Translator: CinderTL
In a corner of the long street, a woman stood veiled, revealing only her crescent-moon-shaped eyes. She wore a long, pink dress, her delicate, jade-like feet bare and spotless.
Leaning against the wall, she watched the passersby, her eyes blinking softly, her thoughts unreadable.
Suddenly, a man's voice called out from behind, "So this is where Immortal Maiden Xianxian has been hiding. You've certainly made me search high and low."
Mo Xianxian sighed inwardly. Without turning around, she knew it was Fang Qingge of the Source Worship Sect.
A handsome man strode forward, a faint smile playing on his lips. His long, disheveled hair was casually tied behind his head, and he held a folding fan that swayed gently with each step. A wisp of wind parted the stray strands framing his face.
Anyone who saw him would inevitably praise him as a worldly rogue, yet his eyes held no hint of frivolity or restlessness, only an air of effortless freedom.
Unable to completely ignore him, Mo Xianxian turned and offered a formal bow. "This humble girl greets Young Master Fang."
With a flick of his wrist, Fang Qingge snapped the fan shut with a clack. "Immortal Maiden Xianxian, why do you avoid me so? Though I may be a wanderer, I'm not one to pester or cling. If you find me tiresome, simply say so, and I'll take my leave immediately, never to trouble you again."
Mo Xianxian let out a long breath, replying without hesitation, "I'm used to being alone and don't like having people around."
"I don't believe you."
Mo Xianxian turned her head, her expression questioning. "...?"
You asked me to explain, and now you don't believe me? Are you playing with me?
"Why does the Immortal Maiden keep everyone at arm's length?" Fang Qingge's words were cut short as two young women came running from a distance, their faces flushed with excitement. "Senior Brother Fang, why are you hiding here? Come quickly! We have a treasure to show you!"
Fang Qingge's lips twitched, and he sighed inwardly. "Um... Junior Sisters, I have important matters to attend to. Why don't you go find Senior Brother Liu and play with him instead?"
The two girls' expressions instantly soured, their gazes turning hostile as they glared at Mo Xianxian. "Senior Brother, who is she?" they demanded loudly.
"Uh..."
Fang Qingge wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, his eyes darting around as he tried to change the subject. "I heard Brother Luo has a sword technique called Falling Rain Intent. It's said to be quite beautiful. Perhaps we could..."
The girls weren't fooled, their eyes remaining fixed on Mo Xianxian. "Not so fast, Senior Brother Fang. First, explain who she is."
"This... this..." Fang Qingge was so flustered he wished he could dig a hole and bury himself.
"I am Mo Xianxian. Greetings, Senior Sisters."
Mo Xianxian shook her head, puzzled by Fang Qingge's cowering demeanor. There was nothing between them, yet his behavior made it seem like they shared some illicit relationship.
"You're Mo Xianxian?" The hostility in the two women's eyes intensified.
They had long heard of Mo Xianxian's fame, burdened by titles like "First Beauty of the Cultivation World," "Shangyin Mountain's Foremost Heavenly Pride," and "A Woman of Gentle and Generous Character."
Men who saw her became infatuated, while women who saw her felt instant animosity.
Mo Xianxian found this endlessly tiresome and resorted to veiling her face with a light gauze, which offered some relief.
But another problem arose: men who had only heard of her but never seen her face now clamored to lift the veil and glimpse her true appearance.
Mo Xianxian was now thoroughly exasperated. Veiling her face was no better than leaving it bare. She could only retreat from the crowds, seeking moments of solitude in secluded corners.
Yet since arriving in Mist City, Fang Qingge, the esteemed disciple of the Source Worship Sect, had begun pestering her again.
Meanwhile, the two women seized Fang Qingge's arms, one on each side, and twisted his ribs viciously. He grimaced in pain, but knowing he was in the wrong, he dared not resist.
The woman on the left snapped angrily, "Fang Qingge, you're a real piece of work! When you were chasing me, you swore the heavens and earth, claiming I was the only woman you'd ever love. Then you went after Junior Sister Yu just a few days later!"
"I thought, 'Men having multiple wives is normal,' and since Junior Sister Yu and I are close, sharing a husband wouldn't be so bad. But now you've set your sights on Mo Xianxian too?"
Junior Sister Yu nodded in agreement from the other side. "Exactly!"
She pulled a folding fan from her sleeve. "You even called this our token of love and told me to cherish it. I believed you! I've been sleeping with it every night."
Her voice grew increasingly aggrieved. "Aren't we enough for you? How many women do you need to satisfy you?"
Fang Qingge rubbed his ribs and gently embraced both women. Soft-hearted as he was, he couldn't bear to see them cry. He murmured soothingly, "My sincerity for each of you is equal. It's just that my heart has shattered into many pieces, and each piece houses a different woman."
Junior Sister Yu was stunned by his shameless words. After a long pause, she asked in disbelief, "So now there's another piece of your 'sincere' heart for Mo Xianxian?"
Fang Qingge nodded approvingly. "I've always admired your quick wit and cleverness."
"Pah!" Junior Sister Yu spat, her face flushed with anger. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she wrenched herself free from Fang Qingge's embrace, pointed a trembling finger at him, and sobbed, "Fang Qingge! Just you wait! I'm going to tell Master!"
Fang Qingge shook his head with a sigh. Ah, Junior Sister Yu doesn't realize...
...that a piece of my heart has already been given to her Master as well.
The two women stormed off, their anger still simmering. As they rounded the corner of the alley, they nearly collided with someone, instinctively letting out a startled cry and stumbling back two steps.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!"
The two women's cultivation levels were not low; under normal circumstances, they would have sensed someone behind the corner even through the wall. But their emotions were running high, and they hadn't paid attention to their surroundings. Coupled with their foul mood, their reaction bordered on unreasonable.
Xu Sanyan was strolling through the streets with Xiang Tan and Elder Ren, hoping to experience the sights and sounds of Mist City. They happened to be passing by the alley at that moment.
He had naturally sensed the presence of someone behind the wall but had no intention of yielding the way.
A mere Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator dares demand I step aside?
Xu Sanyan frowned slightly at the woman's words, about to retort when his gaze swept past the two women to settle on Fang Qingge and Mo Xianxian standing behind them.
Both exuded a subtle sense of danger.
The bitter smile faded from Fang Qingge's face, gradually replaced by a solemn expression. He didn't recognize Xu Sanyan, but he could sense the man was no ordinary cultivator.
"Junior Sister Yu, Junior Sister Zhao, come back," Fang Qingge said in a low voice.
"No! I'm going to inform Master," Junior Sister Yu insisted, mistaking his caution for fear.
"Come back!" Fang Qingge's tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.
Junior Sister Zhao, regaining her composure, sensed the shift in atmosphere. She grabbed Junior Sister Yu's arm and swiftly retreated, pulling her back to stand beside Fang Qingge.
Mo Xianxian straightened her posture, her heart pounding with apprehension as she fixed her gaze on Xu Sanyan.
Xu Sanyan remained motionless, watching the two women retreat without making a move.
"This humble one is Fang Qingge of the Source Worship Sect. Greetings, fellow cultivator," Fang Qingge said, clasping his folded fan and offering a slight bow.
"This humble one is Mo Xianxian of Shangyin Mountain. Greetings, fellow cultivator," Mo Xianxian added with an elegant curtsy.
Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You're the renowned Fang Qingge? I've heard so much about you."
(End of the Chapter)
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