Volume Two: The Emergence of the Nine Provinces Map, Joining the Spirit Void Sect Chapter 118: Muyang Seeks Guidance

Dead?

Wu Yi, Lü Jie, and the others all felt a deep sense of regret, for this meant losing the chance to interrogate the enemy and extract valuable information.

However, Chen Yu and Hong Dong thought differently, their expressions growing even more solemn. The situation was clearly more complicated than they had initially imagined.

“What’s wrong with you? Hong Dong specifically said to keep him alive. How could you just kill the man?” Zhu Gui demanded as soon as he arrived. Half of his body bore the burns of fierce flames, but after simple treatment, his life had been spared, though his strength was undoubtedly greatly diminished.

“Hmph, I’m beginning to suspect you might be in cahoots with those people,” Feng Qing coldly accused from beside Zhu Gui. “Otherwise, why is it always you who finds them? Couldn’t there really be something fishy going on here?”

Hearing this, Lü Jie, Su Han, and the others felt a flicker of doubt. Secretly, they wondered whether Chen Yu was deliberately trying to mislead everyone to gain the trust of Princess Muyang.

“That’s impossible. Senior Brother Chen Yu isn’t that kind of person,” Wu Yi immediately denied. Though Yuan Xiao and Wen Ye were somewhat confused, they still chose to trust Chen Yu.

“I believe in Chen Yu,” Wu Yue, who had come alongside Princess Muyang, said firmly. “Princess, please trust that Chen Yu is definitely not that kind of person.”

Princess Muyang gave a slight nod, neither confirming nor denying.

Seeing this, Zhu Gui grew anxious, jealousy swelling in his chest, making him look even more unfavorably upon Chen Yu.

“Muyang, you must be cautious. That boy is clearly no good. Don’t lose your judgment just because of what others say,” Zhu Gui said with a pointed tone.

“What do you mean by that, Senior Brother Zhu?” Wu Yue and the others were furious, deeply insulted.

Zhu Gui gave no answer, only a cold snort, but his meaning was clear. He looked at Princess Muyang with a hint of tension.

“Junior Brother Chen Yu, do you have anything to say?” Princess Muyang asked, showing no intention of pressing further but puzzled as to why Chen Yu did not defend himself.

“Princess…” Wu Yue grew anxious, looking at Princess Muyang in confusion, mistakenly thinking she had begun to doubt Chen Yu as well.

Chen Yu frowned involuntarily, thinking briefly before saying, “If the Princess does not believe me, I can leave immediately.”

Princess Muyang had not expected such a response. She thought he would at least offer some explanation.

“Hmph, exposed and already wanting to run away? It’s not that simple,” Zhu Gui said smugly, convinced he had suppressed Chen Yu.

Zhu Gui’s continuous provocations finally angered Chen Yu despite his reluctance to stir trouble. He looked coldly at Zhu Gui and asked, “Then, Senior Brother Zhu, what do you want?”

“Hmph… want what?” Zhu Gui sneered darkly, displeased with Chen Yu’s gaze. “Tie your own hands and tell me who is behind all this.”

With tensions rising, Princess Muyang intervened. “The matter is not yet clear, Senior Brother Zhu. Your words go too far.”

“Muyang, this is already obvious. Isn’t it all his fault?” Zhu Gui ignored truth or falsehood and aimed to sully Chen Yu’s name. He poured all his resentment for his own misconduct onto Chen Yu.

Princess Muyang frowned deeply, clearly displeased.

As the standoff continued, Hong Dong completed his examination and reported to Princess Muyang, “Princess, this man died of poisoning. I suspect they are from the Xuan Kong Sect.”

“Xuan Kong Sect? Hong Dong, are you sure?” Zhu Gui’s expression faltered, his face flushing red—not from guilt over falsely accusing Chen Yu, but from indignation and wounded pride.

Hong Dong furrowed his brows but said nothing, waiting for Princess Muyang’s response. He had heard everything clearly and had his own judgment of right and wrong.

“Xuan Kong Sect?” Princess Muyang’s expression grew serious. After some thought, she said, “Since the matter is clear, let us end it here and continue on our journey.”

“Muyang…” Zhu Gui grew frantic.

“Senior Brother Zhu, I said we will continue,” Princess Muyang said firmly, leaving no room for debate.

Zhu Gui’s displeasure deepened, his face flushed, but in the end, he kept his words to himself.

At last, Princess Muyang turned to Chen Yu and extended an invitation: “Junior Brother Chen Yu, would you care to join me in the carriage for a talk?”

The unexpected invitation startled Chen Yu. Wu Yue, Lü Jie, and the others exchanged puzzled glances, while Zhu Gui looked on with fierce resentment.

Chen Yu looked deeply at Princess Muyang but finally nodded silently.

Some of the others felt envy, others confusion, and some bitterness.

“Let’s continue on,” Hong Dong commanded.

Inside the carriage, Wu Yue looked at Princess Muyang curiously, unsure of her intentions.

“Is there something the Princess wishes to discuss?” Chen Yu asked calmly.

Princess Muyang smiled faintly, revealing no concealment, and said directly, “I wonder what Junior Brother Chen Yu thinks about this.”

Chen Yu pretended ignorance. “What does the Princess mean?”

Wu Yue looked even more puzzled.

“Heh… I know Junior Brother Chen Yu is clever and not simple. Let’s not beat around the bush,” Princess Muyang said plainly. “Do you think our journey will go smoothly?”

Wu Yue was taken aback, fearing another misunderstanding, and quickly said, “Princess, the matter has been clarified. This has nothing to do with Chen Yu.”

Princess Muyang smiled gently and said, “I want to hear what Junior Brother Chen Yu has to say.”

“This journey will likely not be smooth. Our movements have been tracked, and I fear there will be a larger ambush ahead,” Chen Yu said helplessly, shaking his head. He could already imagine the danger, which was why he had wanted to leave earlier when suspicion fell upon him.

Princess Muyang’s face darkened upon hearing this. Danger loomed near, but she could think of no strategy. She turned to Chen Yu for advice.

“Do you have a solution, Junior Brother?”

“Do you have a map?”

Princess Muyang quickly produced one, showing she had been prepared.

Chen Yu carefully analyzed the map, then drew a route. “If the enemy truly belongs to the Xuan Kong Sect, this path is the safest.”

Princess Muyang and Wu Yue looked at it, confused. “But isn’t that the Xuan Kong Sect’s direction? Why? Isn’t that like a sheep walking into a tiger’s den?”

“By feigning vulnerability to conceal strength and strength to conceal weakness, they won’t expect us to take this route in the short term,” Chen Yu explained. “Besides…”

He stopped mid-sentence, shaking his head and withholding the rest.

Princess Muyang noticed his hesitation and asked curiously, “Junior Brother, is there more you wish to say?”

Chen Yu gave a perfunctory answer: “I just think we have too little intelligence to make a firm plan. Also, except for the Princess’s own subordinates, others are not so easy to mobilize…”