xymnovel Chapter 420 Xu Longxiang and the Moon Goddess's stand-in arrive in Linyuan City; are they about
Chapter 420 Xu Longxiang and the Moon Goddess's stand-in arrive in Linyuan City; are they about
Yun Suxin stepped across the threshold and entered a small, warm room.
A charcoal fire burned in the warm room, making it as cozy as spring.
Qin Mu sat on a low sandalwood couch, leaning against soft pillows, holding a book in his hands, and was flipping through it.
Zhao Qingxue knelt beside him, holding a teacup in her hand.
Jiang Zhaoyue knelt at his feet, gently patting his calves with her hands.
Yunluan stood by the door, her hand on the hilt of her sword, her back straight, like a sword stuck in the ground.
Qin Mu put down his book, looked up at her, and his gaze fell on the slightly swaying tray in her hand.
A slow smile crept onto his lips.
"Put it down," he said softly.
Yun Suxin lowered her head, stepped forward, and placed the tray on the small table next to the low couch.
Qin Mu picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of food, put it in his mouth, and chewed it.
His brows furrowed slightly, and Yun Suxin's heart leaped into her throat.
She feels like she's almost developed a conditioned reflex now; the moment she sees...
Qin Mu swallowed and put down his chopsticks.
"It's too salty."
Yun Suxin lowered her head, her voice hoarse. "Then... I'll go and cook another plate."
Qin Mu waved his hand. "No need. Sit down and have a drink with me."
Yun Suxin was stunned for a moment, then looked up at him.
His face was expressionless; he simply pointed to the prayer mat opposite him.
"sit."
Yun Suxin dared not disobey, so she went over and knelt on the prayer mat.
Qin Mu picked up the wine pot and poured her a cup of wine.
He picked up his glass and raised it towards her.
"drink."
Yun Suxin lowered her head, held the wine glass in both hands, brought it to her lips, and drank it all in one gulp.
Qin Mu looked at her and smiled.
"Good capacity for alcohol," he said. He poured himself a glass and drank it all in one gulp.
He poured her another glass, and then poured himself one.
"Drink some more."
Yun Suxin picked up her wine glass again and drank it all in one gulp.
Seeing her trying so hard to suppress her discomfort, Qin Mu's smile deepened.
"Do you know why I'm keeping you here?"
Yun Suxin shook her head, lowered her head, and dared not look at him.
Qin Mu reached out and gently lifted her chin with his long, slender fingers, forcing her to raise her head and meet his gaze.
"Because I think you look a lot like someone I know."
Yun Suxin's pupils contracted slightly, and her heart skipped a beat.
She didn't know what he meant, or who "that person" he was referring to was.
"but,"
Qin Mu released her chin and leaned back on the soft pillow. "You may resemble her, but you are not her."
Yun Suxin looked at Qin Mu and forced a smile.
"The girl you mentioned, young master, must be very happy."
Qin Mu looked at her for a long time.
He picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp. He put down the glass, leaned back on the soft pillow, and closed his eyes.
"I'm tired. Clean this place up and then go back to rest."
Yun Suxin paused for a moment, then lowered her head, her voice hoarse. "Yes...Young Master."
She stood up, bent down, and began to clear the dishes from the table.
Zhao Qingxue stood up, walked behind Qin Mu, placed her hands on his shoulders, and continued to massage him.
Jiang Zhaoyue stood up, took a thin blanket from the clothes rack, and gently covered him with it.
Yunluan remained standing by the door, her hand on the hilt of her sword, her gaze sharp as a knife, unmoved as a mountain.
Yun Suxin carried the tray, head down, and walked out of the warm pavilion step by step.
In the kitchen, the fire in the stove had gone out, leaving only a dark red ember, flickering in the grayish-white ash, like a still-beating heart.
Yun Suxin placed the bowl and chopsticks on the cutting board, leaned against the stove, slowly slid down, and sat on the ground.
She hugged her knees, buried her face in her arms, and tears streamed down her face silently again.
Today's experience felt like a nightmare, leaving her exhausted and heartbroken.
Ultimately, setting aside her identity as the moon goddess, she was just a woman.
In this cannibalistic world, when a woman loses all her status, power, and identity, she is nothing.
