C10

The Qin Empire was replete with mountains, among which three mountain ranges were the most renowned. From north to south, these were the Taibai Mountains, the Li Mountains, and the Jiannan Mountains. All other mountains were subsidiary ranges branching off from these three. Xianyang was perched atop the Li Mountains.

Chu Tianyu shook his head, his expression one of utter confusion. He genuinely had no idea where he was, having spent the last decade almost exclusively within the Marquis' Mansion. He could easily get lost even in Xianyang, much less in this unfamiliar place. Moreover, he had no clue where Ao Xingyun had taken him previously!

The young woman's curiosity was piqued. "So how did you end up here? Where's your home? What about your family?"

Mu Wan'er's brow creased slightly, showing her impatience with Mu Xiaoyu for squandering time.

"I'm Chu Tianyu. My home is in Xianyang, where my parents, sister, and brother all reside. I was just out for a bit of fun when, ten days ago, a Demonic Beast riot broke out. I've been dodging them ever since, and now I have no idea where I am," Tianyu explained, mixing truth with fiction, though the two young women were none the wiser.

Observing Tianyu's downcast demeanor, the two women felt a surge of sympathy. They thought to themselves, "How unfortunate that he stumbled upon that clash of titans. It's lucky he was far enough away to avoid injury."

Mu Wan'er, however, was more skeptical. "How can you prove you're from Xianyang?"

Tianyu winced, feeling slightly embarrassed. After the battle, he had nothing to his name but his ragged clothes. "Ah, my clothes!" he exclaimed, suddenly invigorated. "Just wait here, I'll be right back!" Without waiting for a response, he dashed off toward the pool like a shot.

The two women were left wondering what Tianyu was up to, but it felt wrong to simply walk away, so they remained standing there.

Before long, Tianyu hurried back, looking remarkably different. His clothes, though worn, were clearly of fine quality. His hair was dripping wet, as if he had just emerged from the water, and his face was much cleaner, revealing his youthful and handsome features. Although his face still bore the softness of youth, his robust physique lent him a healthy glow.

Upon seeing his appearance, the two young women instantly believed him. He was unmistakably a naive and wealthy young man who had just stepped out of his home, with no connection to any villainy.

"Look," Chu Tianyu urged as he rushed up to the two women, gesturing to his still-dripping clothes. He had been concerned they might leave, so he had hastily washed his clothes, hair, and body, not having the chance to wring them out.

"Sister, it's true! It's the eagle emblem of the Li Mountains Academy!" Mu Xiaoyu exclaimed, pointing to the emblem of the soaring eagle on the chest of his garment.

The emblem of the Li Mountains Academy was indeed an eagle, symbolizing the aspiration to soar high.

Thanks to the assistance of the two women, Chu Tianyu reached the outskirts of the battlefield in just under two days.

The sight of the vast pit, seemingly without end, left Chu Tianyu and Mu Xiaoyu with their mouths agape in astonishment. Even the typically composed Mu Wan'er showed a look of shock on her face.

Chu Tianyu was profoundly shaken. He recalled this place being a mountainous forest, but now all that remained was a gaping chasm resembling the maw of a colossal beast. The strength Ao Xingyun must have possessed to create such a pit was beyond Chu Tianyu's imagination.

The two women were even more astounded, as their sect was situated in the Jiannan Mountain Range. They had an intimate knowledge of the range, with its vast expanse stretching hundreds of thousands of miles east to west, over ten thousand miles north to south, and reaching heights of tens of thousands of meters.

Yet now, the once-majestic landscape was gone; no peaks, no boulders, not even a blade of grass remained—just an endless chasm. Their exceptional vision was not enough to discern the pit's boundary.

"Brother Tianyu, I've never seen anything like this before!" Mu Xiaoyu said, her initial shock turning into excitement.

Chu Tianyu grimaced and replied, "This is a first for me too. I can't fathom how this came to be. Sister Xiaoyu, could you perhaps refrain from calling me 'little brother'?"

Chu Tianyu felt at a loss. Despite the fact that his body was only fifteen years old, he was actually well into his twenties. Being called "little brother" by such a young beauty was something he simply couldn't accept. He recalled how Mu Xiaoyu had been thrilled to learn that Chu Tianyu was just fifteen, endlessly calling him "little brother" with tireless enthusiasm.

