A goddess dwells in my heart.

Chapter 20 The Crown Princess's Personal Bodyguard

More than a month passed quietly as I devoted myself to cultivation.

Lu Zheji sat cross-legged on the futon, his hands forming a mudra, his spiritual energy surging like a tidal wave. The spirit stones burned silently in the spirit-gathering array, turning into a thick, almost viscous spiritual mist that enveloped him in a hazy white haze.

The giant bull phantom in his dantian flickered in and out of focus, resonating with the scalding blood and qi in his meridians, wave after wave washing over the barrier of the late stage of the second realm.

After an unknown amount of time, his bones emitted a series of cracking sounds, as if some invisible shackles had been violently broken open at that moment. The spiritual energy surging in his meridians suddenly accelerated, like a river bursting its banks, pouring into his limbs and bones with great pleasure.

Lu Zheji suddenly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them.

Late stage of the second realm, done!

He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, feeling the surge of spiritual energy reserves in his dantian, and couldn't help but smile.

Originally, it was estimated that it would take at least two months to grind, but with Yin Siyue's massive resources, which could be described as spending money like water, he managed to reach the late stage of the second realm in just over a month.

He looked down at the few high-grade spirit stones around the futon that had exhausted their spiritual energy, and couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy.

Indeed, spending money is the primary driving force for becoming stronger.

"Wow! Junior Brother has broken through!"

A petite figure leaped over from the side, and Su Wan Ning, like a nimble bird, crashed into his arms, wrapped her arms around his neck, and swayed against him.

The girl looked up at her exquisitely beautiful face, her almond-shaped eyes filled with undisguised admiration and joy: "Junior Brother, you're amazing! It hasn't been long, and you're already at the late stage of the Second Realm! Senior Sister has always said you're a genius among geniuses, one in ten thousand. Those so-called prodigies from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths aren't even worthy of carrying Junior Brother's shoes!"

Lu Zheji was already used to his junior sister's excessively generous emotional outpouring, so he just smiled and patted her back. However, after Su Wanning landed from his arms, she suddenly changed the subject.

"Unlike a certain woman." She puffed out her cheeks, a hint of resentment on her pretty face. "Junior Brother is such a prodigy, yet she's blind to his talent, doesn't know how to cherish him, and only thinks about how to humiliate you. Humph, when Junior Brother one day stands atop the mountain, he'll definitely take that woman as his slave, making her serve you tea and water every day, warm your bed and fold your blankets every night, so he can finally vent his anger!"

Lu Zheji smiled wryly and rubbed her head: "Junior Sister, I really don't feel wronged at all."

He knew what Su Wan Ning was referring to. Yin Si Yue had him do her laundry, cook, serve her tea and water, and treat her like a young lady—this was indeed humiliating in this era. Upper-class men doing such womanly things would be considered beneath their status and would be ridiculed. Moreover, he wasn't just any upper-class man; he was the young master of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, a true prince.

But beneath this princely exterior dwells a progressive young man of the 21st century, who knows full well that a man's knees are worth their weight in gold—as long as the money is right, dignity and all that can be negotiated.

If a nanny were paid a million-dollar monthly salary, he'd not only treat Yin Siyue like a pampered princess, but he'd practically worship her like his own mother. Besides, the resources Yin Siyue has poured into him far exceed a mere million.

In the sea of ​​consciousness, the goddess's voice drifted in, clear and cold: "As I see it, you're enjoying it, aren't you?"

What nonsense about spouting such obvious truths...

Su Wan Ning buried her face in his chest again and muttered sullenly, "You're not wronged, but I am."

Lu Zheji sighed, reached out and put his arm around the girl's slender shoulder, patting it gently.

Su Wan Ning really dotes on him. She used to be such a glutton, with pastries and dried fruit on the coffee table from morning till night, but these days she's worried so much about him that her appetite has shrunk considerably.

Such a kind-hearted person as Junior Sister is indeed too unsuitable for this level 80 sect.

Su Wan Ning got up from his embrace, tidied her disheveled hair, turned around and picked up the medicine bowl that was warming on the stove, handed it to him, and said in a sweet and soft voice, "Junior Brother, it's time to take your medicine."

Lu Zheji looked at the bowl of dark, murky medicine, and his stomach involuntarily twitched.

This is a formula for strengthening qi and blood provided by the sect. Its medicinal power is several times stronger than that of previous medicinal diets, and its taste is naturally much harder to swallow. It is to be eaten three times a day without fail.

Fortunately, after more than a month of suffering, he has been able to get used to the fishy and bitter taste that goes straight from the tip of his tongue to the top of his head, and no longer has to hold onto the wall and dry heave after drinking it like he did the first few times.

