When Zuo Ci pushed the door open, he saw Zuo Xuan on the bed desperately burying her head under the covers on the inside of the bed, leaving only her butt sticking out.
He found it amusing and walked over to pull Zuo Xuan's blanket up. "Why are you still dawdling here? Didn't someone already come to tell you to go see the guests?"
"No!" Zuo Xuan clung tightly to the blanket, hiding inside and refusing to come out, her muffled voice coming from under the covers, "That demon will definitely come and take my life~~ I'm not going out!"
"Ah Xuan! This is the rule of Chongtian Tower, you must see her—"
"I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'm going to die!"
"Don't worry, this is Zuo family territory. He can't kill you. Do you think you're afraid of him making a move in Chongtian Tower?"
"real?"
"real."
The person under the covers finally shifted and emerged, revealing a young man no more than twenty years old, with a baby face, still somewhat dazed and childlike. He was listless and listless, like a tender eggplant wilting under the scorching sun.
This lazy and absent-minded young master is the second young master of Chongtian Tower and the new leader of the Giant Axe Sect.
He slowly shuffled off the bed. "Alright... I'll go see him... I'll just see him, and then I'll be right back. Zuo Ci, you have to stay with me!"
"Alright, alright." Zuo Ci smiled and took his outer robe, draping it over him—a pink robe embroidered with cherry blossoms of varying shades, loosely draped over his body, giving him a lazy, wanting-to-find-a-place-to-lean-on-and-fall-as-a-drowsy look.
Chapter 21 The Giant Axe Sect Master
After a series of slow, deliberate footsteps, Ning Xuan and Feng, who were waiting in the courtyard, finally saw the long-awaited second young master of Chongtian Tower, Zuo Xuan, the new sect leader of the Giant Axe Sect, as he walked out accompanied by the smiling, steward-like young man from before.
Ning Xian's eyes hadn't blinked since she saw the figure coming out of the house—a soft pink dress, layers upon layers of cherry blossoms... The dress was loosely draped over her rather thin body, making her look languid, as if she wanted to find a place to lean against at any moment while walking.
So pink, so pink! Even the pinkish-purple dress she wore after her wedding can't compare to this soft, delicate pink! The most terrifying thing is that this twenty-year-old man with a baby face doesn't seem to think there's anything wrong with wearing such pink, and the person looking at it… well… actually… doesn't look bad…
But...it's so cold...
Ning Xian stared blankly as the large pink figure slowly moved closer. When it reached the front, he suddenly bowed deeply and apologized profusely, "Zuo Xuan was confused for a moment. Please forgive me for troubling you two."
Ning Xian resisted the urge to pick his ear and ask him to repeat it again. That... it seems that Feng led his men to wipe out most of the Giant Axe Sect members, leaving them either dead or injured, and it was all over with just a "moment of confusion"? Did he think this was a game of chess or a game of make-believe?
He glanced up at Feng, and from his expression, it was clear he wasn't surprised by the "Sect Leader's" reaction. It seemed Feng had already seen this Sect Leader before. Feng simply turned his head away, too lazy to look or bother with him.
...Alright, since she's already taken on the mission, and this sect leader, though surprising, isn't unpleasant, let her handle it. Anyway, most of the dead are from the Giant Axe Sect, and if the sect leader doesn't care, why should she?
She smiled sweetly, displaying her usual "debt-collecting" smile.
"Sect Leader Zuo, everyone makes mistakes. Since you're so sincere, we shouldn't hold it against you. However... the journey from the Netherworld Heaven to the Giant Axe Sect, and then from the Giant Axe Sect to the Sky-Piercing Tower, is long and arduous, taking a lot of time and effort..."
Although Zuo Xuan looked dazed and half-asleep, she was surprisingly perceptive. Upon hearing Ning Xuan's words, she nodded and said, "Every year, in addition to adding 50% to Lord Feng's share, we will also send a share to this lord. May I ask how you are addressed, lord?"
"Jialing of the Netherworld Heaven," Ning Xian replied with satisfaction. In fact, this meant the Giant Axe Sect wouldn't just be under Feng's name anymore; it would be under both of theirs simultaneously, something unprecedented in the sect. It seemed their New Year's money would be significantly more abundant this year. However, she found it strange. The Giant Axe Sect was already almost completely destroyed. She had originally planned to extort some "labor fees," teach the sect leader a lesson, and then leave it at that. Why did it sound like the Giant Axe Sect was going to continue?
"It will take a lot of effort for Sect Master Zuo to rebuild the Giant Axe Sect, won't it?" she asked indirectly. Zuo Xuan immediately looked dejected, drooping his head and nodding weakly.