Whenever Chu Tianyu inquired about her age, Mu Xiaoyu would pout and feign great offense, admonishing him, "Little brother, don't be so nosy. Haven't you learned it's rude to ask a lady her age? Keep it up, and I'll actually be mad!" Yet, whenever Chu Tianyu spun a tale, her annoyance would vanish, replaced by a beaming smile as if the irritation had never been.

Mu Wan'er, who typically stayed out of their playful antics, always seemed to be listening intently whenever Chu Tianyu shared a story, prompting him to put even more effort into his storytelling. Chu Tianyu found Mu Wan'er's demure charm far more alluring than Mu Xiaoyu's lively cuteness. While he saw Mu Xiaoyu as a sister, he revered Mu Wan'er as the goddess of his heart.

"Hmph," Mu Xiaoyu huffed, her nose crinkling slightly, "You're just a fifteen-year-old kid. If not a little brother, then what are you?"

"It's as if you're fifty!" Chu Tianyu grumbled under his breath in protest.

But Mu Xiaoyu was no ordinary girl; with keen ears and sharp eyes, she caught Chu Tianyu's comment and bristled like a cat with its tail stepped on, "What! I'm only thirty-five, and you dare to call me fifty?"

Chu Tianyu's jaw dropped in disbelief as he stared at the girl who looked no older than seventeen or eighteen.

Mu Wan'er was equally taken aback, gazing at the fuming Mu Xiaoyu with her cherry lips parted in surprise.

Chu Tianyu, captivated by Mu Wan'er's enticing lips, found himself momentarily lost in a daze.

Realizing she had let something slip, Mu Xiaoyu hastily tried to correct herself, "No, that's not right. I'm not thirty-five. I meant fifty—no, wait, thirty-five. Ah!" In her fluster, she clapped a hand over her mouth, realizing the more she spoke, the more she confused herself.

The room fell silent for a moment. Mu Xiaoyu clapped a hand over her mouth, while Mu Wan'er regained her composure. Only Chu Tianyu continued to gaze intently at Mu Wan'er.

"Ah, you dummy, what are you gawking at? Why do you keep daydreaming about my senior sister?" blurted out Mu Xiaoyu, startling everyone.

Realizing he had been staring, Chu Tianyu quickly looked away, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. He bowed his head, too shy to meet their eyes. Having never dated in his past life, Chu Tianyu was completely inexperienced, but now he was beginning to understand what it felt like to have a crush.

Mu Wan'er's cheeks were tinged with pink, and she seemed slightly uneasy. She had been aware of Chu Tianyu's gaze for some time, and far from being repelled by his earnest eyes, she found herself feeling rather pleased.

"Did I put my foot in my mouth again? Never mind, I'll drop it. But wasn't the little brother just staring at senior sister?" Mu Xiaoyu asked, puzzled.

The awkwardness in the air intensified. Chu Tianyu, who was particularly bashful, turned an even deeper shade of red. Eventually, the mounting pressure led to a breaking point, and he stuttered, "Thank you, I know my way now. Goodbye!" With that, he dashed off before they could respond.

The two women were taken aback. Mu Wan'er's lips curved into a slight smile, seemingly charmed by Chu Tianyu, while Mu Xiaoyu fumed, "Is that kid really trying to make a move on you? Senior Sister, you couldn't possibly be interested in him, could you?"

Seeing Mu Wan'er's lips curl, a sense of foreboding washed over her. "No way, does Senior Sister like him too? That's not fair, he can't compete with me for you. I want to hug you to sleep every night and to... to..."

"Enough," interrupted Mu Wan'er, who usually epitomized grace and calm, now flustered with a fiery blush. "If you keep this up, I won't share a bed with you anymore."

"But no, I've always slept with you since we were little. I can't sleep without you, and holding you is just so comfortable..."

As Mu Xiaoyu's claims became increasingly outlandish, Mu Wan'er found herself unable to remain any longer. She swiftly exited, deliberately or not, steering clear of the direction where Chu Tianyu was.