Chapter 75 Chapter 75 I won’t fight anymore, I want to join. …
When Aliang saw the person coming, his face turned pale.
Gu Huaijin hadn't invited Li Xuanbai to the farewell banquet. But in the eyes of everyone, Li Xuanbai's presence wasn't particularly surprising, and no one was surprised for a moment.
Nan Qiongshuang paused with her chopsticks, and suddenly felt that the person at the table was looking at her.
She didn't even have to meet his eyes; goose bumps appeared on her back.
She sighed: "Why are you here?"
Li Xuanbai glanced at her, turned around, took the chopsticks handed to him by Aliang, and calmly picked up a shrimp roll from the dishes she had just been served, and put it in his mouth. "Tsk. If he doesn't let me come, then I won't come?"
"Even if you come..." Even if you come and sit next to me, won't you be causing trouble for me?
She glanced up fearfully, and sure enough, Gu Huaijin was staring at her. He stopped talking, holding the wine cup, and just looked over here.
The entire hall, filled with guests and disciples, was bewildered when he suddenly stopped talking, looking at each other in confusion. For a moment, the hall was completely silent, and everyone held their breath, staring intently at him, who was at the top, waiting for his next words.
No one expected that the key to this sudden silence was at the end of the long table.
She didn't even dare to glance up, pretending to hold her forehead to hide her expression, "Sit closer."
Li Xuanbai knocked his knuckles on the table twice. "Why? I heard you were going to Chao Yao Peak with that kid soon, so I came here specially."
Once they reached Chaoyao Peak, they were the only two on the entire peak. It was the perfect opportunity. No matter what they did, it was perfect.
No matter what, she would not let Li Xuanbai ruin such a good thing.
"What are you doing here? You even dare to point beads at my face. Do you think I will be nice to you?" She lowered her eyes and took a bite of the lotus-fried fish.
"No, are you holding a grudge? I didn't really want to hit you."
Li Xuanbai didn't even notice Gu Huaijin was in front of him. With no food in front of him, he pulled the rich and exquisite dish that Aliang had just brought over to him and started eating. "You threw my life bead into the water, and you're still angry?"
Thinking of his bag of natal beads, she sneered and pretended to fix her hair, letting her sleeves fall down to cover her face. "How was it? Was it hard to find?"
Gu Huaijin still didn't speak. Birds were singing and cicadas were chirping outside the hall. Li Xuanbai rolled his eyes and chewed his food with a grunting sound.
At the head of the long table, everyone suddenly cried out in surprise, "Young Master, the wine cup is broken? Are you hurt?"
Gu Huaijin was on top, his voice normal: "It's okay. Bring me a new one."
Gently place the cracked celadon wine cup on the table.
Nan Qiong Shuang didn't hear the noise from above. Li Xuanbai was frustrated. She really enjoyed watching this scene. She hid her expression and smiled:
"I heard that Young Master Li not only didn't leave Chengshan, but was even imprisoned in the Death Water Prison, where he spent several days soaking in the cave water. The underground water is icy cold, and it has miraculous healing properties. So, how's that? Has his martial arts skills reached a new level?"
Li Xuanbai couldn't stand it anymore and slammed his chopsticks on the table. "Why are you so mean!"
She couldn't stop laughing and covered her lips with her sleeves. Suddenly, she realized that Gu Huaijin still hadn't spoken. She felt uncomfortable for a moment and quickly stopped laughing.
"So what are you doing here today?" she asked softly. "After all this trouble, you're not going to stop me from going to Yaofeng?"
"Obstruct?" Li Xuanbai looked at her, laughed, and put his hand under her ear.
She was startled and glanced out of the corner of her eye. Sure enough, she saw Gu Huaijin still staring at her in front of her. Before she could react, Li Xuanbai flicked his two fingers, and the small chalcedony earring under her ear was flicked and flew around, hitting her earlobe back and forth.
"I won't stop it. I've come to terms with it these days in the Flowing Water Prison."
He propped his chin on the table with his right hand, and with his left hand, he flipped her earrings open and back again without hesitation.
"For you, I fought with him until my head was broken and bloodied, and he even threw me into the Water Prison. Did I deserve it? I'm just a woman."
Nan Qiong Shuang felt her whole body crawl under the gaze of the distant stare, and she quietly stepped back.
"So what do you want to say?"
He smiled lazily and went to tidy up the hair by her ears:
"I won't argue anymore."
"What are you not fighting for?"
"You." He said simply, scratching her chin with his fingers, "I'll give it to him."
