Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 291 289: Elder Pei Is So Good at Seducing Women, No Wonder Master Fell for It

Inside the Jade Palace prepared by the Dao Sect for the Jade Pool Sacred Land's special envoy.

A light mist swirled, and gauze curtains hung low. A faint, interwoven scent of sandalwood and flowers filled the air.

In a corner of the hall, a Guqin rested quietly on a table. Lin Qianyan, clad in a simple white dress, sat before it. Her slender, pale fingers gently plucked the strings, releasing a few distant, resonant notes.

Her features were as exquisite as a painting, her expression serene and placid, as if she had become one with the tranquility of the Jade Palace.

However, her gaze drifted slightly, as if lost in thought.

"Xiaopei," she called out softly.

A pretty, young girl holding an ancient tome looked up at the sound of her name. Her eyes, fixed on Lin Qianyan, held both respect and confusion. "What is it, Master?"

Lin Qianyan tilted her head slightly, her gaze falling upon Pei Xiaohan. Her expression was gentle, yet held a hint of deeper meaning.

"I heard from Brother Pei that Miss Qing has been fighting with him recently. It's giving him quite a headache. Why don't you... go and talk to Miss Qing for me?"

As she spoke, the fingertips stroking the Guqin trembled slightly, causing a string to emit a low, quavering note, as if to conceal her inner turmoil.

"Sister Yueqiu and her master had a fight?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Xiaohan's eyebrows shot up, her eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

In her mind, Qing Yueqiu was a girl as cold and solitary as a sword. Her crimson eyes were always as indifferent as frost, as if nothing in the world could stir her heart.

Only when her master was mentioned would a rare flicker of warmth flash through her beautiful eyes, like the first thaw of winter snow, like the gentle ripple of a spring stream.

The word "Master" was like her reverse scale—anyone who touched it would face her wrath, and she might even draw her sword.

'Would such a good disciple really fight with her own master?'

Pei Xiaohan looked up at Lin Qianyan, her eyes searching. "Master, did Sister Yueqiu... really fight with Elder Pei? Could there be some kind of misunderstanding?"

Lin Qianyan shook her head. "Brother Pei didn't tell me the specifics. There must be a misunderstanding, which is why I want you to go talk to Miss Qing. She's such a sensible girl; I'm sure she'll make up with Brother Pei."

In truth, Lin Qianyan had her own selfish reasons for sending Pei Xiaohan to find Qing Yueqiu.

She wanted her disciple to interact more with Brother Pei's disciple. This would help her smoothly join Brother Pei's large "family" in the future.

If she couldn't win the support of his disciples, she could at least avoid their resistance.

Besides, if she really did succeed in helping Brother Pei and his disciple reconcile, she would also earn his goodwill.

Right now, Lin Qianyan was viewing Qing Yueqiu's "rebellious phase" with the mindset of a "stepmother."

Pei Xiaohan nodded at her master's words, having no objection.

She stood up and walked to the door, but just as she was about to cross the threshold, her steps halted. Her fingertips rested lightly on the doorframe as if she were hesitating.

After a moment, she finally turned around, her gaze complex as she looked at Lin Qianyan.

"Master..."

Lin Qianyan remained seated before the Guqin, her fingers gently plucking the strings. She lifted her eyes slightly, her gaze as tranquil as still water.

"What is it?"

Pei Xiaohan's throat moved. Her voice was a little hoarse, but laced with stubbornness. "Qing Yueqiu's master, that Elder Pei... is he really your husband?"

Lin Qianyan's fingers paused on the strings, and the music stopped abruptly.

A ripple of emotion flickered in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. She had long anticipated this question from her disciple.

'Pei Xiaohan is a very smart girl. From the moment I arrived at the Cold Palace Sword Mansion and went directly to find Pei Yuhang, to how I now call him by the intimate address of 'Brother'...'

'Once or twice could be a coincidence, but when so many coincidences pile up, they become an inevitability.'

'She's probably guessed everything.'

Lin Qianyan let out a soft breath, a tender look entering her eyes as she gazed at Pei Xiaohan.

"...Xiaopei, this is a matter for adults. I also hope you won't spread word of what's between Brother Pei and me."

Pei Xiaohan's brows furrowed tightly, a flash of anxiety in her eyes. Her voice rose a few notches.

"But Master, Elder Pei... he already has a Dao Companion!

You're the Saintess of a Sect! The Saintess of the Jade Pool Sacred Land, which values purity and integrity above all! How can you keep seeking out a married man... thinking... thinking about rekindling an old flame?"

Her tone was filled with urgency and bewilderment, as if she wanted to pour out all the confusion and dissatisfaction in her heart.

"If someone with malicious intent sees this and it gets back to the Jade Pool Sacred Land... the Sect Leader will surely punish you!"

Lin Qianyan's expression remained calm. She spoke slowly, her voice like a gentle breeze, yet it carried an unquestionable authority.

"Xiaopei, I told you, this is not something you should be concerned with."

Pei Xiaohan's lips trembled, as if she wanted to say more. "But Master..."

Before she could finish, a sudden gust of wind swept through the Jade Palace, sending the gauze curtains into a frenzy.

Lin Qianyan looked at the Guqin in her hands, one of its strings now broken, and closed her eyes.

"Your master knows what she is doing... Lastly, regarding the matter of Brother Pei once being a Cauldron Slave, I expect you to keep it an absolute secret.

