Chapter 71

Mo Lin tensed under her subtle caress, his body drawn taut like a bowstring pulled to its limit.

But it was alright.

Her fingers, pressed against his leg, only lightly hooked onto his fingertips, then slowly turned his palm over and gently traced its lines.

【Continue】

Before leaving the Imo family mansion, Mu Cangshui had already advised them.

Do not be deceived by Jiufang Qian’s seemingly open and honest exterior.

This man was extremely suspicious. If they made their intentions too obvious, Jiufang Qian would retreat into his impenetrable defenses, just like a turtle sensing danger, and would no longer take the initiative to pull them into the game.

The key to making Jiufang Qian believe that Mo Lin was on their side lay in Mo Lin’s attitude toward Liuyu.

Jiufang Qian’s eyes, as deep and still as a pond, flickered faintly with the light of a candle.

“Such words—if Yingshan Liuyu is merely of average beauty, what would the girls of Manyu Jing think of themselves? My useless eldest son still dreams of one day, after Yingshan Liuyu and the respected master part ways, rekindling their past relationship.”

He lowered his eyelashes, smoothly completing the movements of opening the tea container, brewing, and flipping the teacup in a seamless flow that captivated the eye, making one’s gaze instinctively focus on his hands.

But Mo Lin’s gaze didn’t shift even slightly.

“In that case, I wonder if the respected master will fulfill my son’s wish in the future?”

Under the table, Liuyu, who was writing on a jade slip to send a message to Xiang Mu Cang Shui, paused for a moment.

He was testing Mo Lin’s attitude.

If he agreed, it would seem like he was just going along with Mo Lin’s wishes.

If he didn’t respond, it would make Mo Lin’s earlier dismissive words seem insincere.

Liuyu’s palm was sweating lightly.

“Fulfill?” Mo Lin rested his finger on his chin, the red tassels lightly swaying as he leaned back, gazing into Jiu Fang Qian’s black eyes with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“What you mean is, should I personally return Yinshan Liuyu to her lover and then cultivate the next generation, one who inherits both Jiu Fang family’s martial path and Yinshan family’s Confucian sword techniques—by then, who would be left as my enemies, the General of the Nation’s Protector?”

“Quite a brilliant calculation.”

The young man with a deep outline lowered his eyelids in weariness.

“If the Jiu Fang family head has such sincerity, then there’s no need to continue this talk.”

Without hesitation, his knuckles slowly lifted, and with Jiu Fang Qian’s calm gaze upon him, he began the hand gesture to close the communication array.

Jiu Fang Shao Geng, surprised, raised his head, his gaze shifting between his father and the Demon Lord Mo Lin.

Not talking anymore?

This person’s temper was quite big.

Just as the communication array was about to be closed, Jiu Fang Qian spoke.

“—But as a father, this is just my sincere love for my son, the Master of the Nine Heavens might be overthinking.”

The golden light in the array flickered.

“And besides, back in Wuse City, it was Yinshan Ze who issued the ban to kill the Demon Lord, and during every festival, he would even grant the Demon Lord with Hong Luan eggs. I thought…”

“Thought that Yinshan Ze burned Wuse City by himself? Thought I considered Yinshan Ze to be a benefactor?”

The Demon Lord’s voice was weary as he supported his forehead, but the words he spoke were sharp as steel, precisely and calmly piercing the deepest doubts in the hearts of many family heads.

Liuyu looked up to scrutinize his expression, but only saw a cold and indifferent side profile.

Jiu Fang Qian took a sip of Kunshan Tiger Plum tea.

“Oh? Was anyone really speculating that? How novel.”

“Perhaps it’s not speculation,” Liuyu said softly.

“Then he should be killed,” Jiu Fang Qian said.

He set the tea cup down with a smile, “A saint like that, if alive, would only make us petty mortals look ugly. The best outcome for a saint is death—only in death can they truly become a saint. Otherwise, a little dirty water would turn the saint into nothing more than a false gentleman.”

“You and I, both burdened, send Yinshan Ze into the way of the saints. This world, with its earthly dust and impurity, will be divided at the Great Deer Mountains. The south will belong to Jiu Fang, and the north to the Demon Lord. What say you?”

