of a ‘girlish’ innocence.

If Lan Shihuai and Lan Mulian walked down the street together, many would probably mistake them for sisters or even mother and daughter.

“Why do you think this world has been rebooted more than once?” Lan Shihuai softly broke the silence.

“I learned something by chance when I went to the Eastern Continent Forbidden Zone with Lingxuan earlier,” Mu Zhian said softly. “Sister Lingxuan is also my Dao Companion.”

“But not in this life. Ye Lingxuan and I became Dao Companions nine lifetimes ago, before her reincarnation.”

“But I was sealed in the Forbidden Land for tens of thousands of years, and I never left during that time. So how did I become Dao Companions with them?” Mu Zhian asked again.

This was the main reason for his suspicion.

He had always wondered, if he was sealed in the Forbidden Land by Mu Wange, how did he meet the girls from his past life?

Did he sneak out during his confinement?

But after Lan Shihuai mentioned the ‘reboot’, another theory formed in Mu Zhian’s mind.

He had often experienced strange moments of déjà vu, a feeling of ‘I’ve met this woman before’.

But now it seemed that perhaps it wasn’t just déjà vu, but that he truly had experienced things with Ye Lingxuan and the others in the past. It was just that after the world rebooted, everything was ‘reset’.

From the first playthrough to the second, then the third, someone was continuously rebooting the world.

And it was only in this life that a woman named Mu Wange appeared, sealing him within the Forbidden Land.

“The Sect Master once said that every flap of a butterfly’s wings could affect the future. In other words, every reboot means that some small action could change the outcome.”

Mu Zhian continued, “Perhaps, you weren’t on the Second Ark in the past, and only boarded it in a certain playthrough.”

Lan Shihuai’s eyes flickered slightly, and she said softly, “So, to me, the world has only rebooted once… but in reality, it might have rebooted multiple times?”

Her breathing quickened slightly, as if struck by a sudden realization.

Indeed, if the world could be rebooted once, then rebooting it a second, a third time, wasn’t impossible.

“Then what about Shang Yanfei?”

Lan Shihuai suddenly asked, “Did she appear in this playthrough, or…”

“I don’t know,” Mu Zhian shrugged, “I don’t actually know much about the Sect Master.”

He had only experienced the Sect Master’s… flavor, but what exactly she was thinking, Mu Zhian still couldn’t figure out.

But judging from her current actions, even if the Sect Master wasn’t the one rebooting the world, she was definitely involved, or perhaps an observer who had witnessed everything.

After all, the Sect Master’s current behavior suggested she had experienced reincarnation.

“Ancestor, are you in there?”

Just then, a cool and pleasant voice came from outside the small cabin, pulling the two back to reality.

“It’s Lian’er… Why is she here?” Lan Shihuai murmured in surprise.

Then, she quickly realized something, glancing down at her slightly disheveled dress, a faint blush appearing on her cold and beautiful face, “You go and see her first. I’ll come out after tidying up.”

Mu Zhian glanced at Lan Shihuai’s exposed, snow-white skin and couldn’t help but smile inwardly.

Although she usually appeared cold and aloof, Lan Shihuai showed a completely different side during intimate moments…

“Senior, please tidy up your dress. Senior Sister is quite perceptive,” Mu Zhian reminded her.

Lan Shihuai shot him a seductive glare, “Whose fault do you think this is? Now get out.”

“Alright, alright.”

Mu Zhian grinned, bent down, and left the small cabin.

Soon, he saw the cold and elegant Lan Mulian by Primordial Lake.

Even in the dim light, Senior Sister’s face was still radiant and beautiful.

Compared to her ancestor, this Senior Sister had a more youthful air.

Senior Sister really does look like Lan Shihuai, their temperaments are just a bit different… Mu Zhian admired her inwardly and said with a smile, “Senior Sister, why are you here?”

Lan Mulian glanced at the young man and said faintly, “I’m here to see Ancestor.”

She paused, then continued, “She didn’t give you any trouble, did she?”

Clearly, Lan Mulian had heard about what happened outside the ancestral land today, about Mu Zhian being taken away by Lan Shihuai, and, worried, came to see her ancestor.

Senior Sister is so tsundere, showing concern in such a roundabout way… Mu Zhian’s heart warmed, and he said with a smile, “I’m fine, Senior Sister, don’t worry. Your ancestor just discussed some things with me.”

