biàn qǐ cāng cù ， shì xiān jìng bàn diǎn zhēng zhào yě wú ， nà xiē yāo zú nǚ zǐ bù yóu de dà jīng shī sè ， dàn wén jiāo chì shēng dà zuò ， líng máng fēi wǔ ， yǐ yǒu shù rén jiāng fǎ bǎo jì chū 。
变起仓促，事先竟半点征兆也无，那些妖族女子不由得大惊失色，但闻娇叱声大做，灵芒飞舞，已有数人将法宝祭出。
The situation arose suddenly, with no prior signs. The妖族 women were taken aback, their expressions turning to shock as they heard the sharp cries and saw the flickering of spiritual light. Several had already summoned their talismans.
yóu mù sì gù ， rán ér chú le xū kōng zhōng yǒu yī gǔ dàn dàn de líng yā yǐn ér bù lù ， zhěng dòng jiàn zhù zhōng jìng sī háo yì xiàng yě wú 。
游目四顾，然而除了虚空中有一股淡淡的灵压隐而不露，整栋建筑中竟丝毫异象也无。
Looking around, however, all that could be seen was a faint aura of spiritual pressure lingering in mid-air; there were no other signs of anything amiss within the building.
zhè yàng gǔ guài de yí mù ， ràng zhū nǚ bù yóu de miàn miàn xiāng qù ， liǎn shàng de biǎo qíng jiē chà yì yǐ jí 。
这样古怪的一幕，让诸女不由得面面相觑，脸上的表情皆诧异以极。
This strange scene left the women exchanging glances, their faces showing extreme surprise.
“ hé fāng gāo rén ， jì jià lín cǐ chù ， pò wǒ fǎ shù ， wèi hé yòu bù gǎn xiàn shēn yī jiàn ne ， zhuāng shén nòng guǐ ， qǐ shì yīng xióng hǎo hàn suǒ wèi ？”
“何方高人，既驾临此处，破我法术，为何又不敢现身一见呢，装神弄鬼，岂是英雄好汉所为？”
"Who dares to intrude here and disrupt our spell? Why hide your face when you come to visit us? Acting like a god or demon is not the way of heroes!"
nà gōng zhuāng shào nǚ tà qián yī bù ， lěng lěng de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， cǐ nǚ bù dàn xiū wèi bù sú ， zhòu féng biàn gù ， fǎn yìng yě shì suǒ yǒu nǚ zǐ zhōng zuì lěng jìng de yí gè 。
那宫装少女踏前一步，冷冷的声音传入耳朵，此女不但修为不俗，骤逢变故，反应也是所有女子中最冷静的一个。
The young woman in court attire stepped forward, her cold voice echoing. She was not only skilled but also remained calm under pressure, unlike the others.
tàn xī shēng chuán rù ěr duǒ ， lín xuān zhè shí hòu dāng rán bù kě néng zài shì ruò wú dǔ ， dàn dàn de kāi kǒu le ：“ zhè wèi tíng lóu xiōng nǎi shì lín mǒu jiù shí ， hái qǐng zhū wèi dào yǒu bú yào kǔ kǔ xiàng bī 。”
叹息声传入耳朵，林轩这时候当然不可能再视若无睹，淡淡的开口了：“这位亭楼兄乃是林某旧识，还请诸位道友不要苦苦相逼。”
A sigh echoed as Lin Xuan could no longer ignore the situation and spoke softly: "This Pavilion Brother is an old acquaintance of mine; please, let my fellow daoists not push too hard."
huà yīn wèi luò ， dàn jiàn guāng huá yī shǎn ， lín xuān xié zhe yuè ér zài bàn kōng zhōng xiǎn xiàn 。
话音未落，但见光华一闪，林轩携着月儿在半空中显现。
Before his words were finished, a flash of light appeared, revealing Lin Xuan and Moon in mid-air.
liǎng rén yuán běn cáng dé bù yuǎn ， zhǐ shì tā de yǐn nì zhī shù shí zài shì fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， duì fāng shì xiān jìng yì diǎn yě méi yǒu fā xiàn shén me 。
两人原本藏得不远，只是他的隐匿之术实在是非同小可，对方事先竟一点也没有发现什么。
They had been hiding nearby, but their concealment technique was so powerful that the others hadn't noticed anything beforehand.
