Chapter 306: Women's Thoughts, the Heavenly Snake Hall
"You're here..."
Mo Yu greeted Cai Lin and the others with a slightly awkward smile, rubbing his nose in embarrassment.
"Young Master, you've been in seclusion for so long. Today, I came with Sister Xiao Yu, Sister Cai Lin, and Sister Zi Yan to visit you!" Qing Lin said, smiling brightly as soon as she saw Mo Yu. Then, noticing the destruction around the mountain peak, her green eyes flashed with surprise, and her small mouth opened slightly.
"Young Master, have you been practicing a new Dou Technique again? With such destructive power, it must be quite powerful!" Qing Lin blinked, looking at Mo Yu with curiosity.
As her words fell, Cai Lin, standing nearby with her usual cold expression, also narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly as she took in the scene. Sensing Mo Yu's increased strength, her eyebrows furrowed a little—he had broken through once again.
"Mo Yu, you already have Sister Xiao Yu as your fiancée, so why are you getting close to Sister Cai Lin too? You're being sneaky!" Zi Yan walked over, her large round eyes glaring playfully at him.
"Zi Yan, stop with the nonsense. And since when did you all become so close?" Mo Yu's face darkened at Zi Yan's teasing. Glancing at Cai Lin's cold demeanor and Xiao Yu's slightly downcast mood, he hurried to change the subject.
"Hmph, I'm not a kid! There's definitely something going on between you and Sister Cai Lin. Over the past month while you were in seclusion, I've gotten really close to Sister Qing Lin, Sister Cai Lin, and even Sister Xiao Yu!" Zi Yan pouted, clearly unimpressed by his attempt to dodge the topic.
Mo Yu could only offer an awkward smile. Although Cai Lin, as the Queen of the Snake-People, was cold and proud, those who knew her well understood she had a strong sense of responsibility and valued emotional connections deeply. In the original story, Zi Yan and Qing Lin had both managed to form close bonds with her, so the current situation wasn't surprising.
However, Mo Yu felt a bit uneasy when he glanced at Xiao Yu, standing quietly to the side.
"Congratulations on finishing your seclusion," Xiao Yu said softly, stepping forward with a sigh. Her eyes held a hint of sadness as they met Cai Lin's—her face so perfect it left even Xiao Yu in awe.
"Sister Cai Lin is truly beautiful. Qing Lin and Zi Yan always praise you," Xiao Yu added.
Hearing the tone in Xiao Yu's voice, Mo Yu sighed inwardly. She's upset, after all.
Cai Lin also sensed the slight tension in Xiao Yu's words and the underlying wariness. With her long lashes fluttering, Cai Lin lazily glanced between Mo Yu and Xiao Yu, fully aware of Xiao Yu's identity.
Though Cai Lin tried to remain calm, something stirred in her heart. As Mo Yu's official fiancée, Xiao Yu's position was unique—even if Mo Yu might have more than one wife in the future, Xiao Yu's status as his first and proper wife would always be significant.
Recalling the words of Snake Lord (She Shu) from a few days ago, Cai Lin found herself feeling more conflicted than usual. After what had happened between her and Mo Yu, she hadn't been able to stop thinking about him.
Mo Yu's qualifications were outstanding, whether in the Snake-People Tribe or among humans. His talents were so extraordinary that even Snake Lord often praised him, leaving Cai Lin impressed.
But that didn't mean Cai Lin was ready to accept Mo Yu as her partner. As the proud Queen of the Snake-People, and the holder of the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python's bloodline, Cai Lin wasn't one to be easily swayed. At least, not until Mo Yu surpassed her strength.
However, the mere existence of these thoughts meant that Cai Lin's emotional defenses, as impenetrable as a fortress, had started to crack. While she hadn't yet made a decision, the fissure had opened. And when the walls finally fell, that would be the day Mo Yu entered her heart.
Now, standing before Xiao Yu—who, while not exceptionally powerful, still held the title of Mo Yu's rightful fiancée—Cai Lin felt a strange sense of guilt and unease. She wasn't used to these emotions, and it irritated her.
Cai Lin's icy gaze turned to Mo Yu. Her voice, colder than usual, carried her irritation: "You founded a faction, but you've been slacking off as its leader. I've never seen someone so irresponsible."
Mo Yu was taken aback for a moment before letting out a helpless chuckle. She's definitely not angry about me being a lazy leader.
Though he didn't directly manage Yuan Manor's affairs, Xiao Li—once the deputy leader of the Iron Mercenary Group—handled everything efficiently, and the faction was flourishing. Mo Yu trusted Xiao Li completely, which allowed him to focus on his training without worry.
Cai Lin, being the Snake-People Queen, clearly knew all this. Her outburst was likely just an excuse to vent her frustration.
"Hehe, Young Master, during the past month, we've all missed you, especially Sister Xiao Yu. She often waited for you in your room!" Qing Lin's eyes gleamed mischievously as she revealed this tidbit, having noticed the awkward tension between Xiao Yu and Cai Lin.
Though Qing Lin was still young, her experiences growing up and her time training at the Heavenly Snake Mansion had sharpened her instincts. As soon as she noticed the uneasy atmosphere between Xiao Yu and Cai Lin, she knew she had to break the ice.
For Qing Lin, Xiao Yu was her master's fiancée, deserving of her respect. Despite Xiao Yu's more average talents and appearance, Qing Lin held her in high regard.
"Qing Lin, don't tease," Xiao Yu scolded playfully, her cheeks blushing as she cast a shy glance at Mo Yu. Then, walking gracefully over to him, she reached out with her snow-white hands to straighten his slightly disheveled robe, her voice gentle.
