Chapter 173: 173 You like being a sycophant, did she force you to lick?

【Read the chapter title carefully】

"Junior Sister, no need to say more. This person is so rude; today I must teach him a lesson!"

Qi Yulou casually found an excuse.

Then he leaped off the large rock, landing steadily not far in front of Ning Mu.

"Ning Mu, you bastard, how dare you..."

He glared at Ning Mu, about to start mocking him, but halfway through, his expression went completely blank.

That, what is that? Qi Yulou's complexion changed drastically; his eyes, previously filled with anger, suddenly constricted, replaced by disbelief and panic.

Following his gaze.

One could see that at this moment, Ning Mu was emotionally unfolding the cloth bundle, taking out the item inside the silk wrapping.

That is...

A woman's bodice?

The one Junior Uncle just gave him?

Gasp! How is that possible!

Junior Uncle, how could she give such an intimate item of her own to Ning Mu?

He was not unaware that a woman would only give her intimate items to the one she favored, to manifest their affection and seal a vow.

Could it be that Junior Uncle and this filthy wretch have already developed to this stage?

Ah, damn it all!

Qi Yulou's heart burned with rage; he was so angry he felt like vomiting blood, and his face turned a bruised blue.

"What did you say?"

But at this moment, Ning Mu had already raised his head, very quickly stuffing the emerald-green bodice into his robes, and then looked with a strangely confused expression at the Qi Yulou who had suddenly jumped down, filled with rage.

Ning Mu's expression of confusion.

Actually left the angry Qi Yulou speechless.

But after a moment, he immediately reacted, glaring at Ning Mu and shouting: "Ning Mu, what evil magic did you use on Junior Uncle? Why would she give this item to you?"

Qi Yulou pointed at Ning Mu's chest and scolded loudly.

Ning Mu looked at him strangely, shrugged, and said calmly: "What are you barking about? She's happy to give it to me, what the hell does it have to do with you?"

"What did you say?"

Stunned by Ning Mu's calm retort, Qi Yulou was dumbfounded, looking at Ning Mu in disbelief.

As if questioning him, how dare he call him a dog? Ning Mu shrugged and pouted: "What did I say? I said, is your dog brain broken?"

"What relationship do you have with her that it's your place to interfere?"

"Or do you just like being a sycophant under her, but did she force you to lick?"

"She's happy to give it to this young master, what are you doing here yapping like a dog?"

"What qualifications do you have?"

Ning Mu didn't care at all, eyeing Qi Yulou sideways, and let out a stream of indifference.

After finishing, he pouted, then shrugged and brushed past him to leave.

Qi Yulou was completely stunned! He had never encountered such a scene before.

In the past, no matter where he was, he was the most dazzling one in the crowd, with countless followers fawning over him; who would dare to be disrespectful to him? Even in the Academy, those with higher status and position than him were always polite.

Even if there were occasional verbal disputes, they would never curse at each other like this.

At most, there would be a fight that stopped at a certain point to resolve the conflict.

But this filthy guy Ning Mu didn't play by the rules at all.

This round of cursing made his brain shrink.

Especially that line, 'just like being a sycophant under her, but did she force you to lick?'

For a moment, he couldn't tell if this was cursing him or asking about his progress.

Until Ning Mu had walked far away.

He finally reacted.

But looking back, there was no sign of Ning Mu.

Looking up at the giant rock under the tree, Junior Sister Pi Yalu was also nowhere to be seen.

He quickened his pace, chasing up the mountain.

Not long after.

Crossing the corner.

He saw Junior Uncle and Junior Sister, one on the left and one on the right, accompanying that filthy Stronghold Master; the three were talking about something, and Junior Uncle and Junior Sister would occasionally let out silver-bell-like laughter.

Those delicate and bright faces clearly showed the joy in their hearts at this moment.

The corner of Qi Yulou's eye twitched.

At this moment, he felt like a rat in a dark corner, watching the woman he loved being seduced by an old cat, yet feeling powerless.

"How does Young Master plan to settle these disaster victims?"

Wei Youqing looked at Ning Mu curiously.

Pi Yalu, who was on the side, heard this, and her beautiful eyes also flickered with a bit of relief.

As an old acquaintance.

She knew well that Brother Ning was a playboy who looked dissolute on the surface, but deep down, he hid a heart that sought to save the world and love the people.

