Hua Lian's Worries

Thousand Fragrances, Ten Thousand Beauties Painting, a supreme-grade dharma artifact that could conjure countless breathtaking beauties to bewilder opponents.

When the scroll unfurled, ethereal celestial music drifted through the air, and the Mystic Maiden of the Nine Heavens danced gracefully.

The beauties within the painting each possessed their own charms—some gentle and demure, some seductive and enchanting, some cool and noble—changing according to the enemy's preferences.

Once an enemy gazed into the scroll, they would fall into it and be unable to control themselves.

It combined offense and defense; offensively, it could unleash Thousand Fragrances Divine Light, while defensively, it could ward off attacks with the Immortal Array of Ten Thousand Beauties.

Xiao Yu looked at the supreme-grade dharma artifact before him, his brows lifting.

With a flick of his hand, several streaks of rosy light shot forth. Faintly, beautiful women seemed to accompany the music, and when he looked again, the forest ahead had been split in two.

Xiao Yu was secretly stunned. He was only at the first level of the Qi Refining Stage, yet it possessed such power.

Even if that Senior Sister Mei came again, he would not fear her!

Afterward, he entered Hua Lian's Judgment Room once more.

He remained there for three days and three nights.

When Hua Lian woke again, she looked at Xiao Yu beside her with a dazed expression.

Thinking back on everything from the past three days, it all felt like a dream.

For some reason, she did not really want to leave.

This time, she truly did not want to leave.

Staying here could repair her spiritual root and restore her cultivation.

Moreover, she now belonged to Xiao Yu, and her master was still in his hands.

If she fled again, would he hurt her master someday if he became angry?

Hua Lian found another reason to persuade herself.

Looking at Xiao Yu before her, Hua Lian instinctively reached out and wrapped her arms around him. "M-Master, Lian'er won't leave anymore. Can you help Lian'er recover from her injuries?"

"Could you please stop hurting Master... Lian'er is willing to become Master's maidservant..."

Hua Lian spoke in Xiao Yu's arms, looking so pitiful that even flowers would grieve for her.

But when Xiao Yu saw her Judgment Score, a cold sneer rose in his heart.

Over the past three days, her Judgment Score had already reached 90%!

Yet after reaching 90%, it had become stuck and would not move.

Clearly, this woman had not fully realized her mistakes.

Even if she now looked utterly pitiful, even if she believed she was in the wrong, there had to be a final line of defense deep within her heart.

Xiao Yu pursed his lips and wrapped an arm around Hua Lian's soft waist. "I'm actually rather curious. The Jade Maiden Sect was so powerful—how could it have been destroyed by the declining Hehuan Sect?"

Hua Lian nestled against Xiao Yu's chest and spoke softly. "It was mainly Second Senior Sister's fault. She betrayed us... But Master, you should make preparations early as well... Demon Island sending your four sects to invade Hexi Province was merely the vanguard!"

Xiao Yu chuckled softly. Was she actually starting to worry about him?

"Of course I understand that. The Hehuan Sect, Thousand Poisons Sect, Blood Refining Hall, and Demon Refining Sect that have launched this war are nothing more than minor sects in Demon Province. I reckon they'll be driven back before long!"

Hua Lian added, "Mm... Didn't Master say before that you wanted to leave this place? I suggest that Master make plans early. Lian'er doesn't want anything to happen to you!"

Xiao Yu held her with a doting expression, his grip extremely tight. "Mm, good. Isn't this much better? By the way, aside from your master, is there anyone else you particularly cherish?"

Hua Lian instinctively clenched her fists at those words, then hurriedly shook her head. "N-No... there isn't..."

Xiao Yu replied without hesitation, "Is that so? I thought that since you were willing to follow me now, if you had any wishes, I could help fulfill them. If not, then forget it!"

Hua Lian hesitated as though she wanted to speak, but after pondering for a moment, she ultimately remained silent.

Xiao Yu observed her again.

Her hair, her clothes, her embroidered shoes.

At last, he spotted a red Lovers' Knot at her waist and immediately snatched it away.

Hua Lian's eyes widened at once, and she cried out in panic, "G-Give it back to me..."

Xiao Yu remained unmoved. One arm held her while his other hand carefully examined the Lovers' Knot.

The crimson knot joined two hearts, threads entwined with exquisite craftsmanship that seemed to surpass nature itself.

Its color was like vermilion sand scattered upon it, vivid and eye-catching, like the glow of sunset.

Xiao Yu frowned slightly. "If I'm not mistaken, this Lovers' Knot is a token of love, isn't it, Lian'er?"

Hua Lian nervously clenched the hem of her skirt, her fingers nearly digging blood from her flesh. "N-No, it isn't..."

Xiao Yu stared intently at the Lovers' Knot as he pondered. So this woman's final psychological defense was love.

After all, this was manual work. Her mind would have to be handled manually too.

Though he was confident that he could raise her Judgment Score to one hundred if given a few more days, he had never liked wasting time.

"Mm, Lian'er, which senior brother do you like? He shouldn't be from your Jade Maiden Sect, right?"

"I remember your master once said that disciples of the Jade Maiden Sect were forbidden from falling in love. Does that mean you hid some things from your master before? If I tell her about this, I reckon she'll be so angry that she'll cough up blood..."

Hua Lian's pupils abruptly contracted, and her lips turned pale. "No! Anything but that..."

Xiao Yu suddenly roared, "If you don't tell me, I'll go find your master!!!"

Hua Lian instantly shrank back, her fear of Xiao Yu written plainly across her face.

