This question, for the time being, had no answer.
He did indeed somewhat regret his frivolous actions from before, but what was done could not be undone, and the promise he had so lightly given could not be rashly taken back. Especially with someone of Liu Qiao’e’s extreme temperament—he had to be several times more cautious.
Any flip-flopping would only completely shatter her chance at turning toward good.
He had no intention of blaming her; he only secretly regretted making such a reckless promise.
Mu Daoying thought it over and realized that he did not know the full story of the grievances between these two people after all, so it was best not to comment rashly.
With things as they were, the only option was to escape first before worrying about anything else.
And so, Mu Daoying said no more, and Liu Qiao’e did not say anything else either.
Liu Qiao’e did not say much, but that was because she now harbored doubts and distrust toward Mu Daoying as a person.
She knew her own temperament all too well.
She was not likable.
Even if someone came briefly to her side, they would eventually leave her!
She was convinced that Mu Daoying despised her way of doing things, and his current words were nothing but hypocritical pretense.
From being an illiterate village woman, she had come this far, enduring who knew how many humiliations and cold stares.
She did not know the stories of emperors and generals, but she firmly believed in the principle: “Better to betray the world than let the world betray me.”
She and Mu Daoying were people from two different worlds.
He disapproved of her behavior, and she deeply hated his.
Now, they were merely maintaining a fragile and tenuous balance.
But this balance would shatter one day.
Just like Bai Mengli the other day, and Fan Shuyun today—they would not be isolated cases.
It was inevitable, shaped by the vastly different mindsets forged by their environments.
—His words sounded pretty, but since he looked down on her, why should she thicken her face and insist on going with him?
Better to draw the line now than be despised and distanced later.
Better for her to break it off herself!
Liu Qiao’e closed her eyes and hatefully gritted her teeth.
With her mind made up, a surge of emotions suddenly overwhelmed her in that moment, stirring such a splitting headache that it felt like something buried deep within was desperately trying to break free!
But she absolutely refused to show even a hint of weakness in front of Mu Daoying. After a while, the needle-like pain in her brain gradually faded.
If Mu Daoying had paid close attention, he would have noticed that Liu Qiao’e’s eyes were now clearer than before, like clouds parting to reveal the moon, her alertness and cold ruthlessness even sharper.
The two thus maintained this delicate balance as they hurried toward the West Gate.
The journey had been smooth enough so far, but Mu Daoying still felt an uneasy sense of foreboding.
This was not groundless worry on his part; mainly, he was just too unlucky in his daily life.
No one could have imagined that Jade Sword True Heart of the famed Jade Clarity Temple was actually a thoroughbred jinx.
Perhaps because he had been born into privilege, with exceptional talent and innate spiritual gifts, as if he had taken all the good fortune for himself, the heavens had to make up for it elsewhere.
Every time Mu Daoying went down the mountain, bridges collapsed along the road, and bandits roamed freely.
And yet he was a hot-blooded man of the jianghu, always eager to lend a hand.
Even the crudest scams that ordinary people saw through could trick Mu Daoying into willingly handing over his money.
Be it beggars, those burying their fathers, touch-porcelain artists, or sellers of frozen goods—all sorts of street tricks left him penniless.
He would set out as a dignified, dust-free Daoist immortal, only to return with empty pockets, tattered clothes, and the marks of wind and frost all over him.
His fellow disciples at Jade Clarity Temple privately worried that while being scammed out of money was one thing, they feared Senior Brother Mu would one day be scammed out of his body too.
Thus, over time, whenever a major matter arose, Mu Daoying felt an ominous premonition lingering in his heart, his intuition telling him that the heavens would not let things go so smoothly for him.
Before reaching the West Gate, the two specially changed into the set of coarse civilian short robes they had prepared earlier.
One man and one woman, about the same age, so they simply disguised themselves as an ordinary mortal couple.
Because of the Joyous Union Grand Ceremony, spectators flooded in like tides, and even the usually remote West Gate bustled with people coming and going.
It was just not as prosperous as the main gate, and the guards were far less vigilant than at the main gate.
According to plan, after disguising themselves and with a confounding spell for cover, they only needed to keep a low profile to slip out.
Who would have thought that they would run headlong into a woman leading a young child? The child was naughty, running and jumping right toward Liu Qiao’e.
With her eyesight and reflexes, dodging a mortal’s collision was a piece of cake, but the crowd pressed in around her, shoulder to shoulder.
Liu Qiao’e also feared exposing her cultivator identity, so for a moment, she failed to dodge.
The collision sent the child straight into a guard.
Mu Daoying immediately noticed Liu Qiao’e’s mishap and hurried to support her.
“…Lady E,” not yet used to this overly intimate address, the youth paused, then quickly asked warmly, “Are you alright?”
