Jiang Xi led a double row of disciples dressed in light celadon robes into the room. Today, he still wore that air of superiority, as if everyone else was mad while he alone was lucid. A long robe with silver trimming in a pale green hue brushed the ground, the silver threads made from silver wire, and the green fabric extracted from the feathers of a jade spirit bird. He draped a light golden cloud veil over his shoulders, its lustrous inner glow captivating.
His attire always conveyed, "I'm wealthy, come try to rob me," but no one could ever take him on. His handsome face seemed to silently ask, "Do you want to sleep with me? I know you do," yet no one could have him.
All others could do was bow their heads respectfully before him, clasping their fists and declaring, "Greetings, Leader Jiang!" Mei Hanxue and his siblings echoed, "We've come to pay our respects, Esteemed Lord Jiang."
But Xue Meng was an exception. With his arms crossed, he turned his head and harrumphed, completely dismissing Jiang Xi from his regard.
Everyone was aghast—Jiang Xi's notorious temper was well-known. Had Xue Meng eaten the heart of a bear and the courage of a leopard? As a junior, how dare he so brazenly defy their leader!
At this moment, they all held their breath for their own leader, wondering if he would be met with a scarlet punishment or a dose of a deadly wine from the Esteemed Lord Jiang.
Yet, to their surprise, Jiang Xi's gaze lingered only briefly on Xue Meng before moving on in silence, without a single word.
"???"
Others were astonished, but Xue Meng was oblivious. He had bickered with Jiang Xi so often in the past that provoking him had become an instinct. Now, having been ignored, he widened his eyes, cleared his throat, and adjusted his posture to emit another haughty "hum."
Jiang Xi paid no attention to him and didn't waste words. Scanning the room, his gaze finally landed on Elder Chen, and he asked, "Where is Ma Fangzhi?"
Before Elder Chen could reply, Xue Meng harrumphed angrily again.
Elder Chen: "…"
This time, Jiang Xi finally turned his misty apricot eyes towards him, coldly asking, "Do you have a nasal infection?"
Xue Meng choked, exasperated. "I, I…."
"If you have a nasal infection, hum again. I have medicine for it."
Xue Meng stammered, "Y-you, you…."
Jiang Xi remained calm. "I also have medicine for stuttering. It's effective for all ages, no deception involved."
The disciples of Peach Bud Manor were astonished!
Why could someone snort at Jiang Xi three times and not only avoid being executed but also receive the sect leader's meticulous care, warm attentiveness, and sincere concern?
Even Mei Hanxue seemed lost in thought, alternately observing Xue Meng and Jiang Xi. Her light golden brows knitted together, creasing more deeply by the moment.
Outside the flower hall, some nosy female disciples couldn't help but whisper excitedly. Disciple Shouhou A: "Ah! Ah! Ah! Sect Leader Jiang is so indulgent! The rumors are true! It's 'The Tyrant Immortal Ruler's Little Wife'!"
Disciple Shouhou B: "You're lying! It's clearly 'Those Years When I Slept with the Immortal Ruler'!"
Disciple Shouhou C: "Both of you are blind! Didn't you see Elder Mei's expression? Elder Mei is unhappy! I solemnly recommend 'Double Plum Teasing Pig,' sold at the Eastern Market Mushroom Bookstore!"
Disciples Shouhou A and B both protested, "You can't call Sect Leader Xue a pig!"
Unaware of the commotion, the parties involved remained oblivious. Xue Meng, flustered by Jiang Xi, was about to react when Mei Hanxue intervened.
Xue Meng's eyes widened in disbelief. "What are you doing? Why are you helping him?!"
Mei Hanxue gently held his face, smiling. "Your face has turned green. Sit down and have some black tea; it will balance you out..."
"Let me go!"
Jiang Xi cast a casual glance at the two of them.
To outsiders, he, Jiang Yichen, was the paramount ruler in the world of cultivation, holding immense power and authority. No matter how promising Xue Meng was, he still couldn't compare to a single finger from Solitary Moon Night. It was clear that Mei Hanxue's attempt to mediate was in support of Xue Ziming, as he didn't want Xue Meng to unnecessarily incur Solitary Moon Night's wrath. Recommended on BiqugeTV: https://m.biqugetv.com/ and https://www.biqugetv.com/
Unfortunately, only Xue Meng was blind to Mei Hanxue's well-meaning intentions. Jiang Xi shook his head inwardly and shifted his gaze away from the bickering juniors.
With a stern expression, he asked Chen Xuyuan less amiably, "I've been here for quite some time. Why hasn't Ma Fangzhi come out to greet guests?"
Elder Chen was chilled by Jiang Xi's gaze, instantly feeling as though five hundred billion gold pieces were crushing down upon him, threatening death. He hastily explained, "No, no, no, it's not like that! Our Lord is not intentionally neglecting you! It's just that he is terribly ill..."
Jiang Xi remained aloof, his sleeves fluttering as he asked, "Oh? How severe is the illness? He can't even get out of bed?"