“ dù jié qī lǎo guài wù ！”
“渡劫期老怪物！”
"An old monster of the劫期!"
jǐ míng yāo zú nǚ zǐ tóng shēng jīng hū 。
几名妖族女子同声惊呼。
Several妖族 women exclaimed simultaneously, their voices tinged with fear.
shēng yīn zhōng dū dài zhe jīng jù zhī sè 。
声音中都带着惊惧之色。
Despite the faint spiritual pressure earlier, they still harbored a bit of侥幸. However, seeing Lin Xuan and Moon emerge, all hopes were dashed.
suī rán gāng cái de líng yā yǐ ràng tā men xīn zhōng yǒu suǒ cāi cè ， dàn bù guǎn rú hé ， xīn zhōng zǒng shì dài yǒu jǐ fēn jiǎo xìng de 。
虽然刚才的灵压已让他们心中有所猜测，但不管如何，心中总是带有几分侥幸的。
Moreover, things seemed much worse than expected; there were two old monsters of the劫期.
qī dài shì gǎn yìng chū cuò 。
期待是感应出错。
After all, the difference in power between a分神and a渡劫 was vast, even though their cultivation stages differed by only one level.
rán ér lín xuān yuè ér zhè yī xiàn shēn ér chū ， suǒ yǒu de qī wàng jiǎo xìng zì rán shì huà wèi le xū wú 。
然而林轩月儿这一现身而出，所有的期望侥幸自然是化为了虚无。
This unexpected arrival was beyond what they could handle.
ér qiě qíng kuàng bǐ xiǎng xiàng de hái yào è liè dé duō ， nán chán de dù jié qī lǎo guài wù jū rán yǒu liǎng gè 。
而且情况比想象的还要恶劣得多，难缠的渡劫期老怪物居然有两个。
The faces of the women showed signs of panic as they wondered whether to retreat or make other plans.
yào zhī dào fēn shén dù jié ， biǎo miàn shàng ， suī rán zhǐ chà yí gè jìng jiè ， kě shí lì què shì yǒu tiān rǎng zhī bié 。
要知道分神渡劫，表面上，虽然只差一个境界，可实力却是有天壤之别。
Only the leading woman in court attire remained composed. She bowed gracefully towards Lin Xuan and Moon: "I am Muxu, a servant of Princess Wanjiao. I come to greet you, esteemed seniors."
zhè bàn lù shā chū de chéng yǎo jīn ， kě bú shì tā men néng gòu yìng fù 。
这半路杀出的程咬金，可不是他们能够应付。
"This Pavilion Daoist is engaged to be married with our princess," she continued. "We have been sent by the princess to bring you back to our Drifting Cloud Valley for a celebration. If you do not mind, please join us and enjoy some wine together."
yī shí jiān ， zhòng nǚ de liǎn shàng dōu yǒu jīng huáng zhī sè ， bù zhī dào gāi jiù cǐ tuì qù 。 hái shì lìng zuò bié de dǎ suàn le 。
一时间，众女的脸上都有惊惶之色，不知道该就此退去。还是另作别的打算了。
Her words were courteous, leaving no obvious flaws, but they contained subtle implications.
wéi yǒu nà wéi shǒu de gōng zhuāng nǚ zǐ ， liǎn shàng yī jiù shì yī pài zhèn dìng zhī sè ， chōng zhe lín xuān yǔ yuè ér liǎng rén yíng yíng yī fú ：“ wàn jiāo gōng zhǔ zuò xià shì bì mò zhú ， jiàn guò liǎng wèi qián bèi 。”
唯有那为首的宫装女子，脸上依旧是一派镇定之色，冲着林轩与月儿两人盈盈一福：“万蛟公主座下侍婢墨竹，见过两位前辈。”
Inviting them to a wedding was meant to remind them not to save Pavilion Brother.
