The Zhenxian Yu’s sword energy swept across Taichu’s inner court. Taichu’s Sect Leader and others immediately put down their affairs and flew over on their swords, their speed so fast that Ling Luo had no time to leave.

In their haste, the two hid inside the Golden Luan Pool Banquet platform, in a narrow small compartment where a folding screen blocked the entrance.

Throughout this, Yue Liangze was in a passive state, being pulled along by Ling Luo.

In that moment, he hadn’t yet had time to be surprised by the Zhenxian Yu’s reaction before being taken by that cold hand, his attention thus completely shifting to Ling Luo.

Sword lights came from all directions as more and more people arrived at the Weak Water where the Zhenxian Yu stood.

Ling Luo heard Taichu’s Sect Leader below say in a deep voice: “Seal off this area. Without my order, no one is allowed to step in.”

The compartment was too small, barely accommodating two people. It depended on their posture to minimize the space needed. When Ling Luo pulled Yue Liangze in, she didn’t consider much, only seeing that he was taller than her, so she gripped his neck, making him lower his head to prevent him from being spotted above the screen.

The Golden Luan Pool Banquet platform was pitch black.

Dusk had passed, and the night sky was full of stars.

Yue Liangze, pulled down by her, nearly buried his head in his chest, but stopped just in time to avoid that awkwardness. He turned his head sideways, barely fitting at her shoulder and neck position, his nose able to smell the faint fragrance of Ling Luo.

The confined space forced the two into a distance that was quite intimate.

Too close.

Skin touching skin, that faint, fresh scent entered his chest, deeply imprinting in his memory, impossible to forget.

This distance, before it was her, and now it was also her.

Ling Luo was paying attention to the outside, completely unaware that their posture was somewhat provocative.

From Yue Liangze’s angle, a simple downward glance would reveal a large patch of skin beneath her neckline. His brows slightly furrowed as he grabbed Ling Luo’s hand to change their position. He straightened up with his back against the screen, holding Ling Luo in the crook of his arm, circling her neck, half-embracing her.

Ling Luo looked up at him. The narrow space was dark, but they were so close that Yue Liangze could see her starry eyes glittering.

Yue Liangze pressed his lips together, appearing calm, his eyes indicating the height of the screen, reassuring her that the screen was a bit taller than him.

Only then did Ling Luo turn her gaze away, paying attention to the movements outside.

Taichu’s two Sect Leaders and various Hall Masters had all arrived.

“That sword energy just now… could it be?” Hall Master Feng hesitated, his shocked gaze falling on the Zhenxian Yu.

“Not necessarily,” the Second Sect Leader said in a deep voice. “The Zhenxian Yu shows no signs of loosening.”

He placed his hand on the sword hilt and tried hard, but there was no reaction.

“Did anyone see any suspicious individuals on the way here?” the Second Sect Leader asked.

“No,” Taichu’s Sect Leader said, his sharp gaze sweeping around.

He could judge the presence and determine the number of people by sound.

On the Golden Luan Pool Banquet platform, both people behind the screen knew how to avoid the Sect Leader’s sound judgment. Yue Liangze, fearing Ling Luo’s cultivation level might not be sufficient, reached out and placed a seal on her shoulder to block her sound.

Ling Luo: “?”

She gave Yue Liangze a profound glance.

Wow.

This man underestimated her!

Could I not control mere sound?

To avoid the sound detection of someone at the Taichu Sect Leader’s level, one would need to have at least broken through the Life and Death Realm.

Yue Liangze knew Ling Luo was formidable, but he hadn’t heard that she had broken through the Life and Death Realm, so he acted just to be safe.

If the Sect Leader came up to the platform and directly moved the screen to check, the two with nowhere to escape would be discovered.

But sometimes a person’s arrogance can lead to incorrect judgments.

Taichu’s Sect Leader withdrew his gaze to the Zhenxian Yu and said in a deep voice: “I was the first to arrive and saw no one else.”

“So was that sword hum emitted by the Zhenxian Yu itself?” Hall Master Qian walked around the Zhenxian Yu, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “The last time it showed activity was several hundred years ago, during the internal faction conflict. Is it happening again?”

These words carried some deeper meaning, and both Sect Leaders glanced at him.

Hall Master Qian raised his hands in surrender: “Hey, hey, consider me talking too much.”

