The Zhenxian Yu’s sword energy swept across Taichu’s inner court. Taichu’s Sect Leader and others immediately put down their affairs and flew over on their swords, their speed so fast that Ling Luo had no time to leave.
In their haste, the two hid inside the Golden Luan Pool Banquet platform, in a narrow small compartment where a folding screen blocked the entrance.
Throughout this, Yue Liangze was in a passive state, being pulled along by Ling Luo.
In that moment, he hadn’t yet had time to be surprised by the Zhenxian Yu’s reaction before being taken by that cold hand, his attention thus completely shifting to Ling Luo.
Sword lights came from all directions as more and more people arrived at the Weak Water where the Zhenxian Yu stood.
Ling Luo heard Taichu’s Sect Leader below say in a deep voice: “Seal off this area. Without my order, no one is allowed to step in.”
The compartment was too small, barely accommodating two people. It depended on their posture to minimize the space needed. When Ling Luo pulled Yue Liangze in, she didn’t consider much, only seeing that he was taller than her, so she gripped his neck, making him lower his head to prevent him from being spotted above the screen.
The Golden Luan Pool Banquet platform was pitch black.
Dusk had passed, and the night sky was full of stars.
Yue Liangze, pulled down by her, nearly buried his head in his chest, but stopped just in time to avoid that awkwardness. He turned his head sideways, barely fitting at her shoulder and neck position, his nose able to smell the faint fragrance of Ling Luo.
The confined space forced the two into a distance that was quite intimate.
Too close.
Skin touching skin, that faint, fresh scent entered his chest, deeply imprinting in his memory, impossible to forget.
This distance, before it was her, and now it was also her.
Ling Luo was paying attention to the outside, completely unaware that their posture was somewhat provocative.
From Yue Liangze’s angle, a simple downward glance would reveal a large patch of skin beneath her neckline. His brows slightly furrowed as he grabbed Ling Luo’s hand to change their position. He straightened up with his back against the screen, holding Ling Luo in the crook of his arm, circling her neck, half-embracing her.
Ling Luo looked up at him. The narrow space was dark, but they were so close that Yue Liangze could see her starry eyes glittering.
Yue Liangze pressed his lips together, appearing calm, his eyes indicating the height of the screen, reassuring her that the screen was a bit taller than him.
Only then did Ling Luo turn her gaze away, paying attention to the movements outside.
Taichu’s two Sect Leaders and various Hall Masters had all arrived.
“That sword energy just now… could it be?” Hall Master Feng hesitated, his shocked gaze falling on the Zhenxian Yu.
“Not necessarily,” the Second Sect Leader said in a deep voice. “The Zhenxian Yu shows no signs of loosening.”
He placed his hand on the sword hilt and tried hard, but there was no reaction.
“Did anyone see any suspicious individuals on the way here?” the Second Sect Leader asked.
“No,” Taichu’s Sect Leader said, his sharp gaze sweeping around.
He could judge the presence and determine the number of people by sound.
On the Golden Luan Pool Banquet platform, both people behind the screen knew how to avoid the Sect Leader’s sound judgment. Yue Liangze, fearing Ling Luo’s cultivation level might not be sufficient, reached out and placed a seal on her shoulder to block her sound.
Ling Luo: “?”
She gave Yue Liangze a profound glance.
Wow.
This man underestimated her!
Could I not control mere sound?
To avoid the sound detection of someone at the Taichu Sect Leader’s level, one would need to have at least broken through the Life and Death Realm.
Yue Liangze knew Ling Luo was formidable, but he hadn’t heard that she had broken through the Life and Death Realm, so he acted just to be safe.
If the Sect Leader came up to the platform and directly moved the screen to check, the two with nowhere to escape would be discovered.
But sometimes a person’s arrogance can lead to incorrect judgments.
Taichu’s Sect Leader withdrew his gaze to the Zhenxian Yu and said in a deep voice: “I was the first to arrive and saw no one else.”
“So was that sword hum emitted by the Zhenxian Yu itself?” Hall Master Qian walked around the Zhenxian Yu, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “The last time it showed activity was several hundred years ago, during the internal faction conflict. Is it happening again?”
These words carried some deeper meaning, and both Sect Leaders glanced at him.
Hall Master Qian raised his hands in surrender: “Hey, hey, consider me talking too much.”
“Father!” A man flying lazily on his sword from the distance nearly stumbled when landing, but fortunately, Zong Xiu, who landed at the same time, gave him a steadying hand.
Seeing his son’s sword flying so carelessly, compared to Zong Xiu’s composure, Taichu’s Sect Leader was extremely displeased.
“What are you being so reckless for!” Taichu’s Sect Leader scolded, hating that iron couldn’t be forged into steel. “You’re a father now, how can you not learn to be more steady!”
Qi Xiang, rubbing his head after the scolding, looked puzzled. “Father, I just arrived and haven’t said a word yet. Why are you already lecturing me? What did I do wrong? Mother said there was strange activity here and told me to come check. Haven’t I come? I even put down my rice bowl to come here. What’s wrong now?”
Listening to his son’s half-defiant, half-aggrieved words, Taichu’s Sect Leader’s temple throbbed violently.
Behind the screen, Ling Luo’s lips curved slightly as she listened.
Yue Liangze’s gaze swept over her lips, wondering what was so amusing.
The other Hall Masters were all suppressing their laughter, only Qi Xiang was genuinely confused about why he was being scolded.
Zong Xiu stepped forward to the Second Sect Leader’s side, examining the Zhenxian Yu while asking in a low voice: “Did it move?”
“The Sect Leader saw no one when he came here, but the Zhenxian Yu’s sword energy suddenly erupted, even disturbing the Weak Water,” the Second Sect Leader pondered. “Perhaps something stimulated it.”