Thou Shalt Not Speak Nonsense

Under orders from the 'Saintess', Chen Cheng promptly prepared everything needed for a bath, from the bathing bucket to hot water and flower petals—everything needed was there.

And yet, Lin Fan sharply sensed that something was wrong—the look on Chen Cheng's face was not right.

Perhaps… the saintess did not usually bathe, and for him to say it out of the blue… Was that why she sensed something unusual?

Lin Fan's heart pounded.

Even now, he still did not know what his own name was, since he had not come in contact with outsiders, whereas Chen Cheng and the other disciples would only address him as Saintess. With that being the case, he should not be asking them what his own name was, should he?

Still, the question of names was no longer the issue, but… would he expose himself?

Hence, even as he was about to take his clothes off, Lin Fan kept a straight face and coolly said, "Speak."

That was a 'pattern' he had noticed over the last few days.

The cooler he behaved, the more the apostles around him behaved naturally. On the other hand, they seemed to be uncomfortable when he was in a pleasant mood.

That was enough proof that the saintess had always been this cold.

Therefore, Lin Fan maintained the demeanor of a cold beauty. That being said… ahem, the soul of a man, behaving like an ice beauty… Sigh!

"Huh? Saintess, I… I wasn't about to say anything."

Chen Cheng's whole body trembled.

'Not going to say anything? No way I am buying that.'

Lin Fan therefore put on an ice-cold visage. "I don't wish to repeat myself."

"Forgive me, Saintess."

Chen Cheng's face paled. "It's… it's a rumor about you that has been spreading outside."

"Speak frankly."

Inwardly, Chen Cheng wanted to slap herself.

'Well done, me and my big mouth. The rumors are not true at all, but everything happens for a reason… what if the saintess believes that I was responsible once she heard of it?'

Chen Cheng was about to cry, but there was no way she could hold back from talking. And even if she did not speak, could the saintess not simply ask the others?

Therefore, she revealed everything as it was.

"Many handyman disciples, as well as disciples of other sects and even our own sect are spreading the rumor that you've failed in your ascension, Saintess. They are claiming that you had lost your way and all your abilities… and threw a fit after you came out of seclusion."

"And that, that…"

"That, what?"

"And that your whole body is covered in ice and hanging by a thread, and you could… any moment…"

"Forgive me, Saintess."

Chen Cheng promptly went down on her knees. "We, your personal disciples definitely did not spread that rumor."

Lin Fan: "…"

'What the hell!

'I'm hanging by a thread?'

Lin Fan's gaze became thoughtful.

Who started the rumor? He knew very well that there was almost no chance his personal disciples did it, since the twelve girls—including Chen Cheng—were basically the saintess's designated handmaidens…

All of them were loyal, and their honor would be equally affected by the rumor, which was why they definitely would not resort to such dirty tricks.

So, the one who spread the rumor would have to be the handyman disciple who had fixed his door, right?

What a pain!

At first, Lin Fan thought that he could have more time to slowly explore the Violet Manor. However, with such a rumor spreading, it would be lucky if it stayed within the circles of disciples. If it reached the saintess's master or whomever who believed it to be true, and visited her to check things out…

He was much likelier to be exposed!

What should he do?

"Leave me for now."

Slightly bothered, Lin Fan allowed Chen Cheng to take her leave and soon scowled.

"What, now? Who the hell would know that even immortals are such gossipers too? Even starting rumors?!"

In spite of his irritation, when he saw the steam puffing out of the bath bucket and caught a whiff of the exceedingly fragrant aroma, he could not help stretching out lazily.

"Forget it. Let's relax in this bath for now."

Lin Fan took off his clothes.

Soon, when he looked upon his own tender, fair skin, he could not help flashing a pained smile.

"Damn it. Really hope no bastard gets the benefit of all these."

Then, he entered the bath bucket.

The slightly burning water covered his body, and he felt an oncoming comfort almost immediately.

"Ah, so good."

Lin Fan half-closed his eyes in relaxation. Nonetheless, this was the first time he had bathed in a woman's body, which was why certainly spots felt… ahem, weird.

His thoughts hence went wild.

But even as he soaked in the bath, his consciousness suddenly blurred.

***

Meanwhile, Qi Zixiao who had been running promptly straightened and froze on the spot.

And then…

Qi Zixiao: "…"

Splash!

She leaped out of the bathing bucket in a flash.

There was no visible movement, but the clothes laid out in a corner flew to her by themselves, instantly covering that unbelievably seductive body.

Then, her face turned ice-cold.

"I'm back?"

"But why was I in the bath bucket?"

"Could it be…"

There was no telling what had crossed her mind.

Boom!!!

Terrifying killing intent surged, instantly quaking the entire chamber. The others in the building were only spared when the protective circles kicked into action at once.

Even so, the astounding killing intent was rushing into the clouds and stretching over hundreds of miles!

Outside the door, Chen Cheng and the other disciples were in shock and shivering, but none of them dared to make a sound, resorting only to eye contact.

"I knew it was a rumor!"

"That's losing her way and all cultivation?"

"The saintess is really angry…" There was a pained look on Chen Cheng's face.

***

Snow Maiden Peak.

The Snow Maiden held a very high rank as the most senior disciple of the Violet Manor. If Qi Zixiao had not been born and revealed her unparalleled talent, the Snow Maiden would have been the first choice for saintess, but what-ifs would always sadly remain what-ifs.

But when the recent shocking rumor surfaced that Qi Zixiao might have failed in her ascension and also lost her cultivation in the process, Snow Maiden's thoughts had gone into overdrive.

Today, she even summoned several juniors she was close to for a discussion of that matter.

"If it were up to me, Eldest Sister would be the first choice for Saintess."

"That's right. Now, everyone is saying that Qi Zixiao had lost all her cultivation. Everyone, we should help Eldest Sister to claim the place of Saintess."

"But I think we should be more prudent and test the waters. It would never be late for Eldest Sister to act if Qi Zixiao is really crippled…"

Watching as her junior sisters conspired, Snow Maiden kept an impassive face despite her inward pleasure.

"Well said…"

But just as Snow Maiden was about to praise them and send them to check things out...

Boom!!!

Violet qi arrived from three hundred miles away, the killing intent within gusting as it swept through Snow Maiden Peak.

Snow Maiden's expression had changed slightly right then. 

"What rubbish! Thou shalt not speak nonsense! What character is the saintess that the likes of you could doubt her? And yet you had to speak such nonsense!"

Her heart was pounding wildly.

Qi Zixiao's ascension had failed and she had become a cripple?!

Cripple, my foot!

The killing intent carried by the violet qi came from the east… did you think I was not familiar with Qi Zixiao's presence?

Right now, Snow Maiden even suspected that someone in her own sect who had a grudge against her had deliberately created those rumors, and was trying to frame her!