Chapter 70 He didn't care at all whether she came or not after he broke his promise...

Jiang Yuhuo's daily routine has been very regular these past few days. She soaks in the sinking pool once in the morning and once in the evening, and buries herself in the library during the breaks in between. The books in the Tianque Library can only be read inside the library and cannot be borrowed. In order to memorize those spiritual cultivation techniques, she has had to go to the library every day during this period.

Besides her, another frequent visitor to the library was the silver snake she named Xiaoxi, who accompanied her daily. After many days together, she had grown quite accustomed to the little snake coiling around her while she read. Its body was cool and refreshing, not quite as cooling as water, but better than nothing. However, when it began to take advantage, she would still give it a nudge. Then it would behave for a while.

Jiang Yuhuo also had some concerns. She clearly remembered that when she was looking for books before, she couldn't find what she wanted anywhere, and only found one or two in a secluded corner after following the stream's directions. But now, every time she finished reading one book, the next one would quickly appear nearby, not on the nearest shelf, but scattered along her usual route, visible with a mere glance. It was as if they knew she was about to finish reading and had popped up on their own.

One book after another, she began to suspect that someone had deliberately placed them here. Yet, every time she came to this library, it was deserted. Aside from the cold tea on the table the first time she visited, indicating someone had been there, she hadn't seen a third living being besides herself and Xiaoxi. This was completely different from the overcrowded Kunlun Library; she even began to wonder if the disciples of Tianque were particularly averse to reading.

But having something to watch is better than having nothing at all. Every night after watching, when she couldn't sleep in that strange bedroom, she would practice silently. These days, she could feel her spiritual power steadily improving, and the speed was much faster than when she was in Kunlun. But when she thought of the surging spiritual power that Mo Sheng could gather in such a short time on the competition stage, her current speed was nothing.

There must be something she doesn't know.

That day, she was on her way to the library when a charming and beautiful unfamiliar female disciple from the Heavenly Palace suddenly appeared. This person seemed to recognize her, and without asking her identity, simply told her that someone wanted to see her.

These days, she goes back and forth between three points every day, and her whereabouts are very fixed. Therefore, she only runs into the same few faces. Among the Tianque group, she is only slightly familiar with Qingping. She doesn't know anyone else.

Upon hearing that someone wanted to see her, Jiang Yuhuo's immediate thought wasn't to ask who it was, but rather to stay away from her. She was still recovering from her injuries and didn't want all those days of treatment to be wasted. Although she had been through the ordeal, her time was still precious.

Jiang Yuhu ignored the female cultivator who had appeared out of nowhere and was about to leave.

But the other person persisted, looking troubled, and begged her to meet him.

Jiang Yuhuo felt even more uneasy upon hearing this. What if they had secretly set up a sword formation to trap her? She had already suffered enough from trusting others too easily.

"I'm sorry, I don't want to see anyone."

Seeing that she remained unmoved, the beautiful female cultivator knew that pleading with her was useless. Her expression changed immediately, and she pulled out a golden thread from her waist and swung it at Jiang Yuhuo's back, saying hatefully, "Why don't you just come with me obediently? Why do I have to tie you up with a rope?"

The light transformed into ropes that tightly bound Jiang Yuhuo's body, immobilizing her completely. She couldn't move an inch. She might be able to break free using spiritual power or fire element, but she didn't want to do something that would result in heavy losses for herself. She just hated this world where everyone possessed high-level magical artifacts.

The female cultivator used the Immortal Binding Rope to restrain Jiang Yuhuo, then angrily lifted her up and carried her on the wind, heading in the opposite direction from the Xihua Palace.

As she was about to leave the Xihua Palace area, Jiang Yuhuo saw a blue-haired figure on the high wall below. She immediately thought of Jia Yue, but the figure seemed to be climbing over the wall, and the sneaky behavior was not something Jia Yue would do, so she gave up her idea of ​​calling for help.

She channeled her spiritual energy into a small knife behind her back, attempting to cut the restraints on her hands. However, the rope formed by this magical artifact was indeed beyond the reach of her current spiritual energy; she tried to cut it but couldn't break a single thread. The female cultivator noticed her small movements and laboriously lifted her up a bit. "Don't waste your time. Even if you tried to cut it for ten thousand years, you still wouldn't be able to break it."

Jiang Yuhuo gave up on escaping, but on the way, she couldn't help but ask the female cultivator who wanted to see her.

The female cultivator frowned, not answering her question. It wasn't that she didn't want to talk to her, but rather that she didn't have the energy to explain. Carrying two people on the wind seemed to be no easy task for her; she was already covered in sweat. She only replied, "You'll know when we get there."

They dared not reveal their names, yet they were determined to kidnap her; it seemed they were enemies.

Upon arriving at the destination, Jiang Yuhuo discovered that the person she was to meet was indeed an acquaintance and a former enemy.

He was still wearing a clean white robe, but the black Jianmu embroidery on it was gone. His originally gentle and calm face was now somewhat pale and haggard, and his left shoulder was wrapped in thick gauze, the wound of which had not yet healed.

This person was none other than Mo Sheng, her opponent in the final battle of the competition.

The pretty female cultivator, having exhausted her spiritual energy, could no longer hold on. She tossed Jiang Yuhuo to the ground and walked into a dilapidated house. She didn't untie the Immortal Binding Rope binding Jiang Yuhuo, not afraid that she would escape.

"Senior brother," the female cultivator called out to the figure inside the house.

"Why are you so tired?" Mo Sheng came out, took out a handkerchief and handed it to her to wipe her sweat. "I told you to study harder every day, but you just wouldn't listen."

