Chapter 8

Under the guidance of the steward of the Hou residence, Mo Xian and Lüru entered through a side door. The two kept their heads low, and Lüru held a pot of flowers, the buds about to bloom, which were precisely the Flame Orchids.

Passing servants glanced at them with disdain. These two people appeared timid and inexperienced, Lüru’s hair was carelessly tied up, not clean, and loose strands fell over half her face. Moreover, her hair was dusty, her face covered in wind and dust, and her clothes were a straight tube, completely failing to show off her graceful figure. There were even a few patches, causing people to instinctively look away.

Mo Xian meekly followed behind the steward. Unbeknownst to the steward, his ears were subtly moving, and his senses were fully engaged.

As they passed, he noted the personnel arrangements, especially those who posed a threat to him, all of which he memorized.

Mo Xian had never been to the Hou residence before and was unfamiliar with its layout. In his perception, he especially sensed the aura of killing, almost every twenty to thirty steps.

He was secretly alarmed. Upon entering the Hou residence, he had only hidden a dagger on his person, not daring to bring any other weapons, fortunately, the Hou residence did not conduct a body search.

He assumed this was the normal situation in the Hou residence and began to think about how to speak to Lady Lvyi.

"Miss Lvyi, the people have been brought over, and the Flame Orchid is also here," the steward bowed at the steps of a side hall.

"Let them in!" a voice came from inside, and Mo Xian's heart stirred; it was indeed Lvyi's voice, and Lüru's body trembled.

The steward, not noticing, bowed again and retreated. The pearl curtain on the steps rustled, and the sound of jade pendants rang as a maid came out and led the two into the room.

Mo Xian and Lüru knelt and bowed, "Greetings, Noble Lady!"

Upon hearing their voices, Lvyi's body trembled, and she could not help but look at them. Her eyes showed sorrow, "Rise, and be seated!"

A maid brought over embroidered stools, and the two thanked her and sat down. The pot of Flame Orchid was taken by the maid and placed on the table.

"Leave us," Lvyi said to the four maids.

"Lady Lvyi, you are the Lord's chosen wife; this might not be appropriate!" one maid said.

Lvyi's face darkened, "What are you saying? Even if Baili Cong were here, I would still say the same. Out with you!"

Her authority was naturally imposing, her gentleness carrying an irresistible dignity. In an instant, it seemed as if she were the only one in the room, like the sun, shining brightly. No one noticed that the Flame Orchid on the table seemed to have bloomed a bit more.

Mo Xian did not expect that a woman of such beauty could, in an instant, exude an imperial dignity, even he was stunned by her aura.

The four maids, not expecting Lvyi to have such authority, were intimidated, their faces turning pale, and they retreated, only realizing they had unconsciously obeyed Lvyi's command once they were outside the door.

After the four maids left, Lvyi slumped into her chair, her face pale. Lüru softly exclaimed, "Sister, are you alright?"

The oppressive aura in the room dissipated like a receding tide, and Mo Xian noticed that something was wrong with Lvyi.

"I have been sealed by Baili Cong's people using a Spirit Sealing Spell. Just now, I forced the use of my power, which only produced a slight pressure. If I hadn't been sealed, I could have controlled them."

"Sister, what happened?"

Lvyi composed herself and briefly recounted the events, emphasizing that after being captured, Lord Zheng, Baili Cong, was stunned by her beauty. After his subordinates sealed her cultivation, he intended to take her as his wife. However, due to the mourning period, she was currently under surveillance in the Hou residence. She wanted the Flame Orchid to use an illusion spell to break the seal and escape. After all, the Flame Orchid could only be used by the Heavenly Fox clan, a secret of their race.

"Sister, how did you end up with Mo Xian?"

Lüru briefly explained the events and said, "Sister, your cultivation is sealed; let me see if I can unseal it."

Lvyi nodded, "Alright, this Spirit Sealing Spell is very peculiar, it seems to be a secret technique of the Buddhist sect."

"Buddhist secret technique, Sister, I found a book called the 'Muni Three Discs Sutra' at Brother Mo's place, which contains the techniques of the Buddhist sect. Let me try." Lüru closed her eyes and focused, forming the Muni Buddha Eye Seal, and an invisible light shone on Lvyi.

Mo Xian did not pay attention to the hand seal; he retreated to the side, his senses fully engaged in perceiving the movements outside the hall. From the subtle sounds, Mo Xian knew that many people were gathering, and he sensed several powerful auras among them.

Seeing Lüru remain motionless, Mo Xian was secretly anxious. He was not rash; otherwise, he would not have survived this long. Although he did not understand much about magic, he knew that Lüru should use a spell to unseal Lvyi's Spirit Sealing Spell.

