Chapter 163: Youyuan Grows Suspicious, Luohan Sneers Coldly

"Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but Brother Jing, did you also come here to test our strength and see if you have what it takes to win the qualification to that mysterious realm?"

For reasons unknown, the usually gentle Meng Youyuan uttered words so sharp and bitter, leaving no room for grace. Even the others around them could not help but cast sideways glances in astonishment, staring at their sweet and well-behaved little sister in disbelief. None of them could fathom that such words would ever pass her lips. Furthermore, the chilling aloofness on Meng Youyuan’s face felt completely out of character, as if she had transformed into an entirely different person in a single split second.

No one understood why Meng Youyuan would interrogate Jing Luohan in such a manner, nor did anyone know where the coldness on her face originated. It was only evident that Meng Youyuan felt immense hostility toward Jing Luohan, treating him almost as an enemy with whom she would soon fight to the death. In truth, even Meng Youyuan herself could not pinpoint the origin of this strange sensation; she only felt that this man's purpose for coming here was far from as simple as everyone imagined. Some hidden, unspeakable secret must be intertwined with his visit. Yet, lacking any concrete evidence, she relied purely on her intuition that Jing Luohan could not be trusted.

Never before had Meng Youyuan harbored such deep suspicion toward a stranger—especially someone toward whom even Yu Shang, a person of such exceptional vigilance, could not generate a single negative preconception. Why, then, did Meng Youyuan question him with such intensity? It was profoundly puzzling. In fact, like everyone else, Meng Youyuan had initially trusted this man, believing that anyone capable of wearing such a warm and amiable smile could not possibly be evil. However, as Jing Luohan's expression grew increasingly profound, it stirred a subtle sense of displeasure within her heart. That smile made her feel heavily oppressed, yet it was simultaneously laced with an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

She always felt as though she had seen that kind of smile somewhere before, and furthermore, she detested that facade of benevolence which concealed a hypocrisy so profound it made her stomach turn. At the very least, she loathed it deeply. Meng Youyuan even felt that a smile carrying such a subtle magic could assimilate bystanders, unconsciously infecting them with its influence. Her intuition told her that this change was by no means a good omen. If she continued to interact with this man, even her own state of mind would be usurped by his will. By the time that happened, it would be far too late; they would no longer be themselves, but merely puppets dragging empty shells of flesh.

Although Meng Youyuan did not know Jing Luohan's true origins, she could be certain that the powers standing behind him were utterly at odds with them, and his stance would inevitably clash with theirs. Meng Youyuan knew this was merely her own intuition speaking; even if she voiced it, the others would undoubtedly think she was letting her imagination run wild and refuse to believe her. Yet, for the safety of everyone, even if they harbored resentment toward her, Meng Youyuan was determined to tear away this man's false disguise. She would expose the malicious intentions hidden within his heart and let them all know what kind of evil deeds he truly intended to perpetrate.

"I did indeed come to the Ancient City of Billed for that mysterious realm, but my arrival at the Qingyu Pavilion has not the slightest connection to it. Even if I went to great lengths to make your acquaintance, it was not so that I could know myself and know my enemy, allowing me to defeat you in the upcoming matches a few days from now. I came here for two reasons. First, I wanted to see if the renowned Qingyu Pavilion is truly as the rumors say—a place that purifies the heart and dispels worldly desires, where anyone who steps inside can temporarily forget all their sorrows. And second, because I knew you would all come here, and I simply wished to make friends with people like you. After all, I am somewhat familiar with your deeds. It is out of both admiration and curiosity that I wish to be acquainted with you."

Jing Luohan stood up, walked to Meng Youyuan's side, and spoke softly. Yet, the gaze he fixed upon her was deeply perplexing.

It was as if he had known Meng Youyuan for a long time, or rather, as if he held some extraordinary and unusual affection for her. There was an emotion in Jing Luohan's eyes that never appeared when he looked at anyone else. That gaze was no longer purely gentle; it was predatory. It resembled an extremely starved beast that had suddenly spotted a prey capable of filling its belly—a prey it was bound to swallow whole, leaving no chance of escape.

Unfortunately, this bone-chilling gaze could only be perceived by Meng Youyuan. To the others, Jing Luohan merely seemed a bit curious about this young girl, and they could not comprehend why she had suddenly generated such intense hostility.

When Meng Youyuan received that chilling gaze, she drew a sharp breath. Truthfully, his covetous expression felt strangely familiar to her, as if she herself had once encountered such terrifying looks in a forgotten past. That feeling filled her with dread, though she knew not what she feared. What kind of relationship and past did this man share with her? Why did she simultaneously fear and loathe him while he behaved with such fierce aggression toward her?

This inevitably led Meng Youyuan to ponder her past lives. She well knew that in her current lifetime, she had never stepped foot outside the Yanlan Academy, making it utterly impossible for her to have ever crossed paths with this person.

Yet, if it had been in a past life, it would be entirely different. But no matter how she looked at it, Jing Luohan did not resemble someone with millennia of cultivation and profound mastery. Moreover, he did not emit the aura that immortals ought to possess. If he truly were an immortal being, she, as the daughter of the Demon Clan, would certainly have been able to sense it! Yet now, aside from the inexplicable hostility and dread, there was no sensation of mutual generation or destruction between races. Regardless of the circumstances, this man could not be allowed to remain by their side; otherwise, endless calamities would ensue, and they would never know another peaceful day.

"It seems we will indeed have the opportunity to test our skills against one another in the arena. When that time comes, I certainly will not intentionally hold back just because we are acquaintances. On the contrary, I shall treat the duel with utmost seriousness and show no mercy. You had best prepare yourself mentally in advance! You must know that my eyes cannot tolerate a single grain of sand. Do not be deceived by my usual gentle appearance; when it comes to those with malicious intent who wish to harm me, I never soften my hand!"

