Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 414 400: Shang Miaoyan Has a New Plan to Conquer Pei Sword Immortal

"Your Holiness, they've left."

Fan Ya slowly stepped forward, her slender hand supporting the tottering Shang Miaoyan. Her voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, but it couldn't hide the worry in her eyes.

Shang Miaoyan's pearly teeth sank deep into her lower lip, drawing a trickle of blood. She seemed oblivious, her gaze fixed dead ahead.

That was the direction Lin Qianyan and Pei Yuhang had gone, hand in hand.

"Your Holiness, Lin Qianyan only has the advantage of having cultivated in the Void Refining Realm longer. If you had some time to stabilize your cultivation, she would certainly be no match for you.

"Besides, she's about to leave the Xuanyuan Dao Sect and return to the Jade Pool Sacred Land. When that happens, Sword Immortal Pei will be yours for the taking."

Fan Ya added, trying to console her.

But Shang Miaoyan showed no sign of pleasure.

Lin Qianyan's words echoed in her mind: "You had Pei Yuhang's body for thirty years and still couldn't win his heart. You're pathetic."

Shang Miaoyan closed her eyes and let out a long, desolate sigh.

"Let's go back… I've suffered some internal injuries and need to rest for a while."

"Yes."

Fan Ya got up and began to summon the Red Lotus Guards—who had been sent flying by Lin Qianyan—to form an escort.

Jiu stood among them, her pretty eyes filled with guilt behind her mask.

She was utterly mortified, feeling a sense of shame as she stood among her fellow guards.

It was all her fault.

She felt that she had been used by Pei Yuhang.

They had agreed from the start… he just wanted to talk with Shang Miaoyan, resolve their past grudges, and he had promised things wouldn't get heated.

She never thought it would devolve into such a humiliating mess.

She sighed softly, cursing herself. 'I must have been possessed to secretly conspire with Pei Yuhang.'

She directed the Red Lotus Guards beside her to prepare a carriage to take the Holy Daughter back to her hall to rest.

She swore to herself that next time, no matter what shameful things Pei Yuhang did to her, she would endure the disgrace and never betray the Holy Daughter again.

Just then, the collar around Jiu's neck, which was engraved with a lotus pattern, suddenly grew warm.

The Holy Daughter was summoning her.

She dissolved into a shadow and vanished, reappearing an instant later at Shang Miaoyan's side.

"Your Holiness, what are your orders?"

Jiu bowed to Shang Miaoyan, who still looked pale and whose aura was faint.

Shang Miaoyan shot Jiu a glance.

The suspicion and scrutiny in that look instantly made Jiu's body tense, and a chill ran down her spine.

'Could it be… Her Holiness found out I've been consorting with her personal plaything, Sword Immortal Pei?!'

For a moment, Jiu didn't even dare to breathe.

She was even prepared to be executed.

To conspire with the Holy Daughter's arch-enemy and cause her such humiliation…

Shang Miaoyan wouldn't give her a second chance to live.

Jiu watched helplessly as Shang Miaoyan suddenly raised a hand, hooking a finger under her chin.

She obediently tilted her head up, exposing her long, fair neck. All Shang Miaoyan had to do now was make a single, light stroke, and her head would be off.

'Is this it? Am I really going to die?'

Jiu closed her eyes.

However, the expected pain never came.

Instead, she felt her face suddenly lighten. A rush of cool, fresh air flooded her nostrils.

'My mask… The Holy Daughter took it off?'

"Hmph. You little slut. You've certainly blossomed. It's a waste to hide such a seductive face behind a mask all day."

Shang Miaoyan's cold, displeased voice reached Jiu's ears.

Jiu swallowed, unable to fathom what the Holy Daughter was planning.

Then, she felt her face being covered again.

Her mask had been put back on.

"Jiu."

"…This servant is here."

"Would you like a taste of my dear Xiaohan?"

Shang Miaoyan sat on a block of green stone. She shifted her hips slightly, crossing her long, shapely legs.

Her voice was coquettish, the words she spoke even more suggestive and alluring.

But Jiu only felt a sense of impending doom.

She dropped to her knees in a panic, professing her loyalty.

"This servant wouldn't dare… He is Your Holiness's man. It is not my place to touch him."

"Hmph. You weren't this timid before."

Shang Miaoyan snorted, then rose to her feet and gestured for Jiu to follow.

"Jiu, I have a mission for you."

"And I'm sure… you're going to love it."

...

...

"Qianqian, are you hurt anywhere?"

After they had left Shang Miaoyan, Pei Yuhang took Lin Qianyan's hand and looked at her with concern.

Lin Qianyan shook her head gently, a faint smile playing on her lips.

She squeezed his hand back, her fingertips tracing soothing circles on his palm. Her voice was as gentle as a spring brook.

"Don't worry about me, Brother Pei. I had Shang Miaoyan on the defensive the entire time. I didn't even need to take a restorative elixir."

"Shang Miaoyan's injuries from this fight are far more severe. The Nine Bells Divine Sound Force I left inside her body won't be easy for her to dispel.

"She shouldn't have the confidence to bother you again for a long time, Brother Pei."

Lin Qianyan's voice was filled with pride. For one, she had finally taught Shang Miaoyan a lesson, letting out all her pent-up frustration. For another, she had accomplished the last thing she wanted to do for Brother Pei before she left.

"Qianqian, thank you for your hard work… This fight will definitely affect the relationship between the Yin Yang Sacred Land and the Jade Pool Sacred Land. You're going to be under a lot of pressure."

Lin Qianyan only chuckled at his words. She turned her head, her eyes as clear as ever.

"It doesn't matter. Whatever dirty tricks that Shang Miaoyan woman wants to pull on me, let her. In fact, I'd be glad if she shifted her attention from you to me, Brother Pei."

"All that matters is that you and Sister Liyuan can live peacefully at the Cold Palace Sword Mansion… I have to go now. I'll come find you again as soon as I can."

Lin Qianyan lowered her gaze and slowly released Pei Yuhang's hand.

Pei Yuhang frowned. "You're leaving today? Why didn't you tell me?"

"If I had told you, Brother Pei, you definitely wouldn't have let me come and find Shang Miaoyan.

"I know you would have wanted to spend our last moments together in peace.

"And while that would have been very romantic… I still wanted to clear away any obstacles for you, Brother Pei."

Lin Qianyan's voice was as gentle as water.

Only for Pei Yuhang would she be so unconditionally devoted.

She took Pei Yuhang's hand, pulled out a brand-new silver ring, and placed it in his palm.

Pei Yuhang stared at the word "Lin" engraved on the silver ring, slightly stunned.

"Brother Pei, Shang Miaoyan destroyed the engagement ring I gave you. I'm giving you a new one today, so you have to treasure it, okay?"

As she spoke, Lin Qianyan looked up at Pei Yuhang, a flicker of anticipation in her beautiful eyes.

"Shang Miaoyan said she left her mark on you forever. Can I cover her mark with mine, Brother Pei?"

Pei Yuhang squeezed the ring in his hand and gave her a warm smile.

"Qianqian, you can leave as many marks as you wish."

In the lingering glow of sunset, the two of them found a beautiful, fiery cloud.

With the cloud as their bed and the sky as their blanket,

they boldly untied the jade belts at each other's waists.