Petals of white lotus drifted down, ethereal and sacred, as if a deity had descended. Ze Luju tightened his grip on his blade, his remaining eye revealing solemnity: “The Holy Maiden of Luo Sect?”
The Luo Sect was one of the nine heretical and demonic sects, secretly passed down for countless years, far beyond what a later-generation figure like the Old Crier could rival. Moreover, the Luo Sect still had a Dharma Body existing today. Even the strongest Xiu Luo Temple in the Western Regions dared not provoke them, so how could Ze Luju treat it lightly?
Although he had never seen Gu Xiaosang, he had heard many rumors about her. From her descent scene, her peerless beauty, and her ethereal aura, he roughly guessed who she was.
She had also achieved the Out-of-Scene realm?
So stealthily, so effortlessly?
Gu Xiaosang stood beside Meng Qi, her clothes and sashes gently swaying like a celestial descending to the mortal world. She smiled faintly and said, “So you are the Evil Blade of the Old Crier’s lineage, daring to lay hands on my husband.”
“Husband?” Ze Luju’s expression wavered as he glanced between Gu Xiaosang and Meng Qi.
My reputation is ruined… This was the only thought flashing through Meng Qi’s mind.
But upon reflection, it wasn’t so bad. Ze Luju was a heretical and evil cultivator, and they were enemies. Even if he spread the story, others would likely dismiss it as a deliberate slander. If he didn’t expose himself to spread the tale, it would naturally fade away without evidence.
At the same time, Meng Qi seized the opportunity to secretly take a Da Huan Pill.
Gu Xiaosang, smiling sweetly, her voice crisp and pleasant, said, “I’m here to take him back as my husband.”
She paused, then added mockingly, “You’ve been famous for many years, yet you still haven’t crossed the first heavenly ladder. Hmph, people always say the Old Crier is ruthless and cruel to his disciples, but what I see is nothing special. If I were him, I would have already disposed of such a useless wretch and fed you to the dogs to avoid public shame.”
Her words, though free of profanity, struck the deepest nerve in Ze Luju’s heart. His temple throbbed, his single eye filled with hatred, his calmness slightly lost, and he had the urge to strike with his blade.
Gu Xiaosang blinked innocently: “If it weren’t for the thought of my husband taking revenge with his own hands in the future, I would have left you here tonight. If you don’t leave now, when will you?”
Her offhand remark was an outright provocation, as if she held no regard whatsoever for Ze Luju, the “Blade of Evil from the Vast Sea.”
Ze Luju was no inexperienced youth. He had already suppressed his hatred and anger. After a moment of contemplation, his expression returned to calmness. Without a word, he turned and left.
Even though Gu Xiaosang had only recently broken through, she was cultivating an unparalleled martial art. Since he himself had not yet crossed the first heavenly ladder, he might not be able to defeat her in a hurry. If he continued to linger, the people from the Eastern Sea Sword Manor would return, and he might not be able to leave today.
Moreover, with the Luo Sect’s Holy Maiden appearing, there might be nearby hermits or divine envoys. A direct confrontation would not be a wise choice.
Watching Ze Luju leave, the effects of Meng Qi’s Sacrificial Art had already worn off, leaving him weak as if he had fallen gravely ill, unable to support his body, collapsing backward.
Unknowingly, Gu Xiaosang had moved behind Meng Qi, her arms circling under his ribs and clasping his chest, surrounding him with her unique fragrance.
“Demon girl, what are you doing?” Meng Qi, barely managing to stand, shouted.
Since he still saw some use for the demon girl, he decided temporarily against a mutual destruction.
Gu Xiaosang chuckled softly: “Of course, I’m taking my husband home.”
She lightly stepped, half-carrying and half-dragging Meng Qi into the void, the surroundings gradually darkening.
“Husband, I know you appear easygoing outwardly, but in reality, you are proud and ambitious. You must want to personally slay your enemies. That’s why I didn’t intercept the Wolf King earlier and later let the Evil Blade escape, leaving you opportunities for cultivation,” Gu Xiaosang boasted proudly, as if seeking praise. “Once you open the Nine Orifices, you can head north, following the Wolf King’s path, tempering yourself along the way, and finally slay him in his grassland homeland under numerous dangers. Only then can it be called a true man’s revenge.”
Meng Qi had never expected Gu Xiaosang to help him eliminate his enemies. He had similar thoughts before. Once he recovered, he would quietly head north after half a year of cultivation, infiltrate the grasslands, overcome numerous obstacles, and take the Wolf King’s life as a sacrifice.
