Chapter 78: Senior Sister Lan, the Snow Lotus Brother Mu Gave Is So Pretty~ p2 |
…
At the Ye Manor, Ye Lingxuan sat alone in a secluded pavilion, her posture graceful, her beauty as captivating as ever.
She listened quietly as Old Wei reported the information he had gathered.
After a moment of silence, she raised an eyebrow. “Bai Ruoxi is a demonic cultivator?”
He shook his head. “I did sense a trace of pink demonic aura this morning.”
“That examiner, she’s exceptionally talented. She’s already glimpsed into the Nascent Soul realm at such a young age. Even I sensed it. She couldn’t have missed it.”
He paused, then continued, “If she’s certain that Bai Ruoxi is a demonic cultivator, Mu Zhi’an could be implicated. It’s best to distance yourself from him for now, Miss.”
He glanced at her meaningfully.
She and Mu Zhi’an had become quite close, too close for his comfort.
She took a sip of tea, her lips a delicate pink, her voice calm and steady. “Mu Zhi’an is Mu Zhi’an, and Bai Ruoxi is Bai Ruoxi. They might be involved, but he won’t be executed for it.”
“And haven’t you forgotten, he entrusted this to me?” She opened her hand, revealing the Dragon Soaring Tendril, its surface glowing faintly.
The withered root… it seemed to have come back to life in her hands.
He remained silent.
Mu Zhi’an was indeed generous. He knew the value of the Dragon Soaring Tendril, yet he had given it to her.
And he had only charged her two thousand Spirit Stones.
It was practically a gift.
But gifts always came with a price.
He looked at her, sensing her concern for Mu Zhi’an, and sighed inwardly.
She had developed a fondness for that brat after spending time with him, receiving the Dragon Soaring Tendril, and hearing Ye Qian’s constant praise.
That seemingly free gift had caught a big fish.
And behind that fish… there was a powerful force.
“Is the examiner still at the Rising Phoenix Inn?” she asked suddenly.
He nodded, hesitant. “Do you want to see her?”
“Mu Zhi’an helped Qian’er, and he kept his promise to meet with us at the auction, even rejecting Senior Sister and Bai Ruoxi’s invitations. And then there’s the Dragon Soaring Tendril. I don’t like owing people favors,” she replied calmly.
He sighed. “Then I’ll accompany you.”
If she asked, Lan Mulian would agree to protect Mu Zhi’an.
Even the Two Polarities Sect valued the mysterious force behind her.
She boarded a carriage and arrived at the inn.
She entered, while Old Wei waited outside.
She ascended the stairs and found Lan Mulian in a room at the end of the corridor.
The two beauties, their charm captivating, stood facing each other. One, youthful and elegant, her beauty subtle and refined; the other, in her prime, her aura alluring, her figure flawless, the object of countless disciples’ affections.
Lan Mulian closed the book in her hand, surprised to see Ye Lingxuan. “You came to see me?”
It seems that Mu Zhi’an isn’t as bad as the rumors suggest. While still young, Ye Lingxuan was intelligent and discerning. If he was truly a wastrel, she wouldn’t care, and she wouldn’t be here, pleading on his behalf.
“You’ve discovered Bai Ruoxi’s secret, haven’t you, Senior Sister?” she asked.
“I was probably the first in Tianxuan City to notice,” Lan Mulian replied calmly.
“What are you going to do?” Ye Lingxuan asked directly.
“She has exceptional talent. It would be unfair to condemn her for a trace of demonic aura,” Lan Mulian replied, her voice indifferent.
Seeing Ye Lingxuan’s relief, she continued, “You came here because you believe that if she’s a demonic cultivator, Mu Zhi’an will be implicated, didn’t you?”
Ye Lingxuan smiled politely. “I owe Brother Mu a favor. I’ve been looking for an opportunity to repay him.”
She paused, then added, “But it seems you’re not unreasonable, Senior Sister. I’m relieved.”
“Someone of your status, owing a favor?” Lan Mulian asked, her tone curious.
Ye Lingxuan nodded. “He gave me the Dragon Soaring Tendril he acquired at the auction.”
“The Dragon Soaring Tendril” Lan Mulian looked at her, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“No wonder you owe him a favor.”
To ordinary people, the Dragon Soaring Tendril was useless. But not to Ye Lingxuan.
In her hands, its true value would be revealed.
“And he kept his promise to meet with us at the auction, even rejecting your invitation and Miss Bai’s. Honestly, if not for his reputation, I might have developed feelings for him,” Ye Lingxuan added, her voice soft.
Lan Mulian’s lips tightened slightly, hidden beneath the veil. “If there’s nothing else, you should leave, Miss Ye.”
As I suspected, she cares about him. Ye Lingxuan glanced at her, a knowing smile on her lips, then looked away, her gaze landing on a vase on the table, a single snow lotus within it.
“Is that a snow lotus?” she asked.
Lan Mulian nodded. “The innkeeper replaced the flowers today. But cultivated snow lotuses… they’re not quite the same.”
Ye Lingxuan chuckled. “You’re right, Senior Sister. Cultivated snow lotuses are inferior, but the ones from the Mu Manor, they’re indistinguishable from the real thing.”
She paused, then added, “I received one a few days ago.”
The atmosphere in the room shifted, a sudden tension filling the air.
Ye Lingxuan, oblivious, retrieved a small box from her storage ring.
She opened it, revealing a pristine snow lotus nestled in shimmering Luminous Soil.
Despite being buried in the soil, the flower and its roots were spotless, untouched by any impurities.
Untainted by the mud, unstained by the water.
Lan Mulian’s gaze fixed on the snow lotus.
“Where did you get that?” she asked, her voice flat.
Ye Lingxuan smiled sweetly.
“Brother Mu gave it to me.”
“I’ll take my leave now, Senior Sister.” She bowed politely, then left, clutching the snow lotus, her steps light and carefree.
Mu Zhi’an… Lan Mulian’s brow twitched, and her eyes narrowed, a cold fury simmering within them.
…
That night, after dinner, Mu Zhi’an lay in bed with Bai Ruoxi, yawning lazily.
“You’ve worked hard today, Mu Lang…” she murmured, her voice soft and alluring.
Moments ago, she had been like a delicate flower battered by a storm. Now, the storm had passed, and she glowed with a newfound radiance, her cheeks flushed, her usual aloofness gone.
He stroked her hair, his chest pressed against her back, his voice soothing. “It was nothing. Anything for you, Ruoxi. Even losing sleep.”
She blinked, then realized what he meant, and she blushed, her voice a soft protest. “That’s not what I meant!”
She paused, then continued, “Running around all day because of me, even offending Senior Sister… I’m so sorry.”
He patted her thigh reassuringly. “Don’t worry about it. Senior Sister is a reasonable person. You’re not a demonic cultivator. She won’t harm you.”
“As for the Gongsun family and the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce. I told you, there’s nothing to worry about. They’re good people. They won’t slander you,” he added.
“And if anyone tries, they’ll help us prove our innocence.”
He felt her relax against him, her anxiety fading, and he pulled her closer, turning her to face him.
“When do you think Ye Yu will make his move?” she asked suddenly.
“He might not,” he replied. “But if he does, he’ll choose the most public moment.”
She pondered for a moment, then looked up at him. “The day of the entrance exams?”
He nodded, pulling her close, her face buried in his chest. “Don’t worry. I’ve taken care of everything.”
His plans were proceeding smoothly.
If anyone tried anything foolish on the day of the exams… it would backfire spectacularly.