Yue Xiaochan guided Xue Mu down a winding path that led deeper into the bamboo forest.
As the two strolled side by side through the grove, a refreshing breeze brushed past them, rustling the falling bamboo leaves.
Sunbeams filtered through the canopy, scattering gentle patterns of light across the forest floor.
It was an exceptionally beautiful scene.
Something about the atmosphere seemed to touch a chord in Yue Xiaochan’s heart; a soft blush lingered on her cheeks, and the explanation she was supposed to give him completely vanished as she walked on in silence.
Even Xue Mu felt a trace of romance in the air.
Reflecting on how incredibly well the girl had treated him since his arrival, his heart softened slightly.
Walking shoulder to shoulder like this, he genuinely felt a faint, fluttering sensation of young love.
He pursed his lips, quickly reminding himself that acting on it at her current age would make him an absolute monster.
Forcing his mind back to business, he initiated the conversation.
“What exactly is the deal with The Six Gates?
They don’t seem to care about your blood feuds at all.
What is it that they actually govern?” Yue Xiaochan snapped out of her daze.
“The Six Gates is responsible for maintaining the order of the martial world,” she explained in a low voice.
“And since the martial world essentially encompasses the entire realm, the Constabulary holds immense weight within the Imperial Court.
In reality, they are legally required to police our blood feuds.
However…
firstly, the major sects have grown far too powerful and independent.
When a sect fiercely protects its own, the government simply lacks the muscle to intervene.
Secondly, the Imperial Court actually loves seeing the Righteous and Demonic factions at each other’s throats.
They’ll even stir the pot themselves from time to time.” A wave of understanding washed over Xue Mu.
This dynamic perfectly mirrored the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China—a weakened central government surrounded by a multitude of powerful feudal lords.
No wonder Xiahou Di had no intention of interfering in the feud earlier; deep down, she probably wished they would slaughter each other even harder.
By that same logic, she absolutely despised seeing the Righteous Faction “share the same roots.” The Imperial Court was already on the verge of becoming a hollow shell; if the sects united, where would that leave The Six Gates?
Yue Xiaochan continued, “The Six Gates is actually incredibly powerful, but their current political position has become increasingly awkward.
They can’t handle major conflicts, and even when it comes to hunting down notorious bandits, crowds of Righteous martial artists will rush to do it first just to farm a reputation.
The Six Gates can barely extend its reach into local territories.
To make matters worse, the government actually has to praise and reward the sects for doing their job…
As a result, a massive group of super-powered government experts is reduced to solving petty homicides.
It’s incredibly frustrating for them.” She sighed before going on.
“None of the previous Chief Constables have ever been content with this status quo.
They are always plotting ways to elevate the Constabulary’s authority, and Xiahou Di is by far the craziest of the bunch…
Did you know she actually goes out to catch petty thieves with her own two hands?
She is the Chief Constable of The Six Gates, a powerhouse at the peak of the Huayun Realm!
Out of the millions of martial artists in the world, she easily ranks within the top hundred.
For an expert of that caliber to chase pickpockets…
if she isn’t a lunatic, I don’t know who is.” Looking at how adorable Yue Xiaochan looked waving her small hands in exasperation, Xue Mu couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Instead of elevating her authority, isn’t that just cheapening her brand?” “She has no choice.
She’s desperate to find any way possible to assert The Six Gates’s relevance.
Capturing my Martial Aunt Yinye and claiming it’s a ‘preemptive strike’ is just a cover.
In reality, isn’t she just trying to use this opportunity to boost the Constabulary’s prestige?
After all, arresting the number-two figure of the Star-Moon Sect is bound to strike fear into a lot of people once the news spreads.” Xue Mu nodded.
“I see.
Still, I doubt everyone within The Six Gates shares her absolute dedication to the public good.
There should still be some room for us to pull some strings.” Yue Xiaochan let out another soft sigh.
“Of course it’s impossible for everyone to be that selfless.
However, Xiahou Di wields absolute authority.
For some bizarre reason, she enjoys the deep trust and favor of the Emperor.
There are even rumors whispering that she is the Emperor’s illegitimate daughter—making her an actual princess.
Because of that, ordinary officials within the Constabulary dare not cross her, which makes this entire situation incredibly tricky to handle.” Xue Mu joked, “That Xiahou Di is a rare beauty.
I bet she isn’t his illegitimate daughter at all, but rather his mistress.” Yue Xiaochan stopped her tracks.
She cast a playful, knowing side-glance at him.
“Our ‘Three-Loves Scholar Xue’ truly never disappoints.
Ordinary people would never let their minds wander to such filthy places.
That Taoist priest didn’t misjudge you after all—if we are fiends, then you are a certified demon.” In truth, a modern person’s way of thinking aligned surprisingly well with these so-called demonesses.
Xue Mu’s recent marketing schemes were already pure, chaotic mischief, and his immediate instinct when looking at political gossip was to jump straight to the dirtiest conclusion.
Their mental wavelengths matched perfectly; calling him a demon was entirely accurate.
Xue Mu turned to look at her.
Yue Xiaochan was tilting her head, watching him with a thoroughly adorable expression.
Her skin was as flawless as fresh snow, and her crimson lips were as vibrant and inviting as ripe cherries.
Xue Mu’s heart skipped a beat yet again.
He blurted out on pure instinct, “Since you are a fiend, I am more than willing to be your demon.” Young as she was, when had Yue Xiaochan ever heard such a raw, direct confession?
She felt her heart thud violently against her ribs.
A sweet, tingling sensation erupted from her chest, spreading outward until her entire mind went completely blank and dizzy.
