Xie Jiuxiao, with his long, flowing beard, always maintained the image of a refined gentleman, remaining composed even at this moment.
He stood frozen for a few seconds, his face ashen, slowly rising from his cross-legged position. Suddenly, he transmitted his voice: "Yun'er."
A short while later, his daughter's voice came from outside the secret chamber: "What's wrong, Father?"
"You must leave Yunxiao City immediately and head to the East Sea to see Chu Tiange..."
"What are you doing, Father? Why are you here all of a sudden..."
"It's too late, hurry... never mind." Xie Jiuxiao suddenly sighed: "You came so fast... Go into seclusion, don't come out."
"?" Xie Jiuxiao was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "Open the city gates wide and welcome our distinguished guest."
"Father, what guest has arrived?"
"Heaven."
At this moment, Qiu Wuji and Yan Qianlie once again realized the incompetence of their father.
Chu Ge pulled the two of them aside, and with a casual sway, they were already outside Yunxiao City, countless miles away.
Qiu Wuji: "?"
Chu Ge: "..."
"Why can you teleport so far?"
"...I am the Heavenly Dao, omnipresent, love descends wherever it desires."
"So you sat behind my sword, hugging..." Qiu Wuji stopped halfway, secretly glancing at Yan Qianlie.
Yan Qianlie scoffed, his eyes filled with contempt.
Why swallow half a sentence? Do you think I don't know how shameless you two are? You're living in the same room and still pretending.
Qiu Wuji stomped his foot angrily: "Chu Ge, you've ruined my reputation, you'll pay with your life!"
Chu Ge took off running, the couple chasing and fleeing, heading straight for the entrance to Cloud City.
Yan Qianlie followed speechlessly, wondering what they were doing here... It seems like they came here to kill and exterminate a sect? Anyone who didn't know better would think a steward was out for a stroll with the young master and young lady, damn it.
But he also knew that the other party had no way to escape.
Because Chu Ge was a being he couldn't comprehend. The entire world was under the watchful eye of the Heavenly Dao. As long as you were a citizen of this world, how could you possibly escape? It was better to hide in your own city and fight a desperate battle from the sidelines.
But even a desperate battle was useless. No matter how dangerous Yunxiao City was, no matter how many traps and formations were laid out within, the Heavenly Dao could wipe it out with a single stroke… All that fuss before was simply to determine who it was. Now that it was determined, it was a complete and utter crushing defeat.
Heaven cannot be deceived.
So what? He still kicked me several times, hahaha!
Qiu Wuji chased Chu Ge to the gates of Yunxiao City. Just as the guards were about to ask questions, Xie Jiuxiao's voice came from within the city: "Honored guest, how fortunate…please come in and have a seat?"
Colorful clouds spread out from the city, rushing to the city gates, forming a magnificent welcoming carpet.
Chu Ge, finding it quite amusing, led Qiu Wuji onto the platform. The colorful cloud began to retract, carrying the two leisurely towards the City Lord's Mansion.
Yan Qianlie: "?"
"Damn it!" He flew onto the colorful cloud and cursed, "Xie Jiuxiao, are you blind?"
Xie Jiuxiao's voice drifted over: "Brother Yan's acting was so bad it made me suffer, I'm a little emotional."
Yan Qianlie chuckled: "It really is you, admitting it so readily."
"Under the laws of Heaven, there's nowhere to hide; stubbornness only makes you a laughingstock." Xie Jiuxiao sighed, "Actually, Brother Yan's acting is one thing, but the fact that Father God actually allowed himself to be kicked around like a dog, tied up in such an artistic way, like looking at some kind of erotic picture... it's truly incomprehensible. Doesn't the mighty Heaven have any dignity at all?"
"Old Xie, you've seen quite a lot, haven't you? What good pictures do you have for me to see?"
"..." Chu Ge sniffed: "I'm very dedicated, whether it's acting or writing."
Xie Jiuxiao still didn't understand the word "writing," and fell silent. Not long after, Caiyun escorted the three to the City Lord's Mansion.
The main gate was wide open, but the mansion was deserted, without even a servant.
Xie Jiuxiao sat alone in the main hall, serving wine and calmly observing the arriving trio.
This was a terrifying combination capable of annihilating any sect in the world: the number one divine swordsman of the righteous path, a peerless demon lord of the demonic sect, plus… the Heavenly Dao.
It was as if this trio already represented the supremacy of righteousness and demonism under the Heavenly Dao.