"No, not that... The Sect Leader has fallen victim to an enchantment. He... He transformed into a blessed butterfly and flew away!"
"..."
Jiang Xi and the group of cultivators from Solitary Moon Night fell into a solemn silence.
For a moment, Jiang Xi's anger seemed to have taken physical form. He narrowed his eyes, and his thin lips were taut with fury. With extreme sarcasm, he said, "Elder Chen. Have you been watching too much 'Palace Fragrant Concubine Legend'?"
Chen Xuyuan, under Jiang Xi's intense gaze, felt as if his head was about to retreat into his neck. He imagined that Venerated Master Jiang might throw him into the alchemy furnace to grind him into powder in a fit of rage. Thus, his mind raced to find something to say that would bridge the gap between him and Venerated Master Jiang, persuading him to show mercy.
In a moment of desperation, he shouted nervously, "Sect Leader Jiang, don't kill me! For the sake of us both having watched 'Palace Fragrant Concubine Legend'! Spare me, please!"
Silence fell upon the room. When the law doesn't punish everyone, even those who hadn't previously noticed the flaw in Jiang Xi's words now dared to reveal their realization with apparent enlightenment.
Yes, how could Jiang Xi have known that turning into a butterfly and flying away was part of the story if he hadn't read the book?
Some people immediately imagined Venerated Master Jiang solemnly reading a book in his leisure time, with the five bold characters 'Palace Fragrant Concubine Legend' emblazoned on its cover.
...It was a sight too unbearable to witness.
Whispers could be heard: "So Venerated Master Jiang's taste in reading is like this..."
"I never would've guessed. You can't judge a book by its cover."
Jiang Xi's face was twisted with displeasure. Gripping Chen Xuyuan's collar, he stared at him intently for a moment before abruptly pushing the elder away. With a chilling tone, he spat out a few words from his thin lips, "Pull out his tongue. Now."
Solitary Moon Night, acting subservient: "Yes!"
"Ahhhh!" Chen Xuyuan screamed, "Lord of the Manor! Help me!! Help me!!! Please, save me now!!"
In this perilous moment, the courageous little bee, perched on the teapot, bravely took flight. It circled around Jiang Ye Chen, buzzing energetically to and fro, attempting to deter this cruel act.
Jiang Xi frowned impatiently. "Get rid of this pest as well."
Solitary Moon Night's dogged follower: "Yes!"
Xue Meng could no longer tolerate his makeshift father's whimsical behavior. Pushing Mei Hanxue aside, he shouted at Jiang Xi, "Jiang Yechen! Stop with all the shouting and threats!"
Pointing at the little bee, he said, "This, right here, is the Courtesan Horse you've been looking for! If you don't believe me, let it dance for you!"
Jiang Xi swept his sleeves, his silver-blue robe shimmering with a radiant glow. Suppressing his anger, he replied to Xue Meng, "What nonsense are you spouting?"
"Whose nonsense?" Xue Meng turned to look at the Courtesan Horse. "Hurry up, dance. If you don't, you're dead."
"Buzz…" The little bee, desperate to save its life, landed sorrowfully on the table, flapping its wings left and right, ascending in a spinning motion with its eyes closed.
Jiang Xi: "..."
Xue Meng said impatiently, "Are you convinced now? They asked for your help to save their lives, but instead, you're trying to kill them. Think of a solution quickly!"
Jiang Xi stared at the bee in silence for a moment before turning to Chen Xuyuan. "...You said this was a butterfly?"
Chen Xuyuan, still recovering from having his throat released, coughed and stammered, "Y-yes, it is."
"Someone, heal his eyes."
Chen Xuyuan: "Huh?"
With a flick of his sleeve, Jiang Xi's face darkened as he instructed his attendant, "Examine Lord Ma again."
Solitary Moon Night eagerly replied, "Yes, Master!"
After a flurry of activity, Solitary Moon Night's disciple diagnosed the situation: Lord Ma had indeed been affected by the special magic of the scroll monster, transforming him into a diligent and brave little bee. However, this enchantment wouldn't last long, and in five days, he would revert to his human form and be able to count his beloved abacus beads again.
"Oh..." Elder Chen Xuyuan, clutching his eye medicine, asked nervously, "We have to wait five days? Can't we just give Lord Ma some medicine directly?"
"I can prepare the medicine. But it's pointless."
"Why?"
Jiang Xi replied, "It takes six days to refine the medicine."
"..."
With no other choice, Master Ma had to reluctantly play the role of a busy little bee for five days. After diagnosing the patient, Jiang Xi's task was done, but he showed no intention of leaving.
He said to Xue Meng, "I told you not to touch the artifacts made by Ma Fangzhi, but you didn't listen. Now look at the trouble you've caused."
Xue Meng crossed his arms and glared at him. "Mind your own business!"
Jiang Xi replied coldly, "This is something I have to mind."
