Chapter 49: Something Filthy!

Cecilia hummed a cheerful little tune as she walked forward with light steps.

She wound her way through the path, turning past several corners in a row. Finally, at a certain moment, the stray strand of hair atop her head began to quiver uncontrollably.

She sensed that familiar aura.

There was no mistake.

Lady Lu Mo was just ahead!

Cecilia’s little heart beat faster, and she involuntarily quickened her pace, wanting to see Lu Mo as soon as possible.

‘What should I say to Lady Lu Mo today? What should we do?’

‘Should I help Lady Lu Mo check her wounds?’

‘And then, should I find an opportunity to take Lady Lu Mo out for a stroll?’

She imagined monopolizing Lu Mo today, spending an entire, pleasant day with her.

At that moment, Lu Mo’s voice drifted out from the courtyard. It caused Cecilia’s smile to suddenly freeze.

“Aren’t we… getting a bit too close?”

Eh?

Too… close?

“Don’t speak. Focus on feeling it.”

Another voice came from Lu Mo’s residence. It wasn’t Lu Mo’s. Instead… it was the voice of another woman!

Cecilia was instantly stunned.

“No, that’s not right…” She quickly maintained her smile and continued to speak to herself, attempting to stay convinced. “I must have heard wrong. How could anyone just come and go as they please in Lady Lu Mo’s courtyard?”

“Miss Lu Mo, did you feel it?”

“Um…”

“That feeling, as if something is being pierced through.”

“It seems so…”

Pierced… pierced through?

What were they piercing?!

Cecilia felt as if her brain was about to explode.

What were they doing?

There was something filthy in Lady Lu Mo’s courtyard!

She immediately accelerated and ran forward. Soon, she stood just outside Lu Mo’s courtyard. As she looked inside, she saw two figures.

One was Lu Mo.

The other… was a tall young woman.

They weren’t doing anything particularly strange; rather, they were seriously practicing swordplay. Although, their posture did look a bit odd.

The tall girl was almost pressed against Lu Mo’s body, one hand supporting Lu Mo’s waist while the other was pressed over the hand Lu Mo used to grip the sword. She was focused on guiding Lu Mo’s movements.

Sometimes, the girl’s body would suddenly press against Lu Mo’s back. Sometimes, the girl would firmly grasp Lu Mo’s hand from behind with a bit of force, guiding her to swing the sword.

The distance between them seemed to be shrinking.

Lu Mo could clearly feel the other’s breath, body heat, and that faint, cold scent that reminded her of a flower blooming on a snowy mountain. She heard the *thump-thump* of a racing heartbeat.

But for a moment, she couldn’t tell if the heartbeat was her own or Elia’s.

‘It’s probably my own heartbeat,’ Lu Mo thought, not doubting Elia.

In her eyes, Elia was indeed teaching her swordplay very seriously. Not only had Elia pointed out her mistakes, but she had even helped optimize several parts of her sword technique.

Lu Mo suddenly felt a bit of shame. Just a moment ago, she had thought she was letting a wolf into her house and would be forced to do strange things. Looking at it now, this tall girl was truly a wonderful woman.

At this point, the swordplay training was nearing its end. Elia’s left hand moved away from Lu Mo’s waist, and she used both of her hands to tightly grip Lu Mo’s right hand.

*Whir — *

They were holding a wooden training sword and hadn’t used any elemental power. Yet, as the two of them brought the sword down together in a final, powerful strike, it actually let out a crisp ring!

That was sword intent!

The practice was over, but Elia did not release her hands for a long time. She embraced Lu Mo from behind with both arms, as if she wanted to pull the girl in front of her tightly into her chest.

This was… the embrace she was giving Lu Mo after a gap of more than 300 years.

Back then, it was Lu Mo who had patiently taught her swordplay and accompanied her through those dark years. This time, their roles had been reversed.

Elia quietly felt the warmth radiating from Lu Mo’s fingertips, greedily breathing in the faint fragrance lingering on Lu Mo’s body. All of this made her feel so nostalgic, so deeply attached.

“Um… classmate, I think we’re finished?” Lu Mo asked tentatively.

Earlier, she had told Elia her name but hadn’t had the chance to ask for Elia’s yet.

“Want to practice again?” Elia did not let go. Instead, she moved even closer to Lu Mo and asked with a smile.

The feeling of holding Lu Mo like this made her crave it even more.

“Eh?”

“I think we can further optimize this sword technique.”

Elia’s reasoning was sound. “I’ve seen similar sword techniques in my family. Although they are both basic techniques, the two are different and can complement each other.”

*Cough, cough.*

At that moment, the sound of coughing came from outside the courtyard.

Lu Mo was so startled that her body leaned forward, instantly escaping Elia’s embrace.

‘Wait, that’s not right. Why am I nervous?’ Lu Mo wondered after leaving Elia’s arms.

The two of them looked toward the outside of the courtyard and saw Cecilia standing there, smiling at them. Although… that golden cowlick of hers was currently standing straight up like the tail of a bristled cat.

Cecilia truly couldn’t take it anymore.

When she saw Elia and Lu Mo sticking so close together, a sour feeling she had never experienced before instantly swept through her entire body.

‘This woman… just how did she appear here?’

‘How could she just walk into Lady Lu Mo’s courtyard whenever she wants?’

‘And what right does she have to be so close to Lady Lu Mo!’

‘Is this person a member of the Demon Race who secretly sneaked into the human world?’

‘Should I take her back to the Holy Sanctuary for an interrogation?’

For a split second, Cecilia was ready to define Elia as a Demon and throw her into a dungeon. But despite her thoughts, she ultimately suppressed the urge to lock Elia up.

“You two, cultivation is certainly important, but over-practicing will place a burden on your bodies,” she said.

Suppressing the bitterness and anger in her heart, she spoke to them with a smile.

Lu Mo looked at the smiling Cecilia and suddenly felt a bit dazed. The image of the girl who climbed over the wall in the second Simulated Reincarnation overlapped with the Saintess standing before her.

They were so similar, too similar. Especially that golden cowlick.

“Yo, dum — ” Lu Mo started to speak subconsciously.

As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized the situation was wrong, and her expression immediately became solemn.

Upon hearing Lu Mo’s voice, Cecilia’s eyes widened and her face flushed red. Excitement, nostalgia, and joy were about to explode from the depths of her heart.

It had been too long. It had been far too long… since anyone had scolded her like that.

So —

‘This time, please scold me to your heart’s content!’

‘Lady… Lu Mo…’