He took the porcelain bowl, and with a death-defying resolve, tilted his head back and gulped down the entire bowl of medicinal soup. The indescribable taste shot straight from the back of his tongue to the top of his head. He gritted his teeth to keep his expression from crumbling, simply closing his eyes and silently circulating his spiritual energy to neutralize the effects of the medicine.

Su Wan Ning stood quietly to the side, gazing at him with a gentle smile on her sweet and lovely face, just like always.

Contrary to Lu Zheji's expectations, she quickly adapted to local customs and had long been accustomed to drawing her sword against the weaker, and even enjoyed it.

"Squeak—"

The door was pushed open from the outside.

Yin Siyue leaned against the doorframe, her crimson dress gleaming like fire in the afternoon light, clinging to her voluptuous and alluring figure, exuding a languid charm. Her gaze swept over Lu Zheji, and she nodded slightly.

"Breakthrough? Perfect, let's go out on a field mission for some experience."

……

According to Lu Zheji's understanding over the past few days, Yin Siyue's titles are far more than just Grand Master of the Moon Guard and Chancellor of the Academy. She also has many other identities in the Southern Wei court, which she uses when needed and is forgotten by others when not needed.

According to her, this is a tradition of the sect; a true reclusive sect should remain behind the scenes and stir up trouble throughout the world.

Even Lu Zheji himself was given the identity of a patrol officer of the Demon Slayer Division, but he had never even seen which way the gate of the Demon Slayer Division faced, so he was just drawing a salary without working.

However, Lu Zheji still hoped to do something, because Demon Hearts were controlled items in Southern Wei, and were extremely difficult to obtain through private channels; they could basically only be exchanged using official contributions.

At this moment, his first task finally arrived.

Yin Siyue sat down at the stone table, casually picked up a piece of pastry from the plate, took a bite, and slowly began to speak:

"As I have said, we are a force that can influence the course of the world, and the course we must now promote is the fusion of the Northern and Southern Wei dynasties. The long-term division of the first dynasty of the human race is naturally a good thing for other races. However, the succession of the throne in the Great Wei is extremely troublesome, and each faction has its own ulterior motives. Now it is no longer possible for the royal families of the Northern and Southern Wei to merge as they wish."

Lu Zheji asked curiously, "How troublesome is it?"

"The difference between the Nine Heavens and the Ten Earths lies in the fact that the Nine Heavens are highly bound to the Great Wei regime. A new emperor must pass the trials of the Nine Heavens and gain the approval of the majority of them in order to ascend the throne. Therefore, the Great Wei currently does not have a truly legitimate ruler."

"How could there be such a ridiculous rule?" Lu Zheji frowned, then realized what he meant as soon as the words left his mouth, "...Is it because of some kind of ritual requirement?"

"Indeed, only through this ceremony can one obtain the complete destiny of the Great Wei Dynasty; otherwise, one is merely a false emperor."

Yin Siyue leaned back lazily in her chair. "The Northern Wei emperor is nearing the end of his life and has no children. He has been making concessions for decades. However, this matter is not simple. In addition to some Nine Heavens who are unwilling to unify, the Northern Wei emperor also needs to ensure that the forces that follow him are not purged afterward. The Southern Wei also has to be wary of this being a feint by the Northern Wei."

"The marriage alliance between the Lin family and the Southern Wei royal family was for this purpose. On the one hand, it allowed them to become a bridge between the Northern and Southern Wei. On the other hand, if the Southern Wei royal family ascended the throne, the Lin family, as imperial relatives, could gain a foothold in the Southern Wei and take care of the former members of the Northern Wei after the unification."

Lu Zheji nodded, then frowned: "It seems that the relationship between the Lin family head and the Southern Wei emperor is not harmonious. After all, she was married off for a political marriage, so it's inevitable that she has some resentment in her heart."

As soon as he finished speaking, he sensed that the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

Yin Siyue paused in her hand holding the pastry, and Su Wanning's hand holding the teacup also froze for a moment. The two women looked at each other, their eyes seemingly exchanging some extremely complex message.

Su Wan Ning coughed lightly, put down her teacup, and said thoughtfully, "It depends on the situation. Women are at a disadvantage, while men are much better off."

Lu Zheji chuckled: "Junior Sister, what kind of man is sent away for a political marriage?"

Su Wan Ning smiled awkwardly and lowered her head to drink her tea: "It's because I'm clumsy with words, I misspoke."

Lu Zheji didn't delve into this little incident and steered the conversation back on track: "So, what does this have to do with my mission?"

