clergé

Chapitre 18

This time, Pang Wan learned her lesson and ran to the nearest table to pick up a cup of tea and gracefully handed it to him.

Gu Xiju took only one sip and frowned slightly: "Too cold."

The maids' gazes were practically scathing at Pang Wan.

"Drink it or don't! Just tell me what you want, okay?" Pang Wan suddenly lost her temper. She had been a Holy Maiden in the Demonic Sect for six years, always living a life of luxury and being pampered. She had never served anyone before, let alone tried to figure out what people liked.

Maid A raised her eyebrows and was about to draw her sword, but was stopped by a look from Gu Xiju.

"It's not advisable to drink cold tea after practicing, as it disperses your energy." He handed the cup back, his tone calm. "Make me another cup, I'll drink it."

Pang Wan pouted, reluctantly picked up the cup and walked to the side, poured out half a cup of water, added some hot water, and then walked back to Gu Xiju and said gruffly, "Here you go!"

Maid B was nearly breathless with anger, but dared not speak out, and could only secretly pound her chest.

Pang Wan thought to himself, "I was just trying to be kind by pouring him a glass of warm water, why are you all making such a fuss?"

Gu Xiju glanced at the teacup, took it, and drank it all in one gulp without saying a word.

Pang Wan was very happy and winked at the other two triumphantly, indicating that she was quite understanding.

Suddenly someone outside announced: "Zhang Xiuzhu of Wudang has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Xiju stood up, and two other maids immediately surrounded him. One dressed him, and the other took his sword. Their movements were fluid and seamless.

Seeing that she couldn't get involved, Pang Wan thought that since a guest had come, she would make another cup of warm tea and place it on the table.

"How clever and insightful I am!" she thought to herself, feeling quite pleased with herself.

Zhang Xiuzhu quickly stepped through the door, and like all the hypocritical routines of prestigious sects, he bowed, exchanged pleasantries, and then sat down to drink some tea, preparing for the next step of the conversation.

With a "pfft," tea sprayed out of Zhang Xiuzhu's mouth.

"The Alliance Leader changed the tea leaves?" He coughed, covering his face with his sleeve, looking quite disheveled. "This tea..."

In his memory, the leader of the alliance had no particular hobbies, except for two things he excelled at: martial arts and tea ceremony. The leader's tea for entertaining guests was unparalleled in the world; people in the martial arts world had even fought over the chance to drink a cup. But today's level... left him speechless.

"Xiuzhu took the wrong cup." Gu Xiju smiled slightly and glanced at the second maid.

Maid B respectfully withdrew, and shortly afterward presented a cup of fresh tea.

Pang Wan looked at the cup that had been taken away—the very cup of warm tea she had lovingly prepared herself—and her expression turned sorrowful, as if she were about to collapse.

With fresh tea in hand, Zhang Xiuzhu quickly got into a discussion mode, chatting with Gu Xiju for quite a while.

Pang Wan wasn't very interested and waited listlessly to the side, almost yawning.

"Is this maid new?" someone suddenly asked.

Pang Wan's mind was still a mess. She looked around in a daze and saw Zhang Xiuzhu staring intently at her.

"So what if it's new?" She pouted and rolled her eyes at him.

Zhang Xiuzhu laughed: "The Alliance Leader has always preferred intelligent and elegant women, so why did you choose such a distracted troublemaker to keep by your side?"

Pang Wan, who was devoted to cultivating the "Sang Chan's Grace," hated it most when others undermined her. Her almond-shaped eyes widened and her mouth pouted: "You dare say I'm not elegant?"

Zhang Xiuzhu's smile widened: "The Alliance Leader always chooses maids who are both good at martial arts and have good temperaments. You have such a temper, could it be that you are very skilled in martial arts?" As he spoke, he drew a long sword from his waist, "Let me give it a try!"

Gu Xiju was about to speak up to stop him when he heard Pang Wan let out a cold laugh and draw a golden whip from his waist.

"Fine, I'll make you admit defeat!" Her voice was as soft as pearls falling on a plate, and her harsh words didn't seem particularly ferocious.

Zhang Xiuzhu completely disregarded her, directly gripping his sword and rising up, his fierce moves aimed straight at her face.

Pang Wan pursed her lips, tilted her head, and her long hair drew a graceful arc in the air, easily dodging the attack.

"So fast!" Zhang Xiuzhu was taken aback by the girl's lightning-fast reaction.

Pang Wan noticed a momentary pause on his face, then winked playfully, her fragrant robes billowing as she lunged forward, raising her golden whip high in her hand.

No one knows how she exerted her strength, but the golden whip, like a dragon spitting its tongue, coiled towards Zhang Xiuzhu's neck, about to choke his throat. Zhang Xiuzhu had no choice but to turn around to protect himself, and with a flick of his long sword, he tried to deflect the whip.

It would have been better if he hadn't tried to pull it off. Once they made contact, the golden whip, like a nimble snake, climbed onto his sword and bit him tightly, refusing to let go.

"That's impossible!" Zhang Xiuzhu was getting anxious—his Falling Moon Sword was famous for its ability to cut through iron like mud, and hundreds, if not thousands, of souls had died by its blade. How could it not even break through a whip?

After a brief standoff, his eyes turned red with murderous intent, and a short knife silently slid out from his other sleeve.

"That's enough." Gu Xiju's voice rang out at the opportune moment.

Zhang Xiuzhu breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the little maid again, she seemed to have completely ignored Gu Xiju's instructions. She raised her chin and looked at him, her bright eyes occasionally glancing at his sleeve, as if mocking and provoking him: "Come on, if you're so capable, try killing me with your other sword!"

Zhang Xiuzhu flew into a rage, and began to channel ninety percent of his inner strength into his sword-wielding hand—he had only intended to use thirty percent of his power to deal with this young girl.

Pang Wan saw the golden whip tremble slightly, knowing that his opponent was starting to use real skill, but he remained unconvinced.

The golden snake and silver dragon were tightly intertwined, competing in internal strength. Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, a "clang" sound suddenly rang out in the air.

A tiny tea leaf landed on the golden whip.

"Wanwan, listen to me," Gu Xiju calmly instructed.

As if electrocuted, the golden whip released the Falling Moon Sword and hissed as it retreated to its waist. Pang Wan stared at Gu Xiju with an incredulous look, his chest heaving, unable to speak for a long time.

—It's broken?

—He actually broke my Moon-Seizing Dragon-Binding Lock?