The midnight hour

Why are you here?

Xu Qi'an quickly stood up, his tone becoming cautious.

Mu Nanzhi glanced at him and sneered, "So that's why you were being so secretive, not returning to the inn and not letting me see you. So you've been secretly seeing Luo Yuheng."

Holy crap, how did she know about my relationship with the Imperial Advisor? This doesn't make sense! Xu Qi'an had countless questions in his mind, but his expression remained calm:

You've misunderstood; that's not true.

He tried to fool Mu Nanzhi with sweet words, still not believing that the reincarnation of the Flower Goddess would know about his dual cultivation with Luo Yuheng.

He silently grumbled to himself about the guilt he felt after being caught cheating.

Mu Nanzhi ignored him, then turned to Luo Yuheng, and said with a forced smile:

"Back then, I advised you to cultivate with Emperor Yuanjing, but you refused. It turns out you found someone younger. What, you old ox, nearing forty, are now grazing on tender grass?"

"Hmph, I know exactly when you spend seven days a month burning in karmic fire. He told me the other day that you would be going to see him soon. I knew something was up."

"I tested him a bit back then, but he didn't say anything. Today, I sent the little white fox to follow Li Lingsu's scent, and seeing you here, I knew I was right."

It turned out that her persistent questioning had already revealed something was amiss; women truly are born actresses. Xu Qi'an glanced expressionlessly at Bai Ji, who was squatting by the door.

The little white fox instinctively shrank its neck, realizing it might have done something wrong.

"No, it's none of my business," it muttered to itself.

At this moment, Li Lingsu's mind was filled with the word "impossible".

"What does she mean? What does 'an old cow eating young grass' mean? Madam Xu's words imply that Xu Qian and Luo Yuheng are having an affair."

Li Lingsu felt a chill run down her spine. If that were really the case, how dark and unjust this world must be.

"How could Xu Qian have an intimate relationship with Luo Yuheng? That's impossible! How could the leader of the Human Sect fall in love with a married woman? Leader, please say something!"

Li Lingsu was inwardly screaming, but seeing that no one spoke for a long time, he cautiously said, "Madam Xu, I think there must be some misunderstanding."

I wanted to say: Our Daoist School leader would never be interested in your husband.

He felt that those words were too insulting to you, and he couldn't afford to offend Xu Qian.

"What's it to you? Get out of my way."

Mu Nanzhi's eyebrows shot up.

With your volatile temper and mediocre looks, if Luo Yuheng really took a liking to your man, would you even be a match for him? Is your current anger a result of your supposed powerlessness, leading to your rage?

Li Lingsu inwardly grumbled.

Meanwhile, the second senior brother, Sun Xuanji, had already quietly left this place of trouble.

Luo Yuheng finally spoke, narrowing his long, narrow eyes, and said calmly, "So possessive of your food, Mu Nanzhi. What right do you have to interfere in my affairs? What right do you have to interfere in his affairs?"

She was certain that, given Mu Nanzhi's pride, she probably wouldn't admit her feelings for Xu Qi'an even now.

Xu Qi'an quickly looked at the princess, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Mu Nanzhi choked for a moment, then noticed Xu Qi'an looking at her and immediately glared at him. "Are you feeling very smug?"

Huh? What's this turn of events? Xu Qi'an was taken aback for a moment, then realized that she was changing the subject.

He was momentarily at a loss, unsure how to comfort her.

He had experienced similar chaotic situations before. Lin'an and Huaiqing had also had conflicts because of him, but Lin'an was easy to coax, and Huaiqing was a smart woman who knew when to stop.

Moreover, when he was caught in the middle between Huaiqing and Lin'an, it was essentially a power struggle between the two sisters; he was merely a tool.

The situation is different now.

Fortunately, Luo Yuheng took the initiative to bear the brunt of the fire, and said disdainfully, "I gave you a chance before, and you said you wouldn't travel the world with him."

