Reborn As A Villainous Cannon Fodder

Chapter 521: Ch 521 – We’ve Met Before, Haven’t We?

“Could such an obedient child as Yino possibly be lying to me?”

When Changli uttered these words with clear favoritism in her eyes, Iris knew right then that she never should have harbored any expectations of this woman from the start.

Iris had always thought the Divine Gate acted quite domineeringly in the cultivation world.

But today, encountering Yino and Changli, Iris received a good lesson. She could never hope to bring charges against Yino in Changli’s hands because, from the very beginning, Changli had repeatedly stated her stance; this child, I will protect him.

At this moment, Iris realized Changli was serious. In all likelihood, Yino genuinely had some kind of kinship with her.

Thinking of this, Iris let out a slightly bitter, self-deprecating laugh.

“So that’s how it is. I understand.”

She nodded faintly, the fighting spirit in her eyes extinguished, leaving only submission to the strong.

Changli watched her, her expression unchanged, her tone icy and brooking no doubt:

“Is that so? Since the matter regarding Yino has been clarified, I also hopes that in the future, Iris will report back to the several Ancestors of the Divine Gate to clear up their misunderstandings about Yino.”

“Hehe…”

Hearing this, Iris couldn’t help but laugh.

She averted her gaze, looking into the distance, and sighed with a hint of helplessness: “Iris will certainly report truthfully. However… Your Excellency, the National Advisor, you also know that Iris is merely a Celestial Master with no authority to participate in major decisions within the sect.”

“How the Divine Gate’s Ancestors decide and view Yino’s existence in the future is not something Iris can influence with a few words…”

Speaking to this point, though Iris no longer dared to provoke Changli, she still let her gaze fall on the face of the boy, her lips curling into a secretive, mocking smile: “If by chance the Divine Gate’s Ancestors are unwilling to let go of their prejudices, then Iris can only pray that Yino won’t encounter any… unfortunate accidents within the borders in the future.”

With these words, the atmosphere in the entire courtyard of Jinglan Peak instantly became tense and charged once more.

Although Iris didn’t dare to say it outright, the insinuating tone of her words practically spelled out “We’ll see about that later” on her face.

For a moment, Yuyan clenched the sword in her embrace, and Xinyao also secretly broke into a cold sweat under her sleeve.

And just as everyone held their breath, the peerless beauty on the left side of the tea table closed her phoenix eyes with perfect composure;

“I will ensure not a single chicken or dog is left alive in the entire Divine Gate”

Time seemed frozen for three seconds.

When the ice shattered and Iris came back to her senses, her mind had completely crashed, leaving only the most instinctive, deep breaths from the depths of her soul facing sheer terror.

Fortunately, the killing intent emanating from Changli didn’t last long.

After a long silence, she opened her phoenix eyes again, then looked back with a somewhat playful gaze at the several spirit marks hidden on Yino’s hand.

“That said, Iris has not done only bad things.”

She smiled faintly and took the young man’s hand beside her.

Then, Changli gently infused her spiritual energy. She activated the crimson and white spiritual patterns on the back of Yino’s hand.

In an instant, two small fox figures materialized on Yino’s shoulders.

Under Changli’s watchful gaze, they leaped into the air, one on each side. Then they transformed into human forms in midair, standing beside Yino like left and right guardians.

“As far as I know, these two fox girls trained by Iris have been helping Yino greatly in both the Wuji and Liuli secret realms.”

Changli spoke. Her phoenix eyes were no longer as stern as usual. Instead, she reached out with an appreciative gesture and rubbed the white fox girl’s head.

Yuebai dared not move at all. Her tail was tucked tightly beneath her skirt. Being the focus of two supreme figures’ gazes, even the slightest breeze by her ears made her delicate body tremble with nervousness.

After all…

Iris alone was already comparable to the hidden ancestors of the White Fox clan.

To be patted on the head by the National Advisor of the Great Dragon Dynasty was truly an honor that could bring glory to Yuebai’s entire White Fox clan!

“Look, these two cutie are so sensible and share such a deep bond with Yino…”

“In my opinion, such a fine match is hard to come by. Why does Iris not do a good deed and give these two little ones to Yino from now on?”

As she spoke, Changli turned her gaze back to Iris.

This time, her eyes clearly carried a vengeful intent. Obviously, it was another retort to Iris’s earlier sarcasm.

Iris said nothing. She only glared at Yuebai and Jinyue. Her heart was filled with countless humiliations.

At the same time, Jinyue also came back to her senses from her flattered state.

She openly took Yino’s hand. Her cherry lips curved slightly upward. Her naturally mischievous fox-like beauty now carried an even more provocative air.

Iris looked at Jinyue. Her fists clenched so tightly they nearly drew blood.

She thought of those past memories…

She thought of how many times she had sneered at and dismissed Jinyue’s idealistic desire to change her fate…

Now.

All those memories had become boomerangs stabbing into Iris’s heart.