Moonlight streamed in through the small kitchen window, illuminating Yun Suxin and making her huddled figure exceptionally clear.
Her shadow was cast on the mottled wall, all alone, like an abandoned cat with nowhere to go.
A night breeze seeped in through the cracks in the window, causing the embers in the stove to glow for a fleeting moment before going completely dark.
The kitchen was pitch black.
Only the suppressed, intermittent sobs echoed softly in the darkness.
.........
At the same time,
Moon Goddess Cult Headquarters.
Chen Ruoyao pushed open the door to the bedroom, walked to the desk, spread out a sheet of white paper, and picked up a pen.
The pen tip was dipped in ink, hovered over the paper, and paused for a moment.
She wrote a line.
"Young Master Xu, would you be willing to accompany me to Linyuan City tomorrow? There are some matters within the sect that need to be handled, and it would be inconvenient for me to go alone."
After she finished writing, she folded the paper, put it in an envelope, and sealed it with sealing wax.
She summoned a maid in white and handed her the letter. "Take this to Young Master Xu."
The maid took the letter, bowed, and withdrew.
Chen Ruoyao leaned back in her chair, a slow smile curving her lips.
Her letter, though seemingly ordinary, actually contained a hidden meaning.
She deliberately said that it was "not convenient for her to be alone," which was a way of showing weakness.
Xu Longxiang is the type of person who falls for this kind of thing the most. He has a natural protective instinct, and the stronger a woman is, the more easily he will fall for her.
She had been observing him for a long time.
She had her reasons for choosing Linyuan City.
Linyuan City is one of the main strongholds of the Moon Goddess Cult, and the city is full of Moon Goddess Cult members.
Once there, she had all the advantages of timing, location, and people, so there were many things she could do.
Moreover, having Xu Longxiang accompany her would not only enhance their relationship but also allow him to witness the strength of the Moon Goddess Sect firsthand—a win-win situation.
She could also take the opportunity to arrange an "accident" in Linyuan City.
For example, some fanatical followers of the Moon Goddess Cult clashed with Xu Longxiang, believing that Xu Longxiang was not worthy to stand by their side.
At this moment, he stepped forward, punished the believer, and emphasized the importance of Xu Longxiang.
After this back and forth, Xu Longxiang will surely be moved.
This kind of hero-saves-the-damsel-in-distress scenario is the most touching.
At that time, wouldn't Xu Longxiang's wavering heart be obediently grasped in her hands?
However, she needs to obtain the Moon Goddess's consent first.
After all, mobilizing the believers in Linyuan City was not a decision she could make alone.
Chen Ruoyao frowned slightly.
At this point, she realized that the Moon Goddess had not yet contacted her.
She didn't know where the Moon Goddess had gone, nor when she would appear.
She could only wait.
Chen Ruoyao tapped her fingers lightly on the table twice, her brows furrowing more and more tightly.
She stood up, walked to the window, opened it, and gazed at the clear, cold moon in the night sky.
That thought inevitably resurfaced in her mind.
What if the Moon Goddess never appears?
What if something happens to Lady Moon?
Then could she...?
Chen Ruoyao shook her head, suppressing the thought.
I can't think about it, I dare not think about it.
She took a deep breath, closed the window, turned around and walked back to the bed, where she lay down.
She closed her eyes, still planning for tomorrow.
Never mind, she decided to take Xu Longxiang to Linyuan City first thing tomorrow morning.
As for the Moon Goddess, we can only wait and see.
The next morning, Xu Longxiang received the letter.
He sat on the edge of the bed, holding the thin letter in his hand. He read it twice, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up slightly.
He stood up, walked to the bronze mirror, straightened his robes, and fastened the short sword at his waist.
He touched his chin and went out to find Fan Li.
Fan Li was drinking tea in the side hall.
Upon seeing Xu Longxiang enter, he stood up and clasped his hands in greeting.
"Your Highness, you look great today."
Xu Longxiang waved his hand, sat down in the chair, picked up the teacup on the table, and took a sip.
"Mr. Fan, I need to go to Linyuan City today."
Fan Li's hand paused slightly.
"Linyuan City? What is Your Highness going there for?"
Xu Longxiang put down his teacup, leaned back in his chair, and spoke casually.