Xiao Yu said angrily, "So I saved both you and your master's lives, and it was one thing for you to try to poison me. Now, not only have I not killed you, I haven't handed you over either, and this is how you repay me?"

"Can the man you like repair your spiritual root? Are you planning to recuperate here, then go out and find him again?"

"If it weren't for my Nine Yang Divine Body, you would be doomed to remain a mortal for the rest of your life. Think it through!"

"Besides, I've had enough fun!"

As Xiao Yu spoke, he began putting on his clothes. Hua Lian hurried forward in fright. "I-It's Senior Brother Lin Ce... Lin Ce from the Profound Spirit Sect. We privately pledged ourselves to one another... Master, please don't be angry. Lian'er knows she was wrong..."

The moment Xiao Yu heard that, something came to mind.

Profound Spirit Sect, Lin Ce?

Wasn't that the man who had led people in pursuing and trying to kill him on Jiangliu Mountain...

That man seemed to be one of the Profound Spirit Sect's immortal seedlings. He claimed to be from a righteous and prestigious sect and had quite a few admirers.

He was also someone who constantly proclaimed that slaying demons and exterminating evil was his duty.

For some reason, Xiao Yu felt a little sick whenever he heard about such hypocrites who sought fame and reputation.

Back then, several Body Tempering Stage cultivators from the Profound Spirit Sect had wanted to kick Bai Yue while she was down.

Although Bai Yue was no good person either, she was now his possession after all.

Sooner or later, she would submit as well.

Seeing that Xiao Yu remained silent, Hua Lian thought he was going to tell Bai Yue about how she had secretly pledged herself to Lin Ce.

She immediately burst into tears, her face full of grievance. "Master... Master, Lian'er was wrong..."

"Lian'er swears that she will never see Senior Brother Lin again. Please don't tell Master. She will hate me... she truly will hate me..."

"Second Senior Sister fell in love with a man from the demonic path. Master refused to approve of it and dug out that man's spiritual root. She absolutely will not allow us disciples to fall in love before forming a Golden Core. I beg you, don't tell Master..."

"From now on, Lian'er will go nowhere. I will only serve Master... for life after life!"

Hearing this, Xiao Yu felt a little irritated inside. "You mean that your Second Senior Sister betrayed you because your master had crippled the man she loved?"

Hua Lian nodded with a wronged expression. "Mm... There is a saying in our Jade Maiden Sect: when a female cultivator is moved by love, her immortal path will know no peace... Among us righteous and prestigious sects, our Dao companions are arranged by the sect. Master has shown me kindness as weighty as a mountain. I truly cannot let her find out..."

"Master... please spare Lian'er this once..."

Xiao Yu looked at her Judgment Score, which had still not risen, amusement glinting in his eyes.

It seemed this woman still held fantasies about Lin Ce. "Lian'er, if I told you that a few days ago, it was the junior brothers under your Senior Brother Lin Ce who intended to violate your master on Jiangliu Mountain, would you still keep this Lovers' Knot?"

Hua Lian was momentarily stunned. After hesitating for a while, she lowered her head, clearly not believing him.

Xiao Yu said softly, "That day, I took your master and fled. Along the way, we encountered some people from the Profound Spirit Sect. That Lin Ce came up and declared that he was Lin Ce, an inner disciple of the Profound Spirit Sect. Then he drew a dharma sword and joined several junior brothers to besiege us."

"Do you know why I bore such a grudge against your master?"

"It was because that day, those people wanted to defile your master. If I hadn't taken a Bloodburst Pill and saved her, she would probably already have gained a whole group of Dao companions from the Profound Spirit Sect!"

Hua Lian had heard Bai Yue mention this before, but she had not known that they were people brought by Lin Ce.

When Xiao Yu saw that she was still unmoved, he immediately grew impatient. "So you're still thinking of betraying me from within, huh? Fine, then continue being a mortal. I don't like keeping a woman whose heart belongs to another man. You can forget about your spiritual root!"

After Xiao Yu finished speaking, he released the Thousand Fragrances, Ten Thousand Beauties Painting. Hua Lian immediately panicked.

"Master... Master, don't... Lian'er, Lian'er swears that I will absolutely never see him again..."

By the time Hua Lian said this, tears had already streamed down her face.

Xiao Yu chuckled softly, but her Judgment Score still did not rise.

No wonder people said beautiful women could lie.

She was crying herself into such a miserable state, yet she still would not tell the truth?

"Lian'er, I actually like you quite a bit, but stop testing my bottom line. Your master likes obedient children!"

"Once you follow me, with my Nine Yang Divine Body, your cultivation speed will surely far surpass ordinary people's. Within a few years, you will definitely be able to form a Golden Core!"

"And I guarantee you that as long as you swear upon your Dao heart that you will follow me with unwavering devotion from now on, I absolutely will not kill you or your master. I will even grant you both an enormous opportunity!"

"Even if you do not think of yourself, you must think of your master!"

As Xiao Yu spoke, he opened a window into the neighboring Judgment Room, and Bai Yue's screams instantly rang out.

Hua Lian immediately burst into tears, her entire body shaking violently. "Master... Master..."

Xiao Yu said in a low voice, "I'm telling you to swear upon your Dao heart. As long as you swear upon your Dao heart to follow me, I won't make things difficult for you!"

Listening to Bai Yue's screams, Hua Lian's tears flowed uncontrollably.

Although her master had forbidden them from falling in love, she had raised Hua Lian her entire life.

She recalled when she had still been an orphan.

If not for her master, Bai Yue, perhaps she would already have been eaten by someone.

"Master... Your disciple... Your disciple has failed you..."