The people from Red Sun Phoenix Heaven Sect had originally thought that their own True Disciple not only returned safe and sound but had even turned misfortune into fortune by breaking through in the rare one-in-ten-thousand “Great Perfection” posture.
This should have been a great double blessing of good fortune.
Yet before this joy could even warm in their hands they ran into trouble.
The poison had been cured so by rights it was time to pack up and head back to the sect.
However Yan Qingge seemed like a completely different person.
She closed her mouth to any talk of returning to the sect and instead camped out every day at the foot of Lingxiao Peak stubbornly guarding for Chu Mo.
Elder Wang and the others asked her several times but Yan Qingge remained silent each time.
Her pupils burned with stubborn fire as if she was determined to force Chu Mo to show herself.
She had even declared outright that Chu Mo knew full well in her heart.
Yan Qingge stood like a stubborn rock before Lingxiao Peak turning herself into a cold sharp landscape.
As the rumors and gossip inside Xuan Phoenix Sacred Sect grew fiercer and fiercer Chu Mo understood in her heart that she could not avoid this day.
She could only send someone to “invite” Yan Qingge inside.
When old friends met all past affection had vanished without a trace.
What filled the air instead was a needle-sharp cold austerity like awns against awns.
These few days had calmed Yan Qingge’s originally agitated emotions a little.
She had repeatedly combed through every known piece of information in her mind.
Regarding Bai Qingran’s identity she had formed a guess so bold it bordered on absurd yet it left her trembling with despair.
Bai Qingran was someone Chu Mo had captured—a substitute for Pei Yunqing!
“Chu Mo where have you hidden him?”
Yan Qingge’s gaze burned like a torch her face full of cold intent.
Her voice was icy as she questioned Chu Mo.
Upon hearing this the corners of Chu Mo’s mouth curled into a disdainful sneer.
Yan Qingge you question me so righteously and confidently but what qualifications do you have?
Is it just because of that ridiculous sibling relationship from a false illusion?
She picked up the cyan porcelain teacup on the table casually blew away the floating tea leaves took a slow deliberate sip then slightly lifted her eyelids and spoke in a distant tone “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“Chu Mo!”
Yan Qingge slammed her palm down shattering the wooden table beside her to pieces.
Unwilling rage surged in her golden pupils.
“At this point how long do you plan to keep pretending! Where exactly is Bai Qingran?!”
“Heh.”
A cold laugh escaped.
The two women’s gazes clashed in midair like an ink-black sword crossing a golden one sparking grating teeth-aching fire.
“Bai Qingran is my friend. Since he has already cured you whether he stays or leaves is his own freedom. Perhaps he has already returned to the Fox Clan.”
Her light breezy words like those of a scoundrel made Yan Qingge’s anger blaze sky-high.
Her chest heaved violently as she gritted her teeth and said “Chu Mo don’t think I can’t guess what happened between you and him. You can hide those filthy secrets from others! But don’t even think about hiding them from me!”
Like a fuse lit on a powder keg the last shred of decency barely held between them exploded into nothing.
Chu Mo’s expression sank to the extreme.
Her voice came like a steel blade soaked in ice water the bone-piercing chill stabbing through Yan Qingge’s entire body.
“What did you say?”
That filthy guess lodged in Yan Qingge’s throat like a tangled ball of twisted iron wire.
Every swallow of saliva scraped her raw with pain.
If Chu Mo admitted it that would mean in the year since Pei Yunqing disappeared Brother Qingran had already been…
Yan Qingge’s hands clenched into fists that would not stop trembling.
Her voice shook fiercely.
“You… did you capture him and make him Pei Yunqing’s substitute?”
Inside the room only the two of them remained.
Chu Mo watched Yan Qingge’s pained despairing furious expression and felt only a surge of satisfaction in her heart.
Yan Qingge even if you’ve guessed it what can you do?
The Bai Qingran you love most from his soul to his body belongs entirely to me Chu Mo.
You are nothing more than a late-arriving clown who thinks she can sit at the table!
Chu Mo simply tore away every last pretense.
Her voice was cruel like a dagger flashing with cold light stabbing straight at Yan Qingge’s heart.
“Yes he is the one I captured. He is Pei Yunqing’s substitute.”
The mockery on Chu Mo’s face seemed laced with poison.
“Qingge don’t think I don’t know what happened between the two of you in the illusion. Those intimacies tenderness and vows of eternal love… were nothing but flowers in the mirror and moon in the water! Heh Qingge after knowing each other for so many years you understand me best. Guess how I learned all this from Bai Qingran’s own mouth.”
Yan Qingge’s face turned deathly pale in an instant.
Her lips trembled nonstop.
The rage in her golden pupils was shaken by a wind called fear until it flickered as if it might go out.