Lan Mulian first nodded slightly, then frowned, “I’m not worried about you, I was just asking.”

Mu Zhian smiled without speaking, seeing through her pretense.

Uncomfortable under Junior Brother’s gaze, Lan Mulian changed the subject, “Is Ancestor on the pleasure boat?”

Her gaze drifted past Mu Zhian, landing on the pleasure boat on the lake behind him.

Lan Mulian wasn’t surprised by Mu Zhian’s presence here.

Lan Shihuai’s appearance in the ancestral land earlier had already alarmed the two sisters. They knew their ancestor had intervened for them.

They also knew Mu Zhian had been taken away by Lan Shihuai not long ago.

As for where Lan Shihuai would go, it wasn’t hard to guess.

As the ancestor of the Lan Clan, the first thing she would do after emerging would be to either go to the Lan Clan ancestral hall or Primordial Lake.

Primordial Lake seemed to hold some special significance for their ancestor.

And the two sisters had split up earlier. Lan Feiying went to the ancestral hall, while Lan Mulian came to Primordial Lake.

“Ancestor seems to be busy with something, she should be out soon. If Senior Sister has something to discuss with her, we can wait for her together,” Mu Zhian walked past the pleasure boat, came to Lan Mulian’s side, and asked with a smile, “By the way, Senior Sister, is there something important you need to discuss with your ancestor?”

“Several Lan Clan elders came to the ancestral land not long ago. The commotion woke Feiying and me up,” Lan Mulian said faintly.

These elders held considerable influence within the Lan Clan and were inherently arrogant.

However, shortly after Mu Zhian and Lan Shihuai left, these elders came to Immortal Emperor Mountain, wanting to see the two sisters.

Lan Mulian was initially confused, but after hearing what happened, she learned about Lan Shihuai scolding the Lan Clan descendants earlier.

No wonder Senior Sister is so well-informed, so she was awakened by the Lan Clan elders… Mu Zhian reached out, wanting to hold Senior Sister’s hand, but Lan Mulian took half a step back, avoiding his touch.

“Are you still angry, Senior Sister?”

Mu Zhian feigned a hurt expression, “You should know, I’m often… forced into these situations…”

“Heh.”

Lan Mulian sneered, “Are you trying to say that the Jade Empress and the others forced themselves on you, and you weren’t the one being intimate with them?”

Although she said that, what Junior Brother said seemed to make sense…

If those Dao Integration Realm experts wanted to do something… could Junior Brother possibly stop them?

Ultimately, she was too weak.

Although Lan Mulian wasn’t afraid of anyone among her peers, when facing older women with an age advantage like the Jade Empress and Gong Lianyue… there was nothing she could do.

After all, she couldn’t compare to those older women in terms of cultivation experience.

Lan Mulian looked at her Junior Brother with her beautiful eyes, like autumn water, a sense of frustration in her heart.

As the acknowledged number one among her peers in the Nine Provinces, she should be shining brightly, yet facing those Empresses who had stood tall for tens of thousands of years, she had no advantage whatsoever.

“The secret of your Innate Celestial Furnace is now known by many Ancient Families in the Nine Provinces. I’m afraid even more people will come looking for you in the future,” Lan Mulian’s clear eyes seemed to dim slightly, and she said softly, “There will be more and more people around you. By the time I reach Dao Integration in a few years, there might not even be a place for me by your side.”

“Senior Sister, that’s not like you at all.”

Mu Zhian smiled helplessly, “If anything, I should be the one worried about whether you’ll still like me, this little cultivator, after reaching Dao Integration… And do you really think I would abandon you?”

“You’re the Sect Master’s only disciple. Even now, walking beside you makes me feel inferior… Your talent, your beauty, are so perfect, I’m not worthy of you, Senior Sister.”

His sincere tone, gentle gaze, and handsome face made Lan Mulian’s heart race slightly.

She suddenly realized something important.

If it weren’t for going to Yu State and meeting the Pill Emperor, Mu Zhian might still be struggling at the early stages of Nascent Soul Realm.

So Junior Brother saying he was worried about these things… wasn’t entirely impossible.

“Or do you regret it, Senior Sister?” Mu Zhian suddenly asked.

He looked at the cool and elegant Senior Sister, as pure as the moonlight, and whispered, “Do you regret being with me?”

Silence fell between them, the atmosphere somewhat melancholic.