The autumn wind passed through the window beside the bed, bringing a slight chill.

The screen in the room depicted an immortal riding clouds and mist, glowing faintly in the dim light.

Although Liuyu had long known the ambition of the Jiu Fang family, hearing Jiu Fang Qian personally plot the downfall of the Yinshan family still sent a chill down her spine.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t seen the power struggles between the aristocratic families.

It was that, apart from their titles of family head, these people had, before revealing their true nature, always been elders who watched her grow up.

She had visited the Jiu Fang family’s residence countless times as a child and shared a desk with the third young lady of the Jiu Fang family at the academy. Every year after the Lantern Festival, she would stay at the Jiu Fang family’s house. Even when attending the Ling Yong Dao Conference, the jade hairpin she used was a gift from Jiu Fang Qian.

But despite this deep connection, in the end, all that remained was a simple—

“Must be killed.”

A broad hand was placed on Liuyu’s cheek.

His hand was large enough to cover most of her face, his thumb gently rubbing, silently comforting her.

“I heard that after the battle at Longduo City, Nangong Yao returned to the capital. How should we kill him?”

Liuyu’s eyelashes fluttered slightly.

His touch was gentle, yet his words were filled with murderous intent.

She hadn’t noticed before, but his acting skills were quite good.

“He’s not in the capital, but in Longduo City,” Jiu Fang Qian said. “He must be there to kill a traitor from the Yinshan family. He didn’t bring the capital’s guards and is alone. Killing him won’t be difficult. The only worry is whether Yinshan Liuyu will detect it, so if we act, we must consider her as a variable.”

Her uncle’s whereabouts had been leaked.

But if the Jiu Fang family really had such influence, they wouldn’t be unaware of Ji Mo Gui’s true identity.

Liuyu couldn’t figure it out, but she immediately took out the jade slip to send the message.

It wasn’t clear how much the Jiu Fang family knew about Nangong Yao’s movements, but fortunately, Nangong Yao had only stayed longer in Longduo City during the banquet hosted by the Ji Mo family, spending most of his time wandering there.

Mo Lin spoke, “The twelve demons must guard the Nine Heavens, so I won’t mobilize the ten thousand demons.”

Jiu Fang Qian understood his concerns.

“Zhong Li family will send more puppet generals to protect him. You just need to focus on Nangong Yao.”

Mo Lin’s fingers lightly tapped the armrest.

“At sunset tomorrow, I will move the Dragon Vein Stone near the Western Territory’s Yu Yuan, and once I confirm what you said is true, I will depart.”

“Tonight, I can verify it for you.”

“Follow the time I set,” his indifferent eyes locked onto the other, emphasizing, “Otherwise, how can I be sure you can truly control the Divine China Jade Seal?”

Jiu Fang Shao Geng couldn’t help but glance at him.

This Demon Lord wasn’t the mindless monster he seemed. He had actually found the critical point.

They really couldn’t use the Divine China Jade Seal anytime and anywhere.

Jiu Fang Qian stared at him for a moment, then calmly agreed. He suddenly added,

“As for Yinshan Liuyu, leave that to you.”

“That depends on when you want me to act,” Mo Lin said. “If we live in the same place, and if I suddenly disappear, Yinshan Liuyu will definitely suspect. With her sharp senses, it’s impossible for her not to notice.”

Jiufang Shaogeng sneered coldly in his heart.

That’s true.

In the past, at the academy, even if he casually discussed her behind her back, she would always find out…

His brows slowly furrowed again.

Contemplating the phrase “living under the same roof,” he suddenly felt a wave of nausea in his heart, and his gaze unintentionally shifted to the demon lord across from him.

Jiufang Qian said, “Even one night of absence would be noticed? This is the disadvantage of having too few concubines.”

Mo Lin raised his eyelids slightly:

“What’s this? Jiufang Family Head wants to send me a few?”

As soon as the words fell, he felt a slight sting in his fingertips, and his brow twitched imperceptibly.

“I would like to send them, but I’m afraid you wouldn’t dare accept.”

