40: Chapter 40 Xiao Chen Coughs Up Blood and the Arrogant Young Master Gu

"Pfft!"

Ancient Sword Emperor Xiao Chen's face turned as pale as paper. His body lurched forward, and a large mouthful of crimson blood, mixed with fragments of his internal organs, gushed out, splattering in tiny droplets onto the dusty stone steps outside the threshold.

He fell to one knee, his straw sandals scraping against the stone steps with a harsh sound.

With a hand that was bony and spasming from pain, he clutched his chest tightly, feeling as if thousands of steel needles were piercing his Sea of Consciousness all at once.

"This... this is impossible!"

Ancient Sword Emperor Xiao Chen roared desperately in his heart. That was a wisp of Ancient Origin Sword Intent he had activated by burning his Soul blood! In this Middle Province during the Age of Dharma Decline, how could anyone crush him so nonchalantly at the level of Law?

He lifted his head with difficulty, his bloodshot eyes peering through the layers of people in the main hall, staring fixedly at Gu Yi in the central private seat.

The Xuantian Sect Chief Disciple, dressed in moon-white Dharma robes, remained seated in the same posture. He did not even cast a glance in this direction, only speaking softly to the cold, aloof female Cultivator beside him with a gentle smile.

The other Cultivators in the hall had now recovered from the oppressive incident that had just occurred.

These Loose Cultivators and True Disciples from various Sects had not understood the fleeting clash of Laws that had just taken place on a spiritual level.

From their perspective, this ragged, impoverished Sword Cultivator had tried to put on a show in public, but not only failed to attract the attention of that peerless icy Fairy, he had instead suffered a backlash from forcibly activating some low-class Cultivation Technique, spitting blood and making a fool of himself on the spot.

"Yo, what's wrong? Weren't you acting quite tough just a moment ago? Why are you lying on the ground spitting blood now?"

The True Disciple from the Sword Sect who had mocked him earlier saw Ancient Sword Emperor Xiao Chen's sorry state, and the sneer on his face deepened. He feigned surprise, tapped his folding fan, and raised his voice.

"Could it be that you realized you disturbed Xuantian Sect's Chief Disciple Gu and Fairy Mu just now, and were so scared you suffered Qi Deviation?"

These words immediately drew a burst of uproarious laughter from those around them.

"I could tell early on that this kid had a weird vibe. With that pathetic bit of spiritual energy fluctuation, he dares to try and release pressure? He doesn't even look at what kind of god-like figures are sitting in Tingjian Pavilion today."

"Exactly! It's just that Young Master Gu has a good temper and is gentle and polite. If it were someone with a hot temper, given his rude behavior toward Fairy Mu just now, they would have already had him thrown into the Sword River outside the city to feed the fish!"

"Does such a clown even deserve to carry a sword? It truly stains this land beneath the Sword Sect."

The sycophantic Cultivators around them, in order to gain favor in front of the Xuantian Sect Chief Disciple, poured all their malice and sarcasm onto Ancient Sword Emperor Xiao Chen without mercy.

Every mocking word was like a poisoned blade, ruthlessly stabbing into Ancient Sword Emperor Xiao Chen's riddled self-esteem.

Ancient Sword Emperor Xiao Chen gritted his teeth so hard that blood seeped from his gums, staining his lips crimson. He used the last of his strength to push himself up, taking one deep look at the young figure surrounded by stars in the private seat, as if trying to carve Gu Yi's appearance into the depths of his Soul.

"Gu Yi... Xuantian Sect..."

He silently chewed on these two names in his heart, the madness and resentment in his eyes almost solidifying into reality.

"When this Emperor enters the core of the Sword Tomb, retrieves the peerless Sword Bone from my past life, and reshapes my supreme Dao foundation... I will return today's humiliation tenfold in the future!"

Ancient Sword Emperor Xiao Chen did not make any further meaningless arguments. Dragging his heavily injured and tottering body, he turned around and limped through the crowd of onlookers outside, disappearing like a stray dog at the end of the bustling and noisy streets of Sword King City.

"Junior Brother Gu, did that person's aura disturb you just now?"

Senior Sister Mu Qingxue keenly caught the shift in Gu Yi's gaze. A trace of coldness flashed in her cold, clear Phoenix eyes, and her right hand rested on the hilt of her sword again.

