The woman in the purple skirt was startled. A flicker of displeasure crossed her face. No one had ever dared to speak to her like this before.
If it hadn't been for Qing'e's initial transgression, would she have had the patience to bicker with Zi Linling?
She suppressed the impulse to kill Zi Linling with a palm strike, forcing down the surging spiritual energy within her.
Then, taking a deep breath, she said aggrievedly, "Although Qing'e bumped into you and your maid, she has already apologized. Can't you just let her off?"
With that wronged expression and a posture on the verge of tears, it was enough to stir up a desire to protect the delicate beauty in any man, and even Zi Linling felt a stir of compassion.
"No!"
Zi Linling replied indifferently.
If she hadn't noticed the malice in Qing'e's eyes and the scheming of the woman in the purple skirt, she might have let it go. After all, her time was precious.
But this woman in the purple skirt was deeply calculating. Even if she let Qing'e go now, she would still be resented by this woman.
She didn't want to be targeted by a venomous snake, who knew when she might be bitten, and all without having done anything to the snake.
The woman in the purple skirt was stunned, clearly not expecting Zi Linling to deviate from the script.
However, she quickly adjusted her mindset. At this moment, quite a few people had gathered to watch. She didn't want to gain a reputation for bullying others.
So, she took two steps forward, moved closer to Zi Linling, and said with teary eyes, "Then what must I do for sister to let her go?"
Then, from a specific angle, in a voice only Zi Linling could hear, she threatened, "You'd best know when to stop!"
How could Zi Linling be someone who would yield to threats? She had always believed in reciprocating kindness with greater kindness, and offense with greater offense.
"Sister?"
She sneered, scrutinizing the woman in the purple skirt from head to toe, and then continued, "I recall my parents only had one daughter, me. I don't know when I gained a sister? Aren't you afraid your ancestors will come back to find you in the middle of the night if you falsely claim kinship like this?"
Zi Linling did not lower her voice, so the onlookers heard everything.
The crowd was stunned at first, and then burst into laughter.
By the time the woman in the purple skirt reacted, the crowd had already begun to point fingers at her.
Her face darkened. She glared hatefully at Zi Linling, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
When she opened her eyes again, the hatred in them had vanished, replaced by a smile.
"Miss, you jest. 'Sister' is merely an affectionate term. Since you dislike it, I shall not call you that."
Zi Linling glanced at her, her heart beginning to admire this woman in the purple skirt.
She could endure this, which showed just how terrifying her scheming was.
It was not the enemy's spiritual power that was feared, but their deep-seated cunning!
The woman in the purple skirt frowned, then continued, "Then how can Miss be willing to let Qing'e off? Do you expect me to kneel for you?"
She paused, and before Zi Linling could reply, continued, "If kneeling will make Miss happy, then I shall kneel for Miss!"
Saying this, she made a move to kneel. Her delicate posture, which man could see without feeling a pang of pity?
Zi Linling frowned. Before she could speak, a voice interjected, "Fairy Qingcheng, please don't! How could this sort of person be worthy of such a grand gesture from you?"
As the words fell, a figure appeared.
A man in embroidered robes pushed his way through the crowd.
Judging by his attire, the man was clearly a wealthy young master. However, upon closer inspection, his appearance was far from commendable.
A fat head, a greasy face, coupled with beady, rat-like eyes, made him look utterly vulgar.
Yet, he carried himself as if he were exceptionally graceful, holding a folding fan, which only made him look more incongruous.
The man in embroidered robes bypassed Zi Linling and walked directly to the woman in the purple skirt, cupping his fists. "Hua Ruhai greets Fairy Qingcheng!"
Zi Linling was surprised. Could this pure white lotus standing before her be the renowned Fairy Qingcheng?
Fairy Qingcheng, Mo Qingcheng, was the biological niece of the current Empress Mo Wanru and the cherished daughter of Prime Minister Mo Youwei.
During her talent awakening test at the age of twelve, her top-grade Earth-element fire spiritual root had shaken the entire Dark Night City. She was accepted as a direct disciple by Fu Liuyun, the Sect Master of the Flowing Cloud Sect, becoming the Saintess, second only to the Sect Master in authority.
She then soared to prominence, breaking through the Qi Gathering realm at thirteen, the Spirit Gathering realm at fourteen, and the high-level Spirit Gathering realm at fifteen, hailed as a rare cultivation prodigy in a hundred years.
Coupled with her peerless beauty that captivated countless men, her admirers could circle the walls of Dark Night City, hence her title, Fairy Qingcheng.
Upon seeing Hua Ruhai, a hint of disgust flashed in Mo Qingcheng's eyes.
Hua Ruhai, the third young master of the Hua family, one of the eight prominent clans of the Tianqi Kingdom, was a complete dandy, idly spending his days and notorious for his lust.
Half a month ago, when Mo Qingcheng attended the Hua family patriarch's birthday banquet with her master Fu Liuyun, Hua Ruhai was smitten at first sight. He had harassed her multiple times since then, leading to Mo Qingcheng's intense dislike for him.
However, Hua Ruhai was clearly speaking up for her at this moment, so she could not show her disgust.
Mo Qingcheng suppressed her nausea, smiled charmingly at Hua Ruhai, and said, "Young Master Hua is too kind. Qingcheng is undeserving!"
For a man, one had to make him yearn for her while keeping him just out of reach. Only then could he be made useful.
Indeed, this smile immediately made Hua Ruhai ecstatic, wishing he could ravish Mo Qingcheng right then and there.
But this was, after all, in front of a crowd. He still needed to maintain his image as a suave gentleman, so he could only force himself to stay calm.
To please Mo Qingcheng, he closed his fan and pointed at Zi Linling, scolding, "How noble is Fairy Qingcheng? Who are you to dare to accept her grand gesture?"
Although he was scolding Zi Linling, his eyes never left Mo Qingcheng, and in his heart, he was already imagining Mo Qingcheng moaning beneath him.
Mo Qingcheng naturally saw the lust in Hua Ruhai's eyes, and her dislike for him intensified.
However, this did not affect her ability to show off to Zi Linling: See? Someone is standing up for me!
Zi Linling looked at Mo Qingcheng speechlessly. She began to suspect if this Fairy Qingcheng was the same scheming woman in the purple skirt from before.
Even an idiot could see that Hua Ruhai clearly had impure intentions towards her, yet she still had the audacity to flaunt him?
And was this Hua Ruhai brain-damaged? Mo Qingcheng was clearly putting on an act, and yet she was being blamed?
She was standing right there, having said nothing and done nothing, yet she had provoked this brainless fool?
Moreover, this fool was clearly being used as a pawn by Mo Qingcheng, yet he looked so self-satisfied!
Zi Linling had seen people looking for partners, for money, for jobs, but she had never seen anyone looking to be insulted.
She smiled coldly and said, "Young Master Hua, did you forget to rinse your mouth after eating? Or did you forget to add salt to your meal?"