As soon as the words left her mouth, Mo Xiaonian didn’t even say goodbye to Mo Zhe before she stood up immediately and hurried down the stairs, rushing to the courtyard gate. The small bells hanging from her waist jingled crisply with each quick step.
Leaning against the doorframe was a youth in white robes, sword cradled in his arms, eyes half-closed. He was already pondering how to ruthlessly strike a blow at the Mo family. Beside him stood a striking beauty, dignified and elegant, dressed in a red skirt. Her pristine white hair flowed down to her waist, and her bright red eyes were captivating.
“Senior Sister Linghuang!”
Suddenly, Mo Xiaonian’s clear voice rang out. When she came to her senses, the young woman in blue had already crossed the courtyard paved with bluestone slabs and threw herself into her embrace.
The Scarlet Lotus Saintess had always lacked friends. After confirming that “Junior Sister Mo had no improper thoughts toward her own husband,” their relationship climbed rapidly, like riding a sword through the sky. Even when apart, their bond remained just as strong.
“Xiaonian~”
Su Linghuang held the girl’s soft form in her arms, her hands just right to wrap around her shoulders, fingertips gently brushing through her fragrant black hair.
“We’re here to take you back to the sect,” she whispered softly into the blue-clad girl’s ear, her gaze full of concern.
Mo Xiaonian gave a soft hum in response, then buried her head in the Scarlet Lotus Saintess’s embrace, soaking in her warmth and kindness.
Seeing this, Gu Shenzhi approached slowly and said, “Junior Sister Mo, long time no see. I hope you’ve been well!”
“That’s something Senior Brother should be saying,” Mo Xiaonian replied with a smile. Of all the men she had known since birth, Gu Shenzhi was by far the one she liked the most.
Although Senior Brother Gu was hypocritical, cunning, shameless, and overly flirtatious—yes, overly flirtatious!—that didn’t stop his overall score in Mo Xiaonian’s eyes from being high.
“Have you been practicing swordsmanship these days? The Way of the Sword is like rowing upstream; if you don’t advance, you fall behind,” Gu Shenzhi squinted, asking like an old-school tutor.
It was normal for a senior brother to show concern for his junior sister’s cultivation progress, wasn’t it?
“No, I’ve been busy guessing who I’ll marry, and whether I’ll cover my face with a bridal veil or find a chance to run away,” she said, a little aggrieved.
“No is no. Don’t make excuses,” Gu Shenzhi scolded sternly, though worry was hidden beneath the reprimand.
With only late Foundation Establishment cultivation, a face as delicate as a flower, and still a perfect maiden, now that Mo Xulin had lost power, the former young lady of the family had fallen into the mortal world. The dangers she might face on her cultivation path were imaginable.
Thankfully, she had been accepted into the Moonshadow Sect, which was relatively safer. Had she ended up in an outer sect like the Spirit Sword Sect, she might have met a deadly fate tonight, with the forest path stained white with frost.
Don’t ask how he knew—Gu Shenzhi, as the former young master of the Spirit Sword Sect, even if he’d never eaten pork, had certainly seen pigs running about.
Of course, as a man of principle, when encountering such cruel acts, he would naturally draw his sword immediately to save his beautiful junior sister from danger.
“My swordsmanship is taught by me. I am her master. This Saintess hasn’t even intervened yet. What’s an outsider like you in such a hurry for?”
Su Linghuang crossed her arms and asked fiercely, clearly implying something, rebuking someone for ulterior motives.
“Huang’er, you misunderstand. That’s not what I meant.”
“Did I say anything? It’s just that your heart is filthy,” the Scarlet Lotus Saintess smiled wickedly, eyes sharp as blades.
At this, Su Linghuang couldn’t help but recall some past events.
“A few days ago, didn’t your husband say he had nothing to do with the Southern Palace Saintess? Then today he’s marrying her and even showing you the vermilion birthmark on her chest. How do you explain that?”