Jiufang Qian leaned slightly forward, his tone laced with mockery:

“If you dare accept, there will be beauties of all shapes and sizes, with the finest looks and fragrance, delivered to the Midnight Palace to accompany you every night, so that Yinshan Liuyu won’t be able to track your movements.”

“…Fine.”

The slight sting in his fingertips transformed into a moist grip.

In a brief moment of stillness in his breath, his throat unconsciously rolled.

“The lanterns in the Midnight Palace are getting old; it’s just right… they’re missing some beauties to fill the space.”

Mo Lin felt his thumb slip into her mouth. He tried to withdraw it, but she held his wrist, trapping it, leaving him with no choice but to let her continue. Her moist tongue circled his finger.

His gaze remained fixed ahead.

But at this moment, what occupied his mind were her clear, bright eyes, her soft, rosy lips, and… an even more disturbing image.

The layers of robes couldn’t hide the rising contours, and Liuyu’s peripheral vision briefly flicked towards it.

Jiufang Qian chuckled at his words, while Jiufang Shaogeng softly asked his father:

“What lantern?”

“Hasn’t the second young master seen it?”

Those dark eyes, like moss-covered land, shifted, landing on Jiufang Shaogeng’s face.

“Paper lanterns can’t withstand the wind and frost, but if you use human bones as the frame, covering it with the delicate skin of a beauty, carving pictures, writing poems, and using corpse oil for the lamp wick—the skin of common folk is too coarse, only the skin of aristocratic families can create something beautiful. Someone like the second young master would be very suitable.”

Jiufang Shaogeng stared at him for a moment, his eyes briefly closing, as though even his breath quickened in excitement. It was a chilling sight.

No matter how human-like they looked, monsters were still monsters!

After a while, Jiufang Qian concealed his amusement, returning to his usual demeanor and said flatly:

“The puppets of the Zhongli family are no pushovers. As long as you can deal with Nangong Yao, even if Liuyu from Yinshan arrives in person, she won’t be able to change the outcome of the battle.”

Mo Lin opened his eyes, a faint mist of water in his pupils, undetectable except by Liuyu.

The matter was settled, and Jiufang Qian no longer exchanged pleasantries or jokes, since the demons in the communication array didn’t seem to be in the mood for idle talk either.

—Otherwise, he wouldn’t have brought up the old story about the deputy lord of the Jiufang family in the colorless city using the demons’ skins to make lanterns.

The communication array was cut off, and the room fell into silence.

Jiufang Qian slowly closed his eyes, silently replaying his entire conversation with Mo Lin in his mind.

Though there were some suspicions, everything still seemed within reasonable bounds. With Nangong Yao poised to strike at Yin Zishi, Mo Lin was the only one he could think of who could be sent to stop him.

After a moment, Jiufang Qian slowly opened his eyes.

“Autumn has arrived, the weather is growing colder. Your mother knows you like to enjoy the coolness, and she’s been concerned about it.”

Jiufang Shaogeng bowed deeply, a slight look of happiness on his face:

“I’ve added more clothes, and the bedding in my mother’s room has also been replaced with thicker ones. When she returns, she’ll…”

“As long as you remember to add more clothes.”

Jiufang Qian turned his head, and the candlelight filled the room, creating a stuffy heat in the air.

But when Jiufang Shaogeng met his father’s eyes, he still felt a chill rise from his feet.

“I’ll have the bedding sent to the water prison.”

Jiufang Shaogeng’s face went pale.

“Didn’t you say this month…?”

“Losing the Xiangli clan and losing Taiping City can still be blamed on the enemy being too strong, but the demon Mo Lin is very likely to be the greatest enemy the Jiufang family will face in the next few decades or even centuries. You’re in front of him, yet you can’t even speak a word.”

Jiufang Qian’s eyes, holding a faint smile, reflected the youthful fear in Jiufang Shaogeng’s expression.

“Let’s wait until winter to bring your mother back, Shaogeng.”

The final rays of golden light from the communication array closed in his palm.

Mo Lin moved away from the table and, after calming his breath a little, held her chin, rarely looking stern as he asked:

“Was it fun?”

