Chapter 96: Obsession (Requesting Moon Tickets)

After finishing the affairs at the Golden Tower, night was deep, and the group returned to the Shizi Mansion.

The Crown Prince of Danwang won a large sum of silver and wouldn't go home until he'd spent it all; after filing his complaint at the palace, he vanished somewhere, but before leaving, he still remembered to give Xie Jinhuan his share.

Xie Jinhuan received the silver and felt considerably better; back in his guest room, he saw Yang Dabiao had already moved the plaque reading "Upright Gentleman" inside.

The four grand, swirling characters made Meiqiu momentarily bewildered—she wondered whether any of these words had even a shred of connection to Ah Huan.

But Seeing Mo Mo thought the title suited him perfectly; she stood before it with her sword in hand, studying it closely, then asked:

"When we return to Danyang, where do you plan to hang this plaque?"

Xie Jinhuan poured water into the bathtub and teased:

"Who in their right mind hangs this thing in their room? If you like it, take it back and hang it in your boudoir—I'll give it to you as a keepsake."

Linghu Qingmo couldn't possibly accept such a title, yet if Xie Jinhuan didn't want it, she truly wished to take it back and keep it.

Decades from now, when Xie Jinhuan becomes a patriarch of the orthodox path, and she cultivates alone on Mount Zihui, glancing at it then, recalling today's events, it would surely be amusing…

Turning back, she noticed Xie Jinhuan fussing beside the bathtub and asked:

"You're going to bathe?"

"Mm."

Xie Jinhuan stirred the water; seeing Seeing Mo Mo wasn't leaving, he ventured:

"Are you bathing too?"

"?"

Even if I bathe, can I bathe with you?

Linghu Qingmo found the question utterly absurd, yet she considered closing the door and dragging the screen over to shield the bathtub.

Xie Jinhuan froze, pleasantly surprised:

"Really bathe together? Then let me help you…"

Slap!

Linghu Qingmo swatted away his hand trying to help her undress, her gaze darkening:

"What are you imagining? You're being hunted by the Mingshen Sect and your enemies—I'm guarding you. Wash slowly. I won't peek."

Xie Jinhuan was deeply disappointed, yet moved by Seeing Mo Mo's thoughtful protection; he pulled her sleeve and sat beside her on the tea couch.

Linghu Qingmo thought he meant to forcibly bathe with her; she tensed instantly, sword raised in threat:

"W-what are you planning?!"

Xie Jinhuan shook his head, picked up the teapot, and poured tea:

"Mo Mo, tell me honestly—what exactly did you see today?"

?

Linghu Qingmo's icy expression stiffened; her chest involuntarily lifted slightly, yet her demeanor remained like a frost-cold Daoist girl on Bingshan:

"I saw nothing! Even if I did, it was just an illusion affecting my mind—nothing real."

Before Xie Jinhuan could guess further, the Ghost Bride slipped out again, sitting behind Mo Mo, left hand raised, palm revealing a crystal orb.

With the Ghost Bride's cultivation, seeing the illusion Mo Mo experienced was easy.

Inside the orb now replayed Mo Mo's first-person memory—just as when they first met in Qingquan Alley, he was bare-chested, radiating righteous energy, left hand behind his back, right hand extended forward, still speaking…

Linghu Qingmo noticed the cold young master staring at her ear, then raising a hand to touch it; just as she was about to ask, Xie Jinhuan suddenly stood, stepped within arm's reach, left hand behind his back, right hand reaching toward her, expression tender and earnest:

"The Dao is long, immortality uncertain, solitary travel endlessly lonely. Miss Mo Mo, will you become my Dao partner, and journey together to refine the wondrous Law and reach the Jade Terrace?"

Huh?!

Linghu Qingmo shuddered, staring dumbfounded at the man who'd just confessed, her face visibly flushing crimson to her neck!

Thump-thump~

Though no echo drum was present, the room echoed with the faint sound of a heartbeat.

Seeing Mo Mo didn't respond, Xie Jinhuan extended his hand further:

"May I find one true heart, and grow old together, never apart, never apart, never apart~"

Zzzt~

Linghu Qingmo snapped back to reality, seized his wrist, yanked him close, and pinned him onto the tea couch, her right hand crackling with blue-white lightning:

"What nonsense are you spouting? You… you say 'I'm not angry' right now!"

Her gaze was as icy as frost—she'd zap him into tears if he didn't comply.

But Xie Jinhuan, already zapped, wouldn't waste the chance; he turned his head innocently:

"Wasn't this what you saw this afternoon? I'm just reenacting the scene."

"I…"

Linghu Qingmo's face turned blood-red; she wanted to deny it, but then froze again:

"How do you know what I saw?"

Xie Jinhuan fabricated with solemn gravity:

"I'm from the Hidden Immortal Sect—I can see through illusions. Otherwise, how else did I defeat Tai Shu Dan? And why my reaction today was different? Because I saw Wei Lu… damn it!"

Linghu Qingmo noticed Xie Jinhuan suddenly shuddering, staring past her as if he'd seen something horrifying; she turned to look too, utterly confused:

"What are you looking at?"

