From the moment he first laid eyes on Liu Qiao’e, Zhao Yange’s gaze could no longer shift away.
She was not exceptionally beautiful, but she possessed a terrifying charisma that commanded all the charm in the room.
Zhao Yange stood stunned for a second before Liu Qiao’e lifted her cup, smiled faintly, and toasted everyone, thanking them for coming from afar.
Everyone returned the toast.
After a round of meaningless pleasantries, Liu Qiao’e finally addressed the main topic of the day.
“This Seat has not been strict in managing subordinates. The former Deputy Palace Lord Qi Mei harbored evil intentions and secretly contacted the Blood Devouring Sect while This Seat was in seclusion, plotting rebellion.
“Fortunately, with the strong support of our friends from Precept Light Temple, This One toasts Little Master Le Hui with tea in place of wine today.”
She did not speak casually; once she opened her mouth, she went straight to the point, diving into what everyone cared about most. Zhao Yange’s heart jolted.
News of Qi Mei’s failed rebellion had spread throughout the Eastern Florescence Realm days ago. To be honest, Zhao Yange did not care about the fate of this Deputy Palace Lord Qi.
Like the others, what he cared most about was why Precept Light Temple had arrived at the critical moment to back up the Immaculate Old Mother.
After all, one was a solemn Buddhist pure land, the other Joyous Union Palace…
Hiss. Zhao Yange could not help sucking in a breath of cold air.
Everyone followed her gaze. A white-robed young novice monk stood up from his seat.
Upon hearing this, Le Hui pressed his palms together in a respectful and amiable posture, yet maintained a distance: “Old Mother overpraises. This is the cause from the past bearing fruit today. My master instructed me to relay to Old Mother that back then, he had promised Old Mother one request. Now that the agreement is fulfilled, he owes Old Mother nothing more. Precept Light Temple still adheres to the principle of not interfering in the internal affairs of other sects.”
It turned out to be an old personal agreement between Withered Glory Zen Master and the Immaculate Old Mother, not some secret pact plotted between the two factions. While Zhao Yange breathed a sigh of relief, he grew even more confused.
The rumored hot-tempered, aloof, and lofty Withered Glory had actually known the Immaculate Old Mother?
When and how had these two forged this agreement?
A faint smile tugged at Liu Qiao’e’s lips. “That is only natural. Please convey This Seat’s thanks to your master, Withered Glory Zen Master.”
Precept Light Temple was the first matter Liu Qiao’e raised.
Any discerning eye could see that Liu Qiao’e wanted to pull in Precept Light Temple to endorse her, but Withered Glory Zen Master’s stance was firm, and his disciples strictly honored the master’s agreement, keeping a neither close nor distant relationship with Joyous Union Sect.
The second matter Liu Qiao’e raised was naturally the Demonic Sect.
“This Seat knows that our Joyous Union Palace’s techniques are somewhat unorthodox and wildly deviant, arrogant and transgressive. Over these years, there have always been rumors that Joyous Union Palace has unclear ties with the Demonic Sect…
“Today, This Seat takes this opportunity to make it clear to everyone: Joyous Union Palace has never had any entanglements with the Demonic Sect. Deputy Palace Lord Qi secretly contacted Blood Devouring Sect in a vain attempt to overthrow the palace, and her crime warrants execution. If there are any rumors or gossip, they likely stem from this incident.
“This Seat has always admired the righteous path of the Immortal Alliance. Since taking over as Palace Lord, This Seat has resolved to reform the palace’s longstanding ills and set it on the orthodox path. Everyone must have seen this with their own eyes.”
Her words were forthright in attitude and clear in stance. The elders and high executives present all nodded and stroked their beards in approval.
Zhao Yange listened from below as she declared her stance and professed loyalty, inwardly scoffing nonstop. Could the rumors be true?
Did this Old Mother truly intend to participate in the Spring Terrace Dao Inquiry and lead Joyous Union Palace to join the righteous path?
He could not help lifting his head again to observe the expressions of the elders from Supreme Harmony Sect, Wandering Sword Pavilion, and the other sects, hoping to discern some clues.
Zheng Yongshou was a proper middle-aged man who frowned slightly upon hearing this.
Song Miaoling wore palace attire with her hair in a high bun, her lips pressed thin, handling matters capably and sternly without idle chatter.
Lai Lerong of Wandering Sword Pavilion had a chubby, smiling Maitreya-like face; even in his laughter, no one could fathom his true thoughts.
Without exception, they seemed to have anticipated this scene today, yet they were all extremely wary of Liu Qiao’e.
Just then, Qu Yating, who sat beside him, stood up and said, “Demonic qi is rising, and the Eight Demonic Sects are stirring. At this time of turmoil, it is our fortune that Old Mother is willing to stand with the Immortal Alliance. However, This humble one still has a question that urgently requires Old Mother’s clarification.”
Liu Qiao’e: “Elder Qu, please speak.”
Facing this woman who was much younger than him, Qu Yating dared not be the slightest bit negligent. He bowed to the side before saying, “I have heard that your sect’s former Deputy Palace Lord took away our sect’s discarded disciple.”
“Mu Daoying is a wanted criminal of the Immortal Alliance. Since Qi Mei has been executed, he should rightfully be handed over to the Immortal Alliance for disposal. May I ask, Old Mother, where is This humble one’s unworthy junior now?”
