By openly pulling Shui Die Lan aside to “whisper,” he actually made things seem more natural. As a matter of fact, that was exactly what Madam Yan wanted.
“I’m going to work on restoring the Blood God Child. Keep an eye on things for .”
“Oh? So you’ve made up your mind?” Shui Die Lan whispered back.
“Not really,” Li Xun admitted honestly. “But I’ve got to grab the chance while it’s there. It’s not like you can just decide to restore the Blood God Child anyti you want; you know how complicated my situation is.”
She gave Li Xun a sideways glance; her eyes went cold and dangerous. “Listen, if anything happens to you, I swear I’ll co after you even as a ghost.”
She said it with absolute confidence, but if you listened closely, there was sothing a little off about the tone.
Of course, neither of them were ordinary people. Even if they sensed sothing off, they wouldn’t show it. Li Xun just gave a crooked grin. “I’ll do my best…” he said. “Oh, right, head to Chong Mountain.”
Shui Die Lan shot him a glare, then slipped right back into her usual proud attitude. She turned to Madam Yan and said, “I hear there are a few spirit veins around Chong Mountain, and the view’s not bad either. Think I’ll take a stroll out that way.”
Chong Mountain... that cursed stretch of ground the Shadow-Devouring Soul Sect and the Underworld Monarch Sect had fought over more tis than anyone cared to count. Then ca the “Western Alliance,” and the Shadow-Devouring Soul Sect lot had to let go of what was already in their jaws.
Naturally, Shui Die Lan’s words hinted at more than sightseeing. No one actually expected her to reclaim the territory, but if she managed to take out a few important enemy cultivators, it would be enough to prove her loyalty. That way, “Madam Li” would have earned her place as a guest elder of the sect. Fair and square.
Madam Yan gave Li Xun a small nod, clearly pleased with how well his persuasion had worked. While Shui Die Lan’s head was turned, Li Xun pressed his right hand into his left and then flicked them apart. It was a silent warning. And it ant: “This one’s tricky. Be careful.”
With that, Madam Yan had even less reason to be suspicious. She smiled gracefully and said to Shui Die Lan, “Since you wish to go, we won’t stand in your way. But since you’ve co from so far, why not rest here a few days before deciding your next move?”
She called over Yan Cai’er and added, “This girl is usually quite clever. If you don’t mind, she can attend to you for the next few days. She’s at least good for running small errands.”
Yan Cai’er lowered her head obediently, all ekness and manners. And Li Xun, knowing her real temperant all too well, couldn’t help but laugh to himself.
Still, Madam Yan had certainly gone to so lengths. Imagine, a proud disciple from a great sect clan reduced to serving as soone’s maid... hmm, could it be that Shui Die Lan had shown her a glimpse of her skills just now?
While Li Xun was turning this over in his mind, Shui Die Lan graciously accepted the favor, though she made sure to lower her airs a little, showing she did appreciate the gesture.
The mood among them grew even more pleasant after that. Madam Yan smoothly shifted the conversation toward lighthearted stories and gossip, and soon everyone was chatting and strolling about in easy laughter.
After roughly an hour, Madam Yan excused herself on the polite pretext of not wanting to disturb “Madam Li’s” rest. The gathering ended on a warm note. Just as Li Xun was wondering whom he ought to join next, he caught Madam Yan giving him a subtle look. He thought for a mont, then called out a quick goodbye to Shui Die Lan and made a stylish exit.
He strolled out, not in a rush. Sothing flicked at the corner of his eye. Lifting his head, he saw Madam Yan stepping out from a side corridor, a small, charming smile on her lips.
If you looked at her, you’d never guess the cunning buried beneath that calm, gentle beauty. Li Xun couldn’t help recalling the Underworld Fla Yama’s words, but his face betrayed nothing. He simply nodded. “Madam Yan, sothing you need?”
“Since you’ve co back,” she said, “we haven’t really had a proper talk… what, can’t I co find you without a reason?”
Li Xun chuckled. “How could that be? Your care and concern, Madam, this disciple has never forgotten.”
The words were a bit slick, but coming from Li Xun with that easy smile, it fit perfectly with the way the two of them usually interacted. Madam Yan didn’t seem the least bit annoyed. She gave him a sidelong glance, then turned to walk alongside him.
Along the way, they passed a few sect disciples. Seeing the two so casually chatting, with hardly any formality between them, no one looked surprised anymore... though what rumors might be spreading behind their backs? That was your guess.
Their talk started out light and idle, but soon drifted toward more serious matters.
As expected, Madam Yan’s real concern was still the internal affairs of the sect. Most of her words revolved around her dissatisfaction with the many sches of Lord Bishui.
In terms of strength, both sides had elder backing, and their own cultivation level was roughly equal. The only real difference ca down to the disciples under them.
Madam Yan had always been known for her strict standards when it ca to taking disciples. Except for Li Xun, all her disciples were won. Their cultivation wasn’t bad, but when it ca to certain matters, they clearly lacked the boldness and ruthlessness of Lord Bishui’s followers. And had suffered plenty of quiet losses because of it.
“You’ve spent years out there honing your skills, and that’s fine,” Madam Yan said. “But lately things have been changing fast. You’d better stay within the sect’s territory for now. If anything happens, at least we’ll have ti to react... ah, those few disciples of mine, they’re usually thoughtful enough, but when it really counts, none of them can be relied on.”
Li Xun wasn’t entirely sure what she was getting at.
He'd already made it clear he planned to stay within the sect, so why was she still emphasizing how important that was?
Still, her rather exaggerated complaints made Li Xun chuckle. “Surely you’re joking, Madam. Senior Sisters Hu and Ru are both more than capable; there are few in the entire sect who can match them.”