Nan Qiongshuang put her chopsticks into the bowl and turned her head to avoid his fingers. She glanced and saw that Gu Huaijin was still staring at her. She couldn't stand it anymore and pulled up her sleeves to cover her face.
"If you are so sensible, you have good judgment."
"I haven't finished talking yet, why are you in such a hurry?"
He picked up a piece of gourd chicken with chopsticks and fed it to her mouth, almost brushing her lips, and said with lowered eyes:
"Why should I compete with him? I can just join in."
Nan Qiong Shuang: ...?
Li Xuanbai continued:
"I've figured it out. With your personality, if I want you to be ten points, I'll give you twelve points."
"I can't afford it. Is there nothing else to do in life besides love? I'm in Tianshan, and I have a lot of important things to do."
"I like you, but I only like you three or four points."
"So, I only want three or four points from you."
His voice was steady as usual. He rubbed the gourd chicken against her lips again, motioned her to open her mouth, and smiled:
"Lest you bind others, and lest you bind yourself."
She couldn't believe it, her lips opened and closed, wanting to say something but not knowing what to say, and he stuffed the piece of chicken directly into her lips.
She didn't dodge it. After a while, she swallowed the chicken with difficulty and slowly raised an eyebrow:
"...You want to be my mistress?"
"Being a mistress? How can this be considered a mistress?" Li Xuanbai spread his hands, looking nonchalant. "I only take three or four points of you, and you only take three or four points of me. If you mean being a mistress, then you should also be a mistress to me."
Nan Qiong Shuang couldn't understand, so she frowned and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Understand?" he said.
She rubbed her forehead, her head splitting with pain, and thought about what he had said.
"Then...what if I can't even give three or four points?"
"Chu Jiaojiao." He suddenly smiled. "You're not going to tell me which man you'll be so devoted to, are you?"
This question made her laugh uncontrollably. "Don't be ridiculous." He picked up another shrimp dumpling and put it in his mouth. "You will never be trapped by the word love. I saw it a long time ago. We are the same."
"So," she rubbed her brows and smiled, "You mean, Gu Huaijin loves me, and you don't care?"
He smiled. “Yes.”
"Even if I choose Gu Huaijin, it doesn't matter to you?"
He shrugged. "Yeah."
"Because you put me on the scales, compared me with other things, and felt that I was less important than other things, so you don't want to dwell on it anymore?"
Li Xuanbai nodded: "Exactly."
"Since you think I'm unimportant, why are you still pestering me?"
He smiled, raised his glass, and clinked it with the glass in front of her, making a crisp clinking sound.
When he looked up again, his eyes were like those of a wild animal admiring the beautiful fur of its prey, a kind of enjoyment tinged with desire:
"You are not important, but interesting."
Nan Qiong Shuang frowned for a moment, then shook her head and laughed, "You..."
"What if I don't even give you those three or four cents?"
He laughed, "Chu Jiaojiao, I've given in so far, and that's the end of the stick. If you don't want me and him to fight to the death, you'd better be more sensible."
She tilted her head slowly, as if she had never known him before, and looked carefully at his flamboyant face from left to right.
Finally, he shook his head, picked up the wine cup and took a sip.
"I really don't know what's going on in your mind."
Li Xuanbai raised his glass, clinked it with her small wine cup, lowered his eyes and drank it all.
It was best if she didn't know what he was thinking. Like her, he hated having his thoughts guessed.
There are some thoughts that cannot be told to her.
For example, everything he just said was completely nonsense.
He was willing to back off temporarily, but he saw that he had refused to give the order to save her in Bodhi Pavilion that day, and had used her as bait to deceive Gu Huaijin in the competition. She was already dissatisfied with him, and he had almost lost her heart.
If he continued to force it at this point, this unpredictable and ruthless woman might really break off their friendship with him and never speak to him again.
He doesn't like things like that.
Since I can't compare with that guy named Gu in terms of giving, then I'll just give her freedom.
Gu was a narrow-minded man. Seeing how closely he watched her, he didn't believe that she would never get tired of it.
He tapped his fingers on the table with pleasure, lowering his head to pick and choose from her plate. She took a bite of a piece of braised tofu, but before she could finish it, she temporarily placed it on the edge of the plate. He deliberately picked up that piece and ate it.
When he raised his eyes, he happened to meet the eyes of Gu Zhi who was sitting at the upper seat.
Actually, it wasn't a coincidence. Ever since he sat down here, the man surnamed Gu hadn't taken his eyes away from him. He didn't even know if he had any sexual habits.
He raised his small wine cup, met the man's unfriendly and gloomy gaze for a moment, raised his eyebrows, and raised his glass from a distance.