Her words were both an explanation and a threat.

The second half of the sentence was left unsaid, but Mu Nanzhi surely understood.

Unexpectedly, Mu Nanzhi was not intimidated at all, and sneered, "Fine, go ahead and try, see if he's willing to do it."

After saying that, she turned and glared at Xu Qi'an: "She's going to sell me to a brothel."

"It's not that bad, it's not that bad." Xu Qi'an waved his hands repeatedly.

"Madam Xu, with looks like yours, no man in a brothel would even want you," Li Lingsu muttered to herself, both gloating and giving Xu Qian a sour look.

Hearing this, the Holy Son understood that Madam Xu was right; the relationship between Luo Yuheng and Xu Qian was indeed extraordinary.

This reminded the Holy Son of Madam Xu's previous mockery of Xu Qian. It turned out she wasn't joking; he really did have a stunningly beautiful confidante.

But the thought that Madam Xu was of average appearance made Li Lingsu feel much better.

After all, all of his female confidantes were stunningly beautiful, something Xu Qian could never compare to.

The relationship between Xu Qian and Luo Yuheng was mostly due to his cultivation level, rather than his personal charm. This was an exception; normally, a woman like Madam Xu would be a better match for Xu Qian. The Holy Son snorted inwardly.

Luo Yuheng calmly sipped his tea and said indifferently, "Send her away."

Mu Nanzhi snorted, "You're the one who should get lost."

Just as the Holy Son was gloating, he suddenly heard Xu Qian transmit his voice, "What should we do in this situation?"

He's asking me for help, haha, Xu Qian, you old geezer. Li Lingsu's lips curled into a knowing smile as she transmitted her voice:

"It's very simple. It depends on their personalities and how much they mean to you. For example, if the Dongfang sisters and Wenren Qianrou have a conflict, I would side with the Dongfang sisters and try to drive Wenren Qianrou away."

"Because she's no match for the Dongfang sisters, who are known for their ruthlessness when it comes to rivals. I'm protecting Qianrou. If it were Chai Xing'er and the Dongfang sisters, I would side with Chai Xing'er."

"Because Xing'er is a delicate and sensitive woman, she is difficult to coax, while the Dongfang sisters are relatively easier to coax."

"Between Daoist Master Luo Yuheng and Madam Xu, my advice is to side with Luo Yuheng. Her temper is clearly more eccentric and cold, while Madam Xu is your first wife, and you can't escape her. Besides, Daoist Master Luo is stunningly beautiful; Madam Xu can't compare."

The Holy Son spoke eloquently, imparting his experience, but as soon as he finished, he regretted it. "Why did I have to teach Xu Qian?"

It would be best to break ties with the Imperial Advisor as soon as possible.

"You've wasted your time." Xu Qi'an transmitted his voice, "There are some things you don't understand. Mu Nanzhi is different from other women."

Li Lingsu didn't care that anything was different.

That said, with Madam Xu's looks, how could she be so self-righteous in front of Luo Yuheng? Doesn't she feel ashamed of herself?

Logically speaking, any woman with a sense of shame, upon seeing a rival who is as beautiful as a goddess, would feel somewhat inferior, no matter how angry she is.

But he found that Madam Xu's gaze was aggressive, as if it said four words: You trash!

Luo Yuheng put down his teacup, turned his head to look at Xu Qi'an, and his tone became colder:

"You decide who gets out."

Ah, well, why don't we all stay here? Xu Qi'an was caught in a dilemma.

The little white fox was a bit timid. It glanced at Luo Yuheng, then trotted to Mu Nanzhi's feet and whispered:

"Auntie, let's go, she's so pretty."

Moreover, she exudes a powerful aura and looks like someone not to be trifled with. The little white fox has a keen intuition for strong individuals.

My aunt isn't pretty and has no cultivation; she definitely can't defeat this woman.

