âWhat exactly do you mean by that? I donât have any hidden ailment!â
Ye Yu stared at the box before him but did not reach out to take it. A flicker of wariness crossed his eyes. After all, Mo Tianjun was a dangerous figure.
Even so, if they faced each other head-on, Ye Yu was confident he wouldnât necessarily lose. That was precisely why he had agreed to accompany Mo Tianjun to see the Demonworldâs false god. But if that old fellow had slipped poison pills into this medicine... who knew what effect they might have in the vast Celestial Realm?
Ye Yu truly couldnât fathom Mo Tianjunâs intentions.
âYes, yes, youâre rightââhidden ailmentâ was rude of me to say. Thereâs no ailment. These pills are simply for strengthening your body. Just take them now and then as qi-replenishing pills.â
Mo Tianjun hastily corrected himself and proffered the box again.
Something felt offâvery off. Ye Yu recalled that when they first met, Mo Tianjun had scanned him from head to toe three times. A single name sprang to mind: Ban Xia. Was she the one who had spoken to Mo Tianjun?
He accepted the box with deliberate caution and asked, âMo Tianjun, did someone say something to you?â
Mo Tianjun paused in surprise, then waved his hands. âNo, I donât know anythingâreally! You have my word!â
Ye Yu could only stare. The more Mo Tianjun denied it, the more he wanted an answer.
âWhy canât we be honest with each other? Besides, Iâve already guessed the truthâBan Xia must have told you, right?â
Within the entire Wuwei Tower, only Ban Xia knew Mo Tianjun. His reaction could only mean she had spoken.
With the matter exposed, Mo Tianjun ceased his evasions and related Ban Xiaâs report: During a battle with a half-step Imperial Realm expert, Ye Yu had been wounded in an awkward spot and developed a hidden ailment. Many treatments had failed, leaving him increasingly irritable. Until his ailment healed, no matter how charming Ban Xia was, she could bear no children. It was Ye Yu who was at fault, not her.
Upon hearing this, Mo Tianjun had immediately commissioned pills to heal the ailmentâand they were freshly completed.
âHonestly, itâs not Ban Xiaâs fault at all,â Mo Tianjun added. âI asked her after sheâd been gone so long if there was any happy news. If she could bear an heir, I wanted to reward her handsomely. I never expected this. But trust me, these pills I had made will workâtake them!â
As he spoke, Mo Tianjun watched Ye Yuâs expression closely. Ban Xia was his pawn at Ye Yuâs sideâand she must remain loyal. Otherwise it was better to execute her as a warning and replace her with someone obedient. Revealing this was a test, to see if Ban Xia had lied.
As the saying went, a man cannot admit weakness, and a fairy cannot refuse. How dare Ban Xia claim he was...incapable? Ye Yuâs anger surged; he recalled Ban Xiaâs hearty laughter at the Immortal Sect meeting, and her double apologies full of ulterior motive.
His face flushed. âIâll settle this with her when I return!â
At Ye Yuâs clenched-teeth vow, Mo Tianjunâs own anxiety evaporated. Yesâthat reaction! A man enraged in this way must be concealing an unspoken pain. Ban Xiaâs intelligence was true: Ye Yu really did have a hidden ailment. Since she had not lied, the pawn was still useful.
Mo Tianjun thrust the box into Ye Yuâs hand, then spoke well of Ban Xia. âYe Xianyou, you mustnât think like that. Ban Xia only did it for your sake. If you canât perform, you must be healed. After all, my Three Corps Hall has ample resources; her seeking help was reasonable. Donât read too much into it.â
Ye Yu retorted, âWhoâs âcanât performâ? Who said that about me? Iâll deal with her when I get back!â
His voice rose eight degrees, betraying his fury. Deep down he knew Ban Xia had not truly sided with Mo Tianjunâhe must have just inquired after her, and she had no choice but to say it was him. But why not invent another excuse? Why claim he was at fault?
If he werenât her husband, heâd show her just how capable he was.
Ye Yuâs livid response only confirmed Mo Tianjunâs belief that the ailment was real. Panicking, he could not let Ye Yu brood on his angerâBan Xia would be in danger.
âCome, comeâletâs go observe the Demonworld army!â
Mo Tianjun forcibly steered Ye Yu eastward through the Celestial Realm.
Moments later, they arrived in the eastern Celestial Realmâand were shocked. The Demonworld armyâs advance was far swifter than anticipated. Half of the eastern Celestial Realm had fallen, with countless Immortals killed and entire sects wiped out. Despite so much time passing, no coordinated resistance had formed. Immortals who sensed the danger trickled in too late.
Ye Yu felt dazed. In his dream, during the Battle of Heaven, he had been a demon commander, unstoppable, slaying both Immortals and demons. Except for Ling Qiansha, he had cut down every demon lord, ending the war prematurely. Without his intervention this time, the Demonworld army had unleashed overwhelming strengthâhe had underestimated them.
Seeing «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» Ye Yuâs odd expression, Mo Tianjun presumed he was mourning the slain Immortals and softly explained, âSurvival of the fittest is the only truth everywhere. The demons came prepared; this result is normal. But rest assured, the Celestial Immortals are not as fragile as believedâthey will counterattack. The only wild card in this invasion is that false god. His power will determine the outcome!â