It’s hard to accurately describe Mo Ruxue’s feelings at this moment.
From Xu Sheng’s perspective, he could sense the dimness in Mo Ruxue’s eyes.
She was an idealist, with a hint of perfectionism in her heart.
The sect she had always been proud of had been infiltrated by the Demon Cult to such an extent…
Hearing this news, Mo Ruxue’s breathing became rapid.
Xu Sheng wondered if he shouldn’t have told Mo Ruxue this news.
He sighed inwardly and spoke up.
“You don’t have to be so dispirited. You’re more than just the Linxian Sect. You’re the best in the world—who in the jianghu doesn’t know the name of Fairy Mo? When people mention you, they don’t think of the Linxian Sect Master. What they think of more is your unwavering Dao heart and your dedication to upholding justice. Compared to that, the Linxian Sect is actually a very insignificant part of your life.”
Given Xu Sheng’s persona, it was unnecessary to say so much.
Moreover, that Fifth Elder’s bloodline in the Linxian Sect was infiltrated by the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons. As the Valley Lord himself, it was easy for her to misinterpret his words as mockery.
But Xu Sheng truly respected Mo Ruxue deep down.
So at a time like this, he couldn’t help offering a few words of comfort.
And Xu Sheng had studied psychology in college, delving deep into the control of human nature, which naturally made him effective at consolation.
Mo Ruxue was disappointed in the Linxian Sect, and also in herself. The Linxian Sect was her achievement; she even began to doubt herself.
But Xu Sheng told her that compared to the Linxian Sect, she—Mo Ruxue herself—was far more precious.
Hearing Xu Sheng’s words, Mo Ruxue closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then turned to look out the window.
Raindrops continued to patter down. Mist and drizzle swirled, and the lotus flowers on the lake seemed even whiter.
“Should I thank you?”
Xu Sheng smiled.
He could tell that Mo Ruxue’s words were not sarcastic, but a genuine sentiment.
“No need. After all, my Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons has infiltrated your sect the most… I suppose that’s even. Let me say something that might make you feel a bit better: even though we’ve infiltrated so much, because we feared exposure, the Valley has never led your sect into any heretical practices.”
“…” Mo Ruxue took a deep breath. “Then… why did you help me?”
If Xu Sheng had only been teaching her how to manage the Linxian Sect, Mo Ruxue’s gratitude would be one thing—Xu Sheng hadn’t really paid a great price.
But now it was different.
The Linxian Sect, as the number one sect in the world, being infiltrated by the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons… that didn’t happen overnight. And Xu Sheng was willing to just give that up?
From Xu Sheng’s tone, he was even willing to let her purge the entire Linxian Sect.
The Linxian Sect’s foundation was deep enough, and with Mo Ruxue guarding it, even a great purge would allow it to recover strength quickly.
“Didn’t I say so?” Xu Sheng’s expression seemed careless, as if he had done a trivial thing. “Yesterday I promised you, free of charge, to handle the Linxian Sect matter for you.”
Mo Ruxue was silent for several seconds, her thoughts complicated.
When Xu Sheng revealed the situation of the Linxian Sect, Mo Ruxue actually sobered up a bit in that moment. These past few days, Xu Sheng had always been acting as a “doctor” and the master of a utopia with her.
Hearing those words, she truly realized that Xu Sheng was the Valley Lord of the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons.
She truly felt the distance between her and Xu Sheng widen. At that moment, besides the disappointment in herself, there was also a stifled feeling.
But realizing that Xu Sheng was willing to help her, and even willing to reveal these so-called infiltrator identities to her, gave Mo Ruxue a different kind of feeling in her heart.
‘How could he be willing to pay such a price?’
As a sect master, she naturally knew what such a decision meant for Xu Sheng.
Last night… as a tuition fee, Xu Sheng didn’t demand anything from her. She had dressed like that, and he said if she didn’t want to, she could leave.
She left.
Today, Xu Sheng didn’t break his promise…
Mo Ruxue’s hand involuntarily clenched.
Seeing Mo Ruxue like this, Xu Sheng sighed helplessly.
“For you, Mo Ruxue, haven’t I already given up so much related to the Linxian Sect? What does it matter now if I casually discard some pawns that I might not even use until who knows when?”
In a female-oriented novel, a demon cult leader like Xu Sheng would probably be torn apart in the comments section—accused of being stupid or something…
But not to mention that these things were merely virtual to Xu Sheng…
According to the setting, with Xu Sheng’s true strength, these infiltrators were actually dispensable.
So what he paid was indeed nothing.
Hearing this, Mo Ruxue’s face involuntarily flushed.
‘What does he mean by “given up so much of the Linxian Sect for me”…’
She remembered Xu Sheng’s initial proposal was half the lifespan of everyone in the Linxian Sect.
Then there was herself…
It was plausible to say he had given up so much of the Linxian Sect for her.
But Mo Ruxue felt that this phrasing was a bit strange, yet Xu Sheng’s words made it hard for her to think clearly.
‘Everything Xu Sheng did was for her…’
‘For Mo Ruxue.’
Mo Ruxue’s emotions fluctuated wildly in just a few minutes—from initial shock, to self-pity, to surprise, to gratitude, and now to shyness…
Under Xu Sheng’s manipulation, even a Ninth Realm powerhouse would find it hard to stay clear-headed.
At this moment, Xu Sheng suddenly changed the subject.
“Fairy Mo, what do you think of this tea?”
What does she think of the tea?
The tea leaves in Xu Sheng’s residence were naturally not ordinary. If Mo Ruxue wasn’t mistaken, this was tea picked from a thousand-year-old Enlightenment Tree. Even among the four super sects, only an ancestral-level figure could afford to drink it.
“The tea… is very good.”
But why was Xu Sheng bringing up the tea at a time like this? Mo Ruxue still didn’t understand and responded hesitantly.
“My tea is a bit different from yours, Fairy Mo.”
As he spoke, Xu Sheng raised his own teacup.
Different?
Mo Ruxue was stunned.
The tea they both brewed should be from the same tea caddy—how could there be a difference?
“Would Fairy Mo like to taste it? My tea has a unique medicinal fragrance.”
Unique medicinal fragrance?
How could it have a unique medicinal fragrance?
Mo Ruxue’s mind still hadn’t caught up for the moment. She nodded.
Seeing this, Xu Sheng drained the tea from his cup, then reached out, grabbed Mo Ruxue’s collar, and leaned forward.
Mo Ruxue’s eyes widened.
This time, she had no time to react. It wasn’t that Xu Sheng’s movements were too fast for a Ninth Realm powerhouse to respond.
Rather, Xu Sheng’s combo was so smooth—he made her head spin and then launched a full assault. For Mo Ruxue, it was like a dimensionality reduction attack among peers.
Xu Sheng kissed Mo Ruxue.
Mo Ruxue also tasted a different kind of tea.