A Ridiculous Night

When the two of them had drunk to their fill, a faint and elegant floral fragrance suddenly reached their noses.

Without needing to guess, it could only belong to Lu Jiansheng, the one known as “True Lord of a Hundred Flowers.”

As the last disciple taken in by the former sect master of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect, Lu Jiansheng’s performance was not as dazzling as his senior sisters.

Yet, in the eyes of the outside world, he was still considered a rare genius.

Not only did he have unique insights into formations, but he also possessed a top-grade single wood spiritual root, highly compatible with the ancient Nine Qi Azure Emperor Art passed down by the Five Elements Sect.

Back when conflicts between righteous and demonic cultivators were frequent, countless fearsome demonic cultivators met their end under Lu Jiansheng’s hand, turning into withered wood.

When Qin Ximo saw him arrive, she immediately waved.

“Junior Brother Lu, if you came any later, I, your senior sister, would’ve drunk your share of wine!”

Lu Jiansheng smiled calmly.

“Seeing Senior Sister in such high spirits, it seems this recent seclusion has brought you gains. In that case, I am relieved.”

He stretched out his hand, and the white jade wine flask on the ground flew into his palm.

Taking a sip, his mouth was immediately filled with a rich floral aroma.

“Senior Sister’s brewing is truly getting better and better.

If only you wouldn’t ravage my flower fields before brewing, it would be even more perfect.”

“Aiya, but who told Junior Brother Lu to grow spirit flowers that make the best brewing materials?”

“That is true. My flowers bloom and wither, only for me alone to admire—such a pity.

If Senior Sister can use them to brew wine, that is at least putting them to good use.”

Sitting silently to the side, Xiao Menglan kept drinking without a word.

Lu Jiansheng’s arrival made her feel a little uneasy, but after all, he was her junior brother.

Qin Ximo, having been in seclusion for over a decade, seemed starved for company and kept finding topics to chat about with the two, livening up the somewhat awkward atmosphere.

As the conversation grew livelier, Qin Ximo suddenly stood up, put away the wine flask, and drew her beloved sword.

Before Xiao Menglan and Lu Jiansheng, she began performing a sword dance, carried by the wine’s inspiration.

As she danced, her exquisite swordsmanship seemed to move even the moon hanging above the clouds.

Moonlight poured down like a heavenly river, clinging to Qin Ximo’s sword like a feathered robe.

Bathed in that light, she looked like a celestial maiden descending from the heavens, leaving not a trace of impure thought in the hearts of the viewers.

The two sitting below forgot even to drink, watching in a daze, oblivious to the passage of time.

When the dance ended, Qin Ximo sheathed her sword and drank deeply.

“Senior Sister’s swordsmanship is as breathtaking as ever,” Xiao Menglan sincerely praised.

“Alas, what use is a beautiful dance?

Hundreds of years have passed, yet not a single disciple in the sect has managed to learn my sword art.

If this continues, my Sword Peak will soon exist in name only.”

Qin Ximo’s expression grew sorrowful.

At last, she understood the ecstasy her master must have felt upon accepting her as a disciple long ago.

To live in this world and find one person worthy of inheriting one’s true teachings—then, even if death comes, there would be no regrets.

The Azure Cloud Sword Sect was founded on the sword.

Yet now, no one could inherit her art.

Truly lamentable.

Could it be that her generation would see the sect buried in her hands?

Sensing its master’s sorrow, the sword intent raging around the peak wailed in unison, piercing to the ear.

“Senior Sister, don’t be too sad.

In such a vast cultivation world, there must surely be a sword genius waiting for you to discover.

If you find and nurture them, they will one day inherit your legacy.”

Lu Jiansheng hurriedly consoled her.

He even activated his technique, causing brilliant flowers to bloom across the barren peak where sword intent had previously left no grass alive.

In an instant, the sword peak, once desolate, became adorned with blossoms, much more pleasant to the eye.

“Pfft!”

Qin Ximo laughed, her sorrow turning to joy.

“Junior Brother is still so good at coaxing people.

Tell me, in all the time I was in seclusion, did you find a Dao companion you fancy?”

“Senior Sister, don’t tease me.

Right now, my focus is on sect affairs—I have no such thoughts.”