After a long while, her familiar cool voice broke the silence, “I do have some regrets.”

“But not about being with you…”

Lan Mulian looked at her Junior Brother coldly, a hint of iciness in her eyes, “I regret not locking you up in the basement of Two Polarities Peak when you first entered the sect.”

Mu Zhian: “…”

For some reason, seeing Senior Sister’s serious expression, Mu Zhian felt a chill down his spine.

He had a feeling she wasn’t joking, but truly meant it.

Mu Zhian coughed lightly, trying to maintain his composure, and said jokingly, “If you really did that, the sect elders would have found out quickly, right?”

“Not really,” Lan Mulian tilted her head slightly and said with a faint smile, “Only Master and I live on Two Polarities Peak, no other disciples come here.”

“Perhaps some would look for you at first, but no one would think of you being locked up by me on Two Polarities Peak… And after a month or two, the matter would be forgotten.”

Such mysterious disappearances weren’t unheard of in the Two Polarities Sect.

Disciples vanishing without a trace just days after joining.

At first, the sect elders would search everywhere, but ultimately, the matter would be dropped.

“Senior Sister, can you not casually joke about such dangerous things…” Mu Zhian couldn’t help but complain.

Lan Mulian glanced at him, a hint of disdain in her smile, “Whether it’s a joke or not remains to be seen.”

Her tone carried a subtle threat. Seeing Mu Zhian’s worried expression, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Lan Mulian’s lips.

She hadn’t actually thought of doing such a thing to Mu Zhian… But seeing his reaction, Lan Mulian felt an inexplicable sense of pleasure.

A bold thought suddenly arose in her mind.

If one day, she really used that talisman to teleport Junior Brother back to Two Polarities Peak and lock him up in the basement… what kind of expression would he make?

Just as she was imagining this scene, Lan Mulian suddenly felt a pair of affectionate eyes on her, and his gentle voice echoed, “Senior Sister, so you don’t regret being with me, right?”

Why does he keep asking this…? Lan Mulian came back to her senses, slightly flustered by the young man’s gaze. A faint blush appeared on her cool and beautiful face as she silently looked away.

After a long silence, she nodded gently.

Mu Zhian was finally relieved. He placed his hand on Lan Mulian’s slender waist, then, before she could react, he lowered his head and gently kissed her on the lips.

The Spiritual Energy of the Innate Celestial Furnace quietly circulated, flowing into Lan Mulian’s body.

The familiar scent and the warmth of his embrace were almost intoxicating, Lan Mulian’s eyes slightly dazed.

Just the gentle touch of their lips was enough to make her heart flutter.

Mu Zhian’s kiss was incredibly skillful, making her mind go blank, wanting to completely lose herself in the sensation.

His Spiritual Energy flowed into Lan Mulian’s body, his warm breath against her skin, making her feel intoxicated.

She knew she couldn’t leave Junior Brother anymore…

Not just because of the Innate Celestial Furnace.

She wanted everything from him, she wanted to go further…

Lan Mulian slowly closed her eyes, letting Mu Zhian press her against the tree behind her.

Just then, she faintly sensed a familiar, incredibly reassuring aura.

It wasn’t the Spiritual Energy of the Innate Celestial Furnace, nor Mu Zhian’s aura.

Lan Mulian opened her eyes in a daze, looking at the young man’s handsome face so close at hand. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body closer.

And at that moment, the coldness in her beautiful eyes was replaced by a majestic golden light.

The Sacred Heavenly Body was fully activated. Although Lan Mulian couldn’t see through those of higher realms than her, perceiving Mu Zhian’s origin wasn’t difficult.

She wanted to know which woman left this reassuring aura within Junior Brother’s body.

Lan Mulian’s gaze pierced through Mu Zhian.

His origin was completely exposed, the Spiritual Energy flowing within his body clearly visible.

As if seeing something, Lan Mulian’s body stiffened slightly, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief as she stared at the chilling aura within Mu Zhian.

At the same time, a name surfaced in her mind: …Ancestor.

“…”

Lan Mulian’s previously loving gaze at Mu Zhian gradually turned cold.

Just then, Mu Zhian released Lan Mulian’s soft lips, looked down at the beauty in his arms, and whispered, “Senior Sister, do you like the Innate Celestial Furnace’s Spiritual Energy?”

“I do,” Lan Mulian said with an expressionless face.

