Mu Daoying had standards that were too high and refused to submit to her. But with the Joyous Union Grand Ceremony approaching, she could not afford to go without a cloud-mountain companion. Liu Qiao’e arrived at Flower Valley, where she strolled slowly while inspecting and secretly weighing the men around her in her mind.
The male disciples of Joyous Union Palace were already handsome as jade beauties, but in her eyes, she could always pick out some flaws.
They were beautiful, yes, but their makeup was too cloying—like gaudy flowers on the ground. None could compare to Mu Daoying’s majestic presence, pure and refined.
She had not dwelled on it before, but now that she did, her resentment only grew stronger.
“Liu, Manager Liu—” Zhao Lao’er came running over in a panic, interrupting Liu Qiao’e’s thoughts. “Manager Xiang is looking for you!”
“Manager Xiang?” Liu Qiao’e snapped back to reality, her heart skipping a beat.
Zhao Lao’er nodded vigorously like pounding garlic. “She’s at the flower shed over there!”
Liu Qiao’e’s heart plummeted straight down.
Although she oversaw the flower fields on the east side of Floating Cloud Valley, there was still a “Head Manager Xiang” above her who managed the entire Floating Cloud Valley.
She asked Zhao Lao’er about Xiang Zhuyue’s purpose.
Zhao Lao’er hemmed and hawed. “It seems… it seems the batch of flowers we sent to the storehouse isn’t up to standard. I don’t know the details.”
“Impossible,” Liu Qiao’e said. “I personally inspected every flower sent to the storehouse.”
Who would dare slack off when it came to the Joyous Union Grand Ceremony that occurred once every sixty years?
Flowers from each field first went to the Flower Valley storehouse for counting and inspection. Only after confirmation did they proceed to the main storehouse, where specialists checked them again before storage.
Zhao Lao’er frowned worriedly. “Head Manager Xiang threw a huge fit at the flower shed up front. Sigh, just be careful, Immortal.”
Liu Qiao’e followed Zhao Lao’er into the flower shed.
Xiang Zhuyue’s cold voice crashed down like an ice block. “You dare send these flowers? Do you not value your lives?”
Two laborers knelt before her, trembling like chaff and prostrating themselves on the ground, shivering.
Liu Qiao’e stepped forward and paid her respects. “Manager Xiang.”
Xiang Zhuyue glanced up at her. “You’ve arrived.”
She had someone bring the flowers before Liu Qiao’e. “From your fields. See what’s wrong.”
Liu Qiao’e took one look. The petals were thin and withered, crumbling at a touch. She decided on the spot. “These are not the flowers I sent.”
Xiang Zhuyue raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Truly?”
“If you didn’t send them, then where did they come from?” Xiang Zhuyue suddenly flew into a rage. “Could someone be muddying the waters, embezzling and peddling fakes?!”
The two laborers turned pale with terror at those words, kowtowing frantically and crying their innocence.
Xiang Zhuyue coldly drew a long whip from her sleeve and lashed down at the pair. “Even if not embezzlement, it’s dereliction of duty! In that case, no need for these two lives!”
The whip shot out like a striking snake, swift as thunder, stirring the air around it into tiny sparks.
If that whip landed, the laborers’ skulls would shatter on the spot. Liu Qiao’e’s face changed drastically!
Without thinking, she reached out with five fingers and seized the whip in her palm. “Manager, calm your anger!!”
Cultivators’ bodies were far sturdier than mortals’, but the whip’s force was immense. Though it did not sever her hand, it split her palm open to the bone in an instant, blood gushing forth!
Zhao Lao’er and the laborers cried out, “Lady Liu!”
Liu Qiao’e endured the pain and met Xiang Zhuyue’s calm gaze. How could she not understand now?
This whole spectacle was aimed at her from the start!
She worked under Xiang Zhuyue and believed she had been diligent and cautious, with no grudge between them.
Why suddenly make trouble for her today?