“Father!” A man flying lazily on his sword from the distance nearly stumbled when landing, but fortunately, Zong Xiu, who landed at the same time, gave him a steadying hand.

Seeing his son’s sword flying so carelessly, compared to Zong Xiu’s composure, Taichu’s Sect Leader was extremely displeased.

“What are you being so reckless for!” Taichu’s Sect Leader scolded, hating that iron couldn’t be forged into steel. “You’re a father now, how can you not learn to be more steady!”

Qi Xiang, rubbing his head after the scolding, looked puzzled. “Father, I just arrived and haven’t said a word yet. Why are you already lecturing me? What did I do wrong? Mother said there was strange activity here and told me to come check. Haven’t I come? I even put down my rice bowl to come here. What’s wrong now?”

Listening to his son’s half-defiant, half-aggrieved words, Taichu’s Sect Leader’s temple throbbed violently.

Behind the screen, Ling Luo’s lips curved slightly as she listened.

Yue Liangze’s gaze swept over her lips, wondering what was so amusing.

The other Hall Masters were all suppressing their laughter, only Qi Xiang was genuinely confused about why he was being scolded.

Zong Xiu stepped forward to the Second Sect Leader’s side, examining the Zhenxian Yu while asking in a low voice: “Did it move?”

“The Sect Leader saw no one when he came here, but the Zhenxian Yu’s sword energy suddenly erupted, even disturbing the Weak Water,” the Second Sect Leader pondered. “Perhaps something stimulated it.”

The Sect Leader exchanged a glance with him.

Another Hall Master came over and said: “We’ve checked the surroundings, nothing unusual.”

The Sect Leader and others waited at the Zhenxian Yu for a long time, thinking it might show another anomaly.

Ling Luo grew bored waiting, resting her chin on Yue Liangze’s arm, leaning against his arm to stand lazily.

Yue Liangze had no objection.

He turned his head to look outside the screen, paying attention to every movement below.

If they wanted to leave, the screen was their only path.

The screen directly faced the Zhenxian Yu below, with several people standing facing the screen. If the two came out, they would be discovered.

They could only wait.

The Zhenxian Yu was now quiet again, back in its “playing dead” state.

People gradually left.

First the two Sect Leaders, then Hall Master Feng, Hall Master Qian—until finally, only one person remained: Zong Xiu.

Zong Xiu had been obsessed with Zhenxian Yu since childhood.

He wanted to pull out the Zhenxian Yu.

He couldn’t get Zhenxian Yu only because he wasn’t strong enough—this was Zong Xiu’s understanding. He practiced daily, working hard to improve his cultivation, and now at such a young age had glimpsed the edge of the Life and Death Realm, truly a prodigy.

Yet he still couldn’t pull out the Zhenxian Yu.

Zong Xiu gripped the sword hilt tightly, curiosity and disappointment overlapping in his eyes, finally leaving only a sigh.

Ling Luo gently yawned and carefully reached out to rub her eyes.

This Zong Xiu had tried the sword, shouldn’t he face reality, know he wasn’t the chosen one for the Zhenxian Yu, and leave?

Ling Luo was hopeful, but saw Zong Xiu lift his long robe, sit cross-legged on his sword, facing the Zhenxian Yu, and also facing the screen.

Zong Xiu planned to stay until dawn.

Ling Luo wanted to strangle him.

Yue Liangze also hadn’t expected Zong Xiu to not leave, but instead adopt a posture of sitting quietly until daybreak.

Ling Luo was so angry she lowered her head and bumped against the man’s solid arm.

Yue Liangze: “…”

This isn’t my fault.

His eyes flashed with momentary helplessness.

Ling Luo twisted around, burrowing entirely into his embrace, causing Yue Liangze to instantly straighten his back.

Compared to her younger years, Ling Luo was more familiar with and willing to be close to this adult body.

The once overly intimate entanglement day and night, the scent and feeling that should have existed in her memories, was once again present at the moment.

Clean, refreshing scent, solid and reliable chest, long arms circling her shoulders with three parts restraint, Ling Luo blinked, and through the cold fabric, she could faintly hear the man’s steady heartbeat.

Because of this overly familiar scent, Ling Luo unconsciously turned sideways and rolled into Yue Liangze’s embrace, with a certain indescribable habit, her body reacting before her brain.

Only now did she remember that this was Yue Liangze after rebirth, who knew nothing of those past events.