Especially from the people around him, like Miss Qing. You absolutely must not say a word."

"..."

Pei Xiaohan nodded silently, finally saying, "I understand, Master."

With that, she slowly walked out of Lin Qianyan's sight.

Lin Qianyan watched her go, the calm in her eyes finally shattering, replaced by a faint sorrow.

Her fingertips gently pressed against the broken string as she sighed inaudibly.

The Jade Palace returned to its tranquil state once more, with only the faint scent of sandalwood lingering in the air.

...

...

Pei Xiaohan walked out of the Jade Palace, her pace quickening as dissatisfaction and indignation surged through her like a tidal wave.

Her hands clenched into tight fists, nails digging so deeply into her palms that she didn't even feel the pain.

Lin Qianyan's calm yet distant voice echoed relentlessly in her mind.

'Hmph, that despicable Elder Pei, seducing my master when he's already a married man!'

Pei Xiaohan muttered under her breath, her voice laced with a teeth-grinding resentment.

She flew toward the Cold Palace Sword Mansion on her sword, the biting wind rushing against her face, feeling utterly wronged.

'He already has a Dao Companion, so why can't he just cut ties with my master cleanly? It would save my master the heartache.'

'So much for the 'Pei Sword Immortal of the epic pure love story.' I see you just want to have it all, stringing my master along as your lover!'

Pei Xiaohan felt she had seen through Pei Yuhang's despicable inner thoughts. She flew like the wind, arriving on her sword at the gate of the Cold Palace Sword Mansion and knocking irritably.

A moment later, the gate opened.

Pei Xiaohan looked up, and her resentful eyes instantly went wide with shock.

Standing before her was a man in simple white robes, the sleeves fluttering gently in the wind. Though his attire was plain, he exuded an otherworldly aura.

His hair was as black as ink, his face as handsome as carved jade. His eyebrows were like distant, dark mountains, and his eyes glittered like brilliant stars.

Even Pei Xiaohan, whose sexual orientation might have been a bit skewed from living in the Jade Pool Sacred Land and rarely seeing men, was completely stunned, lost in his breathtaking beauty.

"Hello, may I ask who you are?"

Only when a gentle yet distant voice sounded did Pei Xiaohan snap back to her senses.

"Ah, sorry... what did you just say? My apologies, I zoned out..."

Pei Xiaohan flusteredly raised her hand and then lowered it, ripples of nervousness spreading through her heart.

'How can such a handsome and ethereal man exist? It's like he walked straight out of a painting!'

This level of god-tier handsomeness, as if sculpted with all of heaven's Power, was so overwhelming to Pei Xiaohan that she barely dared to breathe!

"Hello, may I ask who you are?"

The man in white repeated his question, and only then did Pei Xiaohan react.

She rubbed her nose, saying nervously, "I... I'm Pei Xiaohan. And you are?"

Hearing this, the man in white revealed a trace of confusion.

'You came knocking on my door, but you don't know who I am?'

"Er... I'm Pei Yuhang, the master of the Cold Palace Sword Mansion. Can I help you with something?

Are you lost, or is something wrong? I can help you contact the master of your grotto-mansion to come get you."

'Pei... Pei Yuhang? This man in front of me is Pei Yuhang?'

'Wait, what nonsense am I spouting? Besides Pei Yuhang, everyone in the Cold Palace Sword Mansion is a woman. The only man to appear before me would, of course, be Pei Yuhang!'

Pei Xiaohan felt as if her brain had been fried by a high fever. How could she forget something so simple and foolishly ask who he was...

She quickly introduced herself, stating that her master was Saintess Lin Qianyan, that she was friends with Yueqiu, and that she had come to find Yueqiu.

When she mentioned her master was Saintess Lin Qianyan, her voice became especially quiet, as if she knew she was coming across as foolish and was embarrassed to bring shame upon her master.

Fortunately, Pei Yuhang didn't seem to mind. He just appeared very happy upon hearing she was Qing Yueqiu's friend.

"You're Yueqiu's friend? That's wonderful!"

"Yueqiu has been shutting herself in her room these past few days. I've tried to see her... but she won't come out at all. Now that you're here, a friend visiting, she should be much happier!"

Pei Yuhang was now very enthusiastic, with none of the detached air he had before.

"Let me take you to Yueqiu!"

"Er... there's no need, Elder Pei. I know where she lives. I can find her myself."

Faced with his enthusiasm, Pei Xiaohan was at a loss. She quickly took a step back, afraid that if she got too close to him, her head would get muddled again.

She swallowed hard and thought to herself.

'Xiaopei, calm down. You have to stay calm!'

'Don't be deceived by his good looks. This is the huge scumbag who's stringing your master along!'

'Damn it, did this Pei Yuhang cultivate the Charm Technique of the Yin Yang Sacred Land? Why am I getting hotter the more I look at him...?'

'With such a terrifying Charm Technique, it's no wonder Master fell for his wicked scheme and was utterly captivated, to the point she doesn't even want to be the respectable Jade Pool Saintess anymore!'

Pei Xiaohan complained inwardly, as if she had already seen through Pei Yuhang's true nature. She closed her eyes and said quickly, "Elder Pei, I won't disturb you any further. I'm going to find Yueqiu now!"

After speaking, Pei Xiaohan fled in a hurry, as if afraid that another glance at Pei Yuhang would make her maiden heart explode from the heat.