In a flash, Liu Qiao’e thought of one person.
Fan Shuyun!
Just days ago, she had heard that Fan Shuyun had been released from Reflection Valley.
From imprisonment to release in a mere dozen days—too fast! Surely his aunt in the inner sect had pulled strings behind the scenes.
Inner sect disciples needed only hint at revenge against outer sect members, and a horde of outer sect disciples would eagerly serve as vanguard.
Sure enough, seeing her injured, a faint, imperceptible smile tugged at Xiang Zhuyue’s lips. “I’m punishing these derelict laborers for you, so why the rush to stop me, Lady?”
Since the other woman had come with deliberate provocation, further excuses were pointless. The whip’s momentum had been too fierce; she had taken internal injuries from that one strike. Liu Qiao’e swallowed a mouthful of blood, decisively ushering Zhao Lao’er and the two laborers away first.
The sword dance of Xiang Zhuang aimed at Lord Pei—Xiang Zhuyue did not stop her.
Only then did Liu Qiao’e kneel and admit fault. “It was all this one’s mistake, Manager. This one just remembered—these were old stock meant for disposal. It was this one’s oversight that sent them before you by mistake, nearly ruining everything. Please quell your anger.”
Her attitude was humble, her tone fawning, while the hand in her sleeve bled without cease.
In Xiang Zhuyue’s eyes, Liu Qiao’e was but an ant, not worth much effort. After this warning, she simply stripped her of her minor position overseeing the flower fields and sent her packing.
As soon as Liu Qiao’e left the flower shed, her laborers gathered around.
Zhao Lao’er exclaimed, “Lady, your injury! Is it serious? What did Manager Xiang say? Strange, this batch shouldn’t have any issues.”
Injured as she was, Liu Qiao’e had little patience. “Don’t call me Lady—what Lady? I’m no longer your Lady! From now on, watch yourselves and fend for yourselves!”
The laborers paled. “Lady Liu—how could this be?”
But Liu Qiao’e had no mind for further chatter. Clutching her wounded hand, she frowned and headed toward Watercloud Ravine.
Her injury was too severe; it needed tending.
She had just left Floating Cloud Valley and was halfway there when a group of masked figures blocked her path.
Liu Qiao’e halted, eyeing the men warily. She was certain she had never seen them before.
“Fan Shuyun sent you?”
“Where is Fan Shuyun?”
The men ignored her. Their leader waved a hand, and in an instant, colorful spiritual lights and treasures flew out, encircling her.
Liu Qiao’e paled in shock and instinctively tried to flee. Not only did she fail to escape the ring, but the spiritual lights struck her arms and legs at the joints. Her legs buckled, and she collapsed to the ground.
Over a dozen wounds now marred her body. The leader approached, grabbed her hair, yanked her back, and slapped her twice across the face, leaving her dizzy with blood streaming from her mouth and nose.
“Little slut.”
“Run? You dare run?”
Liu Qiao’e’s face twisted in fury. “The Old Mother forbids disciples from killing one another—how dare you?!”
“Who said we’re killing you?”
A familiar, seductive voice rang out.
The crowd parted, making way.
Fan Shuyun approached with a gloomy face. “You made Yours Truly suffer plenty—”
“Liu Qiao’e.” Fan Shuyun gripped her chin, grinding his teeth. “Yours Truly wants to ask—how did you dare?”
Fan Shuyun came with ill intent and overwhelming force. Liu Qiao’e’s heart raced in panic; seeing the thugs he brought, her whole body went limp.
Her heart pounded, but she forced composure and said coldly,
“Fan Shuyun, did Reflection Valley not teach you? Do you want to go back?”
This was a reminder that Joyous Union Palace forbade taking lives.
Fan Shuyun chuckled lightly. “I thought you fearless, but even you, Liu Qiao’e, have your fears.”
