This Is an Open Scheme

Lu Yunyun signaled for Qin Ximo to lower the spirit boat slightly.

Only then did the scenery below become clear in her eyes.

“I knew this place looked familiar.”

She finally had her answer.

Beside her, Qin Ximo had already spread her spiritual sense across a radius of ten miles, yet everything she saw still looked utterly unfamiliar.

This place did not seem to belong to the territory of the Xuan-Iron Immortal Dynasty.

The teleportation array had sent them unbelievably far—directly across a span of a hundred thousand li, all the way beyond the borders.

“You seem to recognize this place?” Qin Ximo asked.

Lu Yunyun smiled faintly, lifted her hand, and gestured toward the mountains and rivers below.

“I wonder… does Fairy Qin understand geomancy or feng shui divination?”

“I have a junior brother who excels in formations.

If he were here, he might see something.

As for me, I only know swordplay.

I’m completely clueless in this area.”

“No matter.”

Lu Yunyun shrugged.

“I don’t understand it either.

Those arts are far too profound.

Without talent, even a lifetime of study won’t yield much.

Compared to that, bedroom arts suit me much better.

After all, by my second dual-cultivation session, I had already sent three or five people—”

Qin Ximo frowned deeply, nearly drawing the sword at her waist.

“Speak the main points.

I have no interest in your ‘romantic victories.’”

Lu Yunyun gave her a languid, flirtatious glance but continued without pushing further.

“The land below—its mountains, waters, plants, and creatures—each subtly aligns with the Dao of yin and yang intertwining.

Meaning this landscape wasn’t formed naturally.

Someone deliberately shaped it.”

“From your tone, it sounds like you know who.”

Lu Yunyun pinched her fingers together.

“There’s no one else here.

Why pretend to be clueless, Fairy Qin?

In this world, who venerates the yin-yang dual cultivation Dao besides my Hehuan Sect?”

Qin Ximo’s expression turned unpleasant.

“So this was once your sect’s mountain gate.”

“Not anymore.”

Lu Yunyun said lightly:

“Thousands of years ago, the Hehuan Sect’s original headquarters was inside a cave paradise.

Now it’s just ruins.

When the sect was first founded, a grand elder spent tremendous effort shaping this land into what you see now.

Using various spiritual objects as aid.”

“But even then, it was abandoned so easily.”

She continued:

“Do you know why?”

Qin Ximo replied calmly:

“I heard the original Hehuan Sect once considered itself righteous.

But their dual-cultivation arts were condemned by the world, so they defected to the demonic path.

I assume they abandoned their old mountain gate then.”

Lu Yunyun clapped lightly.

“As expected of Fairy Qin—knowledgeable and perceptive.

That defection was indeed a reason.

But another reason was that the Xuan-Iron Immortal Dynasty lost a major war against the neighboring Lihuo Immortal Dynasty.

Severely weakened, they had no choice but to cede territory.”

“No wonder this place felt unfamiliar.” Qin Ximo murmured.

“So it no longer belongs to the dynasty.”

“The Xuan-Iron Dynasty may have lost, but a thin camel is still larger than a horse.

They were stronger than a mere sect.

And since the Hehuan Sect was hated by both righteous and demonic paths at the time, they naturally became the scapegoat.

Thus the dynasty ceded this crafted spiritual land to the Lihuo Dynasty.”

Her face remained calm, as if speaking of a stranger’s history.

“After losing this place, the Hehuan Sect moved entirely to our current location.

I never expected the other end of the teleportation array inside the secret realm to be set here.”

Lu Yunyun touched her chin and looked toward Xuan-Iron territory.

“At this distance, returning will take at least a month.”

“No need.”

Qin Ximo said.

Now that she understood her own strength clearly:

“With my full sword-flight, I can reach it in under seven days.”

Lu Yunyun smiled and leaned close.

“Since Fairy Qin says so… does that mean you are willing to share a sword ride with me?”