And all of this was merely because of an unremarkable young wastrel from the Grand Tutor’s Mansion whom Iris had never taken seriously!

“National Advisor, you are too kind.”

“They are merely two demons. What is the harm?”

“Back then, I took pity on them and had intentions of civilizing them. So I took them into the Divine Gate to teach them the ways of immortality.”

“Now that these two have rendered meritorious service, my civilizing has proven effective.”

Though her eyes were filled with gnashing resentment and jealousy, Iris still spoke with feigned indifference.

Her words were meant to secretly humiliate Jinyue and Yuebai as demons. More pointedly, they were directed at Changli herself, who was of Phoenix Clan origin yet served as National Advisor in the Great Dragon Dynasty.

Today’s battle with Changli had left Iris utterly defeated.

Not only had she failed to kill Yino, but she had been publicly humiliated. Now even Yuebai and Jinyue had been taken from her. Iris truly no longer cared about Changli’s authority.

“Is that so? It seems miss Iris is indeed an excellent teacher.”

Changli naturally heard the contempt for demon kind in her words.

However.

Having spent a thousand years in the Dragon Dynasty and served as National Advisor for several hundred years, whether from the Dragon Clan, the Human Clan, or even hatred from her own Phoenix Clan, Changli had heard it all.

Now…

For Iris, as an elder, to speak of demon kind as livestock was perfectly normal.

“If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave.”

Meeting Changli’s somewhat melancholic gaze, Iris rose alone. Her brow still showed defeat but also harbored much vengeful intent.

After all. Changli could not kill her today for the sake of the bigger picture.

In the future, once Iris returned to the Divine Gate, there would be plenty of time. Even if she feared Changli and could not kill Yino directly, the Divine Gate, as a hidden existence above the Five Great Immortal Sects, had plenty of methods to deal with Yino. They could extract his tendons and bones. They could seize his holy body. They could reduce him to a cripple! Then bury everyone he cherished, one by one, in heavenly fire…

Thinking of this, Iris narrowed her golden pupils. She raised her hand to summon her white-bodied, black-footed immortal crane.

“Lady Changli, we shall meet again. The Divine Gate will never bow to demon winds.”

She coldly dropped these harsh words and turned to mount her crane.

But before leaving, Iris suddenly felt nauseous. She spat out another mouthful of blood.

Atop the immortal crane, her two disciples, Qingshuang and Mingyu, hurried down to support her.

Iris departed in disgrace.

Atop Jinglan Peak, the atmosphere fell silent once more.

“Chaerin.”

In the center of the courtyard, Changli spoke in a deep voice. She glanced at the distant horizon and, calculating the time, said:

“Recently, with Ruoning away, the elders of the Lin mansion and Liu mansion have been worried sick… Now that Ruoning has returned safely, as her master, you should take Ruoning back to see her relatives.”

“Xinyao, accompany Chaerin and keep watch over the Lin mansion elders. Ensure they do not do anything out of line.”

“Understood…”

Xinyao nodded obediently.

She glanced at Yino and gave him a reassuring look. Then she turned and left.

However.

Her departure left Yuyan standing somewhat awkwardly in a corner of the courtyard.

Because just now, after the negotiation ended, Changli had first sent away Chaerin and Ruoning. Then she had sent away Xinyao. Now, aside from Yino’s spirits, Yuyan seemed to be the only idle person remaining.

“Yino, I will wait for you at the foot of the mountain.”

Yuyan was no fool.

She could read the atmosphere. Today, Yino had gotten into such big trouble. Changli had gone to great lengths to protect him. Now that the matter was settled, Changli, as an elder, naturally needed to stay and have a proper talk with Yino.

Thinking of this, Yuyan also glanced back at Yino before leaving. She gave him a gentle, reassuring look.

Yino nodded and watched his senior sister depart.

At the same time, Jinyue and Yuebai also tactfully followed Yuyan down the mountain to wait.

In just a few minutes, under Changli’s silent pressure, the entire Jinglan Peak had become so quiet that only the heartbeats and breathing of Yino and Changli remained.

“Being alone with me, you do not seem nervous at all?”

Changli raised an eyebrow with curiosity.

Before Yino, she still maintained her signature pose: leaning forward, chin resting on interlaced fingers. Her mysterious yet alluring eyes of a mature beauty stared directly into Yino’s eyes.

“Sit.”

A familiar scene and familiar words. This was already the second time today Yino had experienced this.

The difference was that before, he had been in the illusion realm, invited to tea by a Changli conjured by illusion magic. But now, the peerlessly beautiful woman before him was the real Changli herself.

“I am just…”

Yino was about to answer.

But before he could speak, the stunning beauty across the table suddenly raised her slender finger.

“Do not answer yet. Let me guess…”

“The reason you are not nervous seeing me is probably because, in that Illusion Realm, I have already met you once before, have I not?”

Yino: ??!