Upon hearing this, Mu Nanzhi chuckled, raised her right wrist, and her sleeve slipped down, revealing her slender, snow-white wrist and the string of Buddhist prayer beads.

She gave Luo Yuheng a defiant look, then slowly took off the Buddhist prayer beads.

In an instant, her appearance and temperament underwent a dramatic transformation. Her eyes became round and alluring, like sparkling gems reflected in a shallow lake, crystal clear and captivating.

Her lips were full and red, with delicately sculpted corners, like the most tempting cherries, enticing men to kiss them.

She was as proud as a queen, with an air of looking down on everything, but no one would think she was arrogant, because her beauty gave her the right to look down on all others.

She is beautiful, but her temperament and demeanor are even more outstanding, like a celestial maiden in a painting.

"Who's leaving, you surnamed Xu?" Mu Nanzhi raised her chin arrogantly.

Li Lingsu was like a statue, her soul profoundly impacted from the inside out. When she met Luo Yuheng, she felt she had met the most enchanting woman in the world.

Now, he felt he had met the most beautiful woman in the world.

No one could be more beautiful than her, the thought arose spontaneously in the mind of the Holy Son of the Heavenly Sect.

The pronunciations of "Xu" and "Xu" are very similar. Li Lingsu was completely absorbed in Mu Nanzhi's beauty and did not notice this detail.

"This is her true face? This is Madam Xu's true appearance? Yes, Xu Qian can disguise himself, so why am I so sure that her plain-looking appearance is her true face?"

I was so stupid, really. I had such a stunningly beautiful woman right next to me, and I never even gave her a second glance.

The saddest thing is that she turned out to be Xu Qian's wife.

At this moment, Li Lingsu began to doubt her own charm, and the confidence she had previously built on Madam Xu's mediocre appearance vanished.

I had previously thought that Madam Xu had a special affection for him, and I had endured it with a mixture of helplessness and resentment. The Holy Son's face burned with embarrassment, and he suddenly realized that he himself was the ridiculous one.

Xu Qi'an was stunned for a few seconds, then with great willpower, he looked away, grabbed Mu Nanzhi's wrist, and quickly put the Bodhi bracelet back on.

"Don't be ridiculous. There's a formidable enemy outside. You'll be in great danger if you do this," he said in a deep voice.

Although the Qi-Watching Technique has distance limitations, and one cannot see the princess's magnificent aura if one is not nearby, the bracelet must still be worn, just in case.

The moment Luo Yuheng put the bracelet back on, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Mu Nanzhi said defiantly, "Then let her leave."

She's like a possessive little female cat.

Just as Xu Qi'an was about to speak, he saw the incomparably charming Holy Son of the Heavenly Sect turn and walk away, his back looking lonely, as if he were a child abandoned by the whole world.

Li Lingsu's suggestion gave him considerable inspiration.

Although my dual cultivation with Luo Yuheng was conducted under the guise of a transaction, based on my understanding, the Imperial Preceptor values dual cultivation highly. Once he decides to engage in dual cultivation, it is with the goal of "developing into a dao companion."

If she didn't have feelings for me, she would never have engaged in dual cultivation with me. But we're just one step away from love, and if I don't side with her now, I'm afraid I'll diminish her feelings for me.

The same applies to Mu Nanzhi.

But I don't need to make a choice between the two; I can take advantage of her personality.

"The Imperial Preceptor is about to undergo her tribulation. Last time, she helped me deal with the leader of the Earth Sect to buy time, which allowed me to kill Yuan Jing. However, she was affected by the corrupted evil of the Earth Sect and could no longer suppress it."

Xu Qi'an said in a deep voice, "She doesn't have time."

As expected, the kind-hearted Mu Nanzhi was speechless, her face turning pale and then red. On one hand, she couldn't bear to see her best friend die in the heavenly tribulation, and on the other hand, she didn't want Xu Qi'an to cultivate with her best friend.

