Tu Shanche seemed to have noticed the impulsiveness in his younger brother's tone. He didn't understand why Xiao'er was suddenly so angry, and even dared to show his displeasure to Immortal Venerable Mo Yuan. Was this child out of his mind?
Startled, he pulled Murong Xiao behind him to protect him, smiled apologetically at Xie Linyuan, and said in a gentle voice, "Your Excellency, please forgive me. Xiao'er is young and speaks without thinking. I had no intention of offending you."
Immediately, fearing that Xie Linyuan would blame him and pursue the matter, he quickly changed the subject: "Xiao'er, Your Majesty has offended the Heavenly Dao this time, and I have been punished to reflect on my mistakes in the Nine Netherworld Forbidden Wall."
"This time, Your Majesty separated a wisp of your divine consciousness and attached it to my Spirit-Nourishing Jade Bottle. With the help of my demonic energy, you were able to quietly leave the Nine Heavens Palace."
"However, in order to avoid the scrutiny of the Heavenly Dao, Your Majesty needs to conceal your divine essence at all times. As for this form... uh... this form... this..."
Tu Shanche's voice grew softer and softer, his eyes began to wander uncontrollably, and a faint blush of embarrassment and embarrassment spread across his fair cheeks.
His slender fingers unconsciously tugged at his sleeve, and he stammered for a long time, too embarrassed to tell the truth.
Could it be that His Majesty himself felt that this petite and delicate appearance would make it easier for him to show weakness, act coquettishly, or even... seek attention and affection from Shen Zhaozhao?
He... he really couldn't bring himself to say such things.
Murong Xiao stood behind his brother with a look of disdain, clearly not having taken the explanation to heart.
Unable to quell his brother's anger, the little brat was starting to lose his bearings. He pouted and muttered under his breath, his tone incredibly sharp: "Oh, so what was he trying to do by going through all that trouble to roll down here?"
"Can't help at all, just here as a mascot?"
"Aren't you afraid of hurting his old arms and legs!"
Tu Shanche: "???"
My brother's gone mad?!
What kind of talk is this?!
Tu Shanche was terrified, his face turning pale. He quickly covered Murong Xiao's mouth with his hand, his eyes darting frantically to Xie Linyuan: "Your... Your Excellency is naturally concerned about the safety of Lingzhou and the affairs of the sect, which is why he sent his divine sense to check on things..."
However, completely unaware of how panicked his brother was, Murong Xiao directly pushed his brother's hand away: "Brother, stop trying to make excuses for him. I think he's just anxious to know if Senior Sister Zhao Zhao has been thinking about him these past two days!"
"That love-struck idiot!"
"I can't stand seeing other people being in love when I'm having relationship problems myself!"
"Ugh! Brother, why are you covering my mouth?! I'm going to—ugh ugh ugh!"
After he finished speaking, the room fell into a deathly silence.
As Tu Shanche watched Xie Linyuan's incomparably handsome, petite face, his expression turned visibly cold, startling the fox so much that its ears almost popped out, and the whole fox trembled.
He was about to step forward and take all the blame for his reckless younger brother when he heard Xie Linyuan's cold voice, carrying an unquestionable solemnity: "Stop talking nonsense."
The thing frowned slightly, as if correcting a very serious mistake: "My relationship with Zhaozhao is smooth, so how can you say it's not smooth? Don't spread rumors and cause trouble here."
Murong Xiao: "???"
no? ? ?
So this is what he cares about?!
After all that complaining, all he heard were the four words "unhappy in his relationship," right?!
The young man was speechless, but his speechlessness only lasted for a moment. His eyes darted around and an idea came to him: "Sigh, Your Majesty, you... you don't really think there's absolutely no problem between you and Senior Sister Zhao Zhao, do you?"
Xie Linyuan raised his chin slightly, his peach blossom eyes filled with arrogance and confidence that said, "What is there to doubt?" His voice was decisive, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible boasting.
"nature."
“Zhao Zhao personally explained to me on behalf of Pei Lang, and her words were sincere, which shows that I hold an extraordinary place in her heart.”
"Isn't this going smoothly?"
Murong Xiao: "..."
For some reason, looking at Xie Linyuan's pathetic "she gave me a piece of candy, and I'll be happy for a lifetime" attitude, a strange, faint trace of sympathy was strangely mixed into the little brat's desire for revenge.
This guy's love-struck brain... is beyond saving.
After a moment of silence, Murong Xiao's eyes were almost overflowing with sympathy. He spoke slowly, his voice light and airy, yet it was like a series of poisoned knives, precisely stabbing Xie Linyuan in the heart.
"He personally explained it briefly, and that's what you call having an extraordinary status?"
"When Senior Sister Zhao Zhao returned from Yuntai Immortal Market, she brought Second Senior Brother the formula for the Seven Aperture Exquisite Pill, as well as a bunch of high-quality auxiliary spiritual herbs. What's a little help to him breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage?"
Xie Linyuan's petite figure stiffened almost imperceptibly.
Murong Xiao seemed not to notice, and continued counting on his fingers: "Senior Brother wants to research new Gu worms, and Senior Sister is also running around helping out. What's so special about collecting materials?"
“Even when Senior Sister Zhenzhen needed help with refining weapons, she was always there whenever she was called upon, without a single complaint.”
Xie Linyuan's eyelashes trembled and slowly drooped.
"Oh, by the way," Murong Xiao blinked his innocent big eyes, "I didn't have much of an appetite a few days ago, and my senior sister specially cooked for me and made several kinds of spiritual food and snacks. They were so delicious~ Your Majesty, have you tasted your senior sister's cooking?"
"Your Excellency, what has Senior Sister Zhao Zhao done for you?"
Xie Linyuan: "..."
With each word Murong Xiao spoke, Xie Linyuan's handsome, expressionless face paled a little more.
He seemed stunned by the question, or perhaps deeply hurt by the comparison. For a moment, he didn't know how to react. He just stood there, dazed, and even the subtle aura that naturally flowed around him seemed to dim considerably.
After several breaths, he seemed to finally regain some of his senses, his Adam's apple bobbing very slightly as he tried to maintain his last shred of dignity.
Xiao Xie Linyuan slightly raised his chin, trying to adopt that disdainful and indifferent posture, but the voice that came out was extremely low and hoarse, even carrying a slightly imperceptible nasal tone of grievance. It was more like self-consolation than a statement.
"...So what?"
"How could I possibly care about such trivial matters..."
As he spoke, his voice grew softer and softer, until he spoke of "minor details" so softly it was almost inaudible.
The small figure hovered in the air, still maintaining that aloof and noble demeanor, yet inexplicably exuding a pitiful air of being abandoned by the whole world. Even the chill around her seemed to be a desperate attempt to maintain her last shred of dignity.
Finally, he simply shut his mouth completely, lowered his head slightly, and fell into a silent, withdrawn state.
Seeing his appearance—clearly heartbroken yet stubbornly clinging to the airs of a Celestial Venerable—Murong Xiao's initial sympathy was instantly replaced by the excitement of "stirring up trouble."
He suddenly leaned closer, a smugly concerned expression on his face: "Your Excellency~ Actually, I happen to have a brilliant plan~"
"Maybe it will inspire Senior Sister Zhao Zhao to care about you as much as she cares about Senior Brothers and Sisters, and me~"
"You see, after you listened to my advice last time, didn't your relationship with Senior Sister Zhao Zhao improve by leaps and bounds?"
"Hey, are you even listening to me?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