"Mo Yu, I know you're responsible for leading a faction now, but you shouldn't push yourself too hard. You carry not just the fate of the Xiao Clan but also our promise. Don't forget, you still owe me a wedding." She smiled warmly, her eyes softening.
Mo Yu's heart warmed as he caught the faint scent of her perfume and felt the tenderness of her touch. He flashed a bright smile and said, "How could I forget? When I left, I promised you that I'd give you the grandest wedding the continent has ever seen. And no matter what happens in the future, you will always be my main wife. That will never change."
To Mo Yu, no matter how powerful or prestigious a woman was, none could compare to Xiao Yu. When he became strong enough, she would be the most respected woman on the continent. He had confidence in that.
Hearing his words, Xiao Yu's eyes lost their sadness, and she nodded gently, her lips curving into a smile. "I believe you."
Qing Lin, watching the affectionate exchange, couldn't help but smile. Her green eyes, however, were filled with a bit of envy. Becoming Mo Yu's wife... That had unknowingly become her greatest wish, but unlike Xiao Yu, she hadn't had the luck to be noticed early on.
Still, as Qing Lin stole a glance at Cai Lin, she noticed something else—the Snake Queen's face had grown colder.
"Alright, it's not just me who's been worried about you. Qing Lin, Zi Yan, and even Cai Lin were all concerned. You've attracted so many women; you'll have to take responsibility," Xiao Yu teased, tapping his forehead lightly with her finger.
Having received Mo Yu's promise, the weight in Xiao Yu's heart had lifted. She had come to terms with her situation. Mo Yu was extraordinarily talented—anyone could see that. Not only in the Jia Ma Empire but likely across the entire continent, he would rank among the very best.
Over the years, Xiao Yu had been both proud of his genius and insecure about her own limitations. Compared to talents like Qing Lin and Cai Lin, she felt like she couldn't keep up. Even though she had a marriage promise with Mo Yu, she still worried about her place in his heart.
But now, after seeing the sincerity in his eyes, Xiao Yu felt reassured. A single glance was enough to remind her that Mo Yu would never betray her.
Having accepted this, Xiao Yu no longer felt jealous. After all, the Dou Qi Continent had no strict rules about monogamy. Powerful men could marry many wives, just as powerful women could have numerous male consorts. As such, Xiao Yu understood that Mo Yu wouldn't have only her as a wife. Most of his future wives would likely be more talented or influential than her.
Even so, Xiao Yu was satisfied. If not for the marriage arranged by her family and Mo Yu's steward, she might have ended up like her cousin, Xiao Mei, forever admiring Mo Yu from afar.
As she thought this, Mo Yu squeezed her hand tightly, his expression warm and caring. Qing Lin, noticing Xiao Yu's acceptance, felt a flicker of excitement. If Xiao Yu, the main wife, approved, didn't that mean she, too, had a chance?
Meanwhile, Cai Lin was stunned, gazing at Xiao Yu with a trace of surprise in her eyes. She hadn't expected Xiao Yu to be so... generous. From what Cai Lin had learned about her, Xiao Yu came from a small family and had been engaged to Mo Yu for years. Cai Lin assumed Xiao Yu would be more possessive or insecure. But now, she saw Xiao Yu as someone gentle, understanding, and kind-hearted.
Cai Lin's feelings about Xiao Yu started to shift.
"Mo Yu, I heard that Yuan Manor recently recruited some new students from Jia Nan Academy and even some experts from the Black-Corner Region. Do you have any plans for them?" Zi Yan broke the moment of silence, her big eyes twinkling mischievously.
"It seems so. Why? Do you have something in mind?" Mo Yu asked, rubbing his chin.
"Hehe, kind of," Zi Yan grinned. "Why don't you set up a new division for Sister Cai Lin and make her the leader? Let Sister Qing Lin be her second-in-command. I know Yuan Manor recently established a Thousand Medicine Hall, so why not create another one for them? They're both really strong!"
Mo Yu was stunned but then smiled as he considered Zi Yan's suggestion. She has a good point.
Cai Lin was a Dou Zong-level expert, and Qing Lin was a Dou Huang. Forming a new hall led by them would certainly bolster Yuan Manor's strength.
Turning to Cai Lin, Mo Yu smiled. "Alright, let's establish a 'Heavenly Snake Hall.' Cai Lin will be the Hall Master, and Qing Lin will be the Vice Hall Master. What do you both think?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Qing Lin quickly responded with a grin, "I'm willing, Young Master!"
Xiao Yu also smiled. Having come to terms with everything, she had no objections to Mo Yu's decision. She didn't feel jealous at all.
"Hmph!" Cai Lin, on the other hand, shot Mo Yu a sidelong glance, her face slightly flushed. She snorted but didn't outright refuse.
Seeing this, Mo Yu chuckled inwardly. She's too proud to admit it, but she's agreed.
With Cai Lin's silent approval, the Heavenly Snake Hall was as good as established. This meant Yuan Manor now had seven divisions—Tiger Hall, Lion Hall, Wolf Hall, Worship Hall, Heavenly Snake Hall, Thousand Medicine Hall, and the newly renamed Hundred Weapons Hall. Yuan Manor's forces were indeed becoming formidable.
"Chirp!"
Just as Mo Yu was feeling content with everything, a bird's cry suddenly echoed from above. Looking up, his expression changed as he extended his hand, pulling the messenger bird down with a wave of his palm.
Retrieving a small bamboo tube tied to the bird's leg, Mo Yu unfolded the note inside. His face darkened as he quickly skimmed the contents. With a flick of his fingers, the note burst into flames and turned to ash.
"It's a message from Qi Shan. It seems Yuan Manor is in trouble," Mo Yu said, his voice serious as he looked at Xiao Yu and the others.
(End of Chapter)
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