"Waaah, why does he have to rebuild the Giant Axe Sect? Why does he have to become this damn sect leader and cause all this trouble... I don't understand his mother. She's already married into the Sky Tower, why is she still so obsessed with the Giant Axe Sect? She forced him to be the sect leader and then forced him to rebel, making it impossible for him, the second young master, to have an easy time. And now? The Giant Axe Sect is mostly destroyed, and they've even come knocking on his door. Even if his mother scolds him to death, he can't risk his life."
Given how badly the Giant Axe Sect was destroyed, who knows how much manpower, resources, and money it would take to rebuild it? It must be very troublesome, time-consuming, and laborious... Why bother putting so much effort into rebuilding that dilapidated sect?
Confused, lazy, and afraid of trouble, his favorite thing is sleeping, and his least favorite thing is hard work. He absolutely prefers to avoid trouble. This is Zuo Xuan, the second young master of Chongtian Tower and the leader of the Giant Axe Sect.
With such a sect leader, Ning Xian completed her mission smoothly. Although Feng didn't care about her taking credit and didn't take such things seriously, she still disliked her greedy face—smiling so seductively and wickedly, full of scheming—truly worthy of being the bloodline of those two old monsters from the Qiu family.
Although he disapproved, he surprisingly didn't stop her or utter any sarcastic remarks—Ning Xian's alluring and charming smiling face clearly displayed the words—"I am your savior."
—Tch, the “capable Lord Feng” is actually a landlubber! No one is perfect after all—Ning Xian shook his head inwardly.
Seeing Ning Xian's completely nonchalant demeanor—no, not nonchalant, but utterly oblivious to what had happened underwater—Feng Mo felt a surge of inexplicable anger. While members of the Demonic Sect weren't generally considered conservative, few were as "licentious" as Mu Yuan. Even if the situation forced her there… after all, she had kissed him, hadn't she? Just like that, as if nothing had happened, and then walked away?
Seeing her relieved and preparing to return home, Feng, unusually kind, did not intend to dampen her spirits. However, when she was not paying attention, she said to Zuo Xuan, "I know that Sect Leader Zuo has no ulterior motives towards Youmingtian. However, your mother is 'getting old.' Shouldn't a woman enjoy her grandchildren and refrain from interfering in gang affairs?"
"What Lord Feng said is true..." This was exactly what he wanted to say to his mother... It's just a pity that his still charming mother was adamant that he would not allow him to marry and have a son, because she did not want to be promoted from "mother" to "grandmother".
"Furthermore," Feng stepped closer and said coldly, "It's a pity I didn't get to see your capable 'advisor' this time. Sect Master Zuo, the matter of escaping the Netherworld Heaven is not something you and the Old Madam can handle alone. I know of a third person—the new advisor of the Giant Axe Sect, your cousin, the eldest son of the Soaring Tower. Please ask him to behave himself." After Feng finished speaking coldly, Zuo Xuan felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead—how did he know about his cousin? This knowledge is truly terrifying… Ugh, he always said he hated dealing with this devilish demon.
—The matter has only come to a temporary end, and we haven't really understood it yet, have we?
Feng thought about it, but didn't say it to Ning Xian. She just walked out of Chongtian Tower with her.
—Zuo Xuan has never been a problem. He knew this from the moment he learned that Zuo Xuan had taken over as sect leader. It seemed that his mother was directing Zuo Xuan, but in reality, the one who truly controlled everything was the eldest son of Chongxiao Tower—a man rumored to be more cunning than a weasel. Things wouldn't easily calm down until this eldest son was dealt with.
As they walked to the outer courtyard, a servant was already waiting there to greet them, respectfully saying, "Gentlemen, your friends have been waiting for quite some time."
Ning Xian saw Du Cisheng coming out of the gatehouse, smiled, called out "Cisheng!" and ran towards him.
He saved her twice, and for her, even without knowing his identity, it was enough to consider him a friend.
As soon as she left Chongtian Tower, Feng immediately went to buy clothes and changed, but unfortunately, her beautiful spring scenery was now covered up. Ning Xian glanced at her a few times with a hint of regret, but Feng pretended not to notice with a dark face.
Springtime had faded, and Ning Xian withdrew his gaze, saddled his horse, turned around with a bright smile, and asked Ci Sheng, "Where are you planning to go? If you're not busy, come visit the Netherworld. You saved me twice, and I haven't properly thanked you yet."
A look of bewilderment and contradiction, the same one she had seen before, flickered in Du Cisheng's eyes. It was faint, but quickly concealed, and she gave a faint smile. "It's nothing, don't take it to heart."
"Okay, then it's not as a thank you, I just want you to come as a guest, okay?"
He nodded. "Whatever you say."
—She didn't seem like the person he remembered at all. Not at all.
Feng didn't approve of Du Cisheng traveling back to the Netherworld with them. Although Ning Xian said they knew each other, he could tell that their "acquaintance" was probably limited. But Ning Xian glared at him—she was his savior, and she had a problem with such a small thing!