Chapter 139: Where Heaven’s Will Points, the Multitude Gathers

"Honestly, with our current strength, we have no way of contending with the King. In this world, there is no one whose cultivation can rival his, let alone trying to overthrow him—that is nothing more than a fantasy. Unless the ancient gods descend upon this world once more, or those powerful beings who ascended to other realms return, we should not even entertain such unrealistic thoughts." Lan Wu shattered Xiao Yin’s hopes without any mercy, though what she said was indeed the truth. Going head-to-head with Fu Youming was truly an unwise act, like a moth flying into a flame.

"I refuse to believe there’s no way to deal with that old man. In any case, I will not allow him to hurt any one of us. He wants to play, does he? Then I’ll play along with him and see who has the last laugh, see who wins in the end!" Xiao Yin raised his head, staring out the window with a fierce expression. He hated being a pawn, being controlled without any agency. Now, Fu Youming clearly viewed them as chess pieces; as long as he could achieve his ultimate goal, he would never care about the life or death of those pieces. He absolutely could not sit idly by and wait for that old man to make his move. They had to strike first to have any chance of defeating him in one fell swoop.

"Can you stop being so impulsive and reckless? You must understand that the realm the King has reached is a terror beyond our imagination. With a mere wave of his hand, he could reduce everyone to ashes. Furthermore, he holds the energy and secret arts bestowed upon him by the ancient gods. Until Brother Yu unlocks the passages within his body and you recover to your peak state, we must endure. If we provoke his displeasure, we won't even have a chance to turn the tables in the end!" Lan Wu urged Xiao Yin anxiously, hoping he wouldn't lose control. She was terrified that Xiao Yin’s fiery temper would exhaust the King’s remaining patience, and then it would be far worse than just being enslaved.

"You say the ancient gods bestowed upon him energy and secret arts that transcend this world? Isn't that just a roundabout way of letting him rule this world and call himself a god?" Xiao Yin shouted in anger upon hearing this. He truly couldn't fathom what those so-called gods were thinking. How could they have chosen that old man to dominate the world? He was not only physically incomplete but mentally twisted. He couldn't see a single trait in Fu Youming that suggested he was fit to rule all things.

"If you think that, you are gravely mistaken. The ancient gods did not choose the King to be the ruler of this world. They intended for him to temporarily maintain the balance of this world; once the strong one mentioned in the prophecy is born, he can retreat and live in seclusion in Youming Capital," Lan Wu explained the origins of the matter earnestly. However, Xiao Yin’s mind didn't seem to be on this at all. He remained trapped in the problem of how to defeat Fu Youming, though his body visibly stiffened at the mention of the word "prophecy."

Then, Xiao Yin let out a deep sigh and laughed at himself. This strange behavior left Lan Wu puzzled, but she was wise enough not to ask. She knew Xiao Yin too well; if he wanted to tell you something, you wouldn't need to ask, and he would explain everything in detail. But if he didn't want to disclose anything, no amount of effort would pry it out of him. Lan Wu knew for certain that you would get nothing out of him and might even lose something in the process. Thus, when she saw Xiao Yin in this state, silence was the best response.

Just as the two fell silent, the first rays of morning light filtered through the paper window into Lan Wu’s room, adding a touch of warmth to the cold space and infusing the somewhat dull atmosphere with a hint of vitality. Lan Wu suddenly stood up, pushed open the door, and walked out. She took a deep breath and smiled, appearing completely intoxicated by the moment. Seeing this, Xiao Yin followed her out, staring at the still-dim sky in a daze, wondering what could make her so focused that she forgot herself.

"This long-lost freshness is truly intoxicating. I wonder how many more peaceful and beautiful days we have left. I’ve suddenly realized that those who retire to the mountains and forests, far from the hustle and bustle, are the truly happy ones—even if it's mundane, it’s the life they desire. We, however, are constantly immersed in excitement, unable to extricate ourselves, but those are things we are forced to do against our will." Xiao Yin suddenly regained his senses and spoke to Lan Wu beside him. At that moment, he appeared so world-weary that it pained those who looked at him.

"Yes, they are like wild beasts; although they live without security, they possess the freedom that others yearn for. We, on the other hand, are like exotic beasts confined in exquisite iron cages. While we may survive, every step we take is controlled by others. If we take one wrong step, there will be someone there to lash us with a whip or even push us into an abyss." As Lan Wu spoke, she felt a heavy, suffocating weight in her chest, as if a stone were pressing down on her heart. When would this miserable life finally end? Was their destiny in this world merely to serve as entertainment for others? Was that not too cruel?

"If you don't want this life to be endless, you must change your way of surviving. Why must we be controlled by others instead of taking hold of our own destiny? You must know that we do not exist in this world to serve anyone, but to live as our true selves and lead the lives we crave. Even if the other party’s strength and power are greater than heaven, so what? Everyone has a weak spot. As long as we find that fatal flaw, we have the ability to overthrow the one who toys with us!" Unexpectedly, Yu Shang walked out from the room, stopped beside Xiao Yin, and smiled at them.