No… don’t… Brother Qingran…
“Not daring to say it? Hahahahaha!” Chu Mo laughed wantonly her tone vile and arrogant. “Let me tell you I was in bed listening to him beg for mercy as he told me. Qingge you were so loving with him in the illusion but have you ever tasted him?”
“Chu Mo! I’ll kill you!”
Yan Qingge stepped forward and charged at Chu Mo.
A sharp cry rang out from the Crimson Phoenix Feather Sword.
A blazing fire-phoenix phantom instantly enveloped the blade carrying an intent that could burn everything as it slashed down toward Chu Mo’s head.
Clang!
Chu Mo did not even blink.
She remained seated steadily in the wooden chair.
The Mo Yuan Sword in her hand erupted with sword pressure as heavy as a mountain casually blocking the strike.
“Qingge what’s the rush? Illusions are ultimately fake. What is the point of immersing yourself in them?”
Chu Mo paused for a moment.
The ink-black in her pupils turned eerie transforming into a pitch-black venomous snake that bit straight into Yan Qingge’s neck.
“As for Bai Qingran… I’ve locked him up and played with him countless times. Isn’t he good at seducing people? That’s all something I taught him step by step. Qingge do you really want this broken-in toy of mine?”
“Shut up! Shut your mouth!!!”
***
That day when Yan Qingge descended the mountain her face was bruised and battered.
The cold mountain wind howled but it could not blow away the dishevelment on her body.
The gloom around her seemed to have condensed into solid icy beads that clattered and smashed onto the stone path with her staggering steps.
A shadow of powerlessness enveloped Yan Qingge’s heart.
A pair of golden pupils that should have been filled with pride drooped and dimmed somewhat.
I… in reality do I not even have the strength to protect Brother Qingran?
The sweet-and-sour intimacies of the illusion contrasted sharply with the helplessness of her beloved being imprisoned by Chu Mo in reality.
It was like a dull knife repeatedly slicing at Yan Qingge’s already precarious self-esteem.
Just as she was about to leave Lingxiao Peak Yan Qingge ran into Lin Rou.
Pale blue spirit butterflies swirled around her.
Yan Qingge had seen these spirit butterflies every day these past few days always circling endlessly around Lingxiao Peak.
“Oh True Disciple Yan what… what happened to your face?”
Lin Rou exclaimed in surprise lightly covering her mouth and nose.
Her squinting eyes opened slightly revealing well-disguised hypocritical concern.
Heh the two of you really did fight.
“It’s nothing.”
Yan Qingge was extremely irritated at the moment and had no mood to deal with others.
Just as the two were about to pass each other Lin Rou used a voice only the two could hear and gently asked “Is it because of… that fox demon named Bai Qingran?”
Yan Qingge suddenly stopped in her tracks.
Her entire body stiffened.
She turned her head her golden pupils locking onto Lin Rou.
The raging fury inside them that wanted to destroy everything startled the spirit butterflies around Lin Rou into chaotic flight.
“True Disciple Yan calm down. I only learned this name from your mouth that day as well. It seems our Senior Sister Chu is being unreasonable. If not I could treat you a bit.”
Yao Furnace Peak Master Lin Rou was known outside for her exceptional medical skills and even more for her extremely scheming mind.
Using the chance to treat Yan Qingge Lin Rou whispered softly near her ear as if unintentionally “True Disciple Yan sometimes making a bit of noise is better than suffering in silence.”
There was a hidden meaning in her words.
Yan Qingge narrowed her eyes scrutinizing Lin Rou.
This person was unfathomable to her.
“Speaking of which Young Master Bai contributed quite a bit to your matter. But I know neither you nor Senior Sister Chu wants more people to know of his existence. How about this? Send a gift to Lingxiao Peak in the name of thanks. Even if Senior Sister Chu does not accept it she will not be able to refuse you outright.”
This was an open scheme.
If Chu Mo accepted she would feel as disgusted as if she had eaten fly droppings.
But if she did not Yan Qingge could justifiably stay at Lingxiao Peak without leaving.
“You… why are you helping me?”
The last wound healed.
Lin Rou smiled that innocent harmless smile.
“Don’t misunderstand True Disciple Yan. I just think it is a pity for some treasures to be monopolized by selfish desires. Moreover whether this ‘treasure’ is willing to be that golden canary or caged bird is still up for debate. True Disciple Yan your injuries are healed. As for what comes next you decide for yourself.”
Watching Yan Qingge’s departing figure the calculating arc at the corner of Lin Rou’s mouth deepened.
She gently crooked her finger and one spirit butterfly obediently landed on her fingertip.
These spirit butterflies had no combat power at all but they were extremely sensitive to specific scents.
“Stir things up. The bigger the commotion the better. If it stays too small I won’t be able to get what I want from these muddy waters.”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.