Outside the Immortal Spirit Secret Realm.
When Jiang Huai and Wen Wanwan arrived, many powerful figures had gathered outside the secret realm.
The Ziyun Pavilion outside the secret realm provided guest rooms for the elders waiting for their children. The Ziyun Pavilion even set up a small casino to help these powerful figures pass the time.
Luo Yueguan was also waiting outside the Immortal Spirit Secret Realm. When Jiang Huai found her, she was sitting at a gambling table with very few chips left. Although Luo Yueguan maintained an elegant and composed demeanor, Jiang Huai seemed to sense a hint of impatience in her eyes.
As Jiang Huai’s presence appeared beside Luo Yueguan, she turned to look at him. In the next moment, Jiang Huai was drawn to her side. Luo Yueguan reached out and placed her hand on him, her palm moving over his chest. Spiritual Qi immediately seeped into Jiang Huai’s body. Jiang Huai was stunned at first, then saw the concern in Luo Yueguan’s eyes.
“How… how is your body?”
“Huh?” Jiang Huai looked at her in confusion. “I’m fine.”
“The outside world says you only have five years left of your lifespan, is that true?” Luo Yueguan’s voice became a little urgent. Jiang Huai immediately extended his hand and gently placed it on her shoulder. “No, that’s what they say, but I found a spirit fruit to extend my life a long time ago, so I’m fine.”
Luo Yueguan thoroughly explored his body again with her spiritual Qi, confirming that he showed no signs of running out of oil and burning out. Only then did she finally breathe a sigh of relief. She withdrew her hand, patted her chest lightly, and then shot him a reproachful glance. “Do you know how scared I was when I received your message?”
“How did you know?” Jiang Huai was surprised.
“The Saintess of Guanxue Sect, Xu Qing, has explained everything that happened in the secret realm. The entire Eastern Region now knows that you killed the inheritor of the Refined Yin Demon Gu and that you only have five years left of your lifespan. Countless eyes are on you. Anyway, it’s good that you’re okay. Have you reported your safety to your master?”
Jiang Huai scratched his head. “Not yet. I wanted to pick up Qingyu and Bai Li on the way and didn’t have time to go to Guanxue Mountain.”
“It’s said that many families have already sent longevity-extending spirit medicine to your Guanxue Mountain. Even if your master stays in seclusion, she should have heard the news. Aren’t you afraid she’ll worry?” Luo Yueguan glanced at Jiang Huai, who felt a headache coming on.
How could he have imagined that the matters in the Daoji Ancestral Land would spread so quickly? It hadn’t even been three days. The news of his cultivation level being crippled only spread quickly among the people of Moon Wave Continent. The other continents received the news much later and didn’t pay much attention. But now, Luo Yueguan, who was outside the Immortal Spirit Secret Realm, knew about it. Wouldn’t Chu Xianning also know…
Jiang Huai quickly looked up at Luo Yueguan. “Then please quickly transmit a message to my master for me, tell her I’m alright, and that she doesn’t need to worry.”
“We’re far apart. Even transmitting a message will take some time. Besides… are you just going to transmit a message to her like this?” A hint of playfulness flashed in Luo Yueguan’s eyes.
Jiang Huai was stunned. “Then what else would I transmit?”
“First, tell me, why did you save those cultivators in the Daoji Ancestral Land?”
“Because I was beaten badly by that beastly evil cultivator. I couldn’t quell my anger if I didn’t kill him.”
“Is that all?”
“I am Chu Xianning’s direct disciple. Besides, I weighed the pros and cons at the time, and the chances of winning were not small before I decided to act. If it were a sure death or a nine-death-one-life situation, I would definitely have been a coward. Where would I be so righteous and noble? Why are you asking all this? Hurry up and transmit a message to my master for me.”
Seeing Jiang Huai’s anxious look, Luo Yueguan was not in a hurry at all. She gently reached out and pulled Jiang Huai’s shoulder, making him bend down. She leaned close to his ear and whispered.
“Don’t you want to… tell your master that you were willing to step forward because you were following her teachings? That your lifespan is only five years, just as the outside world claims. Perhaps with your master’s outwardly cold but inwardly warm personality, and her never liking to owe anyone anything, when you return to Tian Xuan Sect, she’ll throw you onto the bed and heal you? Once you’re healed, your lifespan will naturally recover…”
Jiang Huai cast her a knowing glance. “Even if only master wants to heal me, it might not be enough, right?”
“Do I look like I would refuse you?” Luo Yueguan’s lips seemed to inadvertently brush against Jiang Huai’s ear, tickling him. Jiang Huai trembled slightly and broke free from Luo Yueguan’s arm, straightening his back. “No need. Just transmit the message directly to my master. Tell her I’m fine and that she has no need to worry. I will explain the details of what happened in the secret realm when I return to Tian Xuan Sect.”
“So stupid.” Luo Yueguan looked at him with dissatisfaction.
She felt her plan was foolproof, perfectly understanding Chu Xianning’s personality. That proud woman could put herself in great danger but would never allow anyone else to be implicated because of her. Jiang Huai was her direct disciple. The first time, because of her teachings, he had walked the same path she had taken back then, and his cultivation was crippled. This second time, his lifespan was reduced to only five years. Chu Xianning’s guilt in her heart must be overflowing.
“Yes, yes, I’m a fool.” Jiang Huai nodded but did not argue with Luo Yueguan.
