“Xiao Mo, what do you think? How would it be if I betrothed Xiangniang to you?”
Grand Elder Tushan Meng looked at Xiao Mo with a smile, her eyes filled with appreciation for him.
Her expression made it seem as if she truly only wanted to find Xiao Mo a wife, with no other meaning visible behind it.
But Xiao Mo did not think so in his heart.
As for what this Grand Elder was thinking, Xiao Mo felt he could still guess some of it.
However, the moment the Grand Elder’s words fell, Tushan Jingci’s heart suddenly jolted. She could not help shifting half a step forward.
Xiao Mo marrying another woman?
How could that be possible?
She would never allow it!
But just as she was about to speak, Xiao Mo had already stepped ahead of her, bowed, and said,
“Many thanks for the Grand Elder’s kindness. However, Grand Elder, I have always been used to a leisurely, unrestrained life, and I truly have never thought about taking a wife. I did indeed have a pleasant conversation with Xiangniang on the flying boat, but it was no more than a nodding acquaintance. It would truly be improper for me to delay her.”
“Hahaha... Who says a nodding acquaintance cannot turn into the affection between husband and wife? Feelings are something that must be slowly cultivated.”
Tushan Meng thought for a moment, then continued in an unhurried tone.
“However, since you currently have no intention toward Xiangniang, it would naturally be improper for me to force you. How about this, then? First let Xiangniang serve you in daily life for a period of time. If feelings truly cannot develop, we can speak of it again later.”
Xiao Mo still wanted to decline, but Tushan Meng interrupted him.
“Xiao Mo, if you refuse again, then you will be slighting me.”
“Besides, Xiangniang serving you is something she herself is willing to do. On the flying boat, she sent a message back to the Tushan clan and said she had already admired you deeply for some time.”
“And she is a pure, unmarried young woman. You are not losing out, are you?”
“Enough. This matter is settled.”
Tushan Meng swept her gaze over the two of them again, her tone softening slightly.
“The journey has been tiring. Xiao Mo, go rest properly for now. In a little while, someone will naturally lead you to your courtyard.”
“As for you, Jingci, stay behind for now. Later, I will take you to Moon-Gazing Mountain. These next few days, you will receive the baptism of our Moon God Tree there. I expect you know of the Moon God Tree as well. Only we of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox clan can receive the divine tree’s gift. It will be of great benefit to your future cultivation.”
“Yes, Grand Elder.” Tushan Jingci bit her lower lip lightly and nodded in answer.
“Then, Grand Elder, Young Lady, I will take my leave.”
Xiao Mo bowed to each of them, then turned and withdrew.
And the moment Xiao Mo had just stepped through the doors of the great hall, he saw a woman in a pale-red dress leaning beside the entrance.
Her arms were crossed before her chest, and she was looking at Xiao Mo with a smile that was not quite a smile.
Beneath the long dress, her snow-white legs appeared and vanished in the slit of the skirt, carrying a faintly enticing charm.
The strapless court-style top on her upper body looked as though it might fail at any moment to contain that full, snow-white softness.
It seemed that if she walked just a few steps more quickly, that tempting scenery would be laid bare before Xiao Mo without the slightest concealment.
“I will lead Young Master Xiao to the courtyard. May I trouble Young Master Xiao to follow me?” Xiangniang smiled gently, then turned around, swaying her slender waist as she flew down the mountain.
About the time it took to burn a stick of incense later, Xiao Mo followed Xiangniang to the entrance of a small alley.
“Oh? Xiangniang brought a man home?”
“And he’s a human?”
“This human pretty boy really is handsome.”
“Look at that bearing. Is he a scholar? I like scholars the best.”
“Scholar, my ass. With that resonance around him, he’s obviously a Daoist, all right?”
“And he is still untouched.”
“e here, little brother. Look at Sister... Sister has missed you to death.”
“Little brother may not be little.”
Inside the alley, one woman after another saw Xiangniang bringing a man back and came to stand at their own courtyard gates, menting on him from head to toe.
Some women even made no attempt to avoid impropriety, slightly tugging open their collars or lifting the hems of their skirts, deliberately giving Xiao Mo an eyeful.
Xiao Mo calmly studied the residents living in this small alley. There was no lust in his eyes.
However, he discovered that all of them were women, without a single male among them, and all were fox demons.
It could be said that aside from Nine-Tailed Heavenly Foxes, foxes of every color were here.
“Enough, enough. You shameless things, stop going into heat here! This man is mine. If anyone dares fight me for him, I will tear both her mouths apart!” Xiangniang looked at these women vigilantly, in the posture of someone guarding food.
“Oh my, I’m so frightened.” A pink fox patted her chest, which was larger than a watermelon, and said sweetly, “Little brother, let me tell you, Xiangniang’s skills definitely aren’t as good as anyone else’s. I live right here. If you want it, you can e find me anytime.”
