Chapter 257

Chapter 257: Has the senior thought it through?

As Xu Ming and Wu Yanhan were discussing in the courtyard, a female voice came in.

Xu Ming and Wu Yanhan turned to see a woman with a face veil walking into the yard. Compared to usual, today her attire was somewhat different.

She wore a white floor-length gown embroidered with pink patterns on the wide hem, and draped over her arm was a long purple gauze. Her slender waist was tied with a purple jade-encrusted sash.

Her jet-black hair was tied up with a light purple ribbon, a few strands falling over her shoulders, making her delicate skin appear even whiter.

Still unchanged was the light gauze covering her face.

Xu Ming had heard that Wang Xuan actually came from a tribe at the border between the Northern Wilderness and Central Plains. This tribe had a tradition where women would cover their faces with a veil upon turning sixteen.

Only on the day of marriage could the veil be removed. Otherwise, if another man saw her face, either he must die or marry her.

Whether Ren had ever seen Wang Xuan’s face, Xu Ming didn’t know. But Xu Ming knew that all men who had seen Wang Xuan’s face after she turned eighteen were dead—except for women, naturally.

“Met the senior,” Xu Ming stood up and bowed respectfully.

“Wu Kingdom’s Wu Yanhan, met the senior.” Wu Yanhan, dressed in a long dress, bowed gracefully, her posture elegant.

Xu Ming always felt that Wu Yanhan had two personas. When she wore martial artist attire and armor, she gave off a heroic and efficient vibe, like an untamed wild horse. But when she wore a long dress, you wouldn’t imagine this gentle woman to be a martial artist; she seemed more like a well-bred lady managing household affairs.

Wang Xuan glanced at Wu Yanhan, “I’ve long heard of the princess’s great name. Today I see her, indeed extraordinary. The princess not only has outstanding beauty but is also a rare Martial God Body in thousands of years. It’s truly a blessing for the Wu Kingdom to have the princess.”

Wu Yanhan said, “The senior flatters me too much.”

Wang Xuan then looked at Xu Ming, “Last night, after I returned to the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers, Qing Wan already told me everything. Today I’m here to discuss matters with you.”

Xu Ming nodded, “Senior, please take a seat.” Since Wang Xuan said she wanted to discuss, it meant the matter was feasible; otherwise, Wang Xuan wouldn’t have come to see him.

Sitting on the stone bench, Wu Yanhan instead boiled water and brewed tea, adding fragrance to the atmosphere as if she were the mistress of the courtyard.

Wang Xuan glanced at Wu Yanhan and signaled Xu Ming.

Xu Ming understood Wang Xuan’s meaning, “Senior, please rest assured. Yanhan and I are close friends willing to die for each other, and regarding the matters of Three Stone Peak and Xia He, I’ve already informed Yanhan.”

“If so, then I’ll cut straight to the point,” Wang Xuan bluntly stated without unnecessary chatter, “Mo Zhu’er wants our Heavenly Profound Gate’s Dragon Vein?”

“Yes.”

Xu Ming didn’t beat around the bush.

“The Black Lotus Sect originally cooperated with Xia He, helping him reach the Ascension Realm, then establishing a sect in the Western Regions, the two sects forming an alliance, we don’t know what they aim to do.

But Mo Zhu’er considers more for herself. As the senior knows, the Black Lotus Sect has ten Holy Sons and Daughters, akin to raising poisonous insects. She can secretly betray the Heavenly Profound Gate, ruining Xia He’s plan, but correspondingly, she wants the Heavenly Profound Gate’s Dragon Vein, using it to gain more capital in the future competition among Holy Sons and Daughters.”

“Indeed.” Wang Xuan nodded, “Otherwise, I’d suspect this Holy Maiden of the Black Lotus Sect has other intentions.”

Xu Ming asked, “What does the senior think?”

“Give her the Dragon Vein.” Wang Xuan decisively answered without hesitation, indicating it was a carefully considered decision.

“Has the senior thought it through?” Wu Yanhan questioned beside them.

Wu Yanhan wasn’t familiar with Wang Xuan’s personality, just feeling that such a big decision made so resolutely by the other party was somewhat unexpected.

If it were her, she would definitely need more time to consider.

“This matter doesn’t require deliberation.”

Wang Xuan sat upright, her long gown tightly hugging her graceful figure.

“If it weren’t for you telling me these things, I wouldn’t even know about them, fearing that the entire Heavenly Profound Gate might be gone. Now, thanks to you, there’s still a chance to save it.

Moreover, even if the Heavenly Profound Gate loses its ten-thousand-year-old Dragon Vein, so what? As long as the disciples of the Heavenly Profound Gate remain, isn’t everywhere still the Heavenly Profound Gate?

Rebuilding a sect is no small feat.

Are the disciples of my Heavenly Profound Gate the kind who cling to ancestral legacies, afraid to expand territories?”

“The elder’s words are truly enlightening to us juniors,” Xu Ming sincerely said.

Building a sect was no easy task, let alone one whose fortune had nurtured the land for tens of thousands of years, equivalent to commoners owning a mountain of gold left by ancestors.

But Elder Wang Xuan could decisively abandon this mountain of gold, carrying her disciples to start anew in the cultivation world. Such decisiveness was something Xu Ming himself found difficult to achieve.

Wang Xuan paid no heed to Xu Ming’s praise, as if she hadn’t even heard it: “However, now I can only confirm that the ten elders aren’t under Xia He’s control. I can’t guarantee the others, nor can I gamble on it.

I wonder what plans the Holy Maiden of the Black Lotus Sect has.”

“I have no grand schemes, just a simple plan.” Another cheerful female voice sounded.

Mo Zhu’er, dressed in black, gracefully walked in. “Xu sir here sure is lively.”

Mo Zhu’er approached and bowed, “Zhu’er meets the senior.”

Mo Zhu’er glanced at Wu Yanhan, “Oh, isn’t this the princess of the Wu Kingdom? It’s been quite a while since we last met, princess.”

Wu Yanhan narrowed her eyes and unhappily replied, “It hasn’t been that long, merely a few days.”

“Since you’re here, let’s discuss then.” Wang Xuan flicked her fingers toward the four directions of the courtyard, setting up an array to block mental probing.

Previously, Xu Ming wasn’t without activating such an array.

But clearly, compared to Wang Xuan and Mo Zhu’er, the strength of this array was insufficient.

“Miss Mo, you may explain what kind of agreement my junior brother reached with the Black Lotus Sect.” Wang Xuan spoke, “Does Miss Mo have a detailed plan in mind?”

“Naturally.” Mo Zhu’er smirked, “But before that, I must show you something.”

With that, Mo Zhu’er took out a box from her storage pouch. Upon opening it, inside was a beating heart.