Chapter 968 - 534: Arrangements Made Crystal Clear (Double-Length) (2)

Li Zhibai remained silent.

Because she thought of the Sect Leader who was currently listening to the opera in the banquet hall.

What does Sikong Lixu amount to?

Xu Chang’an is unaware and yet he comfortably addresses the Sect Leader as ’Senior Sister Shi’.

This shows that concealing one’s identity is an excellent tactic and doesn’t necessarily need to be considered deceitful.

"Then this matter is settled as such." Li Zhibai nodded, casually arranging things for the unsuspecting Sikong Lixu.

"That will follow your wishes then." Zhu Pingniang nodded.

Actually, there is a very serious issue here.

That is, Sikong Lixu is, after all, the most powerful head when the Chaoyun Sect’s Sect Leader is unavailable, and letting him handle such a peculiar affair... others wouldn’t even dare entertain the thought.

But neither Zhu Pingniang nor Li Zhibai considered Sikong Lixu’s consent.

Sikong Lixu will undoubtedly follow Li Zhibai’s instructions, so as long as it isn’t related to the Profound Sword Bureau’s interests, his personal wishes need not be considered.

Zhu Pingniang suddenly thought of something and asked,

"Right, Ah Bai, you don’t intend to personally instruct Sikong Lixu to handle this matter, do you?"

"Hmm." Li Zhibai responded.

Of course, she would speak to him personally.

"How long has it been since you met someone from the Profound Sword Bureau?" Zhu Pingniang asked seriously.

"It’s been... some days, I guess." Li Zhibai contemplated for a moment.

Therefore, Zhu Pingniang clapped her hands: "See, those people in the Profound Sword Bureau are so ungrateful. They know you’re now at Muyu Peak, yet they’ve never come to meet you even once. Clearly, they don’t regard you. How can you personally take this trivial matter to visit?"

Li Zhibai: "..."

She really wanted to say that she usually resides in the Sword Hall, and unlike Chang’an, how could Li Xusu, a man, possibly come to pay respects, as it would be against taboo?

However, Li Zhibai didn’t refute and continued listening to Zhu Pingniang speak.

Zhu Pingniang coughed lightly and pointed to her face: "So, for such minor things, you shouldn’t personally come forward... let me go and speak with him."

"...You?" Li Zhibai blinked: "You want to personally speak with Li Xusu?"

"Yes." Zhu Pingniang nodded.

Li Zhibai’s instructions wouldn’t require Zhu Pingniang to act personally, but sending young ones would seem disrespectful, so her identity as a younger sister was most suitable—not too flattering, yet not neglectful.

"I also want to see if, after all these years, your instructions to the Profound Sword Bureau still hold any sway." Zhu Pingniang scoffed lightly.

"..." Li Zhibai lightly pressed her fingers against her brow.

Zhu Tongjun, why don’t you listen to what you’re saying?

Letting her meet Li Xusu in this state?

Is there anything more heart-breaking than seeing one’s Moonlight from the past deteriorate into such a state? But Zhu Pingniang is simply oblivious when it comes to men, not realizing who she’ll be meeting.

"So, what’s the real reason?" Li Zhibai glared at her.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Pingniang grinned impishly, walked up, and gently embraced Li Zhibai’s arm, using a slightly coquettish tone, "I just don’t want you to meet other men... even if Sikong Lixu was your student before, it’s still not okay. I’d get jealous."

It’s alright for Chang’an and Li Zhibai to spend time alone; she likes Chang’an.

Just what importance do people from the Profound Sword Bureau hold? There’s no need for Li Zhibai to personally make a trip, and even if she originally planned to summon Sikong Lixu for a talk... it’s not okay either.

In any case, whenever Li Zhibai talks with men, she feels jealous.

"I’m just a jar full of jealousy." Zhu Pingniang smiled sweetly: "Listen to me."

"...Fine then."

This girl.

Li Zhibai, seeing Zhu Pingniang behaving so shamelessly, can’t help but feel helpless, unable to say more.

"Hehe."

Zhu Pingniang laughed without a care for appearances, thinking only her Ah Bai could tolerate this; anyone else would surely be angry, feeling controlled by being told not to talk to men.

"Actually, it’s not just jealousy." Zhu Pingniang added, "I happen to have some matters to discuss with Sikong Lixu as well."

