novelapdf Chapter 202 Grand Discussion in the Temple
Chapter 202 Grand Discussion in the Temple
"Oh right, I was so busy teasing you that I almost forgot about the important thing. I made you a little gift."
With a flick of his wrist, Jiang Mu magically produced a small wooden box, exuding a faint, pleasant woody fragrance, and handed it to the woman.
Gift?\
Bai Xiang, who was on the verge of losing control, was startled.
Her phoenix eyes, which held a hint of menace, narrowed slightly. She glanced suspiciously at Jiang Mu's handsome face, hesitated for a moment, and then accepted the box.
The wooden box was square and looked to be made of ordinary material; it wasn't even painted.
It was simply polished to a very smooth finish.
A crescent-shaped metal knob abruptly appears on the side.
Following Jiang Mu's gaze, Bai Xiang placed her slender fingers on the lid and gently lifted it.
"Ding-dong...ding...ding-dong..."
The moment the lid was opened, a clear and melodious tune flowed out.
At the same time, the gears inside the wooden box begin to turn.
Two small wooden figures slowly rose up.
One man and one woman.
To the tinkling music, they embraced each other on the small wooden plate, spinning round and round.
Bai Xiang's beautiful eyes immediately lit up.
The eyes, which had been covered with a layer of frost, were like ice melted by a spring breeze, revealing a radiant glow.
"This is called a music box."
Jiang Mu crossed her arms and smiled smugly, claiming credit.
"You didn't like the big gold bracelet I gave you before, so I thought I'd make one for you myself."
How was it? Not bad, right?
"Just wind up that metal spring next to it a few times, and it'll keep playing."
Bai Xiang remained silent.
She stared blankly at the two spinning wooden figurines inside the box.
Although these two little figures are crude, their expressions reveal that they are modeled after her and Jiang Mu.
As she watched, the woman's slightly pursed, rosy lips curved into a slight smile.
As for the anger from being spanked earlier?
It all vanished long ago, lost in the crisp melody of that music box.
As the murderous aura emanating from the woman dissipated, Jiang Mu secretly wiped away a bead of cold sweat and breathed a sigh of relief.
Damn it, the ancients were right, you really can't touch a tigress's ass.
……\
……\
Night falls.
A crescent moon, like a hook, hung in the sky.
The soft, white moonlight, like a seductive dancer, streamed through the window, restlessly teasing the shadows inside.
In the study, Jiang Mu was biting the pen handle, spreading out letter paper, preparing to write a love letter to Shui Miaozheng, who was far away in Yunzhou City.
To console Aunt Shui for her lovesickness.
I had just finished writing the four characters "To Aunt Shui"
Suddenly, a familiar yet overwhelming sense of dizziness shot straight to the top of my head.
"Not again?"
Before Jiang Mu could even curse, the scene before him distorted and crumbled like ripples on water.
The next second, he found himself in the familiar grand hall of an ancient temple.
Pink peach petals filled the air like an endless snowfall, fluttering and swirling in the sky.
Not far away,
That aloof and peerless figure stood silently amidst the fluttering petals.
The woman wore a purple gauze robe that accentuated her unattainable, graceful figure.
Jiang Mu said:
"There's been no news for the past few days. I thought your body couldn't take it anymore and you didn't need me to practice with you anymore."
The man was secretly overjoyed.
Heaven knows what kind of torment Xiao Jiang has endured these past few days from drinking all that "Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup" that Chu Lingzhu prescribed.
He's like a volcano on the verge of erupting at any moment.
Jiang Mu was in a great hurry to step forward.
However, before his hand could even touch the woman's hem, a surge of energy erupted from Shangguan Luoxue's body.
Jiang Mu felt a tightness in her chest and was thrown backward by the impact.
Shangguan Luoxue looked down at him, her purple eyes devoid of any warmth, her voice as cold as ice:
"Remember your place. Do not touch me without my permission."
The woman's expression was extremely arrogant.
It was as if she were looking at a tool for her healing and cultivation.
Jiang Mu rubbed her chest, which was still aching from the shock, pouted, and simply lay down on the floor of the main hall, spreading her legs out in a "big" shape, saying:
"Fine, you're so high and mighty, you think you're so great."
"If I hadn't promised to take your star position, I'd have already packed up and left. Who wants to put up with your bullshit here?"
He put his hands behind his head:
"Then you can move around by yourself, I'm ready to lie down."
Seeing this shameless appearance, Shangguan Luoxue's chest heaved slightly. Suppressing the urge to reprimand him, she coldly said:
"I was in seclusion a few days ago to refine my foundation, which took some time. Today we need to make up for it, so it might take a while. With your current level of cultivation, can you handle it?"
A little longer?
Upon hearing this, Jiang Mu's eyes lit up like two 1000-watt light bulbs.
He immediately patted his chest and guaranteed:
"Don't worry, Madam. I dare not boast about anything else, but when it comes to endurance, I, Jiang, am second to none in Daqing."