A bead of cold sweat slid from Liu Qiao’e’s temple. Fan Shuyun wiped it away with a forceful thumb, smiling. “Who said I’m harming your life? We’re fellow disciples. Even if you bit the hand like a dog ungrateful to Lü Dongbin, Yours Truly can’t ignore our bond.
“You’ve been in Joyous Union Sect for years without even a cloud-mountain companion for dual cultivation! Out of brotherly love, Yours Truly found you these one, two, three, four—fine fellows.”
Fan Shuyun glanced back at the male disciples with interest. “Why not pick one?”
“Fan Shuyun!” Liu Qiao’e shrieked. “You dare?!”
“I dare?!” Fan Shuyun’s face twisted. He slapped her hard, turning her head. “How wouldn’t I dare?! Bah! Little whore! Don’t spurn the face given to you!”
“Even if I took you right here, who in Joyous Union Palace would call me wrong?!”
Joyous Union Palace cultivated through the bedchamber, its customs unlike other sects. Rape was no crime here.
“And you—after so many years in the palace, what chaste act are you playing?”
Liu Qiao’e could not help glancing at the male disciples. All were burly and robust. Her heart quaked with utter terror.
Brotherly love for dual cultivation? It was just leeching yin to supplement yang.
The palace had no shortage of disciples who died from depleted yin or yang.
Her face drained to ashen pallor.
Fan Shuyun was displeased to see the usually arrogant Liu Qiao’e pale, teeth clenched, trembling.
It was fear from the depths of her soul. Fragmented, bizarre memories flashed before her eyes, linking to that most humiliating, darkest recollection she least wanted to recall.
Was she Liu Qiao’e?
Or someone else?
Fear surged alongside sharp killing intent.
Liu Qiao’e’s courage shattered. Eyes bulging in rage, she prepared to lunge and fight them to the death.
A familiar voice suddenly carried on the wind.
“Hmph, what is Liu Qiao’e anyway.”
“Today, this lady will force Mu Daoying into her bed!”
Li Qingcheng, full of disdain, sauntered toward Watercloud Ravine with her gaggle of plump and slender, rosy and verdant sisters, hips swaying.
Spotting Liu Qiao’e in the way, Li Qingcheng gaped in shock. “Liu Qiao’e?!”
She glanced at Fan Shuyun and the scene, her face slowly turning green.
“You, you’re…”
Though Liu Qiao’e always scorned Li Qingcheng as a brainless bimbo with big breasts, she felt urgency now and strained to sit up.
Li Qingcheng sensed trouble and tried to slip away fast.
Liu Qiao’e called desperately, “Li Qingcheng! Li Qingcheng!”
Li Qingcheng’s face turned green.
Fan Shuyun’s expression also changed. “What are you doing here?”
You think I want to be? Li Qingcheng cursed inwardly at her bad luck.
“Can’t I pass by? Do what you want, pretend I farted and left.”
Liu Qiao’e would not let her go, calling louder and more warmly. “Qingcheng, Qingcheng, where are you off to? Looking for Daoist Mu? I’ll take you!”
“Fellow Daoist Liu has had no cloud-mountain companion all these years.” Fan Shuyun forced a stiff smile by way of explanation. “With the Joyous Union Grand Ceremony near, out of regard for our fellowship, I’m helping her choose.”
His explanation only made Li Qingcheng roll her eyes inwardly. Who asked you, idiot? She coveted his looks, sure, but despised his brains.
Fan Shuyun grew anxious inside.
The Immaculate Old Mother forbade infighting and one-sided plundering, but matters between men and women had wiggle room for interpretation. If it went too far and one died from depleted essence, it was hard to pin blame.
But this needed privacy. Fresh from Reflection Valley, he felt guilty and short of breath.
Fan Shuyun was a playboy, a good-for-nothing coward. Petty bullying was easy, but murder? He lacked the guts.
With Li Qingcheng and her entourage arriving, his male disciples faltered.
The grip on Liu Qiao’e loosened, and she wriggled free like an eel.
