Jiang Mo was extrely nervous. She never imagined that casually entering a city would lead her straight into a demonic sect's stronghold. She looked anxiously left and right, terrified that Harmony Sect mbers had already spotted her. If flying weren't prohibited in most cultivation world cities, she would have taken to the air and fled imdiately.
Seeing the little tiger about to bristle at her words, Yun Qingyue offered so reassurance: "No need to be so tense. Harmony Sect differs from ordinary sects—they keep their gates open to all visitors. Unless you cause trouble within the city, no one will question your identity." She pointed to the street and continued, "Look, there are many righteous path cultivators among the passersby, and none of them have been harassed."
Hearing this, Jiang Mo looked in the direction Yun Qingyue indicated and indeed saw people of various identities coming and going on the street. There were demonic cultivators, righteous path cultivators, independent practitioners, and sect disciples—all manner of people. Senior Sister was right—regardless of their identity, none of these people were being harassed in the city, and they all maintained a certain unspoken understanding with each other.
At least on the surface, everyone deliberately maintained peace.
Seeing this, Jiang Mo relaxed slightly, finally understanding why Senior Sister hadn't insisted on stopping her earlier. Nevertheless, she hadn't abandoned her plan to leave imdiately. While leading the Swan Goose toward the city gate, she said, "This isn't a place to linger. Let's leave as quickly as possible."
Yun Qingyue didn't object to this. She also wanted Jiang Mo to leave this place quickly, not because she feared Harmony Sect mbers would break their rules for Jiang Mo, but because this place was simply unsuitable for a still-young little tiger. Harmony Sect—just from the na one could tell it wasn't a proper sect. They practiced dual cultivation techniques, and these beautiful people filling the streets weren't idle—they were seeking dual cultivation partners!
Regardless of righteous or demonic path, anyone good-looking with high cultivation would likely be targeted. Don't ask how she knew this—let's just say many years ago in her youth and ignorance, she had visited this place...
Yun Qingyue's expression montarily turned peculiar as she recalled sothing. Fortunately, she no longer needed to control her expressions, as few could discern her emotions anyway.
Jiang Mo walked along the peach blossom-paved street at a brisk pace. The city gate was already in sight when suddenly soone bumped into her. She stood firm, not even swaying from the impact, while the person who bumped into her stumbled and nearly fell.
She instinctively reached out to steady them. The person grabbed her hand and stabilized themselves, then began thanking her while raising their head. Unsurprisingly, this was another beauty, far more stunning than the shopkeeper or tavern owner she had seen earlier. The woman wore a red dress, as gorgeous as fire. She had a face like a lotus and eyebrows like willows, her tender smile outshining the street full of peach blossoms, her beautiful eyes seemingly capable of captivating souls.
Despite having Senior Sister in her heart, Jiang Mo couldn't help but be montarily stunned by such an exquisite face. Then she heard the red-dressed beauty sweetly thanking her: "Thank you for saving , young lady. Otherwise, this humble girl would have surely embarrassed herself."
Her voice was equally pleasing to the ear, which coupled with her already exceptional beauty, stirred one's heart further.
After the initial amazent, Jiang Mo quickly regained her senses, not even waiting for the Swan Goose perched on her shoulder to pinch her as a reminder. She released her hand and stepped back, then glanced at the other person before saying with complete seriousness: "As a cultivator, if you can't even stay steady after bumping into soone while walking, you should return to closed-door cultivation. Before your cultivation bears fruit, it's better not to wander around, lest you truly embarrass yourself by falling."
These words were beyond unromantic. Not only did the red-dressed beauty nearly fail to control the contortion of her expression upon hearing them, even the Swan Goose on Jiang Mo's shoulder had to turn away slightly, barely suppressing the laughter in her eyes.
Having spoken so bluntly, the other person would surely be annoyed. Jiang Mo had no intention of prolonging the interaction and just wanted to leave quickly.
The red-dressed beauty was indeed annoyed, unable to hide the montary anger and contortion on her face. However, she adjusted her emotions surprisingly fast. Before Jiang Mo could walk around her to leave, she plastered on a smile again and said, "Young lady speaks truly—my skills are indeed lacking. But since you've helped
today, I cannot leave without showing my gratitude. Why not let
treat you to a al at the finest restaurant in the city, Tianyuan Residence?"
Though Jiang Mo was fond of good food, she had absolutely no desire to sample Harmony Sect's cuisine. She righteously declined: "That won't be necessary. I've abstained from food for many years. Besides, I have urgent matters to attend to, so please step aside. I must leave the city now."
The street was certainly wide enough, but the other person deliberately blocked Jiang Mo's path of exit.
Cultivators naturally have countless thods to bypass others, but if the other person persisted, physical conflict would be inevitable. Although Jiang Mo didn't know the specific rules of Linglong City, she could tell from the pedestrians' tacit maintenance of peace that causing trouble in the city would certainly bring complications—and complications were exactly what Jiang Mo most wanted to avoid right now.
Furthermore, the red-dressed beauty before her was clearly a mber of Harmony Sect. At this point, Jiang Mo could only hope that the woman didn't recognize her and would retreat after seeing her lack of interest in engaging.
