Chapter 72 Good Brothers

Lu Ming's appearance at this moment was truly unsightly: his face was pale, his eye sockets were sunken, his hair was messy, and his clothes were disheveled. In particular, the glaring lipstick mark on his collar and the mixed fragrance wafting from his body made Mo Qingzhu feel even more disgust and disdain!

"Lu Ming!" Mo Qingzhu's face was as cold as frost as she said coldly, "Look at what you look like right now!"

Lu Ming, who was immersed in the thought of "going through fire and water for a brother" and feeling both angry and furious at the shopkeeper, was jolted by Mo Qingzhu's sudden shout. He was so scared that he shuddered, hurriedly straightened his body, and subconsciously wanted to tidy up his robes, but only ended up looking even more flustered.

"Qing... Qingzhu... listen to my explanation..." Looking at Mo Qingzhu slowly walking towards him, Lu Ming spoke in a panic, wanting to defend himself, but he didn't know where to start.

"Explanation?" Mo Qingzhu sneered, stepping closer, her gaze sweeping over Lu Ming's entire body like a blade, "Explain why you would sleep with that kind of woman? Explain where this filthy Qi on you comes from? Explain what is going on with this ghostly appearance of yours, looking like you've been hollowed out?"

With every question she asked, her voice rose a notch, and the disgust and disdain in her eyes deepened a layer.

"I... I didn't... I was doing it for..." Lu Ming was sweating profusely from anxiety, subconsciously wanting to look to Xiao Ming for help, but found it difficult to speak.

"For what? For pleasure-seeking? For self-degradation?" Mo Qingzhu didn't give him a chance to explain at all, or rather, she didn't care about his explanation at all. She just happened to need such an opportunity, an excuse to move to Holy Son Peak in a legitimate way.

"Lu Ming, I really misjudged you!" Mo Qingzhu's face revealed an expression of extreme disappointment and dejection at the right moment, "I originally thought that since you came from a major Family, even if your talent was a bit lacking, at least your character would be upright! I didn't expect you to be so unbearable!"

"Qingzhu! It's not like that! You listen to my explanation!" Lu Ming's heart panicked, and he wanted to step forward to grab Mo Qingzhu's hand.

"Don't touch me!" Mo Qingzhu stepped back abruptly, as if avoiding a plague, then she nervously glanced at Xiao Ming. Seeing that he had no reaction, she said with cold eyes, "I don't want to see you recently! Whenever I see you, I feel disgusted!"

After she finished speaking, as if she found it unbearable to look at him for even one more second, she turned around abruptly. No longer looking at the pale and teetering Lu Ming, she continued, "During this time, I want to move to Holy Son Peak to have some peace and quiet! I don't want to see you, and I don't want to hear any of your explanations!"

Mo Qingzhu took a deep breath, as if she wanted to exhale all the anger and disgust inside her with this breath. When she raised her eyes again and turned her gaze to Xiao Ming, the frost on her face melted and receded at a speed visible to the naked eye, like snow under the warm spring sun.

"Holy Son Xiao, I've made a fool of myself in front of you." Mo Qingzhu's voice carried a hint of just the right amount of exhaustion and apology, but even more so, the softness that would only be revealed to someone she admired, even hiding a few traces of imperceptible love. In her eyes as she looked at Xiao Ming, there seemed to be twinkling starlight, glistening and radiant, a completely different person from the cold disgust she showed Lu Ming just moments ago.

She took another small step forward, closer to Xiao Ming, then tilted her head slightly, her long eyelashes trembling gently, and she winked playfully at Xiao Ming.

This action was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, sending ripples between the two that only they could understand.

Afterward, Mo Qingzhu paused, her eyes filled with tenderness as she looked straight at Xiao Ming. Her tone became soft and gentle, carrying undisguised anticipation, "I wonder if Qingzhu has the blessing to go to Holy Son Peak and bother the Saint for a few days, so that I may borrow your precious land to find some peace and quiet and smooth out my heart's Qi?"

Xiao Ming took in her performance, laughing inwardly: 'Good grief, this little girl! Just a moment ago she was cold as frost, scolding and cursing, and in the blink of an eye, she's all tender and affectionate with me? A proper drama queen, a movie star! But to think she dares to tease this Saint? I must go back and give her some stick education!' Xiao Ming had his plan set, but on the surface, he remained calm, showing a gentle expression of "I understand your difficulties" at the right moment. He secretly glanced at Lu Ming, who was still lost in thought on the side and completely unaware of Mo Qingzhu's little actions, then shifted his gaze back, his tone carrying a hint of just the right amount of understanding and agreement:

"Senior Sister Qingzhu, you are too serious. Today's events are indeed unpleasant. It is only reasonable that Senior Sister wants to find a quiet place to temporarily avoid the trouble." His voice was steady, like a fair and understanding superior, though... he was indeed quite good at understanding people's clothes.

