At this moment, Su Linghuang wore a jade crown atop her head, dressed in white, a belt at her waist adorned with exquisite, delicate jade. Seven parts beautiful, three parts handsome—she was truly like the saying: “The male rabbit’s feet are swift, the female rabbit’s eyes are misty; when both rabbits run side by side, how can one tell which is male or female?”
“To think the Holy Maiden herself would come see me—Xiao Nian is truly overjoyed, I can hardly contain myself.” The girl’s crystal-clear, snow-white feet stepped upon the gleaming jade floor as she trotted over to the Red Lotus Holy Maiden, respectfully saluting her.
Though her voice trembled, her inner delight was impossible to hide.
All along the way, she could only watch as Senior Brother Gu and the Holy Maiden Su exchanged teasing words and affectionate displays, feeding her a mouthful of “dog food” at every turn—she was practically stuffed to the teeth with it.
She wanted to present herself as respectful and well-mannered, to speak at length with the one she admired, but such a thing was simply impossible.
After all, the person she admired was busy being held and embraced by her husband. To interrupt at such a moment would hardly be appropriate.
“Just call me Senior Sister Linghuang, no need to be so formal. Why is it that Junior Sister Mo now speaks just like Gu Shenzhi? That man is nothing but a two-faced, cunning little villain—one must always be on guard!”
The Red Lotus Holy Maiden “kindly” reminded her, though there was a hint of personal grievance mixed in with her goodwill.
Just thinking of that scoundrel Gu Shenzhi made Su Linghuang angry. He clearly had no prior acquaintance with the Mo Clan’s patriarch; their meeting was merely for introductions, so what could they possibly have to talk about at such length?
What she was even less willing to admit was—could it be that her own charm was actually no match for a five-hundred-year-old old man?
It had already been two or three hours since Gu Shenzhi left. Even if he went off to “dual cultivate” with a lover, he should have been finished by now.
“Xiao Nian will be sure to remember Senior Sister Linghuang’s teachings.”
Mo Xiaonian replied respectfully, but after a moment, she lifted her head and looked at Su Linghuang, asking in a timid voice, “Since Senior Brother Gu is so despicable and low, his character so vile, then why is it that Senior Sister is so devoted to him?”
“Who said I like him?!” Su Linghuang’s jade-like cheeks flushed red, like a blooming crimson rose—her embarrassment plain for all to see.
“Then back on the spirit boat, why did Senior Sister willingly sit on his lap, let him hold your waist without resisting, and later even intertwine your fingers with his and share a deep, passionate kiss…” Mo Xiaonian asked, feigning ignorance.
“I… I did resist! It was obvious… he forced me.” Under such tension, she was so guilty she could barely speak coherently.
“Really? Would the dignified Red Lotus Holy Maiden of Moonshadow Sect truly be unable to break free from a man’s embrace if she wished? And at the time, didn’t Senior Brother Gu have no spiritual power at all?”
Mo Xiaonian narrowed her eyes, her words holding a deeper meaning.
“Ask him! I don’t know. It must have been that guy using some… dirty, underhanded tricks. I… that’s why I couldn’t resist.”
Though her words bordered on slander, Su Linghuang thought, since Gu Shenzhi had bullied her so many times and taken so much advantage, saying a few bad things about him behind his back shouldn’t be too much.
“Oh! So that’s how it is.”
Mo Xiaonian pretended to have a sudden revelation, but from her teasing tone, it was clear that this young lady, well-versed in romance novels, already understood everything.
Seeing the strange smile at the corner of Mo Xiaonian’s mouth, Su Linghuang’s heart, already pounding wildly, grew even more uneasy. Even her snowy, delicate swan neck was tinged with a shy blush.
She hurriedly explained, “Junior Sister Mo, you have to believe me, things aren’t like what you think.”
“I get it, I get it,” Mo Xiaonian circled behind the Red Lotus Holy Maiden, patting her gently on the shoulder to signal her to relax.
