Villainous Cao Cao: Inheriting Everything from the Chosen One

159: Meng Xian on the ButterflyWine God Temple.

A pavilion in the mountains, a cool breeze brushing past.

On both sides of a stone table sat an old man and a young woman.

The old man tilted his head back and gulped down a large mouthful, unaware of the liquor trickling down the corners of his mouth, his expression one of pure delight.

Across from him, the young girl frowned and took a shallow sip, her brow filled with melancholy.

The two were the Wine God Temple’s Temple Master, Jiu Wuji, and his granddaughter, Jiu Ling’er.

”Grandfather, when are we leaving for the Gu Clan?” Jiu Ling’er pursed her cherry lips, the complaint in her voice impossible to hide.

Jiu Wuji set down the wine flask and asked back with a smile, ”Why, are you in such a hurry to see your little sweetheart, Cao Bu?”

Jiu Ling’er’s cheeks instantly flushed crimson.

Since their last parting, she and Cao Bu had only contacted each other a few times via communication tokens.

Having not seen him for a long time, she naturally missed him.

”Grandfather, how about we set off right now?” She leaned forward, her eyes full of anticipation.

Jiu Wuji shook his head and tapped the stone table with his finger. ”There are still six days until the Heavenly Pride Battle. What’s the rush?”

Jiu Ling’er immediately stood up, went to Jiu Wuji’s side, grabbed his arm, and shook it vigorously, acting spoiled. ”Grandfather~ I’m begging you~”

Jiu Wuji was shaken so much he could barely hold his wine flask steady. Just as he was about to speak, he caught sight of two figures walking up the mountain path in the distance and immediately laughed, ”Girl, look who’s here.”

Jiu Ling’er turned her head upon hearing this and saw a man and a woman walking quickly toward them.

The man wore black martial attire; his face was handsome but carried a hint of arrogance.

The woman wore a light green dress, her features elegant and her steps light.

”Sister Ling’er!”

The young girl opened her arms while still a few steps away and affectionately threw herself toward Jiu Ling’er.

Seeing who it was, Jiu Ling’er instantly put away her melancholy.

”Mo Yu, what are you doing here?”

Mo Yu took her arm and smiled brightly. ”Our Yuanji Imperial Sect is going to the Gu Clan with your Wine God Temple this time. We came specifically to meet up.”

Jiu Ling’er’s eyes lit up. ”Really? Then which Senior is leading the team this time?”

”Of course it’s true!” Mo Yu was about to explain in detail.

The man in black also stepped forward, cupped his hands to Jiu Wuji, and said in a steady voice, ”Grandfather Jiu, Ling’er.”

Jiu Wuji stroked his beard and chuckled.

Jiu Ling’er, however, put her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow. ”Mo Lei, who gave you permission to call my grandfather ’Grandfather’?”

Mo Lei smiled calmly, his gaze falling on her face with an undisguised heat. ”Isn’t it just a matter of time?”

”I told you long ago that I already have someone I like. Stop pestering me!” Jiu Ling’er’s tone instantly turned cold.

The smile on Mo Lei’s face stiffened, but he still didn’t give up. ”Ling’er, I truly like you. Give me another chance, alright?”

”Mo Lei, I’ll say it once more: there is absolutely no possibility between us.” Jiu Ling’er’s attitude was resolute.

Mo Lei’s expression darkened, his tone carrying a hint of disdain. ”Is it because of that Cao Bu from the Gu Clan? His Dantian isn’t even complete; how can he protect you in the future?”

”I don’t need him to protect me; I can protect him! Besides, his Dantian has long since healed!” Jiu Ling’er immediately retorted, her voice rising several notches.

A trace of surprise flashed in Mo Lei’s eyes as he said unwillingly, ”Ling’er, why don’t you understand my feelings? We’ve known each other for hundreds of years. Does this relationship not even compare to a Cao Bu who appeared halfway?”

”You aren’t even a ten-thousandth of him.” Jiu Ling’er nodded without hesitation, her tone firm.

Mo Lei’s face instantly turned ashen, his fists clenched until they cracked.

Seeing this, Jiu Wuji hurriedly tried to smooth things over. ”Ling’er, mind your words.”

Jiu Ling’er snorted, crossed her arms, and turned her head away.

To the side, Mo Yu shrugged helplessly, clearly accustomed to such scenes.

Just then, a gentle female voice came from afar: ”Temple Master Jiu, excuse the intrusion.”

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a beautiful woman in a tight-fitting long dress walking gracefully toward them. She had an elegant aura and a hint of authority in her eyes.

”So it’s Madam Mo. Please, have a seat.” Jiu Wuji gestured toward a stone stool.

Madam Mo did not sit down. Her gaze fell on Jiu Ling’er, and she said warmly, ”Ling’er, did my worthless son make you Life Qi again?”

