Chapter 301: Chapter 238: The Situation Is Not Good_2
Liang Lu’s interest piqued instantly, “Your schoolmate wouldn’t happen to be Lin Yao, would it?”

“It’s probably just someone with the same name,” Jiang Cheng attempted his final struggle, “There are many people with the same name in this world.”

“There are many with the same name, but the chances of them being both same-named and equally beautiful are almost nonexistent, right?”

Yue Linger suddenly interjected, “Liang, you haven’t seen Jiang Cheng’s Lin, have you? How do you know that Jiang Cheng’s Lin and the Lin Yao you know are both ‘very beautiful’?”

Liang Lu said as if it was the most natural thing in the world, “Just look at yourself. Then look at me.”

Yue Linger understood.

She felt that Liang Lu was right, although Jiang Cheng had never mentioned it, but looking at the facts, there was not a single unattractive female cultivator around Jiang Cheng.

With things having reached this point, Jiang Cheng finally convinced himself to face the truth.

“Liang, how is your relationship with Lin Yao?”

“Hmm…”

After thinking it over seriously, Liang Lu said, “It’s okay, we can talk.”

“That’s good,” Jiang Cheng let out a sigh of relief, “Just don’t bring me up, especially in front of her.”

“Why?” Liang Lu’s eyes shone, Jiang Cheng’s complexion changed whenever Lin Yao was mentioned, there must be an unspeakable secret between them!

“It’s not convenient to talk about this. Let’s get back to work.”

Having said that, Jiang Cheng went back to his station.

He left behind a visibly unsatisfied Liang Lu and a frowning, contemplative Yue Linger.

Gossip is human nature, not to mention Liang Lu was a female cultivator, and she was very interested in Lin Yao and Jiang Cheng.

“Yue, what are you thinking? Could it be that you also know Lin Yao?”

Yue Linger shook her head, “I don’t know her, but the fact that Jiang Cheng didn’t tell the truth is quite rare.”

“So, there is something between him and Lin Yao?”

“I don’t think it’s just something, I think it’s a big deal.”

Liang Lu was quite excited, speaking earnestly, Jiang Cheng, who was calm and abnormal, and Lin Yao, who was decisive in killing and had a firm Dao heart, were simply a natural couple! Quite ship-worthy!

Then Yue Linger doused her excitement with a bucket of cold water.

“Liang, what are you so happy about? If there really is something between Lin Yao and Jiang Cheng, wouldn’t you become Lin Yao’s ‘little sister’?”

Liang Lu: ???

“I, I don’t have to have Jiang Cheng!”

Yue Linger let out a cold laugh, “You’re still too young, Liang. After you’ve seen the male cultivators out there, you’ll be dying to stick close to Jiang Cheng.”

Liang Lu was about to retort, saying: there are plenty of great male cultivators out there!

But then she immediately thought of her father, and her numerous imperial brothers, including those in Qingxuan University who only knew how to seduce female cultivators and had no ambition.

Suddenly, she felt that what Yue Linger said made some sense.

The male cultivators she couldn’t care less about were wandering the streets en masse, and the only one she was interested in really was just Jiang Cheng.

If she missed this ‘village’, she might not find this ‘shop’ again.

Then, she self-taught the realization that “prophet Yue Linger” had—the moment there were real feelings between Lin Yao and Jiang Cheng, she would naturally become Lin Yao’s “little sister.”

Meaning, whether in terms of cultivation or emotions, she would be thoroughly outclassed by Lin Yao, right?

Liang Lu held her head, her heart tangled in melancholy: she didn’t want that at all!

“Liang, are you feeling unwell?”

Jiang Cheng noticed Liang Lu’s discomfort and approached with a kind voice, “If you’re feeling unwell, you can go home and rest. Our rubbing work can wait a day or two, it’s no problem.”

Yue Linger, seeing more clearly than Jiang Cheng, simply teased out loud, “Yeah, Liang, if you don’t like it, just leave, no one is stopping you.”

“I’m not leaving, I’m fine,” Liang Lu declared, as if she had made some sort of decision.

In this lifetime, she had to be better than Lin Yao in at least one aspect, right?

With Lin Yao’s personality, as rigid as a stone, she wouldn’t make a sound even when hit with an eight-foot pole; how could anyone like her?

Liang Lu refused to believe that she couldn’t surpass Lin Yao in the realm of love.

Could Lin Yao help Jiang Cheng with his work like she did?

…

Liang Lu wasn’t the only one struggling; so was Li Qingge.

The plan of the Taixu Sect was about to be successful; how could they let it be ruined by Jiang Cheng halfway?

Mo Ningdan, as the negligent supervisor in charge of Liang Lu’s romantic affairs, had been brainstorming solutions with Li Qingge all along.

