Chapter 949: Shura Scene

“Hmph.” However, Ghost Mother and Han Shanxue had noticed.

Han Shanxue wasn’t the type to meddle. She didn’t care what entanglement Ye Wenxin might have with Long Qingyue. On the other hand, Ghost Mother had her full attention on Ye Wenxin. She unhappily picked up a few vegetables and dropped them into Ye Wenxin’s bowl.

Lowering her voice, she said, “Eat more greens, Miss Ye. You can’t keep drooling over some tender, juicy meat.”

Ignoring the suggestive comment, Ye Wenxin ate the bok choy and silently endured the rest of the meal.

……

When afternoon arrived, Sister Hong led the group toward the Treasure Pavilion. Walking together, they looked conspicuous, especially with a few gorgeous women among them.

Ye Wenxin glanced at Long Qingyue out of the corner of her eye. She didn’t wear a veil, seemingly unafraid of having her identity discovered. In contrast, Sister Hong pulled a parasol from her bag of holding to protect her skin from sunlight.

That action reminded those around them of the classic “use a parasol to woo a lady” move. Young Master Lü immediately asked his young servant for a parasol, intending to hold it for Long Qingyue, but she politely declined.

Ye Wenxin found it a little amusing. Then, she saw Sister Hong waving at her. “Celestial Master Ye, would you like to share my parasol?”

Sister Hong wore a smile. It seemed that providing a hint for her brother had only been secondary. Her main purpose was to grow closer to Ye Wenxin.

Naturally, there was no romantic implication behind it. It was more like the gesture of someone trying to win over a talented person. Ye Wenxin shook her head and pulled out the umbrella sword.

“I have my own.”

Ye Wenxin wasn’t in the habit of using a parasol to shield herself from the sun. She had only opened it now as a sign of refusal.

Sister Hong’s eyes lit up. Closing her parasol, she stepped under Ye Wenxin’s umbrella sword.

“What kind of umbrella is this? The craftsmanship is so intricate. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Ye Wenxin had forgotten that Sister Hong was the Treasure Pavilion’s manager. How could she not be interested in a divine weapon like the umbrella sword?

“This is the Southern Dipper Temple’s umbrella sword.” Ye Wenxin didn’t bother hiding its origin. Sister Hong grew even more intrigued.

“Is it really?! No wonder it exudes such dominance. I’ve heard it serves as an umbrella and a sword, providing both offense and defense!”

Sister Hong grabbed Ye Wenxin’s arm, excitedly sharing all she knew about the umbrella sword.

Despite her displeasure, Ghost Mother didn’t dare get too close for fear the umbrella might automatically suck her in.

But she couldn’t bear to watch Ye Wenxin using her umbrella sword to gain Sister Hong’s favor.

Ghost Mother quickly went off somewhere. She returned a moment later with an umbrella of her own, her head held high, looking proud of herself.

Ye Wenxin ignored Ghost Mother’s pettiness. After all, the far more terrifying Long Qingyue was still nearby.

Yet, during her interactions with Sister Hong, Long Qingyue remained surprisingly calm. Ye Wenxin felt that perhaps she had worried too much.

This was the lofty, untouchable Long Qingyue, her only best friend. How could she get upset over something so trivial?

With that reassurance, Ye Wenxin relaxed and chatted with Sister Hong more freely.

They soon arrived at the Treasure Pavilion. Ye Wenxin put the umbrella sword away, but Sister Hong looked reluctant to part with it.

So she asked, “Celestial Master Ye, would you let me look at it again tonight?”

“Tonight? In your room?”

Ye Wenxin was staying in Sister Hong’s room and naturally assumed any of their meetings would likely take place there as well.

“Mm.” Sister Hong nodded. “I’ve been appraising treasures for years, and this is my first time seeing a divine weapon. I’d love to have a closer look at the umbrella sword.”

She didn’t hide her enthusiasm for the umbrella sword, her curvaceous figure pressing against Ye Wenxin’s arm. It was an unconscious gesture but inevitably had some effect when done by a beautiful woman.

However, Ye Wenxin had long since grown numb to peerless beauties. Unflustered, she agreed.

“Thank you, Celestial Master Ye.” Sister Hong’s smile bloomed like a flower, while Ghost Mother’s face grew darker along with her increasing vexation.

When she noticed Long Qingyue watching them as well, the gears in Ghost Mother’s mind turned. She approached Long Qingyue.

“Miss Yue, what do you say we collaborate this once?”

Ghost Mother planned to have Long Qingyue execute her revenge for Ye Wenxin’s fickle affections. She didn’t care that it had been a harmless conversation between women.

Long Qingyue’s expression didn’t change, but she turned to look at Ghost Mother. “Oh? What for?”

“Don’t you find that woman irritating? Let’s kill her tonight.”

Ghost Mother licked her lips. As a brute, she preferred action over thinking. But Ye Wenxin would be angry if she did it herself. So she intended to have Long Qingyue do the deed and take the blame, and then Ye Wenxin would start resenting her instead.

Long Qingyue gave a faint smile. When Ghost Mother thought she would agree, Long Qingyue added, “I didn’t expect you to be so violent, Miss Gu Youchou. Truly a disgrace to the Gu surname.”

She delivered those words so calmly, yet the layered implications nearly provoked Ghost Mother into revealing her ghost form. If the wards within the Treasure Pavilion hadn’t resonated subtly in warning, she would’ve thrown caution to the wind and tore Long Qingyue apart.

Ghost Mother spoke quietly. “So you can tolerate it? You may put on a good act, but I know we’re the same.”

Long Qingyue didn’t even look at her. “Sorry. As a human, I can’t empathize with a ghost.”

With that, she walked on, catching up with the rest of the group, leaving Ghost Mother standing there, stomping her foot in frustration.

Ghost Mother cursed inwardly, ‘No wonder Ah Ran hasn’t managed to kill you yet. But…’

She gave Long Qingyue a meaningful look, her lips spreading in a pleased smile.

……

Ye Wenxin was completely unaware of the verbal sparring that had just occurred between Long Qingyue and Ghost Mother. She and Sister Hong climbed the stairs, heading to the fifth floor’s guest lounge.

There were exaggeratedly more talismans in the surroundings than a few days ago. However, Ye Wenxin sensed only a faint trace of power from them. They might suffice against lesser ghosts but had no effect against anything slightly more powerful.

Worse still, after a casual glance, Ye Wenxin spotted three talismans with incorrect diagrams meant to enhance a ghost’s cultivation instead. Her brows furrowed at such a grave error.

Even though her only connection to the One Short Sect was Celestial Master Zhong, this deteriorating situation made that sect look more and more like a group of charlatans.