Chapter 62: An Ally’s Choice

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"You trust me enough to come in here with me? Aren't you worried that tomorrow the rumors will fly wild?"

Once inside the room, with the wards lifted, Dongfang Shun dropped his usual composure, his tone tinged with helplessness. He truly had no idea what he had done to offend her this time.

Ji Yao entered, found herself a chair, and sat down without ceremony. "Have you forgotten? I’m no longer in the Outer Sect."

Indeed, she was no longer in the Outer Sect; even if rumors did arise, they would never reach her ears. After all, she belonged to Heavenly Law Peak now—who would dare spread idle gossip about a disciple from Heavenly Law Peak?

A few years back, Master Suwen’s second disciple, Gu Qiu, sought Ji Yao out several times. Back then, people did watch, but afterwards, not a single rumor emerged. Even the two personally taught disciples of Master Suwen have scant information about them circulating outside.

Such are the benefits brought by a change in status.

In recent years, Dongfang Shun had always felt the wind at his back, but even he had to admit a pang of envy now. He would still be stuck in the Outer Sect for some time yet, and he doubted the days ahead would be easy.

"With words like yours, you’re stabbing straight at my heart!"

Ji Yao merely curled her lip. "Well, you handed me the knife yourself."

He felt his heart ache all the more!

Dongfang Shun realized that Ji Yao’s attitude toward him had changed; she no longer avoided him as she once did, and there was a new, indescribable confidence in her demeanor.

Ever since he had made certain things clear on the flying ship to Lingyun Sect, he could sense Ji Yao keeping her distance—so although their conversations seemed familiar, they were always measured.

They had kept in touch over the years, but it was never intimate—just enough to keep the connection alive.

But today, with Ji Yao taking the initiative, jesting at his expense, he was genuinely surprised.

Still, it was for the best. For the only person who might know his secret to become a reliable ally—there was nothing more he could wish for.

Ji Yao’s decision to seek him out today was a signal—the sign of a long-term partnership.

No longer troubled by what had just happened, Dongfang Shun set aside his worries and spoke more freely.

"Since you care nothing for your reputation now, then I suppose I won’t mind having another ‘bosom confidante’ either."

This earned him a hollow, mirthless chuckle from Ji Yao.

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The thought of being Dongfang Shun’s "bosom confidante" made Ji Yao shudder. She was here to form an alliance, not to entangle herself in some unknown storyline.

"I’m well aware of your endless stream of admirers, but there’s no need to show off in front of me—unless you’re eager to lead the charge and cut down all those peach blossoms yourself."

Dongfang Shun’s face darkened; how could he have forgotten that this girl never let herself come off the worse? In the past, she might have held back, but now—he could only bow his head and admit defeat.

"Fine, I’m afraid of you. Today’s fault is mine—I apologize! Tell me, what do you want from me?"

Ji Yao’s current mindset was one of carefree abandon.

When she first met Dongfang Shun, Situ Jing was in closed-door cultivation and Ji Yao lacked confidence. After Situ Jing awoke, Ji Yao worried she might stumble into some storyline and become cannon fodder.

Now, she’d finally figured things out. When it came to Dongfang Shun, she felt a sense of shared fate; they were more alike than not, each carrying their own ‘cheat’ in life.

The difference was, even with his advantage, Dongfang Shun still had to fight with his own life on the line—lose that, and his advantage would pass to someone else.

Ji Yao, for all her struggles, at least had someone watching out for her; her life wouldn’t be lost so easily.

As for luck and fortune, what good are they if you’re dead? With that perspective, Ji Yao felt much more balanced.

"You said it yourself—then give me half of what you’re preparing for the secret realm excursion. I’ll pass on formation disks and artifacts, but pills and talismans are a must. Also, get me some first- and second-tier beast hides and blood, and these herbs listed here."

She handed Dongfang Shun a slip of paper.

He stared at her as if seeing her for the first time, struck speechless for a long moment. Was this compensation or daylight robbery?

"I can understand why you want pills and talismans, but beast hides and blood? That’s odd—they’re worthless and rarely collected. I don’t have any. As for herbs, I’ve never heard you dabbled in alchemy before."

Nonetheless, Dongfang Shun readily brought out all the items Ji Yao requested, save for the beast hides and blood.

Her words made it clear—she too was set on entering the Ascension Secret Realm, and their alliance began from this moment.

Ji Yao stored the items away, then considered and transferred five hundred lower-grade spirit stones into a storage pouch, which she handed to Dongfang Shun.

"This is confidential for now, but I won’t take your things for nothing. Take these spirit stones—if you get more, help me collect some beast hides and blood. If they’re not enough, you take the loss. Still, collect them if you can—however many stones you use, I’ll pay you back later."

Dongfang Shun accepted the stones without even looking at them. Both understood, so neither bothered with unnecessary courtesy. There would be time for that in the future—this was essential now.

"You didn’t come all this way just for this, did you?" Dongfang Shun took a seat beside her, assuming a posture that invited Ji Yao to state her real purpose.

Ji Yao lifted her gaze, looking at Dongfang Shun with unwavering seriousness. "What’s your real reason for signing up for the Ascension Secret Realm?"

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Dongfang Shun’s pupils contracted; he replied with a question of his own, his tone calm. "And you? Surely you’re not in need of a Foundation Establishment Pill anymore."

Since the conversation had reached this point, Dongfang Shun wasn’t afraid she’d guess he had ulterior motives. After all, her question, though phrased as one, carried implicit certainty—some things need not be spoken aloud.

Not wanting to spar with him any longer, Ji Yao knew if she didn’t lay things bare today, Dongfang Shun would circle around her endlessly.

"Let’s not pretend we’re seeking fortune or natural Foundation Establishment. To be frank, I’m going in to find a particular item. What about you? What are you after?"

Ji Yao instinctively kept her other motives concealed. For now, it was best for both of them—though it wasn’t the perfect way to describe it, their dynamic was, in essence, "the enemy in the open, I in the dark."

The one holding the trump card always holds the advantage.

Dongfang Shun seemed to deliberate for a moment, then raised his eyes to meet hers.

She didn’t flinch, returning his gaze with ease.

She’d learned this trick from Gu Qiu, after all; hadn’t Gu Qiu always maintained an air of serene confidence? It was a psychological game, and Gu Qiu had mastered it to his very core.

At length, Dongfang Shun finally spoke. "A legacy. There’s a legacy within the Ascension Secret Realm that I must obtain."

Ji Yao responded with a natural raise of her brows. At times like this, being too guarded arouses suspicion; a timely display of surprise is the wisest approach.

Still—a legacy in the Ascension Secret Realm? After thousands of years, there had never been such a rumor. How was it that Dongfang Shun was privy to such explosive news?

She couldn’t help but marvel—he truly was destined to be a main character in this story.

But a legacy, no matter how great, was still left behind by someone long gone. To Ji Yao, there was nothing more valuable than having Situ Jing, a living encyclopedia, at her side.

So, in her eyes, it wasn’t much of a temptation.

"That’s fine, then. We can work together!"

"You really have no interest in the legacy?" Dongfang Shun was puzzled. Could Ji Yao truly be so nonchalant?

Ji Yao shot him a sidelong glance. "Haven’t you tried this trick on me before? Back then, I couldn’t best you. But now—do you really think I can’t?"

Dongfang Shun finally smiled in relief. "Let’s work together."