Speaking of which, Luo Yueguan was really strange. Why was she always trying to get him to do bad things to Chu Xianning? He had fantasized about these schemes during his sleepless nights. He had even fantasized about his master, out of guilt, pinning him down and blindfolding him, her cheeks blushing as she proactively healed him. Then, he would take advantage of her arousal to quietly remove the blindfold and embrace her in his arms… But these were ultimately just thoughts.
Thinking was wonderful, but if he had to obtain his master’s body through such despicable means, what would happen afterward? His master would be very sad. She had few relatives and friends in her life. If she were schemed against by her close friend and deceived by her only direct disciple… that would be too much.
Luo Yueguan was originally sitting upright, but upon seeing Jiang Huai now, she felt an inexplicable sense of peace. Her legs were crossed beneath her purple long dress, and her small feet in the latest silver high heels from Ziyun Pavilion tapped below her white and tender ankles. The sharp tips of the shoes glinted coldly. She crossed her arms, looking at Jiang Huai’s anxious expression. In the next moment, she suddenly understood Jiang Huai’s intentions.
Jiang Huai might not truly be unaware of what he could do, but… he genuinely liked Chu Xianning.
Luo Yueguan suddenly felt an indescribable ache in her nose, and her throat felt constricted. She turned her face away. “A long-distance transmission consumes divine soul. My divine soul is already frail. When you return to Tian Xuan Sect, you can explain to your master yourself.”
“Auntie Luo? Be a good girl… Help me out… Please, I’m begging you…”
“I won’t listen.” Luo Yueguan turned her face away, refusing to look at him.
Jiang Huai came up behind her and gently placed his hands on her shoulders, starting to massage them earnestly. The scene before them actually had a strange atmosphere of maternal love and filial piety. After Jiang Huai massaged for a while, Luo Yueguan reluctantly spoke, “Are you sure you want to tell your master you’re okay?”
“Absolutely sure.”
“Oh.” Luo Yueguan agreed coldly and finally extended her hand, forming a hand seal. She wrapped her divine soul around her divine sense, remotely locking onto Chu Xianning’s Qi in Guanxue Mountain, Tian Xuan Sect.
“You’ll receive her reply in three hours.”
“Auntie Luo is so kind.” Jiang Huai gently patted Luo Yueguan’s back and chuckled. “When will Qingyu and Bai Li come out?”
“Tomorrow morning.” Luo Yueguan shifted her gaze back to the card game in front of her. Several Seventh Realm cultivators were sizing up Jiang Huai with curiosity, looking at the direct disciple of Chu Xianning, who was now known throughout the Eastern Region. The woman opposite Luo Yueguan, however, impatiently urged, “It’s your turn, Luo Yueguan. Are you playing or not? If you’re not playing, just give up your seat and don’t linger.”
Luo Yueguan looked at the playing cards in her hand with some dissatisfaction. “You guys play this round.”
Saying that, she discarded her cards onto the table. Jiang Huai glanced curiously at her. The woman who had been talking to Chu Xianning earlier was also wearing an exquisite jade dress. She was beautiful and fair-skinned, with a voluptuous figure and unfathomable cultivation. Clearly, she was also a powerful figure waiting for the younger generation here.
And what they were playing at their table was… Texas Hold’em.
Jiang Huai saw the Ziyun Pavilion’s emblem on the back of the playing cards, indicating that there were special means to shield them from the detection of spiritual Qi and divine sense. The powerful figures in front of him, holding playing cards, seemed to be betting heavily. Jiang Huai leaned behind Luo Yueguan and curiously asked, “How much have you lost?”
“What are you talking about? I’ve only lost over two hundred thousand spirit stones, and I’ll win it back soon. Go away, don’t say unlucky things here and ruin my luck,” Luo Yueguan said reproachfully, leaning back against the table. Jiang Huai gently massaged her shoulders, smiling helplessly.
Chu Xianning’s entire fortune was only two hundred thousand spirit stones. Yet, Luo Yueguan seemed unconcerned even after losing over a hundred thousand spirit stones. Indeed, comparing people leads to frustration.
He didn’t say anything more. Instead, he and Wen Wanwan stood quietly behind Luo Yueguan, observing her card game. However, Luo Yueguan’s luck seemed to be particularly bad. Jiang Huai saw that the chips on her table were almost gone. Luo Yueguan puffed out her cheeks in frustration, like a little hamster. Jiang Huai looked at her from the side and was momentarily mesmerized.
“Eh, the old woman is acting cute and adorable every day.”
Luo Yueguan’s last chip on the table was also lost. She stood up, not complaining, but simply saying, “You guys play, I’m a bit tired.”
The woman opposite her suddenly smiled. “Oh, you finally know how to admit defeat. You can’t beat me in brains, and now you’re not enough in luck either. Why don’t you go back and practice your chess again? Maybe after a few more years of hard practice, you’ll be qualified to play a few moves with me.”
Luo Yueguan was about to retort, but then took a deep breath. She decided to say nothing. It wasn’t for any other reason, but if she became angry and embarrassed now, she would lose face. She and the woman opposite her had been rivals for more than a year or two. They hadn’t gotten along since they met hundreds of years ago, and it was still the same now.
Luo Yueguan chose silence. Silence was the greatest contempt. She stood up, looked at Jiang Huai, and said, “Let’s go.”
Jiang Huai and Wen Wanwan obediently followed behind her, returning to their rooms.
