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Chapter 840: Lady Miao
Chapter 840: Lady Miao
Fortunately, Uncle Gu was emotionally challenged and as dense as a rock, so he didn't fall for this beauty, Hua Ruyi. Otherwise, he'd be sporting a big green hat.
Arranged marriages sure are a tricky business.
Mo Hua sighed inwardly.
However, the way this despicable couple addressed each other piqued Mo Hua's interest.
Shui Yanluo called Hua Ruyi "Miaoer."
Miaoer...
Previously, at the ferry, Shui Yanluo had also referred to this carriage as "Miaoer's."
Was "Miaoer" Hua Ruyi's nickname?
Mo Hua shook his head slightly.
"It's probably not that simple. Plus, the nickname rings a bell for some reason..."
He frowned in thought, then his heart skipped a beat as he suddenly recalled something.
When he'd killed Boss Jiang, he'd obtained a list of aliases used by criminal cultivators:
"Poison Rakshasa, Fire Artisan, Golden Arhat, Floral Gentleman, Man Butcher, Blood Woodcutter, Yin Thunder, Lady Miao, Ghost-Faced Asura, Over-the-River Dragon..."
Mo Hua had either captured or killed these criminal cultivators, thoroughly "cleansing" them as he claimed the rewards for their bounties.
Now, only a handful of names remained on the list of surviving fugitives.
One of the rare few who had slipped through the net was "Lady Miao."
Lady Miao... Miaoer...
Realization dawned on Mo Hua.
No wonder he hadn't come across anyone named "Lady Miao" during his time capturing criminal cultivators. So, she'd been hiding in plain sight within a sect, masquerading as an instructor.
And as for Hua Ruyi calling Shui Yanluo "Xielang"...
Could this "Xie" be connected to the Xie family of the Gui Water Gate? Mo Hua recalled that previously, one of Uncle Gu's defeated opponents had been a Golden Core sword cultivator from the Gui Water Gate, bearing the surname Xie.
So, this Shui Yanluo actually hailed from the Xie family of the Gui Water Gate but had never publicly disclosed his identity?
As Mo Hua sank into contemplation, the couple inside the house could no longer contain their desires and began whispering sweet nothings to each other.
After a session of intimacy, Shui Yanluo asked Hua Ruyi, "You said you missed me, but I heard that you've taken a shine to someone else lately. Are you tired of me and no longer want to see me?"
Hua Ruyi's eyes sparkled with amorous feelings as she glanced at Shui Yanluo with a hint of blame, "It was just an act. That man is dull and clueless, only good-looking on the surface. He's as boring as a rock and has no sense of romance. He doesn't hold a candle to you, Xielang, who knows how to woo me and make me yearn for you..."
Shui Yanluo's heart stirred, and he pulled Hua Ruyi into his embrace, cherishing her. However, suspicion still lingered, and he asked, "Who is that man and what's his background?"
Hua Ruyi said, "He is a Dian of the Daoting Si, with a Golden Core cultivation."
As soon as Shui Yanluo heard this, his expression shifted, "A Golden Core Dian? What's his name?"
Hua Ruyi, oblivious to Shui Yanluo's thoughts, asked, "Are you jealous?"
Shui Yanluo shook his head, "Tell me his name."
Hua Ruyi said, "His surname is Gu, and his name is Gu Changhuai."
Upon hearing the name "Gu Changhuai," Shui Yanluo's eyes widened, and he gritted his teeth in anger, "Gu Changhuai..."
Hua Ruyi was puzzled by his intense reaction and asked, "What's wrong?"
Shui Yanluo's face twitched, and he said through clenched teeth, "He's the one who took my arm!"
Hua Ruyi's expression changed as she murmured, "How is that possible..."
"Could he have an ulterior motive for getting close to you?" Shui Yanluo narrowed his eyes.
Hua Ruyi frowned, pondering for a moment before shaking her head, "I suspected that at first, but later I dismissed the idea. This person was introduced to me a long time ago by an aunt from my clan. However, he kept making excuses, claiming to be busy with Daoting Si affairs and unable to meet. We only recently started meeting."
"He was probably pressured by the clan elders to finally agree to these matchmaking meetings."
"If he had devised a scheme and intentionally approached me, it's unlikely he would have started so early and drawn it out for so long."
"Besides, this Gu Changhuai doesn't strike me as a cunning person. He's stiff and awkward in conversation. He's cold and uninteresting. If not for his looks, family background, and cultivation, I wouldn't give him the time of day."
Shui Yanluo felt somewhat relieved, but as Hua Ruyi repeatedly emphasized Gu Changhuai's good looks, a twinge of jealousy resurfaced.
"If he's so boring, why did you meet him multiple times?"
