Chapter 637 - 636: Lin Yun’s Plan (Part 1)

Chapter 637: Chapter 636: Lin Yun’s Plan (Part 1)

After receiving Lin Yun’s message and replying through the Communication Token, the Monk and the Daoist immediately began to carry out his plan.

Sitting in his room, Lin Yun wore a complicated expression. In truth, he was reluctant to use this strategy, as it relied, to some extent, on a woman.

Deep down, Lin Yun was a man with a great deal of machismo. It was a belief instilled in him by his father, Lin Xiaotian, since childhood—a lesson that held true whether in the Divine Realm or in Yanhuang Country.

A man ought to be a pillar of strength, sheltering his woman from all of life’s troubles.

Yet, his current plan seemed to betray his core principles. The crux of it hinged on Xi Zijin, which was why he had specifically asked for her consent. If she had been unwilling, Lin Yun would not have gone through with it.

But in response to his question, Xi Zijin had nodded firmly and told him directly that she was willing.

After a moment of quiet contemplation in his room, Lin Yun summoned a Divine Palace maid and asked her to fetch Lin Jianhong.

Although she didn’t know why Lin Yun wanted to see Lin Jianhong, the maid agreed obediently and quickly left the small courtyard to fetch him.

He waited in the courtyard. Before long, Lin Jianhong walked in. He looked at Lin Yun and asked impassively, "What is it? Did you need something?"

"As a matter of fact, I do," Lin Yun replied with a smile.

At the sight of Lin Yun’s smile, Lin Jianhong’s guard went up instinctively. He said bluntly, "If you’re thinking I’ll help you escape, then I’m sorry. I can’t, and I won’t."

"You’re overthinking things," Lin Yun chuckled. "That’s not what I need you for."

’He’s not asking me to help him escape?’ Though filled with doubt, Lin Jianhong sat down in the bamboo chair next to Lin Yun, waiting for him to continue.

What Lin Yun had to say was actually quite simple. He knew that before they had met Qing Zhu, the three of them—Lin Jianhong, Song Tianyang, and Wei Yunhang—had all been in love with Xi Zijin. This was especially true for Lin Jianhong and Song Tianyang; the two had once fought a great battle over her. The incident was no secret in the Eastern Domain.

So, Lin Yun’s message for Lin Jianhong was simple: Xi Zijin had arrived in Divine Celestial City and wanted to meet him.

Upon hearing this, Lin Jianhong gave Lin Yun a skeptical look, his expression darkening. "Lin Yun," he asked coldly, "do you really think a pathetic trick like this will work?"

"Setting aside everything else, how would you know Xi Zijin is in Divine Celestial City? And how could she have contacted you? Do you take me for a fool?"

In the face of Lin Jianhong’s interrogation, Lin Yun simply smiled. "Believe it or not, it’s up to you. I’ve delivered the message. As for how I contacted Xi Zijin, you don’t need to know."

Lin Yun’s story was riddled with holes, and deep down, Lin Jianhong didn’t believe a word of it.

’How could Lin Yun possibly contact the outside world under such heavy surveillance?’ Lin Jianhong simply couldn’t believe it. ’Unless... unless he has a Communication Token.’

The thought of a Communication Token made Lin Jianhong freeze. His eyes fell on the Space Ring that Lin Yun was wearing.

’But... didn’t Qing Zhu confiscate his Space Ring? Why is it back on his hand? Could she have given it back to him herself?’ Lin Jianhong wondered.

If he had a Communication Token, then everything would make sense. After a long silence, Lin Jianhong finally left the courtyard without another word, not telling Lin Yun whether he would go to the meeting or not.

Watching Lin Jianhong’s retreating back, Lin Yun smiled faintly. He had, of course, deliberately let Lin Jianhong see the Space Ring on his hand.

It wasn’t enough to dispel all of his doubts, but Lin Yun was confident Lin Jianhong would go. His past obsession would make it impossible for him to refuse.

"The rest is up to you, Zijin," Lin Yun murmured to the sky, taking a sip of tea.

Back in his own residence, Lin Jianhong sat alone in his room, his mind in turmoil. Indeed, Lin Yun’s story was riddled with holes and shouldn’t be trusted.

But no matter how he looked at it, Lin Jianhong couldn’t figure out Lin Yun’s motive.

"Does he want to lure me out of Divine Celestial City so Zijin can assassinate me?" Lin Jianhong murmured to himself. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed like the only possibility.

He sat alone in his room all the way until nightfall. As darkness descended, Lin Jianhong finally came to. Just as Lin Yun had predicted, the doubt in his eyes had vanished completely.

’Even if this is a trap set by Lin Yun, I have to go,’ he thought.

Lin Jianhong had made his decision. The time and place Lin Yun had given him was a forest two hundred li east of Divine Celestial City, the following morning.

Early the next morning, Lin Jianhong left Divine Celestial City. Of course, he did not go alone. He brought several dozen Divine Palace Warriors and the Sixth Commander with him.

As one who had descended from the heavens, Qing Zhu had taken over the entire Divine Palace. During that time, Lin Jianhong, Song Tianyang, and Wei Yunhang had also managed to cultivate their own loyal followers within the Palace. ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Qing Zhu hadn’t tried to stop them, as this was a perfectly normal occurrence.

The Sixth Commander was the person Lin Jianhong trusted most in the Divine Palace, as well as his most obedient subordinate. Therefore, as a precaution, Lin Jianhong brought the Sixth Commander along.

The party left Divine Celestial City and sped toward the forest to the east. Meanwhile, Xi Zijin and the others had already relocated to the appointed place.

Seeing it was almost time, the Monk and Daoist spoke to Xi Zijin. "Zijin, if you don’t want to do this, don’t force yourself. Young Master Lin said it’s all up to you."

"It’s no problem," Xi Zijin replied with a nod.

Seeing this, the Monk and the Daoist said no more. As planned, the two of them quickly hid in a thicket some distance away.

She waited there alone. With a quarter of an hour to go before the appointed time, Lin Jianhong appeared. He was by himself; he had ordered the Sixth Commander and his men to halt five li away.

At that distance, the Sixth Commander and his men could still arrive in time to help if anything went wrong.

Seeing Xi Zijin standing there alone, Lin Jianhong’s expression visibly changed. In the past and even now, when comparing Xi Zijin to Qing Zhu, he still preferred Xi Zijin.

Qing Zhu was too dangerous a woman, and Lin Jianhong knew he could never control someone like her. Thus, what he felt for Qing Zhu was mere admiration, but what he felt for Xi Zijin was different. His feelings for her were genuine affection.