Chapter 117: The Deceptive Love
As the saying goes, acting superior can feel good in the moment, but regret may follow.
Qiao Wan took a step back from the person in front of her, assessing their strength with a simple glance.
No wonder Chu Tongzheng managed to get close to this person with a stern face who practices the path of cultivation. His cultivation level is probably higher than hers. As for the two or three other cultivators behind him, they are not as formidable as this one.
Luckily, this is just an illusionary realm, so even if she can't win, the loss won't be too great.
After Qiao Wan jumped down, Chu Tongzheng suddenly stopped talking and stared at her with wide eyes, mesmerized.
Those two gazes burned like hot irons, full of excitement and resentment, as if saying, "Why did you come? Why did you only just arrive?"
Qiao Wan tightened her grip on her sword, feeling a sense of foreboding in her heart.
Zhang Zhiyi glanced between the two of them.
The ominous feeling in Qiao Wan's heart became even stronger.
As expected.laughed coldly with a mix of surprise and anger, saying, "Well, well, Qiao Wan, didn't you say that this guy named Lu bullied you? Why is he now coming to save you with eager eyes? Or perhaps this is just some kind of game between the two of you?"
Zhang Zhiyi exclaimed, "Are you two playing tricks on me?!"
Feeling deceived, Zhang Zhiyi became furious.
No wonder that woman from the Meizong sect seemed unhappy just now. It turns out they were just having a lovers' quarrel and involving him as the poor fool!
Looking at the woman cultivator from the Meizong sect, it seemed like her eyes were glued to this guy named Lu!
Zhang Zhiyi was quite skilled at the Taiyin Temple and no one dared to provoke him. However, he was being played by these two who joined forces.
And...
Zhang Zhiyi looked at Qiao Wan with a dark expression in his eyes.
He wondered how much of his earlier words this kid had heard. Maybe he was sitting in a tree laughing at him.
With this thought, Zhang Zhiyi became even angrier and swiftly took out a Five-element compass with a wave of his sleeve.
Qiao Wan tensed up.
Most of the people who can attend the Three Teachings Law Meeting are quite knowledgeable. Since the beginning of the first session, those who have managed to survive are not easy to mess with.
The magical tools in the cultivation world are very diverse. Qiao Wan, who had previous experience helping Ma Huaizhen, learned not to take any ordinary-looking tools lightly.
Looking at the young boy who was protecting her, Chu Tongzheng honestly felt a bit uncomfortable.
She had a tough upbringing. Growing up in a humble dwelling in the mortal realm, her mother was a lowly prostitute, trading her body for food every day. Women like her would entertain any client, engaging in shady deals with the bottom dwellers of society. One night, a drunk ruffian accidentally killed her, and it was not surprising to anyone.
After her mother was choked to death by that drunk ruffian, the next day, she was thrown into a mass grave, wrapped in a straw mat.
When that scoundrel saw her kneeling in front of the straw mat, he grinned.
She wanted to kill him.
That was what Chu Tongzheng, who was only five years old, thought.
But she couldn't win the fight and no one wanted to interfere.
So, without saying a word, she dragged the thin and shabby grass mat and left.
After her mother died, five-year-old Chu Tongzheng started thinking about what she should do. After thinking about it, there was only one path for her - to continue her mother's old business while her mother's loyal customers were still around. She wanted to take advantage of their sympathy and establish herself quickly.
Before Chu Tongzheng couldn’t make sense of it all, and luckily for her, she happened to encounter disciples from the Meizong sect who were looking for a new younger martial sister. She also had some aptitude for cultivating immortality.
So, Chu Tongzheng decided to join the Meizong sect with the elder martial sisters who were recruiting.
After all, she had nowhere else to go. Even if she didn't join the Meizong sect, she would still have to follow in her mother's footsteps, serving customers for a living. Although the reputation of the Meizong sect wasn't great, it was still a major cultivation sect.
Unlike those crying little girls, after joining the Enchanting Sect, she became carefree and willing to do anything. Her elder martial sisters also loved and pampered her. She had everything she needed - beautiful accessories and luxurious clothing. Those mortals who used to look down on her now had to flatter and call her a fairy.
After leaving the mountain, she swiftly used her sword to deal with the grinning rascal.
Her mother had a pleasing appearance, and even though she was young, she had inherited some of her mother's grace and elegance.
In the past, her mother's lover often looked at her with a complicated gaze and asked when she would start entertaining guests. At that moment, her mother would change the subject and give her some money to go buy some coarse tea leaves or something.
From the mortal realm to the cultivation world, so many years had passed. She had become even more beautiful and skilled in immortal techniques. The only thing that hadn't changed was the way men looked at her.
In their eyes, there was both greed and contempt.
And when she sat on the kang, Chu Tongzheng looked down on her. She still looked down on them.
But Lu Cixian was the first.
Chu Tongzheng anxiously clutched her ragged skirt.
She had experienced hardships since childhood and felt that she had seen the ugly faces of men. When it came to tricking men, she didn't hesitate.
But Lu Cixian was the first. The first man who, after being tricked by her, could still stand by her side without holding a grudge and protect her.
"Lu Cixian... why did you come to save me?" Chu Tongzheng asked nervously.
Qiao Wan replied softly, "I couldn't bear to see it."
Chu Tongzheng had a complex look in her eyes. "Don't you think I'm promiscuous? Don't you think it's my own choice, my own suffering?"