“Pah! Shameless thing. Even sluttier than me!” Xiangniang spat at the other woman, gave a snort, and hurried toward her own home.
Before long, Xiao Mo was led by Xiangniang into a courtyard.
The courtyard was not much different from an ordinary household’s residence.
There was one front courtyard, three rooms, and a kitchen.
However, some spirit flowers and spirit herbs had been planted in the courtyard, along with a peach tree. It was quiet and rather elegant.
After closing the door, Xiangniang bowed to Xiao Mo. The shrewish manner she had shown while cursing at the women in the alley was pletely gone. Instead, she seemed gentle, obedient, soft, and alluring.
“Young Master Xiao, this is the courtyard where I live. From now on, you will stay here. I will live next door to you. If you need anything, you only have to e find me.”
As she spoke, Xiangniang stepped forward. Her small hand gently covered Xiao Mo’s chest, and her voice became low and soft, her words damp with implication.
“Whether it is day or night, either is fine.”
Xiao Mo took a step back, smiled faintly, and said courteously, “I fear it would be inconvenient for me to live here. I am only afraid I would damage your good name.”
“Hehehehe...” Hearing Xiao Mo’s words, Xiangniang covered her small mouth and laughed softly. “Is Young Master afraid of ruining my good name, or is Young Master afraid I will ruin yours?”
Her eyes rippled, and her tone became even softer. “Young Master, do not overthink it. You should simply settle here. In fact, you can only stay here. This is the Grand Elder’s intention. Besides... if Young Master is willing, then here, Young Master could experience bliss beyond pare.”
After saying this, Xiangniang waved the scented handkerchief in her hand, swayed her waist, and turned away.
Xiao Mo watched her departing back, could not help shaking his head, then turned and walked back into the room, closing his eyes in meditation.
At noon, Xiangniang called Xiao Mo from outside the courtyard to eat.
Xiao Mo did not decline, and ate lunch with Xiangniang.
The lunch on the table was fairly normal.
Only, Xiangniang had changed clothes.
In the courtyard, she was dressed with exceptional coolness. The hem of her skirt only just covered the tops of her thighs, and over her upper body she wore an outer layer as thin and light as smoke.
Beneath the outer layer was a peony-embroidered bellyband. The bright floral colors made her skin look even fairer.
Because Xiangniang’s figure truly was extremely outstanding, the peonies embroidered on the bellyband seemed almost to have e alive, especially eye-catching.
Even while eating, Xiangniang would occasionally stretch out one long leg, point her ankle, and try to secretly tease Xiao Mo beneath the table.
But Xiao Mo quietly avoided her every time, provoking a few coquettish huffs from Xiangniang.
That night, when Xiao Mo was drawing water in the courtyard kitchen to bathe, Xiangniang tried to go in and help scrub his back. But because Xiao Mo had arranged a spell formation ahead of time, she could not step even half a pace inside.
When Xiao Mo finished bathing and returned to his room, he saw that Xiangniang had already stripped out of her dress and was lying under his quilt, warming his bed for him.
“Young Master, I’m so cold. Hurry and e warm me up.” Xiangniang sat up, clutching the quilt to her chest and exposing a half-glimpse of snow-white skin as she beckoned to Xiao Mo.
“I do not need anyone to warm my bed. And if you have nothing else to do, please return first,” Xiao Mo said calmly.
“And if I refuse to go back?” Xiangniang blinked, her expression filled with the mood of spring.
“No matter. I can rest in the courtyard as well.”
Xiao Mo withdrew from the room and even thoughtfully closed the door behind him.
“Eh? Young Master Xiao! Xiao Mo!”
“I’m already stripped bare, and you still leave? Are you even a man? Are you incapable? Or could it be that you do not like women?”
Seeing Xiao Mo leave so decisively, Xiangniang shouted angrily from inside the room.
Xiao Mo simply pretended not to hear and sat down in the courtyard to cultivate by himself.
Late into the night, Xiangniang saw that Xiao Mo still refused to return to the room. Knowing that he had made up his mind, she could only go back to her own room to sleep.
Early the next morning, Xiangniang pushed open the door just in time to see Xiao Mo putting on his clothes. She could not help glancing downward.
Her eyes instantly widened greatly, and she swallowed unconsciously.
She thought, he really is a man...
“Although this is your courtyard, Xiangniang, in the future, when you e in, please knock first.”
Seeing Xiangniang frozen in place, Xiao Mo helplessly waved his hand and shut the door again, then casually set down a spell formation.
...
Over the next six or seven days, Xiangniang constantly changed methods to seduce Xiao Mo.
For example, she went into town to buy certain “shameless” clothes that could only be worn at home.