Her heart raced at a frantic pace; she desperately wanted to snap back at him, but her throat went completely dry, leaving her entirely at a loss for words.
A fiery blush rapidly engulfed her small face, rushing all the way down to her neck.
It took her a long, agonized moment to finally choke out a single line: “You really are a piece of work.” Xue Mu instantly regretted it.
This kind of romantic sweet talk really wasn’t something he should be throwing around carelessly.
Just as he opened his mouth to smooth things over, a low, muffled snort vibrated through the air, hitting their chests like the resonant strike of a massive bronze bell.
Xue Mu felt a sudden, violent upheaval in his chest, so intense that he nearly vomited blood.
Beside him, Yue Xiaochan’s eyes snapped back into sharp focus, the romantic spell instantly broken.
Xue Qingqiu had finally lost her patience and intervened.
Regaining her composure, Yue Xiaochan quickly whispered, “According to our intelligence, that old Emperor became completely impotent over a decade ago.
She can’t possibly be his mistress.
The rumor about her being an illegitimate daughter from his earlier years is highly probable…
Come on, hurry up.
Master has been waiting for ages.” Watching her flee toward the building as if running for her life, Xue Mu forced down the churning blood in his throat.
He steadied his breathing and slowly climbed the steps to Xue Qingqiu’s bamboo lodge.
Xue Qingqiu was inside her quarters.
She was no longer wearing her silk veil.
She sat quietly by the window, her deep, luminous eyes gazing abstractedly at the blue sky outside.
Her crimson lips were slightly pursed, locked deep in thought.
There was none of the terrifying, world-shaking pressure she usually radiated over the martial world; instead, she exuded a melancholic, highly intellectual beauty.
A single stick of sandalwood incense burned before her, its delicate spirals of smoke casting a soothing fragrance through the room, slowly grounding any lingering restlessness in Xue Mu’s heart.
Hearing the two enter, Xue Qingqiu spoke softly, her voice barely a whisper.
“This is soul-calming incense.
Chan’er, has your heart found peace?” Yue Xiaochan kept her head down, nervously playing with the hem of her robe without a word.
Xue Qingqiu added indifferently, “You may leave.
You haven’t practiced your cultivation for two days now.
Return to your own lodge and train properly.
I wish to speak with Xue Mu alone.” Yue Xiaochan lifted her head, a soft look of pleading in her eyes, silently begging her master not to punish Xue Mu.
Xue Qingqiu let out a quiet sigh, simply repeating, “Go.” Though Yue Xiaochan usually acted completely spoiled and lawless, she seemed heavily plagued by a guilty conscience right now.
Not daring to play around, she obediently slunk out of the room.
As Yue Xiaochan reluctantly made her exit, glancing back with every third step, Xue Qingqiu turned her beautiful eyes onto Xue Mu, her expression entirely unreadable.
“Sit.” Xue Mu sat cross-legged opposite her.
A low tea table separated the two of them, upon which the sandalwood incense gently spiraled.
A sudden sense of absurdity washed over him—he was sitting face-to-face with the supreme leader of a demon sect, yet the entire scene radiated pure, zen-like tranquility.
And…
she was truly the most breathtaking woman Xue Mu had ever laid eyes on in either of his lives.
Between the wisps of smoke, a intoxicating fragrance drifted through the air; it was impossible to tell whether the scent came from the incense or from her body.
She possessed that exact same mysterious, soul-captivating aura shared by everyone in the Star-Moon Sect, yet she held a mature elegance that Yue Xiaochan lacked, and a commanding majesty that eclipsed Menglan.
Compounded by the dual prestige of her supreme status and absolute martial might, she was a masterpiece from the inside out.
Given Xue Mu’s extensive experiences in his previous world, his pulse still quickened every single time he saw her.
Not a single modern beauty—sculpted by makeup, filters, or plastic surgery—could ever hope to match this level of transcendent grace.
He truly wondered how the men of this world, completely unexposed to modern media, idol groups, and digital touch-ups, managed to maintain their sanity around her.
No wonder their entire sect traveled under silk veils.
If they walked around bare-faced, they would probably cause a pile-up on the streets…
Xue Qingqiu spoke up, cutting through the silence.
However, her opening line caught Xue Mu entirely off guard.
“Our sect does not forbid love and romance.
Though Chan’er holds a unique position, if your intentions are genuine, I have no reason to fault you.
However, Xue Mu…” Xue Mu quickly replied, “Please speak your mind, Sect Master.” Xue Qingqiu’s gaze suddenly turned razor-sharp.
“I do not see any genuine affection in you.
I see only strategic calculations to secure your own footing.” A cold chill ran down Xue Mu’s spine.
Yue Xiaochan was still inexperienced in the ways of the world and had barely interacted with any men growing up.
No matter how much of a natural genius she was, she was ultimately a complete novice when it came to reading human hearts and understanding romance.
Xue Qingqiu was a different story entirely.
She had dominated the martial world for years and witnessed untold schemes.
From her vantage point as a spectator, Xue Mu’s hidden motivations were practically stripped bare; hiding anything from her was an exercise in futility.
Fortunately, Xue Mu’s conscience was clear; he harbored no truly malicious or underhanded intent.
After a brief moment of deliberation, he decided to speak the absolute truth.
“No matter who was placed in my current predicament, their absolute priority would have to be securing their own survival.
At the very least, everything I have done so far has been driven entirely by a desire to assist the Star-Moon Sect; there is no deceit in that.
As for Xiaochan…” Xue Mu paused mid-sentence.
Suspecting that Yue Xiaochan might be eavesdropping outside the door, he hesitated over whether to be brutally honest.
Weighing his options for a brief second, he finally declared, “She is simply too young.”