The moon had fallen, and the cawing of crows echoed.
When Fang Moye emerged from the bathhouse, Jiang Huai was sprawled on the table, gazing at the full moon hanging in the sky, lost in thought. Her footsteps were light, and Jiang Huai, engrossed in his contemplation, didn’t notice her. She looked at Jiang Huai’s profile from afar, her heart filled with a mixture of shyness and annoyance.
Jiang Huai was her junior, Chu Xianning’s disciple, and Chu Xianning’s future husband. Since Ningning was willing to become his Dao Companion, his personality must have suited her preferences. At this moment, having just met Jiang Huai, she didn’t know him well, yet she vaguely felt that he possessed a gentle aura. Being by his side naturally made her feel more at ease. This was unlike her and Chu Xianning, both of whom were exceptionally averse to trouble, thus appearing distant and cold to outsiders.
In a single day, she had already obtained six Divine Emperor Pearl Shards from Jiang Huai. If she could break through to the Divine Emperor realm in the remaining two months, she could block the impending Will of Destruction and save the entire Corrupted Domain from disaster. The situation was dire, and her sense of shame was gradually fading.
The courtyard she resided in was located on Baiye Mountain. Now, Baiye Mountain was under the heavenly restriction she had imposed, which even she had to abide by. The night air was cool, and she wore only a thin nightgown, its hem gently swaying in the breeze.
The next moment, as she lowered her head slightly, she realized her nightgown was somewhat inappropriate. Although she was the ruler of the Corrupted Domain, she disliked crowds, so there were no maids on the entire Baiye Mountain. She personally handled all the cooking and gardening. Since there was no one else, her attire naturally had to be a bit more revealing. She disliked wearing tight clothes, as they always made her chest feel constricted. However, the neckline of her nightgown seemed excessively low. The black lace trim at her chest clung to her fair, tender skin. Another millimeter lower, and her delicate pink peak would be exposed. The hem of the skirt barely reached half a foot above her knees, and even the water droplets on her thighs, not yet fully wiped away, were clearly visible.
Perhaps it was because Jiang Huai had playfully touched her feet earlier, which had made her feel a bit ashamed, she hadn’t gone barefoot after bathing. Instead, she wore a pair of delicate-heeled sandals with straps. Now, as she stepped on the ground, her posture became even more statuesque.
Her shadow fell under the moonlight. In the moonlight, she quietly gazed at his profile until, in a daze, he came back to his senses. His gaze inadvertently lifted and fell upon her. The moment their eyes met, Fang Moye seemed to catch a flicker of stunned surprise in his pupils. This sudden moment of surprise gave her an inexplicable sense of accomplishment. Her status and position were already extremely noble, and everyone treated her with reverence. She had almost forgotten that she was still a beautiful woman, capable of making men lose themselves for a moment upon seeing her.
However, Jiang Huai’s next words were, “Ancestral Master, you are born with a seductive bone structure. You didn’t need to pay attention to it when you were alone in the courtyard, but now that I am here, if it’s convenient for you, Ancestral Master, please wear more modest clothing.”
Jiang Huai’s tone was a gentle suggestion, but it instantly rendered Fang Moye speechless. She couldn’t think of a retort for a long time, feeling a strange sense that he was subtly accusing her of being wanton and unrestrained. Thankfully, in an instant, she instinctively found a way to retort, “Didn’t your master teach you that beautiful women are merely illusions of the flesh? If your heart is not pure, then you will see impurity in everything.”
“If Ancestral Master were an ordinary woman, then it would be fine,” Jiang Huai said, knowing how to defuse this attack. He looked innocently at Fang Moye. “But Ancestral Master knows of her own sacred and alluring nature, yet dresses so provocatively. That is somewhat improper. I have only cultivated for a little over twenty years, and in front of a beautiful fairy like Ancestral Master, it is reasonable for my Dao heart to be unstable.”
“Then I am still your Ancestral Master!” Fang Moye’s eyebrows slightly rose. Jiang Huai had no choice but to surrender. “Alright, alright, you are the Ancestral Master, you are the greatest.”
Fang Moye walked slowly towards Jiang Huai, a gust of fragrant wind caressing her face. The moment Jiang Huai snapped back to reality, she had already sat down opposite him. They stared at each other for several seconds until Fang Moye rested her elbows on the table, her delicate jade hand supporting her cheek. Her eyes seemed to hold a hint of melancholy. “If it were any other time, I would certainly be more mindful. But currently, I need to obtain those Divine Emperor Pearl Shards from you and must find ways to incite the deepest desires in your heart…”
Jiang Huai was momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond. In that instant, Fang Moye reached out and gently poked his forehead, whispering, “You are not the one at a disadvantage, so why do you look so aggrieved?”
“I’m not aggrieved, exactly,” Jiang Huai said with a helpless smile. After a moment, he replied softly, “This matter must absolutely, absolutely not be told to Ningning.”
Fang Moye was about to agree, but then she suddenly realized something. If she agreed, wouldn’t that confirm that they had had some ambiguous interactions? She immediately replied, “It’s not as if we are indulging in carnal desires that we are doing this. This is for the hundreds of millions of innocent lives in the Corrupted Domain, a great merit. Even if Ningning knew, she wouldn’t be angry. Ningning has always been reasonable since childhood.”
