Chapter 123 - The Harem Rescue Project

Mu Xiaochi regarded Sister Xiao with vigilance. Her mind, akin to that of a child's, was more sensitive than most to the genuine emotions of those around her. Sister Xiao's thoughts were something she ought to have perceived. Lin Qianshuang gently patted Xiaochi's head and said, "That sister isn't a bad person. Spend some time with her, and you'll come to like her." Mu Xiaochi anxiously grasped a few of Lin Qianshuang's fingers, insisting, "She is bad. She doesn't like me, nor does she like you." Xiao Lanle stepped out of the water with a mocking smile. With a graceful extension of her arm, she inserted a hairpin into her neatly coiled dark hair, then smoothened the creases on her sash, as though the water stains were never there, leaving her powdery pink attire pristine. Her every movement was elegant and composed. As she passed by Lin Qianshuang, she crudely tugged at her sash, pulling her close, her lips curling in a cold smirk. Her deep black eyes spoke with a chill, "Don't invest your feelings in this fool; sooner or later, I will kill her." Lin Qianshuang staggered, her gaze deepening as she looked at Xiao Lanle, and replied coolly, "Madam City Lord, everyone here belongs to the lord. If anyone sees this... do not make it difficult for your subordinates." With a snort, Xiao Lanle released her grip, giving Mu Xiaochi a warning glance at the corner of her eye. Mu Xiaochi seemed frightened as she clung to Lin Qianshuang's arm. Lin Qianshuang held Xiaochi's cold hand and pressed her lips together thoughtfully. It seemed she had judged wrong: Sister Xiao harbored a deep grudge against the City Lord and approached her with ulterior motives, posing a threat to Xiaochi. Although the City Lord regarded Sister Xiao as her partner, she would inevitably see through her intentions. An observer can see things clearly; their feelings weren't genuine nor deeply rooted, so why would Mu Weiyin shed tears for a traitor? The tattoo on her clavicle still burned fiercely, the piercing pain penetrating her flesh, causing her to furrow her brow. Liking someone from writings is entirely different from liking a real person. Lin Qianshuang returned her hand from her clavicle, casually smiling. She would not fall in love with anyone; thus, this parasite would not bring her any harm. Suddenly, her heart clenched abruptly, a biting pain as though her insides were being devoured, making it difficult to breathe, causing her to bend slightly. Her pupils contracted, as if the blood in her body halted its flow. Yet, her mind was blank, with not a soul leaving an impression deep within her. "Big Sister, your face is so pale. Are you sick? Let me take you to the infirmary." Mu Xiaochi's face came close, tugging at Lin Qianshuang's sleeve to wipe the cold sweat from her forehead. The torment from the parasite came quickly and left just as swiftly. Her emotions were calm and indifferent, her heart untouched by anyone. The parasite seemed more a warning than anything else. For someone practicing the path of detachment to fall in love, it was exceedingly difficult. Perhaps before she had mastered the way of detachment, someone might have touched her heart. With a sudden thought, Lin Qianshuang's smile became gentle and kind as she softly asked Mu Xiaochi, "Xiaochi, I have a question. Before Sister Xiao, did City Lord Mu ever care deeply for anyone?" Mu Xiaochi seemed not to understand Lin Qianshuang's question, looking at her with blinking eyes. Lin Qianshuang rephrased her inquiry with a gentle smile, using her hands to emphasize, "Did your sister ever have a bosom friend? Someone particularly close, always around each other?" Mu Xiaochi did not answer; instead, she hooked her pinky with Lin Qianshuang's, leading her out of the courtyard and down a sparsely shaded path. Stopping at an abandoned residence, the stone steps in front of the red-painted door were clean, with the occasional wildflower sprouting from the cracks. Fallen leaves accumulated under the tall trees, as though someone had swept them away. "Every month, sister sits for a tea's time here, especially guarding the papers in the study's drawer, not liking anyone to approach them." Entering the study, Xiaochi picked up an antique from the wooden cabinet, playing with it fondly, then turned to see Lin Qianshuang attempting to open the desk drawer. She pouted, "That paper was old and yellowed, and I tore one to make into a kite. Sister scolded me, all because of the dark, odd man from her memories who gave her the shark pearl." Lin Qianshuang opened the drawer to reveal a stack of paper inscribed with incomprehensible phrases of the path of detachment, and beneath it lay rolls of thick yellowed bamboo scrolls. These scrolls contained basic sword cultivation techniques. Only when one doesn't know longing, do they become beset with longing, trapped by longing. Amidst the heart method annotations, an incongruent and peculiar modern poem occupied the scroll's end. Evidently plagiarized from the modern era. A few small characters were inscribed at the end; Lin Qianshuang softly infused them with a wisp of magic, aligning them with Qian Yu's words. These small characters were carefully penned, fluid and delicate, contrasting starkly with the wild script above, revealing the author’s good mood. Lin Qianshuang speculated whether these few lines could have been Liang Jingxuan's handiwork. Perhaps the male lead had caught wind of her findings, deliberately leaving misleading verses. A glimmer of pale golden sword light caught the edge of her vision, a violet silhouette swiftly appearing in the study. "How did you trick Xiaochi into entering