Upon hearing this, the joy in Mo Qingzhu's eyes could not be hidden, and the coldness on her face was replaced by a charming smile, as if all the gloom had dispersed. She gave a graceful bow to Xiao Ming, her posture beautiful, and her voice crisp and pleasant: "In that case, Qingzhu thanks the Saint for his consideration and hospitality. The Saint's kindness will be kept in Qingzhu's heart, and I will definitely 'repay you well'." She paused deliberately on the words "repay you well," and the deep meaning contained within, of course, was only understood between the two of them.

Of course, throughout this whole process, our cuckold Lu Ming didn't say a word, looking as if he had lost his soul.

After the salute, Mo Qingzhu no longer had any lingering attachment, not even glancing at the limp Lu Ming on the ground again. She turned and walked out of the Magic Treasure Pavilion. Her steps were light, her skirt slightly lifted, revealing a sense of lightness as if she had broken free from shackles.

Not until Mo Qingzhu's figure disappeared in front of the Magic Treasure Pavilion did Xiao Ming slowly withdraw his gaze. The gentle and steady expression on his face slightly faded, turning into a seemingly helpless sigh. He walked to Lu Ming, who was still sitting on the ground with a deathly gray face, leaned over, reached out and gently patted Lu Ming's shoulder, his tone full of sincerity and comfort:

"Brother Lu, Brother Lu! Pull yourself together!"

Lu Ming then raised his head blankly, his eyes hollow.

Xiao Ming's face was filled with "empathetic" sympathy. He lowered his voice and said as if speaking from the heart: "Senior Sister Qingzhu is currently in the heat of anger, so her words were a bit harsh. But women, you know, are delicate and sensitive. Seeing that kind of scene so suddenly, it's inevitable. Brother Lu, you... sigh, although there was a reason for this, in the end, it did hurt her."

Lu Ming's lips trembled, tears welled up in his eyes, feeling both aggrieved and confused.

Xiao Ming continued, his tone becoming more and more earnest: "However, Brother Lu, please rest assured. Senior Sister Qingzhu going to my Holy Son Peak might not be a bad thing. It's quiet on the peak, which is just the right place for her to slowly calm her anger and cool down. I will also speak up for you on the side and persuade her properly. I will definitely 'sleep' her into submission and let her understand your... helplessness today, Brother Lu. Once her anger dissipates, you will naturally be able to reconcile as before."

His words were spoken with true sincerity, as if he was genuinely planning for Lu Ming. The true feelings in his words were truly moving!

'Isn't it just 'sleeping' her into submission? Brother Lu! As long as this Saint makes a small move, your happiness will return to you. Rest assured!'

Listening to these "heartfelt words" from Xiao Ming, and thinking about the humiliation he had endured today, wasn't it all for the sake of brotherly friendship and to perform in front of Xiao Ming? Although he had lost Qingzhu's trust for now, it was only temporary!

Thinking of this, Lu Ming's mood suddenly wasn't as heavy. He grabbed Xiao Ming's hand as if grabbing a life-saving straw, and said with a choked voice: "Brother Xiao! Great kindness needs no thanks! Qingzhu... Qingzhu will be entrusted to your care for this period! Please, you must... you must put in a good word for me! I... I really... don't know how to thank you, Brother Xiao!"

"Rest assured, Brother Lu!" Xiao Ming broke free from Lu Ming's grip on his hand without a trace, his eyes "firm" as he said: "You and I are brothers, why say these things? Since I have promised you, I will do my best. You should go back first, take a good bath and rest, and don't do anything else that makes Qingzhu unhappy. Leave everything to me!"

"Good... Good! With those words from Brother Xiao, I can rest easy!" Lu Ming's hope was rekindled in his heart. He struggled to stand up. Although he was still disheveled, his spirit seemed to have recovered a bit. He bowed deeply to Xiao Ming, "Great kindness needs no thanks. In the future, whenever Brother Xiao has any needs, Lu Ming will not refuse even if it means death!"

Watching Lu Ming leave, full of gratitude and expectation, looking back every few steps, the earnest and comforting expression on Xiao Ming's face slowly disappeared, replaced by an inexplicable smile. He gently brushed off his cuff that had just been grabbed by Lu Ming, and with a playful look on his face, slowly left the Magic Treasure Pavilion.