“You… have no shame! In broad daylight, you disgrace the cultured!”
Tao Yao’s pretty face flushed red-hot, her fair hands tightly covering her eyes, yet leaving distinct gaps between her slender fingers.
Her young master had already been bewitched by the demoness, indulging in a land of tenderness.
As Gu Shenzhi’s most trusted maid, she absolutely could not let the Red Lotus Demoness’s scheme succeed.
Gu Shenzhi held Su Linghuang tightly, unwilling to let go for a long time.
The girl’s misty, affectionate eyes, the faint fragrance lingering in her snow-white hair, her graceful figure pressed closely against him, her soft, full curves against his chest, as gentle as clouds, accompanied by the firmness of her cherry-like peaks.
Holding such a marvelous beauty in his arms was truly the ultimate bliss of the mortal world.
It wasn’t until Tao Yao shouted herself hoarse that the two reluctantly parted, though their fingers remained intertwined, like threads of silk still connected.
“Let’s make this clear beforehand: I’m very petty. From now on, my husband is not allowed to practice swordsmanship alone with any woman of suitable age. I must be there watching. If you find it bothersome, I can take your place and handle it for you.”
Su Linghuang tucked her blushing hands behind her back, leaning forward slightly and winking at Gu Shenzhi, looking every bit like the enchanting fairy from a story.
Hearing this, Gu Shenzhi suppressed the joy in his heart and agreed, “Huang’er is right. I was thoughtless. I’ll leave Junior Sister Mo’s sword training to our extraordinarily talented and brilliant Red Lotus Saintess.”
If Mo Xiaonian kept pestering him, he’d surely go mad.
“Silver-tongued.”
The girl reached out and tugged at the corner of his mouth, her jade lips curling into a light smile.
“Your little maid is probably fuming to death. Go comfort her, but don’t do anything unnecessary. I’ll be waiting for you in the bedroom.”
With that, Su Linghuang shot a provocative glance at Tao Yao, her lotus-like steps light and graceful as she entered the courtyard, her tall and stunning figure captivating.
“You’re really infuriating me, Young Master. Why do you always side with outsiders?”
Tao Yao pouted her cherry lips, grumbling discontentedly.
She only hated the demoness, never her young master.
He was both her savior and the one who held her heart—how could she ever hate him?
Only then did Gu Shenzhi notice that his maid had changed into the attire of an inner disciple of the Moon Shadow Sect.
She wore a pristine white robe on top, paired with an indigo pleated skirt, a spiritual jade tied at the skirt’s edge symbolizing her status, engraved with the characters “Tao Yao” in regular script.
Some days ago, Tao Yao had sought out Yue Xi, expressing her desire to join the Moon Shadow Sect and hoping for acceptance.
As the senior sister of the inner sect, Yue Xi was delighted. She had noticed Tao Yao’s aptitude for cultivation—Wind Variant Spiritual Roots—upon their first meeting.
Though not as peerless as Linghuang, a once-in-ten-thousand-years prodigy, Tao Yao was still a rare talent, seen once in a decade.
Yet the foolish Spirit Sword Sect, instead of nurturing her, had sent her to serve a beastly young sect leader, wasting her potential.
For this matter, Yue Xi had even consulted her master, Peak Master Bai Meisheng of Light Shadow Peak, allowing Tao Yao to skip the minor competition and directly enter the inner sect.
A faint mist welled up in the girl’s clear eyes, so thin, like the light rain of early autumn.
Gu Shenzhi’s heart tightened, bitterness spreading within him.
A tear-streaked beauty always evoked pity, especially one as breathtaking as Tao Yao.
“I’m sorry, Xiao Yao, but I need the Red Lotus Saintess right now, and I need the Moon Shadow Sect’s support. Thank you for enduring this far.” Gu Shenzhi tried to sound gentle, but he knew this wasn’t gentleness—it was hypocrisy.
“This servant understands. For Young Master’s wishes, I can endure any length of time. It’s I who caused trouble for you today.”
Tao Yao spoke with a hint of apology, crystalline tears sliding down her cheeks, as poignant as red maples falling in an autumn night.