"Fine!" Xue Meng snapped. "Jiang Yichen! Are you just trying to make my life difficult? I said I don't need you to interfere in my affairs, so just leave! Don't disturb this sect leader as I perform my ritual!"
Jiang Xi lowered his eyelashes almost mockingly and gave him a sidelong glance. "Who wants to bother with your problems? I'm only interfering because the Scroll Demon, unable to find any beauties in Lin'an, has already intruded into my Solitary Moon Night territory yesterday. It disturbed my peace. Otherwise, do you really think I would be here?"
"Yes, yes! Only Lord Jiang can handle this matter. You don't know… Last night, it transformed into Sect Leader Jiang and spent the night with seven or eight famous courtesans in Yangzhou's pleasure district. It even promised to make them First, Second, Third, all the way to Eighth Lady of Sect Leader Solitary Moon Night!"
Xue Meng: "…"
The lackey continued, "This morning, when Sect Leader went out, he unexpectedly ran into this group of women. They surrounded him, cooing and acting cute. In front of the entire population of Yangzhou, they called him their husband. Oh, if you had seen it, Sect Leader Xue, Lord Jiang was so furious that his face—"
Jiang Xi sternly interrupted, "Are you done?"
Startled by Jiang Xi's rebuke, the attendant shrunk back.
However, Mei Hanxue couldn't help but lower her lashes and giggle. Jiang Xi noticed and fixed her with a frosty gaze. After a moment, he turned his sharp eyes back to Xue Meng, "In short, I'll take care of it. You don't need to worry."
Upon hearing that Jiang Xi planned to deal with the demon himself, Chen Xuyuan's face paled with alarm. He hastily said, "L-Lord Jiang! You mustn't use force! It will expose the entire cultivation world's private information!"
According to Jiang Xi's original plan, he intended to invite the Scroll Spirit tonight and then drug and shatter it once it arrived.
But upon hearing this, Jiang Xi frowned, "What private information? Aren't they just conversation contents?"
"It's not just that," Chen Xuyuan explained. "Each cultivator is asked a series of questions when they first use the Worry-Free Scroll. If the scroll breaks, all that information will be made public." Pausing, he cautiously reminded Jiang Xi, "Sect Leader Jiang, if you've also used the Worry-Free Scroll, then you would have gone through that questionnaire too."
Illustrious figures tend to have a forgetful nature. Jiang Xi tilted his head slightly, pondering for a while before he recalled the incident.
Back then, the scroll had indeed asked him many intimate and bizarre questions—
"Is there someone you like?"
"Why don't you have one?"
"Do you have any children?"
"Why would there be?"
"May I ask if this was an unexpected pregnancy?"
"You don't seem to like children, so why did you insist on giving birth?"
"Has your husband abandoned you?"
"Immortal Lord, Immortal Lord, please refrain from cursing here. The scroll is merely expressing its concern for your well-being. Moreover, considering your situation, we recommend purchasing the Peach Bud Manor Sunset Red Charms. It will introduce three to five eligible and lonely Immortal Lords to you each week, hoping that you'll soon find happiness in your second marriage."
Splendid, he recalled all those unpleasant experiences.
Jiang Xi's expression darkened. He thought to himself that there was no way he would allow these revealing conversations to become public knowledge.
Just as he sat with his chin in his hand, silently pondering alternative methods to subdue the demon, Mei Hanxue politely spoke up, "Esteemed Lord Jiang, you hold a high position and are our senior. Since this matter involves Sect Leader Xue and me, let us two handle it peacefully. It wouldn't be appropriate for you to take part."
Jiang Xi didn't fully understand what Mei Hanxue meant by "peacefully resolve," but upon hearing that he was "not suitable," he lifted his almond-shaped eyes to look at Mei Hanxue. "What are your plans?"
Mei Hanxue smiled. "Just like Lord Ma, we plan on disguising ourselves as women to lure it into a trap."
"..."
Although he didn't quite grasp why the young generation seemed so flirtatious, Jiang Xi decided to mind his own business. He glanced over Mei Hanxue once more, preparing to give his approval and then leave. However, Mei Hanxue added with a smile, "It wouldn't be difficult to apply makeup for Sect Leader Xue."
Jiang Xi's eyes widened.
Xue Meng's eyes also widened, mirroring Jiang Xi's expression. He was stunned. "What?! You want me to dress up as a woman to entice that scroll demon?!"
Mei Hanxue confessed with a beaming smile, "Yes, indeed."
Xue Meng erupted in anger, "Why can't it be you?!"
"We're three of us, there must be one that suits it. And—"
Before he could finish, Jiang Xi interrupted with a grim expression, "Enough arguing. It's giving me a headache just listening to you."
The Mei brothers and Xue Meng turned to look at him simultaneously.
Jiang Xi exuded an icy demeanor that was almost terrifying. His face was as cold as chiseled ice, and after casting a glance at Xue Meng, he turned to Mei Hanxue and said chillyly, "...He can't. I'll handle this matter."