Qiao Wan responded simply, "That's your body, and how you choose to use it is your freedom."
"Then why did you try to stop them?"
Qiao Wan thought for a moment and answered, "Because you didn't want it."
In that moment, Chu Tongzheng's heart skipped a beat.
Even though she knew Lu Cixian couldn't handle it, she accepted it.
She failed.
Chu Tongzheng touched her chest.
Failed miserably.
Even if it doesn't work, so what? They have many ways to please in the Mei Sect. Even if Lu Cixian can't do it, as long as he's willing, she can serve him properly.
On this side, Qiao Wan and Zhang Zhiyi stared at each other for a second.
Start the attack!
Zhang Zhiyi and his three followers rushed forward!
Qiao Wan activated the Wuxiang Technique while moving her sword, charging forward fearlessly.
Fortunately, Chu Tongzheng behind her wasn't a pushover either. Although she couldn't defeat the three in front of her alone, she followed Qiao Wan obediently, using her soft martial arts from the Mei Sect to protect herself.
It was not easy to break free for a while. Qiao Wan whispered, "Do you remember where the camp is? When I make a hand gesture later, you run back and find Fang Lingqing and the others."
Chu Tongzheng blinked her eyes, reluctant as she said, "But...what about you?"
She didn't want to. She didn't know why, but she just wanted to be with Lu Cixian. She... she also wanted to know how he planned to discipline her afterwards.
Qiao Wan, with a blank expression and a sidelong glance, said, "I can only discipline you after we escape, understand?"
Chu Tongzheng shivered.
The way Lu Cixian spoke was strange and not concealed.
The girl blushed, nodded vigorously like a pecking chicken, and said, "Understood, understood, I'll do as you say."
3...
2...
1...
Go!
With a graceful footwork, Qiao Wan performed the Sword Technique No. 2 - Attack Form, as she dashed towards Zhang Zhiyi. At that moment, she concentrated her senses, forcefully thrusting forward to turn defense into offense, buying time for Chu Tongzheng to escape.
Luckily Zhang Zhiyi had not cultivated his senses, allowing her to easily pierce through.
Zhang Zhiyi was momentarily distracted.
Qiao Wan blocked the three followers who were charging towards them and whispered, "Run!"
Chu Tongzheng swiftly bent down, then slyly posed in front of Qiao Wan for a second, before speeding away.
"Do you think you can escape?"
In that moment, Zhang Zhiyi briefly lost focus and his gaze suddenly froze.
Are you awake?
Qiao Wan exclaimed in surprise.
But she quickly understood that Zhang Zhiyi was able to wake up so quickly because of this illusion. When they entered the illusion, even Xie Xingzhi's cultivation level was reset to the same as them, mere cannon fodder. The suppression of the divine consciousness in this illusion was even harsher than she imagined.
Zhang Zhiyi sneered and suddenly stopped the rapidly spinning Five-element compass in his hands.
Uh-oh!
Qiao Wan felt a lump in her heart as she watched Zhang Zhiyi casually throw the Five-element compass towards her.
The invisible compass grew bigger and bigger, and in an instant, it burst open with a powerful gust of wind and suction, sucking Qiao Wan into it completely.
In the split second of the world turning upside down, Qiao Wan vaguely seemed to see a hint of pale yellow rushing towards her from afar.
Chu Tongzheng looked at the boy in panic.
Qiao Wan raised her head at the sound.
Their eyes met.
Chu Tongzheng gazed at the cold young boy, her eyes shimmering with tears.
The world seemed to quiet down. Chu Tongzheng was taken aback, clearly not expecting herself to rush back.
She never thought that this cunning and manipulative woman would also be moved and willing to come back to be with Lu Cixian, who was seemingly useless. In that moment, Chu Tongzheng was even moved by herself, her eyelashes blinked and a glistening teardrop slid down her face.
She turned out to be a woman who didn't care about trivial things.
Elder martial sister had once said that one day she would meet a man who would not mind her background, her appearance, or her past experiences. And she would willingly let go of her pride and be with him through thick and thin. After traveling through countless mountains, she would stop and wash her hands to make a soup for him, and then sleep in his arms in the dim light of the evening snow.
Chu Tongzheng felt dizzy and thought to herself.
Elder martial sister, I may have found such a man.
"Lu Cixian!"
Chu Tongzheng whispered in shock.
Their gazes met.
The young boy watched as the pale yellow approached closer and closer to him. Without any expression on his face, he swung his sword.
In the next second -
The sword swiftly struck!
The bright light of the sword pierced through the chest, causing blood to splatter.
"Lu Cixian has defeated Chu Tongzheng !"
The whole world instantly fell silent.
Wait?!?!
Chu Tongzheng stared in disbelief, her eyes widened. She looked at the emotionless face of the young boy and then at the sword that had been cleanly thrust into her chest.
"Calculating, bearing grudges."
These words suddenly entered her mind.
Chu Tongzheng froze.
She... she was defeated by Lu Cixian with one sword strike?!
She must have been defeated by Lu Cixian with one sword strike!!
She lowered her head and saw her body gradually becoming transparent. The delicate and beautiful features of the girl distorted once again. Unable to hold it in any longer, she burst into tears once more with a loud sob.
Lu Cixian, you jerk!
You heartless person! You love deceiver! QAQ
Feeling a burst of warmth in her lower abdomen, Qiao Wan let out a sigh of relief and happily put away her sword.
Killing enemy +1!
Love and affection only slow down my swordplay!
