553: Chapter 553 Why are you still here?

Deep within the Four Seasons Heaven and Earth Courtyard, the warm lingering afterglow still remained inside the side room.

Ling Hao leaned against the head of the couch, holding Yu Zhaohua in his arms.

Her silver-white long hair was draped over half of Ling Hao's body.

He lowered his head and dropped a kiss on the crown of her head, his right hand slowly sliding down her shoulder line, aimlessly tracing the undulating curves.

From outside the door came Bai Zhi's cold and aloof voice:

"Sect Master, the Golden Crow Holy Son has arrived at the front hall."

Ling Hao gave a sound of acknowledgment and sat up.

Amidst the subtle rustling of clothing, Yu Zhaohua's fingers moved, gently clasping his forearm.

Ling Hao looked down at her and smiled slightly:

"I have matters to handle; you can just rest here."

"Mm."

Yu Zhaohua did not open her eyes, released her fingers, rolled over, and buried her face into the warm bedding where he had just been lying.

Ling Hao got up and came to the courtyard; Bai Zhi had already prepared the rinsing tea and face-wiping towel.

Dressed in a moon-white long dress with faint orchid hidden patterns embroidered on the hem, she appeared as cold and aloof as a pool of autumn dew.

Her long hair was coiled up with a plain silver hairpin, exposing her slender neck and well-defined jawline.

After washing up, Ling Hao naturally reached out, probed into Bai Zhi's front collar, and slid down along the curve of the collarbone...

This was hand-washing after washing up.

His palm was full of softness and smoothness, warm and clinging, like holding snow pastries.

Even though Bai Zhi had a cold and aloof temperament, being "hand-washed" like this caused a thin layer of blush to rise on her cheeks.

Ling Hao withdrew his hand with a normal expression, the warm and moist sensation remaining in his palm making the corners of his mouth curve up with slight satisfaction.

He raised his hand to brush across his face, and amidst the circulation of spiritual power, he had already changed into another face—precisely the appearance of Young Master Liu when he accompanied Mu Xiyao and An Ruosu shopping that day, with clear eyebrows and eyes, and a high, straight bridge of the nose.

Ling Hao turned his head to look at Bai Zhi and smiled,

"Does it look good?"

Bai Zhi lowered her eyelids, her earlobes slightly red: "...It looks good."

Ling Hao casually pulled her into his arms and lowered his head close to her ear:

"You actually aren't wearing anything underneath; are you trying to seduce this Sect Master?"

Bai Zhi turned her head away to avoid his gaze:

"No."

She paused,

"Sect Master, you still have important matters."

Ling Hao released her and casually patted her on the side of her buttock. Through the clothing, the plumpness beneath his palm trembled slightly.

"What a mood killer. Don't I, the Sect Master, know that?"

Bai Zhi trembled slightly from this pat.

She stood in place, lowering her eyes, the thin layer of blush on her face deepening a bit more. She only felt a surge of heat suddenly welling up from deep within her lower abdomen, sinking down along her spine, and couldn't help but slightly press her legs together.

Bai Zhi bit her lip and cursed herself in her heart: Why is this body so uncooperative?

Ling Hao had already turned and walked a few steps towards the courtyard door, instructing as he walked,

"If you go out to the front courtyard, remember to wear that disguise jade piece well and don't give yourself away."

Bai Zhi stood in place, took a deep breath, suppressed that trace of strange feeling, and responded in a low voice:

"...Yes."

Watching Ling Hao's back disappear at the end of the corridor, Bai Zhi lowered her head for a long while and sighed,

"I need to change it..."

In the main hall, the Golden Crow Holy Son's patience was running out inch by inch.

He sat upright in the guest seat, the hem of his gold and red long robe spread flatly on the surface of the chair, his fingers tapping unhurriedly on the armrest, having tapped for goodness knows how many rounds.

That cup of "tea" served by Baili Rou had not been touched by him again; it was simply placed on the corner of the table.

Saintess Yan Xueyuan sat below him, her expression as calm as still water, revealing no emotions.

Zhu Xuanni was even quieter, holding her own tea cup, lowering her eyes and remaining silent.

Only Gan Yiyi stood behind Saintess Yan Xueyuan, her pair of eyes rolling around, looking left and right, as if searching for something or waiting for someone.

Her little actions were too obvious; Saintess Yan Xueyuan turned her head sideways and transmitted her voice:

"What are you looking for?"

Gan Yiyi hurriedly shrank her neck and leaned close to Saintess Yan Xueyuan's ear:

"This servant is wondering... could Lord Master be nearby?"

Saintess Yan Xueyuan rolled her eyes and did not answer.

But her own heart was also somewhat chaotic.

The illustration booklet of the Phoenix-Perched Scarlet Flame Hairpin churned back and forth in her mind, like a fishbone stuck in her throat, neither going up nor down.

She urgently wanted to verify some things, yet was afraid the result of the verification would disappoint her.