The female cultivator took the handkerchief, her face puffed up with anger, and said to Mo Sheng with a mix of complaint and coquetry, "It's all because of you. You insisted that I bring this person over. You know I don't have much talent in cultivation."

Jiang Yuhuo lay on the ground, realizing the truth. So this was Mo Sheng's junior sister, but she was indeed much weaker than Mo Sheng in terms of cultivation; she had almost exhausted all her strength just from using the wind.

A hint of displeasure flashed across Mo Sheng's face, but he quickly regained his initial gentle expression. He patted the female cultivator's head and said softly, "Yes, it's my fault. I made my dear A-Jun suffer so much. It's all because your senior brother is too useless."

The female cultivator named A-Jun was completely won over by his flattery, her cheeks flushed, and she looked shy, but her gaze towards Mo Sheng was quite bold. "No, that's not it. Senior Brother is the most powerful person, it's just that he was..."

"Ah-Jun!" Mo Sheng's smile vanished instantly, interrupting her.

The female cultivator didn't continue speaking and obediently shut up and stood aside, so Mo Sheng saw the person who was thrown on the ground.

Jiang Yuhuo looked up and saw his former rival walking towards him.

*

The sky was clear and the sun was shining brightly today, making the usually dimly lit library much brighter.

A man in a white robe with silver embroidery sat behind a desk. On the desk were a pile of completed official documents and several spiritual cultivation manuals that were no longer of any use to his cultivation. A silver snake lay listlessly in one corner of the desk.

Ever since that woman started indulging it, it has never again tried to wrap itself around his wrist. Every time he's about to touch it, it quickly slips away, as if he's trying to erase its scent. Even when it returns to his side, it keeps a distance, gazing at him from afar.

Sometimes he really wanted to go inside its brain and see who the person it had formed a bond with was.

Jia Yue sat on the second floor, her gaze sweeping over the bookshelf in the corner below. The study window wasn't fully closed, leaving a tiny gap, but for a merman's eyesight, that gap was enough. If someone were sitting under the bookshelf, their every move would be clearly visible to her.

After waiting for a long time without seeing anyone, the silver snake gradually became restless, stretching its neck and poised to move. The familiar presence that would arrive early in the past few days was nowhere to be seen today.

Jia Yue glanced at the sky; it was already past 9 AM.

He suddenly found it somewhat amusing; he must have been too indulgent with it, for he had somehow ended up accompanying it here every day.

Jia Yue put away the official documents and threw the pile of spiritual cultivation manuals, which were of no use to her, back onto the bookshelf. Instead of scattering them on the bookshelf she frequently passed by, she piled them all on the bookshelf she often leaned against.

He didn't care at all whether she came or not. He just felt that these most basic and useless books should be piled up in a corner where no one would notice them. No one would come over and find them, no one would read them, and they would just mold and rot in the corner until they turned to dust.

He couldn't wait any longer. She was a person without principles, one moment glaring at the silver snake, the next smiling at it. She might feel like reading one day and then turn back to practicing her sword the next. Why should he wait? She had no idea who was here, let alone that anyone else was waiting for her besides the silver snake.

What was he trying to glean from her every day, hiding behind her back? Aside from the first glance she gave him, she never revealed a single thought to him. She clearly gave him that look on purpose, deliberately keeping him hanging on.

Ignoring the silver snake's reluctance to interact with him and its intention to wait for the other person, Jia Yue forcefully grabbed it, tucked it into his sleeve, and left the library.

The incense scent emanating from his body was disturbed, which angered the silver snake, which bit his arm from inside his sleeve. He gripped its body tightly, not giving it any chance to escape.

Take it with you, and take away your disturbed mind as well.

Leaving the library, which was filled with her presence, I returned to my usual routine, where my mind was clear.

Jia Yue unconsciously quickened her pace, almost fleeing from the library.

After leaving the library, he was supposed to head to the Spirit Valley Tower, where he usually handled his affairs. But instead, he turned and walked towards the Washing Splendor Hall. On the way, he passed the sinking pool, and a female cultivator in white robes walked out of the hall. He paused, but the face that emerged was unfamiliar.

The female cultivator was surprised to see him when she came out, and immediately bowed to him in a flustered manner.

Merfolk are naturally cold-blooded, emanating a chilling aura. Combined with Jia Yue's aloof demeanor, it was as if frost descended wherever she went. And now, his sinister gaze lingered at the palace entrance, chilling her to the bone. The female cultivator dared not look up, feeling a chill run down her spine.

A fine venom seeped from the female cultivator's bowed neck, which caught Jia Yue's eye. Immediately, he pictured another fair neck intimately entwined by a silver snake.

He closed his eyes briefly, interrupting the erroneous association.

Perhaps he should ask Qingping.

But the next moment he dismissed the idea.

Paying too much attention to her will only make her mistakenly believe that she has the ability to disturb his mind. He only agreed to lend her the sinking water, and where she goes is none of his business. He is not responsible for her safety.

Even as the crescent moon climbed into the night sky, the woman's figure still did not appear in the sinking pool.

Inside the bedchamber, Jia Yue extinguished all the pearly light, closed her eyes, and sat in meditation, trying to banish that stubborn shadow from her mind.

But then a rapid knocking sounded outside the bedroom door.

A sense of unease crept into my heart without me even noticing.

The door opened, and Jia Yue saw Qing Ping's panicked face.

“Your Highness, a disciple said,” Qingping gasped for breath, “that they saw Miss Jiang being taken away by Mo Sheng’s junior sister.”