"Just an arrogant fool who doesn't know his place. If he bothers you, Junior Brother, I will go and slay him right now."

In Senior Sister Mu Qingxue's simple Sword Dao logic, any existence that dared to provoke or displease Gu Yi would only have one fate: to be slain by a single sword strike.

Hearing this, Gu Yi felt a warmth in his heart, but was also somewhat amused. His pure Sword Cultivator Senior Sister, who possessed the Extreme Yin Sword Body, was even more like a villain than he was when it came to being protective.

If he really let her go and hack the guy to death right now, where would he go to fleece that peerless Sword Bone?

"Senior Sister, do not be angry. It is not worth dirtying your sword for such a person."

Gu Yi reached out and gently covered the back of Senior Sister Mu Qingxue's hand, which was gripping the sword. The warmth of his palm passed through the thin silk, instantly smoothing away the coldness around Senior Sister Mu Qingxue.

"After all, this is Sword King City, where various Sects are mixed together. Since we have just arrived, it is better to avoid causing trouble. Besides, it was just a few barks from a dog; I haven't taken them to heart."

Gu Yi comforted her gently, his tone carrying a sense of reassuring composure.

Feeling the temperature on the back of her hand, the frost in Senior Sister Mu Qingxue's eyes completely melted. She obediently released the sword hilt and held Gu Yi's fingers in return.

"Xuantian Sect Chief Disciple Gu, you truly live up to your reputation."

On the soft couch opposite, Liu Qingwan put down the emerald green wine gourd in her hand, her peach-blossom eyes narrowing slightly, her cheeks flushed with a tipsy redness, wearing a look of playfulness.

Just at this moment. Gu Yi suddenly felt that beneath the layers of golden silk table cloths in the private seat, a bare, delicate, and soft jade foot was silently and slowly hooking upward along his calf, with a hint of flirtation.

The hand Gu Yi used to hold the teacup paused imperceptibly. He raised his eyes without changing his expression, meeting the smiling, peach-blossom eyes of Liu Qingwan on the soft couch opposite.

This female Elder, who was usually aloof in the Sect and did not even put the Sect Master in her eyes, was now resting her chin on her hand, looking at him with hazy eyes, as if the jade foot causing trouble under the table was not hers at all.

Clearly, the previous exchange of asking for wine as peers on the flying ship's deck had completely stripped away Liu Qingwan's Elder airs. Now, under the influence of the slight intoxication, the wantonness and lack of restraint hidden beneath her "carefree" facade began to be revealed secretly.

Senior Sister Mu Qingxue and Junior Sister Lin Wanying, who were sitting beside Gu Yi, were completely unaware of the undercurrents beneath the table; one was pure-minded and only focused on watching Gu Yi, while the other was curiously observing the furnishings in the hall.

Gu Yi's eyes deepened slightly. Facing this kind of tentative flirtation, he, as the team leader, naturally could not pretend it hadn't happened.

Gu Yi maintained his seated posture, his upper body as steady as Mount Tai, and he even gently turned his head to answer a small question from Junior Sister Lin Wanying about the Sword Sect's Formation.

And beneath the table. Gu Yi's left hand, hidden under his wide robes, reached out precisely, like an iron pincer, and firmly but gently grabbed the jade foot that was wandering wantonly around the edge of his knee.

It felt warm, delicate, and soft, as if it had no bones.

Liu Qingwan opposite clearly did not expect Gu Yi's counterattack to be so direct and bold. Her body stiffened suddenly, her watery eyes widened slightly, and on her fair cheeks, the flush caused by the alcohol instantly deepened by several shades, spreading all the way to her crystalline earlobes.

She instinctively wanted to pull her foot back, but found that Gu Yi's grip was extremely strong. That warm, large hand was rubbing her sole lightly through the thin fabric.

This small action with obvious flirtatious intent made Liu Qingwan gasp. She hurriedly picked up her wine gourd, using the action of looking up to drink to hide her quickened breathing, but her peach-blossom eyes glared fiercely at Gu Yi, filled with shame, annoyance, and shock.

Gu Yi withdrew his hand as if nothing had happened, picked up his teacup, raised it toward Liu Qingwan, and the smile at the corner of his mouth became even more gentle.