The young boy and girl, wrapped up in their intimate moment, quickly separated, their delicate faces flushed with a faint blush as they stood back to back, slightly embarrassed.
“It seems I lack romantic insight—please, you two carry on,” Nangong Yu said softly, her words dripping with jealousy, almost spilling over.
“Since the Holy Maiden Nangong has already dealt with those assassins, let us return to the Mo Residence. With the Holy Maiden missing, everyone in the White Feather Sect must be terribly worried.”
Gu Shenzhi immediately switched into formal mode, cupping his hands and bowing, his words full of respect.
Before he could finish, Nangong Yu stepped forward quickly. Her fair, jade-like hands gently supported the bowed Gu Shenzhi, speaking with a hint of quiet grievance, “I and Young Master Gu are good friends; there’s no need for such formality.”
Friends and good friends—there’s quite a difference between the two.
The white-robed youth Lu Wei glanced up, catching sight beneath the pale blue veil of the majestic, undulating snow-capped peaks. As a “gentleman,” he naturally knew the rule of not looking at what is improper, and quickly lowered his head.
Seeing this, Nangong Yu did not feel belittled. Instead, her vermilion lips curved into a slight smile. “Young Master Gu, there is a vermilion birthmark on my chest—would you care to see it?”
“Holy Maiden Nangong, please compose yourself!”
Gu Shenzhi hastily took two steps back, refusing with righteous firmness, yet somehow a trace of melancholy tugged at his heart, as if something precious had slipped away.
Seeing his flustered state, Nangong Yu burst out laughing. “I was only joking—Young Master Gu, did you really take me seriously?”
At this moment, she wore a translucent glazed blue gauze dress, her seductive eyes silky, her vermilion lips slightly upturned in a coquettish smile. Though the important parts of her delicate figure were covered by undergarments, her slender waist and long, graceful legs were shamelessly exposed, glowing with a moist radiance that made it hard to look away.
Such enchanting, dazzling attire suited the Holy Maiden Nangong perfectly. It was true—no matter what a beautiful person wore, it would look good. Her cool, aloof face paired with the revealing, bewitching gauze skirt stirred an urge in onlookers to sully her purity.
Of course, she only wore it for Gu Shenzhi.
With a light laugh, Nangong Yu’s clear, lively eyes glanced silently toward the not-too-distant Red Lotus Holy Maiden, her gaze full of provocation.
Those words had been spoken to Gu Shenzhi, but they were meant just as much for Su Linghuang—a kind of declaration before battle between two rival forces.
“Please, Holy Maiden, do not joke like this again. Not only can I not bear it, but it also harms your reputation.”
“Reputation? I have no such thing left. Which inch of my skin haven’t you seen?” Nangong Yu feigned annoyance.
See.
(“See” here means using divine perception, not the traditional sense of sight.)
“At the time, I acted out of urgency and didn’t expect… the consequences.”
“Since it has already happened, let it pass. But there is still a way to make amends. Young Master Gu, would you like to hear it?”
“Please, Holy Maiden, do tell.”
“It’s simple. Just marry me.” Nangong Yu smiled charmingly, with not a hint of seriousness.
Likewise, though she spoke to Gu Shenzhi, she wanted Su Linghuang to hear every word clearly.
“You two should be done catching up soon. If you want the sky as your canopy and the earth as your table for a proper tryst, then I will excuse myself.”
With that, the Red Lotus Holy Maiden immediately soared away on her sword, though not quickly, as if waiting for someone to catch up.
Realizing the situation was not good, Gu Shenzhi cupped his hands in apology. “I will take my leave first. Please forgive me, Miss Nangong.”
Then, he hastily formed a sword sign and pursued the Red Lotus Holy Maiden’s direction.
Watching their departing backs, Nangong Yu gave a bitter smile and shook her head helplessly.
Time flows mercilessly like water. The life-and-death bond forged in the secret realm all those years ago is naturally remembered by someone as infatuated as she is. But how much can a charming rake like Young Master Gu recall?
Inside the Mo Residence’s inner courtyard, a modest and concealed small tower.
