"I don't know why, but I also have feelings for you, Master..."
Those soft, thin lips finally delivered a belated kiss, carrying boundless tenderness and a sense of reassured peace.
As their lips intertwined, the atmosphere within the bed curtains grew increasingly intense, mingling with the incense burning all around, easily arousing the desires hidden deep within them.
In the warm embrace of the lotus-scented tent, arms entwined like lotus blossoms, life is too short to resist the urge to enjoy it while we can.
"I never expected that the taciturn and aloof Pavilion Master would be so warm and talkative..."
Gu Zhong gently lifted his fingertips, watching the person beneath him furrow his brows in unbearable tension. He couldn't help but lean down and lightly peck at his brow, uttering provocative and shameful words.
"Shut up!"
Lingyan was so annoyed that she wanted to cover her mouth with her hand, but she was careless and the person tied her hands to the bedside. Despite all the torment, she was powerless to break free.
"How does Your Excellency want me to shut up? After all, your performance has truly surprised me..."
But the malicious people did not do as she wished; instead, they became even more unruly.
Unable to bear listening to her any longer, Lingyan leaned back and used her lips and tongue, the only part of her body she could still control, to forcefully shut up the incessantly chattering mouth.
Once everything had calmed down, Lingyan half-closed her eyes and leaned lazily against the headboard, letting Gu Zhong stroke her neck and back, like a cat being stroked.
"I will set off for southern Xinjiang tomorrow."
His words carried a hint of guilt. Gu Zhong knew that such behavior made him seem like an irresponsible womanizer who would ruin a girl and then disappear into the world.
"Yes, remember not to act impulsively."
Lingyan was not the kind of naive young girl who didn't know the importance of things. She knew that Gu Zhong had a heavy burden on his shoulders, and that love could not easily bind him.
"Huh? Is that all?"
Gu Zhong, however, refused to give in and flipped over onto her, pinning her down and glaring at her fiercely.
"My dear... you have important things to do, and besides, the conference is just around the corner, you should go back and make plans."
Looking at her lover, who resembled a little wolf at that moment, Lingyan couldn't help but reach out and rub her head, speaking in a coaxing tone.
"Even though I'm a few years older than you, I feel like you're the older sister."
With a sigh, Gu Zhong buried his face in her neck.
"Isn't it good?"
"Yes, that would be excellent."
They exchanged a smile, deciding there was no need to dwell on these issues any longer; making their parting farewells was the proper thing to do.
Gu Zhong's departure seemed to take away the last bit of heat from the sweltering summer. The autumn wind gradually cooled, silently stealing the green of life and gilding the mountains with a layer of gold.
Leaning against the windowsill, listening to the raindrops pattering on the roof tiles, I am all alone, feeling utterly desolate.
Perhaps their time together was too short, or perhaps their lovemaking too intense, but Lingyan found herself missing Gu Zhong far more than she had anticipated.
Unfortunately, the journey to the southern border is long and the return date is uncertain.
"Miss, the Lingbo Sect has arrived at the pavilion."
A maid called from outside the door, which finally pulled Lingyan out of her sorrowful thoughts.
"Understood, please proceed to the council chamber."
She rolled up her sleeves and glanced again at her poisoned right forearm. The poisoned area was turning increasingly dark, and she had no idea how deep the poison had penetrated into her lungs and bone marrow.
She carefully wrapped it with white gauze to prevent any trace from being seen by the Lingbo Sect and causing unnecessary trouble. Only then did Ling Yan slowly change into her usual black robe as a sect leader before going to meet the Lingbo Sect.
"Your sect leader certainly has quite the airs! How dare you keep our sect leader waiting?"
As they approached the entrance, they heard a gruff male voice, extremely arrogant and showing no respect whatsoever.
"Silence~" another female voice said softly, her languid tone carrying a captivating charm that made the listener unconsciously hold their breath and become intoxicated.
When the words reached Lingyan's ears, they felt strangely familiar.
Author's Note:
I've seriously reflected on my behavior; I've fallen back into my old habit of procrastination. I'm working like crazy today, but I'll try my best to post another chapter tonight—I have to make up for what I owe.
//Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 10:57:52 on September 26, 2021 and 19:51:39 on September 27, 2021!
Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: Floating Dust Returns to Dust 10 bottles;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 67 The Leader of the Righteous Alliance and the Leader of the Demonic Cult (Part 20)
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Stepping into the council hall, Ling Yan immediately spotted the domineering guest occupying the main seat.
Her eyes were slightly closed, and a beauty mark under her eye added a touch of charm to her beautiful, mature face.
The black robe embroidered with gold thread and clouds was originally solemn and dignified, but on her, it somehow exuded a certain allure.
Her long, nails, dyed a deep cinnamon red, tapped impatiently on the huanghuali wood table, pausing briefly when she heard someone enter.
Xia Xiange... it was indeed her.
