Chapter 267: My Lord, I Want Noodles
A gust of cold wind swept through, and the disciples were truly left stunned.
“Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother—was I seeing things just now? That really was our lord, right?” Gong Liu gaped, his jaw nearly dropping.
Their lord was always impeccably dressed, his snow-white robes spotless at all times. But now—those robes were crumpled beyond recognition! What on earth had he done to ruin a perfectly good outfit like that?
And his robe was hanging loose—there was no waist sash at all! Where had his sash gone?
On his shoulder, he carried a woman wrapped in a bedsheet. From the even curves outlined by the tight cloth, it was obvious that the woman beneath it was completely naked.
She was bare. Completely bare.
Gong Da and Gong Er didn’t respond; both were still in a state of extreme shock.
It wasn’t just the usually calm Gong Da and Gong Er—every disciple felt as though they were looking at a fake National Preceptor.
This—this was nothing like their lord!
He had never gone near women, never reduced himself to such a disheveled state!
As unbelievable as it was, everyone present understood one thing very clearly: their lord had very likely… tasted female company.
No—he couldn’t have done it willingly!
It must have been that vixen who used despicable means to defile their aloof, ascetic lord!
Everyone desperately wanted to believe that. But if their lord had truly been forced, then why was he so calm—and why did he so openly carry that little enchantress back to the main hall in full view of everyone?
That little enchantress was breathing evenly. She wasn’t unconscious. She wasn’t seriously injured.
She was just… asleep.
Their lord carried a naked, sleeping enchantress… back to his own main hall.
No one spoke. Everyone stood there dazed—the scene they’d witnessed was simply too shocking.
Compared to the others, Gong Seventeen looked much calmer, though his hands hidden in his sleeves unconsciously clenched into fists.
After a long silence, Gong Da was the first to recover. His gaze darkened as it swept over the junior brothers. He barked coldly, “No matter what you saw just now, not a single word is to be leaked! Not even within the Mo Ran Hall. If I find anyone gossiping in private, I’ll tear out his tongue!”
Given Gong Da’s seniority—he had followed their lord the longest—the others had always respected him. Though he was usually stern, it was rare for him to warn them with such icy severity.
Everyone immediately straightened and nodded in unison. Even without his warning, they knew this was not something to be spoken of lightly.
Gong Da dismissed the crowd but kept Gong Seventeen behind.
Gong Seventeen looked at him expressionlessly. “Senior Brother, what do you want to ask me?”
“Seventeen, I won’t beat around the bush,” Gong Da said solemnly. “The woman our lord brought back—was she… Nineteen?”
Gong Seventeen’s expression shifted slightly. He pressed his lips together. “If you already know, why ask me?”
Gong Da’s eyes darkened, and he suddenly swung his arm.
Gong Seventeen was sent flying by a surge of sorcerous force, crA-Shing to the ground. A streak of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth as he glared angrily. “Senior Brother! What are you doing? Even if you outrank me, you can’t bully your junior like this!”
Gong Da sneered. “Seventeen, do you think no one noticed your little tricks? Today, when Nineteen was summoned away—wasn’t it you who tipped off our lord?”
Gong Seventeen raised a hand and wiped the blood from his mouth, laughing coldly in return. “I sensed something was wrong with that eunuch and warned our lord in time—what’s wrong with that? Nineteen calls you ‘Senior Brother’ too. Were you hoping something would happen to her? Senior Brother, your heart is far too hard!”
“Meddlesome fool! Do you realize that your moment of softness harmed our lord?” Gong Da shouted.
Gong Seventeen chuckled. “Senior Brother, you really overestimate Nineteen. She’s just a weak woman. If our lord didn’t want it, then no matter how capable she was, she couldn’t have seduced him. At this point, you’re the one who can’t see clearly. Our lord… has fallen for Nineteen. Do you understand? It’s our lord who fell for her!”
Gong Da roared in fury, “Nineteen is a demoness! From the day she entered the Mo Ran Hall, she’s had ill intentions! She seduced our lord—she defiled him!”
Seeing how unhinged he was, Gong Seventeen laughed even harder. “Senior Brother, have you ever seen a demoness more powerful than our lord? Even if Nineteen truly were one, if our lord had no feelings for her, then even with power that reached the heavens she couldn’t tempt him. So stop meddling. Whether Nineteen is a demoness or not, our lord knows it himself. You may be the Senior Brother, but let me advise you as a junior—our lord’s affairs are not something you can control.”
With that, Gong Seventeen flicked his sleeve and walked away.
Gong Da watched his retreating figure, then glanced at the tightly shut doors of the main hall. His face darkened as he returned to his own side hall.
Perhaps Seventeen was right—perhaps it was their lord’s indulgence that allowed Nineteen’s seduction. But if Nineteen had never existed in the first place, none of this would have happened. Their lord would still be that spotless, transcendent figure, not dragged down from his pedestal by a demoness.
For that reason alone, he would never let Gong Nineteen go.
—
Back on Gong Mo Ran’s side: after carrying the silkworm baby to his bed and settling her down, he removed the many layers of bedsheets wrapped around her, revealing a body white as jade.
His gaze fell on her, deep and dark.
He stared for a long while, until his breathing suddenly grew heavier. Only then did he avert his eyes and pull the quilt from the foot of the bed to cover her.
“Gurgle—”
An ill-timed sound came from the little girl’s stomach.
Gong Mo Ran shook his head slightly. A faint curve lifted at the corner of his lips, and in his eyes, a trace of amusement entwined with unmistakable fondness emerged from their usual stillness.
“Duoduo?” Gong Mo Ran bent closer and called softly by her ear.
Nan Xun didn’t want to open her eyes—she was too tired. She rubbed her stomach, still keeping her eyes shut, but mumbled, “My lord, I’m so hungry. I want to eat. Can you make me a bowl of knife-cut noodles? Please? Pretty please?”
For a brief second, Gong Mo Ran was genuinely stunned. Then he let out a helpless chuckle.
“Duoduo, you’re getting more and more outrageous—asking this seat to cook personally?”
Nan Xun’s lips curved as she murmured indistinctly, “I just want food. You decide. I get hungry this fast—whose fault do you think that is?”
Gong Mo Ran flicked her forehead with a finger. “You push-your-luck little girl.”