Through the crystal orb, Xie Jinhuan saw seven or eight women half-naked, coquettishly posing; even floating text inside the orb kindly labeled each woman's identity…

The scene was utterly blasphemous!

Trapped beneath Mo Mo, he couldn't stare at the video; he turned his gaze back:

"I just remembered the illusion Wei Lu saw—it was… well, utterly inappropriate for children. You mustn't spread this, or Wei Lu will hang himself."

Linghu Qingmo grew genuinely curious, leaning in to ask:

What did he actually see? Don't worry, I won't tell anyone.

Sigh—gentlemen judge by actions, not intentions. Wei Lu saw only inner desires; his backward leap was his action. I peered into it by secret method—no matter what I saw, I must not misinterpret Wei Lu, nor reveal it to outsiders.

Linghu Qingmo blinked and quickly nodded:

"Yes, illusions aren't real. I broke free of the illusion myself—you can't misinterpret me! Hmm… you saw through the illusion, so you cheated today! If you'd truly been caught in it, you'd have seen all sorts of nonsense too…"

Xie Jinhuan didn't believe a word of it, ready to argue, when he realized his ghost bride truly loved to stir up trouble!

Before he could speak, a dizziness flooded his mind, and his vision shifted into:

A sixteen-foot bride, a beauty with glasses, the coldly stunning Seeing Mo Mo, the peaceful little princess, the pure and lively little Medicine Maiden…

Even more absurd—there was the back-view illustration of Nangong the Immortal Swordsman!

And his plump, white father, dressed in a deep blue official robe, frowned and spat:

"How many now? Still planning to have a dozen more mischievous sons and fat daughters? I earn fifteen taels a month—still have to buy you books, pay tuition, buy pills! Do you want me to retire at a hundred?"

…

Linghu Qingmo waited for a reply, but found Xie Jinhuan suddenly distracted, his expression dazed, staring blankly ahead, as if seeing something, even reaching out a hand—then quickly pulling it back.

Linghu Qingmo turned her head, puzzled:

"Xie Jinhuan?"

"Hm?"

Xie Jinhuan snapped awake, sat up, and smiled:

"I was peering into my own heart. If I'd been caught in the illusion, I'd have reacted just like that. As for what I saw… hmm… I'm a huge lecher. No need to mention it."

Linghu Qingmo felt Xie Jinhuan's reaction wasn't just lecherous—it was more like Zhang Huaiyu's after the fact.

Indeed, everyone's heart harbors a demon, a fixation—even a true gentleman like Xie Jinhuan couldn't escape it…

Linghu Qingmo hesitated slightly, guessing it might be due to his troubled family affairs, and wanted to offer comfort.

But this white-robed libertine was far too good at taking advantage—he sensed her pity and leaned in with heartfelt tenderness.

?!

Linghu Qingmo shuddered, instantly raised her hand to cover her mouth, her face turning crimson, and glared:

"You lecher! You're simply… say 'Don't be angry!' right now!"

Xie Jinhuan thought this one would work, and said seriously:

"Don't be angry! A gentleman's word is binding—once spoken, even four horses can't catch it. As cultivators, our words must be kept. If you're angry, it won't count!"

"?"

Linghu Qingmo's robe swelled with rage, wanting to glare—but bound by her promise, she gritted her teeth and forced a calm expression, speaking softly:

"I won't let you kiss…呜~!"

Before the words ended, Xie Jinhuan slipped past her arm like flowing water and sealed his lips over her rosy ones.

Zizzzz—

Instantly, Linghu Qingmo's hands erupted with Lei Guang, killing intent surging skyward!

But bound by her vow, she forced herself not to press her hands onto Xie Jinhuan's shoulders—after the kiss, she scrambled to her feet:

"Stop!"

Xie Jinhuan thought Seeing Mo Mo was adorable—he'd already kissed her, now she says the safe word? What a waste! He nodded seriously:

"Fine, I've stopped! You mustn't be angry—you must forgive me, or it doesn't count!"

Huh?!

Linghu Qingmo drew a deep breath, her big eyes fixed on Xie Jinhuan—her brows furrowed, yet forced to keep her promise, she made a calm face and lowered her voice:

"I am an heir of Mount Zihui—how could I be as fickle as you? You… you only have two chances left!"

"Mm. I've truly stopped from the bottom of my heart—you must truly not be angry, even when we return to the room, or it still won't count!"

Linghu Qingmo's eyelashes trembled slightly—she wanted to punch Xie Jinhuan, but couldn't break her vow. She turned and hurried out the door, snatching up Meiqiu along the way—perhaps hoping to "pay off the kiss-debt with the bird!"

Xie Jinhuan kissed Seeing Mo Mo, and felt his mood, ruined by Master Hou, had improved considerably. He'd soon go to Wan Yi's to study the Divine Martial Scripture—now he began gathering his things…

—

Haha, all of you got ambushed, right? Actually, this is the eleventh update!

Just kidding—I'm truly out of content now, need a few days' break, great masters, please forgive me or2!

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Requesting monthly votes!

(End of Chapter)