Yue Liangze didn’t know, and hadn’t yet despicably and shamelessly told her anything like “I’ll practice beauty points with you.”

Those memories had become her little secret.

Obscure and difficult to express.

When Ling Luo was buried in Yue Liangze’s embrace, Yue Liangze straightened his back, standing very obediently. His hand which had been half-embracing her at her neck before, now completely encircled her.

Yue Liangze unconsciously lightened his breathing, lowering his eyebrows and eyes.

Ling Luo lifted her head from his embrace, with starlight reflected in her eyes. She stood on tiptoe, and Yue Liangze bent down to lower his head.

“He’s not leaving,” Ling Luo said in a lowered voice.

Earlier, with Taichu’s Sect Leader and others present, the two didn’t dare to communicate in low voices for fear of being discovered. Now with only Zong Xiu, who hadn’t broken through the Life and Death Realm, they had no concerns.

“If he stays guard all night, we won’t be able to leave either.”

She kept her voice down, her usually bright voice carrying a trace of huskiness.

Yue Liangze’s Adam’s apple moved slightly as he said softly: “I’ll think of something, have Wu Sheng find Third Senior Brother to lure him away.”

Ling Luo blinked at him, her long black eyelashes fluttering lightly.

Want to cover those eyes.

Yue Liangze was stunned by this sudden thought.

He discreetly averted his gaze, controlling his breath to show no abnormality, refusing to let Ling Luo detect even the slightest hint, while inwardly reproaching himself for the contemptible thought that had suddenly emerged.

“You can pull out the Zhenxian Yu,” Ling Luo whispered. “West Sea’s Taichu is going to hate you.”

Yue Liangze said: “I didn’t pull it out.”

“But you could pull it out. This broken sword has no taste,” Ling Luo said. “You have Wu Sheng, and now the Zhenxian Yu. You’re quite the player.”

Yue Liangze pressed his lips together and helplessly said: “Having Wu Sheng means I don’t need the Zhenxian Yu.”

He simply wouldn’t pull the sword.

“Do you prefer Wu Sheng?” Ling Luo asked.

In her previous life, although Yue Liangze had obtained the Zhenxian Yu, he had put it back.

The Zhenxian Yu had waited for thousands of years, finally meeting its destined person, but after briefly coming out to enjoy freedom, it was mercilessly abandoned by its chosen one.

“Wu Sheng is light, it feels good in my hand. The Zhenxian Yu is heavy, it’s a greatsword. Though powerful, it’s not suitable for me,” Yue Liangze patiently explained. “Besides, I only stirred it, not necessarily able to pull it from the Drowning Water.”

Ling Luo blinked at him: “Is this humility or boasting?”

He replied impassively: “It’s a statement. I don’t want the Zhenxian Yu.”

Ling Luo: “Oh, then you’re even more arrogant than me.”

Yue Liangze: “…”

Ling Luo seemed thoughtful, saying softly: “You do like Wu Sheng.”

Wu Sheng didn’t disappoint Yue Liangze’s affection.

When Bai Cang entered the courtyard, it flew to his side, buzzing noisily, guiding him to the kitchen window, directing him to look toward the Golden Luan Pool Banquet.

Wu Sheng communicated with Bai Cang’s sword spirit:

“Save him quickly! That woman is coveting the invincible me and my invincible scabbard again. She’s trying to persuade the master to abandon me!”

The message Bai Cang’s sword spirit relayed to him was: “The Zhenxian Yu told it to get lost, it can’t get across. Your junior brother and that girl who doesn’t reply to messages are at the Golden Luan Pool Banquet platform! A lone man and woman in the dead of night—quickly tell Little Junior Brother to have some restraint and not take advantage of the young lady!”

Bai Cang responded with an “Oh,” saying, “He has more restraint than I do in these matters.”

So there’s no need to worry.

Go to sleep.

Wu Sheng: “?”

“Is that what I meant?!”

Behind the screen, the two waited and waited, still seeing no reinforcements.

Ling Luo leaned against his chest and said: “You should change swords, Wu Sheng isn’t reliable.”

Yue Liangze was silent.

He couldn’t refute this time.

In the end, Ling Luo, clutching Yue Liangze’s clothes, fell asleep against his chest.

And Yue Liangze, just for touching the Zhenxian Yu, was punished by having to stand all night.