I'm super awesome!
Shangguan Luoxue looked disdainful and said indifferently:
"Enough with the boasting. If things really don't work out later, let us know in advance."
"I brought some medicine to protect my heart and strengthen my vital energy, just in case I die in front of me from exhaustion."
Having said that, she walked expressionlessly toward the man on the ground.
……\
at the same time.\
Inside a small house in the city, it was extremely dark.
Only a few pale rays of moonlight barely illuminated a corner of the room.
The purple-robed man who had previously escaped from Jiang Mu's grasp, also known as Young Master Zi, was now kneeling on the ground, his face deathly pale, his whole body trembling.
"Madam, I swear to God, everything I have said is true."
Young Master Zi said in a trembling voice,
"It was indeed that brat named Jiang Mu who killed the Left Envoy."
At the time, I didn't know he was from the Demon Slayer Division; I just thought he was a reckless wandering cultivator and planned to snatch the Frost Moon Blossom back...
If I had known his identity earlier, I would never have provoked him.
In the deepest shadows of the room, a figure sat quietly.
The figure blended completely into the darkness, making its features impossible to discern.
Even the curves indicating male or female are blurry; only a barely discernible human outline can be made.
"A mere fifth-realm cultivator can actually summon a Dharma form..."
Lady Painted Skin spoke softly, "Interesting, very interesting indeed."
The voice is neither male nor female, leaning towards a neutral, husky quality.
Young Master Zi kowtowed to the ground, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Lady Painted Skin remained silent for a moment, then calmly gave the order:
"Let's take care of business first. We'll settle accounts with that brat Jiang Mu later."
With Shangguan Luoxue now in charge of the city, even if I wanted to kill him, I wouldn't dare to act rashly.
"Once our true form is revealed and Shangguan Luoxue notices, all our plans in Yancheng over this period will be in vain."
"Yes, I understand!"
Young Master Zi nodded repeatedly.
"Now that the Left Envoy is dead, you will take her place in closing the net."
Lady Painted Skin said calmly,
"Remember, be quick and discreet. The Right Envoy is still infiltrating the Divine Sword Sect. As soon as he sends a signal, you must immediately coordinate your actions without fail."
"Your subordinate would gladly die for you!"
Young Master Zi gritted his teeth and agreed.
In the darkness, Lady Painted Skin sighed softly:
"Everyone walks around wearing a mask, whether crying or laughing, good or evil; it's all just a painted mask."
The original painting depicts the skin, but what they paint is also the heart.
Go, the Left Envoy is dead. You will take her place. Remember, keep a low profile…
"yes."\
Young Master Zi nodded repeatedly.
……\
Inside the main hall of the ancient temple.
This discussion on the *Zifu Cantongqi* was truly intense.
One hour later.
General Shangguan, who had been holding his head high and trying to maintain absolute control, let out a loud snort during the discussion.
Two hours later.
Every now and then, she starts rolling her eyes upwards.
The protracted battle finally came to an end as dawn broke the following day.
Jiang Mu returned to her bedroom.
Although we discussed philosophy all night, I didn't feel tired at all; on the contrary, I felt refreshed and invigorated.
His internal energy surged like thunder, as if he possessed inexhaustible ox-like strength.
There's nothing I can do.
Chu Lingzhu's "Ten-Ingredient Soup" was truly potent.
If it weren't for Lady Peach Blossom's timely discourse, they probably wouldn't have lasted more than a few days; they would have already degenerated into beasts.
After taking a refreshing cold shower, Jiang Mu decided to cook for her daughter today and show off her culinary skills.
Show off your culinary skills as the head of the household.
A while later, Bai Xiang, who had just finished washing up, came to the kitchen.
A strange look appeared in the woman's eyes as she watched the man, wearing an apron and holding a spatula, busy at the stove.
So I simply pulled up a small stool from the side.
Sitting quietly by the kitchen doorway.
Bai Xiang rested her chin on her hands.
She stared intently at the man's busy figure amidst the smoky atmosphere.
The morning sunlight shone on the woman's profile, making her eyes appear exceptionally soft and serene.
"What? Standing there watching without doing anything? Not planning to come in and lend a hand?"
As Jiang Mu cracked eggs into the pan, she turned her head and joked.
Bai Xiang smiled faintly and shook her head.
"Alright, just sit there and watch. Today, your husband will cook you a big meal."
Jiang Mu wielded the spatula with impressive skill, brimming with confidence.
Half an hour later.
Everyone fell silent as they stared at the rather plain-looking egg drop soup on the table.
Yuan Aqing and Duanmu Li, whose palates had long been spoiled by Bai Xiang's culinary skills, looked at the bowl of bland, watery soup in front of them and exchanged bewildered glances.
The two little girls ladled out a bowl and tasted it.
The taste was just so-so.