Jiu Ling’er reined in her anger and gave a polite smile. ”Aunt Mu, I really have no interest in Mo Lei. Could you please persuade him to stop wasting his effort?”

Madam Mo glanced at the dark-faced Mo Lei, then turned back to Jiu Ling’er and said softly, ”Ling’er, how about this?”

”I see that Lei’er truly likes you. Why don’t you give him a chance to compete fairly with Cao Bu?”

”If Mo Lei loses, I promise you he will never pester you again.”

Jiu Ling’er looked at Mo Lei and saw him casting a pleading gaze.

Her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she nodded helplessly. ”Fine, but the competition must be absolutely fair and just, without any behind-the-scenes manipulation.”

Mo Lei was overjoyed and immediately agreed. ”It’s a deal, Ling’er!”

He was full of confidence. Even if Cao Bu’s Dantian had recovered, so what?

He was among the top ten in the previous Heavenly Pride Battle and belonged to the same generation as Cao Bu’s adoptive father, Gu Qingtian.

When Cao Bu sees him, he’ll even have to call him ’Uncle Mo.’

Seeing this, the corners of Madam Mo’s lips curled up, but a cold light flickered in the depths of her eyes.

Mo Lei and Cao Bu would naturally compete fairly.

But as a mother, she would inevitably have to pave the way for her son in secret.

On this trip to the Gu Clan, she should find an opportunity to properly ’remind’ that Cao Bu... Great Chu Imperial Dynasty.

Inside the cultivation room, the aura of a Breakthrough permeated the air.

Chu Hao slowly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing within them.

He clenched his fists, feeling the power surging through his body, his face showing uncontrollable joy.

”I’ve finally stepped into the Realm King Realm. These two years of closed-door cultivation weren’t in vain after all, I’ve managed to Cultivate.”

Just then, the stone door of the cultivation room opened, and a beautiful figure walked in, her voice crisp. ”Brother Chu Hao, you’ve broken through?”

Seeing who it was, the sharpness in Chu Hao’s eyes instantly turned into tenderness. ”Lingxi, you’ve broken through too?”

Ye Lingxi nodded, a joyful smile on her face. ”Yes, I just came out of seclusion and came over immediately. I didn’t expect it to be such a coincidence that we broke through at the same time.”

Chu Hao stood up and walked to her side, his gaze firm. ”Lingxi, I, Chu Hao, am determined to take the top spot in this Heavenly Pride Battle!”

Ye Lingxi looked up at him, her eyes full of admiration. ”Brother Chu Hao, you will definitely be able to take the top spot this time. Then you can show Gu Yin what a foolish decision she made when she gave up on you.”

Chu Hao reached out and took her hand, feeling the delicate touch of her fingers, his tone becoming even softer. ”Lingxi, it’s so good to have you supporting me.”

Ye Lingxi’s cheeks reddened slightly as she smiled sweetly. ”Since I’ve made up my mind to marry you, I naturally have to consider everything for your sake.”

A warmth filled Chu Hao’s heart. He gazed at Ye Lingxi’s reddened lips and slowly leaned in.

Just as their lips were about to touch, Ye Lingxi gently pushed him away.

”Lingxi, we’re getting married in half a year. What are you still shy about?” Chu Hao’s tone carried a hint of imperceptible disappointment.

Ye Lingxi lowered her eyes, her voice as quiet as a mosquito’s buzz. ”Brother Chu Hao, I... I’m not ready yet. How about we wait until our wedding day?”

Although he felt some regret, Chu Hao still nodded to maintain his poise. ”Alright, whatever you say.”

...Gu Clan, Xiang Xiao Courtyard.

Steam curled above the bath.

Li Xinxue slowly slid into the pool. The warm water washed over her skin, dispelling the late-night chill and loneliness.

She tilted her head back slightly, her slender neck forming a graceful curve. A few strands of wet, dark hair clung to her cheeks, making her skin appear even more translucent and white.

She closed her eyes and sighed softly, a faint peach-pink flush rising to her cheeks.

Just then.

A pink butterfly fluttered in through the window, circled once above the bath, and finally landed on her slender, white fingertip.

Li Xinxue opened her eyes and looked closely with curiosity, only then discovering two extremely tiny characters engraved on the butterfly’s wings.

Left wing—Style.

Right wing—Name.

The moment she saw the handwriting clearly, the color drained from her face.

It was a long time before Li Xinxue gradually calmed her mind and stared intently at the characters on the butterfly’s wings.

”Meng Xian... Is it a name? Or something else?”

”My Gu Clan doesn’t seem to have anyone with the surname Meng.”

”That damned lecher, when on earth did he tamper with this?”

”But this handwriting, why does it look a bit familiar? As if I’ve seen it somewhere before?”