"Hmm?" Li Zhibai looked at her: "What do you have to discuss with him?"

"It’s about the Hehuan Sect matters; some things my elder sister can’t address, so it falls to me." Zhu Pingniang shrugged: "After all, on the surface, they seem at odds, and to truly discuss cooperation, I’d need to open the dialogue as the intermediary."

This is official business, Zhu Pingniang didn’t elaborate, and Li Zhibai didn’t ask further.

Clearly, Zhu Pingniang isn’t as excluded by the Hehuan Sect as she claims, but Li Zhibai doesn’t concern herself with that.

She cares more about emotional matters than interests.

"Tong Jun, you once spent time as senior and junior with Li Xusu. What’s your view of him?" Li Zhibai suddenly asked.

"...?"

Zhu Pingniang raised several inquiring looks.

What is her opinion of Sikong Lixu?

Is this the type of question Li Zhibai would ask?

So strange.

Oh.

Zhu Pingniang quickly found her reasoning.

Fearful that Sikong Lixu’s temperament might be poor and affect Chang’an negatively, hence the inquiry.

Zhu Pingniang explained, "There’s no worry, though the Profound Sword Bureau people may be disliked, their character is beyond reproach. You can safely let Chang’an associate with him."

"?" Li Zhibai blinked.

This girl, what is she saying? That’s not the question I asked.

"I mean, what’s your view of Li Xusu? You’ve known him for so long." Li Zhibai pursued.

Zhu Pingniang tilted her head, then responded, "Ah Bai, do I really know him?"

The former Zhu Tongjun, does Li Zhibai not understand?

In her eyes, besides Ms. Gu, Ah Zi, only Li Zhibai mattered; she never paid attention to others.

So to Zhu Pingniang, her relationship with Sikong Lixu is akin to strangers, not even acquaintances.

"I see."

Don’t misunderstand.

Li Zhibai isn’t trying to pair them as a couple, nor is she trying to play matchmaker, but her curiosity about Zhu Pingniang’s thoughts remains, especially since Sikong Lixu once admired her. If unnecessary...

Li Zhibai herself isn’t keen on Zhu Pingniang associating with him.

Is this jealousy?

Uncertain.

"...Alright then, even if you don’t know him, what do you think?" Li Zhibai asked.

"His temperament is decent, and isn’t it said outside that he’s a gentleman? His Sword Intent is grand, and his abilities aren’t bad." Zhu Pingniang sneered: "However, my least favorite type is the gentleman."

Gentleman?

Hypocrite.

Coming from the Hehuan Sect, Zhu Pingniang’s relations with the Confucian Sect people have always been poor, and consequently, she detests gentlemen as well.

Having desires is a blessing.

Having none, and always appearing immaculate, provides no allure to Hehuan Sect women, even causing distaste.

Because if he’s as pure as the sunrise, it makes them, with their desires, seem like bugs in the shadows.

Hence, Zhu Pingniang feels no affection for Sikong Lixu.

"Besides." Zhu Pingniang sneered: "Everyone claims he’s a gentleman, yet I see him as more of an opportunist. Ah Bai, you’re unaware, but after leaving the Hehuan Sect and holding no position at Muyu Peak, during several gatherings, he hasn’t even glanced at me once... it’s infuriating, who does he think he is looking down on?"

Even though she, Zhu Tongjun, has lost power, she shouldn’t be treated as invisible.

Li Zhibai: "..."

She fell silent.

Not even looking directly at Tong Jun once?

Is that disdain... or unwillingness?

Li Zhibai lightly rubbed her brow, having many thoughts she wished to express but couldn’t articulate.

As an elder, perhaps there’s no more helpless moment than this.

Never mind, all old grudges, no point in addressing them now, Li Zhibai thought. There’s no need to concern herself.

She realizes:

Sikong Lixu will never be someone Zhu Pingniang could care about.

Zhu Pingniang just likes Xu Chang’an too much.

As for Xu Chang’an, even though he doesn’t want to be in the spotlight, if Ah Bai wants to take him as a student, he’d be thrilled, without worrying about his status being elevated too much.

Never mind calling Li Xusu ’Senior Brother’, even having Li Xusu call him ’Senior Brother’, as long as rules permit, Xu Chang’an would accept—because he has his teacher’s protection.