Then, she continued faintly, “But there’s something I don’t know if I should tell you.”

Mu Zhian smiled gently, “What is it?”

“The Spiritual Energy you just gave me… contains Ancestor’s aura.”

Mu Zhian’s smile froze.

Just then, he saw Lan Mulian silently take out a golden talisman.

For some reason, seeing this talisman, Mu Zhian felt a sense of unease.

Senior Sister seems to have gone yandere… Mu Zhian’s eyes darted around, sending a desperate plea to the woman in the darkness, “Sister Mengrou, help, help, help!”

However, he only heard a sarcastic chuckle from the shadows.

Mu Zhian feigned composure, trying to calm his Senior Sister down, “Senior Sister, you should know your ancestor’s spiritual sense is weak, so…”

Lan Mulian glanced at the young man and said softly, “Do you remember what this talisman is?”

Mu Zhian didn’t speak.

“This is the reward from the Ascension Tournament, a teleportation talisman personally refined by Master.”

Lan Mulian smiled brightly, “It only has one function.”

The next moment, Lan Mulian burned the golden talisman in her hand.

The black mist that had been lingering over Primordial Lake seemed to be carried by the wind, silently enveloping Mu Zhian.

The black mist, like a woman’s hand, gently caressed his face.

Then, it completely engulfed him.

A powerful force pulled him in, and Mu Zhian abruptly vanished.

When he came back to his senses, he was no longer by Primordial Lake, but in a very familiar bedchamber.

Mu Zhian tried to move, but found his hands and feet bound by several black chains.

Holy crap, Senior Sister’s serious?!

Mu Zhian finally realized the gravity of the situation. He originally wanted to gradually have Senior Sister accept everything, but he didn’t expect the Sacred Heavenly Body to be so perceptive, able to clearly sense whose aura was within his body…

Just then, he faintly heard footsteps approaching from outside the door.

After a while, the door quietly opened.

Mu Zhian turned his head and subconsciously exclaimed:

“Sect Master Sister?!”

Shang Yanfei looked curiously at the bound young man, seemingly confused about what had happened.

Then, after glancing at the black chains binding Mu Zhian, she seemed to understand and chuckled softly, covering her mouth, “So, that child Mulian used the teleportation talisman I made?”

“It’s a long story… Could you please unlock these chains first, Sect Master Sister? What kind of chains are these? I can’t break free at all.”

After Mu Zhian finished speaking, Shang Yanfei blinked her beautiful eyes and said with a smile, “These are replicas of immortal gold chains, it’s normal that you can’t break them.”

“But do you really want to be untied now?”

Mu Zhian replied matter-of-factly, “Naturally, no one wants to be restrained.”

“It’s just a temporary restraint,” Shang Yanfei said faintly. “I said before that the first-place winner of the Ascension Tournament would receive Mu Zhian as a reward…”

“So you’re not considering my freedom at all?” Mu Zhian complained.

Although it was his fault for provoking Senior Sister, causing her to use the talisman.

Shang Yanfei pondered for a moment, then nodded thoughtfully, “That’s true… I can’t force a disciple to do something they don’t like just to fulfill another disciple’s wish.”

“But if I don’t do this, the sect disciples won’t take my words seriously in the future. They’ll think I’m a Sect Master who can’t keep her promises.”

She seemed genuinely troubled, her tone thoughtful.

Mu Zhian: “So you’re going to sacrifice my freedom temporarily to keep your promise…? This doesn’t seem very… Sect Master-like.”

“You’re right, forcing a sect disciple to do something they dislike isn’t right.”

“Unless they’re willing to temporarily sacrifice their freedom.”

Shang Yanfei gracefully walked to Lan Mulian’s bed and sat down, crossing her beautiful legs beneath her magnificent dress.

Then, a captivating and seductive smile appeared on her face.

She placed one hand on the edge of the bed, her other cool hand on Mu Zhian’s thigh, her lips curving slightly upwards, and whispered in a seductive voice, “How about, as compensation for temporarily sacrificing your freedom… Sister satisfies you first?”

“You can do whatever you want to me~”

Mu Zhian’s body stiffened.

Although he had suppressed Shang Yanfei’s Karmic Fire before, many mysteries still surrounded this woman.

And now, in this secret room, her every smile and gesture, even her soft whispers, were incredibly alluring.

This offer… Mu Zhian couldn’t refuse.