Chapter 91: Invasion

“Peak Master Qin is gifted with talent, firm in will, and what’s rarer, her Dao heart is pure, undisturbed by external things.”

“The opportunity to reach Deity Transformation may seem slim to others, but to Peak Master Qin, this old woman sees it as merely a matter of course. In time, Cloud Hidden Mountain will surely gain another pillar of jade supporting the sky.”

Underneath the bustle of the hall, there was a layer of whispers.

“They still haven’t figured out why someone devoted solely to the sword and indifferent to worldly affairs has come this time.”

“Who knows? Maybe she’s here to relax.”

“Relax? Her? Have you ever seen her relax?”

Qin Shuying paid no heed to this. She found a seat by the window, swept her gaze across the hall, and stopped at Pei Yu’s table.

More accurately, it stopped on the slender figure beside Pei Yu—a woman in moon-white dress with a light veil, slightly bowing her head.

Only she knew what she was thinking.

She wasn’t here for the spectacle, nor for male beauty.

She was here for that person. For that person who now wore women’s clothes and sat beside another, the one she both hated and couldn’t let go.

‘How could he be here? And sitting beside Pei Yu, whose reputation is rather complicated and whose conduct is unrestrained?’

After the shock came a jealousy she hadn’t expected.

‘What kind of person is Pei Yu? I’ve heard a little. Right now, her face shows undisguised interest in Shen Mo, almost possessiveness. And looking at Shen Mo, though he bows his head, he doesn’t keep his distance. I feel a fire burning in my chest, hurting my organs.’

‘For his goal, he’s already willing to use outsiders. Even an outsider who has that kind of interest in him? Isn’t he afraid of playing with fire?’

‘It was I who arranged his identity, I who made the plan, yet now he relies on another woman to enter this hall and appear before me…’

…

‘This is simply humiliation! In his heart, as long as someone can help him get the Purifying Soul Dragon Spine Liquid, even a woman like Pei Yu, he can be insincere and even throw himself into her arms?’

Though reason told her that Shen Mo wasn’t deliberately angering her, jealousy and hatred still made her furious.

The female cultivators near her instinctively pulled their collars tighter.

The conversation in the hall continued, shifting to a newly discovered ancient cultivator’s cave dwelling and a fragment of an ancient artifact found there.

Pei Yu joined the discussion, speaking incisively and showing broad knowledge, earning nods from several people.

Shen Mo pricked up his ears, trying to catch key information from the fragments of talk among these big shots.

While chatting and laughing with the others, sharing anecdotes from the Jade Fragrance Garden and recent movements of various forces in Yunzhou, Pei Yu skillfully steered the topic toward the upcoming Flower Queen Competition at the Ten Thousand Flower Pavilion.

“I heard that this time, the Pavilion Master has taken out quite a few treasures from the bottom of the chest. Even the ‘Purifying Soul Dragon Spine Liquid’ from the Eastern Sea Ruins is listed among the options for the champion. Truly a big move.”

At these words, several people in the hall subtly shifted their eyes.

That Miss Zhao closed her folding fan with a snap and laughed.

“The Purifying Soul Dragon Spine Liquid? That’s a holy product for stabilizing the spirit soul and cleansing evil filth. It’s extremely effective for those who have suffered Qi deviation or soul damage. The Ten Thousand Flower Pavilion has big ambitions this time. They want to attract truly influential figures who have needs to come observe.”

Jingwu Zhanglao slowly nodded.

“This item is rare and invaluable. It seems the competition this time will be fiercer than before. Not only will the boys on stage compete, but off stage… there will probably be undercurrents as well.”

Her words carried implication.

“Treasures move people’s hearts. Who knows where it will end up and how many storms it will stir.”

Qin Shuying’s gaze swept over. Shen Mo’s heart tightened.

He quickly lowered his head, pretending to be blinded by the steam from his tea.

Pei Yu laughed. “Let the storms come; we’ll just watch the fun. But Little Sister Shen,” she said intimately, steering the topic to Shen Mo, “you’re new here. Do you want to go see the excitement of the Flower Queen Competition? Your sister here has connections and can get a good viewing jade token.”

The eyes in the hall focused on him again, with some curiosity.

‘An orphan girl of unknown origin, worth Pei Yu’s effort to flatter? Even voluntarily mentioning a viewing jade token?’

Shen Mo was wary, unsure if Pei Yu was genuinely helping or had other motives, and afraid to say something wrong that would arouse suspicion.

So he played his role, speaking softly with timidity and gratitude.

“Th-thank you for your kindness, Sister Pei. But… a grand event like the competition, I am of low status, I’m afraid… I’m not worthy…”

“Oh, what words are these?” Pei Yu interrupted him, her small hand gently patting his. “If Sister says you’re worthy, then you’re worthy. You’ll come with Sister and broaden your horizons. Maybe you’ll even encounter your own opportunity.”

Her undertone began probing his inclinations.

‘Take your stinky hand away!’ Qin Shuying cursed inwardly.

Then she saw Shen Mo’s weak, obedient, dependent demeanor, and the nameless fire in her heart burned hotter.

‘She suddenly realized that perhaps she had been too harsh on Su Wan’er before, and was glad that she didn’t know about this. When did her person become the target of this clueless Pei Yu’s attentions? Opportunity? My foot!’

