Under the Jade City, within the Yufei Palace.
“Transaction?!” Qiao San was greatly astonished by Yufei’s reaction. He had considered every possibility, but never imagined that a woman would dare to speak of a deal with him in such a tone and manner.
“Yes, a genuine fair trade!” Yufei’s voice was sincere and firm. “Let’s call it even between us! I’ll help you leave the capital safely, and I hope the events of yesterday will never be known to a third party.”
Yufei habitually flicked her sleeve and, with her full, mature body, attempted to sit on the cushioned couch by the window. As her knees bent slightly, the alluring empress frowned and had to straighten herself again.
“Heh, heh…” Although subtle, the woman’s discomfort did not escape Qiao San’s sharp eyes. Associating it with the previous stimulating and lewd incident, Qiao San smirked, a grin forming on his lips.
In a flash, Qiao San had abruptly appeared before Yufei, his large hand teasingly pinching the seductive woman’s chin and saying, “Woman, what do you have to bargain with? Don’t forget, your life is still in my hands!”
“Then kill me!” Yufei no longer struggled or got agitated like last night. Instead, she took a step forward, thrust her ample bosom upward, and stared defiantly into the rogue’s eyes without fear.
Man and woman silently gazed at each other for a long time without moving. Though no actual force collided, the space between them grew stagnant. The atmosphere became increasingly oppressive, and the suffocating sensation even made Qiao San feel slightly uneasy. Yet Yufei remained calm and expressionless, as if she felt nothing.
“Fine! I agree to your terms!”
The man’s response was steady and firm, yet faintly tinged with helplessness. From Yufei, he finally understood a truth: not all women were made of water. This ruthless woman before him was as hard as iron and stone. To achieve her goals, she not only resorted to any means necessary, but even used her own life and body as stakes!
Whew… Was there any woman in the world with a stronger will than Yufei?!
Qiao San exhaled deeply, his emotions in turmoil as he looked at the woman before him with new eyes. Thinking back to how she had moaned and screamed beneath him last night, he couldn’t help but question inwardly: was this truly the same woman?
The empress’s flying phoenix eyebrows arched slightly. Unintentionally, discomfort from her body crept onto her face again. Glaring fiercely at the culprit, she rapidly retracted the venomous glare in her eyes.
“Bold Qiao San, you must make Director Li disappear. He knows far too much about us!”
“No problem. I’ll take care of it right after I wake up from sleep!” Qiao San shifted his body sideways and fell onto the bed, snoring loudly. Seemingly relaxed and carefree, he appeared to truly regard Yufei as a reliable ally, showing not the slightest bit of caution.
Hatred and resentment swirled in the woman’s heart, but a rational woman would never make unnecessary moves. With a flick of her long sleeve, creating a gust of authoritative wind, the noble empress turned and left.
“Heh, heh… So amusing!” The rogue’s eyes opened a tiny slit, catching sight of the woman’s awkwardly swaying hips through the copper mirror by the bed. Smiling smugly, he closed his eyes again and entered a deep state of meditation.
※※※※※※※※
At the National Master’s Mansion, the once bustling and thriving place had now become deserted. Accustomed to the luxuries of worldly life, Master Leihuo wore a face full of worry, his white eyebrows furrowed deeply as he paced back and forth in the pill room, unable to find a good solution.
“Senior Brother, that demon is most likely hiding in Yufei’s palace. Why don’t we report to the emperor and forcefully storm in?”
“Sigh…”
The National Master sat back down on the meditation cushion, throwing aside even the symbolic whisk he usually carried, deeply discouraged. “Brother, even if we killed the demon, it would bring us no benefit at all! Yufei has now become our only ally. If we find out she is hiding the demon, no matter the reason, Yufei will immediately fall out of the emperor’s favor!”
The death of the Left Chancellor came as a sudden blow to many people. The entire Leihuo Sect, which had gradually strayed from the essence of cultivation, fell into chaos and confusion.
The faces of the Taoists turned extremely grim, yet none could think of a good idea to turn the situation around. An elder Taoist responsible for intelligence further worsened the mood by reporting, “Master, it is reported that the Chenyuan Sect has already dispatched many experts. Even the two recluses Feng and Yu, who have reached the realm of immortality, have come down from the mountains!”
“Thud!” Master Leihuo’s heart sank into an icy abyss. His lips turned pale as he tried to speak but failed. Finally, he weakly waved his hand, signaling the Taoists to leave the pill room.
“Sigh… What should we do? Do we really have to return to the cold and desolate mountains to cultivate again?”
The old Taoist’s eyes, filled with reluctance and attachment to the mundane world, showed his inner turmoil. Just as his troubled muttering had not yet faded, a mocking laughter suddenly arose behind him.
“Ha, ha… If you desire wealth and honor, it’s not difficult. I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll help you out!”
※※※※※※※※
The winds and clouds of the capital surged and swirled, enveloping the solemn plaque of the Beigong Clan. A lonely feather was tossed into the air by a sudden gust, and then… miraculously froze mid-flight.
“Greetings from Xuan Nu of Purple Mansion Mountain. I respectfully request Lord Beigong to come out and meet me!”
The vast space fell silent. A graceful, immortal figure slowly emerged from the void.
“Your Holiness graces us with your presence; Beigong Ping is deeply honored!” The immortal’s lingering voice was still echoing on the steps when a group of figures hurriedly came out to greet her.
Beigong Ping stepped forward to meet Xuan Nu. Without even glancing at the token representing Purple Mansion Mountain that floated toward him, he changed his demeanor completely just by sensing Xuan Nu’s unique aura, bowing deeply with a new identity assumed. “Beigong Ping of Chenyuan Mountain respectfully greets the Immortal from Purple Mansion!”
Pausing briefly, Beigong Ping lowered his voice and continued, “Yesterday, my son acted rashly and committed a grave mistake. I humbly beg the Immortal to overlook the transgression of a minor!”
“Lord Marquis, you misunderstand!” Xuan Nu gently moved her bare feet in the air, her dark robes lightly fluttering as she softly explained, “Xuan Nu has not come here to accuse or confront, but to request Lord Marquis’s assistance for Purple Mansion Mountain!”
Her voice lingering in the air, the immortal figure floated into the Beigong Clan’s premises. Only after Beigong Ping and others had respectfully ushered Xuan Nu inside did the “bewildered” feather finally move with the wind, drifting far away.
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