Fan Shuyun seethed inwardly. Under Li Qingcheng’s eyes and public scrutiny, he dared not press. He coughed dryly. “Since Fellow Daoist Liu refuses, this one won’t force it.”
He cupped his hands. “Farewell, farewell.”
His men exchanged glances and slowly dispersed.
Li Qingcheng cursed loudly, “Why didn’t Fan Shuyun beat you to death!”
Liu Qiao’e calmly straightened her clothes. “Didn’t you just save me?”
“You!” Li Qingcheng choked with rage.
She had once found Li Qingcheng stupid, but compared to Fan Shuyun, she seemed endearingly so.
Liu Qiao’e caught her breath. “What did you just say? Something about doing what to Mu Daoying?”
Li Qingcheng grew wary. “What business of yours? Mu Daoying isn’t your exclusive property, Liu Qiao’e! Don’t be a dog in the manger!”
“Who says.” Unexpectedly accommodating, Liu Qiao’e said, “You saved me today—I’m grateful beyond words. If you’re serious, I wouldn’t mind helping.”
Li Qingcheng felt utterly disgusted. “Pah. With my beauty, Mu Daoying would pounce over if I just crooked a finger. Why would I need you to put on airs?”
Liu Qiao’e said, “I didn’t see him pounce over either.”
Li Qingcheng replied, “You blocked me like a dog. Even if this lady had all her tricks, how could I use them?” With that, she turned around with her little sisters and prepared to leave.
Seeing that they headed in the opposite direction from Watercloud Ravine, Liu Qiao’e found it strange. “Aren’t you going?”
Li Qingcheng spat a big “pah” and said, “Meeting you today has already ruined my appetite! Besides, do you really want me to touch him?”
Li Qingcheng and her group had come excitedly but left disappointed.
Liu Qiao’e watched their retreating backs as the smile at the corner of her lips gradually faded.
During that earlier struggle, the wound on her hand had split open, and blood flowed nonstop, making it even more serious.
That dog-spawned bastard Fan Shuyun—she would repay today’s grudge a hundredfold!
Cupping her injured hand, Liu Qiao’e returned to Watercloud Ravine. As soon as she stepped through the courtyard gate, she sensed something amiss.
At that moment, Mu Daoying had just withdrawn his hand and asked, “How do you feel, Fellow Daoist?”
Mu Daoying’s spiritual energy flowed gently and continuously, soft like water. It steadily sank into Bai Mengli’s limbs and bones, using the technique of four taels to move a thousand catties to smooth out the rampaging spiritual energy in her body.
The flush faded from Bai Mengli’s face, and the scorching heat eased somewhat. She said gratefully, “Much better now.”
Mu Daoying nodded, and the slight tension in his back relaxed a little.
Seeing that she was drenched in sweat, Mu Daoying stood up, poured a cup of cold tea, and handed it to her. “Fellow Daoist, have some water and rest for a bit.”
Just as Bai Mengli reached to take it, Liu Qiao’e stepped through the door!
“What are you two doing?!” An angry voice rang out.
Mu Daoying and Bai Mengli both looked over.
Bai Mengli and Mu Daoying—a man and a woman alone together in a room, especially with Bai Mengli’s hair disheveled and her body slick with fragrant sweat. This scene inevitably led to indecent thoughts.
Mu Daoying was suddenly startled. “Fellow Daoist Liu?”
“Who let you come here?” Staring at Bai Mengli, Liu Qiao’e’s face darkened with fury!
Seeing Liu Qiao’e so suddenly, Bai Mengli felt a spark of joy in her heart, but also a subtle sense of humiliation at having to beg her. “Liu Qiao’e—”
Liu Qiao’e pointed at the door. “Get out!”
Bai Mengli had never suffered such humiliation before. Her face paled instantly. “You!”