“That’s true,” Jiang Huai mused. It did seem to be the case. Chu Xianning was exceptionally reasonable. Mistakes were acceptable, but if you told her why you made them, she would deliberate whether you were worthy of forgiveness. She never took her favor for granted or acted unreasonably. At most, she was occasionally a little scheming.
Fang Moye looked at Jiang Huai. Her nightgown was a sling style, and the two straps struggled to support the weight of her chest. Fang Moye propped her chin with her hand and watched him, gently asking, “Then have you received any missions at the moment?”
“No,” Jiang Huai shook his head. Fang Moye felt a mix of joy and disappointment. Jiang Huai began making tea, and they sat in the moonlit courtyard, not chatting idly, but lost in their own thoughts.
Fang Moye also gradually became engrossed. She picked up the tea from the table and took a sip. She found the tea to be sweet and fragrant, its aroma refreshing. Unable to suppress her curiosity, she asked, “What kind of tea is this?”
“It’s the Jasmine Snow Bud I grew myself. Master likes it very much,” Jiang Huai replied softly. This was Chu Xianning’s favorite tea. Jiang Huai had brought a lot of it when he left the lower realms. As he drank the tea, he suddenly felt a pang of nostalgia. He wondered if Chu Xianning had slept yet, if she was also gazing at the moon, sitting quietly and lost in thought.
“Then let me test you. What else does Ningning like?” Fang Moye became animated.
“Ningning likes quiet, but she isn’t cold-tempered. Ningning is not good with words, but she speaks sweet nothings very beautifully. Ningning has a bland palate and likes to eat fish, but dislikes fish with bones. She likes the White Kite flower that blooms all year round. When bathing, she likes to use flower dew with the scent of lily of the valley. Occasionally, when she wants to be alone, she dislikes being disturbed. She likes snowy days because the whole world becomes very quiet. She likes to wear that gray Daoist robe so that too many people won’t quietly stare at her. In the courtyard, she likes to go barefoot because it’s comfortable. Occasionally, when she’s in a good mood, she likes to go fishing by the lake and sit there all day.”
Perhaps due to her longing, Jiang Huai unconsciously said a lot. Even Fang Moye was momentarily stunned. When Jiang Huai spoke these words, his eyes revealed a certain emotion, and his voice became incredibly gentle. Fang Moye suddenly found herself looking at Jiang Huai with increasing favor.
“It’s hard to imagine Ningning taking in a boy as her final disciple…”
“Master initially didn’t plan to take me as a disciple. I pestered her until I was allowed to stay by acting spoiled and shameless. But if you talk about why Master was willing to take me up the mountain… perhaps it’s because I looked very pure and harmless?” Jiang Huai suddenly chuckled at this.
Fang Moye looked at his cheeks. Jiang Huai’s features were indeed gentle and clear, not sharp. His eyes showed no arrogance or coldness, as if he were the antithesis of Chu Xianning. And his eyes always seemed to have a faintly rosy hue, looking at everyone with affectionate tenderness.
Fang Moye, who had initially propped her chin, now changed her posture and sat up straight under his gaze. Her nightgown clung to her chest, the fabric seeming almost transparent from the fullness it contained. The dress was not quite suitable for her figure because her waist was too slender, yet her chest was excessively plump. If not for her beauty and ethereal aura, an ordinary woman wearing this would inevitably appear somewhat vulgar. Jiang Huai hesitated, “Ancestral Master’s nightgown seems a bit ill-fitting.”
“I haven’t bought many clothes over the years… I live alone in the courtyard, so why would I need to pay attention to these things?” Her voice held a hint of petulance, but because Jiang Huai had reminded her again, she felt a slight embarrassment. However, her eyes did not waver, instead seeming to blame Jiang Huai for bringing it up at this unspoken moment.
“Why doesn’t Ancestral Master give me her measurements? I can make a comfortable and properly fitting nightgown for Ancestral Master,” Jiang Huai said softly. He had always been able to make clothes, and now, being idle in Fang Moye’s courtyard, it was a fitting opportunity. The moment he finished speaking, his expression changed slightly, and a soft ding sounded in his ear.
【As Chu Xianning’s disciple, you naturally have filial piety towards your Ancestral Master.】
【Now that you are to make clothes for your Ancestral Master, you must naturally use a soft ruler to measure the valuable parts.】
【Mission Objective: Use a soft ruler to carefully measure Fang Moye’s bust, shoulder width, waist, and leg length.】
【Mission Reward: Divine Emperor Pearl Shard * 2.】
The moment Fang Moye noticed the change in Jiang Huai’s expression, she looked at him curiously. When Jiang Huai recited the mission to Fang Moye word for word, for some reason, Fang Moye’s cheeks turned slightly red, and she looked away. “Why do you know how to make clothes?”
“Master always wore a Daoist robe in the courtyard and never liked to buy expensive dresses, so I thought I’d buy silks and satins myself and make a beautiful and appropriate dress for Master.”
Fang Moye nodded gently, her voice a quiet, seemingly indifferent reply, “Is that so… You can measure then.”