Yin Siyue resumed her languid tone, lightly tapping the table with her jade fingers: "Your field trip was to the Lin family, or more precisely, to one of their properties in Southern Wei. The Lin family's second young lady, Lin Zhengge, previously studied at Yunlan Academy and has now returned after completing her studies, and is planning a banquet in Wancheng to celebrate. Meanwhile, the Empty Young Master of the Hehuan Sect is spreading rumors that he will personally attend the banquet to admire the beauty of this lady."

The Hehuan Sect I've been longing for has finally arrived...

Lu Zheji raised an eyebrow and said, "The Lin family is a powerful clan that controls the Wanling Sect, one of the Nine Heavens. Do you think the second young lady of the main family would be an easy target?"

Yin Siyue casually picked up the second pastry. "Young Master Kongxu doesn't really intend to take it, but rather to make a name for himself. Although the Hehuan Sect is ranked among the Ten Realms, it has been gradually declining, especially after the fall of its sect's patriarch, and it is almost about to fall out of the Ten Realms. Therefore, they urgently need to demonstrate their prestige, and the Lin family is a perfect target."

"The Lin family's power as a prominent clan is considerable, but their influence within the Nine Heavens has also declined significantly. Moreover, although they are imperial relatives in the Southern Wei, they are ultimately a force of the Northern Wei and will not allow too many experts to enter the country. The Hehuan Sect does not need to succeed, or even actually take action. As long as the Lin family cancels the banquet to prevent any unforeseen circumstances, or seeks help from other forces, it will be enough to prove that the Hehuan Sect can still be feared by the top-tier forces of the world."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zheji scoffed, "To need to resort to such underhanded methods to assert one's presence, in my opinion, this is truly rotten to the core."

Yin Siyue put the last bite of pastry into her mouth, squinting her eyes in satisfaction. "Powerful sects naturally don't need to fuss over these empty titles. But the Lin family's decline is only about the same as the Hehuan Sect's, so we mustn't show any weakness. The Hehuan Sect probably doesn't realize that targeting Lin Zhenge has really kicked a hornet's nest."

Lu Zheji raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

"There are rumors that the Lin family's marriage alliance with the Southern Wei royal family will not be limited to one generation, and the Crown Princess of Southern Wei will still come from the Lin family."

Yin Siyue looked at him with her alluring eyes and said meaningfully, "I can give you a definite answer: Lin Zhengge is the Crown Princess, no doubt about it. This banquet, seemingly just to celebrate her return from her studies, is actually the Southern Wei court testing the attitude of the top powers of the Great Wei towards the Crown Prince's competition for the throne. The Hehuan Sect has fallen out of the ranks of first-rate powers for too long and has long lost its ability to grasp the changing winds of the Great Wei."

Lu Zheji pondered, "So what should I do? This doesn't sound like something I can get involved in right now."

"What do you want to get involved in?" Yin Siyue raised an eyebrow at him, a half-smile on her face. "Want to be the Crown Princess's personal bodyguard? Don't think too much about it. Just go and fill in the numbers like the others in the Demon Slayer Division. It just so happens that your Senior Sister Su is going too, so you can look after her."

Lu Zheji turned to Su Wanning: "Junior Sister, are you going too?"

Su Wan Ning put down her teacup, nodded, and said with a smile, "That's right. The Lin family is full of martial spirit, and there is always a martial arts competition for every celebration. As a physician, Senior Sister was also transferred there."

She stood up, walked to Lu Zheji's side, and looked up at him, her almond-shaped eyes curving into two crescent moons.

"Junior brother, you must protect your senior sister well when the time comes."

……

Before setting off, Su Wanning helped Lu Zheji pack his luggage.

She squatted in front of the wardrobe, putting the folded clothes one by one into the storage ring. The afterglow of the setting sun slanted in through the window, falling on the girl's slender back, and gilding her youthful waistline under her pale yellow shirt with a warm golden edge.

Lu Zheji felt somewhat ashamed watching from the side. Over the years, his food, clothing, shelter, and transportation had all been taken care of by this junior sister.

Su Wan Ning suddenly pulled out a thin booklet from the bottom of the bookshelf. It was the "Compendium of Demon Heart Consumption". The pages were already curled, obviously having been flipped through more than once.

The girl waved the book in her hand and asked with a smile, "Junior brother, after looking at this, is there any demon heart that catches your eye?"

Lu Zheji felt a slight tightness in his heart. Wasn't it said that this couldn't be discussed in the cave?

But then he thought again that demon hearts were just normal spiritual materials among cultivators and not necessarily synonymous with demon cultivators. So he relaxed and asked, "Why did you suddenly ask about this, Junior Sister?"

"The Lin family is a renowned family that raises demonic beasts. When they hold banquets, they inevitably have to use demonic hearts to entertain their distinguished guests."