Such a solitary journey of vengeance with his blade would be a tempering of his mind and martial cultivation, invaluable for achieving unity with heaven and seeking his own path.
Third time’s the charm. The next time will be the end of your life!
As for Ze Luju, he would have to wait until Meng Qi achieved the Out-of-Scene realm. Still, Ze had taught him a lesson: the martial world was perilous. He must not let his whereabouts be known months in advance, nor could he ignore any enemy, no matter how distant.
“How come it feels like you’re egging me on to go to the grasslands?” Though Meng Qi had similar thoughts, he would never admit it in front of the demon girl.
Gu Xiaosang proudly replied: “I can still grasp a bit of my husband’s thoughts!”
She spoke casually, like an innocent and charming girl.
……
Shortly after the two left, He Jiu and Gongyang Hao, now dressed in blue martial outfits, appeared in mid-air.
Looking at the silent courtyards and the lightning-lit sky well, at the shattered bricks, He Jiu raised an eyebrow: “The Crazy Blade is even stronger than I imagined.”
As soon as they arrived at the Yanyu Mountains, the Myth group had already withdrawn ahead of them, leaving no members behind. Fortunately, Crown Prince Zhao Qian’s life was saved, and he was now staying in the Six Gates of Yingcheng under the protection of eunuch Wei Gao, silver-insignia investigator Qian Kai, and Hualian monk.
Originally planning to pursue the Myth members separately, Gongyang Hao and He Jiu saw heavenly lightning descending toward Xingyun Manor, forcing them to return to investigate.
“What exactly are they trying to do?” Gongyang Hao hadn’t expected Meng Qi to be one of Myth’s targets, puzzled and unable to discern their true purpose.
He Jiu shook his head, indicating he couldn’t guess either: “Uncle Gongyang, let’s search around. Su Meng was attacked inside the manor, and as the host, we can’t just ignore it.”
“Alright.” Gongyang Hao had no objection.
While secretly employing methods to find clues, He Jiu mused: “Myth has always acted secretly, known only to a few. Now they suddenly act openly and boldly, which is truly inexplicable. Could it be that a great upheaval is truly about to come?”
Speaking of chaos, he showed no fear or hesitation, instead appearing confident and heroic, as if viewing it as a paradise for self-cultivation!
Not long after the two left Xingyun Manor following the traces, Jiang Zhiwei returned midway, her expression still resolute, though concern was evident.
She and Hong Qian had not yet crossed the Tianxiu River when they sensed the disturbance at Yanyu Mountain, so they turned back to investigate. Upon discovering the unusual heavenly lightning striking Xingyun Manor, she realized Meng Qi was under attack, grew anxious, and rushed to his aid. With Hong Qian’s help, it didn’t take much effort.
Carefully observing the battlefield, she slightly relaxed, as there was no sign of Meng Qi’s death. He seemed to have left calmly…
“Master Hong, we’ll keep pursuing.” Jiang Zhiwei said softly, not a request but a decision. Even if Hong Qian didn’t follow, she would go alone.
Hong Qian nodded slightly without saying much.
……
Inside the Six Gates of the Yingcheng Prefecture, eunuch Wei Gao anxiously watched as Qian Kai and Hualian assisted the Crown Prince with healing.
Hualian possessed secret techniques, transferring his Qi into Zhao Qian’s body, transforming it into blood and essence to replenish his weakness, while Qian Kai dispelled the demonic energy.
Black mist rose in wisps, and after a while, it finally dissipated.
Zhao Qian’s face was pale, but he showed no fear or rage, smiling: “Thank you both for your help.”
His smile was calm, as if he had accepted the tribulation peacefully, prompting Hualian to nod slightly. The Crown Prince’s temperament was indeed extraordinary.
……
In a secluded spot, four members of the Myth organization, adorned with masks representing the Big Dipper Star Lord, the Mountain God, the Queen Mother of the West, and the Great Freedom Heavenly Son, reconvened.
“The mission is basically complete, except for the True Emperor’s Seal,” the Big Dipper Star Lord looked around.
The Mountain God’s voice was deep and rough: “If it weren’t for the demon girl’s interference, we would have already obtained the True Emperor’s Seal!”
“Si Kongtu has not appeared again. It seems the True Emperor’s Seal has fallen into the demon girl’s hands,” the Queen Mother of the West said emotionlessly.
The Great Heavenly Son surveyed the surroundings and spoke with a foreboding tone: “Where is the Wolf King?”
He was now ravenous, craving only flesh and blood.
The Queen Mother of the West glanced at him and said indifferently: “The Wolf King is a lone wolf. Whether he succeeds or not, he will choose to escape far away.”
