“You…” Ning Qianxue’s face alternated between pale and livid from sheer anger.
“What about me?” Luo Qiongyan narrowed her eyes, a cold glint flickering within them. “You old woman, why haven’t you gotten lost yet? If you don’t leave, I’ll beat you to a pulp.”
[Holy crap, an Empress really is an Empress. She’s so domineering. Damn, is there something wrong with me? What’s so good about such a forceful woman?]
Li Qing shook his head, forcing himself to clear his thoughts.
“Luo… Qiong… Yan! I, Ning Qianxue, will remember what happened today.”
Ning Qianxue trembled with rage, yet she did not dare attack. The scene from yesterday, when Luo Qiongyan had injured a Great Power Realm expert with a single strike, remained vivid in her mind.
Unless she wanted to die, there was no way she would make a move.
Ning Qianxue glared fiercely at Luo Qiongyan before transforming into a streak of light and shooting out of the Sword Pavilion.
“Greetings, Pavilion Master Luo.” Luo Bei hurriedly bowed respectfully.
“We greet Pavilion Master Luo.” The Sword Pavilion disciples also greeted her one after another, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.
At that moment, Luo Qiongyan extended her slender hand.
Li Qing had no choice but to support her as they walked toward the Pavilion Master’s throne.
[This is so embarrassing. I look like a servant attending her in front of everyone. I’ve completely lost face. Why does this feel like I’m living off a powerful woman?]
Hearing his inner thoughts, Luo Qiongyan rolled her eyes at him.
“You may all leave. From now on, Luo Bei will handle all matters within the Sword Pavilion,” Luo Qiongyan said with a wave of her hand.
“Yes, Pavilion Master.”
Everyone respectfully withdrew.
The moment they were gone, Luo Qiongyan blinked at Li Qing and spoke with a hint of coquettishness in her voice, “Husband, my shoulders are a little sore.”
Li Qing sighed softly and began massaging her shoulders.
[For the sake of my future freedom, I’ll endure it.]
“What are we doing here anyway? Do you like this chair that much?” Li Qing asked as his eyes darted around.
There were too many people in the Sword Pavilion. Supporting her around and massaging her shoulders like this was seriously damaging his image.
It would be much better to return to Divine Jade Peak, where no one would see them.
“Of course we’re waiting for someone.” Luo Qiongyan rolled her eyes at him.
“Waiting for someone?”
“The Sect Master of Incense Burning Immortal Valley.”
Li Qing froze for a moment.
Only then did he realize that Luo Qiongyan had effectively seized the position of Sword Pavilion Master. Ning Qianxue had most likely gone to complain, so the upper echelons of Incense Burning Immortal Valley would certainly intervene.
“My husband really is clever.” Luo Qiongyan smiled.
“Of course…”
[Damn, why am I a little happy being praised by this woman? Li Qing, have you no shame? Remember, stay away from female leads. They’re magnets for trouble. There are plenty of other fish in the sea.]
‘Do you really dislike female leads that much?’
‘And what exactly is a female lead?’
‘I’ll have to investigate this later and find out what a female lead actually is.’
Luo Qiongyan silently committed the matter to memory.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
At that moment, spiritual light continuously flashed throughout the Sword Pavilion’s main hall, and more than a dozen figures appeared at once.
At their head stood a beautiful middle-aged woman.
“Greetings, Sect Master Liu.” Luo Qiongyan slowly rose and greeted the beautiful woman.
Li Qing also greeted her.
[So this is Liu Qingqing, the Sect Master of Incense Burning Immortal Valley. As expected of a beauty who once ranked on the Eastern Wilderness Beauty Ranking. She really is beautiful. What a pity. When she was young, someone schemed against her and stole the Origin of her Profound Yin Physique. She has no hope of reaching the Great Emperor Realm in this lifetime, and even reaching the Immortal Platform Realm will be extremely difficult. The deeper the love, the deeper the wound. Ever since then, she sealed away her heart and rejected love, spending her entire life searching for her enemy.]
Li Qing sighed softly.
‘This bastard is praising another woman’s beauty right in front of me. Just wait until tonight. I’ll deal with you properly.’
‘So Liu Qingqing possesses the Profound Yin Physique. What a pity.’