Sometimes, certain methods might be a bit dirty.

But it cannot be denied that, for the disaster victims, he is undoubtedly a savior.

Furthermore, he never sought fame or profit in doing these things.

Even if he had to bear a bad reputation, he felt no fear at all.

It was this mentality that made her feel heartfelt admiration.

One might ask, in this world, how many people could reach such a realm?

Even if there are occasionally kind-hearted people who plead for the disaster victims, in the end, what they seek is nothing more than to greatly boost their own reputation.

Ning Mu shrugged and said with a smile, "There are naturally plenty of ways to settle them, but I am short-handed right now. You have seen it yourself, Youqing, even my Master is so busy every day that his feet barely touch the ground. How about this: you and Miss Pi stay in the Mountain Stronghold to help out, and leave only after I have gotten things on the right track. How does that sound?"

Ning Mu looked at the two of them with a beaming smile.

Pi Yalu felt a panic in her heart.

She was naturally willing to stay and help, to do her part to provide settlement for these disaster victims.

But.

She was a newly admitted Disciple of the Academy, and the disciples from other prefectures had all already entered the Academy.

Only the disciples of Yonghang Prefecture were still lingering and had not yet entered the Academy, all because of Brother Ning alone.

She was even more eager to go to the Academy first to get settled.

After all, although she had the qualifications to enter the Academy, she had not yet registered her household name, nor had she determined her master-disciple lineage. If she delayed any further, what if she were assigned to a less-than-ideal master, or worse, if the quota were filled and they stopped recruiting? Wouldn't that be a case of losing more than she gained? Pi Yalu hesitated to speak.

But Wei Youqing was still there. After all, she was an Academy Libationer and the person in charge of recruiting disciples on this trip south. If she did not speak, Pi Yalu could not easily say much.

Wei Youqing had originally intended to brush it off; she did not want Ning Mu to tie her down completely in this small Mountain Stronghold like this.

She still hoped that one day, she would be able to take him to the Academy and have him become a Disciple of the Master.

But just as she was about to speak.

The system suddenly flashed, and a new task appeared on the panel.

【Task One: Completed!】

【Task Two:...】

【Task Three: Do you feel these disaster victims are too pitiful? Do you believe that the common people of the world have suffered under the great houses for too long? Yet, as a member of a great house, do you feel helpless to change any of this? Then start from the most basic things. Perhaps, because of your changes, you will influence more people to join in this endeavor!】

【Remember: The lesser hero acts with chivalry and righteousness; the greater hero acts for the country and the people!】

【Task Details: Agree to the request of your Binding Companion Ning Mu to stay and help him settle the disaster victims and develop the camp, and ensure Pi Yalu stays as well!】

【Task Completion: If you stay yourself, you will be rewarded with 200 cultivation points and 50 Heroic Couple Points! If you can keep Pi Yalu here as well, the reward will be tripled!】

【Task Failure: Your Binding Companion Ning Mu will completely refuse to join the Academy!】

Hmm? Seeing this task, Wei Youqing's eyes brightened slightly. She turned her head to look at Ning Mu, revealing a charming smile.

So there was still a chance to get him to join the Academy? Thinking this in her heart, Wei Youqing said with a beaming smile, "Alright, since the Young Master has so kindly invited me, this young lady will consider staying for a while; it can be considered doing my part. After all..."

Having said this, Wei Youqing lowered her gaze and sighed slightly.

There was no need to say the rest; Ning Mu could understand.

Pi Yalu, however, looked at the two of them with some confusion.

Wei Youqing also looked at her, smiled slightly, and said candidly, "Miss Pi, look, why don't you stay here and help too? You have known Young Master Ning for a long time, so I imagine you can better understand his heart. As for the Academy, I will write to the education official to explain. How about it?"

Seeing Wei Youqing invite her like this, Pi Yalu could not help but feel conflicted. She was naturally willing to stay, but...

After thinking for a moment, she looked at Wei Youqing and respectfully voiced her doubts.

"Junior Uncle, this Disciple has not yet entered the Academy. If... because of the delay, I am unable to be registered, will..."

She did not finish the rest of her sentence.

But the worry in her eyes was well captured by Wei Youqing.

"That is simple!"

Wei Youqing immediately waved her hand with a smile.

