Chapter 281: The Heavenly Human Lurks! A Cozy Dinner Before the Slaughter!
On the other side of the high walls.
The night was dark, but the moon was bright enough to cast long, eerie shadows.
Tian Yunzi, a legendary [Heavenly Human Realm] expert, was lurking in the dense forest surrounding the Jiangjing Manor. He was like a ghost, completely merging with the darkness. Not even the swaying of the leaves betrayed his presence.
His ears perked up slightly. With the heightened five senses of a [Heavenly Human], he could clearly hear a needle drop from thousands of meters away. He could hear the patrol guards' footsteps, their breathing, and even the hum of the electric fence.
However, he didn't know that the hunter was also the hunted.
Shen Anyu had already anticipated this. A [Nanometer Monitoring Robot] that had been secretly planted on Guo Laoliu's collar had silently detached and flown onto Tian Yunzi's robes, latching on like a microscopic tick.
Every move the old master made was being transmitted in real-time to Shen Anyu's retina.
Tian Yunzi focused his hearing on the underground sector, trying to penetrate the thick alloy walls. Normally, this would be impossible. But tonight, the ventilation shafts seemed to carry sound exceptionally well.
"Master! Save me! Master!"
A faint, desperate cry drifted through the air vents.
Tian Yunzi's expression changed instantly. His cloudy old eyes, usually filled with the indifference of a cultivator, were now filled with anger and deep pity.
"It's Yan'er..."
"That scream... it's filled with pain and hopelessness. My poor disciple."
Tian Yunzi clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. The surrounding air distorted slightly due to his leaking aura.
"Yan'er, bear with it a little longer. Tonight, Master will come to save you. I will slaughter everyone who touched you. I will help you get revenge, and I will kill Shen Anyu first!"
Tian Yunzi's heart surged with murderous intent.
He had decided. He would kill Shen Anyu, the heir of the Yanxia Shen Family, at any cost. Even if it meant facing the overwhelming pursuit of the Yanxia Shen Family, the economic wrath of the Yanxia An Family, and the full military might of the Yanxia Country.
He, who had always been cautious and peaceful, pursuing the Dao of longevity, was finally provoked into a raging fury.
"But now is not the time," he whispered to himself, calming his breathing.
"The sun has just set. The guard shifts are tight."
Tian Yunzi was confident in his strength. Even if this Estate was a dragon's pond and a tiger's den—filled with several [Martial Dao Grandmasters] and dozens of high-tech traps—he believed he could crush them.
In the eyes of a [Heavenly Human], mortals were just ants.
However, Tian Yunzi's primary goal was to save someone, not just to kill. If he charged in blindly and Shen Anyu panicked, the villain might execute Ye Yan on the spot. If his beloved disciple died, then wiping out the Shen Family would be a hollow victory.
"Soon. Very soon. When it's late at night—the Hour of the Rat—when the yin energy is heaviest and the security loosens a bit... then we will act!"
Tian Yunzi looked deeply in the direction where his beloved disciple was imprisoned, burning the location into his mind. Then, he turned and quietly retreated into the shadows, disappearing without a sound.
...
Inside the luxurious study.
"Tonight is settled."
Shen Anyu's eyes were dark as he watched the monitor. He saw the red dot representing Tian Yunzi moving away to wait.
The corners of his mouth turned up into a cold, satisfied smile. The fish had taken the bait. The "voice" he had projected through the vents using Ye Yan's vocal cords had worked perfectly.
"Now I still have some time before the slaughter begins. I should treat myself well and relax. A tense bowstring breaks easily."
Shen Anyu stood up. His appearance, which had been transformed into Ye Yan's battered form, rippled and shifted back to his original look.
He took a shower, washing away the smell of the dungeon. He changed into a comfortable yet expensive casual outfit—a white cashmere sweater and grey trousers that accentuated his lean, powerful physique.
Once again the elegant, flawless Young Master, he stepped out of the study and into the main Villa's hall.
"Master!"
A soft, sweet voice called out.
A little maid with a face as pure as a lily rushed over. It was Ruan Lingshan.
She smiled sweetly at Shen Anyu, her eyes curving into happy crescents. She immediately knelt down to help him change his slippers, her movements gentle and delicate, treating his feet like precious treasures.
Shen Anyu looked down at her, feeling a wave of relaxation.
His own little maid, Ruan Lingshan, was truly thoughtful. Unlike the fierce warriors or ambitious CEOs in his harem, she was pure, domestic warmth.
He reached out and patted her head.
"You're back. How are things with your family?"
Ruan Lingshan had gone back to her hometown in the mountains with her mother for a few days to settle some old scores. Shen Anyu had missed her quiet presence.
Ruan Lingshan looked up with her soft, cute, and pretty little face. Her big, watery eyes looked at Shen Anyu with absolute adoration.
"With Master's help, the family matters were quickly resolved!"
"Those bad relatives... they didn't dare to say a word when they saw the lawyers Master sent. We got the house back, and Mom is very happy."
It wasn't anything major in the grand scheme of things—just some dog-blood relatives trying to steal the inheritance of a widow and orphan in a small village. But to them, it was their whole world.
