Hearing Gu Linruo's reply, Mo Qingyue spoke with disdain, "Hmph, commendable courage, but it's all in vain!"
She was only gentle towards those from Tianlan Peak; as for the disciples from the other peaks...
Immediately afterward, another figure, extremely similar to her true form, passed through the hundreds of spirit swords and charged at Gu Linruo...
Seeing this approaching figure, Gu Linruo's Beautiful Eyes sharpened as she thought to herself, "Based on what she said before, the level of this martial technique is only at the Profound Rank; it couldn't possibly be so powerful that even a shadow has offensive capabilities!"
With that thought, she let the phantom draw closer, staying vigilant of her surroundings...
Indeed, just as she suspected, the shadow caused no harm upon touching her skin and simply dissipated into wisps of cherry blossoms...
However, suddenly, a sharp pain flared up in Gu Linruo's right shoulder, forcing her Purple Sword to fall from hand...
Yet, enduring the intense pain, she immediately directed the hundreds of surrounding spirit swords to charge at the Cherry Blossom Umbrella spinning above...
Witnessing this scene, Mo Qingyue, who had just struck Gu Linruo's right shoulder and concealed her form again, narrowed her eyes, "Oh no! Her target is the Cherry Blossom Umbrella!"
But it was already too late to fend off the attack!
The hundreds of spirit swords plunged onto the Cherry Blossom Umbrella with a series of resounding "bangs!", sending it flying...
Almost simultaneously, Mo Qingyue, hidden in midair, was forced to reveal herself...
Gu Linruo, who immediately sensed her location, quickly drew her Purple Sword with her left hand and released a Sword Qi at the exposed Mo Qingyue, hitting her squarely and sending her delicate body hurtling through the air with a faint cry of pain: "Ah!"
Her figure wobbled as she flew back several meters before regaining stability...
Mo Qingyue's cold gaze now bore traces of anger as she tightly gripped the Cherry Blossom Umbrella again, muttering, "Damn it!"
Across from her, Gu Linruo also showed no signs of backing down, still vigilantly watching Mo Qingyue...
Just as the imminent battle was about to erupt, the rare, serious voice of Yun Cong resonated through the space...
"Mo Junior Sister, that's enough! It's not easy for a female disciple to come to our Tianlan Peak, no need for such violence," he said.
Immediately, Yun Cong's figure appeared between the two; Mo Qingyue pursed her thin lips, retracted the Cherry Blossom Umbrella, and said softly, "Yes, Senior Brother Yun!"
Seeing this, Gu Linruo also sheathed her Purple Sword, her Beautiful Eyes sizing up Yun Cong, who radiated the spirit force fluctuations of the Nascent Soul Stage.
She bowed respectfully and began, "I presume you are the eldest brother of Tianlan Peak, I am the direct..."
Before she could finish introducing herself, the seriousness on Yun Cong's face flickered away, replaced by an awkward chuckle, "Hehe, Elder Sister Gu, I beg you not to spread the word about what just happened. Otherwise, it would further tarnish Tianlan Peak's reputation," he said, his voice laden with deep concern.
Hearing this, Gu Linruo was momentarily stunned, unable to comprehend the shift in the senior brother's demeanor in front of her...
One moment he was the picture of sternness and authority, and the next, he was like a simple, honest man!
No, to be precise, he was like a joker!
However, out of courtesy, Gu Linruo quietly responded, "Of course, I was merely seeking guidance from Elder Sister Mo."
Yun Cong rubbed his eyes, visibly moved...
This Elder Sister Gu was really playing by the book! He didn't even know what to say...
Mo Qingyue said with a tender smile, "Elder Sister Gu, let's go inside to talk if there's anything to discuss!"
This smile sent a chill through Gu Linruo's very core, Tianlan Peak's disciples sure had mastered the art of "face-changing" to perfection!
...
In Xu Sheng's room...
Gu Linruo took out a detoxification pill from her storage cosmos bag and gently placed it into Xu Sheng's mouth...
Her slender fingers faintly felt the residual warmth of Xu Sheng's thin lips, causing her cheeks to redden slightly...
As for Yun Cong standing by the side, he obviously chose not to inquire about this matter to save Mo Qingyue from embarrassment!
After all, it was just a minor matter of drugging, he and Mu Yun had once offended Mo Qingyue and ended up drugged for several days!
Lying in bed, Xu Sheng opened his dark eyes and coughed slightly, "Cough cough..."
Then, he looked at Yun Cong and the two others standing before him, surprised, "Elder Sister Mo, Senior Brother Yun, and even Senior Sister Gu, I didn't expect you to come!"
When he noticed the attire of a direct disciple on Gu Linruo, he added, "Congratulations, Senior Sister Gu, on being promoted to direct disciple!"
Gu Linruo chuckled, "Thank you, Junior Brother Xu."
Then, Xu Sheng looked at Yun Cong with a puzzled face, "That, Senior Brother Gu, how did I faint before..."
Yun Cong waved his hands in a somewhat flustered manner, "No... it's nothing, Junior Brother Xu needn't worry. It might be a problem with the fruit wine, after Elder Sister Mo and I took a sip, we also passed out, and just woke up!"
If it were discovered, Xu Sheng might end up with a psychological shadow towards Mo Qingyue...
Xu Sheng, seeing this poor performance, narrowed his eyes and turned them to Mo Qingyue, "Elder Sister Mo? Is that so?"
The latter blinked her beautiful eyes gently and followed Yun Cong's explanation, "That's right, it's the fruit wine I made that had a problem, seems like I accidentally added something wrong."
Xu Sheng glanced at Yun Cong and Mo Qingyue, "Is that so, then let it be."
If they were unwilling to tell, he had no interest in delving further...
Immediately, he got up from the bed and stood up...
Gu Linruo gathered her courage and spoke up, "Xu... Junior Brother Xu, I... "
Seeing her hesitant demeanor, Xu Sheng asked in confusion, "Senior Sister Gu, did you have something to say just now?"
Gu Linruo, with her face growing even redder at the direct question, softly said, "Junior Brother Xu, I came to see you!"
Xu Sheng replied instinctively, "To see me? Is it because there are too few people taking on the sect's missions?"
Yun Cong's expression darkened, deeply impressed by Xu Sheng's response!
Mo Qingyue's heart, on the other hand, felt a surge of joy...
It seemed that Junior Brother Xu wasn't all that interested in Gu Linruo...
That meant the threat to herself was much less! At least the way Xu Sheng acted when they were alone in bed that day, he obviously had a favorable impression of her!
Gu Linruo shook her head and clarified, "No... it's not about the missions, I just have some personal matters I'd like to discuss with you!"
Xu Sheng was momentarily taken aback, then said softly, "Alright, since I'm free right now, let's go."
Gu Linruo's eyes lit up with happiness as she whispered, "Mhm!"
After that, the two of them signaled to Yun Cong and Mo Qingyue and left together...
Yun Cong, puzzled, turned to Mo Qingyue, "Mo Junior Sister, weren't you planning to take action before, how come you're not anxious at all now?"
Mo Qingyue showed a smile full of meaning, tenderly saying, "Senior Brother Yun, why bother with so much? Could it be that you also want to... with the fruit wine?"
Yun Cong stepped back a few paces, waving his hands, "No... I won't trouble junior sister, I'm feeling sleepy... I'm going to sleep now... "
…