“ zhè wèi tíng lóu dào yǒu ， nǎi shì wǒ jiā gōng zhǔ de wèi hūn fū xù ， qiè shēn děng lái dào zhè lǐ ， shì fèng gōng zhǔ zhī mìng ， lái jiē guì rén huí qù ， liǎng wèi qián bèi jì shì wèi lái fù mǎ de péng yǒu ， ruò shì bù qì 。 hái qǐng qù wǒ men de wàn jiāo gǔ hē yī bēi xǐ jiǔ 。”
“这位亭楼道友，乃是我家公主的未婚夫婿，妾身等来到这里，是奉公主之命，来接贵人回去，两位前辈既是未来驸马的朋友，若是不弃。还请去我们的万蛟谷喝一杯喜酒。”
Although they couldn't defeat these women, those who dared offend Princess Wanjiao were few in the Three Realms. If it had been another old monster of the劫期, their words might have caused some hesitation.
zhè fān huà kè qì yǐ jí ， rèn shuí tīng lái ， dōu tiāo bù chū pò zhàn bàn diǎn ， rán ér lǐ miàn suǒ yùn hán de jī fēng què shí fēn lì hài 。
这番话客气以极，任谁听来，都挑不出破绽半点，然而里面所蕴含的机锋却十分厉害。
After all, while an old monster of the劫期 was formidable, it still depended on whom you compared them to. Ordinary cultivators would be at their mercy.
yǒu yī xiē yán wài zhī yì ， gù yì méi yǒu shuō chū lái 。
有一些言外之意，故意没有说出来。
Princess Wanjiao was a formidable figure—one of the Three Great Demon Kings and equal in status to Loose Immortals. An ordinary old monster of the劫期 was but an ant to her.
qǐng lín xuān èr rén qù hē xǐ jiǔ ， jiù shì diǎn xǐng tā men bú yào qù jiù tíng lóu 。
请林轩二人去喝喜酒，就是点醒他们不要去救亭楼。
Everyone's life was precious, so caution was warranted.
suī rán zì jǐ zhè xiē rén dǎ tā men bù guò ， dàn fàng yǎn sān jiè ， gǎn dé zuì wàn jiāo gōng zhǔ de cún zài què yě bù duō 。
虽然自己这些人打他们不过，但放眼三界，敢得罪万蛟公主的存在却也不多。
The woman remained calm under pressure; truly remarkable. Her words were not wrong, but Lin Xuan wasn't a conventional player.
ruò huàn yī míng dù jié qī lǎo guài wù ， yú zhè fān yán yǔ 。 dào zhēn yào diān liáng yī èr le 。
若换一名渡劫期老怪物，于这番言语。倒真要掂量一二了。
No one dared provoke Princess Wanjiao, but he had offended many top-tier existences. The venomous snake Ice Soul, the Golden Yue Corpse King—none of them liked him. With debts piling up, it was easy for Lin Xuan to shrug off another.
bì jìng dù jié qī cún zài suī fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， nà yě yào kàn xiàng duì shuí lái shuō ， ruò shì miàn duì pǔ tōng de xiū xiān zhě ， yí zhǐ qì shǐ 。 zì rán shì méi yǒu dà ài de 。
毕竟渡劫期存在虽非同小可，那也要看相对谁来说，若是面对普通的修仙者，颐指气使。自然是没有大碍的。
It didn't matter if he offended yet another; what could Wanjiao do?
dàn wàn jiāo wáng hé děng rén wù 。
但万蛟王何等人物。
The entire exchange took mere moments, but Pavilion Brother remained bound and immobile on the ground, his face contorted with distress.
líng jiè sān dà yāo wáng zhī yī ， yǔ sàn xiān píng qí ， pǔ tōng de dù jié qī ， yú tā yě bù guò shì lóu yǐ 。
灵界三大妖王之一，与散仙平齐，普通的渡劫期，于他也不过是蝼蚁。
He couldn't help but seek assistance from Lin Xuan. The principle of prioritizing lesser harm over greater was clear to him.
shéi de xiǎo mìng ér dōu zhǐ yǒu yí gè 。 yòu zěn me kě néng bù jǐn shèn xíng shì ne ？
谁的小命儿都只有一个。又怎么可能不谨慎行事呢？
"Brother Lin, help me!"