He was referring to Madam Yan’s two most accomplished disciples, Yan Hu and Yan Ru.
Both ca from distinguished clans. They usually kept a low profile, but their cultivation ran deep. Compared with them, Yan Cai’er, though clearly more favored, was worlds apart in skill and technique. Hu and Ru were, without question, Madam Yan’s most promising successors.
Madam Yan only shook her head. “Hu and Ru do their work by the book. Steady enough, but never daring. When they do show so edge, they can’t rein it in. How could they compare to you, who acts with perfect control?”
No matter how thick-skinned Li Xun was, such direct praise still made him a little embarrassed. He laughed it off. “Madam flatters . Maybe it’s just that being the only man among your disciples makes stand out a bit.”
“Perhaps.” Madam Yan smiled. “Ever since I took you as my disciple, the gossip hasn’t stopped for a single day. But over the years, everything you’ve done has outshone the rest. And those who used to wag their tongues... tell , haven’t they all ended up slapping their own faces? I must say, I’ve gotten quite a bit of satisfaction out of it.”
“It’s only because of your good teaching, Madam.”
Li Xun ant to say a few more polite words, but his throat suddenly went dry. A faint, warm fragrance brushed across his forehead. A slender, pale finger brushed aside a stray lock of hair at his temple, tucking it neatly behind his ear.
Madam Yan calmly withdrew her hand, speaking as if nothing had happened. “I know I deserve a bit of credit for what you’ve achieved. And you, more than anyone, should know your own abilities. So why put on such an expression… hmm? What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing.” Li Xun averted his gaze.
In a corner Lady Yan couldn’t see, Li Xun found his eyes warming. Not from sentint. But form the sharp, instinctive reaction sparked by the subtle allure of a mature woman.
If it had been Ming Ji standing before him, he would've felt ashad of his reaction. But now… deep down, all he felt was a rush of… excitent.
The two of them played out the part of benevolent master and devoted disciple. At the sa ti, a wordless ssage slipped straight into Li Xun’s heart, carried on the quiet weight of that gesture.
He took it as a kind of hint. One whose ultimate aning was clear enough, though the way it was delivered was... questionable.
Was it kindness? Or was it desire?
Until he figured that out, Li Xun stayed calm. “I can’t help wondering,” he said, “Lord Bishui is still under suspicion of colluding with outsiders. So why has he been acting so brazenly lately? Hasn’t the Sect Master co up with a way to deal with it?”
“A way?” Madam Yan repeated, tracing a finger through her hair, it was the sa one she’d just used to brush aside Li Xun’s stray locks. The move was graceful, almost tender, but her voice dripped with irony. “In matters like this, until the mont the dagger is drawn from the map, what can anyone do? Even if the evidence is undeniable, what difference would it make? Besides…”
She paused, as if carefully choosing her words.
Li Xun blinked, surprised. She went on, slowly: “Besides, the sect is surrounded by enemies on all sides. If soone truly managed to bring in powerful allies, I imagine our Sect Master would be thrilled.”
Hardly, Li Xun thought, recalling the one ti the Underworld Fla Yama had truly lost his temper. He sighed to himself.
By now, he was almost certain that Lord Bishui wasn’t the only one in the sect consorting with outsiders.
He was still chewing on that thought when Madam Yan said, “Speaking of that, it reminds ... lately you seem to be surrounded by quite a few beautiful friends, haven’t you? Rumor has it you’ve gotten close not only to that deadly beauty Shui Die Lan, but even to the elusive Yin Wanderer who hasn’t shown her face in ages. And now there’s this Madam Li… tsk, tsk.”
There was a teasing lilt in her voice. Li Xun caught it, turned the thought over in his mind, and let out a quiet sigh.
“‘Friends,’ you say? Beauties, sure, but tell , Madam, do any of them look like they’ve got the least bit of friendship in mind”
He paused, then went on, “You should know, when I was speaking with Senior Sister Cai’er in the southeastern forest, that killer Shui Die Lan was lurking not far off, her eyes fixed on my head. One wrong move, and I’d never have had the pleasure of seeing you again, Madam.”
His words sounded half like a complaint, half like a clever way to patch up the flaw of having hidden his past with Shui Die Lan. Whether Madam Yan believed him or not, that was another matter entirely.
Still, she seed quite willing to play along. “So Shui Die Lan thinks our sect is easy to bully?” she said, her eyes sharpening. “If I ever get the chance, I’ll make sure she pays for it!”
Well, sending your own disciple off as her servant, that is quite a way to “make her pay,” isn't it? Li Xun smiled and gave a small bow, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Madam Yan realized she’d laid it on a bit too thick. But being the seasoned scher she was, she quickly smoothed her expression and said casually, “I’ll make a note about Shui Die Lan. Now, what about Yin Wanderer?”
“She and I… actually have so acquaintance,” Li Xun lied without missing a beat. “Before I joined the sect, I helped her with a few matters; earned a couple of favors, you could say. But she’s the lofty, unpredictable sort. I never dared get too close. We just ran into each other by chance recently, and she dragged into sothing again, that’s all.”
“Oh?” Madam Yan raised her brows slightly. “To have any sort of connection with her is no small thing. After all, Yin Chonghua is a grandmaster in her own right. If she’s dealt with you several tis, she must think quite highly of you.”
She gave a knowing smile. “No wonder, when you pulled off those outrageous things, I thought I saw a trace of Yin–Yang Sect technique in them. I suppose she must have taught you a few tricks, hmm?”
Her eyes flickered with a captivating glint.
Li Xun felt a stir in his chest. “Nothing but surface-level,” he murmured.
Madam Yan laughed, then pressed her hands together and sighed, “What a pity.”
“Uh?”
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