Ling Yan wasn't particularly surprised by this person's appearance. She had searched for Gu Zhong for two lifetimes, and Gu Zhong had appeared in each of them. Since it wasn't a coincidence, there couldn't be any exceptions.
She never imagined that she would have this identity in this world.
It is said that the current Lingbo Sect Master has been in office for more than 20 years, and Xia Xiange has seized the initiative for more than 20 years in this life.
Without even needing further investigation, Ling Yan was almost certain that she was the mastermind behind the massacre of the entire Gu family.
"Sect Master!"
The members of the various pavilions who were standing by saw Lingyan as if they had seen a savior, and they were almost moved to tears on the spot.
It's easy to imagine just how difficult it is to please the Lingbo Sect members.
"Your Excellency has kept me waiting for quite some time."
Xia Xiange suddenly opened her eyes and looked over. Stars twinkled within them, possessing a strangely captivating magic.
Who is this?
Since people have already trampled on her face, why bother being polite? So Lingyan pretended not to know and deliberately asked those around her.
"Heh... I was impolite. Sect Master Lingbo, Xia Xiange."
Xia Xiange stood up and chuckled, giving a casual, lazily bow.
"I never expected that it would be the Lingbo Sect Master who came in person. It is my fault."
Ling Yan also offered a perfunctory apology.
"However, thinking back, when the Pavilion Master ascended to the position of Alliance Leader a few years ago, our sect was unable to attend that grand event due to seclusion. This is a rare opportunity, so we should pay him a visit."
Xia Xiange casually waved her hand, and the burly men with bushy beards guarding her handed over a thick stack of gift lists. The sheer scale of the gifts surprised even the well-informed Master of Tianji Pavilion.
"The sect leader's gift is truly excessive."
Such a generous gift must be ill-intentioned, so Lingbo quickly declined it politely.
"Our sect has been in seclusion for decades before reappearing in the world. We cannot allow ourselves to be looked down upon, can we? We hope that the sect leader will not refuse."
Xia Xiange offered a seemingly casual word of advice, but her words conveyed a deeper meaning—Lingbo Sect intended to stir up trouble in the martial arts world.
"Moreover, our sect has important matters to attend to, and only the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion can assist us."
Upon hearing about the important matter, Ling Yan felt a deep headache, always fearing that Xia Xiange would, like the Sword Saint, dig another huge pit.
"Sect Leader Xia, please begin to explain."
Because of her concerns, she and the Lingbo Sect could not possibly get along, but that did not stop Lingyan from pretending to consider it and trying to get information out of her.
"The Pavilion Master is indeed very cautious... Then I will speak first."
Two months ago, one of our elders attended the succession ceremony of the Tianwu Sect in a low-key manner and unfortunately died. The murderer has not yet been found.
Seeing Lingyan's hesitation, Xia Xiange was quite generous and there was no need for her to hold back.
"You hope that the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion can find the murderer for the Lingbo Sect? Sect Leader Xia, perhaps the matter of solving the case should be addressed by the imperial court."
Upon hearing this, Ling Yan directly refused, saying that even if the real culprit was her and Gu Zhong, although the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion gathers intelligence from all over the world, not everyone should treat the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion as a detective agency.
"Master, please don't be hasty. We have already guessed who this person is..."
Unfazed by the forced interruption, Xia Xiange calmly uttered a sentence that was enough to stir Ling Yan's heartstrings.
"Oh? Who is it?"
Calming herself, Lingyan pretended to be uninterested and asked.
"The story is now widely known in the martial arts world: the descendant of the Gu family, who possesses the treasures of the previous dynasty. Are you interested, Pavilion Master?"
"I see, the Xiamen family's motive is the secret treasure of the previous dynasty."
It's unclear how Xia Xiange became so certain that the murderer who harmed her disciples was a descendant of the Gu family, nor whether that immense wealth truly existed. However, one thing was certain: she was determined to eliminate them completely.
“Exactly. If we can find it, we can each take half, which will add a bit more decoration to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, won’t it?”
Walking to the center of the hall, Xia Xiange bent down to examine the large bin of South China Sea red coral used for display, which was extremely tempting to Lingyan.
If someone is truly greedy for wealth and status, there's no need for her to waste words; most people can't escape the allure of profit.
Unfortunately, Lingyan was not like most people, nor was he a greedy person.
"The so-called treasure map is utter nonsense without any basis. How could Sect Master Xia believe it? Besides, the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion dares not get involved in such immense wealth, which would only lead to disaster."
"In that case, it's truly a pity. I am not on the same page as the Pavilion Master. If the old Pavilion Master were still alive, he would certainly be willing to cooperate once again."
Xia Xiange narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly, her expression filled with regret but without any surprise, as if she was deliberately testing her, wondering what she was planning.
What do you mean by that?
Upon hearing this, Lingyan's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly pressed for an answer.
It seems that the truth, which was originally hidden in the deep pool, has been partially revealed, making people eager to dig it out completely.