Gu Huaijin's expression remained unchanged.
He silently mouthed a few words: "Get along well."
Nan Qiong Shuang was in a state of confusion while eating this meal.
Originally, she was about to go to Yaofeng for court, and she absolutely did not want any more trouble to happen. Even though there were turnips all in front of her, she never thought of redoing the kitchen, as she did not want to attract attention.
As a result, Gu Huaijin somehow noticed it and asked someone to send a large plate of rich and rare dishes.
As for Li Xuanbai, ever since she received Gu Huaijin's kiss that day, she had been determined to avoid him. However, he chose the farewell banquet, an occasion where she had no right to move, and sat next to her without any scruples.
She had originally wanted to avoid suspicion with him to avoid any trouble, but this man ended up saying a lot of crazy and shocking things to her, which even made her, who was knowledgeable and experienced, drop her chopsticks. She looked at him in disbelief for a long time.
Thinking about it now, when she looked at Li Xuanbai's self-doubt, in Gu Huaijin's eyes, he was probably stunned.
What's more, she seemed to have accidentally eaten a bite of the gourd chicken fed by Li Xuanbai.
She sighed uneasily and felt her temples throbbing.
Wouldn't Gu Huaijin kiss her neck and rub her again in the evening?
At the head, Gu Huaijin had finished his words and sat down. Huide spoke slowly:
"These days, the mountain has been busy with political affairs. I am old and no longer have the energy to deal with them. From now on, these matters will be handed over to Huai Jin."
Gu Huaijin nodded: "Yes."
"Because of all the hard work I've put in these days, I've been feeling unwell lately. I asked Mr. Qu, and he suggested I go into seclusion to regulate my breathing, which is both a form of quiet cultivation and a form of rest and recuperation. Therefore, in half a month, I will be entering Jueyin Valley for seclusion, accompanied by Yao Jie."
As soon as these words were spoken, all the disciples in the hall looked at each other, and their gazes silently fell on Gu Huaijin, who was sitting at the top with his eyes lowered.
If Huide wants to go into seclusion, he will have to give up his power. From now on, all matters on the mountain will be assisted by the other elders, and only Gu Zhi will be able to make the final decision.
Gu Huaijin stroked the smooth body of the sky-blue wine cup with his thumb, calmly.
Song Yaojie said anxiously, "Master, Jueyin Valley snows every October. We can only stay in seclusion for four months now. It's not easy to go to Jueyin Valley. Why take the risk this year? Why not next year..."
Huide's eyes quietly passed over Song Yaojie's face for a moment.
Song Yaojie stopped talking immediately.
Huide: "You have all heard about what happened in the Liangyi Pavilion on the mountain. The Yin-Yang Key has been stolen until now, and the thief has not yet been found. After I enter Jueyin Valley for seclusion, Huaijin and others should continue the investigation. We must not..."
Song Yaojie interrupted him again: "Master, why don't you recuperate at the foot of the mountain this year? Behind the Bodhi Pavilion is the Immaculate Spring, an excellent healing spring. If you..."
"Yao Jie," Hui De said, "are you unwilling to accompany me in seclusion?"
The questioning was blatant and without any hesitation.
Everyone on the mountain lowered their heads and became silent.
Song Yaojie's face turned pale, and even her voice was shaking, "...I dare not."
Nan Qiong Shuang sat at the end and frowned.
How strange! Even if he didn't want to accompany Huide in his retreat, why interrupt him in front of everyone? Why not just say it in private?
As for Huide, it was also very strange. Wasn't Li Xuanbai his favorite disciple? Why did he choose Song Yaojie?
She turned her head to look at Li Xuanbai's expression, but he looked normal and didn't seem to think anything was wrong.
He glanced at Gu Huaijin, who was staring at the small sky-blue wine cup in front of him, still calm.
Is she overthinking it?
Huide said, "I have raised you since you were little, but I never thought you would adopt my impatience. Since that is the case, I will have to visit your courtyard one of these days to teach you Buddhism."
Nan Qiongshuang felt more and more that something was wrong and looked at Li Xuanbai again.
Li Xuanbai's expression remained unchanged as he listened with his chin propped up.
Song Yaojie's face turned almost pale in an instant, and even her lips began to tremble. She looked like an animal that had fallen into water, soaked all over, shivering, and absent-minded.
There must be something wrong here.
Huide looked at her and said in a leisurely voice, "Yaojie, are you willing?"
Song Yaojie lowered her head: "...I am willing."
Nan Qiongshuang touched Li Xuanbai's arm. "I heard that when I first came to the mountain, you were in seclusion. Were you accompanying the Sect Leader? Do you need someone to accompany you during seclusion in Tianshan?"