Just like the most ordinary husband concerned for his wife.
Liu Qiao’e leaned on his arm and gently shook her head.
Mu Daoying breathed a slight sigh of relief and simply supported her as they followed the crowd out.
Who would have thought that the guard would suddenly call out to them: “Halt!”
No one knew if this guard, bored from standing watch too long, had decided on a whim to meddle, or if Mu Daoying’s powerful bad luck had struck again.
In any case, the guard glanced at them and drawled lazily: “You two, heads up.”
Mu Daoying’s heart sank as he slowly raised his gaze.
What kind of brows and eyes were those—gathering the spiritual essence of a thousand mountains and ten thousand waters? Even in coarse hemp clothes, they could not hide his divine splendor.
The guard started in surprise, revealing an admiring look. Once he recovered, suspicions arose.
How could mortals have such appearances?
With such looks, yet dressed in coarse clothes and hiding their faces, there must be something fishy!
“Who are you?!”
Mu Daoying knew they could not slip away now; no matter what, he had to get Liu Qiao’e out first.
“You go first.” The youth said softly, pressing his palm to her back and pushing her forward.
Mu Daoying retreated, and in the blink of an eye, amid the crowd’s screams, he had already exchanged three palm strikes with the guard.
The initial guard could not withstand his palm force and retreated in defeat.
But more guards swarmed in at that moment.
The defeated guard clutched his chest and shouted: “That woman! Don’t let that woman get away either!”
Mu Daoying was already injured, with several spirit acupoints sealed; after several bouts, he felt blood surging in his chest.
All he could think was that Liu Qiao’e was implicated because of him, so no matter what, he had to help her escape first—he could only endure through sheer will.
The crowd fell into great chaos.
Mu Daoying stepped through the Gangdou footwork, secretly employing the Hidden Submersion Five Falsities Technique, fighting one against ten as he darted and weaved among the guards.
The youth had a slender waist and lithe form, flitting about like dancing willow catkins.
But in the end, two fists could not beat four hands—a sudden palm struck his chest squarely, and Mu Daoying tasted blood in his throat, forcing it down.
His fingers, white as snow, slashed through the air, poised for a counterstrike.
But then, a sword came at his back!
One palm in front, one sword behind, blocking him front and rear.
Mu Daoying abruptly looked up!
He turned his head and met a pair of cold, ruthless eyes.
Blood trickled from his lips.
But Mu Daoying had no time for that; he stared intently at the sneak attacker behind him and asked stubbornly: “Why?”
The person lowered her sword tip, the blade reflecting her pale, harsh features.
“Friend Mu has walked the righteous path for years, with a pure and naive heart. Today, this one will teach you a lesson.” Liu Qiao’e mocked. “The lesson is this—
“Better to offend a gentleman than a villain.”
–
The guards on site were all stunned by this turn of events.
No one had expected this young Daoist’s companion to suddenly turn on him.
They exchanged glances, hesitating.
The leader immediately decided: “Take this woman down too!”
“Who dares?!” Liu Qiao’e shouted sharply, shaking a token from her sleeve.
The minor commander’s face changed: “This is—Manager Chen—”
The palm-sized token was lotus-shaped, with a small fish swimming beneath the petals, nibbling at the lotus leaves, and the character “Chen” inscribed on the stamen.
This was precisely the personal jade token of Joyous Union Palace’s Grand Manager, Chen Yuro.
Liu Qiao’e said: “You recognize it? Then get out of the way?”
Under everyone’s gaze, Liu Qiao’e picked up Mu Daoying and turned toward Joyous Union Palace.
Mu Daoying’s face was pale, his thin lips pressed tight, blood continuously trickling from the corner of his mouth—he was clearly gravely injured internally.
Liu Qiao’e’s movements were not gentle; she leaped high and low while carrying him, jostling all the way.
Yet Mu Daoying made not a sound.
“What?” Liu Qiao’e sneered. “Why won’t Daoist Mu speak now? Do you feel ashamed to have been deceived by a villain like me?”
Mu Daoying was silent for a moment before finally speaking.
His tone was faint, his voice weak.
“You know it in your heart; why should Ying say more?”
Liu Qiao’e flew into a rage!
She looked down at the frail young man in her arms.
He averted his gaze, his lashes lowered, as if reluctant to look at her.
Who would have thought that Mu Daoying, usually so kindhearted he was almost nitpicky, could be so sharp-tongued and sarcastic.
But things were different now.
Liu Qiao’e’s anger lasted only an instant before she quickly suppressed it.
Now that her memories had returned, why bother arguing with this minor character?
Yes.
By now, she remembered everything.
She was Liu Qiao’e.
She was also the lord of Joyous Union Palace in the Eight Demonic Sects, renowned throughout the righteous immortal sects of Donghua—the Immaculate Old Mother!