Wind Wave Pavilion

Back in the Bamboo Pavilion, Xue Mu leaned against the headboard, reviewing the recent events. He felt a wave of exhaustion.

Time was too scarce. He hadn't even had a chance to flip through the Star Moon Sect's various files before one incident after another came crashing down, leaving him no room to breathe. Much of what he did was half-guesswork, but fortunately, he hadn't seemed to guess wrong, successfully bluffing his way into a reputation as a wise man.

Honestly, he couldn't even be bothered to deal with the First Prince right now. If he let his energy get sucked into the vortex of the imperial succession struggle, he wouldn't be able to pull himself out for a long time. How would he get anything else done?

So, thinking about it now, finding another angle to handle the First Prince was more appropriate than the "two dogs fighting over a bone" strategy he had considered earlier.

But then again, the fact that the palace affairs actually involved the secrets of the Star Moon Sect was something he hadn't anticipated. And the level of confidentiality surrounding this matter was bizarre.

Why bizarre?

Xue Mu knew that Xue Qingqiu's trust in him was now practically absolute. The sect was clearly entrusting him with its development, and if he were to maliciously destroy it, she might truly be ruined here. With that level of trust, what was the point of keeping a secret?

Yet, it had to be someone who was a man to her or Xiao Chan who could know this... It didn't sound like a sect secret; it sounded more like a personal matter, something you could only tell your husband.

But their sect's tenets weren't so coy about relations between men and women.

There was only one reason: this matter involved Xiao Chan's private affairs. How could a master casually tell others about her disciple's privacy? Even a brother wouldn't do.

Once you become Xiao Chan's husband, she will naturally tell you; otherwise, if you become my husband, then you aren't "others" either...

That was roughly the implication.

Xue Mu let out a breath, suddenly enlightened.

The door suddenly "knocked" twice, sounding abrupt in the quiet night. Xue Mu said casually, "Come in."

The door opened, and Meng Lan stood at the threshold, head bowed, twisting the hem of her dress. She said weakly, "Young Master..."

Coming at this hour—to serve in bed?

Before Xue Mu could ask, Meng Lan continued, "The Sect Master ordered me to... serve the Young Master for the night."

This sister... she was using this to compensate again, wasn't she? Xue Mu was speechless. "She already assigned you to me; what is there to order?"

Then again, this was the best thing about Demon Sect masters. Their ideology was clearly different, and they were very open about such things. Aside from the "reverse scale" that couldn't be touched, you could play with whatever you wanted, and she would even send you off to do it, as long as you were happy. You have your eye on This Seat? No problem, as long as you have the ability to make This Seat have her eye on you.

If it were a modern girl or a girl from the Righteous Path, he could only "heh."

Meng Lan whispered, "Even if the Sect Master hadn't ordered it, Meng Lan herself would be willing to serve the Young Master."

"Alright." Xue Mu sighed. "I'm very tired today. You've come at just the right time; help me with a massage."

Meng Lan walked over cautiously. Seeing Xue Mu leaning against the headboard, she hesitated for a moment before making up her mind. She removed her fragrant shoes, knelt on the bed, and then adjusted Xue Mu's shoulders so he could lean against her chest.

Her slender, jade-like fingers pressed against his temples, kneading gently.

This girl was quite bold; once she made up her mind, you were hers. Although there was no affection involved, Xue Mu certainly wouldn't pretend to be righteous and refuse the service. He leaned back and enjoyed it for a while, only then remembering to ask one thing: "Meng Lan, your surname isn't Meng, is it?"

Meng Lan smiled, a hint of bitterness in her expression. "Meng Lan's surname is Zhang."

They had known each other for so long, and only now did Xue Mu learn her full name. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he said, "How much do you know about the Wind Wave Pavilion?"

As long as one was smart enough, they could understand that he meant to cultivate her based on her abilities. Meng Lan was certainly not stupid; her eyes lit up quickly. "One of the Three Sects and Four Paths, the Traceless Path, focuses on the way of assassination. The entire sect is made up of assassins; as long as the price is right, they will kill anyone. They claim: 'Soul-chasing and life-snatching without a trace, once you enter the jianghu, the wind and waves arise.' The Wind Wave Pavilion is the trading post they set up on the surface."

Damn it, another one of our own... Xue Mu had a headache. The Righteous Path at least pretended to be united, but the Demon Sect's momentum was clearly inferior to theirs, yet they were so disunited. The Joyous Union Sect squeezing the Hundred Flowers Garden's business was one thing—that could be called commercial competition, and it didn't hurt their surface harmony, so even Xue Qingqiu couldn't say much. But this Traceless Path was taking assassination jobs against him, and right in front of Xue Qingqiu, no less. Even if they succeeded, did they think the assassin paying with his life would be enough? It would clearly lead to a war! What good did it do them? Were they blinded by greed?

It could only be said that many of these Demon Sect tenets were twisted beyond belief. As long as the price is right, you'll kill anyone? If I pay enough, will you kill yourselves? What a bunch of weirdos. What was the point of reciting doggerel poetry to act cool? Would the world appreciate it?

Actually, although Xue Qingqiu often displayed violent tendencies, she clearly had more of a big-picture view and foresight than that bunch. No wonder the Star Moon Sect had weathered many changes and remained the leader of the Demon Sect.

Meng Lan seemed to see through his internal grumbling and added, "Just as the Joyous Union Sect has industrial competition with us, the Traceless Path actually has it too."

"Oh?" Now Xue Mu was interested. If there were fundamental conflicts, some things could be understood.

"The way of assassination relies on intelligence. The Wind Wave Pavilion doesn't just take killing jobs; they also trade in intelligence. That's why they have never looked kindly upon us or the Joyous Union Sect."

"So that's it..." Xue Mu quickly understood. "Wanting to monopolize intelligence... what an ego. How could such a thing be possible? No one can know everything under heaven. Their obviously best strategy is to cooperate and complement us, exchanging information. They are natural partners, yet they turn it into a conflict. Really... with that kind of vision, it's no wonder they've been rolling in the shadows for a thousand years."

Meng Lan smiled. "The winds and waves of the jianghu are evil, and human hearts are the hardest to rely on. The various sects of the Demon Sect have long been in the habit of guarding against each other. Naturally, not everyone can have the spirit and breadth of mind of the Young Master."

Xue Mu laughed. "Your breadth of mind isn't bad either."

Meng Lan's pretty face flushed slightly. She looked down at Xue Mu leaning against her chest. As a maiden, having a man's head resting against her chest, she herself had long since felt a stir of emotion, her eyes brimming with spring water. "Young Master... do you want to?"

"Sigh..." Xue Mu shifted his head, rubbing it against her, and sighed comfortably. "Let's talk about that when someone breaks their habit of being a peeping tom..."

In the distant Bamboo Pavilion, Xue Qingqiu, who had been sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed, finally opened them slowly, wearing an expression that was a mix of annoyance and amusement.

Beside her, a little girl was arranging a nine-grid puzzle to do math problems. As she arranged them, she grumbled, "You went through all that trouble to reach the Void-Piercing Realm, and you use your ability to peer into heaven and earth for this? You don't find it tiring? If you want to watch so badly, just go into their room. Who could chase you away?"

"Bang!" Another human-shaped hole was broken into the roof of the Bamboo Pavilion, and a little girl flew into the night sky.