“I… she…”
Faced with his wife’s questioning, Gu Shenzhi was momentarily speechless, pondering for a long time without knowing where to begin. After all, he had already explained this matter some time ago.
Even with his silver-tongued cunning, there was no way out of this one.
Was he supposed to make up an elaborate and twisted love story on the spot?
Just then, Mo Zhe, the Second Elder, stepped out of the small building and briskly approached Gu Shenzhi.
“Since Mo Xulin has been toppled, I will, as promised, take you to the Mo family treasury. Please come with me, Young Master Gu.”
“No time to delay. Let’s depart now.” The saved Gu Shenzhi immediately gave him a grateful look, but outwardly, the youth in white maintained a calm, composed demeanor.
The Scarlet Lotus Saintess merely snorted lightly and turned around to chat with Junior Sister Mo, choosing not to pry further.
As the owner of the largest auction house in Muyun Prefecture, the Mo family treasury was richly stocked with everything imaginable—from common healing pills to top-tier condensed infant pills of earthly rank; from unranked mysterious iron weapons to rare swords capable of splitting mountains and rivers.
If you can think of it, there’s nothing the Mo family treasury can’t produce.
However, pills of Transformation stage and above, rare treasures, and heavenly-grade divine weapons were monopolized by the Four Sects. The Mo estate neither could nor dared to keep such things secret.
“Now that Mo Xulin has been removed, who will be the next clan leader?”
On the way to the Mo family treasury, Gu Shenzhi wore a kind expression and asked Mo Zhe, the Second Elder.
“Elder Mo Song is highly respected, with deep roots and extensive connections in the clan. He is the prime candidate for the new leader.”
“Mo Song is already advanced in age, and with the recent incident involving Qu You, I don’t think he has much hope.”
“Then Elder Mo Yong is also a good candidate. He’s been managing the auction house’s affairs for years—smart, capable, financially strong, and quite reputable within the clan.”
The youth in white shook his head. “A man who has been doing business outside for so long, how much foundation can he have inside the Mo estate? Whether he can return in time for the re-election is uncertain. Besides, he is close to Xulin. If Mo Yong becomes clan leader, a few elders might lose face.”
Seeing Gu Shenzhi dismiss his opinions twice, Mo Zhe grew nervous and wiped a cold sweat. Then he respectfully asked, “I am ignorant. What is your esteemed opinion, Young Master Gu?”
Upon hearing this, the youth in white smiled slightly, patted his shoulder, and said, “In my humble opinion, the next Mo family clan leader must be the Second Elder.”
“Gu Young Master, don’t joke. I am honored to be Second Elder. It is already a blessing from Heaven, and I dare not entertain any overambitious thoughts.”
“You were the first to oppose Mo Xulin in the council hall, the one who sought aid from Moonshadow Sect at midnight, and the one who practically led the effort to bring down Mo Xulin. Elder Second, your ambition is quite vast.”
Hearing this, Gu Shenzhi seemed to understand something. The smile concealed a dagger, using others to do his dirty work—this tactic was all too familiar. Reflecting on Lady Bai Qixian’s actions these past days further confirmed his suspicions.
He clapped his hands and sighed, “I originally thought that as long as Elder Mo Zhe gained the Spirit Sword Sect’s support, the clan leader’s position would be assured. But it seems I was too narrow-minded. The Spirit Sword Sect has been on your side from the start. The cooperation with Moonshadow Sect was merely to cover it up.”
“Am I right, Elder Mo Zhe?”
“Young Master Gu is indeed the true disciple of Sect Master Bai. Your ability to calculate and read people is unparalleled. Of course, so is your swordsmanship,” Mo Zhe did not answer directly, but his meaning was clear.
“Then, whether I help topple Mo Xulin or not doesn’t really matter. Why do you still intend to keep your promise and invite me into the Mo family treasury?”
The youth in white asked with curiosity.
“You are too modest, Young Master Gu. Without your help, Mo Xulin could never have shown such flaws so quickly. As for entering the Mo family treasury, it is both my decision and that of Sect Master Bai.”