Hua Ruyi sighed softly, "I had no choice. Our relationship has to be kept secret, and the clan and sect believe I'm unattached. They arranged these meetings, and I couldn't refuse outright, so I just went along with it. My heart belongs only to you..."
Hua Ruyi snuggled closer to Shui Yanluo, "...both my body and heart are yours."
Shui Yanluo's heart stirred as he held the soft, jade-like woman in his arms, and his anger melted away. Instead, he smiled and said,
"Then one day, when I attain the Golden Core stage, I'll kill that Gu Changhuai. You won't have to worry about him anymore."
Hua Ruyi pouted, "If he dies, that's one less nuisance in my life."
She then looked at Shui Yanluo's empty sleeve and asked with concern, "Can your arm be healed?"
Shui Yanluo's eyes flickered with hatred, "That Gu guy may be an idiot, but his cultivation is no joke. When I was at the third-grade Earth realm, he severed my arm with his Golden Core power. The wind-attributed spiritual power left in the wound felt like knives scraping against my bones and flesh. I've tried various methods, but the progress has been minimal."
Hua Ruyi sighed, "So, you'll be left with one arm forever?"
Shui Yanluo's heart filled with even more hatred towards Gu Changhuai. He turned his head and saw the worry on Hua Ruyi's face, so he pulled her closer and teased,
"Even with one hand, I'll hold you tight and never let you go for the rest of my life."
Hua Ruyi gently twisted his arm, "You're so full of sweet words."
"Don't you like it?"
"You know I do."
The two gazed into each other's eyes, unable to resist kissing and embracing once more.
Mo Hua found the display before him nauseating.
These lovebirds are disgustingly lovey-dovey. Instead of doing something productive, they're wrapped up in this mush.
"Before leaving the Zhu Lip Boat, I should find a way to get rid of this revolting couple..."
This Shui Yanluo, with his long list of atrocities, has long deserved death.
And as for Hua Ruyi, she may pose as an instructor, but she's a shameless "madam," no better than him.
Uncle Gu was so dense that he almost fell for Hua Ruyi's charms and would've ended up a cuckold.
Let's hope these two lovebirds remain locked up on this Zhu Lip Boat and stop causing trouble outside.
Mo Hua forced himself to watch a little longer, wondering if they would discuss anything important.
After a while, it seemed like the couple was about to get down to "business."
Shui Yanluo removed his belt, and his lone hand began to roam over Hua Ruyi's body, undressing her.
Mo Hua averted his eyes. He didn't want to develop a permanent stye in his eyes from witnessing such filth.
Just then, a voice sounded from within the room:
"No..."
Hua Ruyi, half-undressed, stopped Shui Yanluo's wandering hand and blushed as she said, "Xielang, not now."
Shui Yanluo sounded urgent as he replied, "It's been so long since we last met. I've endured so much..."
"The Zhu Lip Boat is important, we can't afford any carelessness," Hua Ruyi insisted.
Shui Yanluo wasn't ready to give up.
Hua Ruyi softened her tone and said, "After we succeed..."
Looking at Hua Ruyi's beautiful face, Shui Yanluo asked hoarsely, "Really?"
Hua Ruyi's face reddened as she whispered, "After we succeed, you can do whatever you like."
Only then did Shui Yanluo relent, no longer insisting.
The couple lowered their voices and continued discussing the Zhu Lip Boat.
Mo Hua saw that they were talking about important matters and nodded slightly, feeling a little more satisfied. He continued to listen.
"Are all the people here...?"
"They're all here."
"This time, we've invited all the key disciples from those sects, following your instructions, Young Master."
"Except for the Tai Xu Gate. Young Master said there's something fishy about them, so we shouldn't provoke them for now, or we might attract a calamity..."
"Aside from the Tai Xu Gate, there are core disciples from the other eight major sects and twelve minor sects on board. Especially from the Tai He Gate and the Chong Xu Gate, they are to be given special treatment."
"The Young Master said..." Hua Ruyi spoke softly, "...we should give them the pills to make them addicted. That way, they'll crave it for the rest of their lives and never be able to leave the Zhu Lip Boat..."
As Mo Hua heard this, his gaze gradually turned grave.
The couple inside the room continued their conversation, and Hua Ruyi gently pushed Shui Yanluo away, saying,
"You should go now. Tonight's matter is crucial, so be extra careful. Plus, you're still severely injured and should take care of your body."
Shui Yanluo didn't move to leave. Instead, he sighed,
"It's been so long since we last met, and now you want me to leave so soon?"
Hua Ruyi blushed, "I'm afraid that if you don't leave now... I won't be able to control myself either."
Shui Yanluo was taken aback for a moment, then leaned in to kiss Hua Ruyi's cheek, "Alright, I'll take care of business first, and then I'll come back to you."