Ruan Lingshan was also a [Destined Heroine]. In the original timeline, she would have suffered bullying until the [Country Divine Doctor], Xia Liu, passed by and saved her.
But now? Xia Liu was dead (or ruined). Shen Anyu had intercepted the plot. He solved her life's biggest crisis with a single phone call.
"That's good," Shen Anyu nodded.
Ruan Lingshan stood up, her face glowing with excitement. She seemed eager to share something else.
"Master! Master! This time, Lingshan returned home and met such a beautiful Goddess Doctor!"
"Oh?" Shen Anyu raised an eyebrow, sensing a trigger.
"She's beautiful, kind-hearted, and has excellent medical skills! She cured the village chief's paralysis with just a few needles!"
"And... and she reminds me of Master! She's the type who is good-looking, has a good character, and excellent medical skills. A perfect match!"
Shen Anyu chuckled. Given Ruan Lingshan's 100% [Favorability] towards him, she viewed him as a saint. It wasn't strange for her to praise him.
But a "Goddess Doctor" in a remote mountain village?
"For Lingshan to give such high praise, she must be very remarkable. What is her name?" Shen Anyu asked casually, though his mind was already cross-referencing data.
"Murong Jieyu!"
"Murong Jieyu?"
As Ruan Lingshan's sweet voice fell, another surprised voice rang out from the staircase.
It was Yang Luoluo. She had just showered after her breakthrough and was walking down, drying her hair.
"Luo Luo, you also know this Goddess Doctor named Murong Jieyu?"
Shen Anyu smiled, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
If he remembered correctly, Murong Jieyu was one of the key [Destined Heroines] related to the [Country Divine Doctor] protagonist, Xia Liu. She was supposed to be his Senior Sister or a rival. But she had never appeared in the plot so far.
Even when Shen Anyu sent his intelligence network to look for her, they couldn't find her. She was a ghost.
Originally, Shen Anyu had thought of using the [Nine Cycles Divine Needle] skill he plundered to lure her out.
However, it was fascinating that Yang Luoluo—who belonged to the "Urban Martial Arts" plotline—also knew this Murong Jieyu from the "Medical Saint" plotline.
"Could it be another case of merged worlds?" Shen Anyu analyzed rapidly. "Characters affecting each other across plotlines? This creates new variables."
He needed to be careful.
Yang Luoluo, hearing her newly recognized Master's question, nodded vigorously. She was very grateful and admiring of Shen Anyu, so she held nothing back.
"Of course I know her! Murong Jieyu... she seems to be my Third Senior Sister!"
"Seems?"
Shen Anyu looked at Yang Luoluo amusedly, teasing her. "You don't even recognize your own Third Senior Sister, little scatterbrain?"
Yang Luoluo's face flushed red. She scratched her head bashfully.
"Master, don't tease me! Actually, apart from Second Senior Sister Liu Ruyan, I haven't had any direct contact with my other Senior Sisters."
"It was Second Senior Sister Liu Ruyan who told me the name 'Murong Jieyu' and showed me a photo once."
"When my first Master took me as a disciple, I was only ten years old. She taught me the basics for a few months and then vanished."
"Over the years, my first Master has been like a divine dragon—head seen but tail hidden. I've never met her again. So naturally, I don't know my other Senior Sisters personally."
"I only know that I'm the youngest—the Seventh Disciple. There are six Senior Sisters above me. It's a whole lineage!"
Shen Anyu pondered upon hearing this.
"So, the 'Master Descends the Mountain' plotline (Ye Yan) and the 'Divine Doctor' plotline (Xia Liu) are connected through this mysterious Master of Yang Luoluo?"
"Seven Senior Sisters... Liu Ruyan is the Second. Murong Jieyu is the Third. Yang Luoluo is the Seventh."
"It seems I will need to win over Liu Ruyan quickly. She is the key to unlocking this treasure chest of heroines."
"Master? Are you hungry?"
At this moment, Ruan Lingshan softly inquired, noticing the time. "Shall I tell the kitchen to prepare dinner? The chefs have prepared fresh seafood today."
Shen Anyu snapped out of his thoughts. He looked at the two beautiful girls looking at him with expectancy.
He smiled, a rare genuine warmth in his eyes.
"I happen to have time today. I'll cook myself."
"You two are quite fortunate. My cooking skills are not easily displayed."
There would be a big battle tonight—blood would flow, and lives would be taken. Before that grim business, enjoying a warm, delicious meal with beautiful women was the best way to adjust his mental state.
"Eh?!"
Yang Luoluo's eyes widened, showing utter surprise.
In her eyes, Master Shen Anyu was handsome, incredibly strong, wealthy, and noble. He was a [Grandmaster]! A [Young Master] of the Shen Family!
With such status and position, he should be someone who doesn't lift a finger. His hands were meant for holding wine glasses or killing enemies, not chopping vegetables.
"Master... you can cook?" she asked in disbelief.
Shen Anyu rolled up his sleeves, revealing his forearms.
"Just watch."
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