cǐ nǚ chù biàn bù jīng ， dàng zhēn liǎo de ， zhè fān yán yǔ 。 yuán běn yě méi yǒu cuò ， kě xī lín xuān bú shì àn cháng lǐ chū pái de rén wù 。
此女处变不惊，当真了得，这番言语。原本也没有错，可惜林轩不是按常理出牌的人物。
"Don't worry, I wouldn't abandon you."
wàn jiāo wáng ， bié rén gù rán shì bù gǎn rě ， dàn lín xuān dé zuì de dǐng jí cún zài nán dào shǎo le ？
万蛟王，别人固然是不敢惹，但林轩得罪的顶级存在难道少了？
As he spoke, Lin Xuan turned and said: "Fair ladies, this Pavilion Brother is a dear friend of mine; please have mercy on him."
bǎo shé bīng pò ， jīn yuè shī wáng ， wú bù hèn tā rù gǔ ， suǒ wèi shī zi duō le bù yǎng ， zhài duō le bù chóu ， lín xuān dào yě néng gòu zuò dào màn bù zài hū 。
宝蛇冰魄，金玥尸王，无不恨他入骨，所谓虱子多了不痒，债多了不愁，林轩倒也能够做到漫不在乎。
Lin Xuan's words carried no anger, but the women's expressions darkened as they exchanged glances.
fǎn zhèng yě bù chà zài dé zuì zhè yí gè ， wàn jiāo wáng yòu néng nài wǒ hé ？
反正也不差再得罪这一个，万蛟王又能奈我何？
"Sir, do you not care about Princess Wanjiao? She is the only daughter of the Wanjiao King. Offending her could bring you nothing but trouble," the woman in court attire said doubtfully. Such brazenness was unprecedented; even an old monster of the劫期 should have some respect for a princess.
zhěng gè guò chéng shuō lái fán fù ， qí shí bù guò shùn xī de gōng fu 。
整个过程说来繁复，其实不过瞬息的功夫。
Lin Xuan sighed, knowing further words would be useless.
ér tíng lóu yī jiù bèi kǔn zài dì shàng dòng tán bù dé ， liǎn sè nán kàn dào jí chù 。
而亭楼依旧被捆在地上动弹不得，脸色难看到极处。
With a wave of his sleeve, a streak of green light emerged from his robe. At first glance, there seemed to be no issue, but the green light twisted and enveloped Wang Tinglou.
yě nán guài tā rú cǐ ， gù rén chóng féng ， yuán běn yīng gāi huān xǐ ， kě zì jǐ zhè fú xíng mào ， wěi shí tài láng bèi le xiē 。
也难怪他如此，故人重逢，原本应该欢喜，可自己这幅形貌，委实太狼狈了些。
A series of crackling sounds filled their ears as Wang Tinglou, who had been tightly bound like a粽子, suddenly stood up.
rán ér miàn zi gù rán fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， dàn yī xiǎng dào bèi zhuō huí qù de hòu guǒ ， wàng tíng lóu hái shì rěn bú zhù kāi kǒu qiú zhù ， liǎng quán xiāng hài qǔ qí qīng de dào lǐ ， tā yòu qǐ huì bù xiǎo de 。
然而面子固然非同小可，但一想到被捉回去的后果，望亭楼还是忍不住开口求助，两权相害取其轻的道理，他又岂会不晓得。
"Impossible!"
“ lín xiōng zhù wǒ ！”
“林兄助我！”
The woman in court attire's expression changed dramatically. She knew the Purple Bamboo Cloud Sealing Array well; even an old monster of the劫期 would not easily break free from such constraints.
“ dào yǒu fàng xīn ， lín mǒu qǐ huì zhì nǐ yú bù gù 。”
“道友放心，林某岂会置你于不顾。”
Looking closer, both their presences were impressive. Moon was still partially sealed but her beauty was undeniable—she could captivate anyone with her charm. As for Lin Xuan, he might be plain-looking, but his rich cultivation experience had given him an air of uniqueness that left a lasting impression.