To the others, Meng Youyuan's words sounded rather inexplicable, but Jing Luohan appeared to understand them perfectly and responded with a smile. That eerie smile, however, was something only Meng Youyuan could decipher. In short, at this moment, the two of them harbored vastly different thoughts, leaving everyone else utterly bewildered.

"I shall also have the chance to witness the young lady's skills firsthand—why not welcome such an opportunity? You must know that I am quite fond of the feeling of pushing a contest to its absolute limits. I am not afraid of losing; I only fear not fighting to my heart's content. To be honest, that mysterious realm holds not the slightest attraction for me, but the lot of you possess such a strong curiosity-inducing quality that I am compelled to explore further. After all, adversaries often become friends through combat. Perhaps after the matches conclude, my relationship with everyone will undergo a change."

Jing Luohan continued to smile, but this time, his smile inadvertently revealed a strange undertone—one that Yu Shang happened to catch just in time.

"Even if there are conflicts of interest in the arena, after it is all over, can we not sit and chat like friends once more? I believe a tournament is merely a way to gain a deeper understanding of one another, not a process that turns people into sworn enemies, am I right? Therefore, even if our roles differ at the moment, we should not let that erase the favorable impression and friendship formed upon first meeting. If we maintain this, we will still be friends when we meet again. As the saying goes, is it not better to gain a friend than an enemy?"

Qin Ruohen also spoke softly from the side, addressing Meng Youyuan. It appeared she too had been deceived by the illusion crafted by Jing Luohan. In retrospect, even his earlier act of playing the hero to save the damsel must have been pre-arranged.

"If the other party truly harbors no ulterior motives and is sincere in wanting to make friends with us, I, Meng Youyuan, will naturally reciprocate with equal sincerity. But if he has exhausted every effort to approach us merely to achieve some hidden, unspeakable agenda, then do not blame me for showing no mercy. If one is overly merciful, it only brings harm to oneself and those around them. Resorting to ruthlessness when necessary is a helpless measure to protect everyone. I only hope you can all see through the truth of the matter and not be blinded by illusions that you will live to regret."

Meng Youyuan suddenly turned around and spoke to the group with utmost solemnity, and they all grasped, to varying degrees, the message she wished to convey.

Yet, on one hand, out of courtesy regarding the person in question being present, and on the other hand, trusting their own intuition, they offered no explicit response to Meng Youyuan's words. They merely remained silent, acting as though they had heard nothing at all. They truly could not comprehend how the ever-gentle Meng Youyuan could transform into this state in a single instant, treating Jing Luohan in such a manner. Could there be some past grievance between them that caused such a misunderstanding? Yet Meng Youyuan had never stepped half a step outside the Yanlan Academy since childhood; how could she possibly have any entanglement with Jing Luohan, who had traveled from afar specifically for this? It truly baffled everyone completely.

"Alright, Yuan'er, you've spoken so many words; you must be thirsty by now. Try this special, precious tea of the Qingyu Pavilion; I guarantee it will leave an aftertaste you'll never forget."

Lan Bingxian reached out, picked up a cup of tea, and placed it before Meng Youyuan, signaling her to say no more. Although he did not understand why Meng Youyuan harbored such intense hostility toward this man, she was his woman, and he ought to place unconditional trust in her. Furthermore, Yuan'er was never one to make trouble without reason; she must have a cause for acting this way, and he should support her. However, the current situation was somewhat delicate, and it was unwise to continue speaking. He could tell that the rest of the group held immense trust in Jing Luohan. At this moment, no matter what he or Yuan'er said, they would simply refuse to listen.

Therefore, it was better to keep quiet for now. After all, there was plenty of time ahead, and countless opportunities would arise to let everyone see through this man's true facade and uncover his genuine intentions.

Meng Youyuan glanced at Lan Bingxian, accepted the teacup obediently, and drained it in a single gulp. She knew that Lan Bingxian would surely understand and believe in her. She also understood the intention behind that cup of tea: now was certainly not the time to force the issue into the open. After all, Jing Luohan had done nothing wrong on the surface; condemning him out of nowhere would only make her appear unreasonable and cause the others to trust him even more. Only by letting Jing Luohan expose his own flaws could the others be made to believe the truth. But how could she maneuver him into revealing his true colors without harming the others in the process?

This was indeed a thorny problem. Relying solely on the two of them would likely accomplish nothing. Yet who else could possibly believe her seemingly absurd intuition? Meng Youyuan was deeply conflicted at this moment, unsure of who she could turn to for help.

Meanwhile, Yu Shang had been taking in everything from the side. Ever since that simple yet complex smile from Jing Luohan moments ago, he had begun to feel that this entire situation might not be as straightforward as they imagined. After all, this was a turbulent era; people who wanted them dead were everywhere. How many could truly treat them with utter sincerity, even willing to cast aside their own lives to drink with them as sworn brothers of life and death?

Moreover, Yu Shang knew Meng Youyuan's temperament well. This girl was not the type to stir up trouble for no reason, yet where did this hostility stem from? It seemed matters were growing increasingly complex, and the intertwined relationships between them were knotted together like a chaotic ball of hemp—impossible to untangle and messy beyond reason.

Indeed, amidst such troubled times, one must never easily place trust in others. Everyone harbored their own agendas, and for the sake of those goals, they could willingly sacrifice everything they had once cherished just to attain that long-yearned-for height. Let alone initial acquaintances, even lovers who had shared life and death were entirely capable of selling you out and betraying you at the most crucial juncture. How much more so with strangers whose backgrounds were utterly impossible to trace? The simpler a matter appeared on the surface, the more likely the truth hidden beneath it was profoundly complicated. Did Yu Shang not understand this principle well enough already?