Gu Shenzhi suddenly felt a sharp pain in his heart.
The girl’s words were like an invisible dagger piercing his heart, slowly twisting, draining his blood.
After much thought, he chose to embrace the girl before him.
After all, the fault was his, not Tao Yao’s.
Inside the green-tiled pavilion, Su Linghuang lay on a comfortable, spacious bed, gazing wistfully at the ceiling beams.
She slightly regretted letting Gu Shenzhi go to comfort Tao Yao.
A man and a woman alone—who knows what might happen?
Wouldn’t that make her the spice in their illicit affair, making it more thrilling and pleasurable?
No, she had to go see what her husband was up to.
But as soon as she got up, Su Linghuang regretted it again.
As the Saintess of the Moon Shadow Sect, how could she let a man unsettle her heart so much?
Falling for a man was undoubtedly against the sect’s rules—how could she knowingly break them?
Moreover, everyone in Muyun Province knew this marriage was merely a formality.
There was no real affection between them, just two strangers bound by chains, filled with nothing but pain.
This engagement was just a performance to maintain the fragile peace in Muyun Province.
Her smiles and tears, her love and hate, should all be an act.
She should use her beauty to completely captivate Gu Shenzhi’s heart and soul, turning the young sect leader of the Spirit Sword Sect into her puppet.
That was how it was supposed to be!
But Su Linghuang, whose heart had just begun to stir with love, couldn’t do it.
Her smiles were genuine, her jealousy was real.
To love would betray her sect and master; to hate would betray her own heart.
It was an unsolvable dilemma.
Su Linghuang reached out her porcelain-white hand, trying to grasp the cold, clear moonlight, murmuring to herself, “Young Master Gu, my… husband.”
With a creak, the lightly closed door was pushed open, followed by the sound of footsteps ascending the stairs.
Gu Shenzhi’s expression was dazed, each step heavier than the last, his heart torn by indecision.
Surely he couldn’t have them all?
He wasn’t his late father, flitting through a garden of flowers like a carefree butterfly.
“You’re here?”
Su Linghuang asked with feigned composure, sitting on the bed’s edge, quietly admiring the moonlight outside, as if she didn’t care about Gu Shenzhi at all.
“Since the Saintess has spoken, how could a mere inner disciple like me dare disobey?”
Gu Shenzhi replied teasingly.
“You were just teasing and bullying me earlier,” Su Linghuang said, her delicate brows furrowing slightly, letting out a disdainful hum.
She patted the spot beside her and said, “Sit here. This Saintess has something to say to you.”
At this moment, Su Linghuang had shed her outer robe of falling plum blossoms, leaving only a thin camisole nightdress.
Her fair skin was largely exposed, smooth and delicate, exuding an alluring charm.
Her full curves were almost spilling out, tempting one to pull her into an embrace and cherish her.
After some hesitation, Gu Shenzhi sat down, though his heart remained cautious.
The incident with Bai Qi years ago still lingered in his mind.
Who could guarantee that Su Linghuang wasn’t another Bai Qi?
The girl naturally leaned against his shoulder, her snow-white hair cascading like a waterfall, the strap of her dress slipping slightly to reveal her delicate shoulder.
Her ruby lips parted softly, as if inviting someone to sin.
“After our marriage, we’ve been living separately, which is fine. But considering your feelings, this Saintess has decided to allow you one chance each month to hold me as we sleep. But you absolutely must not do anything unnecessary, or I’ll ignore you for the rest of my life.”
With that, Su Linghuang turned her head away haughtily, pretending indifference, though her crimson eyes never left the black-robed youth beside her.
The Red Lotus Saintess offering herself as a pillow—Gu Shenzhi could already imagine the expressions of the Moon Shadow Sect disciples if they heard of this.
Since he had already wronged Tao Yao, he couldn’t wrong Huang’er too.
Gazing at the Saintess’s ethereal face, Gu Shenzhi gently pulled her into his arms, sharing the same bed…
That night, he lay awake, his right hand behind his back, ready to summon the sword technique [Falling Plum] at any moment.