here?" Mu Weiyin seized the bamboo scrolls from Lin Qianshuang's hand, her usually composed face now flickering with a rare trace of anger. She pointed to the door, "Leave. This is not a place for you." Noticing the anger on Mu Weiyin's face, Lin Qianshuang felt she had touched upon the city lord's sore spot, and gingerly retreated, pushing open the door with a heart full of trepidation. To her relief, as she exited, the City Lord did not order any punishment against her. There must be a secret hidden within those bamboo scrolls, especially considering the peculiarity of that love poem. Lin Qianshuang hid beside the door, her gaze slipping through the gap. From her angle, she could see inside the room; Mu Weiyin, treating them like cherished treasures, was cleaning the bamboo scrolls with a silk cloth before carefully placing them back into the drawer. Those seemingly worthless bamboo scrolls, disregarded if left on the street, were treasures in Mu Weiyin's hands, holding immeasurable value. Having seen countless rare gems of the world, Mu Weiyin regarding these tattered scrolls with such importance undoubtedly hid a story. Lin Qianshuang thought, as she had now assumed leadership of Tian Xu Pavilion, it would be worthwhile to search its archives for any records regarding the City Lord. Perhaps she might uncover some clues. With the special silver token of Tian Xu City, Lin Qianshuang entered the pavilion. Several wandering cultivators paused to show their respect, and acquaintances within the main Yi Xiang Pavilion treated her with deference, maintaining a cautious distance. Once on the tenth level of scattered cultivators’ records of Tian Xu City, Lin Qianshuang began to search for Mu Weiyin's documents. Among the vast shelves, she found a few records mentioning the city, but they were fleeting accounts without any substantial information. As she flipped through the pages, Lin Qianshuang felt drowsy due to the tiny font, failing to notice someone approaching her, giving her a start. Upon glancing up, she saw it was an inner worker from Tian Xu City, dressed as a runner for the pavilion. "Master, the Demon-Sealing Tower of the Great Victory Temple shows signs of loosening. The City Lord has commanded you to inspect and ensure the safety of the City Lord's wife. Cultivation sects have already settled at the Lingyun Inn outside the Buddhist sect." Lin Qianshuang closed the book, placed it back on the shelf, and nodded, "I will go at once. Inform City Lord Mu that I have acquaintances among the monks who reside in the guest quarters." The runner promptly acknowledged and went to report. The loosening of the Demon-Sealing Tower at the Great Victory Temple was merely a prelude. Lin Qianshuang recalled the original text: following this, all such towers would be progressively destroyed, except for the one at Penglai Immortal Sect. With this, the ancient ferocious beast, Taotie, would emerge. For now, Lin Qianshuang pondered not how to prevent this destined disaster but on how to utilize the event to help Xiao Lanle rise as leader of the Immortal Alliance. On the favorability window, Xiao Lanle's favor bar was full, leaving only the Immortal Alliance Leader task flashing. The night wind carried a metallic tang of blood, as fishing boats on the river floated emptily with candlelights flickering amidst the green waves. Soon, a crimson fog rose from beneath, and sinister skeletons emerged, suspended in the air. In the bustling capital teeming with people, merchant ships docked by the pier, while pleasure boats incessantly navigated beneath lantern-lit bridges. In the deep waters nearby, scarlet threads began to swirl, and soon a monstrous figure revealed two odd horns, its purplish-red eyes peering from beneath at the dense crowd. Its jaw drooped with seawater mixed with blood, exuding a foul stench. A pretty young woman in green walked along the bridge, painting with a large brush dipped in water under the willow trees. Many passersby cast curious glances her way, some gathering to see her seemingly aimless strokes. A scholar, believing himself erudite, could not decipher what she wrote. Instead of watching idly, he approached and peered curiously at her writing. The broad brush, moist with water, left trails of faint purple light on the grass, hovering mysteriously and stubbornly refusing to dissipate. “What is the young lady writing here?” Lin Qianshuang glanced at the young man with a book basket upon recognizing him as a mortal, casually replying, “I'm reading fortunes.” The scholar, noting her graceful demeanor unlike the charlatans of the world, inquired, “I'm here for the capital exam and wondering if the young lady could divine my future?” As Lin Qianshuang's divine consciousness spread over the watery area beneath the bridge, she detected demonic presences and wasn't inclined to chat with a mortal, so she suggested, "I'm busy. Why don't you ask the young man with the fortune flag there?" The scholar turned in Lin Qianshuang's indicated direction, only to see the fortune-teller tug at his hair, and his scalp began to crack open. The skin of an entire human face slowly peeled from his body. The scholar, terrified, stammered, his book basket tipping as books spread across the ground. He hastily gathered them before bolting away, avoiding a second glance at the fortune-teller. Lin Qianshuang looked up at the woman in pink holding the human skin, sending a message: Sister Xiao, there's no need to scare a mortal like that. “That mortal got way too close to you. If you don't mind, I certainly do.” Xiao Lanle dispelled her disguise and stashed the skin into a jade slip, walking to the edge of the gathering crowd.