Li Xuanbai nodded: "Yes."
"You are Huide's disciple. Why is it you, Li Xuanbai, who accompanied Master Gu in seclusion instead of Gu Huaijin?"
Li Xuanbai propped up his cheek and flicked her eyelashes. "Well..." He smiled for a moment, "We'll take turns. This time it's him, and next time it'll be me."
"So, the one who accompanied Huide in seclusion was always Song Yaojie?"
"That's right." He looked her over strangely. "Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"
"Song Yaojie is always like this..." She chose her words carefully, "...panicked?"
Li Xuanbai: "When accompanying a retreat, sometimes both of us would practice Qigong and regulate our breathing together. If we weren't careful, we'd end up with broken bones and tendons. With her limited skills, how could she withstand the Master's Qigong? She always comes out covered in wounds."
Nan Qiong Shuang let out a soft sigh.
He knew that Song Yaojie would always come out injured every time she accompanied him, but he still wanted her to accompany him.
The Tianshan Sect, which claims to be the righteous sect, seems to be no different from their Wangsheng Sect.
Suddenly, the brocade curtain in the hall was lifted up, and a disciple rushed in and whispered a few words into Song Yaojie's ear.
Song Yaojie's expression changed immediately.
Huide: "What's wrong?"
Song Yaojie stood up and saluted Huide: "Master, the guards in front of Xingchen Pavilion reported that they had spotted an unidentified person who seemed to be trying to break into Xingchen Pavilion."
When these words were spoken, all the disciples in the hall were shocked and looked at each other anxiously.
Huide was also stunned for a moment and looked at Heng Qingnan.
Heng Qingnan nodded and said, "The matter of Xingchen Pavilion is quite urgent. In that case, why don't we end the banquet here today? Hengshan Sect appreciates your kindness. Please disperse."
Huide winked at Song Yaojie and Gu Huaijin, and the two understood and stood up together.
Li Xuanbai laughed: "Wow, that guy is leaving. Look at the way he's looking at me."
Nan Qiongshuang put down her chopsticks and said nothing.
During the competition, Yi Haichuan said that after the thieves stole the Yin-Yang Key, Song Yaojie sent people to guard the Xingchen Pavilion and Jiuyao Nilun, but there was no trace of the thieves.
Now, the snake is finally going to take action.
Can Gu Huaijin get the key back this time?
The banquet was over and the guests had already stood up and left in twos and threes. Amid the crowd coming and going, she raised her eyes and glanced upwards.
Gu Huaijin was also looking at her from afar across the surging crowd.
At that glance, she actually felt that he was reluctant to leave.
Behind him, Song Yaojie pushed his arm and said, "Huaijin, time waits for no one."
He paused, frowned helplessly, and sighed, "Okay."
*
The farewell banquet was over. Nan Qiongshuang came out of the crowded Baohe Hall and leaned against the pillar of the corridor in the courtyard in front of the hall, waiting for everyone to leave.
She didn't know any of these people, but they all knew her. When they met or passed by each other, they stretched their necks to look at her. She really couldn't stand it and wanted to walk at the end.
Besides, she had never been alone since she came up the mountain, and she was closely watched wherever she went. Now, suddenly no one was around, she felt unsafe.
On Tianshan Mountain, she couldn't use her martial arts skills, so she had to be careful. It would be better to wait until everyone left and she was alone.
As for Li Xuanbai, he had disappeared long ago and no one knew where he went.
She sighed and tapped her fingers on her arm. Suddenly, a voice came from behind her: "Jiaojiao."
Gu Huaijin was behind her, and he naturally touched her waist and pulled her towards him: "What did you say to him just now?"
She was startled: "Didn't you go to the Star Pavilion?"
"I don't have much time." He picked up a strand of hair from her chest and rubbed it between his fingers. "What did they say? They were both laughing so happily."
She stepped out of his embrace and pushed him away slightly, "Stop making trouble, the matter of Xingchen Pavilion is more important."
"It's because the Xingchen Pavilion is so important that I need you to speak quickly." He lowered his eyes. "How can I feel at ease without your words?"
If I really told you, you would be even more uneasy.
She found it a little funny: "Do you really want to hear what he says?"
"Hurry up and tell me. There are so many people here, don't wait for me to force you. You know I am..." As he said this, he deliberately rubbed the kiss mark on her neck that was barely covered by powder, "...I don't care."
She laughed: "He said he won't snatch me from you."
Gu Huaijin raised his eyes suddenly: "What do you mean?"
"He said," she continued laughing, "that he wanted to join."
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