The Secretary Who Came to My Door

Xue Qingqiu dragged Yin Ye away, while Yue Xiaochan watched Xue Mu with a faint, lingering gaze.

So chaotic, yet so intriguing. Even my martial aunt couldn't discern the nature of that aura at a glance...

She shook her head with a smile and drifted away without a word.

Xue Mu stood dazed for a long while, then rubbed his head, picked up the Hundred Herbs Record that Xue Qingqiu had left by the window, and sat down with a thud.

It was now certain that his "cheat" possessed the power to clear the mind and shatter illusions—even more absurdly so than he had imagined. Xue Qingqiu, one of the strongest martial artists in the world, had exhausted her charms, yet not only was it useless, she had nearly fallen for him herself. Although that was the result of Yin Ye's AOE effect, it was enough to prove that the pattern on his palm could completely resist mental erosion.

Come to think of it, Yin Ye's cultivation technique was truly terrifying... His own cheat, which even Xue Qingqiu couldn't break, had been completely dismantled by Yin Ye without any resistance, and not even intentionally. According to Xiaochan, it was a "magic-immune" perverted-level aura that one couldn't resist even while channeling energy, capable of ensnaring even Void-Dwellers. No wonder Xiahou Di was so nervous. But Xiahou Di was exaggerating a bit—could that brat really become a source of chaos? No wonder Xue Qingqiu was so dismissive; she simply knew her junior sister too well.

With Xue Qingqiu gone, he had no one to guide him, and without knowing where his meridians were, he couldn't practice martial arts. However, he could study the first two sections of the Hundred Herbs Record on his own, which would be a very useful skill to master. Xue Mu temporarily set aside those messy affairs of men and women and began to study carefully.

As he read, he realized that things in this world were different from his own. Many plants and animals were completely unheard of, and the bizarre, fantastical effects of various poisons reminded him once again that he was in a strange world where fantasy and martial arts coexisted—this was definitely not some simple rural courtyard.

"Soul-Severing Flower: Extremely delicate and beautiful, with infinite fragrance. Those who approach it lose their souls. People say this flower is like the enchantresses of the Star Moon Sect, possessing a similar charm, hence it is privately called the Star Moon Flower."

Xue Mu tilted his head, examining the illustration of the flower, and found it amusing. This Young Master Zhao actually had a bit of flair, giving flowers nicknames in private.

"Knock, knock." A tapping sound echoed. Xue Mu flipped through the book and said casually, "Come in."

The door opened, a fragrance wafted in, and Meng Lan's voice sounded softly: "Young Master."

Xue Mu smiled: "Any new developments?"

"Yes. After a day and a night of circulation, Young Master's little story has spread throughout the Capital City. People are scrambling to copy it; almost everyone has a copy, and paper prices have soared. It even reached the imperial court this morning, causing a massive dispute. Some believe it is a work that encourages lewdness and theft and should be banned. Meng Lan has come specifically to report this to you."

Xue Mu knew the power of erotica would be great, but he still underestimated its speed. To cause a paper shortage in the Capital in just a day and a night—how empty must the recreational lives of people in this world be?

"What did the imperial court decide?"

"It is said that His Majesty read the volume and was greatly pleased, issuing an imperial decree: 'A marvelous piece of writing.'"

Xue Mu muttered to himself, The Emperor is impotent; reading this kind of smut to get a vicarious thrill must be quite satisfying, right? Maybe it even gives him a bit of a boost?

He thought for a moment and asked, "Did Xiaochan send you to report this?"

Meng Lan's eyes were filled with admiration as she whispered, "It was Meng Lan's own admiration for Young Master. With a pen as a sword, turning clouds and rain, you not only brought the Hundred Flowers Garden back to life but even shook the imperial court."

As she spoke, she slowly leaned against him, her slender hands gently kneading his shoulders, and continued: "Besides, Young Master's plan truly saved Meng Lan; I no longer have to go out and sell smiles like those in the Joyous Union Sect. Meng Lan is grateful to you, admires you, and wishes to be like that day, forever helping you grind ink."

Xue Mu was not sitting in a chair with a backrest, but on a high couch by the window. With no support behind him, Meng Lan stood close, her body pressed against his back. If he leaned his head back, he could rest it against her softest parts.

Xue Mu didn't lean back to take advantage; he quietly enjoyed the massage, calmly looking down at his book: "You don't have to go out of your way to please me."

Meng Lan's voice sounded as if she were on the verge of tears: "In Young Master's eyes, is Meng Lan really so unworthy of pity? Meng Lan is still a virgin; could it be that I am not even as good as Qianqian?"

Xue Mu laughed helplessly: "My night with Qianqian was just a fleeting pleasure. Is that all you seek?"

The massaging hands paused for a moment, then resumed, and she said nothing more.

Xue Mu sighed: "Your Sect Master sent you, didn't she..."