Her eyes reddened, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "All you ever do is bully me."

At this moment, Luo Yuheng looked at Xu Qi'an and said calmly, "You go out, I want to talk to her."

Xu Qi'an then looked at Mu Nanzhi, and seeing that she did not refute him, he silently left the tea room.

The wind was biting cold outside. He glanced around and saw Li Lingsu standing under the eaves, facing the cold wind, gazing into the distance, silent.

For no apparent reason, a line from a song flashed through Xu Qi'an's mind:

"I'm crying alone. Nobody cares anyway. Maybe letting all the tears out will make me feel better."

He slowly approached and sighed, "Ah, I really envy you; you always manage to maintain harmonious relationships with women."

Li Lingsu slowly turned her head, forcing an awkward smile, "Senior, did you often make fun of me before?"

"How could that be?" Xu Qi'an shook his head.

Just as Li Lingsu was feeling a little better, Xu Qi'an added, "I've never taken your level seriously."

"Go to hell, you scum!" Li Lingsu's face stiffened. He took a deep breath and asked the question that had been bothering him:

"What is Madam Xu's true identity?"

He couldn't believe that such a stunning beauty would remain unknown.

Xu Qi'an asked bluntly, "Have you heard of the most beautiful woman in the Great Feng Dynasty?"

Li Lingsu shuddered, her face paling slightly. "She... could it be her?"

"That's her," Xu Qi'an replied affirmatively.

Li Lingsu swayed, feeling as if the world was gray and white, devoid of any color.

Luo Yuheng belongs to Xu Qian, and so does the most beautiful woman in the Great Feng Dynasty. Is there any point in going to the capital?

It's better to avoid such places that cause heartache!

She is clearly a princess, a married woman. I will drown you two in a pig cage! No, I will drown you in a pig cage! Li Lingsu was extremely jealous. The most charming woman in the world is Xu Qian's confidante, and the most beautiful woman in Great Feng is Xu Qian's wife.

Why keep this kind of man around for the spring festival if we don't kill him?

After a while, he forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, "What Madam Xu said before... that you have many similar female confidantes, is that true?"

Xu Qi'an waved his hands repeatedly.

Phew. I knew it! With these two unparalleled beauties, isn't that enough? Besides, they wouldn't allow Xu Qian to philander!

Li Lingsu felt much better.

"There are a few more in the capital, but not as many as you," Xu Qi'an said.

"Go to hell!!" Li Lingsu smirked. "Senior, I... I've suddenly grasped the essence of Supreme Forgetfulness. I... I'll go back to cultivate now."

"Let you show off your superiority, let you be arrogant." Xu Qi'an waved with a smile, "Take care."

After Li Lingsu left, Xu Qi'an let out a breath and waited silently for a quarter of an hour.

Come in!

Luo Yuheng's voice came through.

He immediately entered the tea room and saw Mu Nanzhi sitting at the table, holding the little white fox in her arms. Without even looking at him, she coldly said, "I'm going back to the capital."

The little white fox raised her head in surprise and said in a sweet voice, "Huh? Didn't we say we were going into the tower?"

Mu Nanzhi retaliated by giving it a sharp rap on the head.

The little white fox pressed its two paws to its head and began to sob softly.

Xu Qi'an wanted to say something, but then felt it was best not to provoke her. He sighed, summoned the Floating Pagoda, and took Mu Nanzhi and the little white fox inside.

"How did you convince her?" Xu Qi'an tried his best to appear calm.

"I told her that what happened between us was just a transaction," Luo Yuheng said.

This explanation offered both sides a way out, a delaying tactic. Xu Qi'an whispered, "Just a transaction?"

Luo Yuheng gave him a slight glare.

In an instant, the aloof and elegant fairy seemed to come alive, exuding a captivating charm.

After the troublemaker left, no one bothered them anymore, but because they knew what would happen next, the atmosphere became tense.