Though Su Linghuang far surpassed her in cultivation, when it came to matters of love between men and women, Mo Xiaonian had clearly overtaken her. Her progress in swordsmanship owed much to the Holy Maiden’s guidance, while Su Linghuang’s growing clarity about her own feelings was partly thanks to Mo Xiaonian’s playful teasing.
In a sense, they could be considered mutually beneficial master and disciple.
“By the way, I haven’t asked yet—where did Senior Brother Gu go? Why hasn’t he shown up?” Mo Xiaonian asked in confusion. The relationship between Gu Shenzhi and the Holy Maiden Su was excellent; unless there was something important, the two would never separate.
“Not long ago, your father summoned him to the main audience hall. According to the steward, your father had something to discuss with him, the former Young Master of the Spirit Sword Sect.”
Su Linghuang answered unhurriedly. In her mind, the Mo Clan was a renowned family in Muyun Prefecture, with a reputation to uphold. They wouldn’t harm a guest on their own turf, so she wasn’t worried about Gu Shenzhi’s safety.
Having said this, and finally regaining her composure after Mo Xiaonian’s questioning, Su Linghuang raised the teacup from the table and took a small sip, hoping to fully calm her panicked heart.
“Is that so? But I heard from people in the residence that today, the Spirit Sword Sect’s Sect Master, Bai Qi Fairy, is personally visiting the Mo Clan. She’s supposed to be discussing important matters with the Mo Clan Patriarch and the elders in the audience hall.”
At the mention of Bai Qi’s name, Su Linghuang forgot all about etiquette and suddenly spat out her tea, “Who did you say is in the audience hall?!”
“Bai Qi Fairy. Is there a problem?”
Seeing the Red Lotus Holy Maiden so agitated, Mo Xiaonian couldn’t help but grow suspicious, tilting her head as she spoke. In her impression, Bai Qi Fairy had always been kind and gentle, her mind as clear as a tranquil lake. She didn’t understand why the Red Lotus Holy Maiden would react to her name as if she were a dire threat.
Of course, Mo Xiaonian, unaware of the situation, couldn’t possibly understand the [One-Hit-Kill Level] threat that Bai Qi posed as a love rival to the Red Lotus Holy Maiden, nor the tangled, world-upending relationship between Bai Qi and Gu Shenzhi.
Thinking of her own husband abandoning her again, going off to “dual cultivate” with another woman—still the same one, no less—how could Su Linghuang possibly wait any longer!
Who knew if her urgency was to rescue Gu Shenzhi, to kill Bai Qi, or to cut down her own wayward husband…
In any case, Su Linghuang was anxious—so anxious she couldn’t stay put for even a moment.
Before Mo Xiaonian could ask further, Su Linghuang tapped her white boots lightly, leapt out the window, and flew straight toward the audience hall in the distance. At this moment, the girl’s composure had utterly deserted her; she couldn’t even maintain the most basic calm.
She hadn’t flown a hundred meters before the corner of her eye caught a flying sword speeding toward her.
Su Linghuang instantly drew [Falling Plum], ready to block with sword qi. But instead of attacking as expected, the spirit sword stopped steadily before her, emitting a clear, ringing chime.
The blade was a deep crimson all over, more than three feet long, and the hilt was carved with a lifelike black phoenix spreading its wings—it was her spirit sword, [Demon Phoenix].
In the next instant, the Red Lotus Holy Maiden extended her divine sense, following the spiritual energy trail left by [Demon Phoenix]. She discovered the source was none other than the small courtyard the Mo Clan had prepared for the Moonshadow Sect guests.
After a moment’s thought, Su Linghuang immediately changed direction. With a rush of powerful wind, her white robes fluttered as she descended into the courtyard, her mid-stage Spirit Manifestation aura radiating without restraint.
But just as she kicked the door open, a string of glossy, ruby-red candied hawthorn skewers was shoved into her mouth. The black-clad youth she had been so worried about stood before her, perfectly unharmed, smiling at her.
His deep, dark purple eyes were as profound as the sea, and the aura he exuded was incomparably dignified, as if an immortal had descended to the mortal realm.