Su Wan Ning closed the booklet, skipped back to her luggage, and said while stuffing clothes into her bag, "When the time comes, your senior sister will help you pull some strings and get a few back. I've been in Chang'an for so many years, I still have some connections."

She turned around and winked at him, her dimples shallow, her smile as sweet as melting honey.

Lu Zheji felt a warmth in his heart: "Thank you, Junior Sister."

Just as Su Wan Ning was about to say something, there was a knock on the door.

"Knock knock knock".

Lu Zheji and Su Wanning turned their heads at the same time, their gazes falling on the tightly closed door.

A strange feeling flashed through Lu Zheji's heart. After spending these days together, he had fully witnessed what kind of person Yin Siyue was—bullying men and women, acting tyrannically, and having no concept of privacy.

The person knocking on the door of this cave could not possibly be Yin Siyue.

He stepped forward and opened the door. Standing outside was a petite and delicate girl, about fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing an elegant moon-white dress, her long black hair loosely tied up with a jade hairpin.

She was delicate and slender, with beautiful eyebrows and eyes, and her skin was so fair that it was almost transparent. At this moment, she was bowing her head slightly, with her hands folded in front of her, exuding a kind of lovely temperament.

Lu Zheji looked her over suspiciously: "Young lady, who are you?"

The delicate young girl raised her head, her eyes, as clear as autumn water, gazing at him: "Brother, don't you recognize me?"

Lu Zheji was taken aback, then asked with some surprise, "You're my sister?"

The girl's expression remained unchanged, still that of a gentle and frail woman, but when she spoke, her voice suddenly changed, turning cold as she said:

"No, I am your superior."

Lu Zheji: "???"

"Senior Sister Yin had to leave first. I'll take you from here."

The girl stood with her hands behind her back, speaking in a businesslike tone, "I am an inspector of the Demon Slayer Division, your direct superior. You can call me Lin Yuexi."

Lu Zheji raised an eyebrow, quickly gleaning key information from the surname: "You're from the Lin family?"

"No." Lin Yuexi shook her head. "This name is just my identity in this mission. The Lin family cannot show any fear of the Hehuan Sect, so we reinforcements can only go in disguise. You and I are a brother and sister from a branch of the Lin family. Give yourselves names now, and we'll gradually refine our specific identities and backgrounds later."

Lu Zheji pondered for a moment, then a brilliant idea flashed in his mind: "Let's call him Lin Chensha."

Lin Yuexi nodded, clearly unconcerned about the name: "Okay, time is of the essence now, we need to adapt to our sibling relationship as quickly as possible. How would you like me to address you? Pick the one that sounds most pleasant, brother? Brother Chensha? Or Elder Brother?"

I want to choose Onii-chan...

Lu Zheji, of course, didn't say those words aloud. He coughed lightly and said seriously, "Let's go with the older brother."

"Okay, brother." Lin Yuexi's voice suddenly returned to the soft and obedient tone she had when they first met. Her "brother" was called out so sweetly and naturally, as if she had been born to be his delicate and lovely sister.

She tilted her head, the jade hairpin swaying gently in her hair: "And what should I call you, brother? Pick something that's easy to say, like Yue'er, Yue'er sister? Or Ah Yue?"

Lu Zheji thought for a moment and said, "Let's go with Yue'er."

Yin Siyue's name also contains the character "Yue," which happens to clash with this pseudonym, making it sound rather odd. Hopefully, this female demon won't cause trouble when she finds out later...

"Then let's rehearse for a while, brother." Lin Yuexi tilted her head up slightly, her eyes, as clear as autumn water, reflecting his image, her voice so soft it seemed like it could be squeezed to release water.

"elder brother."

"Moon".

"elder brother."

"Moon".

"elder brother."

"Moon".

……

In the Bronze Sparrow Terrace, a goddess bound by chains kneels on a jade platform, her platinum dress flowing like clouds.

She tilted her head slightly, her clear, cool eyes peering silently through the walls of the Bronze Sparrow Terrace, observing everything outside.

She could feel the ripples in Lu Zheji's heart, the warm and light emotions spreading out in waves, like something tickling an itch, making her feel relaxed and at ease.

A faint hint of confusion appeared in the goddess's usually calm and undisturbed eyes.

Why would this man be so excited when they are just getting used to their fake sibling identity?

However, what the goddess was more concerned about at this moment was something else.

Her gaze passed over Lu Zheji and landed on Su Wanning, who had been silent for a long time.

Su Wan Ning stopped packing her clothes as soon as she started, and now she was standing in Lu Zhe Ji's blind spot, staring wide-eyed at the brother and sister who were seriously rehearsing their lines, her face looking like she had seen a ghost.

Strange, what could have caused her to lose her composure like this?