Everyone was surprised when Qian Ren returned from QingYun Hall so soon. Usually, whenever the Palace Master passed through tribulation and reached the next level, heâd always seek out his Head Enforcer to test out his new strength. The process was typically long, so they often spent the night together, leading others to wonder whether they had done other activities. But today, how come the Head Enforcer came down this quickly? What about that exercise they used to exchange their passionate feelings?
So, in the end, was he successful or not? If he was, it seems that they may need to doubt their Palace Masterâs ability as a man. However, if he was unsuccessful, one would need to doubt his current skill level. ThisâŚwhich one would be better to suspect?
Having just come down the stairs and seeing the confused stares of the crowd, Qian Ren instantly knew where these disciplesâ minds had flown off to. He rudely poked a hole into their thoughts, âThe Palace Master requires rest after undergoing tribulation, Sai GuanYing accompanying him is enough.â
Sure enough, after hearing this, everyone immediately settled down, knowing that their Master was still their Master. Besides, even if the matter of cultivation was still unknown, his abilities as a man were still first class. Needless to say, Xiu Niang was even more pleased with herself and promptly added, âFormerly, this girl was a daughter from an influential family, only when her family offended someone they shouldnât have, did she end up becoming a prostitute. It took me quite a lot of effort to obtain her.â
Unexpectedly, the white-robed girl actually possessed such a background. Once again, the crowd couldnât help but appreciate Xiu Niangâs capabilities, but You Jiang still held his doubts, vigilantly asking, âIs someone from the imperial court trustworthy?â
Having long expected him to ask this question, Xiu Niang scoffed and waved her sleeve in disregard, âSecond Enforcer neednât worry, sheâs slept with me these past few days. Thereâs likely no man in this world other than the Palace Master, who can satisfy her now. Therefore, even if she was an assassin, sheâd still have to yield to our Palace of Bliss.â
And by sleep, it was of course the meaningful kind of sleep. Just thinking of Xiu Niangâs rumoured ability to be able to battle it out with He Huan on the bed for seven days straight and still not come to a conclusion of who was better at bed-arts, the most upright individual in the sectâSecond Enforcer You Jiangâcouldnât help but feel sympathy for Sai GuanYing, âWouldnât this be too provocative for her aristocratic tastes?â
Xiu Niangâs expression became more pleased, and just as she wanted to thoroughly rub her superb techniques in the twoâs faces, Qian Ren interrupted their conversation with a black face, âWhy is it that I feel you two are trying to provoke me instead?â
Only then did Xiu Niang remember that this one standing beside her was different from the rest and quickly covered her face with her sleeve as she teased, âAiya, Head Enforcer, I completely forgot that the Palace Master has long claimed you as his number one target. Thatâs why no disciple within the whole sect dares to climb onto your bed, truly too sad, too sad.â
âYou Jiang, come, letâs discuss the upcoming guard rotation and mobilization.â
Qian Ren knew that after becoming a brothel keeper, Xiu Niang developed a habit of poking fun at people, so he didnât bother staying any longer. With a blackened face, he walked to the side and called You Jiang over to resume their duties as enforcers.
Seeing him like this, Xiu Niang also didnât pursue the matter. With a smile and sway to her hips, she beckoned the disciples she brought over to leave with her; all of them chattering and laughing. Compared to the two male enforcers, she was much more in line with the Palace of Blissâ style.
Noticing that Qian Renâs expression wasnât quite good, You Jiang realized that although he himself didnât have those intentions towards their Master, he still had many daring female disciples throw themselves at him. Compared to Qian Ren, who was young and at the prime of his life yet couldnât get close to anyone, he was already a lot better.
Moreover, since Qian Ren was taken in by the Palace Master when he was young, it wouldnât be too much of a leap to say that he may have harboured other intentions. After thinking along these lines, You Jiang hurried to follow while softening his tone, âIf the Palace Master really wanted to force either of us, we couldnât even dream of resisting. The fact that he doesnât touch you is because youâre important to him.â
Unexpectedly, Qian Ren just glared at him, his face becoming darker. âI didnât bring you along to gossip, what we need to discuss isâa problem has occurred during the Palace Masterâs tribulation.â
âWhat happened?â Hearing this, You Jiang was shocked. Everyone knew that He Huan was the foundation of the Palace of Bliss. If anything happened to him, it will inevitably lead to something big.