Here it comes! Zhao Yange’s heart sank with a thud. He could not help clenching his fist and leaning forward.
A strange, fleeting smile crossed Liu Qiao’e’s face. “That is only natural. Elder Qu’s junior here—This Seat likes him very much. It is time for him to come out and meet everyone.”
Her voice suddenly softened considerably: “Ning Xia?”
An ominous premonition surged in the hearts of Qu Yating, Zhao Yange, and everyone present.
“Come, pay respects to your senior sect members.”
“This—”
Before her words finished, Mu Daoying’s figure emerged from the painted boat.
With his high nose, thin lips, and features bright as daylight, clear to the point of translucence—this was Ning Xia! The Jade Clarity Temple brothers and sisters, led by Zhao Yange, could not help crying out in agitation.
“Senior Brother!” “Senior Brother Mu!” “Punishment Lord Mu!”
Everyone craned their necks eagerly, but soon they sensed something amiss.
Mu Daoying’s attire seemed different…
His black hair was simply bound at the back with an ebony hairpin, and he wore only a loose white robe cinched with a thin crimson sash.
One must know that Mu Daoying’s usual attire was extremely formal and meticulous, with feathered robes and Daoist crown.
This outfit, while making him appear even more dashing and handsome, was inevitably… frivolous and unrestrained.
Qu Yating’s gaze sharpened, his expression turning grave in an instant: “You…”
For Mu Daoying to wear this in private chambers was one thing, but to appear like this in public, especially on such an occasion, was utterly lacking in solemnity.
Unless Liu Qiao’e had no intention of letting him appear solemn, treating him instead as a frivolous plaything to be toyed with at will.
Everyone present quickly associated it with another matter.
This was, after all, Joyous Union Palace.
And the one before them was the renowned Immaculate Old Mother.
In an instant, everyone’s gazes shifted uncertainly between Liu Qiao’e and Mu Daoying.
Mu Daoying stood with hands at his sides, his expression betraying no oddity. The wide sleeves revealed a section of his fair wrist, white as sheep’s milk, lustrous as congealed fat, shimmering faintly in the sunlight.
Between men and women, it was nothing more than those matters.
Could it be… Everyone could not help letting their imaginations run wild. Had Mu Daoying become Old Mother’s favored consort?!
The Jade Clarity Temple brothers and sisters also sat back down, confusion in their eyes.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Liu Qiao’e finally spoke gently, delivering the decisive blow: “Immortal Mu has heavenly poise and pure talent, a young prodigy. This Seat admires him greatly and has taken him as my male consort.”
A thin arc lifted at her lips: “It is This Seat’s fault. Though Immortal Mu is now a discarded disciple of Jade Clarity Temple, your sect raised him, so no matter what, This Seat should first inform his former master. Ning Xia, come offer Elder Qu a toast.”
From early that morning, Mu Daoying had known Liu Qiao’e would not let him off easily; she was determined to humiliate and torment him in front of everyone.
After years of cultivation, he had developed a serene and profound temperament. At first, he could not accept this reality, but upon reflection, he realized Liu Qiao’e spoke the truth—he had no choice. Fearing he would implicate his sect mates, he simply accepted his fate and settled down.
Of course, this did not mean he had given up resistance; it was merely enduring what ordinary people could not, awaiting the right moment.
“To know it is impossible and yet calmly accept it as fate is the height of virtue.”
Moreover, staying by Liu Qiao’e’s side, aside from constantly guarding against her whims of intimacy, was still better than remaining with the Immortal Alliance.
Mu Daoying vaguely sensed that Liu Qiao’e fancied his looks, and the Immortal Alliance’s situation was complex, where pulling one hair moved the whole body. During his imprisonment, Mu Daoying clearly knew many people wanted him dead.
Staying with her, Liu Qiao’e would not take his life for now, giving him time to plot slowly.
Mu Daoying was someone who, once resolved, could endure humiliation and bear heavy burdens. He would not make a resentful display, nor would he shy from gossip and criticism.
Thus, under the varied gazes of the crowd, Mu Daoying’s expression remained relatively calm as he bowed to Qu Yating. “Elder Qu.”
Qu Yating’s face looked extremely unpleasant.
“Old Mother, what is the meaning of this?” Qu Yating gritted his teeth with every word, suppressing his anger as he asked, “Mu Daoying is a wanted criminal of our Immortal Alliance. Old Mother speaks of friendship with the Immortal Alliance on her lips, yet forcibly detains him. Is this deliberately humiliating our Immortal Alliance?”
Liu Qiao’e was not intimidated by him and merely curled her lips coldly. “Though Qi Mei abducted the prisoner under This Seat’s banner back then, the man has ended up in This Seat’s hands. Elder Qu, have you ever heard of spitting out something already swallowed into the belly?”
“You Jade Clarity Temple were the ones who expelled him from the sect back then, and now you come questioning me under the Immortal Alliance’s banner? Even Qin Xiandu has not said a word—what standing do you have to question This Seat’s actions?!”
Qu Yating’s face flushed red, and he clenched his teeth tightly.
What Liu Qiao’e said was not wrong. Everyone knew the cultivation world followed the law of the jungle, where the strong claimed what they could.
Today he killed and seized treasure; tomorrow he might be killed in turn, and no one would cry foul.
Mu Daoying was now a discarded disciple of Jade Clarity Temple. While Jade Clarity Temple inquired after him out of righteousness, they had no right to interfere in his current circumstances.