Qin Ximo snorted coldly.

“If you dare flirt again, I’ll toss you off this boat.

You wouldn’t die, so it wouldn’t break the oath.

If heaven has eyes, it won’t punish me for that.

Would you like to test it?”

The boat floated at least a hundred zhang above ground.

Even a Golden Core expert would be crippled if caught off guard.

“Fairy Qin, you jest.

This concerns my life—I dare not play around.”

Lu Yunyun withdrew her playful attitude and became serious.

“Those who entered the cave with us… by now, most are dead.

Even if I went back in, at most I’d recover a few jars of ashes.

The survivors outside would probably pack me into a small wooden box as well.”

“That has nothing to do with me.

I didn’t kill them.” Qin Ximo said bluntly.

“That’s not right.”

Lu Yunyun continued:

“Many eyes saw you enter the cave.

And when you emerged, not only unharmed, but having broken through to Nascent Soul…

How could they possibly accept that?”

Qin Ximo flicked her sleeve.

“My life is upright.

I owe no one explanations.

If someone is displeased, then one sword will solve the matter.”

Lu Yunyun laughed softly and bowed.

“Fairy Qin acts freely and hates worldly restraints.

You truly have the bearing of a sword immortal.

I admire you.”

One sword to cut away unpleasant matters.

How carefree sword cultivators were.

Though, truly, only someone like Qin Ximo could say such things.

“Back to the topic.”

Lu Yunyun continued:

“You plan to settle accounts with the demonic cultivators eventually.

Let me tell you clearly—my colleagues have been restless lately.

They scheme a great deal.

They would never stake everything on me alone.

Since their hearts are guilty, and they’ve stirred chaos across the world, shouldn’t they be killed early to prevent future trouble?

Just like… you did several hundred years ago, Fairy.”

It was unclear what charm technique she used, but her words stirred Qin Ximo’s emotions subtly—nudging her toward action.

“I have the same thought.”

Qin Ximo said.

“Killing those demon cultivators not only shields your Hehuan Sect from blame, it also silences anyone who might come seeking answers from me.”

Lu Yunyun met her gaze without avoiding it.

“Exactly.

A double win.

In this world, strength is authority.

With your cultivation, Fairy Qin, even if you entered the imperial palace, you could stand alongside the current empress.

Eliminate some demonic cultivators, terrify the petty troublemakers, and raise the banner of righteous vengeance.

Why not?”

“This is an open scheme,” Qin Ximo said.

“But one I will not refuse.

We’ll discuss the rest later.

If they become troublesome, I won’t spare my sword.”

She stored away the spirit boat.

Just as they were about to fall, a much larger flying sword materialized beneath their feet.

Lu Yunyun stepped on it curiously, tapping it lightly.

Her wide-eyed innocence didn’t seem fake.

“This is my first time riding Fairy Qin’s sword.

It truly feels… special.”

Qin Ximo flew swiftly.

In an instant, they had crossed several li.

After some time, the border of the Xuan-Iron Dynasty appeared ahead.

Qin Ximo spoke suddenly:

“Earlier… when you said someone like Shen Yuemian might not exist—what did you mean?”

“The literal meaning.”

Lu Yunyun sat casually on the stable sword, like a lazy cat, her posture both relaxed and seductive.

“That girl deceived me—and you.

Her identity, her name… even her expressions and behaviors around you could all have been fabricated.”

“All… fake?”

Qin Ximo’s heart trembled.

That gentle, affectionate little fox—was all that truly an act?

“Then what was she?”

“She saved you.”

Lu Yunyun said bluntly.

“If she hadn’t ruined my plan, the one being thrown into a dungeon earlier… would have been me.”

Qin Ximo’s expression turned icy.

“This matter—I’ll settle with you in two hundred years.”

Lu Yunyun lifted a lock of hair and smiled softly.

“Then I shall await Fairy Qin’s judgment.”