But out of absolute obedience and support for her master, Yuan Aqing still downed two large bowls.
As she put down the bowl, she reluctantly wiped her mouth and said crisply:
"The soup the master made was delicious!"
They demonstrated their full support for Jiang Mu through concrete actions.
Duanmu Li, on the other hand, was much more honest.
The expressionless girl drank half a small bowl of water without any expression, then silently put down her spoon.
I'd rather eat dry steamed buns than touch anything else.
Only the scent of cypress remains.
The woman picked up the small bowl, held the spoon, and ate one bite after another.
It was drunk with great care.
Each bite is savored slowly on the lips and teeth.
It's as if what you're drinking isn't...
It's not a bowl of egg drop soup, but rather top-quality delicacies from land and sea.
This immediately maximized Jiang Mu's emotional value.
That housekeeper was well taken care of!
……\
As this family of four enjoys a cozy breakfast time.
Deep within the underground palace of Huzhou City.
The usually aloof Shangguan Luoxue was now completely unable to maintain her cold, aloof, and dignified posture while sitting cross-legged.
She was like a pool of water that had completely melted.
He lay flat on the cold, jade-like stone platform, utterly undignified.
He was breathing heavily, his chest heaving violently.
Upon closer inspection, one can see a distinct, rounded curve protruding from her lower abdomen beneath the disheveled purple gauze robe.
She looked like a woman who was a few months pregnant.
In fact.
At this moment, Shangguan Luoxue truly didn't have the strength to even move a single finger.
After a long while, she finally mustered up a little strength and struggled to sit up halfway.
"That beast... is he even human...?"
Shangguan Luoxue gritted her teeth, her beautiful face filled with indignation.
The donkeys used by the production team to pull the millstone needed to rest and catch their breath after working.
This guy is even more of a donkey than a donkey!
However, complaints aside...
When Shangguan Luoxue calmed down and looked inward, a hint of joy welled up in her eyes.
She could clearly sense that the true energy within her body was surging and circulating through her meridians at a more powerful and rapid pace.
Under the abundant vitality, the Star Core repaired itself extremely quickly.
"If I just persevere a little longer... and endure a few more times, this wound of mine will be completely healed."
Then I won't have to see that bastard anymore.
Shangguan Luoxue silently encouraged herself.
At this time,
A paper crane radiating white light pierced through the restrictions of the underground palace and landed on the hem of Shangguan Luoxue's skirt.
Shangguan Luoxue frowned slightly, reached out and picked up the paper crane, unfolding it.
After carefully reading the few lines of cryptic writing, a knowing glint flashed in his purple eyes.
"No wonder our grandmaster refused to step in and help."
The woman crumpled the paper into powder and muttered to herself.
She naturally learned of the death of Yuan Qianfan, the garrison commander of Yancheng, at the same time as the central government.
At that time, she also knew that the imperial court planned to negotiate with her grandmaster, the former sect leader of Hanyue Sect, Jiang Ruoxi, who was suppressed at the bottom of the Divine Lake.
Hopefully, she can step in to intimidate the demon race and deal with the Peacock Demon King.
Ultimately, however, the cooperation negotiations between the two sides broke down.
The imperial court then turned to a less desirable option, enlisting the help of Mo Huaisu, a Daoist who practiced asceticism, to intervene.
Before this, Shangguan Luoxue thought that her grandmaster didn't want to go out.
But now, after reading the secret report, I understand everything.
It was someone in the imperial court who prevented it.
They were terrified that this madwoman, who had once gone mad for the sake of the great demon Jiang Chaoxi, would regain her freedom.
It will become a second uncontrollable disaster.
Therefore, the court's condition for release was that a "God-Binding Nail" must be forcibly driven into the depths of the master's soul to control life and death.
"A woman as proud as our Grandmaster desires absolute freedom and unfettered joy. How could she possibly be willing to wear the chains of the court and become a watchdog on a leash just to see the light of day again?"
Shangguan Luoxue sighed softly.
"It's better that the negotiations broke down. It seems our grandmaster will be forever suppressed at the bottom of the divine lake until his lifespan ends."
Shangguan Luoxue felt no particular affection for this grandmaster she had never met.
Whether the other person lived or died was of no concern to her.
However, she could sense from her master's daily words and emotions that Ling Ye had a deep attachment to his grandmaster and a strong master-disciple bond.
The reason Master Ling Ye risked his life so much back then.
They were willing to risk destroying their very foundation to forcibly attain higher star ranks.
Isn't it all so that we can have enough say to rescue our master from the divine lake as soon as possible?
Unfortunately, he was ultimately betrayed and nearly perished.
"I hope Master won't do anything foolish like a moth drawn to a flame again."
Shangguan Luoxue lightly waved her purple robe, concealing the worry in her eyes.
"If she really gets herself involved, then there will truly be no one in heaven or earth who can save her."
"However, I've heard there's a mirror that can save our master..."