Chapter Thirty-Three: Aiding and Abetting

At the command, the crowd surged out of the Mo family estate. Seeing Lin Chen hastily parrying a strike from the Crown Prince, Yan Ruyu called out with a smile, "Lin Chen, are you alright?"

However, Lin Chen only replied coldly, "Get lost, you hypocritical sycophant who aids the wicked."

Without hesitation, he sprinted out of the Mo residence. Yan Ruyu felt a sharp pang in her chest, as if her heart had been cruelly tugged. Yet, Lin Chen did not run far; instead, he concealed himself on the roof of the Mo house, waiting for an opportunity to kill Yan Ruhu. He knew he could not let him live—both of the tragedies he had suffered were tied to this man. To let him go now would undoubtedly invite endless trouble later.

"Lin Chen..."

"Lin Chen, come out! It’s not what you think!"

Yan Ruyu shouted, searching everywhere for a glimpse of him, but found nothing.

Xie Mengmeng whispered, "Aren't you afraid of offending her by speaking to her like that?"

"Why should I care if she’s angry? We aren’t close," Lin Chen replied indifferently. He had once considered her a friend, but it was clear now that they were not suited for such a bond.

"Perhaps there is some hidden truth? Won't you listen?" Xie Mengmeng asked, her lips parting slightly.

"Whatever the truth may be, it is no excuse for shielding such an animal. If the Crown Prince had been defeated today, none of those women would have met a good end," Lin Chen said coldly.

"Fine! I’m no saint myself, so I won't judge," Xie Mengmeng sighed.

"True, I am no saint either, but I despise those who treat the lives of others as if they are nothing," Lin Chen said, gritting his teeth. If not for people like them, he would never have died at the Peach Blossom Temple. They knew exactly what their loved ones were doing, yet they chose to aid and abet, sinking into the same filth.

Xie Mengmeng was startled by his intensity and fell silent.

Above them, the sword aura surging from the Crown Prince's blade descended with visible force. Yan Ruyu channeled her own sword energy, weaving a dense, swirling web of light that formed an impenetrable shield around her.

*Boom!*

The massive blade struck, kicking up clouds of dust. The pale golden sword light collided violently with the shield, sending sparks flying and producing deep, resonant thuds. As the dust settled, the Crown Prince's sword light shattered, but the defensive barrier remained unmoved. In a blink, the sword energy surrounding Yan Ruyu coalesced into a giant blade, thrusting straight toward the Crown Prince.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

With a piercing whistle, the giant blade tore through the air, piercing the Crown Prince’s body with unstoppable momentum. Struck by the powerful force, he was sent flying like a kite with a broken string.

*Boom!*

He hit the ground and tumbled several times, blood soaking his clothes. His face deathly pale, he gritted his teeth and spoke with difficulty, "Quick... take me away."

The battle between Yan Ruyu and the Crown Prince ended in the Prince's defeat, and he fled the Mo estate in a wretched state. To celebrate, Mo Qingshan and Yan Ruhu hosted a grand banquet. They invited the Wang family to join, who, though initially resistant, felt compelled by the pressure of the Crown Prince's defeat to attend and offer their congratulations.

Yan Ruhu sat at the head of the table—an act of arrogance, as it was the Mo family's seat, though Mo Qingshan cared nothing for it. "Since you have all honored me with your presence, I toast you all," Yan Ruhu announced. The guests stepped forward one by one to offer toasts, some with false warmth, others with calculated sycophancy.

Only Yan Ruyu sat in a corner, sullen and despondent. She realized she had committed a grave, unforgivable mistake. Now that she had helped break the delicate balance of power, her ambitious brother would surely run wild.

As expected, Mo Qingshan ordered his men to round up all the women from the various families once more. Although some had managed to flee, hundreds were recaptured. Meanwhile, officials knelt before the palace gates, but the Crown Prince was too gravely wounded to see them.

"How is he?" a group of royal relatives gathered at the Eastern Palace gate, asking with frantic concern. They knew that if the Crown Prince did not recover, their Li family was finished. Among them was the Fourth Princess, Li Qianru, the Prince's own sister, her beautiful face etched with worry. The imperial physicians were overwhelmed and grew impatient with the constant questioning, though they dared not lash out at the royal kin.

"His life is not in danger, but whether he can recover his cultivation is hard to say," a grey-haired physician said, wiping sweat from his brow and letting out a weary sigh.

"Thank goodness... as long as he lives," Li Qianru said with a forced smile. Everyone knew it was mere self-consolation. Her brother was the pillar of the royal family. If he fell, the Supervisory Bureau might revolt, and the royal family would have nowhere left to turn.

On the roof, Lin Chen and Xie Mengmeng were forced to watch the sunset. Lin Chen yawned and said lazily, "How long are these people going to celebrate?"

"Who knows!" Xie Mengmeng leaned back, lying spread-eagled. Her voluptuous curves and long, jade-white legs left Lin Chen dry-mouthed and breathless; he quickly turned his head away. He knew that no matter what thoughts he had, he must never harbor improper intentions toward Xie Mengmeng—after all, nothing was more important than staying alive.

Xie Mengmeng’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. "You’re the longest-surviving man to ever stay by my side. Aren't you lucky?"

"Why are you so intent on leading others to their deaths? Have you never thought of finding someone to spend your life with?" Lin Chen asked curiously.

"Do you want to be that someone?" she countered with a laugh.

What kind of question was that? If he said yes, he’d be dead by tomorrow; if he said no, he feared hurting her fragile heart. Lin Chen uttered the most hypocritical words of his life: "I don't mind your past. I only care about the future."

Xie Mengmeng’s eyes widened, touched by the small gesture, before she laughed. "Then why must you insist on killing these people?"

"For the sake of a friend," Lin Chen replied with a faint, natural smile.

Just then, Yan Ruhu was helped out of the Mo estate. Xie Mengmeng immediately sat up. "He’s coming out."

Like two black cats in the night, the pair darted across the rooftops without making a sound.

"Why is it always this madman who ruins everything?" Xie Mengmeng muttered with annoyance.

"Go down and draw her away. I will take care of Yan Ruhu," Lin Chen instructed calmly.

At his words, Xie Mengmeng leaped forward, her palm striking directly toward Yan Ruhu. In the distance, Yan Ruyu’s cold eyes flashed with sudden vigilance.