As dusk settled, the Ziyang Mansion was wrapped in a mist, hinting that tonight might just turn out to be a rainy one.
Li Mo had just finalized the timing with the elders; they planned to meet at the Joyful Hotpot Restaurant under the cloak of darkness.
For the finer details, each elder had pitched in with their opinions.
Lord Shangguan suggested everyone come up with a humorous nickname for themselves. It was crucial to have a unified story about the key information regarding the Wanxiang Xianzong to avoid any slip-ups if questioned.
Elder Han He proposed that they smash their cups to signal when to start the action.
Elder Qian thought everyone’s suggestions were splendid but believed it was better to eat first.
Little Li was genuinely pleased after hearing all this.
“The elders are nothing like my master.”
“Is there anyone like her, especially now that the Qingyuan Sect is still around?” sighed Shangguan Wencang, Qian Bufan, and Elder Han He.
Xue Jing wanted to pat Li Mo on the shoulder and say, “Kid, you’ve been through a lot.”
Unexpectedly, Li Mo was taken by emotion too: “Elders, you’ve all grown up.”
“You…”
Xue Jing wanted to smack Li Mo, silencing him right there, but he held back his hand. After all, bruising a bone takes months to heal, and he definitely didn’t want that.
The other elders couldn’t help but twitch their lips.
d*mn it, why can’t we rebut this? Fine, let’s eat first.
Naturally, Little Li had no idea about the behind-the-scenes drama. After he left, Xue Jing suggested replacing the harshest punishment in the Qingyuan Sect, which was once cleaning the Qunyu Peak for two days — a terrifying thought that meant spending time with Shang Wu.
Now that Shang Wu no longer lived at Qunyu Peak, Elder Xue proposed that the punishment instead involve tasting Little Ice Girl’s new dish.
Meanwhile.
Li Mo just stepped out from the main peak, ready to rendezvous with Huang Donglai, who was lurking at the Joyful Hotpot Restaurant.
However, when he reached the waterfall outside Qiushui Pavilion, he found Huang Donglai standing there with a sheepish expression, and lying in front of him was someone familiar… well, to be precise, a mermaid.
Lan Tian, a shapeshifted shark-human, had reverted back to her true form, and she was currently in a faint state, her fish tail twitching.
“Old Huang, I can’t believe you’re this kind of person.”
Li Mo was taken aback.
“Let me explain…” Huang Donglai waved in a panic.
“So you like this kind of…” Li Mo was completely unsurprised that Old Huang would take someone out.
“…which makes it even worse.”
After a moment of silence, Huang Donglai said, “Brother Li, why don’t you wake her up first?”
Li Mo nodded and took out a Purple Spirit Pill.
Turns out, he had sensed someone following him near Qiushui Pavilion and, being as cautious as he was, had acted on it.
Luckily, this was the Qingyuan Sect, and the riffraff here were numerous. He hadn’t needed to take any lives.
Li Mo popped the pill into Lan Tian’s mouth and asked, “You’ve seen Lan Tian around, so how could this misunderstanding happen?”
“I recognized her only after she transformed; at first, I thought she was a beggar tracking me,” Huang Donglai replied awkwardly.
Li Mo opened his mouth, finally recalling what he had forgotten.
But why was Lan Tian following Huang Donglai, of all people?
“Let’s carry her to Qiushui Pavilion first, and we can discuss later,” Huang Donglai said, scanning the area.
Even though this place was remote, the Qingyuan Sect was populous. They could easily attract attention.
Before long.
The two of them carried Lan Tian to Qiushui Pavilion.
Once she was safely placed in a large water vat in the courtyard, Li Mo finally asked:
“What information have you managed to gather?”
“The Huanmo Sect and Lingxi Gate believe the Qingyuan Sect has a treasure from Da Shang, and that treasure is in your hands, Brother Li. So their main target this time is actually you.”
“Why does everyone think that…?”
Li Mo wanted to say how there was no treasure from Da Shang; if anything, it would be the mystic aura that was already with Ying Bing.
But if outsiders thought that, it was a good thing. He wouldn’t have to explain where his wealth came from.
“So how do they plan to deal with me?”
“They said they’d wait to discuss specifics until you showed up, but I do know the attack will happen when you are least prepared.”
“When is that?” Li Mo’s senses heightened.
Huang Donglai said seriously, “When you are in your bridal chamber.”
“…?”
Little Li’s head was suddenly filled with question marks.
Was the engagement ceremony from Nine Heavens and Ten Earths supposed to mean something else entirely?
“Where is the bridal chamber in an engagement?”
“I was just as curious back then, and I even tried to warn them, but that Luo Hall Master from the Huanmo Sect insisted he had been through it firsthand and was absolutely right.”
Huang Donglai sighed, “I feel like he hasn’t.”
“Hmm, I get that feeling too… wait.”
Li Mo thought for a moment, realizing something was wrong, “What about the others? Didn’t two vice-leaders come along? Didn’t they notice this issue?”
“Nope. From what I observed, most members of the Huanmo Sect have never been married and have no intention of doing so; they have no understanding of it, many are still virgins.”
“…..”
It was somewhat reasonable for members of the Huanmo Sect to have a hard time finding partners.
“Yet they can spout nonsense theories like nobody’s business; I gotta wonder if they picked that up from a brothel or something.”
Huang Donglai laughed as he spoke.
“?” Li Mo pointed at himself, “And you’re laughing? You’re no better.”
Huang Donglai: “???”
What’s that got to do with me?
After a pause, Li Mo composed himself, “So they’re supporting Luo Yexian and planning to strike while I’m busy in the bridal chamber? They didn’t even think about the fact that an engagement doesn’t have a bridal chamber night?”
“Exactly, Brother Li, why not grab a last-minute wedding of your own?”
“Sure.” Li Mo nodded.
He was truly determined for this act, it seemed they’d have to hold a performance together.
However, he couldn’t just keep this to himself; he’d have to consult Ying Bing as well.
…..
At the same time.
“Creak creak…”
Xiao Qian had been in closed-door training recently. After losing to Tang Liu earlier, instead of sulking, he realized his shortcomings and decided to search for answers at the Library Pavilion.
He didn’t even have time for a proper meal, only bringing along a piece of dry rice cake.
Now, munching on it while buried in a book, he was thoroughly engrossed.
“Xiao Qian.”
“Huh?”
Xiao Qian was startled, looking up to find an elder from the Library Pavilion frowning at him.
“Elder, what’s the matter?”
“The Library Pavilion requires silence; please finish your food quickly and do not disturb others.”
“Hmm?”
Xiao Qian blinked in surprise and instinctively glanced over at the ‘others’.
And there they were, Ying Bing, along with Qin Yuzhi and Shang Qin Qing, with Ying Bing scribbling something on a scroll while the other two were chatting away.
“Um…” Xiao Qian opened his mouth.
“Yes, they are talking, but discussing martial arts is acceptable.”
The elder’s words hadn’t even finished when the noise from over there carried over.
“Little Ice Girl, do you know what goes on during a bridal chamber night?”
“Little Ice Girl, do you know how babies are made?”
You could tell one was the former leader of the Huanmo Sect, and the other had once been a totem of sorts.
In some ways, those in the Huanmo Sect and Xiao Qian were on the same wavelength.
“…..”
Xiao Qian glanced at the elder from the Library Pavilion.
“What are you staring at? The martial arts book in your hands has commentary written by Little Ice Girl; why can’t she say a few words?”
“Then what about Qin…?”
“She’s an elder; I can’t discipline her. What if she gets me fired?”
