You Two Are the Real True Love

"Senior Brother Ling, you finally came out. I've been waiting for you forever~"

Jiang Luoshui walked over enthusiastically, affectionately reaching to link her arm through Ling Xuanxiao's.

But Ling Xuanxiao dodged aside with a flash.

"Junior Sister Jiang? What do you need me for?"

Jiang Luoshui did not feel embarrassed in the least; her smile only grew brighter.

"Can't I look for Senior Brother Ling if there's nothing in particular?"

To be fair, Jiang Luoshui was indeed beautiful.

Her little face, as finely carved as pink jade, resembled exquisite porcelain—delicate and smooth, as if the slightest touch would reveal the softness of tender skin.

Her refined features were arranged just right across that small face. Her brows were like distant inked hills, faintly curved like twin crescent moons.

Her large eyes were clear and bright, lively and spirited. Beneath her high nose bridge sat cherry-red lips that needed no rouge.

With both hands behind her back, she leaned forward slightly.

"Senior Brother Ling~"

With anyone else, that single call would probably have made them hand over even their coffin money.

Alarm bells rang wildly in Ling Xuanxiao's heart. What was this little drama queen plotting now?

Could it be... could it be that she had come to avenge Murong Mo?

Jiang Luoshui deeply loved Murong Mo.

Learning that Murong Mo was dead had dealt her a devastating blow.

Then she had embarked on revenge.

As for the targets of her revenge...

Su Wan, himself, and everyone else—anyone could be one.

People with love-addled brains simply could not be understood through the thought patterns of normal people.

In an instant, Ling Xuanxiao had imagined countless possibilities.

Her cultivation was weaker than his, but there was no telling whether she possessed some magical artifact.

Still, that possibility was slim.

And at this distance, even if she had some magical artifact, she would not have time to use it.

Unless it was... poison.

That was it, poison!!

Ling Xuanxiao narrowed his eyes, his expression grave as he held his breath.

His hands, hidden within his broad sleeves, also began to move with careful silence.

His fingers flickered nimbly, like a swift little beast feeling its way through unknown terrain.

He successfully fished a faintly glowing Poison Barrier Talisman from his sleeve.

The Poison Barrier Talisman looked unremarkable, but once activated, it could swiftly form a brief yet incomparably sturdy defensive barrier within a three-foot radius around him.

This barrier had been designed specifically against all kinds of poisonous gases. It could effectively keep lethal fumes outside, buying him precious time and a safe space.

"Junior Sister, what exactly do you need me for?" Ling Xuanxiao stressed each word.

"It's nothing. I just wanted to chat with you."

"Chat?"

Was she planning to strike at him suddenly while they were chatting?

Ling Xuanxiao retreated half a step.

"I want to have a meal with Senior Brother Ling." Jiang Luoshui blinked her lovely eyes.

She was going to poison him during the meal and avenge Murong Mo!!

Ling Xuanxiao silently retreated another half-step.

The mouth of a green bamboo snake, the sting at a yellow wasp's tail.

Either one alone could kill; a woman's heart was the deadliest of all.

"Senior Brother Ling, Senior Brother Murong is gone. I don't even have anyone to talk to anymore."

So... she wanted him to go down and accompany Murong Mo!?

Ling Xuanxiao's eyes widened like bronze bells. He was already poised to attack, ready to erupt at the slightest touch.

Then Jiang Luoshui softly said, "Senior Brother Ling, may I presumptuously ask... you and Senior Sister Su Wan..."

Does she suspect that Senior Sister Su Wan and I plotted together to kill Murong Mo?

Thinking it over, the logic did seem fairly sound. Jiang Luoshui had inserted herself into Murong Mo and Su Wan's relationship.

Then, in outsiders' eyes, he had stepped forward to defend Su Wan.

That meant he had feelings for Su Wan, perhaps even silently protecting her from the shadows.

So, in order to punish Murong Mo, he and Su Wan had joined hands to kill Murong Mo...

Having imagined this far, Ling Xuanxiao became even more certain of what she intended to do.

