Yue Zhong smiled and leaned closer to Yue Xia. "Do you think you can survive just by not competing and not fighting? Unless you escape the Sky Sword Sect like your fourth and fifth brothers, perhaps, you can survive."
"I don't understand Big Brother's meaning." Yue Xia was not stupid. Unless Yue Zhong and Yue Ran were both gone, he would never be able to take that position. Moreover, with Yue Ran's current exposed capabilities, even if he tried his best, he couldn't catch up. It was better to obediently be the third young master. Perhaps Yue Ran, seeing how obedient he was, would let him continue to be a carefree and wealthy third young master!
"He is dealing with me now, and then it will be you, until there is no one left to compete with him for the position of Young Sect Master." Yue Zhong lowered his voice. "You think you are not a threat, but to Seventh Brother, as long as you are a son of Father, you are a threat. And the one from the Purple Jade Pavilion, who appears gentle and virtuous, is also not an easy person to deal with."
Yue Xia just smiled. "Anyway, Big Brother is there to shield us, isn't he?"
"If I can't hold on, what will you do?"
"Isn't it more useful to surrender and pledge allegiance than to resist?" After Yue Xia said this, he turned and left, a half-smile playing on his lips. Instigating such matters requires skill, and one must avoid being deceived by the other party. From the beginning, he had intended for these two to kill each other, preferably to a mutual destruction. Even if one of them survived, he would pose no threat to Yue Xia, as he had no intention of competing for the Young Sect Master's position. He just wanted to cause some trouble for them.
"Elder Ping, who is Xiao Qin? You seem to be very close to Brother Ran?" Huo Tong'er followed behind Elder Ping, asking with innocent curiosity.
"She is the sworn brother of the Young Sect Master."
"Sworn brother? Then it seems you are indeed very close. Is she from one of the other three major sects?"
"She is not." Elder Ping replied indifferently. "She is from the Land of Nowhere."
"What?" Huo Tong'er's eyes were full of disdain. "How can such a lowly person stay by Brother Ran's side? Moreover, she came from the Land of Nowhere. She could be a villain. If she follows Brother Ran, she must be trying to use him."
"Miss Tong'er, it is best not to say such things in front of the Young Sect Master, or the Young Sect Master will be angry."
"Brother Ran and I grew up together since childhood, with deep affection. Is it not as good as the relationship between them?" Huo Tong'er was quite displeased. She came to the Sky Sword Sect this time with the intention of becoming the Young Sect Master's wife. She relied on her relationship with Yue Ran. However, when she arrived, she found that Yue Ran was very indifferent to her, which made Huo Tong'er feel a little panicked.
"Miss Tong'er, sometimes, the depth of a relationship is not determined by time. Some people who spend twenty years together are not as close as some who spend only two days." Elder Ping looked at Huo Tong'er. "This is probably the fate between people."
"Elder Ping, do you mean that Xiao Qin and Brother Ran have known each other for a short time, but their feelings are deeper than mine?" Huo Tong'er asked slowly.
"I am just telling Miss Huo that some things cannot be measured by time." Elder Ping said softly. "You and the Young Sect Master grew up together, childhood sweethearts, with innocent affection. No one can compare to that relationship. However, the Young Sect Master and Xiao Qin have gone through life and death together, and their bond is also incomparable. These are two different kinds of feelings, and there is no need to compare them."
"What if I insist on comparing them?"
"Miss Huo, being too competitive is not a good thing. Instead, peaceful coexistence can lead to a win-win situation, especially since the Young Sect Master respects Xiao Qin very much." Elder Ping reminded Huo Tong'er that if she wanted to win over Yue Ran, she had to start with Xiao Qin.
Huo Tong'er immediately understood Elder Ping's meaning. "Tong'er understands. Thank you, Elder Ping, for your reminder."
"We have arrived at the Purple Jade Pavilion. I will not escort Miss Huo in. Farewell."
During dinner, Madam Yue watched Huo Tong'er, who was lowering her head and eating, with a flicker of an inexplicable light in her eyes.
"Tong'er, did something happen when you went out to play today? Why are you unhappy?" Madam Yue put a piece of pork rib into Huo Tong'er's bowl and asked softly.
"Aunt, I'm fine." Huo Tong'er replied with a forced smile.
"What, you don't even trust your aunt?" Madam Yue put down her chopsticks and stroked Huo Tong'er's head. "Did Ran'er bully you? If he bullied you, tell me, and I will discipline him." Su Dan Novel Network
"Aunt, no, Cousin Ran did not bully me." Huo Tong'er quickly explained. "By the way, Aunt, when Brother Ran came out of the Purgatory Tower today, we met. Brother Ran was with someone. Who is this person? I heard she even moved into Brother Ran's courtyard."
"Oh, you're talking about Xiao Qin." Madam Yue looked as if she had suddenly realized something. "Xiao Qin is Ran'er's sworn brother. They have a life-and-death friendship. That child is also an obedient child with good talent."
"I see that Brother Ran is completely obedient to her. I have never seen Brother Ran be so considerate to anyone before." Huo Tong'er said with a lot of sourness. "Fortunately, she is a man. If she were a woman, I would be so jealous."
Madam Yue couldn't help but laugh when she heard this. "It's good that she's a man. If she were a woman, with her talent and cultivation, she could even be the Young Sect Master's wife."
Huo Tong'er's expression instantly changed, and a sense of hostility arose in her heart.
"Aunt, I... can I live in Brother Ran's courtyard?" Huo Tong'er asked cautiously. If Madam Yue agreed to let her live in Yue Ran's courtyard, it would mean that Madam Yue was willing to accept her as her daughter-in-law. If Madam Yue disagreed, she would have to make other plans.
"I wish you would live in Ran'er's courtyard." Madam Yue clasped Huo Tong'er's hand. "You don't know how unreasonable that brat is. The last time I asked Jing Shu to send two maids to serve Xiao Qin, he directly beat them out and said that if anyone else was sent to his courtyard, they would all be killed. What do you think?"
"Aunt, my status is different from those maids. I am your niece, Brother Ran's sister. Just for this relationship, would he still beat me to death?" Huo Tong'er said confidently. "Moreover, Brother Ran and I have had a good relationship since childhood, so it's normal for us to live in the same courtyard."
"I'm afraid that boy might go crazy and hurt you." Madam Yue shook her head. "You are your eldest brother's darling, and nothing can go wrong."
"Aunt, don't worry, Brother Ran won't do anything to me." Huo Tong'er said as if she were acting spoiled, shaking Madam Yue's arm. "Aunt, please agree to me."