Mo Ruxue still ran away.
Xu Sheng had expected this.
After all, Mo Ruxue had always held herself to very high moral standards.
She was an idealist. In her eyes, there existed a pure and beautiful world, and her demands on herself were often based on that idealistic vision.
So when she was clear-headed, able to think and judge, making decisions was especially painful for her.
She could sense her extraordinary feelings toward Xu Sheng.
But who was Xu Sheng?
The current Valley Lord of the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons, the number one demon sect—the undisputed greatest demon in the world.
She could trade and cooperate with Xu Sheng. For the sake of her disciple’s life, Mo Ruxue was even willing to give up something she had guarded for years.
But falling in love?
Mo Ruxue would never admit it.
Aside from emotional attachment, there was also the physical aspect.
Mo Ruxue wanted… wanted to be close to Xu Sheng, wanted to… be intimate with him.
She couldn’t pinpoint when this feeling had started.
Was it when he touched her foot during the meal?
Was it when he lifted her out of the hot spring?
Or last night, when he used his hands on her…
Or even the very first time she met Xu Sheng?
Compared to emotional feelings, for someone as conservative—even somewhat feudal—as Mo Ruxue, her physical reactions brought her even greater shame.
Was she a wanton woman?
She wasn’t, and she would never admit to being one.
Under Xu Sheng’s relentless advances, Mo Ruxue had already wavered immensely. But it was precisely this wavering that caused her pain.
Emotionally, physically… the dual pressure pushed Mo Ruxue toward Xu Sheng, yet her morality forbade it.
Xu Sheng remained; Mo Ruxue was the one left in disarray.
In the end, Mo Ruxue stood up to leave. Xu Sheng even remembered to drape a coat over her.
Perhaps this gesture added another layer of conflict in Mo Ruxue’s heart.
That was for the best. Xu Sheng had achieved such a level of seduction in such a short time largely due to these small details.
…
Only Xu Sheng remained in the room.
Mo Ruxue’s departure just now was more like an escape; she had even forgotten to close the door.
Xu Sheng stretched out a finger and lightly waved it. Spiritual energy was about to shut the door when a hand suddenly pulled it open.
Mo Ruxue hadn’t changed her mind—Xu Sheng was clear on that.
It was Li Qingqing.
Without a word, Li Qingqing entered the room, silently closed the door, and stood by the entrance.
The lights were already off. If it had been an ordinary woman standing there, the angle might have seemed somewhat eerie.
But Li Qingqing had a slender figure, dressed simply, her silhouette accentuating her curves. Even in this dim environment, there was nothing frightening about her.
It was as if she was waiting for Xu Sheng’s command. He had no doubt that if he didn’t speak, she would stand guard by the door all night.
He waved his hand, slightly exasperated.
“Come here.”
In the darkness, he couldn’t make out Li Qingqing’s expression. She simply walked gracefully toward him, her thin clothes swaying against the night.
Li Qingqing reached the bedside. She could even smell the faint scent left behind by Mo Ruxue, who had just left.
“You did an excellent job with what I asked you to do.”
It was a casual remark. Li Qingqing nodded lightly.
“These are all this servant’s duties.”
Xu Sheng wondered whether the dreams he planted in Mo Ruxue and Zhu Yuexi were too realistic, or if the dream-inception device was simply too advanced.
When facing anyone other than Mo Ruxue and Zhu Yuexi in those dreams, he couldn’t sense any hint of unreality.
Their psychology, background, personality—everything felt just like real people.
Knowing they were virtual yet experiencing such authentic sensations felt strangely off.
That was why he rarely interacted with anyone besides Mo Ruxue and Zhu Yuexi.
Li Qingqing was an exception.
Xu Sheng had lacked a true trusted aide by his side. Coincidentally, he had helped Li Qingqing when she was being hunted by both the righteous path and the Demon Cult after leaving the cult.
It was only natural that he took her under his wing.
But Li Qingqing probably had other intentions.
A person who could write stories that garnered attention even in this cyber world, and who could so accurately grasp Mo Ruxue and Zhu Yuexi’s psychology—Xu Sheng rarely made mistakes in reading people.
Still, he was destined to leave this dream eventually. After Mo Ruxue and Zhu Yuexi woke up, how would the dream’s events develop?
He certainly didn’t want to leave too many attachments here.
Xu Sheng was about to say a few words to send Li Qingqing away when she suddenly spoke:
“Sect Leader Mo saw me enter your room just now.”
Xu Sheng was momentarily startled, but his mind was sharp—he instantly understood the implication.
Just like yesterday morning, when Mo Ruxue woke up and saw the red mark on Li Qingqing’s neck. Aside from Xu Sheng’s own panic about his lie being exposed, there was also that feeling of jealousy.
Mo Ruxue had seen Li Qingqing enter his room. She would likely overthink things once she returned.
To be safe…
Xu Sheng waved his hand, and a barrier appeared around the room, preventing even a Ninth Realm expert from spying with their divine sense.
Li Qingqing was smart; she knew the trick of using jealousy to help him seduce Mo Ruxue.
An NPC who could think this much.
This was also why Xu Sheng wanted to keep his distance from her.
But tonight, Li Qingqing really couldn’t leave the room.
Xu Sheng glanced at her and nodded.
“Well done.”
If he wanted to seduce Li Qingqing, he would have given her clear rewards and punishments at this point, not just a simple compliment.
But upon hearing the praise, despite her usual cold expression, Xu Sheng felt he could see a hint of joy in her eyes.
“… ” He opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.
“Forget it. I’ll just rest now.”
Li Qingqing was his servant and a cultivator. When Xu Sheng wanted to rest, her duty was to retreat to a dark corner and keep watch.
But Li Qingqing didn’t move. Her gaze fixed on a certain part of Xu Sheng.
Xu Sheng felt his face heat up under her stare.
Sure, he had toyed with Zhu Yuexi earlier today. But his body was young and vigorous, and his earlier contact with Mo Ruxue had truly stirred his blood. Even now, his reaction was quite obvious.
“This servant can help you, Master.”
Li Qingqing said this in a flat tone. Xu Sheng thought he had misheard.
But in the darkness, he could see a faint, almost imperceptible blush on Li Qingqing’s face.
Li Qingqing was indeed a cold beauty. Even before she became a core disciple of Linxian Sect, she had already garnered much attention.
Wait…
Xu Sheng inexplicably found it harder to suppress certain reactions.
But in the end, he just opened his mouth.
“Forget it. I’ll just rest first.”
Li Qingqing lowered her eyes.