Just at this moment, a figure turned from the side corridor into the main hall.

Ling Hao walked to the main seat and sat down, his smile warm and amiable.

"Apologies, I was immersed in Cultivate and momentarily forgot the time, keeping you waiting."

The Golden Crow Holy Son forced a smile:

"It's fine."

Ling Hao smiled happily in his heart; this was precisely the feeling.

Seeing the other party so angry they were about to explode, yet still having to force a smiling face, felt extremely satisfying.

He turned his head sideways, his gaze falling upon Saintess Yan Xueyuan, slowly wandering from top to bottom once:

"Miss Yan, we meet again. When I first saw you, I thought you were a celestial being descending to earth, and today I am very glad you could come."

Saintess Yan Xueyuan slightly curtsied, a proper smile rising on her face:

"Young Master Liu flatters me; Xueyuan does not dare accept this."

Smiling on the surface, countless thoughts had already flashed through her mind.

Saintess Yan Xueyuan had already asked Gan Yiyi to inquire about it; this Young Master Liu had once said at the auction that he "was unwilling to force her," and therefore did not take her by his side.

But meeting face to face at this moment, she confirmed she had never seen this face before.

Instead, on that night at Yingxian Peak, that pervert had once asked her if she wanted to leave together, and she hadn't agreed at that time.

If all these were connected... the answer was already practically shouting out.

This hateful pervert!

Saintess Yan Xueyuan lowered her eyelids, hiding that slight dampness beneath her eyelashes.

Gan Yiyi stood behind Saintess Yan Xueyuan, having not a shred of doubt regarding Ling Hao's words.

After all, it was impossible for her to be by her master's side at all times; her master seeing this Young Master Liu was not necessarily something she would know.

She was only somewhat dissatisfied with her master's performance.

How could she smile so brilliantly at someone other than Lord Master?

I want to report this to Lord Master!

Ling Hao's gaze paused for a split second on Saintess Yan Xueyuan's slightly red eye sockets, his heart stirring slightly.

This little crybaby wants to cry again; is she scared?

Ling Hao felt somewhat amused. Has she still not figured it out?

He had left her so many flaws—the hairpin, the Four Seasons Heaven and Earth Courtyard, and this sentence...

If she were just a little bit shrewd... yet looking at her appearance, she still seemed completely clueless.

Ling Hao turned his gaze, letting it fall upon Zhu Xuanni.

That cold, aloof, and indifferent face, wrapped tightly in a plain Daoist robe, concealed that plump and mature figure so thoroughly that not a single contour showed through.

But Ling Hao knew very well last night what kind of delicate body lay beneath that Daoist robe.

That night, drenched in fragrant sweat, gauze robes half-undressed, the plump and erect curves sinking heavily within his palms; that night, the cold yet flushed face, the moist and trembling lips...

"I am very glad Miss Zhu could come as well. You are still dressed as plainly as ever, but..."

"Beauty cannot be covered up."

Zhu Xuanni looked at this "stranger" before her. After returning to the Golden Crow Holy Land, she wasn't paying attention to Saintess Yan Xueyuan every single moment, so it wasn't strange for Saintess Yan Xueyuan to meet anyone.

Moreover, she felt that this Young Master Liu before her was unfathomable; if he had observed her, it was also normal.

It was just that...

Zhu Xuanni felt that this Young Master Liu's gaze was somewhat naked and blatant, just like that man last night.

Then what is that man doing right now? Can he enter the Four Seasons Heaven and Earth Courtyard?

Upon hearing this Young Master Liu's praise, Zhu Xuanni slightly curtsied and replied expressionlessly:

"Young Master Liu flatters me."

The Golden Crow Holy Son had been left hanging to the side for a long time.

He watched Ling Hao speak to Saintess Yan Xueyuan first, and then to Zhu Xuanni, his gaze turning back and forth between the two of them, without giving him an extra glance from beginning to end.

Holding that cup of "inferior tea" that had already turned completely cold, a surge of fiery anger was churning in his heart, making him want to crush the teacup.

He was, after all, a Saint of a rank-nine Holy Land. He was here to pay a visit, not to send people off!

Saint Son Yang Ritian took a deep breath, placed the celadon cup back on the table, stood up, and slightly cupped his hands toward the main seat:

"Young Master Liu, ever since we parted ways at the Fire Turtle Kingdom auction, today we finally meet again. Previously, you once said that you wanted me to bring the Saintess and Grand Elder Zhu to pay a visit. Today we have finally fulfilled our promise, and I hope Young Master Liu will not blame me for arriving late."

Ling Hao withdrew his gaze from Zhu Xuanni, looked at Saint Son Yang Ritian, and slightly raised his eyebrows:

"Why are you still here?"

The smile on the Golden Crow Holy Son's face instantly froze.

He opened his mouth, for a moment not knowing how to respond.

Who am I? Where should I be?