Mu Daoying somewhat hated his own rich imagination.
He also hated that he had read too many messy romance novels in his daily life. The more he tried to suppress his thoughts, the more he tortured himself by imagining lascivious scenes of her entangled with various different men.
His heart felt as if it had been stabbed by a knife thousands upon thousands of times, then soaked in a pool of bitter water. It bubbled sourly in Mu Daoying’s chest.
Liu Qiao’e’s good mood was also ruined by Mu Daoying.
Mu Daoying knew he had spoken out of turn. He wanted to coax her but did not dare to touch her sore spot, only to make things worse.
As he worried anxiously amid the misery and bitterness, Zhao Yange returned.
Mu Daoying was slightly surprised to see the string of tails following behind him. “Junior Sister Zhang? Junior Brother Wu?”
Zhao Yange said, “I just heard from the two of them that Old Mother had saved their lives moments ago! So I brought them here to express our thanks.” He craned his neck to look around. “…Eh? Old Mother isn’t here?”
Zhang Suxin and Wu Yunhua blushed, their heads drooping listlessly.
Mu Daoying pursed his lips, bitterness in his heart. “She…”
Zhao Yange said, “You two quarreled again?”
Mu Daoying was stunned. “How did you know?”
Zhao Yange counseled him instead. “Sigh, I also feel a bit guilty about it.”
In front of their junior brother and sister, he did not finish his words. But both of them understood. Mu Daoying fell silent.
Zhao Yange said, “To be honest, I came today to invite Old Mother to grace our Jade Clarity Temple’s gratitude banquet. She saved Suxin and Yunhua.”
The two children looked even more dejected, their heads hanging lower.
“Before,” Wu Yunhua said hesitantly, “we were young and ignorant, disrespectful and offensive to Old Mother.”
Mu Daoying comforted them. “How could Old Mother hold it against you? Don’t worry, I will pass it on.”
After the three left, Mu Daoying took the opportunity to ask other Joyous Union Sect disciples about Liu Qiao’e’s whereabouts.
She was discussing matters with Song Miaoling, Lai Yongle, and others.
Since the clues pointed to Fogveil Mountain, the Immortal Alliance planned to head there tomorrow. They had not set off that same day because many young disciples had been injured in yesterday’s battle and needed a day to recover.
Mu Daoying thought of that Bone Devouring Sect assassin who seemed to be coming for him. After some consideration, he ultimately did not speak up.
He only bowed from outside and requested to see Liu Qiao’e.
When Liu Qiao’e saw him, she still did not give him a good look and declared she would not go.
“You think calling me makes me go?”
Mu Daoying persuaded her. “Yange is sincere.The Jade Clarity Temple folks are grateful that you saved their junior brother and sister.”
Liu Qiao’e said in surprise, “You’re already a discarded disciple of Jade Clarity Temple, and you’re still speaking up for them?”
Mu Daoying fell silent for a moment before saying, “They are still my junior brother and sister. I hope Old Mother can meet them.”
This was his selfish motive.
Liu Qiao’e had just been annoyed at his deep thoughts, but now her heart skipped a few beats.
She secretly cursed herself for being useless. With just a few words from Mu Daoying, casting an empty hook, she still bit eagerly.
But in the end, she still went.
Strangely, even though she had faced countless grand scenes and could go toe-to-toe with Qin Xiandu and Luo Naji without yielding an inch.
She actually felt nervous about this small banquet.
Could it really be because of Mu Daoying’s words, “I hope she can meet them”?
Liu Qiao’e uncomfortably adjusted the gardenia flower at her temple.
The small banquet was set in the inn’s rear courtyard. By then, the moon hung high in the sky, the night cool as water, spilling clear glow across the ground.
When she and Mu Daoying arrived together, Zhao Yange had already been waiting with Zhang Suxin, Wu Yunhua, and others for quite a while.
Liu Qiao’e’s steps hesitated for an instant.
Mu Daoying glanced at her and took the initiative to hold her hand. “Old Mother, I grew up in Jade Clarity Temple since childhood. Jade Clarity Temple is like my second home. Though my junior brothers and sisters are reckless and immature, they are all my family.”
This was exactly why she was nervous! She glared at him angrily. “I’m not some daughter-in-law visiting your family! Why say so much!”
Mu Daoying held her hand and walked side by side with her, making her feel just like a new bride visiting her in-laws, utterly uncomfortable all over.
Her almond eyes widened round, pupils like water, face red as flower petals.
Mu Daoying’s heart skipped several beats, his throat itching slightly. He steadied his mind before forcing a casual tone. “Then it’s like a princess descending.”
He was not just saying sweet words to coax her. If she were a new bride, indeed no one with eyes would dare give her a bad look.
By now, the two had reached the group.
The Jade Clarity Temple disciples all hurriedly bowed to her.
Though there had been some unpleasantness with Joyous Union Palace before, that was just disciples vying for favor among themselves.
As the sect leader of a palace, Liu Qiao’e’s status in their eyes was no less than their own Sect Master Qingxu.
They might gripe behind her back, but face-to-face, who dared to act out?
If they were lucky enough to receive pointers, they would be terrified and honored, as if blessed for three lifetimes.
Zhao Yange felt a bit apprehensive facing Liu Qiao’e. He hurriedly pushed Zhang Suxin and Wu Yunhua forward to thank her.
“These two children were ignorant.”
“Old Mother is magnanimous, saving their lives. Aren’t you going to thank Old Mother?”
Zhang Suxin and Wu Yunhua mumbled grudgingly. “Thank you, Old Mother.”
Mu Daoying said mildly from the side, “To know one’s errors and correct them is the greatest virtue. Old Mother won’t blame you.”