……
Lying amidst soft and fragrant warmth, gazing at the curtain embroidered with celestial maidens scattering flowers, Meng Qi felt delicate fingers gently massaging his temples, easing the exhaustion and backlash from the Sacrificial Art.
“Husband, does this feel better?” Gu Xiaosang sat cross-legged, letting Meng Qi lean partly against her, serving him like a lady serving her lord by massaging his temples.
The carriage rolled along the main road, with only slight vibrations inside.
Meng Qi gritted his teeth: “As an Out-of-Scene cultivator, you should have dozens of methods to help me recover and relieve my headache. Just massaging my temples—what kind of help is that?”
Gu Xiaosang chuckled softly: “Isn’t that what a virtuous wife does?”
So much for having fun… Meng Qi had no words to reply and instead asked: “You used the gains from the ruins of the Nine Heavens to instantly become an Out-of-Scene cultivator. Why did you let Si Kongtu escape?”
Gu Xiaosang kept massaging Meng Qi’s temples, her voice filled with laughter: “Because I never intended to catch him. If not for me and the hermit scaring off the Myth members, how could he have escaped from the Valley of the Dead? As for the ‘True Emperor’s Seal,’ of course, it belongs to the one with the destined fate.”
“The one with the destined fate… What exactly are you trying to do?” Meng Qi didn’t believe Gu Xiaosang’s kindness at all.
Gu Xiaosang kept massaging and smiled playfully: “I didn’t plan to do anything. I just wanted to see if we could use the ‘True Emperor’s Seal’ to lure out a big fish.”
“A big fish?” Meng Qi was puzzled.
Gu Xiaosang chatted casually: “In the late Kang Dynasty, Emperor Ai cooperated with our Luo Sect many times, so we know many secrets. For example, several promising members of the Han family were sent separately into the Demon Extermination Gate and the Su Maiden Dao before the city fell. Based on this, we suspect that the ‘Demon Master’ Han Guang of the Demon Extermination Gate is a remnant of the Kang Dynasty.”
Demon Master Han Guang? The left-path emperor who condensed his Demon Body before fifty? Meng Qi was greatly shocked: “Wasn’t he sealed by Abbot Kongwen?”
Gu Xiaosang chuckled lightly: “After the Demon Master fought with Abbot Kongwen, he disappeared completely. It’s normal for people to suspect he was sealed, but there’s also a possibility he was severely injured and had to remain hidden for years. Now that his ancestor’s hidden treasure has appeared, naturally, I must use this opportunity to confirm his status. Unfortunately, perhaps the True Emperor’s Seal was of too little value to him, or maybe he was truly sealed, and ultimately did not appear.”
Confirming the Demon Master’s status? Gu Xiaosang and the Luo Sect had grand ambitions… Meng Qi pondered thoughtfully.
“However, the ‘True Emperor’s Seal’ truly had a destined connection with me, allowing my husband to obtain it. And what my husband obtained is as good as mine,” Gu Xiaosang said with a smile, having discovered the True Emperor’s Seal hidden on Meng Qi when he fell into her hands.
Meng Qi inhaled deeply, not dwelling on the matter of the True Emperor’s Seal: “Where exactly are you taking me?”
“Didn’t I just say, going home?” Gu Xiaosang smiled, “Our daughter is waiting for her parents.”
She kept her lips sealed, revealing nothing of her intentions.
Meng Qi’s lips twitched, about to speak, when suddenly he heard a thumping sound at the window.
The carriage window was opened, the curtain lifted, and a tall, bearded man with a robust figure stuck his head in, smiling leisurely: “Little lady, I’d like to borrow your husband for a bit.”
The carriage was galloping, yet the man seemed nailed to the window.
Who? Meng Qi instinctively turned to look at Gu Xiaosang, witnessing for the first time the demon girl’s expression of panic.
The expression vanished in an instant. Moonlight poured through the window, casting a glow on Gu Xiaosang’s face and body, her white dress reflecting the silvery light, making her skin appear translucent, with a hint of vulnerability.
She lightly bit her lip, then smiled radiantly: “How can a junior refuse when a senior wishes to borrow? I’m just curious about what the senior intends to have my husband do. I can’t help but worry.”
“Don’t worry, I said it’s safe, so it’s definitely safe.” The bearded man extended his hand, and Meng Qi felt as if he were flying, following him away.
In just one night, so many changes left Meng Qi feeling as if he were in a dream.
The window was empty, the curtain slowly falling, Gu Xiaosang sitting quietly inside the carriage, her expression inscrutable:
“He actually came…”
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