Chapter 249 - 247: Mistreating Him is a Momentary Thrill, Winning Him Back is the Crematorium

Chapter 249: Chapter 247: Mistreating Him is a Momentary Thrill, Winning Him Back is the Crematorium

On this day, atop Jiejian Mountain, the female disciples looked up to see a streak of light burst forth from the mountain gate.

"That’s strange. The Sect Leader just returned to go into seclusion. Why is she coming out again?" a female disciple asked in confusion.

"She’s heading toward the Imperial Capital. I think it must be about that recent business with Fang Can," another disciple guessed.

One disciple complained, "Hey, don’t you think the Sect Leader has been a bit too concerned with this Fang Can lately? He’s a man, after all."

"Exactly! I even heard some gossip down at the foot of the mountain. The rumor is that the Sect Leader has taken a liking to Fang Can and plans to take him as her cultivation cauldron and lock him in her basement."

"If this goes on, it’ll tarnish Jiejian Mountain’s reputation, won’t it? It’s not like we’re those people from the Suxin Priory."

The female disciples whispered among themselves, but a senior disciple soon laughed. "Haha, what you hear on the grapevine isn’t always a baseless rumor. I heard that Fang Can is devastatingly handsome. The Sect Leader has toiled for our sect for so long—what’s wrong with her enjoying herself with him a little?"

"Are you insane?! You can’t say things like that!"

"And why not?"

"I have a portrait of Fang Can right here. It was drawn by a senior disciple who saw him at the grand tournament. They say it doesn’t even do him one-ten-thousandth of justice. Is it really so strange that the Sect Leader would fall for him?"

"Why would a senior disciple draw a portrait of Fang Can?"

"Never you mind that. Do you want to see it or not?" As she spoke, the senior disciple slowly unrolled the scroll in her hands.

What followed was a series of sharp, astonished gasps.

After a long silence, several of the disciples thought, ’When the Sect Leader is finished with him... can we have the leftovers?’

Immediately, a junior disciple said sweetly, "Senior Sister, is this painting for sale? I’d like to collect some fine art to display in my room."

"This... ’erect-work’ of yours... Is it decent?"

...

「Meanwhile, let’s not dwell on the group of girls here, all yearning for worldly pleasures.」

The scenery was perfect, and with no one around to disturb him, Fang Can was just about to begin his cultivation when a streak of blue light shot into the room.

’Elder Xiaoliu...’

But upon seeing the blue hair, a smile subconsciously touched Fang Can’s lips, as he thought he was seeing Liu Qingmeng’s incarnation.

But he quickly remembered that Liu Qingmeng was back in the mortal world; there was no way she could have followed him here.

Sure enough, when he focused his gaze, he saw her: an exquisitely beautiful woman with a waterfall of blue hair and skin as radiant as crystal, her mere presence filling the dim room with fragrance. She stood before him—the real Liu Qingmeng.

And in the next instant, the smile on his lips vanished.

He looked at the stunning woman with eyes as placid as a still well, rose with utter calmness, and clasped his hands. "Elder Liu, what matter brings you to me?"

’What kind of look is that! Am I that repulsive?’ Liu Qingmeng was so furious she nearly passed out.

The moment she entered, she’d seen his expression change. Was she truly that repulsive to him?

Not to mention, it wasn’t long ago that Fang Can had slept with her three times. And now he was giving her this look...

Midway through her thought, Liu Qingmeng’s expression stiffened.

’Wait, his reaction actually makes sense, doesn’t it?’

She had deleted his memories of that time. What special relationship did they have now? On what grounds should he be expected to smile when he saw her?

For a moment, swept up in the force of her affection, a sliver of regret subconsciously surfaced in her heart.

"Elder Liu?" Seeing the young woman in a daze, Fang Can raised his voice ever so slightly.

Liu Qingmeng immediately snapped out of it. Suppressing the turbulent emotions in her heart, she said, "I’ve come for my incarnation."

’Just as I thought.’ Fang Can understood.