lín xuān yī biān shuō ， yī biān zhuǎn guò tóu lú ， liǎn shàng de biǎo qíng kàn bù chū xǐ nù ：“ jǐ wèi xiān zi ， zhè wèi tíng lóu xiōng ， nǎi shì lín mǒu zhì yǒu ， hái qǐng nǐ men gāo tái guì shǒu 。”
林轩一边说，一边转过头颅，脸上的表情看不出喜怒：“几位仙子，这位亭楼兄，乃是林某挚友，还请你们高抬贵手。”
Despite the woman's late-stage 分神, she couldn't determine Lin Xuan's true power level in a short while.
lín xuān de huà ， bù dài fēn háo huǒ qì ， rán ér jǐ míng yāo zú de nǚ zǐ tīng le ， biǎo qíng què shì nán kàn yǐ jí ， miàn miàn xiāng qù 。
林轩的话，不带分毫火气，然而几名妖族的女子听了，表情却是难看以极，面面相觑。
She wondered if this person was indeed an old monster of the后期劫期. However, even such beings would not dare offend Wanjiao King; it truly was a strange situation.
“ gé xià zhēn bù gù jí wàn jiāo gōng zhǔ ， yào zhī dào wàn jiāo wáng de nǚ ér ， kě zhǐ yǒu zhè me yí gè ， gé xià dé zuì le wǒ jiā gōng zhǔ ， kě bù jiàn dé yǒu shén me hǎo chù 。” gōng zhuāng nǚ zǐ liǎn lù yí sè ， zhè me dǎn dà bāo tiān de jiā huo ， hái zhēn méi yǒu jiàn guò 。
“阁下真不顾及万蛟公主，要知道万蛟王的女儿，可只有这么一个，阁下得罪了我家公主，可不见得有什么好处。”宫装女子脸露疑色，这么胆大包天的家伙，还真没有见过。
As the saying goes, distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. Despite Wanjiao King's fame, Lin Xuan showed no concern, leaving her helpless given their current power disparity.
biàn shì dù jié qī ， yú qíng yú lǐ ， yě bù gāi méi yǒu fēn háo gù jì 。
便是渡劫期，于情于理，也不该没有分毫顾忌。
But the princess had strict orders to bring Wang Tinglou back. What could she do?
lín xuān tàn le kǒu qì ， duō shuō wú yì 。
林轩叹了口气，多说无益。
The woman in court attire grew anxious as a cold voice suddenly echoed: "A disrespectful brat! Daring to meddle with Wanjiao King's affairs; don't you know that trouble comes from too much talk and烦恼from overstepping? Fenhong wants to see who dares to defy our princess."
dàn jiàn tā xiù páo yī fú ， yī dào qīng xiá zì yī xiù zhōng fēi lüè ér chū ， biǎo miàn shàng ， kàn bù chū yǒu shén me bù tuǒ ， rán ér nà qīng xiá lüè yī zhuǎn zhé ， jū rán jiāng wàng tíng lóu bāo guǒ 。
但见他袖袍一拂，一道青霞自衣袖中飞掠而出，表面上，看不出有什么不妥，然而那青霞略一转折，居然将望亭楼包裹。
The voice appeared out of nowhere, followed by a streak of light.
The situation arose suddenly, with no prior signs. The妖族 women were taken aback, their expressions turning to shock as they heard the sharp cries and saw the flickering of spiritual light. Several had already summoned their talismans.
Looking around, however, all that could be seen was a faint aura of spiritual pressure lingering in mid-air; there were no other signs of anything amiss within the building.
This strange scene left the women exchanging glances, their faces showing extreme surprise.
"Who dares to intrude here and disrupt our spell? Why hide your face when you come to visit us? Acting like a god or demon is not the way of heroes!"
The young woman in court attire stepped forward, her cold voice echoing. She was not only skilled but also remained calm under pressure, unlike the others.
"Alas!"
A sigh echoed as Lin Xuan could no longer ignore the situation and spoke softly: "This Pavilion Brother is an old acquaintance of mine; please, let my fellow daoists not push too hard."
Before his words were finished, a flash of light appeared, revealing Lin Xuan and Moon in mid-air.
They had been hiding nearby, but their concealment technique was so powerful that the others hadn't noticed anything beforehand.
"An old monster of the劫期!"
Several妖族 women exclaimed simultaneously, their voices tinged with fear.
