This was not easy; he was already struggling alone, but to avoid implicating other innocent commoners, he forced himself onward.
In doing so, his body inevitably accumulated many new wounds.
He wore pale green robes that day. Under the firelight, that slender green figure swayed at the temple gate. Finally entering Liu Qiao’e’s sight completely.
“Mu Daoying!”
Her surging fury intensified!
That green figure was like a sturdy bamboo battered by storm winds. Liu Qiao’e flew into shocked rage, the whirling lotus petals gathering into small whirlwinds that struck those still-reckless killers!
Mu Daoying actually had no spare attention for changes around him. His temperament was enduring; even with unhealed heavy injuries, ruptured meridians, and lost sword, he didn’t give in to despair but sought ways to resist fiercely.
If it were an ordinary person, after such successive blows, they would have collapsed long ago. Yet even in such dire straits, he remained fully focused, without resentment or regret, devoting himself wholly to facing the world’s unfair storms.
His state of mind, in this most perilous moment, instead became extremely serene and expansive.
Like moonlight illuminating a thousand peaks, stars sinking into the blue sea, great rivers flowing horizontally.
This was an extremely profound, ethereal realm. But just then, beyond the green mountains and moonlight, he heard a woman’s call.
He was distracted and subconsciously lifted his eyes.
His gaze pierced the chaotic flames, meeting a pair of pitch-black, brilliantly bright almond eyes ignited by flames of anger.
Following came the sky full of poignantly gorgeous flower petals.
With the flower petals’ aid, Mu Daoying’s pressure eased sharply. He steadied his mind and decisively coordinated with the airflow, pointing his fingers in rapid succession to release streams of flying swords that pierced the hearts and lungs of the killers before him!
That slender little figure fell from above and quickly pounced into his embrace.
The impact struck his wounds. Mu Daoying tensed his muscles imperceptibly, endured it, and first stroked her back with his blood-drenched palm.
He said softly and warmly, “Old Mother.”
The youth’s heavy breathing sprayed on her hair top.
“I’m fine,” he said lowly.
The scent of blood mixed with faint cold white sandalwood fragrance assaulted her. The joy of lost and found filled her entire chest.
Liu Qiao’e, still shaken, stood on tiptoe and tried to kiss him regardless of the occasion.
Mu Daoying showed slight alarm, dodging left and right to avoid her kiss. Her cold lips fell chaotically on his jaw.
He had already sensed gazes from all directions. Mu Daoying’s cheeks burned hot. He steadied his mind, helplessly took a deep breath, and pressed her nape, stopping her movements.
“Old Mother, we’re outside.” The youth’s low voice flowed into her ear like a clear spring. “Let’s go back. Go back, alright?”
Before she could get angry, he timely took her hand and walked to the center of the field to join Zhao Yange and the others.
The people present weren’t blind; they had clearly seen that scene just now.
But Liu Qiao’e naturally felt no shame whatsoever.
Mu Daoying refused, and she had just been about to flare up when he talked her down again. At this point, it was already good that she wasn’t taking her anger out on others—how could she care about idle gossip?
Mu Daoying was naturally reserved, but at this moment, he tried his best to maintain a dignified and calm demeanor.
Zhao Yange’s mood was a bit complicated.
Zhang Suxin stared blankly at Liu Qiao’e, her mood even more complex. Logically speaking, she should hate this woman who had humiliated her senior brother, but she had just saved her life—
As for the others, like Song Miaoling and the rest, after their shock subsided, they thought of the Joyous Union Sect’s usual ways and realized that Mu Daoying was her rightful male pet. They all came to terms with it and said nothing more.
That earth-shattering strike from Liu Qiao’e had not killed all the Bone Devouring Sect assassins; she had left two barely alive. At this moment, Supreme Harmony Sect disciples were guarding them.
“Just these two?” Liu Qiao’e frowned slightly and looked toward Di Chong.
Someone keenly noticed that something seemed to have changed.
These people had vaguely been treating Liu Qiao’e as the leader, but the disciples from the other sects still harbored some dissatisfaction deep down.
But that single strike of hers had suppressed all the restless discontent.
The cultivation world had always respected the strong. After truly witnessing the might of Liu Qiao’e, a seven realms cultivator, everyone was convinced from the heart.
Even the unruly Di Chong said nothing and just nodded slightly to his subordinate disciples. “Let them go.”
Liu Qiao’e’s expression changed abruptly. “Wait—”
It was too late. The moment the bindings were loosened, a look of resolve appeared on the two men’s faces, followed by a deafening boom!
Everyone hurriedly retreated several zhang away.
When the dust settled, there were only two deep craters left on the ground.
They had actually self-detonated their dantians!
Fortunately, they had retreated in time, avoiding any casualties.
Liu Qiao’e’s face was extremely unsightly. She held back from exploding and had people drag over the remaining corpses. Without minding their horrific appearances, she squatted down and rummaged through their clothes and pants. Mu Daoying’s expression changed slightly, but he didn’t dare stop her.
Only then did a faint smile crease Liu Qiao’e’s stern face. “Got it.”