This time, Meng Lan paused for a full dozen seconds before whispering: "I truly cannot hide anything from you, Young Master. It was the Sect Master who sent me, but..." She hesitated, then as if having made a firm decision, she gritted her teeth: "But Meng Lan herself also wishes to follow you."

Xue Mu was stunned. He finally put down the book and turned to look at her seriously.

Meng Lan stopped massaging and met his gaze quietly: "The Sect Master hopes I can make you fall in love, yet she forbids me from harming you in the slightest. This order is strange. If I use my full strength to cast a spell and accidentally hurt you, I would have to pay with my life; if I use physical temptation, it has already been proven that you are not susceptible. Yet the Sect Master still sent me—what is her intention? There is only one reason: the Sect Master has lost her composure. I am simply more familiar with you than the other disciples, so she hopes to try, hoping there might be a sliver of possibility."

The image of the soft, fragrant embrace from that morning flashed through Xue Mu's mind. Just a little more, and Xue Qingqiu would have kissed him...

Yin Ye had said he wanted to dual cultivate with his senior sister... Xue Qingqiu had been so furious she dragged Yin Ye away without even glancing at him.

Lost her composure... Meng Lan was right. She didn't dare to make a move herself, but she also wanted to extinguish his thoughts, so she wanted to stuff a woman into his life—the kind to talk about feelings—so that their relationship could return to the normal track of siblings. Relatively speaking, Meng Lan had more contact with him, so she was sent over in hopes of a chance.

Why bother... Knowing Meng Lan couldn't succeed, and having nearly fallen for him herself, she was pinning her hopes on an outer disciple?

Xue Mu thought for a moment and asked: "You told me the Sect Master's intentions directly; aren't you afraid she will be displeased?"

Meng Lan replied calmly: "Meng Lan feels it is better to take this opportunity to truly pledge loyalty to you and follow by your side. With the capabilities you have shown, there will surely be a place for me within the Star Moon Sect in the future, and I will no longer be just an outer disciple."

Xue Mu shook his head and smiled: "Being so blunt, aren't you afraid it will cause me to feel repulsed instead?"

Meng Lan said earnestly: "Young Master's wisdom is as deep as the sea; you must have guessed my thoughts long ago. Concealment is meaningless, so it is better to lay it all out. You will need a helper of your own, and Meng Lan will follow your lead in everything. Whether it is official business or... serving in the bedchamber, Meng Lan will not let you down."

She was a smart person who knew how to seize opportunities. Having selfish motives was nothing; it would be strange if she didn't. Xue Mu had seen plenty of people climbing the ladder through "unspoken rules" and wasn't repulsed. Instead, he sighed: "You still don't know the extent of your Sect Master's peerless divine arts. She already saw you flirting last time, and this time... it could be a big or small matter. If she really wanted to hold you accountable, calling it betrayal wouldn't be an injustice. You really aren't afraid of death."

Meng Lan turned pale and stepped back two paces: "This... even if the Sect Master's divine arts can peer into heaven and earth, she couldn't possibly hear such subtle words, could she?"

"I believe that if she wants to, she can." Xue Mu smiled: "Actually, you're right. I need an assistant. At least someone needs to handle the grinding of ink and the relaying of messages. Using someone else is not as good as using you—we know each other well, don't we? Hey, Big Sister, if you can hear me, give me some face. We're family, so there's no talk of betrayal. Just assign her to me as an assistant."

In the distance, Xue Qingqiu sat cross-legged in her room, eyes closed and expressionless. Yin Ye sat to one side, chin in hand, munching on a cake. Yue Xiaochan held a scroll, recording something intently.

Suddenly, a hint of a smile appeared at the corner of Xue Qingqiu's mouth, and she murmured to herself: "Meng Lan's offense is noted for now. Serve Xue Mu well; if there is any sign of disloyalty, both crimes will be punished together."

Yin Ye continued eating, oblivious. Yue Xiaochan looked up, a cool smile on her face: "Lost the bet?"

Xue Qingqiu glared at her and closed her eyes again, annoyed.

Although that sentence sounded like a mere murmur, for some reason, it drifted across the mile-long bamboo forest and reached Xue Mu's room clearly. Both Xue Mu and Meng Lan heard it perfectly.

Cold sweat soaked Meng Lan's back. Although she knew the Sect Master's cultivation was profound, with her level of understanding, she had never imagined something so terrifying... She could actually hear her and Xue Mu's whispers from across the entire bamboo forest. By comparison, the voice transmission was nothing.

Xue Mu wasn't surprised. He stood up and smiled: "There, don't be so scared. Is your Sect Master the type to haggle over every detail?"

Meng Lan's heart was still racing as she whispered, "Many thanks, Young Master. Many thanks, Sect Master."

"There is nothing to thank me for. Since you are here, help me grind the ink."

"Is the Young Master planning to..."

"How long can a single story stay relevant? Sooner or later, the hype will die down." Xue Mu stretched his back. "I happen to have conceived another story, also set in the Hundred Flowers Garden. It is quite interesting. Would you like to see it, sister?"