Despite the faint spiritual pressure earlier, they still harbored a bit of侥幸. However, seeing Lin Xuan and Moon emerge, all hopes were dashed.
Moreover, things seemed much worse than expected; there were two old monsters of the劫期.
After all, the difference in power between a分神and a渡劫 was vast, even though their cultivation stages differed by only one level.
This unexpected arrival was beyond what they could handle.
The faces of the women showed signs of panic as they wondered whether to retreat or make other plans.
Only the leading woman in court attire remained composed. She bowed gracefully towards Lin Xuan and Moon: "I am Muxu, a servant of Princess Wanjiao. I come to greet you, esteemed seniors."
"This Pavilion Daoist is engaged to be married with our princess," she continued. "We have been sent by the princess to bring you back to our Drifting Cloud Valley for a celebration. If you do not mind, please join us and enjoy some wine together."
Her words were courteous, leaving no obvious flaws, but they contained subtle implications.
Inviting them to a wedding was meant to remind them not to save Pavilion Brother.
Although they couldn't defeat these women, those who dared offend Princess Wanjiao were few in the Three Realms. If it had been another old monster of the劫期, their words might have caused some hesitation.
After all, while an old monster of the劫期 was formidable, it still depended on whom you compared them to. Ordinary cultivators would be at their mercy.
Princess Wanjiao was a formidable figure—one of the Three Great Demon Kings and equal in status to Loose Immortals. An ordinary old monster of the劫期 was but an ant to her.
Everyone's life was precious, so caution was warranted.
The woman remained calm under pressure; truly remarkable. Her words were not wrong, but Lin Xuan wasn't a conventional player.
No one dared provoke Princess Wanjiao, but he had offended many top-tier existences. The venomous snake Ice Soul, the Golden Yue Corpse King—none of them liked him. With debts piling up, it was easy for Lin Xuan to shrug off another.
It didn't matter if he offended yet another; what could Wanjiao do?
The entire exchange took mere moments, but Pavilion Brother remained bound and immobile on the ground, his face contorted with distress.
He couldn't help but seek assistance from Lin Xuan. The principle of prioritizing lesser harm over greater was clear to him.
"Brother Lin, help me!"
"Don't worry, I wouldn't abandon you."
As he spoke, Lin Xuan turned and said: "Fair ladies, this Pavilion Brother is a dear friend of mine; please have mercy on him."
Lin Xuan's words carried no anger, but the women's expressions darkened as they exchanged glances.
"Sir, do you not care about Princess Wanjiao? She is the only daughter of the Wanjiao King. Offending her could bring you nothing but trouble," the woman in court attire said doubtfully. Such brazenness was unprecedented; even an old monster of the劫期 should have some respect for a princess.
Lin Xuan sighed, knowing further words would be useless.
With a wave of his sleeve, a streak of green light emerged from his robe. At first glance, there seemed to be no issue, but the green light twisted and enveloped Wang Tinglou.
A series of crackling sounds filled their ears as Wang Tinglou, who had been tightly bound like a粽子, suddenly stood up.
"Impossible!"
The woman in court attire's expression changed dramatically. She knew the Purple Bamboo Cloud Sealing Array well; even an old monster of the劫期 would not easily break free from such constraints.
Looking closer, both their presences were impressive. Moon was still partially sealed but her beauty was undeniable—she could captivate anyone with her charm. As for Lin Xuan, he might be plain-looking, but his rich cultivation experience had given him an air of uniqueness that left a lasting impression.
Despite the woman's late-stage 分神, she couldn't determine Lin Xuan's true power level in a short while.
She wondered if this person was indeed an old monster of the后期劫期. However, even such beings would not dare offend Wanjiao King; it truly was a strange situation.
As the saying goes, distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. Despite Wanjiao King's fame, Lin Xuan showed no concern, leaving her helpless given their current power disparity.
But the princess had strict orders to bring Wang Tinglou back. What could she do?
The woman in court attire grew anxious as a cold voice suddenly echoed: "A disrespectful brat! Daring to meddle with Wanjiao King's affairs; don't you know that trouble comes from too much talk and烦恼from overstepping? Fenhong wants to see who dares to defy our princess."
The voice appeared out of nowhere, followed by a streak of light.