She lightly pinched something between her fingertips and called Song Miaoling and the others over to look.
Zhao Yange didn’t understand. “What is this?”
Liu Qiao’e had someone bring a lantern to illuminate the faint blue glow at her fingertip.
“It’s spirit shards,” Song Miaoling recognized them, and her face darkened.
Mu Daoying and Zhao Yange both thought to themselves: This is bad.
Liu Qiao’e let out a light hum, a smug look on her face. “Hmph, trying to hide it so shamelessly? You think you can fool me?!”
After chasing leads all the way, the clues had finally, by sheer luck, pointed to the spirit vein in Fogveil Mountain!
Though there had been a mishap along the way, this trip had still yielded some gains.
Back at the inn, Liu Qiao’e’s mood brightened like clouds parting to reveal the sun—a rare moment of cheer—but Mu Daoying’s brows remained furrowed, his face full of worry.
“What are you thinking?” Liu Qiao’e asked.
Mu Daoying shook his head and said nothing, his mind heavy with concerns. The Immortal Alliance had still tracked it to Fogveil Mountain; he didn’t have much time left.
Liu Qiao’e glanced at him a few times, then suddenly gripped his chin and leaned in to kiss him. Caught off guard, Mu Daoying instinctively struggled.
Liu Qiao’e whispered in his ear, “What you promised me…”
Her breath was like an orchid’s fragrance, warm and intoxicating. A faint blush spread across Mu Daoying’s face. He struggled once more but ultimately wrapped his arms around her back.
Having lost and then regained him, Liu Qiao’e’s heart fluttered, a torrent of emotions surging within.
Soon, Mu Daoying was kissed into steady retreat, stumbling back several steps.
Liu Qiao’e pressed her advantage, pulling him down onto the bed with her.
His lips were like a soft, glutinous piece of white jade pudding, sweet and silky. She couldn’t help licking the corner of his mouth, not going deep—like a child who had just gotten a cube of rock sugar and was reluctant to eat it, just savoring it in her mouth.
Mu Daoying was like a delicate beauty made of fragile sugar candy. Being licked by her made his heart tremble. Even with a heart of iron, he felt himself melting.
Since she didn’t go deeper, he recalled how he had bitten her tongue tip that day and thought he had left a shadow on her, feeling guilty and tender.
Amid the rising passion, he couldn’t help but cup her round face, pulling back slightly to give them both a chance to breathe.
She thought he was going to back out again and glared angrily. “You promised me!”
Mu Daoying lowered his gaze and caressed her cheek. His fingertip slipped between her lips, prying open a small gap.
“Did it hurt that day, when I bit you?” His mind was pure and innocent; he hadn’t thought too much and had done it instinctively, as if it were natural.
But as his fingertip was enveloped in moist warmth, Mu Daoying belatedly realized something was wrong. By then, however, it was already trapped between her soft tongue, unable to advance or retreat.
Mu Daoying tensed up, his calm expression shattering as his breathing quickened.
Liu Qiao’e never imagined he would make such a bold move. Her heart pounded wildly, almost leaping out of her throat!
The thought that it was Mu Daoying forcing her mouth open made her almost unable to hold back a whimper as she felt herself on the verge of fainting.
“You promised me,” was all she could repeat.
Promised her?
Hadn’t he already—
Did she want him to take the initiative and kiss her? Mu Daoying hesitated for a moment, then helplessly pulled her close, lowering his body to kiss her back.
Liu Qiao’e tentatively extended her tongue to trace his lips. She felt Mu Daoying stiffen immediately. The young daoist’s throat bobbed reservedly. After a pause, he calmly took her lips again, extending just the tip of his tongue to lightly touch hers.
This touch was an entirely different experience from a simple lip kiss.
It was as if countless fireworks exploded before his eyes, or like a drop of bodhisattva nectar falling from the heavens, moistening every one of his forty-eight thousand pores.
In matters of love between man and woman, he was as green as fruit hanging on a tree—how could he withstand such stimulation? The intense, unfamiliar pleasure surging straight to his brain made Mu Daoying’s scalp tingle. Their tightly pressed lips trembled lightly, and a strange heat rushed straight to his lower abdomen.
His aroused reaction seemed to give Liu Qiao’e tremendous encouragement. She pried open his lips and teeth, delving deep into his tongue tip.
Mu Daoying quickly found himself overwhelmed. The hand supporting her back slid down, and she pinned him to the bed, conquering and seizing territory until he was utterly defeated.
Inexperienced as he was, he was soon kissed breathless. Mu Daoying frowned slightly and let out a moan. A strand of silver thread slipped from the corner of his lips. “Old Mother… mm… no…”
Her hands braced against his chest, like a domineering calf pressing down on his waist and abdomen, barbarically hugging his neck as she continued the kiss.
His last shred of reason made his daoist robe tent with half an erection, propping her up to keep her from sliding off.
But soon, even that last shred of reason fluttered away.
The youth beneath her suddenly went still. Liu Qiao’e looked down in surprise and saw Mu Daoying’s long eyes tightly closed, his jade-like face flushed red. At some point, he had actually been kissed unconscious by her.