Chapter 245: Tell Me—What Is Obsession?
As for whether Nan Xun was truly a heartless flirt, probably only she herself knew the answer.
When the Grand National Preceptor entered or left the imperial palace, he usually brought along Gong Da, the most senior disciple, and Gong Liu, the most gifted one. But now, those two were nowhere to be seen—replaced instead by a woman.
She was a very beautiful woman, dressed in a long white gown, her jet-black hair simply gathered into a bun. Standing beside the Grand National Preceptor, the two of them looked like immortals who had stepped straight out of a painting—extremely pleasing to the eye.
After Nan Xun changed her clothes, all the disciples of Mo Ran Hall were utterly shocked.
As expected, clothes really did make the person. Though the disciples all knew that this lowly Gu servant named Li Yunduo was good-looking, they had never imagined that once she put on a white silk dress, she would carry an ethereal aura of her own—like a completely different person.
No—Little Eight, who knew Nan Xun very well, actually wanted to say: she was just putting on an act.
Once she put on the white dress, Nan Xun subconsciously began “acting refined.” In her own words, white was such a pure and flawless color that every gesture, every smile of hers had to match it—otherwise, it would be an insult to the color itself.
As for Nan Xun’s nonsense logic, Little Eight felt it was best to just listen and laugh it off. Heh.
Those who didn’t know her background were extremely curious about the identity of the white-clad beauty. They had always believed the Grand National Preceptor to be an immortal, a god—lofty and untouchable. Gong Da and Gong Liu, who used to stand by his side, looked more like attendants. But this woman was different. Standing together, they looked like a pair of divine lovers—far too pleasing to behold.
Nan Xun herself found this rather surprising. Walking beside Gong Mo Ran, she deliberately stayed half a step behind him—originally three steps back. But when she secretly moved forward two steps, Gong Mo Ran only glanced at her and said nothing. Her courage immediately swelled.
“My lord, why did you bring me along?” Nan Xun asked curiously.
Her eyes rolled, and before he could answer, she gave a knowing “oh.” “I get it—does this have something to do with Princess Yao from earlier? Are you bringing me along to block your peach blossoms?”
“Don’t talk nonsense,” Gong Mo Ran said lightly.
Nan Xun smiled brightly. “I’m not talking nonsense at all. We ran into Princess Yao on the way just now—when she saw you, her eyes practically glued themselves to you. Tsk, her face clearly said four words: I admire you.”
Gong Mo Ran flicked her forehead with his finger and reminded her, “She’s several generations junior to me.”
Nan Xun had long grown used to these occasional, seemingly indulgent little gestures from the big boss. If not for Little Eight constantly reporting the progress of the seduction, she wouldn’t have known that beneath all these surface signs still lay a heart as cold and hard as stone.
“My lord doesn’t realize just how many noble ladies of Southern Yun consider you their heavenly god. And what is a heavenly god? Someone to be admired from afar, not desecrated. Ordinary women wouldn’t dare harbor improper thoughts about you. That Princess Yao is quite special—not only does she admire you, she wears it plainly on her face.”
As she spoke, Nan Xun’s gaze dimmed slightly, as though she envied the other woman’s status.
Her reaction didn’t escape Gong Mo Ran’s notice. He gently rubbed her head. “You are my person. Your status is no worse than Princess Yao’s.”
Nan Xun gave a small “oh.” “Thank you for comforting me, my lord. But I know very well what my own status is.”
Gong Mo Ran glanced at her and said nothing more.
Silence fell between them. Nan Xun walked quietly at his side, her gaze burning as she stared at the man’s translucent earlobes—this was already the nth time she had looked.
Those earlobes were truly crystal-clear, adorned with nothing, like white jade.
Even a single ear could be so bewitching.
Nan Xun lowered her eyes and suddenly sighed inwardly. “Little Eight… tell me, what is obsession?”
Little Eight let out an “ah?” “What are you talking about? Obsession? What kind of weird question is that? Why are you suddenly asking something so unrelated?”
Nan Xun said, “Little Eight, say there’s a man who has an extremely strong obsession with a woman—the twisted, paranoid kind. He’s willing to run all over the place for her. Because she has face blindness, he even brands his own body with a mark belonging only to her, just so she can recognize him at a glance. One day, he finally gains her body and heart, and they stay together for years—a perfect ending. Later, they return to the beginning, starting over again, but this time, the mark he left for her suddenly disappears. Why do you think that is?”
Little Eight had no idea why Nan Xun was asking such a bizarre question, but with nothing better to do, he thought it over seriously. “Isn’t that obvious? Haven’t you heard the saying—once a man gets what he wants, he stops cherishing it. That’s just men’s rotten nature. I’ve seen plenty. Even if this man isn’t like that, he already stayed with the woman he loved for years and had a perfect ending. What regrets could be left? Once the regret is gone, the obsession naturally fades.”
Nan Xun pressed her lips together and said softly, “I suddenly feel like what you said makes a lot of sense.”
Little Eight laughed smugly. “I’m a divine beast that’s lived for tens of thousands of years. I’ve seen it all.”
Nan Xun raised her tone in mock surprise. “Oh? So you’re already that old, Little Eight?”
Little Eight snapped, “Nonsense! I’m not old at all! We Void Beasts don’t age—we’re divine beasts that live as long as heaven and earth! Like the Demon King in the first world—an ancient demon beast that lived as long as the heavens. Once he reached adulthood, his power stayed at its peak forever, and his appearance remained eternally handsome. He would never grow old.”
Nan Xun gave a calm “oh,” then concluded, “So your heart is old, but your face isn’t.”
Little Eight: …
Nan Xun suddenly looked up at the blazing sun overhead. It was dazzling, almost painful to look at. She squinted at it for a while, and for a fleeting moment, a sense of fear she had never felt before arose in her heart.
If regret disappears and obsession fades… then what comes next?
When obsession vanishes completely, does that person disappear forever as well…?
The little girl beside him had been quiet for so long that Gong Mo Ran found it strange. He turned his head and saw her lagging a few steps behind, staring blankly at the sky.
“Girl, walk properly. Don’t look around,” Gong Mo Ran said, slowing his pace to wait for her.
Nan Xun snapped back to her senses. Looking at the man with the cool, indifferent expression, the corner of her mouth curved upward. She jogged over. “My lord, I used to stay in Mo Ran Hall and never went out. I had no idea the scenery in the imperial palace was so beautiful—even the sky seems bluer than outside.”
Gong Mo Ran shook his head slightly. “We’re going to meet the emperor this time. Next time, if I have some free time, I’ll take you around the palace.”
Nan Xun beamed at him. “Thank you, my lord! A gentleman’s word is as good as a galloping horse—don’t forget it.”
