Chapter 824: The Ambition of the Son of Destiny!
"Second Senior Sister? Fifth Junior Sister? Why are you two here?"
Murong Jieyu turned, and a flicker of disbelief crossed her eyes as she saw Liu Ruyan and Zhong Lingyin approaching. The initial shock quickly melted into a pleasant surprise.
"You've been in the mountains collecting herbs for a month without a single word. Lingyin and I were worried sick, so we came deep into the Qinling Mountains to find you." Liu Ruyan's normally charming eyes narrowed with suspicion as she scrutinized Murong Jieyu and, more pointedly, Shen Anyu. Her gaze lingered on his face.
At that moment, Shen Anyu's handsome features were marred by seven or eight faint, but distinct, lipstick smudges.
Zhong Lingyin spotted them instantly as well. Her star-bright eyes narrowed just a fraction, and her steps slowed almost imperceptibly.
A flutter of panic went through Murong Jieyu's heart, and she opened her mouth, ready to offer a forceful, if flimsy, explanation.
But Shen Anyu, as if no one else were present, simply wiped at his face with a casual hand. He offered a placid smile. "I accidentally touched her while helping Third Senior Sister Murong Jieyu detoxify earlier."
'Could you please translate what 'accidentally'means?' Liu Ruyan thought, her temper flaring.'Seven or eight lipstick marks are 'accidental'?'She let out a cold huff, shooting Shen Anyu a glare that was dripping with annoyance.'Does he think the Sword Palace is his personal brothel? Is he planning on not letting a single one of us go?'
Even the perpetually good-tempered Heavenly Queen Zhong, Zhong Lingyin, now regarded Shen Anyu with a hint of resentment clouding her starry eyes.
Of their seven sisters, First Senior Sister, the Female Sword Immortal Pei Changli, was in year-round seclusion in the deepest valley of the Sword Palace. Sixth Junior Sister Lu Chanxi's whereabouts were unknown. But as for the rest—Second Senior Sister Liu Ruyan, Fourth Senior Sister Ye Liyou, and herself, the Fifth, along with Seventh Sister Yang Luoluo—all had intimate, complicated relationships with Shen Anyu. They knew him, inside and out.
And now... was he setting his sights on Third Senior Sister Murong Jieyu as well?
Did he truly intend to conquer the entire Sword Palace?
"You two know each other?" Murong Jieyu asked, sensing the strange undercurrent. Her curious gaze swept back and forth between Shen Anyu, Liu Ruyan, and Zhong Lingyin.
"Of course we know each other, Third Senior Sister!" Zhong Lingyin declared, her eyes sparkling as she decided to drop the bomb. 'Brother Shen is going too far,'she thought.'I have to stop Third Senior Sister from falling into his trap.'"Brother Shen is my husband!"'What? He's actually Lingyin's husband?'Murong Jieyu was startled, and an unexpected pang of disappointment struck her.'No, no, no, why should I be disappointed?' A wave of guilt washed over her, and she found she couldn't quite meet anyone's eyes.
"Shen Anyu is my man, too," Liu Ruyan added, a flicker of amusement in her voice. Her foxy eyes shot Shen Anyu a fierce glare, but it was so clearly feigned anger that it looked more like flirting.
"What?!" Murong Jieyu exclaimed, now utterly stunned.
Second Senior Sister Liu Ruyan and Fifth Junior Sister Zhong Lingyin were both involved with Shen Anyu? And they weren't at each other's throats?
"Brother Shen is a terrible flirt," Zhong Lingyin said, theatrically bringing her hands to her face as if to hide tears. "But since I've already fallen into his clutches, I can only obey." Through the gaps between her fingers, a pair of bright, starry eyes peeked out, looking at Shen Anyu with a mischievous smile that seemed to say, 'Brother Shen, I'm about to ruin your fun.''Fifth Junior Sister, you underestimate me. Third Senior Sister isn't so easily fooled,' Murong Jieyu thought, a little amused despite herself. Was Lingyin trying to warn her away from the fire pit?
Murong Jieyu's beautiful eyes drifted to Shen Anyu's handsome profile. She found herself genuinely curious. What kind of man could make the arrogant Second Senior Sister Liu Ruyan, who had always looked down on all men, and the pure, innocent Fifth Junior Sister Zhong Lingyin both fall for him?
He was undeniably handsome, exceptionally so. And his character... it seemed quite good. He seemed decent enough.
'No, no, no, Murong Jieyu, you can't think like that. Are you really going to fight Second Senior Sister and Fifth Junior Sister for a man?'