Ignoring You Jiangâs stupid expression, Qian Ren worriedly lowered his voice, âThe Palace Masterâs style of speech was very different from usual, and the words he used were too proper.â
He Huan had basically raised Qian Ren since childhood. According to seniority, it can be said that he was He Huanâs only direct disciple, so naturally, he was very familiar with He Huanâs movements and speech patterns. From the moment âHe Huanâ opened his mouth, heâd already noticed something was off.
He Huan would never choose to deprive himself, in everything he did, whichever way was the most comfortable was the way he chose to do things. That act of deliberately suppressing his voice was completely out of character. Then, recalling what He Huan had said just before facing tribulation, Qian Ren grew increasingly worried, resulting in this situation. Itâs just that, since the Palace Master had specifically told only him, it can be presumed that this information couldnât be leaked to anyone else. Therefore, he could only confide in the one person he knew would never betray the demonic sideâYou Jiang.
Perhaps this was why he was appointed as Head Enforcer, he handled matters responsibly and was keen to details. In fact, he managed the sect more competently than He Huan did with that unreliable personality of his.
When You Jiang saw his serious face, heâd thought it was some huge issue, who knew it was just Qian Ren finding some actions suspicious. Understanding this, he gradually calmed down before labelling this wariness something caused by Qian Renâs years spent as a mercenary. Of course, he didnât say this out loud, instead, he tried to soothe the otherâs paranoia, âThe Palace Master has always been more serious when in his QingYun Hall, after all, the words QingYun have a deeper meaning to himâŚâ
Seeing this reaction, Qian Ren knew that He Huan hadnât spoken to You Jiang before his tribulation. Although he doesnât know the reasoning behind this decision, he didnât reveal anything else that could be compromising and advised, âThe tribulation to step into the Calamity Crossing Stage is very different from the ones that came before it. Even with the Palace Masterâs cultivation, heâd still need a few days to recover. Within this interval, we need to be prepared.â
Towards this, You Jiang approved of his actions, agreeing without hesitation, âOnce Yun Ce returns, Iâll ask him about the condition of our Palace Masterâs body.â
You Jiangâs grasp over the big picture was extremely good, every task he approached was accompanied by a plan. Seeing that he really took the situation to heart, Qian Ren didnât dawdle, only shooting him a warning look, âDonât let Xiu Niang know.â
âOf course.â
Once Qian Ren and You Jiang had reached an understanding, You Jiang gathered all the guard disciples and strictly ordered, âThe Palace Master has just undergone tribulation and needs to recover. Ensure you guard the gates well and prohibit anyone from entering QingYun Hall.â
Upon seeing You Jiang seriously delegating defensive contingencies, Qian Renâs tension was somewhat abated.
âIf anything goes wrong, I allow you to take this Palace Masterâs position.â
This chapter is scrapped from readlightnovel.org
This line uttered by He Huan was the source of all of Qian Renâs unease, especially since a month prior to his tribulation, He Huan had abstained from summoning someone to serve him in bed. Unaccompanied, he resided within his QingYun Hall, drinking alcohol and writing; more often than not, as he wrote, he would end up taking a break near the spring by wielding his sword and practicing. Everyone knew He Huan hadnât used a weapon in 50 years, so needless to say, it was also then that Qian Ren found out his shifu still possessed his old sword.
By stringing all this together and tying it with that crazy idea, it truly gave people an ominous feeling.
âPalace Master, did you succeed?â
Gazing at the Hall on the peak, Qian Ren quietly muttered. He sincerely hoped that the one staying in QingYun Hall was the normal He Huan, at the very least, donât force him to assume the Palace Masterâs role.
âHe Huanâ was completely oblivious to the commotion outside, believing that heâd successfully deceived The Number One Mercenary. Currently, he was gazing at the two disciples through their reflection in the bronze mirror and racking his brain for a solution to his current predicament.