Luo Yuheng's expression was indifferent and calm, as if she didn't care about what was about to happen, but her frequent tea drinking revealed that she was not as calm as she appeared.

Xu Qi'an felt as if he had returned to his first love, when he first discussed life with his girlfriend, feeling just as awkward, nervous, and slightly embarrassed.

"That can't be right. I'm an old hand at this. All those courtesans I slept with in the Imperial Academy of Music over the years, were they all for nothing?"

Xu Qi'an took a deep breath and asked, "Is the Karmic Fire tonight?"

Luo Yuheng paused for a moment, then said, "Tonight at midnight!"

Another silence fell.

"Has your cultivation level partially recovered?" Luo Yuheng asked.

"Yes, I pulled out two," Xu Qi'an replied.

Then silence fell.

Time slipped by, the sun set, and the afterglow outside the window resembled blood.

Luo Yuheng suddenly stood up, her skirt fluttering, and said calmly, "There's a pond in the backyard, I'm going to take a bath."

Xu Qi'an swallowed hard. "Okay, okay."

Luo Yuheng glanced at him sideways and left the tea room without any expression.

Xu Qi'an quickly poured himself a cup of tea, but didn't drink it. After the scalding tea cooled down, he silently got up, left the tea room, and headed towards the backyard.

The goal was clear: to go to the hot springs and request to bathe with the Imperial Advisor.

After walking through corridors and courtyards for about fifteen minutes, steam swirled ahead, resembling a thick fog.

Xu Qi'an plunged inside, but after only a few steps, the view suddenly opened up before him, only to find himself back outside.

She even set up a maze. Honestly, we're going to be practicing dual cultivation soon, what's a bath compared to that? He muttered to himself, then tactfully left and instructed the maids at Qingxing Garden to prepare hot water.

By the time he finished his bath, it was already dark.

Luo Yuheng had just finished bathing. She was clearly preoccupied and forgot to use Law Technique to dry herself off. Her hair was still wet and disheveled, and her face was flushed from the steam of the hot spring.

She possesses an undeniable charm.

"I need a quiet place to meditate, please don't disturb me."

She didn't look at Xu Qi'an. After speaking, she went into the bedroom, leaving him alone in the outer room.

Her steps were hurried, as if she didn't want to spend any more time with him.

Was she shy? Surely not. Xu Qi'an subconsciously said "Oh," and watched her leave as the bedroom door closed.

The room was large, divided into an inner bedroom and an outer room. The outer room was where the maids slept, so they could get up at any time during the night to serve the master tea and water, and so on.

Xu Qi'an glanced at the water clock; there were still two hours until midnight, it was still early.

He then began to recount what had happened that day.

"I anticipated that the Buddhist School would deal with me in Yongzhou, but I didn't expect it to be so fast. I had barely arrived in Yongzhou when I was ambushed by Du Nan."

"The teleportation Law Artifact in Du Nan Jingang's hand was made by Warlock, which shows that the Buddhist School did indeed join forces with the Unworthy One, but today only Du Nan Jingang is present, and Xu Pingfeng's subordinates are nowhere to be seen."

"Is the Vajra of Difficulty acting unilaterally, intending to capture me first? Heh, this foolish Vajra has alerted the enemy. However, using the Dragon Qi host to lure me is indeed a difficult open scheme to solve."

Even knowing it's a trap, I have no choice but to jump in. But I can decide how I jump. If it were me as a pure martial artist, I would have to fight head-on.

"But now that I have the Seven Deadly Gu, I have much more room to maneuver."

Time passed slowly as I reflected and pondered, and soon it was midnight.

Just then, Xu Qi'an heard a woman's panting coming from the bedroom, as if she was trying her best to endure something.

Her voice was husky and sweet, making one's heart itch with desire.

Xu Qi'an took a deep breath, got up from the small couch, put on his shoes, and slowly approached the bedroom door.

PS: Requesting monthly votes.