Chapter 297: The Knock on the Door
The Sword Fairy felt a little anxious.
Rubbing the sleeve of her new outfit with her hand, she recalled the conversation in Bai Xiaoyao room earlier.
As far as results went, everything developed exactly as she had anticipated.
Bai Xiaoyao was indeed unable to ignore the so-called engagement between her senior brother and the Empress and chose to take on the task of resolving it herself.
Though the means she might employ were unknown, given that this matter was tied to both the Demon Sect and the Immortal Nation, and since it was orchestrated by the Demon Sect's master, Bai Xiaoyao, as the sect's Holy Maiden, should be capable of stalling its progress in some way.
At least, that's what Lu Yuliu believed.
As her friend, she had considerable faith in the world-famous demoness's capabilities.
'…But my other thoughts shouldn't have been exposed, right?'
The young girl shifted her gaze slightly to her side, looking at the Demon Sect's Holy Maiden, who seemed completely unaware and casually eating her meal.
By entrusting Bai Xiaoyao with the engagement issue, aside from her being the most suitable person for the job and possibly having a solution, Lu Yuliu had her own ulterior motives.
For one, this matter would divert a significant amount of Xiaoyao's attention, meaning she would be less likely to scrutinize the issues on Lu Yuliu's end.
Though she had resolved to face Bai Xiaoyao openly, executing that resolve on the battlefield was another matter entirely—especially since she had left many exploitable openings in the past.
Without thorough preparation, she felt particularly vulnerable. Tonight's comparison of their performances was proof enough.
Thus, even if it wasn't her original intention, having someone to share the heat definitely made things easier.
Apart from that...
'If she's busy dealing with the engagement, I can take the opportunity to...'
Lu Yuliu was quite impressed with herself.
She managed to turn two troubling issues into a situation that worked in her favor.
Perhaps she really did have a knack for strategy after all.
Her failed revenge plan involving a communication sword was merely a minor setback, and she had handled its aftermath flawlessly.
However, ever since these arrangements were made with Bai Xiaoyao, her attitude towards Lu Yuliu seemed to have shifted subtly again.
Her outfit, her carefully groomed appearance, and even…
Hmph... What was the demoness thinking?
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Bai Xiaoyao wasn't particularly enthusiastic.
To be honest, Lu Yuliu's intentions were far too transparent.
Although she had been momentarily distracted by the sudden engagement, she calmed down quickly after mentally rehearsing a thousand ways to punish her master.
Afterward, she swiftly grasped the current situation and easily deduced the Sword Sect genius clumsy little scheme.
—Too weak. And adorably naïve.
'Well, come to think of it, it's her trustworthy nature that forged our deep friendship back then...'
If she hadn't been able to confirm the sincerity of this Exquisite Sword Heart owner, Bai Xiaoyao would rather have abandoned the Ancient Heavenly Gate opportunity she knew about.
But now, in this moment, compared to a certain red-clothed courtesan she had once encountered, her friend's lackluster combat prowess made it impossible to see her as a rival.
It almost made her feel guilty, prompting her to help dress up this normally indifferent Lu Yuliu, even coaxing her into removing her disguise to reveal her greatest weapon.
'Though this isn't exactly the right move given the current circumstances... Oh well, let's consider it a rehearsal for testing my senior brother. It might even prepare me for tonight's arrangements, ensuring I stay composed no matter how he reacts...'
Besides, this wasn't entirely altruistic.
The demoness never did anything meaningless.
Bai Xiaoyao's gaze flickered slightly toward her storage pouch.
Inside, a newly acquired wooden broad-bladed short sword rested.
Taking a small bite of food, Bai Xiaoyao's beautiful eyes sparkled just as a hesitant murmur reached her ears.
"Do we really have to deal with this tonight?"
Lu Yuliu fiddled with her chopsticks in her bowl, her head bowed.
"...The Demon Artifact Pavilion will reopen tomorrow."
Knowing exactly what her friend meant, Bai Xiaoyao chuckled and gently shook her head.
"The pavilion was closed for six days while Senior Brother was away. Now that it's reopening, there are new officers and Artifact Refiners to manage, not to mention special tasks to handle. The daytime hours will be packed, for both me and Senior Brother."
Hearing this rational explanation, Lu Yuliu's expression grew even more conflicted. Her chopsticks clanged against her bowl repeatedly, but she eventually nodded in reluctant agreement.
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The banquet concluded.
Having enjoyed a rare moment of levity, Luo Wusheng relished the familiar and comforting atmosphere.
Recent events had been overwhelming, so returning to this little haven he built in the royal city brought an inexplicable sense of peace.
The scattered cultivators like Long Dahai were boisterously mingling with senior members and the newcomer, sharing lively tales of their experiences over drinks. Even the topic of Red Blossom Pavilion courtesans drew a round of cheer.
Meanwhile, Old Wang had quietly slipped away with his wealthy girlfriend.
Ah, youth.
For the new Demon Sect disciples, the evening had been utterly bewildering.
Already reeling from memory lapses, they were bombarded with shocking revelations.
What? The Holy Saint wasn't the chaste figure they imagined? He was surrounded by women, including the Holy Maiden, the Empress, and even a courtesan?
What? The Holy Saint nearly triggered a tribulation lightning six days ago, almost becoming the youngest Nascent Soul cultivator?
??
Their minds were swimming with confusion.
At some point, emboldened by drink, a few disciples let slip details of the engagement. Yet amidst the revelry, no one paid much attention to what seemed like absurd gossip.
In the end, these new disciples, now swept up in the lively camaraderie, were dragged off to Red Blossoms Pavilion by Long Dahai's crew.
Tonight, that brothel was bound to score big.
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Afterward, Luo Wusheng spent most of the evening with his junior sister and Lu Yuliu, savoring delicious dishes in the company of two stunning women.
When the banquet wrapped up and the cleanup crew departed, the mansion returned to its tranquil state.
Lu Yuliu quickly retreated to her room—a serene space she'd stayed in before. She swiftly tidied it up and settled in.
Ever since she began using her true appearance, she seemed more relaxed, at least no longer keeping such a deliberate distance from Luo Wusheng.
As for Bai Xiaoyao, her teasing words left Luo Wusheng scratching his head in contemplation, but she also retired to her room without giving him much chance for discussion.
Scratching his head, Luo Wusheng thought for a while before finally returning to his own long-unoccupied quarters.
Until late into the night...
A knock sounded at the door.
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Note: Link to the character Illustration:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lkIcPnCxeyuyZA4Kkb621dPC05UvWjhD