He still didn’t know that the incarnation had sent its memories back to the original. He assumed Liu Qingmeng had simply been neglecting the matter and had come to ask what he had done with her.

Liu Qingmeng, on the other hand, didn’t know that Fang Can actually retained the memory of them sleeping together. She assumed he was oblivious to the embarrassing events that had transpired.

And so, a peculiar misunderstanding arose between them.

"Elder Liu, you’ve come at the perfect time," Fang Can said in a tone of utmost respect. "I implore you to spare Elder Xiaoliu’s life."

"You know she is my incarnation, yet you insist on this?"

Liu Qingmeng said icily, "Do you think I would allow my incarnation to run wild out in the world? Especially with you?"

Fang Can’s tone was neither humble nor arrogant. "Therefore, I ask you to grant my request, Elder Liu. I am willing to pay the price."

"Are you threatening me?"

Liu Qingmeng laughed, but it was a laugh born of anger. "If I refuse, does that mean you’ll back out of the upcoming Sixth Turn secret realm?"

"Of course not. I know I am in your debt regarding this matter, so I will understand whatever you decide. Besides, I would never go back on a promise I’ve made to you."

Fang Can’s tone was sincere. He knew, of course, that he was in the wrong here.

Never mind Liu Qingmeng; even Fang Can himself would never tolerate one of his own sentient avatars running amok.

After all, "avatar subplots" were always a narrative poison pill; even Fang Can himself couldn’t stand them.

But understanding Liu Qingmeng’s position didn’t mean he wouldn’t protect Xiaoliu.

"And if I refuse?"

"Then I will continue to hide Elder Xiaoliu until the day you agree."

In the next instant, a sword was at Fang Can’s throat. Liu Qingmeng said coldly, "And what if I say the price is your life?"

His sense of danger spiked a thousandfold in an instant, and Fang Can knew she was serious. Her killing intent was real.

Looking up impassively, Fang Can stated a simple fact. "Do you take me for a fool, Elder? If you make a move, I will not simply offer my neck to be slain."

"You would raise your hand against me for the sake of an incarnation." Liu Qingmeng felt a dull ache in her heart, and the hand gripping her sword whitened from the pressure.

The incarnation’s emotions began flooding her mind. Seeing the blade pressed against Fang Can’s throat, she felt an urge to lower her sword.

"It’s not for the incarnation. It’s for myself."

Fang Can said coolly, "No one can take my life. Even if it were Ning An, Qing Shi, or Elder Xiaoliu herself trying to kill me, I would fight back all the same."

There was one thing Fang Can didn’t say.

He was certain that Liu Qingmeng couldn’t kill him, even if she went all out. But to say so would have been an unnecessary provocation.

As the atmosphere in the room grew tense, Liu Qingmeng subconsciously wondered, ’If my incarnation were here, what would she be thinking right now?’

’If it were my incarnation, she’d definitely be thinking that Fang Can must be hurt by my actions. She’d use this as a chance to rush over, hug him, comfort him... and then viciously badmouth me.’

Thinking about what her incarnation would do, Liu Qingmeng internally cursed her for being so shameless.

Meanwhile, Fang Can stared at the sharp blade before him and thought to himself:

’So it’s true. The incarnation and the original are completely different. Elder Xiaoliu is just Elder Xiaoliu, and no one else.’

’Elder Xiaoliu would never be able to bring herself to press a sword to my throat. She’d probably be hugging and comforting me right now, then viciously badmouthing her original self.’

At this thought, Fang Can prepared for battle. His hands shifted into the stance for the Orchid Brushing Acupoint Hand, and his AT Field was ready to deploy and envelop Liu Qingmeng at a moment’s notice.

But to his astonishment, Liu Qingmeng withdrew her sword.

Staring at Fang Can with a complex gaze, Liu Qingmeng said coldly, "Survive the Fourth Turn experts from the various nations first. Then you can try playing the hero. I’m taking Jiang Ning’an."

Jiang Ning’an: Wait, what???