"It was the Moon Goddess who invited me to go with her. She said there were some matters in the church that needed to be handled, and it wouldn't be convenient for her to go alone."
Fan Li frowned slightly.
It's the Moon Goddess again.
A strange, inexplicable irritation welled up inside him.
Yesterday Your Highness seemed to have come to your senses, so why is Your Highness going to go again today when the Moon Goddess beckons?
Fan Li opened his mouth, as if to say something.
But looking at Xu Longxiang's smiling face, he swallowed back the words he was about to say.
"How long does Your Highness intend to stay?" His voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.
Xu Longxiang thought for a moment.
"It's still uncertain, we'll see. It could take a day or two, or three or four days at most."
Fan Li was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Your Highness, please take care on your journey. If anything happens, please contact me immediately."
Xu Longxiang stood up, patted Fan Li on the shoulder, and spoke with a rare, brotherly intimacy in his tone.
"Don't worry, I'm not a child anymore. Keep an eye on Dark Raven, make sure he recovers properly and doesn't run around. Once he's healed, we'll return to the North immediately."
Fan Li clasped his hands and bowed. "Yes."
Xu Longxiang turned and walked out of the side hall. His steps were light and quick, as if he were walking on clouds.
Fan Li stood at the door, watching Xu Longxiang's retreating figure, his brows furrowed.
He always felt that the Moon Goddess seemed a bit too enthusiastic towards His Highness, but now that the Moon Goddess Cult and the Northern Territory had formed an alliance, it was normal for the two to interact frequently.
If he tries to obstruct things too much and it ends up breaking the alliance between the two forces, that would be bad. After all, the Northern Territory is indeed very short of allies right now.
Fan Li could only sigh and turn to walk back to the side hall.
Half an hour later, Xu Longxiang and Yue Shen walked out of the Moon Goddess Sect's headquarters side by side.
Chen Ruoyao wore a light blue dress today, with a jade hairpin in her hair, and no mask on her face.
Her makeup was much lighter than usual; her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes like autumn water, and her lips were pale. She looked like a quiet flower blooming in the morning breeze.
Xu Longxiang walked beside her, his gaze occasionally sweeping across her profile.
She noticed his gaze, turned her head slightly, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Young Master Xu, what's wrong?"
Xu Longxiang quickly looked away, his ear tips turning slightly red. "N-nothing."
Chen Ruoyao smiled, turned her head, and continued walking forward.
She sneered inwardly.
Sure enough, they were still so easy to hook.
She deliberately didn't wear a mask today, just for this moment.
She believed that the disguise technique personally bestowed by the Moon Goddess was enough to deceive Xu Longxiang.
Now it seems that this was indeed the case.
The two boarded the carriage and headed towards Linyuan City.
The carriage moved slowly along the official road, its wheels rolling over the yellow earth and raising fine dust.
Chen Ruoyao leaned against the car window, her gaze fixed on the scenery outside, without saying a word.
Xu Longxiang sat opposite her, tapping his fingers lightly twice on his knee.
He opened his mouth, wanting to find a topic, but he didn't know what to say.
He wanted to apologize for what happened yesterday, but he swallowed the words back.
Since the other person doesn't seem to be angry anymore, what should he do if he brings it up and it makes the other person angry again?
The silence inside the carriage was somewhat awkward.
Chen Ruoyao suddenly spoke up. "Young Master Xu, what do you think Qin Mu's reaction will be after Liu Bai's death?"
Xu Longxiang was slightly taken aback, then a cold smile appeared on his lips.
"That tyrannical ruler, having lost his left and right arms, probably can't even sleep peacefully."
Chen Ruoyao nodded softly.
"Yes. With Liu Bai's death, the Great Qin has lost a half-step terrestrial immortal. This is great news for the Northern Territory and the Moon Goddess Cult."
A glint of light flashed in Xu Longxiang's eyes.
"That's right. As long as the Northern Territory and the Moon Goddess Cult join forces, the Great Qin will be ours sooner or later."
Chen Ruoyao smiled faintly, a smile that carried an indescribable meaning.
She fell silent again, her gaze returning to the scenery outside the car window.
Xu Longxiang looked at her, and his heart skipped a few beats.
Unbeknownst to him, in the mansion in Linyuan City, the real Moon Goddess was kneeling on the ground, washing Qin Mu's feet.