For example, she deliberately soaked herself in water and walked to Xiao Mo’s side, letting the thin clothing cling tightly to her figure.
And for another example, she stayed alone in the room next door, making sounds like spring had arrived on purpose for Xiao Mo to hear.
But Xiao Mo still remained unmoved.
Xiangniang truly could not understand it.
When she seduced Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo did indeed react.
But the head on his shoulders seemed to remain firmly in mand, keeping him rational at every moment.
Xiangniang even began to doubt her own charm as a woman.
But standing before the mirror, Xiangniang felt that while she could not pare to Young Lady Jingci, she could still be considered very beautiful.
And she had already gone this far. What more did he want?
If it were any other man, she was afraid she would already be carrying little foxes by now.
However, what made Xiangniang feel slightly more balanced was this—
When she was not there, the other foxes in the alley who liked stealing a taste also came running over to seduce Xiao Mo. Sometimes, several came at once.
And Xiao Mo still remained unmoved.
But still...
Xiangniang knew that if this continued, it was no solution.
On the ninth day after they arrived in the alley, Xiao Mo woke and walked out into the courtyard. He discovered that breakfast had been set out in the courtyard, but Xiangniang had long since disappeared.
Xiao Mo sat in the courtyard and ate, knowing perfectly well where Xiangniang had gone.
...
“Xiangniang greets the Grand Elder!”
In the courtyard at the summit of Moon-Gazing Mountain, Xiangniang, who had arrived early, folded her hands before herself and bowed respectfully.
“Rise.” Tushan Meng nodded, poured herself a cup of tea, and spoke at an unhurried pace. “How have matters progressed?”
“Replying to the Grand Elder...” Xiangniang’s eyes shifted left and right as she rapidly organized her words in her heart. “I have already used every method I could, but that Xiao Mo... he... he still remains unmoved...”
“Unmoved?” Tushan Meng raised her head, her gaze falling on Xiangniang’s alluring face. “Did you truly do your best?”
“Elder... I really did do my best. That Xiao Mo is indeed a normal man, but his self-control truly is rare...” Xiangniang’s tone carried a touch of grievance, and tears had already gathered in her eyes.
Back when she had left Tushan to escort Tushan Jingci, Xiangniang had been separately summoned to the courtyard by Tushan Meng and instructed to seduce Xiao Mo.
Tushan Meng had said that as long as Xiangniang could enchant Xiao Mo, she would be allowed to enter Moon-Gazing Peak and receive Tushan’s focused cultivation.
Xiangniang had already been very tempted by this condition.
What was more, after she saw Xiao Mo, she unexpectedly discovered that Xiao Mo truly was good-looking, and that his primal yang remained unspent while his resonance of the Way was deep. If she could dual practice with him, it would absolutely be of great benefit.
But who could have imagined that this Xiao Mo was practically a stone?
She had even used charm arts, yet Xiao Mo, who knew what cultivation method he practiced, had been able to keep his dao heart clear the entire time.
“If you cannot do it, then let someone else,” Tushan Meng said indifferently.
“I can, I can... I can do it...” Xiangniang hurriedly said. She did not want this fat piece of meat that was Xiao Mo to be snatched away by some other fox spirit. “Elder, please give me a little more time. I will definitely not disappoint you!”
“You do not have many days left.” Tushan Meng set down the teacup in her hand. “If there is truly no other way, you may use something stronger. But remember what I told you before.”
“I know, Elder. Everything will be because Xiangniang coveted Young Master Xiao. It will have nothing to do with the Elder, and I will not let Young Lady Jingci know.” Xiangniang answered.
“Good that you know. Go.”
Tushan Meng waved her hand.
“Yes.”
Xiangniang bowed and turned to withdraw.
And just as Xiangniang left, another woman floated lightly to Tushan Meng’s side.
“The human man you arranged for your own daughter truly does have rather good character.” Tushan Meng set down her teacup and turned her head to look at her disciple.
Tushan Xinhua shook her head. “I know Xiao Mo’s character. Otherwise, I would not have kept him by Jingci’s side, and Jingci would not have fallen in love with him.”
“His greatest fortune is that he gained Jingci’s love.” Tushan Meng paused, her tone darkening slightly. “His greatest misfortune is also that he gained Jingci’s love.”
She raised her head, her gaze turning toward the Moon God Tree.
“If he were a little more tactful and found some fox spirit to marry, then in the future, he would be a retainer of my Tushan.”
“But if after Jingci emerges from the Moon God Tree’s baptism, he still remains stubbornly obsessed and refuses to touch any other woman...”
Tushan Meng turned around and looked directly into Tushan Xinhua’s eyes, her gaze deep and cold.
“Xinhua, do not forget—when that time es, you and I can no longer be softhearted.”
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