[However, I actually know where that bastard is hiding. That damned guy is hiding right here inside Incense Burning Immortal Valley. What was his identity again? Right, I remember now. Li Chunqiu, a medicine attendant from the Pill Pavilion. Bet no one expected that. He’s been hiding right under everyone’s noses this entire time. Should I tell her? This piece of gossip would definitely be juicy.]
‘He’s hiding inside the valley? Interesting. He knows again.’
‘This little scoundrel wants to watch the drama unfold, so I might as well help him. Who told me to be his good wife? I have to indulge him.’
Luo Qiongyan glanced at Li Qing.
“Elder Luo, I have already learned about the wager between you and Pavilion Master Ning. However, the Sword Pavilion is an important part of the sect. As for your intention to become the Sword Pavilion Master, we still need to discuss…” Sect Master Liu looked at Luo Qiongyan with a cool expression.
Standing nearby, Ning Qianxue looked smugly at Li Qing and Luo Qiongyan.
Liu Qingqing was her closest friend, a lifelong confidante. If Luo Qiongyan wanted to become Sword Pavilion Master, she could forget about it.
[I remember now. It was Ning Qianxue who arranged for Li Chunqiu to sneak into the sect. This woman is having an affair with Li Chunqiu. Come to think of it, Ning Qianxue’s aptitude isn’t particularly good, yet her cultivation has always kept pace with Liu Qingqing’s. That’s because she’s been dual cultivating with Li Chunqiu. Holy crap, betrayal by her best friend? Now this is some interesting gossip. Looks like I’ll have to find an opportunity to secretly tell Sect Master Liu.]
‘Interesting. Very interesting.’
‘I want to watch this drama too.’
Luo Qiongyan’s eyes immediately brightened.
She would never admit that she had become jealous after hearing Li Qing praise Liu Qingqing’s beauty.
How could a dignified Great Emperor possibly get jealous?
Absolutely impossible.
Luo Qiongyan immediately sent a secret voice transmission to Liu Qingqing, “Sect Master, if I told you where the enemy you’ve been searching for all these years is hiding, what would you do?”
The instant those words reached her ears, terrifying killing intent erupted from Liu Qingqing’s eyes.
Everyone present was stunned.
“Sect Master, what are you saying? That’s not what you said just now!” Ning Qianxue’s expression changed drastically.
“There’s no need to say anything more. This matter is settled,” Sect Master Liu said indifferently.
‘Very well, Liu Qingqing. You’d rather help an outsider than help me. Once Chunqiu breaks through to the Great Power Realm, we’ll see how you die.’
A trace of venomous hatred flashed through Ning Qianxue’s eyes.
No one else noticed it, but Luo Qiongyan caught it clearly.
‘Interesting indeed. No wonder that little scoundrel enjoys watching drama so much.’
The corners of Luo Qiongyan’s lips curved upward.
Liu Qingqing stared fixedly at Luo Qiongyan and sent another secret voice transmission, “Tell me. Where is he?”
Luo Qiongyan replied through secret voice transmission, “Sect Master only needs to keep a close eye on Ning Qianxue, and you’ll naturally find out. That man is inside the valley.”
‘What?’
‘Qianxue?’
‘How could that be possible?’
Liu Qingqing’s pupils contracted slightly.
She had considered countless possibilities over the years, yet she had never once suspected her closest friend, the woman who had grown up alongside her since childhood.
‘Ning Qianxue, you dared to betray me.’
Terrifying killing intent surged within Liu Qingqing’s eyes.
“From now on, I’ll leave the Sword Pavilion in Pavilion Master Luo’s hands.” Sect Master Liu nodded toward Luo Qiongyan before transforming into a streak of light and disappearing.
[What just happened? Judging by her attitude earlier, Sect Master Liu obviously came here looking for trouble. And now she’s just leaving? Don’t tell me this woman used some kind of demonic art on Sect Master Liu.]
Li Qing rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
‘This bastard. The moment Liu Qingqing showed up, she practically stole his soul away.’
Luo Qiongyan gritted her teeth.
“Husband, is Sect Master Liu beautiful?”
“Of course she is. Back then, she was…”
Li Qing answered without thinking, only to suddenly realize something was wrong.
“You promised me that for these 7 days, I would be the only woman in your eyes.” Tears immediately gathered in Luo Qiongyan’s beautiful eyes, leaving her looking as though she might cry at any moment.
Li Qing fell silent.
[Damn, that slipped out. I’m screwed. Now I have to coax her. What kind of sin did I commit to deserve this?]