Chapter 380: Chapter 99 Plan Through
A clash between master and disciple ensued, as swift as a hare leaping and a falcon diving, culminating with Gongsun Qingyue being suppressed by a counter palm.
Yet, after effortlessly securing the victory, Tianxuan didn’t press the attack but lightly raised her jade arm and pointed with her sword finger, causing the Taiyin Moonlight to remotely fall onto Gongsun Qingyue’s forehead, forming a crescent moon mark.
In an instant, Gongsun Qingyue felt her vision transform as the seen world became clear to the microscopic detail, like layers of thin mist dispersing before her eyes, revealing the world’s true face.
"Look at your ankle," Tianxuan said languidly.
Gongsun Qingyue looked down upon hearing the voice, and a vivid red thread came into view.
"This is your red thread, its two ends are tied to you and Jiang Li, representing the matrimonial bond between the two of you," Tianxuan explained.
Gongsun Qingyue concentrated and indeed felt an indescribable sense of intimacy emanating from the red thread.
She followed the red thread with her eyes, which extended out of the pavilion toward a certain direction. A sensation of her heart pounding emerged, its source roughly dozens of yards away.
That must be Jiang Li.
Then...
Gongsun Qingyue surreptitiously glanced at Tianxuan’s feet. The hem of her moon-white dress concealed her lotus-like feet, revealing only the petite tips of her shoes, with no red thread extending out from underneath the hem.
All was well.
Gongsun Qingyue breathed a sigh of relief in her heart, finally able to completely relax.
Resolved.
Unknown to Gongsun Qingyue, Tianxuan also breathed a sigh of relief.
This dutiful good disciple truly caught her off guard this time. After a great battle and dealing with related affairs, Tianxuan was exhausted to the point of collapse, so much so that she didn’t notice something amiss right away.
Fortunately, Jiang Li had not revealed everything, opting for concealment instead, not speaking of the mingling of their True Qi nor the shared consciousness when they faced the Emperor. Coupled with Tianxuan’s high calibre and sharp perception sensing no leaks, she was able to counterattack, suppressing this rebellious disciple.
However, this implied that Jiang Li fully understood the significance of these two events, and the relationship between master and disciple had quietly reached—and in fact, had already passed—a turning point...
Under her veil, Tianxuan silently pursed her lips.
...
...
’Resolved.’
Within the corridor, Jiang Li slowly opened his eyes, his previously closed perception gradually returning, as he too breathed a sigh of relief.
With Tianxuan inside the building, it was unsafe to send Dream Butterfly, and for some reason, his senior sister’s perception was incredibly acute—she might even be able to detect Dream Butterfly. Thus, Jiang Li chose the most straightforward method of eavesdropping—using his hearing directly.
By applying the basic use of Heavenly Dharma, he enhanced his hearing tenfold, allowing Jiang Li to listen to the exchange between the two from a great distance.
[Plan successful.]
Having ended his eavesdropping, Jiang Li’s mouth twisted into a slight smile.
When he realized things were about to go awry, he chose to confess and seek leniency, recounting all of his experiences during this period.
With a bit of embellishment and omission of two crucial moments of intimacy, the story that Jiang Li recounted became—I was passive, it was all initiated by my master, I maintained my purity, and definitely did not cross the line.
And then, the battle between Gongsun Qingyue and Tianxuan unfolded.
Tianxuan evaded the lightning with precision and admitted she had initiated, but she smoothly turned the topic toward revenge and retaliation. She had intended to confront Gongsun Qingyue in this way, and naturally, she excelled, easily overwhelming her senior sister.
However, while Tianxuan was thinking about revenge, she hadn’t expected that her consciousness would align with Jiang Li’s, causing her own heart to experience a trace of nervousness.
Under these circumstances, Tianxuan realized that her relationship with Jiang Li had reached a turning point, and she too must be feeling flustered at the moment.
"Turning the tables, influence as silent as the dew, killing two birds with one arrow, it truly is like me, hehehe."
Jiang Li felt extremely pleased with himself, and even the audacious dog that had dared to laugh at him seemed much more pleasing to the eye.
"If there’s a next time, I will castrate you."
The new dog owner caught the back of the puppy’s neck, issuing a sinister warning.
The red puppy whimpered twice, vigorously nodding its head.
It had come to understand just how formidable these three master and disciples were—one more cunning than the next, and all petty to boot. It had only laughed once, and as a result, it stayed kneeling into the night. Thus, the puppy had no doubts about the veracity of Jiang Li’s words.
He was certainly capable of doing so.
"Good dog, good dog."
Jiang Li immediately changed his demeanor, touching the little dog affectionately while pushing his wheelchair along the corridor.
At the end of the corridor, his ears twitched, catching a familiar voice, followed swiftly by the approach of hastening footsteps.
A figure in a green robe, moving swiftly, his handsome face filled with smiles, giving the impression of someone paying courteous attention to all details.
The man who came was none other than the esteemed Prince Consort of Great Zhou, Deputy of the Southern Heavenly Department, the tough guy of Red Lotus, the Dragon King’s Son-in-law, and Jiang Li’s beloved big brother—Feng Manlou.
Despite the news of Jiang Li’s "resurrection" not having been spread, Feng Manlou had come directly to find him.
"My dear brother, I’ve come to see you."
Feng Manlou laughed heartily as he walked over, not at all surprised to see Jiang Li in a wheelchair, which likely meant he had received related intelligence early on.
Jiang Li gently caressed the cowering Red Dog, feeling the slight shiver from the little dog, and pondered for a brief moment, also donning a smile, and said, "Brother, it’s been too long."
As they drew near, Feng Manlou leaned in for a bear hug, illustrating the deep bond of brotherhood.
"Ah, I heard my dear brother was injured, and I rushed over without stopping," he said after the hug, slapping his chest thunderously, "How is the injury? If there’s anything I can help with, just let me know."
"It’s nothing major for my sister-in-law, now back in Divine Capital and in full control, and without the Emperor’s maker, the entire court has to look to her, and my own standing has risen with the tide. Nowadays, anyone who meets me has to offer a smile," said Feng Manlou.
To speak of being a sycophant in such a fresh and unaffected manner, Jiang Li thought that besides himself, this man must be the only one capable of doing so.
After Feng Manlou finished speaking, that generous, offering-nothing-without-a-monter-to-be-gained demeanor seemed all the more apparent.
"You worry too much, my brother, such trifling injuries will heal with some rest," Jiang Li was not to be fooled, like Teflon.
But Feng Manlou was prepared.
"How can that be alright? No injury is too minor," Feng Manlou said with a smile, "Injuries cannot be neglected; they must be treated as soon as possible. What do you think... about the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron?"
He struck like lightning, pinpointing the critical issue.
The Divine Farmer’s Cauldron—a Third-Grade Dao Artifact, the Jiang family’s heirloom, and the vessel for Emperor Yan’s Dao Fruit—a prize Jiang Li was determined to obtain.
But the cauldron was not so easily acquired; the Ji Family kept a tight watch on it, and ever since their master had returned, he hadn’t mentioned the Divine Farmer’s Cauldron, an indication of the difficulty in obtaining it.
If it were possible to acquire, Tianxuan would not have let the opportunity slip by so easily.