348: Chapter 128 New Achievements

After a stick of incense had burned, Meng Li met with Wang Yuyan and Li Qingluo.

The two walked side-by-side, hand-in-hand, their relationship appearing closer than before, much like the "besties" from Meng Li's memories of his first life.

This piqued Meng Li's curiosity greatly.

"What were you two just chatting about?" he asked.

Wang Yuyan glanced at him and said teasingly, "It's women's business; don't meddle."

Li Qingluo was equally vague. "Nothing much, just some private talk."

Seeing this, Meng Li knew he wouldn't get an answer and didn't press further.

In any case, them getting along harmoniously was a good thing for him.

However, over the next few days, Meng Li increasingly felt that something was amiss.

Wang Yuyan began discussing something behind his back with A Zhu, A Bi, and A Zi. Whenever he tried to investigate, they all remained tight-lipped.

Meng Li had a bad premonition and planned to take action.

One day, while discussing "debt issues" with Li Qingluo, he seized the opportunity to probe for the source.

"Be honest, what did you and Yu Yan talk about that day?"

Li Qingluo hummed, "Nothing, just some private talk."

Meng Li narrowed his eyes, skillfully gripping her vital spot, and pressed, "What kind of private talk?"

Li Qingluo gave him a resentful look, saying with a hint of sorrow, "All you know is how to mistreat me!"

Meng Li ignored her and continued his methods.

Unable to bear it, Li Qingluo had to beg for mercy. "I'll tell you, I'll tell you."

Only then did Meng Li stop.

Then, Li Qingluo said on the verge of tears, "She told me to keep letting you mistreat me."

"And what else?"

"I have to listen to her from now on."

Meng Li: "..."

This was a bit of a reversal of the natural order.

"Anything else?" he continued to ask.

Li Qingluo said, "She also told me to watch over you, so you don't go out and rack up romantic debts like that man surnamed Duan."

"Is that all?"

Leaning into Meng Li's embrace, Li Qingluo took a deep breath and whispered, "She also wants to find an opportunity to mistreat me together with you."

After saying this, her face turned so red it looked like it could bleed at any moment, yet her expression betrayed excitement and even a hint of anticipation.

Noticing this, Meng Li couldn't help but chuckle and scold her softly, "You're actually looking forward to it, you slut!"

Having long since lost all inhibitions before him, Li Qingluo replied wantonly, "That's right, I am a slut. Go ahead and mistreat me. The more you do, the more I like it. For now, it's just you; later, it'll be you and her together."

With that, she leaned into his ear and murmured the same form of address Wang Yuyan had used when she surrendered.

Meng Li felt a surge of heat, but he suppressed his impulse and continued asking, "Has Yu Yan discussed anything else with you these past few days?"

"No," Li Qingluo replied, her eyes glazed.

"Really?"

"Really," Li Qingluo affirmed, then took the initiative to return to the main topic.

Seeing this, Meng Li said no more, but he planned to ask the others later.

...

That night, he questioned A Zi and A Bi in the same manner, but only received two words in response—a surprise!

They said Wang Yuyan was preparing a surprise for him.

As for what it specifically was, the two refused to say.

This made Meng Li even more curious, but he didn't press further.

It wasn't until a few days later that the mystery was revealed.

That night, Meng Li had been drinking.

Using the smell of alcohol as an excuse, Wang Yuyan told him to go to the bathhouse to bathe.

Just as Meng Li entered the pool, he noticed someone approaching—more than one person.

Then, the door was pushed open, and Wang Yuyan entered carrying a tray.

After setting down the tray, she undressed and entered the water. Dodging Meng Li's hand, she giggled, "Husband, you said just now that you'd listen to me tonight."

"Fine," Meng Li agreed.

He had indeed said that while drinking earlier.

With that, he suppressed his urges and waited to see what would happen.

Wang Yuyan turned around, took a black silk scarf from the tray, and blindfolded Meng Li.

Then, she pressed her lips against his...

Meng Li let her do as she pleased. When she had her fill and he wanted to respond, he was stopped.

"Husband, this is just the beginning. Don't be in such a hurry."

Having said that, Wang Yuyan lightly clapped her hands.

The door was pushed open, and more people entered.

As for who they specifically were, Meng Li couldn't be sure for the moment because he was blindfolded.

But soon, he found out...

The fish and dragon danced all night, not ceasing until dawn.

Meng Li gained a new achievement: One vs. Nine.

...

On the other side, after Jiumozhi and Duan Yanqing brought Duan Yu to Dali, they did not head to Qingxu Temple immediately.

To be safe, the two first went to the poorly guarded Wanjian Valley to settle down.

Afterwards, Duan Yanqing stayed behind to guard Duan Yu, while Jiumozhi went to Qingxu Temple to capture Dao Baifeng.

As the place where Dao Baifeng practiced her quiet cultivation, Qingxu Temple originally had few guards because she disliked them. However, since Duan Yu's ascension and Dao Baifeng's promotion to Empress Dowager of Dali, many guards had been added nearby, even if she didn't like it.

However, those guards' Martial Arts were mediocre and posed no obstacle to Jiumozhi.

Jiumozhi used Duan Yu's safety to trick Dao Baifeng into appearing, then captured her without a word and fled.

The guards couldn't catch up and could only send someone to report the news.

The capture of the Empress Dowager was no small matter. Gao Shengtài, who was handling state affairs on behalf of the emperor, soon received the news. He was greatly shocked and immediately sent people to search while personally leading a group to Tianlong Temple to inform Duan Zhengming, who had already become a monk.

Because he couldn't make the decision on this matter.

First, Dao Baifeng was the Empress Dowager.

Second, based on the guards' descriptions, he guessed Jiumozhi's identity and knew he was powerless against such a master.

However, when Gao Shengtài arrived at Tianlong Temple, he learned that Duan Zhengming was in secluded meditation.

In desperation, he could only seek an audience with Ku Rong Monk, only to be told, "All is karmic affinity; let all things be decided by destiny. There is no need for concern."

Gao Shengtài was speechless.

Then, remembering that they hadn't cared much when Duan Yu was captured previously either, he felt relieved.

Then, Gao Shengtài left Tianlong Temple and followed standard procedures, intensifying the search while sending word to Duan Yu, all while continuing to handle state affairs.

But because of Jiumozhi's intentional misdirection and the "darkness under the lamp" effect, the search party did not find their way to Wanjian Valley.

After Jiumozhi brought Dao Baifeng back to Wanjian Valley, he successfully rendezvoused with Duan Yanqing.

Dao Baifeng was deeply shaken upon seeing Duan Yanqing.

Duan Yanqing noticed this but assumed she was just frightened. Ignoring it, he had her meet with the imprisoned Duan Yu through the door.

"Yu'er!"

"Mother!"

Just as the two were emotional, Duan Yanqing struck Dao Baifeng's shoulder with a One-Yang Finger, causing her to cry out in pain.

Duan Yu's expression changed, but before he could flare up in anger, he heard Duan Yanqing say sinisterly, "Boy, have you made up your mind?"

"If you don't cooperate obediently, your mother is going to suffer greatly."