"You rascal, weren't you so tired you were about to collapse? Why are you awake so early instead of resting more? And how are your injuries? Are you alright? If you still feel unwell, I’ll transfer some of my internal energy to you." When Xiao Yin saw Yu Shang, he smiled from the heart. How could he have forgotten about Yu Shang? With him, there was hope. There was nothing this rascal couldn't accomplish, and no one could bind him.

"You know me—no matter how tired or hurt I am, as soon as the sunlight breaks through the darkness and spills into my room, I wake up immediately without a trace of sleepiness. Besides, you should take care of yourself first; your injuries are no lighter than mine!" Yu Shang looked at the anxious Xiao Yin and burst into hearty laughter. He was truly impressed by this little snake—how could he value Yu Shang more than himself? He didn't even check his own condition before worrying about others, but the feeling of being cared for wasn't so bad after all!

"By the way, there is one thing I must confess to you. It is of great importance, and if I don't say it, I won't have a moment of peace. But please, promise me that you won't be impulsive after hearing it. We need to discuss a strategy slowly," Lan Wu said seriously to Yu Shang. Among all of them, only Yu Shang could be called both wise and courageous; perhaps he would have a strategy that could satisfy everyone. Regardless, she had to protect her friends; even if a blade were held to her throat, she would never harm them.

"What could it be? It sounds very serious. Hurry up and tell us so you can satisfy my curiosity." Before Yu Shang could speak, another voice came from the room. Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw Yin Boxuan emerge from the inner chamber, walking toward them with a smile. It was unexpected that the usually somewhat languid Yin Boxuan would be up so early, and it was such a coincidence that he had come to join them as well. Whether this was destiny or a telepathic connection, Yin Boxuan had a hunch that if he hadn't come to the front of the room this morning, he would have missed something earth-shattering.

"I didn't expect you to be so diligent, getting up and out for some air just as the sky is beginning to brighten," Xiao Yin said with a smile, looking at the still-drowsy Yin Boxuan. He didn't know why, but after only one night apart, it felt as if they had been separated for a thousand years. In fact, even Yu Shang had this feeling; he felt that after just one night, many things had changed. Even the feeling of seeing these friends again felt different—not necessarily distant, but strange.

"Don't talk about him. Why are you all up so early for no reason? You should know that in the past, I had to wait for you sleepyheads to wake up long after I had finished picking blue leaves and brewing tea." Leng Huaiyi walked in after opening the barrier, carrying a silver tray. The tray held fresh blue leaves, and even before they were steeped in the mountain spring, a refreshing, heart-soothing fragrance drifted out, filling the surrounding air with a comforting scent.

"When it comes to waking up early, no one can surpass Brother Leng. I even suspect you never sleep at all," Yu Shang joked as he watched the returning Leng Huaiyi. He was always so thoughtful, waking up early every day just to pick the freshest blue leaves before the morning dew faded, all to brew a refreshing tea for them. Yet, Yu Shang always felt that this was only one of the reasons why Leng Huaiyi rose early; there must be other matters worthy of this man’s attention as he stepped out into the first rays of the sun. But he wouldn't ask, and Leng Huaiyi wouldn't volunteer; after all, everyone had secrets they didn't want others to know.

"I feel the same way. Back in Youming Capital, I always felt that Huaiyi never seemed to sleep. No matter how early you wake up, you’ll see him; it’s as if he arrives even faster than the sunlight," Yan Xuesu said, walking out slowly with sleepy eyes. It was clear she had been dragged out by someone against her will. But this was all too strange—how was it that everyone seemed to have agreed to meet here at the same time today?

"Don't make excuses; it's because you're too lazy. Every time, you sleep until the sun is high in the sky before you're willing to get up. By then, not only is Huaiyi already awake, but even the bugs on the ground are up and looking for food," Yu Shao ran said, following closely behind, looking radiant. His eyes were full of doting affection as he watched Yan Xuesu. It seemed they were still as inseparable as ever. Even the first glance they shared upon waking was filled with deep love; such a scene was truly enviable!

"I hear someone’s love-filled accusations early in the morning. Could you not be so intimate? It makes us feel quite uncomfortable!" Meng Youyuan emerged as well, teasing the inseparable lovers. Yu Shang increasingly felt that this was not as simple as it appeared. This coincidence made him feel a sense of panic; inadvertently, Yu Shang seemed to smell the scent of a conspiracy. This could not be a mere coincidence. Someone must be manipulating all of this from the shadows, but what was this person's goal? It was truly unfathomable.

"Don't just laugh at them. It's cold this morning; why are you running out wearing so little? Put on this cloak, or I won't care if you get sick!" Lan Bingxian hurried over to Meng Youyuan and draped his cloak over her shoulders. Although it was a seemingly small gesture, it genuinely moved everyone present. This man was truly considerate and had a way of warming one’s heart.