Unfortunately, at the moment, all he could think of were unreliable ideas; one of them even being to declare impotence. At least He Huanâthis bodyâwhen lying on the bed, still had a lot of deterrence. Of course, despite all the tales of brutality circling around the outside world, the Palace of Bliss disciples all knew that the gentlest temperament on the demonic side belonged to He Huan. To the point where if the ones who came were older disciples, theyâd have already recommended themselves as bedding partners. However, the two who were currently waiting to service their Master didnât dare act frivolously.
Only after the ordeals of Sai GuanYingâs family being hit with misfortune, with the loss of both her parents and being confined to the backyard of a brothel, did Xiu Niang bring her out. Needless to say, she was already uneasy, so when she was informed that the one inclined on the bed was the most powerful Demon Lord in the Jianghuâdespite Xiu Niangâs insistence that the Palace Master was one who cherished the fairer sex, not to mention was handsomeâshe couldnât bring herself to move as she kneeled in front of his bed; frozen with the fear that sheâd anger the Demon Lord and be thrown back to the brothel to be defiled by those coarse and vulgar men.
Compared to Sai GuanYingâs deferential attitude, Yun Ce was a lot more carefree. He was brought to the Palace of Bliss by He Huan just a month ago. Originally, he possessed some cultivation as well as a heroic reputation, but who knew what flowery words He Huan uttered to beguile this handsome youth into becoming a male pet in the Palace of Bliss. Currently, he was gazing in all directions at the arrangement of the room and curiously appraising He Huan. Internally he thought, how come this person is a lot more serious than when he first brought him into the Palace?
In the end, the youth was growing impatient seeing He Huan reading his book with no intention to move. Plus, kneeling wasnât exactly the most comfortable position he could be in, so he simply took the initiative and asked, âPalace Master, didnât you say you wanted us to cultivate with you?â
With his sudden question, Sai GuanYing had been frightened, internally screaming that this person was too reckless. What if the Palace Master became angry? In that moment, she started pulling at his sleeve anxiously, hinting that he should shut up.
But who knew this idiot would misunderstand her intentions. Showing her a bright grin, he continued loudly, âLook, she too canât kneel for this long so sheâs already begun pulling on my sleeves.â
âYouââ
No matter what, she could never have imagined that the one to service themselves with her would be this kind of brainless idiot. At that moment, Sai GuanYing didnât know what to say. Just as the atmosphere in the room entered a state of stagnation, she saw the one on the bed flip over so that he was facing them. With a pillow cradled in one arm and the corners of his mouth hooking upwards into a licentious smile he spoke, âThis Master also doesnât want to keep you darlings neglected, but unfortunately, this Master experienced a qi-deviation. Say, little beauty, whatâs to be done?â
This expression, this tone, then remembering the rumours about He Huan flying about everywhere, Sai GuanYing immediately understood that this was the Palace Masterâs new method of play. Just as she was thinking of a way to continue the scene, the fool beside her actually innocently believed what He Huan had said, even answering in sympathy, âReally? Then do you still remember your name?â
With a deep melancholic sigh, âI donât remember.â
Well, that works tooâŚthe Palace Masterâs amusement was thicker now, it seems this idiot has managed to foster some interest.
Helplessly kneeling, Sai GuanYing didnât know whether to be depressed that her charm lost to an air-headed boy or to be thankful that he attracted the Demon Lordâs attention so she didnât need to be fearful anymore. However, she soon didnât need to be so nervous, because the Palace Master suddenly gave an order with a smile of understanding, âThis Lady may leave to rest, let this youth thoroughly âhealâ my amnesia instead.â
Knowing that the Palace Master was getting prepared to thoroughly ravish this dimwitted boy, she couldnât help pitying the still oblivious youth. Taking in his dress and posture, he seemed to be some familyâs young master; who knew how heâd ended up falling into such circumstances. However, in this world, looking out for number one was the most important, where would one have enough benevolence to care for others? Ultimately, she just silently whispered a few words of advice, âNo matter what happens, as long as youâre still alive, then that is good enough.â
Finished saying her piece, she cautiously looked towards the figure on the bed to find him staring straight at her with a slight furrowing of his brows. She was scared that with his higher cultivation, heâd heard what she just said. Not daring to make any more small talk, she quickly retired from her post.
Arriving at the bottom of the stairwell, she looked up to see the azure curtains covering the intricately carved main entrance. Only after making sure that there were no guards, did she sneakily wipe at her eyes with a sigh.