"The roster has already been made, so don't worry about the issue of admission. However, the master-disciple lineage is a bit troublesome... How about this: we are of similar age, so if Miss Pi does not mind, you can become my disciple. I will explain the situation to the Master. Are you willing?" Wei Youqing looked at Pi Yalu with a smile.

She was nineteen years old, born in the same year as Pi Yalu.

But their aptitudes were different, their talents were different, and naturally, their life paths were completely different.

Hearing this, how could Pi Yalu be anything but willing? Without a second word, she knelt down and performed the salute.

"Master is above, please accept this disciple's bow!"

【Notification: Congratulations to the Host for completing Task Three. Because you kept Pi Yalu here as well, you are rewarded with 600 cultivation points and 150 Heroic Couple Points!】

【Notification: Congratulations to the Host, Sub-system No. 3 owner Wei Youqing has completed Task Three. Feedback for the Host's task reward: you have gained 200 cultivation points, and Wei Youqing's Loyalty Value has increased by 2%!】

Pi Yalu's expression was filled with joy, and her eyes were sparkling.

She had never expected that she would be able to become a disciple under Wei Youqing.

One must know.

Wei Youqing was the Master's most favored closing disciple. Among the tens of thousands of disciples in Jixia Academy, Wei Youqing was the only one with this honor.

The Master's disciples were spread throughout the world, but those truly fortunate enough to be his direct disciples could be counted on one's fingers, and Wei Youqing was the only closing disciple among those few, which had long since established her status as his successor—this was equivalent to being half a personal disciple!

Moreover, because Wei Youqing was young and lacked seniority, she had never taken on any disciples before.

That is to say, she would be her First Disciple!

In terms of status, this was even half a step higher than Qi Yulou.

After all, Qi Yulou's Master, Li Xiuyuan, although nominally an Academy Great Sacrifice and a disciple of the Master, was in reality only a Registered Disciple.

Because he was old and virtuous, and possessed a meticulous mind, he had attained the position of Great Sacrifice in charge of the Academy.

"No need for such formalities. We are of similar age, so being too rigid would seem overly constrained. It is better to be casual."

Wei Youqing smiled and reached out to help the kneeling Pi Yalu up.

Afterward, she flipped her palm, took a rolled-up paper book from her sleeve, and handed it to Pi Yalu.

"Since you are my disciple, as we meet for the first time, I should give you a gift. I did not bring many things with me on this trip south, so let this 'Golden House Manual' serve as your welcome gift. This is an Earth-Tier defensive technique. Once practiced to perfection, it can make your whole body as if shrouded in a golden house, capable of resisting fatal damage!"

Her progress in practicing the Golden House Manual was the worst, only reaching minor success, so she carried this secret manual with her, reviewing it often to seek progress.

Now that Pi Yalu had already been accepted as a disciple, there was nothing inappropriate about passing this technique to her.

It was a matter of sect inheritance, after all.

"Many thanks, Master!" Pi Yalu's eyes lit up, and she respectfully took the Golden House Manual with both hands.

Watching the system prompt messages skip by, Ning Mu watched the two of them with a calm smile the entire time.

He had never expected such an unexpected joy.

This Wei Youqing was far too sensible! Wei Youqing had actually taken Pi Yalu as a disciple.

Seemingly associating this with something, a strange and yearning look could not help but flash in his eyes.

If these two youthful and beautiful women, like sisters and both heroines of the Academy, were to serve him together, what a wonderful and enchanting scene that would be! For a moment, Ning Mu could not help but be filled with infinite fantasies.

"Brother Ning, what kind of look is that?"

Pi Yalu clearly noticed his expression and asked with a slight frown.

"Ah, it is nothing; I am simply happy for you. A long-cherished wish of many years has finally been fulfilled."

Ning Mu smiled, cupped his hands in a salute to offer congratulations, and casually found an excuse to brush it off.

Naturally, he could not speak his inner thoughts aloud.

Otherwise, let alone Pi Yalu, he feared even Wei Youqing would get angry and leave.

Some things still had to be planned slowly.

A wicked smile appeared at the corner of Ning Mu's mouth.

Pi Yalu raised an eyebrow, looked at Ning Mu in confusion, and asked, "Is that so? But I always feel that this look of yours is ill-intentioned!"