In truth, Harmony Sect mbers typically didn't force themselves on others. They opened their city gates to visitors from all directions for dual cultivation, not forcible absorption. Both parties had to be willing, which is why righteous cultivators wouldn't raise a ruckus over it... Although Harmony Sect was a demonic sect, they held a unique position among the Four Major Demonic Sects as the only one that could interact with righteous path cultivators without imdiate hostilities.
This was the rule Harmony Sect had maintained for thousands of years. Normally, since Jiang Mo had refused, regardless of the other's intentions, they should step aside and let her leave. The red-dressed beauty bit her lip, clearly reluctant, but indeed moved slightly to make way.
Jiang Mo breathed a sigh of relief and quickened her pace to leave.
However, just as they passed each other, Jiang Mo's wide sleeve was suddenly grabbed. Without looking back, she knew who was pulling her sleeve, but she had no desire to acknowledge it and pretended not to notice as she continued forward.
The person grabbing her sleeve didn't let go, and soon a delicate cry ca from behind...
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Jiang Mo had been set up.
She never imagined that she would encounter a scam in the cultivation world that she had never experienced in modern society. And here, without surveillance caras, she couldn't prove her innocence, nor would anyone listen to her explanation.
The mont after the red-dressed beauty fell with a cry, enforcent officers wearing Harmony Sect uniforms suddenly appeared on the previously peaceful street. After glancing at the red-dressed beauty sitting on the ground, they surrounded Jiang Mo without hesitation. The leader, holding a long sword, looked at Jiang Mo and declared, "So it was you who used force in Linglong City to bully our Harmony Sect disciple?!"
Jiang Mo wanted to deny it, but then realized it would be futile—these enforcent officers weren't police and wouldn't handle the case impartially. She had clearly been set up by a Harmony Sect disciple, and these enforcent officers were also from Harmony Sect. There was no reason they wouldn't help their own.
She frowned, deciding not to waste ti arguing. She raised her hand and struck out a palm, pushing back the enforcent disciples as she attempted to leave.
However, Jiang Mo hadn't expected the enforcent team on the main street to have such high cultivation. She had casually struck out without intending to harm anyone, but to her surprise, they managed to block it. Fortunately, the Swan Goose saw the situation deteriorating and promptly released a sheet of ice fla to freeze them, allowing their escape.
Yet in the next mont, an alarm suddenly sounded above Linglong City, and an elderly voice solemnly announced: "Soone is causing trouble. Close the city gates!"
This announcent spread throughout the entire city, startling Jiang Mo. She truly hadn't expected Harmony Sect to react so swiftly and drastically. Seeing the city gate just ahead, she dared not delay and imdiately accelerated to full speed, hoping to leave before the gates closed.
However, Linglong City's gates were rely decorative. This was, after all, Harmony Sect territory—how could a sect's headquarters not have protective arrays? Moreover, because Harmony Sect regularly kept their doors open to welco visitors from all directions, Linglong City's formation arrays were more nurous and powerful than ordinary sects... Jiang Mo reached the city gate in just an instant, but it was already too late—Harmony Sect's protective array had been activated.
"How is this possible?!" When Jiang Mo was repelled by the protective array, she felt it was inconceivable. Even with her limited knowledge, she understood certain cultivation world basics, such as the fact that protective arrays couldn't possibly activate so quickly.
Before she could fully process this, Yun Qingyue had already realized: "This was a trap set in advance."
In fact, less than a quarter-hour had passed since Jiang Mo entered the city. She had only co in to buy a map, yet she'd been targeted so quickly, and their plan had been swiftly executed—just as Yun Qingyue finished speaking, several powerful auras rapidly approached. In the blink of an eye, several uniquely beautiful won surrounded Jiang Mo and Yun Qingyue.
The leader was a woman in palace attire, dignified in bearing and stunningly beautiful. She looked back at the red-dressed beauty still sitting on the ground, then glanced at the enforcent team mbers frozen by ice fla. Dissatisfied, she asked, "What's happening here?"
The red-dressed beauty imdiately stood up, bowed respectfully, and replied, "Reporting to Elder, I accidentally fell, and the enforcent team brothers were alerted to inquire. However, that young lady attacked without distinguishing right from wrong, injuring the enforcent team brothers, which triggered the city gate closure."
Jiang Mo had already noticed that the cultivators surrounding her were all at the Fusion stage—not easily dealt with. She hadn't intended to explain herself, but hearing the red-dressed beauty's words left her dumbfounded—this person was clearly framing her. Now thanks to her clever wording, without telling a single outright lie, she had effortlessly shifted all responsibility onto Jiang Mo. The worst part was, after thinking about it, Jiang Mo realized she couldn't refute it!
Just as she thought this, the palace-attired woman turned to look at her and coldly asked, "Do you have anything to explain?"
Jiang Mo furrowed her brow tightly, montarily speechless. She glanced at the enforcent team mbers still frozen not far away. Yun Qingyue, sensing her thoughts, flapped a wing to unfreeze them. Then Jiang Mo said, "It was rely a misunderstanding. I can offer compensation."
Upon hearing this, the palace-attired woman's expression grew even colder as she indifferently replied, "Our Harmony Sect doesn't lack that bit of compensation."
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