The couple indulged in their affections for a while longer.
Shui Yanluo eventually got up to leave, but his desires were hard to suppress. As he reached the door, he suddenly remembered something, and his eyes flickered as he asked,
"By the way, did you bring a 'chick' with you on board this time?"
Mo Hua, hiding outside the window, was startled by the question.
"You brought a 'chick'?"
Inside the room, Hua Ruyi also paused for a moment, her loving expression fading as her tone turned cold and guarded, "How do you know?"
"I heard about it," Shui Yanluo replied casually.
Hua Ruyi frowned, clearly displeased, "Your informants are quite efficient... So what?"
Shui Yanluo merely smiled.
Hua Ruyi's cold smile turned icy, "Don't blame me for not warning you. This girl is meant for the 'Young Master' above, you mustn't touch her."
Shui Yanluo teased her, "Miao'er, where is your mind wandering?"
"Don't play dumb with me," Hua Ruyi said, her face stern, "I'm not hiding anything from you. This girl is from the main family line of the sect, and her status is no ordinary. Normally, she's off-limits. But she's too clever for her own good and has been secretly investigating us. It's her bad luck that she actually stumbled upon our secrets and learned things she shouldn't."
Hua Ruyi's cold smile turned even colder, "Since that's the case, don't blame me for being ruthless. We'll have to find a way to drag her into the mud, teach her a lesson, and let her experience the harsh realities of the world..."
A core descendant with an extraordinary status and a beauty to boot.
Shui Yanluo's heart was filled with greed, but seeing Hua Ruyi's icy gaze, he merely smiled and said,
"You're overthinking things, my heart only has room for you. Even if there are other women, no matter how beautiful they are, I won't even spare them a glance."
He then proceeded to shower Hua Ruyi with sweet nothings and promises, causing her expression to soften.
After a while longer of indulging in their affections, Shui Yanluo finally left.
After seeing Shui Yanluo off, Hua Ruyi turned and walked back to her room. As soon as she sat down, her brow furrowed again, feeling uneasy.
"All men in this world are the same, scoundrels to the core."
"They say their hearts belong only to you, but in reality, they fall for every woman they see."
"There may be mice that don't steal food, but there are no cats that don't steal fish."
The more Hua Ruyi thought about it, the more uneasy she became.
"This dead man had better not think of stealing fish, or he'll ruin my plans and offend the Young Master..."
Hua Ruyi frowned, then immediately got up and left the room.
Mo Hua's eyes narrowed slightly, and he also got up to leave. He made his way along the outside of the boat, looking for a window to climb back inside.
However, because he had spent some time outside, by the time he re-entered the boat, Hua Ruyi's trail had gone cold.
Fortunately, Hua Ruyi had applied heavy makeup, and the scent of her perfume lingered in the air, allowing Mo Hua to follow the fragrance. After turning a few corners, he spotted Hua Ruyi's graceful figure up ahead.
Hua Ruyi walked ahead, unaware of Mo Hua's stealthy pursuit.
As Mo Hua followed, he realized that Hua Ruyi was walking in circles. At first, he thought she had discovered him, but after a moment's thought, he understood that she was preventing Shui Yanluo from following her to the place where she would be "cheating."
Shaking his head, Mo Hua thought, "These people have such dirty minds."
After circling a few times to ensure that Shui Yanluo wasn't following, Hua Ruyi finally changed her route and walked towards a secret room. She took out a token, dispelled the array, and opened the door. After looking around, she entered the room and closed the door tightly behind her.
Mo Hua's eyebrows rose, and he took note of the secret room's location. He then repeated his previous actions, found a nearby window, climbed out of the boat, located the secret room's window, broke the array, dug a small hole, and inserted a silver needle before peering inside.
The room inside was also a beautifully decorated boudoir.
The furnishings and decor were similar to Hua Ruyi's room, but with more lotus and hibiscus carvings, giving it a plainer and more elegant style.
The only difference was that a young woman was bound to the bed with a binding spirit lock.
The woman was in the prime of her youth, dressed in a gorgeous silk skirt, with a beautiful face. At this moment, she was tied to the bed, her face pale and her eyes filled with resentment. Her delicate features now held a touch of tragic beauty.
Mo Hua sighed softly.
He was surprised but not entirely shocked.
"It's Shallow Sister..."
Being a direct descendant of the sect, her identity was no ordinary, and she was also familiar with Hua Ruyi. She must have been secretly investigating the Zhu Lip Boat incident.
After much thought, he concluded that it must be Hua Shallow, who couldn't let go of Leaf Jin's death.
She might have been investigating Leaf Jin's matter and accidentally stumbled upon Hua Ruyi, uncovering some inside information.
