The massive hand formed from Elder Liu's Spiritual Power shattered less than three inches above Shen Manyi's head, dissolving into specks of spiritual light.
"J-Jianzun?"
Elder Liu's entire body trembled, the fury on his face instantly transforming into terror. He stiffly turned around to look toward the main hall, his voice shaking beyond control.
Didn't the Jianzun always go into seclusion immediately upon returning?
Why would he appear today?
Liu Qin was even more frightened, her face turning pale. Just moments ago, her eyes had been filled with venom and smugness; now only the terror of a soul on the verge of collapse remained.
Inside the main hall, Xiao Mo walked out slowly.
Shen Manyi's eyes lit up instantly.
Her brother was here! Her greatest pillar of support had arrived!
She sprinted over to Xiao Mo's side, pointing angrily at Elder Liu and Liu Qin as she tattled.
"Brother, they're bullying me! They said I'm a liar and wanted to drag me to Jie Lü Tang!"
"Mm, I saw."
Xiao Mo's voice carried no fluctuation, yet it made Elder Liu's scalp crawl.
He hastily bowed in apology. "Jianzun, forgive me! This subordinate didn't know… didn't know this young lady was your…"
He truly didn't know what term to use.
Sister?
Everyone in Guiyuan Jianzong knew that the Taishang Jianzun had no family—a Tiansha Guxing who sprang from a rock!
Xiao Mo ignored him entirely, simply raising his hand to gently pat Shen Manyi's head.
"Were you scared?"
"Mm, a little."
Shen Manyi nodded like a pecking chick.
Elder Liu watched this intimate scene, his mind completely blown.
The Jianzun…
That Taishang Jianzun who never allowed any living creature within three feet of him,
was actually… actually being this gentle with a woman?
The jealousy in Liu Qin's eyes nearly materialized into something tangible.
Why!
Why this woman!
She was nothing but a waste at the Qi Refining Third Layer—why would the Jianzun treat her so well?
It was only then that Xiao Mo's gaze finally fell upon the two people on the ground.
That look carried no killing intent, but it was cold enough to make Elder Liu shiver.
"On my territory, you want to arrest one of mine?"
"This disciple wouldn't dare!"
Elder Liu dropped to his knees with a thud in terror, cold sweat instantly soaking through his back.
"This disciple failed to recognize a mountain of greatness and offended this young lady. Please, Jianzun, mete out punishment!"
He no longer dared to mention any interrogation—he only prayed to keep his old life.
Xiao Mo's gaze shifted to Liu Qin, who was trembling uncontrollably.
"Your disciple said she was something I picked up, and wanted to… clean house on my behalf?"
At those words, Liu Qin's mind went blank with a buzzing sound.
She had assumed the Jianzun had merely picked up a person on a whim and wouldn't bother with her afterward—that was why she'd dared to be so reckless. Such things weren't uncommon in the sect.
She kowtowed frantically, blood immediately appearing on her forehead.
"Jianzun, spare me! Jianzun, spare me!"
"This disciple was spouting nonsense! This disciple has a filthy mouth! This disciple deserves to die ten thousand times!"
Shen Manyi watched Liu Qin's miserable state, feeling immensely satisfied.
Indeed, latching onto a powerful backer was the real way to go!
"Brother, she also wanted to ruin my face!" Shen Manyi added another jab in a small voice.
Xiao Mo looked down at that delicate, radiant little face, then looked at Liu Qin once more.
This time, his voice finally carried a trace of genuine killing intent.
"Go to Siguoya. You will never come out again for the rest of your life."
At these words, Liu Qin raised her head in disbelief, completely stunned.
Locked away at Siguoya for life?
That place had sparse Spiritual Qi—how was it any different from a living tomb!
This was crueler than killing her!
"Jianzun! Please, no, Jianzun! This disciple knows she was wrong! Please give this disciple another chance!"
Liu Qin shrieked in anguish.
Elder Liu also panicked and quickly pleaded, "Jianzun! My disciple is young and ignorant, please—"
"You want to keep her company?" Xiao Mo cut him off coldly.
The rest of Elder Liu's words caught in his throat, unable to utter a single syllable.
He lowered his head in despair, not daring to say another word.
Before the Taishang Jianzun, he—an Elder of Jie Lü Tang—truly counted for nothing.
Xiao Mo no longer looked at them. He turned and led Shen Manyi toward the side hall.
"Within a quarter of an hour, I don't want to see any irrelevant people on Tai Shang Feng."
"Y-Yes!" Elder Liu felt as if he'd been granted a pardon.
He scrambled to his feet, dragging the limp, mud-like Liu Qin with him as he fled Tai Shang Feng.
Inside the side hall, Shen Manyi looked at Xiao Mo with sparkling eyes.
"Brother, you're so amazing!"
"I'm so in awe of you!"
"This undercover act of yours is even more convincing than the real sect master! The presence, the authority—absolutely incredible!"
Shen Manyi was so excited that flattery flowed from her mouth effortlessly.
Xiao Mo watched her antics, a faint trace of amusement flickering in his eyes—so brief it was impossible to catch.
His gaze swept across the room, which had been decorated in a gaudy, flashy style, and his brows furrowed again.
Shen Manyi followed his gaze and stuck out her tongue sheepishly.
"Brother, is it too tacky?
I just thought the original was too cold and empty, so I wanted to make it livelier."
"It's fine." Xiao Mo said indifferently. "As long as you like it."
He paused, then took out a pitch-black token engraved with intricate sword patterns from his Chuwujie and handed it to her.
"With this token, you may move freely throughout the sect."
Shen Manyi took the token; it was icy cold to the touch.
She knew this item must be extremely valuable, so she quickly said, "Thank you, Brother! I'll take good care of it!"
"Mm."
Xiao Mo looked at her. "If any blind fool causes you trouble in the future, there's no need to waste words with them."
Shen Manyi nodded vigorously. "I understand! I'll just let Tangyuan handle it!"
Hearing this, Tangyuan leaped onto her shoulder and transmitted a message smugly.
"With this Divine Beast around, you can walk tall against anyone below the Foundation Establishment Stage."
Shen Manyi curled her lip. "Pfft, you can only handle the small fry. If a big shot shows up, wouldn't I be done for?"
"How is that my fault? It's because your cultivation is too low, suppressing this Divine Lord's power!"
Tangyuan huffed indignantly, then vanished in a flash of white light.
Xiao Mo, used to this by now, didn't ask any questions.
"Growl—"
Shen Manyi's stomach made an untimely noise.
She only then remembered she hadn't eaten all day, and her cheeks flushed bright red.
"Brother, are… are you hungry? I can make you sweet and sour ribs! I'm a great cook!"
"No need." Xiao Mo declined; he had long since achieved Bigu.
Just as Shen Manyi was feeling a little disappointed, Xiao Mo suddenly reached out and gently brushed her cheek.
There was a tiny speck of dust that had gotten on it earlier.
His fingertips were ice-cold, carrying a strange sensation that made Shen Manyi's heart skip a beat.
Xiao Mo withdrew his hand, his voice dropping a note deeper.
"In this sect, this Lord has never feared anyone. If anyone causes you trouble, just have them come find me."
With that, he turned and left the room.
Shen Manyi stood there dazed, touching the spot where he had just touched her, her cheeks growing hotter and hotter.
Was her brother… comforting her just now?
And what did he mean by that last remark?
Shen Manyi thought it over for a long time before finally reaching a conclusion.
Her brother was telling her that his undercover identity was rock-solid, so she could act as boldly as she pleased here—he would have her back!
Having figured that out, Shen Manyi's spirits soared once more.