She shook her head slightly, sighing inwardly. A trace of regret lingered, but she expertly composed her features, turning to Shen Anyu with a gentle, dignified smile.
"Mr. Shen, thank you so much for helping me with the detoxification this time. I, Murong Jieyu, will definitely repay this kindness in the future."
Her tone was polite and calm, perfectly embodying the grace of a noble young lady. In that moment, Murong Jieyu felt a wave of relief that Liu Ruyan and Zhong Lingyin hadn't arrived a little earlier. If they had witnessed her acting so wantonly, teasing Shen Anyu as the poison coursed through her, her ethereal Goddess Doctor image would have been shattered completely.
Shen Anyu simply smiled, calmly accepting her thanks before speaking. "Let's go. We're heading to Baiwu Mountain Valley."
"Baiwu Mountain Valley?" Murong Jieyu's expression shifted. "Mr. Shen, my enemies are waiting for me there. Tieshan, the head of the Tieshan Martial Arts School, is particularly formidable."
Recalling the palm strike Tieshan had landed on her, Murong Jieyu still felt a phantom ache in her left shoulder. Though the poison was gone, the brutal force of the Black Poison Iron Sand Palm was not so easily dismissed. It would require a long period of recovery.
"No need to worry about any Tieshan," Shen Anyu said with an easy smile.
"But..." Murong Jieyu started to protest, but Shen Anyu just pointed a thumb toward Zhong Lingyin.
"Tieshan has already been killed on the spot by Lingyin."
"How is that possible?" Murong Jieyu's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at her Fifth Junior Sister.
She had always known Zhong Lingyin to dislike martial arts, preferring music and acting. She was, for all intents and purposes, completely defenseless. How could she possibly kill an experienced Martial Dao Grandmaster like Tieshan?
Basking in Murong Jieyu's astonished gaze, Zhong Lingyin felt a surge of delight. Even her resentment toward Shen Anyu and the budding jealousy significantly diminished. A clear, melodious voice spilled from her lips.
"It's all thanks to Brother Shen's excellent training. I'm already at the peak of the Grandmaster realm, and my strength is comparable to a Martial Dao Grandmaster." She beamed, then added another bombshell. "And Second Senior Sister has even broken through to become a Celestial!"
Zhong Lingyin's two sentences struck Murong Jieyu's heart like an earthquake, stirring up monstrous waves of shock.
It had only been half a year since they last met. Fifth Junior Sister Zhong Lingyin had actually become a peak Grandmaster, putting her on the same level as herself, and was even strong enough to kill a Martial Dao Grandmaster?
And Second Senior Sister Liu Ruyan, who was previously only at the peak of the Grandmaster realm, had leaped all the way to become a Celestial—on the same level as their First Senior Sister, Pei Changli?
Had she been in the mountains for a month, or had ten years somehow passed her by?
At the same time, in another part of the Qinling Mountains.
"Hahahaha! Master, I've finally stepped into the Immortal Dao!"
Xiao Fan's face was a mask of wild joy. He reveled in the abundant power that now surged through his body, a feeling he thought he had lost forever. The excitement was overwhelming.
Ever since he had failed to apprehend the major wanted criminal Yao Qi at Hangzhou's Xihe Shopping Mall, he had been left severely injured by the Curse of Black Light. Not only had he lost all his cultivation, but his very life force had been crippled. He hadn't even dared to go through with his marriage to his girlfriend, Xia Mengmeng.
The pain of it all had been unbearable. Hiding in these deep mountains, Xiao Fan had suffered immensely.
But now, after cultivating under his Master, Xiao Qingtian, he had not only entered the legendary Immortal Dao, but all his hidden ailments had been resolved. He was stronger than ever before.
'Mengmeng, when I return, I'll marry you!' Thinking of his charming and adorable girlfriend, Xiao Fan's face softened into a warm smile.
"Good, very good! You are truly worthy of being my, Xiao Qingtian's, disciple!" Xiao Qingtian looked at Xiao Fan with deep satisfaction before his expression grew serious. "Xiao Fan, your Master will now take you to seek a great opportunity. As long as this matter succeeds, the moment we leave this mountain, we will exterminate the Shen Family and vent the hatred of our Yunhai Sect's destruction at the hands of the Heavenly Emperor Palace!"
"Yes, Master!" Xiao Fan replied, though he sighed inwardly.
'Brother Shen, don't blame me for being heartless. Master has given the order...'
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