Liu Qiao’e sneered coldly. She had not even picked on them yet, and he was already protecting his own like a doting parent?
The group sat down in order.
The main seat naturally belonged to Liu Qiao’e, with Zhao Yange and Mu Daoying accompanying at the lower seats.
Liu Qiao’e could clearly feel the gazes occasionally thrown her way from the table.
They were like little mice, stealing a glance before quickly looking away, then glancing again, afraid she would notice.
At first, everyone was a bit reserved, but Zhao Yange had a bold and heroic personality. With him warming up the mood, after three rounds of drinks, the group gradually loosened up.
Even a bit too much.
Liu Qiao’e looked at the flushed-faced Jade Clarity male disciple before her with a half-smile. “What did you say?”
Cultivators were rarely too ugly, and this male disciple was handsome, excelling especially in his youthfulness, tender as new bamboo shoots, with the lean angularity of adolescence.
At that moment, he straightened his back and declared loudly with full vigor, “This one is Zhu Siyu. I toast to Old Mother!”
After speaking, seeing Liu Qiao’e’s face, he grew a bit shy, his gaze dodging.
With a few cups of wine down, a thin red flush floated on his face, diluting her slim, cold, and bewitching aura, like seeing flowers through parting mist—a camellia bloom.
Liu Qiao’e had a petite figure, round short face, almond eyes, with a touch of innocent charm in her brows and eyes, slightly arrogant yet adorably exquisite. She did not seem like a sect leader at all, more like a peer junior sister.
No wonder the rumors said she had many ministers under her and countless guests in her chambers.
Mu Daoying’s expression was a bit unsightly, but he ultimately did not stop him.
Seeing Liu Qiao’e actually drink his cup, the male disciple returned to his seat still dizzy.
“Are you crazy?” His senior sister whispered fiercely beside him. “You’re usually so frivolous, and you dare provoke even Old Mother?”
The male disciple felt wronged. “Didn’t Senior Brother Mu also become Old Mother’s guest in her chambers? I just offered a toast.”
Eh, but as he dazedly walked back, why did Senior Brother Mu’s face look a bit ugly?
Speaking of Mu Daoying, the nearby junior brothers and sisters were also puzzled and confused.
They had always thought Senior Brother Mu was forced into it—either washing his face with tears daily or enduring humiliation with determination.
But the youth at the head seat had refined and handsome features, gentle as the breeze, constantly helping Liu Qiao’e block toasts.
Where was there any sign of painful forbearance?
That senior sister gripped her wine cup and shook her head with a sigh. “Sigh, men.”
With that male disciple taking the lead, more bold Jade Clarity disciples came over to toast one after another. Mu Daoying knew Liu Qiao’e was not good with alcohol, so he kept helping her block from the side.
But soon, Mu Daoying noticed that Liu Qiao’e did not seem to mind the Jade Clarity disciples’ familiarity—even their presumptuousness.
She held her head high reservedly, seemingly enjoying it inwardly.
He paused, then gradually let go, no longer blocking the drinks much.
No matter what, being able to drink at the same table as a sect leader was undoubtedly exhilarating.
After another round, many disciples, buoyed by the mild intoxication, danced with swords, sang loudly, played the qin, and howled long tunes.
Liu Qiao’e watched them. Though she could not join in the fun, her mood was inevitably infected, stirred and uplifted.
Was all this a dream?
Even though she had already reached the point of toasting with Qin Xiandu.
But Jade Clarity Temple was different.
That midsummer under the trees, those rows of figures in white robes, like immortals.
Their casual chatter sounded like heavenly music descending. Every gesture brimmed with inexhaustible elegance and charm.
She had once gone to the Spring Terrace Dao Inquiry—it was the session where Mu Daoying took first place. She had seen Mu Daoying, Zhao Yange, and Shen Chengyin from afar. The three under the sunlight were like three brilliantly radiant gems, as if all the pride and glory of the world gathered upon them. She envied their youthful spirit. If only she could drink shoulder-to-shoulder with them, swords in hand—
“Youthful heroic spirit, befriending the heroes of the five capitals. Loyal hearts and bold spirits. In casual talk, sharing life and death. A promise worth a thousand gold.” Someone supported the qin and sang. Zhao Yange was also drunk, red-faced as he plucked his sword to accompany.
She looked at the youth beside her. He sat quietly under the moonlight, the glow veiling his jade-like refined features in faint light.
Was this his world?
Her own success was partly due to chance and coincidence, and also inseparable from… that person.
She had been forced to grow too fast, rapidly climbing from the bottom to sect leader in an extreme manner. She yearned for Mu Daoying and thus yearned for everything of his—the days of sword-wielding revelry with his three or five close friends. She regretted not experiencing it herself.
Mu Daoying saw her gaze toward the qin-playing Jade Clarity Temple disciple and thought she was interested. “I once saw a qin in Floating Flower Hall. Does Old Mother have interest in this art?”
But Liu Qiao’e suddenly changed color for some reason, her tone intense. “I do not play the qin.”
Mu Daoying paused, not expecting her expression to be so fierce, as if touching an old wound. “Sorry, it was my mistake.”
Liu Qiao’e was a mysterious woman. The more time they spent together, the more enigmas surrounded her. Before, he had no interest and naturally no desire to probe. But now times had changed.
What was… her past like? Why collect so many books in Floating Flower Hall yet never read them? Why hide the qin without playing? Why change expression at the mention of “Guan Ju”?
A strong urge to pry surged in his heart. Everything about her was shrouded in layers of mist. He wanted to understand her, all of her. He wanted more, more.