If she hadn’t mentioned Mu Daoying, it might have been fine, but hearing those two words from her mouth ignited Liu Qiao’e’s great hatred, her jealousy blazing to the heavens.
For a moment, Liu Qiao’e’s rage was so intense that even Mu Daoying couldn’t understand it and found it hard to watch.
“Fellow Daoist Liu.”
Liu Qiao’e ignored him. Seeing that Bai Mengli still refused to leave, Liu Qiao’e flew into a rage, strode to the table, picked up the teapot, and poured it over Bai Mengli!
Bai Mengli couldn’t dodge in time, and her clothes became soaked through.
“Get lost!” Liu Qiao’e shouted sharply.
Just as she raised her hand again, her wrist suddenly sank. Liu Qiao’e looked up in astonishment.
Mu Daoying had grabbed her wrist!
The young man stared fixedly at her, his eyes full of disapproval. “Fellow Daoist Liu. Calm down.”
He looked disheveled and frail, but his fingers remained long and strong.
This was a man’s hand. Even though he had acted as gentle as water these past days, at this moment, it firmly gripped her wrist, causing her pain and preventing her from breaking free.
“Please act with care.” Mu Daoying restrained her wrist and gently shook his head.
“You’re protecting her?” Liu Qiao’e gritted her teeth.
Mu Daoying: “…” He didn’t know where this anger of hers came from and only felt that she was truly unreasonable.
Before he could speak, Liu Qiao’e sneered coldly. “Mu Daoying, I see you’ve been having too good a time these past days! Believe it or not, I’ll go report to Chief Chen right now and have you thrown in jail!”
Mu Daoying shook his head but still didn’t release her. “If I don’t let go, how will you report it, Fellow Daoist?”
Liu Qiao’e’s eyes widened. She had never dreamed he would talk back to her, and not just talk back, but so domineeringly! She trembled with rage, disregarded everything, and lifted her foot to kick his shin.
Mu Daoying dodged aside, and his grip loosened slightly—whether intentionally or not. Liu Qiao’e took the chance to slip free. Seeing that she meant to run, Mu Daoying feared she would really go find Chen Yuro.
Though he had fallen on hard times with his spiritual apertures sealed, he was still a heaven-proud son of the Eastern Florescence Realm, a once-in-a-millennium genius. Liu Qiao’e’s petty combat skills and schemes were naturally shallow and transparent in his eyes.
In a flash, Mu Daoying closed the distance again and seized both her arms.
Liu Qiao’e paled in shock. “You!”
She struggled fiercely, but under Mu Daoying’s strong restraint, she was like a child who could only kick and flail.
Mu Daoying twisted her arms behind her back. “Forgive my rudeness, Fellow Daoist.”
“Ying had no choice but to resort to this. Fellow Daoist, you should at least hear the explanation from me and Fellow Daoist Bai.”
Liu Qiao’e was no helpless weakling; on the contrary, she harbored a fair bit of petty malice.
Mu Daoying frowned. After these days of friction and interaction, he was certain that the last trace of pity he had held for Liu Qiao’e had completely vanished.
Bai Mengli glanced at Mu Daoying, then at Liu Qiao’e, looking embarrassed and downcast as she swallowed her anger. “I… I was afflicted with Spring Poison and wanted to ask for your help… Don’t worry, I won’t take advantage of you. Whatever you want, just say it.”
Liu Qiao’e said shamefully and angrily, “Pah!”
Mu Daoying silently tightened his grip, guarding against her sudden attack.
Liu Qiao’e said in grief and indignation, “Mu Daoying!”
Mu Daoying felt guilty inside but pretended not to hear.
Under his control like this, it was the greatest humiliation, especially in front of Bai Mengli. Shame and fury filled her to the point of death; hatred tore at her heart, liver, and lungs.
She was determined to kill Mu Daoying! Especially in front of Fan Shuyun!
And Bai Mengli too!
Today, Fan Shuyun, Mu Daoying, Bai Mengli—one and all, she would kill them!!