Lu Jiansheng turned away, not daring to meet someone’s eyes.

“Hahaha, still the same as before—blushing with just a tease.”

Qin Ximo felt much better and couldn’t help but drink a few more sips.

The little white jade flask, not much bigger than a palm, seemed to hide some mystery within.

No matter how much she drank, it never ran dry.

“Well then, I gathered you here today only to see you properly after my seclusion.

In a short while, I will have to leave the sect to seek opportunities outside.”

Xiao Menglan asked worriedly,

“Is this truly so urgent?”

Qin Ximo’s tone grew firm.

“The demonic path has grown restless in recent years—they must have something backing them.

If we let them be, there will be endless troubles.”

Xiao Menglan knew her words were not wrong.

Yet the thought of her senior sister leaving so soon after seclusion filled her with unease.

If something went wrong outside, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Seeing this, Qin Ximo reassured her.

“Do not worry.

Whether it takes three to five years, or ten at the most, I will surely return.”

“In that case, I’ll trust Senior Sister,” Xiao Menglan sighed.

“Here I am, a senior sister, always worrying my juniors—how unworthy of me,” Qin Ximo lamented.

Then she changed the subject.

“By the way, has Junior Sister received any promising disciples these years?”

“Senior Sister is sharp as ever—yes, I have one.”

Xiao Menglan cast a subtle glance at Lu Jiansheng beside her.

His expression remained calm, as if unaware.

“That is good news!

No time like the present—why not let me meet this disciple?

That way I can prepare a gift.”

“I am still testing her.

If Senior Sister wants to meet, better to wait a few years.

By then, she will surely not disappoint.”

“Very well, then it’s a promise.

Aiya, looks like I’ll need to visit Tool Peak these days and have that old man Qiu craft me a trinket.

Otherwise, if I come empty-handed, you’ll surely hold it against me, Junior Sister!”

“Of course not!”

The three drank together beneath the moon, joyful and carefree.

As the drunkenness deepened, the less tolerant Xiao Menglan excused herself first.

Qin Ximo let her go without fuss, keeping Lu Jiansheng to continue drinking.

Judging by her look, she would not stop until he collapsed.

Qin Ximo’s brewing skills were as superb as her swordsmanship.

Using Lu Jiansheng’s rare spirit flowers as ingredients, the wine was not only highly beneficial for cultivation but also intoxicating in the extreme.

Returning to her palace on Talisman Peak, Xiao Menglan, guided by memory, entered a room intending to nap off her drunkenness.

Unexpectedly, she opened the wrong door.

When she lay down on the warm little bed, she raised her eyes—and saw a familiar face before her.

“Ruyu?” Xiao Menglan said in confusion.

Those familiar brows and eyes—it was indeed Wen Ruyu.

For a moment, Xiao Menglan could not tell if this was reality or illusion.

Her eyes welled with tears, and without thinking, she pulled the person before her into her arms.

“Ruyu, Ruyu, do you know how much I’ve missed you this past century?”

Xiao Menglan sobbed, crying like a pear blossom in the rain, pitiful to behold.

Cao Xueyan was utterly dumbfounded, not knowing what to do.

How could she possibly break free from the embrace of a Golden Core cultivator like Xiao Menglan?

As expected, Cao Xueyan had no choice but to serve as the substitute for the person in Xiao Menglan’s memories, at her mercy.

But to her horror, after crying her heart out, the first thing this love-starved woman did upon seeing her long-lost partner was to undo Cao Xueyan’s clothes!

Of course, Cao Xueyan struggled desperately, dodging Xiao Menglan’s rain of kisses as best she could.

Unintentionally, she inhaled much of the wine-scented breath spilling from Xiao Menglan’s lips.

“Damn it!”

Feeling her head grow dizzy, Cao Xueyan cried out inwardly, realizing too late.

The next moment, she was pushed onto the bed by the wolfish Xiao Menglan, unable to move.

As the clothes covering her body grew fewer and fewer, Cao Xueyan’s heart filled with despair.

Was her two lifetimes of purity really going to be lost so absurdly to this woman Xiao Menglan?

“If I don’t wring a hundred simulation runs out of you after this, I won’t be surnamed Cao!” Cao Xueyan swore through clenched teeth.

Then, closing her eyes, she gave up all resistance completely.