“Li, although Liang Lu was indeed influenced by Jiang Cheng, you know that even within the Taixu Sect, there are many seniors who are married and have spouses but still hold important positions,” Mo Ningdan pointed out.

Li Qingge shook her head, “This is different. Those seniors’ spouses are mostly unaffiliated cultivators, or belong to other minor ranks of Immortal Sects, and surely the seniors are the decision-makers in their households. But Jiang Cheng is not just anyone; once he joins the Tongtian Sect, a storm of blood and violence is inevitable. Moreover, Jiang Cheng is a man of strong ideas. He was even capable of infiltrating the Demon Sect undercover. Based on your understanding of Liang Lu, do you think Liang Lu could be the one in charge with him?”

Mo Ningdan knew Liang Lu too well.

The virtues of Liang Lu were diligence, solidity, hard work, and willingness to take advice—she never talked back to her teacher.

Therefore, if Liang Lu were to be paired with Jiang Cheng, it was almost certain that she would listen to him without resistance.

Li Qingge said, “Mo, do you see the problem now? That’s why I had you keep a close watch on Jiang Cheng from the start—to prevent this exact situation! Although Jiang Cheng has helped us a lot, in the end, he belongs to the Tongtian Sect. We’ve gone through great efforts to support Liang Lu in becoming empress with the intention of revitalizing the Liangguo Subrudder. If, in the end, Liang Lu falls for Jiang Cheng and he wins her over, our carefully nurtured genius cultivator—and her imperial position—will all benefit Jiang Cheng and the Tongtian Sect!”

Mo Ningdan listened with a grave expression.

Freedom in love was a basic right for those in the Immortal Sects.

The intention was to counteract arranged marriages and break the influence of immortal cultivation families. The effect was obvious; now, the immortal cultivation families could hardly compete effectively with the Immortal Sects, and it could be said that the Immortal Sects’ open strategies were very successful.

The Taixu Sect was the biggest beneficiary of free love, charming countless exceptional members from other Immortal Sects to serve the Taixu Sect willingly or not, whether with or without compensation.

However, neither Li Qingge nor Mo Ningdan expected that one day the Tongtian Sect would use free love against the Taixu Sect itself!

Was this the price the Taixu Sect paid for causing a schism within the Tongtian Sect?

“Li, it’s useless to talk about this now. Let’s think of a way to separate Liang Lu from Jiang Cheng,” Mo Ningdan suggested.

“Do you think I don’t know that?” Li Qingge sighed, “The problem is that there’s no way to make Liang Lu leave him willingly.”

Mo Ningdan said, “Haven’t you seen enough Core Formation Enlightenment records from the seniors? Isn’t there one that could be useful?”

Li Qingge also felt powerless; although she had ample theoretical knowledge, there was no type like Jiang Cheng in her theories!

“Liang Lu doesn’t care how many female cultivators Jiang Cheng has around him; how am I supposed to come up with a solution? Most schemes to sow strife will be useless,” she lamented.

“Then Li, is there a possibility that instead of making Liang Lu give up on Jiang Cheng, we make Jiang Cheng give up on Liang Lu?” Mo Ningdan proposed.

“Go on,” urged Li Qingge.

“I may lack experience in love, but I do know that love, like dual cultivation, must surely be a two-way flow. Since we cannot find a solution through Liang Lu, let’s try finding a breakthrough with Jiang Cheng. If we can make Jiang Cheng dislike Liang Lu, and her feelings don’t get reciprocated, failing to form a cycle, she will naturally stop liking him,” Mo Ningdan reasoned.

Li Qingge clapped in approval, “Good idea! But how do we keep Jiang Cheng too busy to pay attention to Liang Lu?”

Mo Ningdan, a self-taught strategist, replied, “That’s easy. Find a female cultivator who’s better than Liang Lu to attract Jiang Cheng’s attention. Of course, this cultivator should be very assertive and not fall for Jiang Cheng like Liang Lu did.”

“A female cultivator better than Liang Lu? And one who is very assertive, unaffected by Jiang Cheng…”

Both Li Qingge and Mo Ningdan knew the answer without saying it out loud.

In all of Qingxuan University, only Lin Yao fit the bill.

Lin Yao’s teacher, Yan Yue, didn’t have many objections to this.

“I have complete confidence in Lin Yao’s self-discipline,” Yan Yue said, “I’m personally very willing to cooperate with the sect’s plan, but…”

“But what?” Li Qingge asked urgently.

“Just like you said, Lin Yao is very assertive, and she doesn’t like male cultivators. I think she is unlikely to help you attract Jiang Cheng’s attention.”

Li Qingge was also worried about this.

However, to know the ultimate outcome, she would have to ask Lin Yao herself.