A Proposal to Seal the Mountain, Sisters Bathe Together

"Invitation?"

Li Hongxiu was slightly taken aback, and exchanged a glance with Li Qingyue, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes.

The Love Palace, as one of the eight sacred sites, has always been detached from worldly affairs and indifferent to worldly matters.

But ever since those "Dao-Grade phenomena" appeared one after another, the entire Immortal-Abandoned Continent has been in turmoil, with storm brewing.

Although the Love Palace has a deep foundation, it cannot completely remain uninvolved.

"Let's go," Li Qingyue sighed softly. "Since they've come knocking on our door, ignoring them would only make us a laughingstock."

The Love Palace, the main hall for welcoming guests.

A handsome young man dressed in the attire of the young master of Storm Mountain, with a somewhat frivolous air about him, stood with his hands behind his back, arrogantly surveying his surroundings.

The moment he saw Li Hongxiu and Li Qingyue arriving together, his eyes lit up!

[What a nice view!]

[Is this... the legendary Twin Beauties of the Love Palace?!]

A flicker of undisguised amazement and... greed flashed in his eyes!

"I am Feng Wuhen, and I greet you two fairies!" He cupped his hands in a gesture of feigned elegance, his face plastered with what he thought was a charming smile. "You two fairies truly live up to your reputation. Meeting you today, I am truly... astounded by your beauty!"

Li Qingyue nodded slightly, her tone neither humble nor arrogant. "Young Master Feng is too kind. May I ask what brings you here?"

"Hehe, it's nothing serious." Feng Wuhen took out a gold-embossed invitation from his robes and handed it over. "My father will soon be holding an alliance ceremony with the Purple Thunder Sect, and he has specially ordered me to come and invite the fairies of the Love Palace to attend the ceremony."

"Thank you for your trouble, Young Master Feng." Li Qingyue accepted the invitation. "I will pass it on to the Palace Master."

"That's good, that's good." Feng Wuhen smiled, but his gaze never left Li Hongxiu's face.

He asked casually, "This... must be Fairy Hongxiu, right? I've heard that you possess unparalleled talent and are a rare ' Body of Love's Sin,' and seeing you today, you are indeed Bufan!"

Li Hongxiu frowned slightly; she disliked the feeling of being scrutinized like prey.

But Li Qingyue secretly tugged at her sleeve, signaling her not to be impolite.

Left with no other choice, Li Hongxiu could only suppress her discomfort and bow slightly, saying, "Young Master Feng, you flatter me."

"Haha! Fairy is too modest!" Seeing this, Feng Wuhen became even more excited. He puffed out his chest and said proudly, "I am not very talented. Although I am not as good as Fairy, I still have some minor cultivation. Now, I am already... at the Early Nascent Soul!"

"Nascent Soul?!"

Upon hearing this, Li Hongxiu was slightly startled.

[He looks so young, yet he's already broken through to the Nascent Soul realm?!]

[Is this... the true prodigy of the Holy Land?]

Seeing Li Hongxiu's surprised expression, Feng Wuhen felt extremely satisfied.

[Hmph! My talent is beyond your comprehension!]

Having achieved his goal, he didn't press the matter further, waving his hand dismissively. "Alright, now that the invitations have been delivered, I won't bother you any longer. I will certainly be at Storm Mountain, awaiting the arrival of the two fairies, and will give them a proper... hospitality!"

After saying that, he gave Li Hongxiu a meaningful look, turned around and transformed into a streak of light, disappearing into the horizon.

Looking in the direction Feng Wuhen had left, Li Hongxiu let out a long sigh.

"Qingyue, I... I really don't want to get involved in these things."

"Sister," Li Qingyue looked at her, a hint of heartache and helplessness flashing in her eyes, "Being caught in this situation, it's no longer a question of whether we... want to or not."

Just then!

"Buzz--!"

A vast, ocean-like, yet subtly terrifying aura slowly emanated from the depths of the main hall!

"Greetings, Palace Master!"

All the disciples in the hall knelt down in unison and bowed respectfully.

Li Hongxiu and Li Qingyue also quickly turned around and bowed slightly to the graceful figure that emerged from the Xukong.