A girl in blue pine leans against the window, her slender jade hand fidgeting with a morning glory vine. Her eyes are distant, her eyebrows furrowed with a hint of sorrow, her delicate cheeks pale.
These past few days, Mo Xiaonian had been under house arrest by her biological father here. Dozens of Foundation Establishment and Spirit Cultivators guarded the courtyard, cutting off all external contact to prevent her escape.
Even the dungeons of the Mo Residence were not this heavily guarded.
Though outside was her martial marriage selection competition, Mo Xiaonian—the main character—was not even allowed to watch. She could only count the morning glory petals over and over, silently awaiting her fate.
Suddenly, the tightly shut door was opened from outside.
Mo Xiaonian turned her head, but it was not her father who entered, rather Elder Mo Zhe, the second elder of the clan.
“Xiaonian, greetings to Uncle Mo Zhe.”
She slightly bent her knees and bowed respectfully. As one of the great families of Muyun Continent, the Mo Residence strictly upheld the principle of “order of seniority and respect.”
“Niece, no need for formalities. I come bearing one piece of good news and one piece of bad news.”
“Uncle, please speak. Xiaonian listens attentively.”
“The good news is your martial marriage competition has been canceled…”
“Really?!”
Before he could finish, Mo Xiaonian interrupted joyfully, a smile blooming on her lips. Since her mother’s passing, she had never heard such good news from anyone in the Mo family.
“Don’t get too excited. There’s still bad news. The reason the competition was canceled is because of your father.”
“What do you mean?” The girl asked in confusion. She could not believe that her usually indifferent father would suddenly have a change of heart and cancel the competition for her happiness, thus forfeiting a beneficial alliance.
“Sigh, your father’s eyes have been clouded by power. To eliminate rivals, he dared to kill three elders without permission and now intends to marry you off to Lin Yongning, the young master of the Spirit Sword Sect.”
“That new young master of the Spirit Sword Sect is no good. When he was a true disciple, he at least knew the meaning of gentleness and humility, but ever since he ascended to the position, his wolfish ambitions have been laid bare. He gathers factions everywhere, trying to drag the Spirit Sword Sect into the factional strife of Youyunzhou’s army. Rumors say he’s indiscriminate with female disciples who come to him, even forcing several young, beautiful junior sisters, and afterwards planting poisonous insects inside them to maintain long-term control.”
Mo Zhe slammed his fist heavily on the table, his expression one of grief and anger. “Xiaonian, you know? The entire competition was just for show. The person you’re to marry has long been decided. To win support from the Spirit Sword Sect’s grand elder faction, that bastard would even sell off his own daughter to such a disgusting character!”
“Then why are you telling me this, Uncle Mo Zhe? Aren’t you afraid my father will retaliate?”
“Hmph, he can’t do that anymore.” The Mo family’s second elder sneered. “Luckily, myself and three other elders caught him off guard and subdued him. He is now locked deep in the Mo Residence dungeon, awaiting the clan assembly’s judgment.”
“Can I… go see him?” Mo Xiaonian hesitated. Since her mother’s death, her relationship with Mo Xulin had been tense—only a nominal father-daughter tie, but strangers in all but name.
Yet knowing the fate her father faced stirred something in her heart.
“Of course. After all, he is your father,” Mo Zhe said understandingly. Having been at the core of the Mo Residence for years, his acting skills were top-notch.
“Oh, and since your father is no longer the clan head, you may choose whether to stay at the Mo Residence, return to the Moonshadow Sect, or even join the Spirit Sword Sect. Any path is open.”
“I choose to return to the Moonshadow Sect.” The blue-clad girl answered without hesitation.
For Mo Xiaonian, the Moonshadow Sect felt more like home than the Mo Residence.
“Well, well, well,” Mo Zhe chuckled lightly. “Xiaonian, you’ve grown up. Your senior brothers and sisters have been waiting for you at the door for a long time.”
PS: Gu Shenzhi is a scumbag, a scumbag, a scumbag—important things said three times. Which harem male lead isn’t a scumbag? So I think complaining about how rotten the male lead is really unnecessary.
Also, today may have only two updates. Lately, too much complaining has been happening, so the author is revising previous chapters. Since editing published chapters is too troublesome, I might add notes in the form of complaints.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.