"It won't work, Sister, I can't unseal it." Suddenly, a visible ripple appeared between Lvyi and Lüru, and their bodies swayed. Lüru took two steps back, her clothes swelling, and she said dejectedly.

"Lvyi, I have bestowed you the title of wife, and you dare to do these things behind my back!" Baili Cong strode into the hall, surrounded by a group of experts.

Mo Xian stood to the side, seemingly unimportant, and Baili Cong ignored him, his eyes fixed on the Lvyi sisters.

"Sister, you must go, I will hold them off!" Lüru pushed Lvyi. Lüru, being naive, saw the world's nobles and commoners as not much different.

One could not say her thinking was wrong, but in the Hou residence, especially in the residence of a feudal lord, there were many extraordinary people and martial artists.

"So, this is your sister Lüru. I didn't recognize you with your disguise. Since you're here, why not stay and enjoy the comforts of the Hou residence with your sister." Baili Cong laughed heartily.

Lüru had already formed the seal, and the Evil Extermination Seal emerged. With a chant, a green light shot from her hand, transforming into a half-dragon, half-snake creature that opened its mouth and lunged at Baili Cong.

Baili Cong laughed, "What a fierce spirit, I like it!"

He formed a seal, the Hell Suppressing Seal, and immediately suppressed Lüru's half-dragon, half-snake creature. Lüru had only practiced the Evil Extermination Spell for one night, and although she had a foundation, it was still too short. The creature let out a mournful cry and dissipated.

Lüru's face turned pale, and Baili Cong laughed triumphantly. At that moment, Mo Xian made his move.

Mo Xian chose the perfect moment. No one paid attention to this seemingly shabby man, and he was instinctively overlooked, a trait of his as a killer.

Just as Baili Cong burst into laughter, Mo Xian leaped like a monkey climbing a tree, his hands slicing through the air, and his feet kicked out. Baili Cong's laughter was cut short, and he retreated, roaring, "How dare you!"

His power flowed, about to erupt, but Mo Xian moved like a shadow, landing and delivering a punch.

With a "thud," Baili Cong was hit. Fortunately, he had already formed the seal, transforming into the Great Black Heaven Vajra. Even so, his insides churned, and he was temporarily unable to act.

"Lord!" the people around him exclaimed, and several swords and knives swung at Mo Xian. Mo Xian retreated, reaching into his robe for his dagger. Though short, he used a sword technique to deflect the weapons.

He shouted, "Quick, go!" The dagger in his hand suddenly burst into a bright light, and in a critical moment, he used the Sun Sword again. He had already decided not to use such a life-draining technique, but in this emergency, he had no choice. The loss of a few years of life was better than losing his life altogether. Mo Xian did not hesitate and unleashed the Sun Sword, which drained all the life he had painstakingly regained.

"Sun Sword! He is the Explosive Ghost Mo Xian, don't let him escape!" a voice called out in the bright light. To Mo Xian, the voice was unfamiliar, but he knew it must be one of the Thirty-Six Ghosts. Outsiders would not know he was the Explosive Ghost, at most calling him the Broken Sword Mo Xian.

Could Baili Cong also be a member of the Yama Hall? This thought sprang to mind and grew wildly. If Baili Cong was a member of the Yama Hall, and a high-ranking one, everything would make sense.

The bright light had not yet dissipated when a faint fragrance suddenly intensified. He saw Lüru smiling at him, and he realized how beautiful she was, as if everything else became unimportant. Lüru was right there, smiling, and she threw herself into his arms, closing her eyes, tilting her head, and her red lips were so inviting. He could not resist leaning down to kiss her.

I cannot defile Miss Lüru. I am a killer, with only about ten years left to live. I cannot give her happiness, I cannot do this!

With this thought, he regained his senses. He was still in the hall, but Baili Cong and his subordinates were in a state of disarray. Some were gnawing on chairs, others on pillars, and Baili Cong himself was hugging one of his subordinates.

What is happening? Mo Xian, now clear-headed, looked at the Lvyi sisters, who also looked at him, surprised but said nothing, only whispering, "I used an illusion to control them. Let's take this opportunity to get rid of them!"

Just as she said this, they heard voices outside the hall, the sound of hurried footsteps approaching. Mo Xian heard that a few of them, though quick, landed their steps steadily and evenly.

"Bad, let's go!" Mo Xian grabbed Lüru, and the three quietly slipped out the back of the hall. Mo Xian did not notice that the Flame Orchid on the table was now in full bloom, its fragrance permeating the air.

The Flame Orchid, also known as the Illusion Orchid, was a secret of the Heavenly Fox clan, used specifically for their illusion spells. No one outside the clan knew this.

Exiting the back of the hall, they did not go far when Mo Xian stopped, for a figure blocked their path. It was a vague shadow, the Shadowless Ghost.