Chapter 244: A Shameless Heartbreaker
After that brief interlude, the assessment continued. All eighteen disciples used their own blood to draw talismans, burned incense, set up Spirit-Gathering Arrays, then summoned wind and clouds, calling forth thunder and rain.
Their Spirit-Gathering Arrays were drawn on a small patch of open ground beside their tables. Naturally, the scale couldn’t compare to that of the National Preceptor himself. Once all the steps were completed, Gong Da and several disciples with decent aptitude managed to summon a moderate rain, while some could only produce a light drizzle.
When Nan Xun saw the misty drizzle Gong Seventeen summoned, she mocked him mercilessly, so much so that Gong Seventeen jumped in anger on the spot.
As soon as Gong Mo Ran approached, Gong Seventeen immediately chickened out and lowered his head. “I’m sorry, my lord. This disciple has embarrassed you.”
Gong Mo Ran said calmly, “It’s fine. You entered Mo Ran Hall later than the others, so it’s only natural you can’t compare to your senior brothers.”
Nan Xun immediately stabbed him in the back. “Oh my lord, no need to comfort Seventeen. Look at Eighteen—his rain is even heavier than Seventeen’s.”
Gong Seventeen: …
He hated Li Yunduo to death and viciously poked at her little voodoo doll in his heart.
Once the assessment ended, Gong Mo Ran casually patted the little girl’s head and left with her, leaving the group of disciples staring at one another in disbelief.
The very next day, Nan Xun received several beautiful new outfits.
She stared at the dresses for a long time, shocked.
Damn—this fabric was incredible, the craftsmanship exquisite, almost on par with the National Preceptor big boss’s pretentious white robe.
Nan Xun eagerly changed into a white dress, then gathered her long hair into a small bun atop her head, letting the rest fall loosely over her shoulders.
Little Eight couldn’t help but sigh. “Tsk, so beautiful. You’ll definitely blind all the men out there. But couldn’t you pick a more immortal-style hairstyle?”
Nan Xun replied, “But this is the only one I know.” After a pause, she added proudly, “In ancient times, noble ladies had maids do their hair. They weren’t even as capable as me.”
Little Eight: …
When you’re this pretty, everything you say is right.
In a good mood, Nan Xun made the National Preceptor big boss’s favorite osmanthus cakes again that evening.
After Gong Mo Ran ate one piece, he suddenly beckoned to her. “Girl, come here.”
Nan Xun trotted over, smiling brightly. “My lord, what is it?”
The corner of Gong Mo Ran’s lips curved slightly as he elegantly took a gu insect out of the silver gu container. “Girl, it’s time to test the gu again today.”
Nan Xun’s expression stiffened instantly.
Damn it—fake, all fake. That daytime gentleness was all fake!
In the blink of an eye, Nan Xun was implanted with the Heart-Devouring Gu. The pain nearly made her roll all over the floor, but she endured it, gripping Gong Mo Ran’s large hand tightly. A restrained sob slipped from her nose. “My lord, it hurts… it really hurts…”
Gong Mo Ran looked at her indifferently, then suddenly raised his hand and placed it on her head, rubbing it gently before pressing a few acupoints.
The pain immediately eased by more than half.
When the gu test ended, Gong Mo Ran patted her head again. “It’s fine. It’s over now…”
Fine my ass. Over the next few days, Nan Xun continued to suffer the agony of the Heart-Devouring Gu gnawing at her heart. And whenever it hurt, she made sure Gong Mo Ran didn’t get off easy either—biting his arm full of deep teeth marks until blood seeped out.
Gong Mo Ran watched coldly the entire time. Even when she bit him, his expression didn’t change in the slightest.
When the pain left Nan Xun half-delirious, she hugged his thigh, whimpering softly. “My lord, actually… I’ve admired you for a long time… Ever since I saw you three years ago, I’ve kept thinking about you… You probably don’t remember me. That day, I was hiding in the crowd peeking at you, and you caught me.”
Gong Mo Ran lowered his gaze, looking at the woman at his feet, sweating from pain. He suddenly reached out and patted her slightly trembling back, again and again. His cold voice carried a trace of subtle gentleness. “I naturally remember you. The way you looked at me was… very intense. Something like that, one only needs to see once to remember.”
There had also been something firm and pure in that gaze—that was what truly made him look at her a few more times.
Nan Xun seemed lost in her own world and didn’t hear him at all.
She rubbed her face against his leg, murmuring softly, “Why do you think I fought so hard to become a gu person? It was all to get closer to you. As long as I could be a little closer, I’d be satisfied. Even if I can’t endure the gu testing someday and die, I’d never regret that decision…”
Gong Mo Ran’s hand paused slightly. His voice cooled. “Girl, I won’t let you die.” After a brief pause, he added something that made even the muddled Nan Xun want to jump up and bite him. “If you die, I won’t be able to find a more satisfactory gu person.”
Nan Xun wasn’t actually unconscious. Little Eight had blocked 90% of her pain. No matter how uncomfortable, she wouldn’t pass out. In fact, after being implanted with the Heart-Devouring Gu so many times, her pain nerves had grown dull—it hurt less and less each time.
Just as Nan Xun was getting furious enough to leap up, Gong Mo Ran suddenly added, “If you die, I also won’t be able to eat the osmanthus cakes you make anymore.”
Hearing that, Nan Xun felt much better. Hugging his thigh, she peacefully passed out.
In her dreams, she vaguely heard Little Eight say happily, “Darling, all that heartfelt confession you gave just now—and clinging shamelessly to the big boss’s leg—actually worked. His malice value dropped by 5 points! Hahahaha…”
Nan Xun’s lips curved slightly. She had a very sweet dream that night.
She woke up the next morning on Gong Mo Ran’s favorite couch.
He had already left, probably to see the ruler. The vast inner hall held only her.
The couch still seemed to carry his sandalwood scent. Nan Xun shifted, stretched her leg, hooked it around the armrest as if trying to pull the entire couch into her arms. She sniffed around and took a deep breath.
Little Eight asked, “What are you smelling?”
Nan Xun replied shamelessly, “The National Preceptor big boss’s body scent.”
Little Eight: “…pervert.”
Nan Xun snorted. “After dealing with so many major perverts across worlds, isn’t it normal for me to be like this?”
Little Eight: …
“Back to business. You acted really well in front of the big boss last night. His malice value dropped by 5 points—now it’s 94. Since you were dead asleep when I notified you, I’m telling you again.”
Nan Xun’s beautiful eyes curved slightly. “Who said I was acting? More than half of it was real.”
Little Eight cursed. “Seriously? Is it really okay for you to fall for one man after another like this? What about those vows with A Mang in the last world—forgotten already?”
Little Eight wasn’t sure about the earlier worlds, but the last one was different. It could tell Nan Xun had truly developed feelings then. How deep those feelings ran, Nan Xun hid too well for it to tell. But in the last world she had been all lovey-dovey with A Mang, and now she had already shifted her affection in this world?
Hmph. Fine. That just made Little Eight even less worried about her sinking too deep.
After all, she was a shameless heartbreaker.