"Greetings... Palace Master."

Although the beautiful woman in front of them, who looked to be no more than thirty years old, was their biological mother.

However, in such formal settings, they can still only be addressed as "Palace Mistress".

"That brat from the Feng family, he's gone?" Li Hanyi, the Palace Master of the Love Palace, looked at the two of them and asked calmly.

"Yes." Li Qingyue stepped forward and presented the invitation with both hands. "This is... an invitation from Storm Mountain."

"Go."

Li Hanyi accepted the invitation, glanced at it briefly, and then made her decision.

"Palace Master!" Li Hongxiu couldn't help but question, "Storm Mountain's actions are clearly hostile! If we go, wouldn't we be..."

"Hongxiu!" Li Qingyue quickly tugged at her sleeve, signaling her not to act impulsively.

"I know," Li Hanyi waved her hand, interrupting her, "But the situation is currently turbulent, and my Love Palace has always been weak and isolated. If we openly refuse now, it will only bring unnecessary trouble to the sect."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over everyone present, her voice carrying an undeniable resolve.

"Following this ceremony, my Love Palace... will officially close its gates!"

"What?!"

"Close the mountain gate?!"

These words shocked the entire audience!

Although Li Qingyue had anticipated this, when the day actually arrived, her heart was still filled with shock and unease.

Li Hongxiu was struck dumb, her pretty face turning as pale as paper!

[Mountain closed...]

[If the mountain gates are truly closed, wouldn't that mean... I'll be cut off from the world from now on?]

[Then, does that mean he and I... will never see each other again?!]

"Palace Master!" she asked urgently, "If the mountain is sealed off... may this disciple apply to go out for training?"

"No." Li Hanyi's reply was cold and ruthless. "During the sect's closure, no disciple is allowed to leave the sect!"

"This..."

Li Hongxiu was utterly desperate!

She stood there, stunned, feeling as if the whole world had collapsed in that instant.

"Hongxiu..." Li Qingyue felt a pang of pain in her heart as she looked at her sister's distraught appearance. She wanted to comfort her, but didn't know how to begin.

"Alright." Li Hanyi didn't give her a chance to speak again. "Go and prepare. Tomorrow morning, you will come with me to Storm Mountain."

With that, she vanished from the spot in a flash.

Li Hongxiu returned to her palace, dejected and heartbroken.

She mechanically removed her clothes and slowly stepped into the spirit pool crafted from ten-thousand-year-old warm jade.

The warm pool water enveloped her fair and delicate body, and amidst the rising steam, her graceful curves were faintly visible, breathtakingly beautiful.

But at this moment, all she felt was endless coldness and despair.

[Could it be...?]

Am I really destined to grow old alone in this deep palace?

[Dongfang Ri...]

[Are we... really separated by fate?]

Two lines of clear tears slid down her cheeks and dripped into the pool water, creating ripples.

Just then, a light footstep sound came from behind.

Li Hongxiu didn't turn around; she knew who it was.

"Elder sister..."

Li Qingyue's voice sounded behind her.

Immediately afterwards, a rustling sound of clothes being undressed could be heard.

A moment later, an equally flawless body slowly slid into the water and came to her side.

The two sisters stood side by side.

It was a breathtakingly beautiful painting, enough to drive any man in the world mad.

"Sister, don't be sad." Li Qingyue gently hugged her and said softly, "No matter what happens, I will always be by your side."

"Qingyue..."

Li Hongxiu turned around and looked into her sister's sincere eyes, a warm feeling welling up in her heart.

She hugged her sister tightly, buried her head in her shoulder, and choked out, "Thank you... Qingyue."

We... will never be apart.

"Yes! We'll never be apart!"

Li Qingyue gently patted her sister's back, a satisfied smile flashing in her eyes.

But the next moment, a somewhat "absurd" thought suddenly popped into her mind.

[If... if my sister really finds that Dongfang Ri and wants to be with him...]

[We said we wouldn't separate... So, should I... stay with him too?]

Thinking of this, her cheeks flushed slightly.

[Oh dear! What am I thinking!]

That Dongfang Ri... might not even be alive!