But in the end, she prioritized the bigger picture, knowing she couldn’t make a scene now.

Forcing down the surging anger and jealousy, she dropped her eyelids, her thick lashes hiding the cold murderous intent in her eyes.

When she looked up again, she had returned to calm. But beneath that calm, the chill was deeper.

“Friend Pei is quite enthusiastic,” Qin Shuying said flatly, her gaze landing on Pei Yu’s face. “But this Miss Shen looks a bit frail. The Jade Fragrance Garden is a mixed bag, and the competition is a place of trouble. Since Friend Pei brought her here, you should take good care of her and not… bring disaster upon yourself.”

The words sounded like a warning but carried hidden barbs.

Pei Yu laughed heartily, unconcerned. “Peak Master Qin, rest assured. I may not be good at many things, but protecting someone is no problem. Since Little Sister Shen calls me ‘Sister,’ naturally I’ll keep her safe.”

The atmosphere in the hall turned slightly delicate.

Jingwu Zhanglao and Miss Zhao exchanged a glance, both sensing some friction between these two female cultivators, and the source of that friction was probably that seemingly innocent and helpless Fairy Shen sitting quietly aside.

A few people were confused, but Madam Yu skillfully smoothed things over and redirected the conversation.

The topic returned to magical artifacts, spiritual items, cultivation insights, and some trivial anecdotes.

The sound of strings and bamboo was melodious, fine wine and delicacies flowed, and the atmosphere regained superficial harmony.

Pei Yu also joined a few discussions at appropriate times, speaking eloquently, drawing frequent smiles from the big shots.

Obviously, she had considerable connections and weight in this circle.

Shen Mo kept his head down and silent, striving to play the role of a shy, nervous stranger experiencing a grand scene for the first time.

Only occasionally, when Pei Yu gestured or someone asked him, did he respond with the briefest words.

After several rounds of wine, the atmosphere relaxed further.

Some left their seats to get air, others huddled together for quiet talks.

The few around the central table, led by Madam Yu, moved to a side hall with a chess board and writing desk for more private transactions.

Pei Yu had also drunk quite a bit. Her fair cheeks were flushed, her eyes more shimmering than usual.

She didn’t move away but instead approached Shen Mo, who was sitting alone in his original seat.

“Fairy Shen,” Pei Yu leaned in, her voice very low, warm breath brushing Shen Mo’s ear, “are you bored?”

Shen Mo withdrew a little distance before replying quietly, “No, no… it’s just… I’m too inexperienced to join the conversation.”

“Heh…” Pei Yu chuckled softly.

She wasn’t displeased by his retreat. Instead, she leaned closer, her arm resting on the edge of the low table between them.

Using the cover of the table and the distraction of the hall’s scattered attention and flickering shadows, Pei Yu did something that made Shen Mo’s soul fly away and his blood run cold.

She actually, under the table, silently removed her right foot’s soft satin embroidered shoe, then her silk sock.

Revealing a warm, soft, jade-smooth bare foot. Carrying the slight heat of wine and the lingering chill of her unique plum fragrance, like a sly and agile fish, it lightly stepped onto Shen Mo’s own foot, which was tucked under his moon-white skirt, feet together.

Shen Mo jolted as if struck by lightning. His whole body trembled violently, nearly bouncing off the stool!

The color drained from his cheeks. Stunned, he looked at Pei Yu so close.

‘He wanted to immediately pull his foot back, shout harshly, flee this place, but his body was frozen stiff.’

Pei Yu, however, acted as if she hadn’t noticed this violent reaction. Instead, she even curled her toes and scratched the top of his foot.

She leaned in, using a breathy voice only the two of them could hear. “You… don’t like men, do you?”

Don’t like men?

Shen Mo was blank, his mind empty. ‘Of course he doesn’t like men! He is a man, a husband, Su Wan’er’s husband. The one he likes has always been women, always.’

But… at this moment, he was Shen Yuebai. In Pei Yu’s eyes, his gender was female. So the phrase “don’t like men” in this context meant—she thought Shen Mo was like her, a woman who only liked women.

This realization made Shen Mo feel like the world was spinning. He opened his mouth, but his throat was dry and sore, and he couldn’t utter a single word.

“Don’t worry, I have no ill intentions toward you.” Pei Yu said softly. “I am always gentle with women.”

Shen Mo’s face turned bright red. These explicit words, this ambiguous posture, made him extremely uncomfortable.

Pei Yu, however, seemed to see through his embarrassment.

She interrupted his unspoken protest, pulled back slightly, raised her wine glass, and gestured to him.

“I understand.”

‘Understand? What do you understand?!’

Shen Mo screamed inwardly.

Pei Yu downed the wine in her glass. Her eyes, intoxicated, became even more hazy and bright.

She fixed her gaze on Shen Mo again, this time more direct, more fervent, even with undisguised aggression.

“I’m not one for beating around the bush, Little Sister Shen. I like you. I fell in love with you the first moment I saw you at the alley entrance.”

Boom—!

Shen Mo felt as if struck by five thunderbolts. His mind went completely blank.

Seeing him like this—exactly like a naive, innocent young maiden with first love—Pei Yu found him even more adorable.

The smile in her eyes deepened, her tone coaxing.

“What do you think of me?”