The layers of her dress draped across the black wooden floor, and she let her head rest in his palm, slowly blinking and smiling.

“This is something I should be asking you.”

Her gaze swept over the outline right in front of her.

“You look like you quite enjoy it.”

The hand resting on his knee was about to pull away when Mo Lin grabbed her wrist and slowly lifted it higher.

His palm pressed against her hand, guiding her to hold his hand through the fabric.

“This is even better.”

His already husky breath grew even more erratic, like the wind outside the window blowing into the warm inner room, brushing against Liuyu’s ear, and a faint heat surrounded her.

Liuyu whispered as she lay on his knee:

“I used to think my uncle came over because we didn’t have enough people at home, so I had to pull him out of the royal domain. But today, after hearing what Jiufang Qian said, I suddenly thought—perhaps my mother deliberately moved him so that Jiufang Qian could have a chance to make contact with the royal family, eventually giving him the opportunity to get his hands on the Imperial Seal of China and guide him into making these plans…”

“It probably wouldn’t have happened.”

Mo Lin closed his eyes, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.

“No matter how elaborate the plan, once more than three people are involved, there will be uncertainties. Let alone from the royal domain to the Jiufang family, then to Yin Zishi… In the current situation, your mother may have guessed part of it, but her original intention wasn’t this.”

Liuyu was deep in thought.

She had asked Nangong Yao whether he knew why her mother had reassigned him to Longduo City. Nangong Yao wasn’t entirely sure, only knowing that Nangong Jing had told him:

“There’s no need for you to worry about the matters of the Central Region; I’ve got it under control.”

With that, Nangong Yao had no more questions. He simply followed orders.

But the Central Region had always been the area that Nangong Jing valued most.

From childhood, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that Nangong Jing cared more about the young emperor’s safety than Liuyu’s. If the young emperor caught a cold or had a cough, Nangong Jing would personally travel to the Central Region to check on him.

If the young emperor weren’t three years younger than Liuyu, Yin Shanze would probably be jealous.

Nangong Jing placed so much importance on the young emperor and the Central Region, yet she allowed the forces of Jiufangqian to infiltrate the Shen’gao Palace… Even if it was part of a plot, it seemed a bit too risky.

As Liuyu was lost in these thoughts, a long arm suddenly reached down, and someone from behind lifted her onto the bed.

The hand holding her did not stop moving.

“Liuyu, hurry up.”

The girl, who was resting against his chest, paused her actions, still lost in her thoughts.

Looking into his moist, hazy, emerald eyes, Liuyu felt a bit mischievous. She teasingly said:

“It can’t be any faster. The Lord is so heavy. If you want it, why not find a few more concubines to serve you?”

As she spoke, her lips were close to his Adam’s apple, but not touching, only moving with her words. There were still faint red marks on her lips from where his fingertip had stroked earlier.

“Besides the eldest lady’s extraordinary talent, who else could bear with me?”

Liuyu intended to make him feel embarrassed, but didn’t expect him to say such shameless words with such a calm expression.

“You talk nonsense…”

“Is that not the case?”

He held her waist and seated her on his lap.

“Clearly, she can take it.”

Liuyu tried to cover his mouth, but it was already too late.

His moist tongue traced her palm, and when she withdrew her hand, Mo Lin grabbed her wrist, forcing her hand to unfasten his belt.

With no cloth between them, Mo Lin let out a long sigh, while Liuyu seemed to hold onto something as she deliberately teased him, not letting him enjoy fully.

“…So what? Isn’t it just an average appearance, nothing special, you’re wasting the Lord’s eyes.”

Mo Lin knew she would bring this up when he said what he did, and casually pulled out a piece of cloth from the bag.

“It’s not a waste. If the eldest lady can wear this, it would be even less of a waste.”

Liuyu took a closer look and saw that it was a small white garment embroidered with golden thread.

It was the one he had promised to make up for after it was torn.

“…You’re dreaming.”

He didn’t force her, merely lowering his head to kiss her brows.

“Indeed, it’s a dream.”

If it weren’t a dream, how could he hold the bright moon, suspended in a thousand of his dreams, in his arms?