"You and Senior Sister Su Wan... don't have any special relationship, right?"

If you can't find it by searching the book title, try searching for the author instead. Perhaps it was merely renamed!

That question stunned Li Xuanxiao, but he soon answered firmly.

"No!"

"Is that so~" Jiang Luoshui smiled in relief. "Then I can rest easy. I thought you liked Senior Sister Su Wan."

(O_o)??

Jiang Luoshui gave a sly smile. "That's wonderful, then. Senior Sister Su Wan told us that you've always liked her. It seems Senior Sister Su Wan misunderstood. Honestly, I need to explain this clearly to them.

Otherwise, Senior Brother Li will be terribly troubled. In truth, Senior Brother Li doesn't like Senior Sister Su Wan at all, right?

Oh my, I need to tell everyone. Senior Sister Su Wan really is something, going around saying that Senior Brother likes her.

Senior Sister Su Wan is really narcissistic. That must be causing Senior Brother a lot of trouble, isn't it?"

Li Xuanxiao: ...

"Senior Brother Li, I'll come find you another day. We're fellow disciples, so from now on, just call me Luoshui. It'll sound more intimate. Don't call me Junior Sister Jiang anymore~"

Before long, Jiang Luoshui cheerfully departed Silver Sword Peak.

Leaving Li Xuanxiao standing there, utterly at a loss.

Li Xuanxiao swiftly analyzed the current situation.

It appeared that Jiang Luoshui had not come to avenge Murong Mo.

Or rather, she had already tossed Murong Mo to the back of her mind.

The reason she had come to see him today was because she suspected Su Wan was interested in him...

And so she had come to seduce him.

Li Xuanxiao frowned deeply.

Su Wan liked Murong Mo, so Jiang Luoshui had gone to seduce Murong Mo to anger Su Wan.

Now she suspected Su Wan liked him, so Jiang Luoshui had come to seduce him to anger Su Wan.

Could Jiang Luoshui possibly be interested in Su Wan!?

Looks to me like you're the one truly in love with Su Wan.

Murong Mo and I were both just part of your play?

This world was completely insane!!

Li Xuanxiao decided to go back into seclusion and temper himself for another half month.

But this matter was clearly far from over.

After returning, Jiang Luoshui spread this tale around, embellishing it with plenty of extra color.

"That's right! Senior Sister Su Wan was the one who wished for it herself!"

"Right! She kept clinging to Senior Brother Li and wouldn't let go."

"That's right, Senior Sister Su Wan likes Senior Brother Li, but Senior Brother Li likes Junior Sister Luoshui."

"Oh! So that's how it is."

"No wonder Senior Sister Su Wan always found fault with Jiang Luoshui."

"That's jealousy!"

Those were the remarks of passersby.

Then there were the diehard fans of Jiang Luoshui and Su Wan.

"Li Xuanxiao, get out here!!"

"Li Xuanxiao, go die!"

"Li Xuanxiao is completely unworthy of Junior Sister Luoshui."

"Li Xuanxiao isn't worthy of Senior Sister Su Wan either!!"

"Who is this Li Xuanxiao? I want to challenge him to a duel."

"We're all Shushan Disciples, so why does he get to embrace one woman on each side? It's not fair."

"Come on, let's go find Li Xuanxiao."

"Don't let me catch sight of him."

"..."

At that very moment, Li Xuanxiao on Silver Sword Peak had this to say:

I have no idea what's going on~

He could not figure it out. He simply could not figure it out.

Where had things gone wrong?

He heard that the rumors outside had already evolved into versions where he and Su Wan had a child together, and where he had also fathered an illegitimate child with Jiang Luoshui.

If I can't afford to provoke them, can't I at least hide from them?

Thus, Li Xuanxiao decisively abandoned his thatched hut and temporarily moved into the back mountain of Silver Sword Peak to hide.

He planned to leave only after the storm had passed and everyone had forgotten about the matter.

And so, more than three months passed. Li Xuanxiao cultivated in the back mountain the entire time, while using the materials he had gathered from Mount Wu Wang to strengthen the Scorpion Puppet.