"Father God, please sit. Sect Leader Qiu, please sit." Xie Jiuxiao calmly poured wine. "It's been a long time since I last saw Sect Leader Qiu, since we joined forces to eliminate the demon."
Yan Qianlie: "?"
"Oh, Brother Yan, please sit too." Xie Jiuxiao sighed. "It wasn't intentional, but to be honest, I still feel awkward. I didn't treat you as an equal; it feels like a dream."
Yan Qianlie said, "So you keep calling me 'Brother Yan,' and even swore brotherhood with me? Do you think I'm an idiot?"
Xie Jiuxiao smiled. "I thought Brother Yan was rough and straightforward, but I didn't expect him to be so thoughtful. So it's no wonder I was fooled by Brother Yan." Yan Qianlie sat down casually and said, "You're full of wicked schemes, plotting against Qiu Wuji, but now you act like you're on her side when you're entertaining guests? Have you lost your mind too?"
Xie Jiuxiao was silent for a moment, then said softly, "It's probably just a long-standing habit. Looking at Sect Leader Qiu, I still think of her as my alliance leader."
He smiled, raised his cup in a gesture of respect, and said, "Your presence here is an honor for Yunxiao City. I, Xie, propose a toast to you all."
Seemingly afraid of being rejected, he drank it all himself, not caring whether others drank or not.
Qiu Wuji smiled slightly, raised her cup in a gesture of respect, and drank it all in one gulp.
Seeing her drink, Chu Ge also picked up his cup and drank it down.
Qiu Wuji put down her wine cup and finally spoke with a smile, "Excellent wine. This is Tianqiong Cloud Brew from Yunxiao City. Because the ingredients are rare, only nine jars can be brewed every hundred years. Before, even asking City Lord Xie for a few cups was incredibly stingy; this time, I've really gone all out." Xie Jiuxiao's eyes flashed with a strange light. You… drank before Tiandao even raised his cup? Tiandao didn't seem to mind at all, appearing completely obedient.
Xie Jiuxiao could even sense that Qiu Wuji had deliberately spoken first, to save face for him and avoid the embarrassment of no one drinking her toast, and that Tiandao respected her opinion.
Just now I thought your master-disciple relationship was just an act, that the true nature of good and evil was bowing to Tiandao, but now I don't understand anymore.
He could only laugh and say, "Since the three of you have come, I wouldn't object even if you wanted to take the entire Cloud Sky City, let alone a mere jar of wine. If Sect Leader Qiu likes it, there are about ten jars left in the stock, so take them all."
Qiu Wuji happily replied, "Yours? I don't need your ten jars, just give me three; it'll benefit my disciple's cultivation."
Xie Jiuxiao: "?"
Your disciple…
No, Heaven has everything, why would you need to beg for wine from others?
Uh, no, you've come to my door, I'm about to die, everything is yours now, and you still want three jars?
Xie Jiuxiao was completely bewildered. He lowered his head, poured himself a cup, and after a long while, didn't know what to say.
Why do these people seem even stranger than me…?
But then Chu Ge smacked his lips, as if savoring the aroma of wine, and suddenly asked, "Old Xie, I have a question for you."
Xie Jiuxiao respectfully bowed, "Father… um, please."
"You used the puppet Lu Shaotong to approach my master. Was it to exploit Lu Shaotong's affection for my master to manipulate his behavior and evade my master's divine detection, or were you yourself interested in my master and wanted to use this method to succeed?"
Xie Jiuxiao's eyes nearly bulged out.
Is this what Heaven's will is asking?
Looking at Qiu Wuji's embarrassed and annoyed expression, Xie Jiuxiao felt like he was in a dream. This old man doesn't know whether you two should be considered father and daughter or master and disciple. Either way…
Never mind.
Is this what they call the unfathomable will of Heaven?
After a long pause, he said expressionlessly, "Naturally, it's the former. Lu Shaotong is madly in love with Sect Master Qiu. My puppet's design can be incredibly realistic. No matter how Sect Master Qiu investigates, she will only sense his sincerity. If we can get closer, I can gradually try to influence and modify Sect Master Qiu's consciousness, making her an aid to my conquest of the heavens… Why would I need her? I have my own Daoist partner, a devoted and loving couple, destined to be together forever." Chu Ge grinned, "You're doomed." Xie Jiuxiao: "?" Chu Ge, with an air of familiarity, picked up the wine pot on the table and poured wine for himself and Qiu Wuji, saying leisurely, "If you can tell me properly how you managed to modify the other person's consciousness, then Yunxiao City will still be Yunxiao City."