For this dream, he could endure the disgust of dealing with noble families and would risk his life to protect her and her family.

Liuyu was lost in the rare tenderness of his kiss.

Even her hand seemed to become more serious.

The breath at her neck grew heavier, yet he controlled himself, unwilling to seem desperate.

But Liuyu liked seeing him move for her, the way his emotions showed.

“…In your dream, will I do this to you?”

His fingers tightened around her slender waist.

Mo Lin slowly raised his head, meeting her clear and pure eyes, his voice hoarse:

“It’s better if you don’t know.”

There was no urging from Mu Cangshui, and it wasn’t until noon that Liuyu finally regained some consciousness.

When Chaoyuan entered to attend to her, she found the girl lying on the bed, with her back exposed, tangled in the messy silk quilt.

The sunlight from the window poured into the room, casting a sheen over her delicate skin, but her skin, like jade, was marked with deep and shallow red marks, looking both pitiful and adorable.

Then she heard the sound of a sword unsheathing.

Chaoyuan: “Who hurt the…”

Bai Pingting silently pushed the sword’s hilt back.

“Lord Chaoyuan, please go outside and play. I’m fine with just staying here.”

Chaoyuan:?

Liuyu waved her hand. Chaoyuan tilted her head, confused, and left.

“The Lord went to hear the reports from the remaining twelve ritual gods about the matters of Jiuyou. As soon as I finished reporting, she sent me with the ointment to find the Lady.”

Bai Pingting sat at the bedside, applying medicine to Liuyu.

Liuyu slightly turned her head, her cheeks flushed, looking like a blossom just waking up.

Who could ignore such a sight?

Liuyu lazily stretched and asked, “How has my third uncle been during our time away from Jiuyou?”

Bai Pingting smiled lightly.

“Mr. Qi has been slightly short on resources, and running between the Ghost Dao Academy and Extreme Night Palace has been exhausting. But there shouldn’t be too many worries. The demons in the Ghost Dao Academy respect him and even bring him rare beasts from the mountains.”

“It’s fine,” Liuyu said, raising her leg and shaking it with a smile, “He’ll be even busier soon.”

Nangong Yao couldn’t stand her third uncle, who was always sneaky. Whenever he had the chance, Liuyu couldn’t help but want to practice some discipline on her uncle’s loose and proud body.

But…

Liuyu couldn’t help but start to think.

The conflict between Nangong Yao and Mo Lin was likely unavoidable, but this show couldn’t be performed in front of Jiufang and Zhongli families for nothing.

How could she collect the debt from them?

Liuyu slowly got up to change her clothes, and just as she stepped out the door, she heard hurried footsteps approaching.

Fang Fucang burst into the room, his face covered in stubble, looking exhausted.

As soon as he saw Liuyu, he raised his bloodshot eyes and, with a thud, knelt down.

“Please, young miss, have mercy and save my wife from this peril.”

Liuyu was startled by the sudden turn of events.

“…What’s going on? Get up first and explain everything from the beginning.”

Fang Fuzang didn’t move.

“Yue Niang has thoroughly studied the puppet generals of the Zhongli family. The puppet generals she has modified can possess the strength of the Seven Realms.”

The topic shifted too quickly, and Liuyu paused for a moment before asking:

“What does this have to do with your wife?”

“Because Yue Niang told me that she only managed to understand this after reading the secret texts that Lan Ruo had secretly sent her. But Lan Ruo has never been involved in mechanical crafting. I immediately inquired with the Shentuo family and learned that Zhongli Lingzhao issued an order for Lan Ruo to marry a member of the Shentuo family in three days.”

“I then realized that for some time, she’s been tightly controlled by her uncle, Yin Zhi. Her only opportunity to contact the outside world was to steal and send out a portion of the mechanical texts from the Shentuo family. She must have known that I’ve been searching for mechanical crafting texts for Yue Niang and wanted to help me one last time—”

For the first time, Fang Fuzang knelt on both knees, deeply bowing to Liuyu.

“Now, the only one I can ask for help is you, young miss. If you can save my wife, Fang Fuzang will serve you loyally for the rest of my life, even unto death.”