Inside the room, Hua Shallow was locked up, her mouth sealed with a cloth strip, unable to speak. She glared at Hua Ruyi with resentful eyes.
Seeing her tragic yet beautiful appearance, Hua Ruyi sighed and gently caressed Hua Shallow's fair face, pitying her. "You silly girl, why put yourself through this?"
Hua Shallow's eyes flashed with hatred, and though her heart was filled with words, she couldn't utter them.
Hua Ruyi thought for a moment before removing the cloth strip sealing Hua Shallow's mouth.
Hua Shallow immediately spat at Hua Ruyi and exclaimed, "You liar! How dare you do such despicable things, pushing your fellow sisters into the fire pit! Have you no conscience?"
Hua Ruyi shook her head. "You don't understand. How could this be a 'fire pit'? "
Seeing Hua Shallow's pure and innocent expression, she felt a mix of envy and a hidden hint of jealousy.
"You're a direct descendant of the Hua family, blessed with exceptional talent and beauty. Since childhood, you've been favored by the elders of the sect and your family. Your fellow sisters also give way to you. You simply don't understand the ostracism and hardships faced by those born into less privileged families within the sect."
Hua Ruyi sighed. "Take Leaf, for example..."
"She has a good spiritual root, a high-quality pure water spiritual root, and a gentle yet alluring beauty. In a great aristocratic family, she would undoubtedly be a pampered and adored daughter."
"But the problem is that she's only a minor daughter of a third-rate family."
"Although her spiritual roots and appearance are extraordinary, her humble birth is an insurmountable hurdle. Throughout her life, she won't be able to step into the threshold of a high-ranking aristocratic family."
"Aristocratic families value status above all else. There's a world of difference between a first-rate and a third-rate family."
"In this lifetime, she can either marry a useless and incompetent descendant of a fourth-rate family, contributing to their lineage, or she can marry a third-rate family's direct descendant as his primary wife."
"How could such mediocre men be worthy of her?"
"That's why I helped her. I wanted to create opportunities for her to serve some truly exceptional young masters from aristocratic families. Even if she can't become their official wife, if she can gain their favor and experience the pleasures of the bedchamber, she might still have a chance to soar like a phoenix and transform her life."
"Even if there's no formal recognition of their relationship, just a fleeting romance with these outstanding young masters is better than being the primary wife of those mediocre men."
Hua Ruyi's face was filled with emotion as she spoke.
Hearing this, Hua Shallow was furious, but she was usually gentle and couldn't bring herself to say harsh words. She merely said, "You shameless woman!"
Hua Ruyi didn't mind and gently laughed. "You still don't understand."
She continued to caress Hua Shallow's cheeks.
Hua Shallow tried to break free, but her body was restrained and couldn't move. She could only endure the touch of this "sister," who had once been so close but now seemed like a venomous woman.
"Such soft and tender skin..."
Hua Ruyi sighed, filled with emotion. "But you're still too young and naive, unaware of the ways of the world. Once you experience the pleasures of the flesh and understand the relationship between men and women, you'll realize that I never lied to you. Everything I did was for your own good. People have to grow up eventually."
Hua Shallow felt both ashamed and angry, and her expression revealed her fear and regret.
Hua Ruyi noticed her reaction and sighed. "It's normal to be afraid the first time, so I found you a handsome and reliable husband, someone you're already familiar with. So, relax and trust me."
"In a way, I'm playing matchmaker for you. After you two are united as husband and wife and you experience the intoxicating pleasures, you'll become a true woman and understand my good intentions."
After speaking, Hua Ruyi resealed Hua Shallow's mouth.
"Tonight is your wedding night. Just wait here, and I'll go call your handsome groom."
Hua Ruyi smiled gently and left the room.
Hua Shallow was left alone in the room, tied to the bed, unable to move. The oppressive silence filled her with panic, and tears silently rolled down her pale cheeks.
Seeing this, Mo Hua couldn't help but sigh. In his heart, he confirmed, "This Hua Ruyi, I must find a way to get rid of her..."
Mo Hua pondered for a moment, then climbed back into the boat, intending to continue following Hua Ruyi. However, as soon as he entered the boat, he suddenly heard voices.
Hua Ruyi hadn't gone far and was talking to a man.
"Is everything ready?"
"Yes, it's all prepared."
"Good, let's not delay then..."
...
Who was Hua Ruyi talking to?
Mo Hua frowned and moved a little closer to eavesdrop. As he listened, he was startled by what he heard.
The man talking to Hua Ruyi was someone he recognized.
Tall and slender, with a long face, it was Ma, the senior brother from the Taihe Gate, the one he had suspected of having an evil god's aura.
(End of Chapter)
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