Especially noticing the trace of a wicked smile crossing the corner of Ning Mu's mouth made her feel this even more.

It was a bit creepy.

It felt as if she were standing bare before Brother Ning.

But it was indeed as he had said.

Now that she had achieved her wish, not only had she joined Jixia Academy, but she had also been accepted as a disciple by the Master's most cherished little disciple; this honor was enough to make her happy for a long time!

"Junior Uncle, you actually gifted the Golden House Manual to her?"

And at this moment.

Qi Yulou, who had been following far behind, finally could not help but step forward, looking at the Golden House Manual in Pi Yalu's hands in disbelief.

Although this Golden House Manual was only an Earth-Tier technique.

It was extremely precious.

After practicing this secret manual to the major success or even the perfection stage, one could not only block a full-strength strike from a master of the same realm, but even survive a full-strength attack from an opponent one realm higher.

It is rumored that this technique was obtained by the Master hundreds of years ago when he was practicing in the Golden House of the Academy, through accidental enlightenment.

Because it belongs to the defensive technique category.

And because it was obtained in the Golden House, it was named accordingly.

This technique holds a very high status in the hearts of the Academy disciples; many would rather give up a Heaven-Tier technique than miss the chance to practice this one.

After all, it can save one's life at a critical moment.

But in reality, in the entire Jixia Academy, the number of people fortunate enough to learn this technique does not exceed the count of one hand.

Over so many years, the Master has only passed it to a few people, most of whom have already passed away.

Furthermore, the Master has explicitly ordered that anyone who practices the Golden House Manual who passes it to others without consent will suffer the consequence of having their cultivation completely crippled! Currently, those in the Academy who can skillfully master this technique.

Aside from the Master and Wei Youqing, there is only one prince of the Great Qi royal family, the future crown prince, and one princess deeply loved by the sovereign.

Even then.

It was only obtained after the royal family spent great gifts and paid a significant price.

From this, one can see the rarity of this Golden House Manual.

But right now.

Wei Youqing was actually so blatant, passing this technique to a disciple who had not yet truly entered the Academy in front of an outsider? Qi Yulou could not help but be shocked.

One must know that even his master, Li Xiuyuan, the Great Sacrifice who manages Jixia Academy and a titan whom even the current Emperor of Qi dares not easily offend, did not have the qualifications to practice this Golden House Manual. His master had once begged the Master several times, but the result was the Master's wrath.

Because of this wrath, Li Xiuyuan sat alone in the forbidden area of the Academy for half a year. During these six months, the affairs of the Academy were handled jointly by others, and the Li Family behind him directly declined by more than half.

Even until now, they have not yet recovered the Original Qi of their peak period.

It was also from then on that the world learned of the preciousness of this Golden House Manual.

Seeing Qi Yulou's questioning expression, Wei Youqing could not help but raise her eyebrows.

Immediately, she shrugged very casually and said, "What is wrong with that?"

"My Master long ago permitted me that on the day I take a disciple, I may pass this technique to my First Disciple. What, is my Junior Nephew here to instruct me on how to act?"

Wei Youqing let out a cold snort, then glared at Qi Yulou with a look of displeasure in her eyes.

Upon hearing this, Qi Yulou's expression could not help but change.

This secret matter was something he had not anticipated.

Immediately, as his expression shifted, he sheepishly cupped his hands in a bow and said awkwardly, "I dare not, I dare not."

"Junior Nephew was only worried that Junior Uncle had been misled by others, so I... please forgive me, Junior Uncle!"

While saying this, his gaze swept over Ning Mu intentionally or unintentionally.

At such a moment, he did not forget to cast dirt on Ning Mu, hoping to lead his Junior Uncle to turn against him.

But was Ning Mu someone he could manipulate so easily?

Before Wei Youqing, whose expression was gradually changing and whose brows were knitting together, could speak, Ning Mu suddenly reached out and directly wrapped his arm around Wei Youqing's waist.

And then.

He then brazenly draped his arm over Pi Yalu's shoulder.

Both women were taken aback.

At this moment, Ning Mu looked at Qi Yulou with a grin and said indifferently, "Do you, this bootlicking dog of a subordinate, think your Junior Uncle is the type of foolish woman who acts on impulse and doesn't know when to advance or retreat?"

(End of chapter)