Chapter 542: Shared by One Husband

Gong Caiyi maintained her elegant posture, with both hands crossed in front of her lower abdomen. Her gaze was serene. However, her little finger twitched imperceptibly, betraying a hint of inner tension.

"Jiang Fan and I have met twice, and I admire his talent," she said. "Can't I simply look out for him?"

She outwardly remained calm. Yet, what kind of person was Yue Mingzhu? She had seen and understood many relationships between men and women. How could she not notice Gong Caiyi's subtle changes? As if she had discovered a new continent, she burst out laughing.

"Hahahaha! No way! Is it true that the esteemed Sect Master Gong Caiyi of the Spirit Beast Sect, pure and untainted, has fallen for a junior?"

Gong Caiyi was visibly flustered. She retorted sharply, "Don't speak such nonsense! I'm not like you; I have some shame!"

Yue Mingzhu, however, laughed even louder. "Hahahaha, Jiang Fan, look what I've helped you discover! Sect Master Gong genuinely likes you!"

Jiang Fan was speechless. He quickly tried to clear Gong Caiyi's name, saying, "Don't talk nonsense. Sect Master Gong is an elder, and she's merely looking after a junior. Don't ruin her reputation."

Yue Mingzhu, however, was beaming with excitement. She chuckled, "Do you know when people get anxious? They don't get anxious when facing a lie, because they know it's false. Only the truth, like a sharp blade, makes you anxious! She just got anxious. Trust me, Gong Caiyi really has fallen for you."

Yue Mingzhu seemed to have discovered a new continent. If she were the only Sect Master who liked Jiang Fan, she'd still be somewhat worried about gossip. But now it was better. Another Sect Master had fallen. She now had a fellow traveler. How could she not be excited?

Gong Caiyi retorted in shame and anger, "Sect Master Yue! Please watch your words! Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Yue Mingzhu clasped her hands behind her back and said smugly, "Was I wrong? Do you dare say you came here to expose me not out of jealousy? We are Sect Masters, but we are also human. As humans, we have emotions and desires. There's no need to avoid your true feelings like this. Wouldn't it be better to be as frank as me?"

Gong Caiyi snorted, "I'm not as shameless as you!"

Although Jiang Fan didn't mind the age difference, Gong Caiyi still couldn't abandon the dignity of a Sect Master. An esteemed Sect Master, falling for a junior... if that got out, how could she live with herself?

Jiang Fan had a headache because of Yue Mingzhu, who seemed to thrive on chaos. He said, "Yue Mingzhu, that's enough. I believe Sect Master Gong."

Yue Mingzhu, however, clung to her point relentlessly. Gong Caiyi had just embarrassed her; how could she let Gong Caiyi off easily? No matter what, she intended to embarrass her today.

She giggled sweetly, "Jiang Fan, you don't understand women. Many times, women are creatures whose words don't match their hearts. To know what she truly thinks, you can't just listen to what she says; you have to watch what she does! I'll know whether she has feelings for you with one test."

Gong Caiyi's face was cold as she indifferently turned and walked towards her flying beast. Without looking back, she said, "How boring! You can play by yourself. This Sect Master will not accompany you."

Seeing her about to flee, Yue Mingzhu's smile became even more profound. "Sect Master Gong, do you know how Jiang Fan and I became connected?"

Gong Caiyi continued walking towards her flying beast at a measured pace.

"I fell into a ten-thousand-foot abyss and nearly died," Yue Mingzhu recounted. "Jiang Fan saved me. He removed my clothes to rescue me. With the exception of my undergarment, he saw and touched my entire body."

Gong Caiyi's footsteps suddenly halted. She hesitated for a few moments, but ultimately didn't turn around, continuing to walk forward. She said coldly, "Why are you telling me this? Besides, it was just a rescue, a temporary measure."

Yue Mingzhu smiled, her eyes crinkling. "Then what about the copper coin Jiang Fan gave me, which offers Golden Core stage nine defense? You've been so kind to him; he must have given you something too, right?"

Gong Caiyi's hands, crossed in front of her lower abdomen, suddenly clenched. She tried hard to keep her voice calm. "He considers you a friend; giving you a treasure is nothing."

Yue Mingzhu persisted, "Then Jiang Fan has been exceptionally good to me. He also gave me a mass of thousand-year spirit meat, which I used to break through to the Golden Core stage nine. My cultivation is higher than yours now, you know. From now on, you'll have to address me as 'senior'."

Nothing is more feared than comparison. The Spirit Beast Sect and the Joyful Harmony Sect were neighboring, and their cultivation methods were diametrically opposed. One practiced asceticism, living year-round with spirit beasts. The other focused on cultivating the mind and Dao, with dual cultivation between men and women being prevalent. Both sects disliked each other, yet secretly compared themselves.

Now, Yue Mingzhu's cultivation had actually surpassed Gong Caiyi's? And it was with Jiang Fan's help? Gong Caiyi couldn't remain calm, but she still tried to control her emotions. She coldly snorted, "He can help whoever he wants; it has nothing to do with me!" Yet, a considerable amount of resentment had accumulated in her heart. Hadn't she been sincere enough with Jiang Fan? But this little rascal had turned around to help her arch-rival.

Yue Mingzhu added fuel to the fire, delivering the final blow. "It's good that you can think that way. Jiang Fan and I are so intimate that he even accepted the 'Six Harmonies Immortal' I gave him. The next time we meet, perhaps it will be the day of our wedding feast."

How could Gong Caiyi not know what the 'Six Harmonies Immortal' was? She spun around, both anxious and angry. She cried out, "Jiang Fan! Are you really going to be with this vixen?!"

Jiang Fan was stunned. Yue Mingzhu's method of twisting words was no worse than Wu Manyue's! It was clearly a life-saving item, yet in Yue Mingzhu's mouth, it became a prelude to intimate relations between them. Before he could explain, Yue Mingzhu laughed incessantly, "Sect Master Gong, if you don't stop him, Jiang Fan will be mine. You know the methods of my Joyful Harmony Sect."

Gong Caiyi could no longer contain herself. Her face like frost, she snapped, "You! Stay away from Jiang Fan!"

Yue Mingzhu darted behind Jiang Fan. Resting her chin on his shoulder, she mischievously winked her foxy eyes at Gong Caiyi. Her face was full of provocation.

"You're asking for a beating!" Gong Caiyi reached her limit. With a flick of her sleeve, swarms of spirit bees flew out, buzzing as they swarmed towards Yue Mingzhu.

Jiang Fan's expression changed. How did it come to blows? He quickly said, "Sect Master Gong! Hold on! Let's talk this out!" Yue Mingzhu was no easy opponent. She was now at Golden Core stage nine, while Gong Caiyi was at Golden Core stage eight. If they really fought, Gong Caiyi would surely be at a disadvantage. He had to stop them to prevent Gong Caiyi from getting hurt.

However, in Gong Caiyi's eyes, this looked like Jiang Fan protecting Yue Mingzhu. Instantly, her heart was filled with both pain and anger. She cried out, "Jiang Fan!!! I've treated you so well, and this is how you treat me? You give everything good to this woman. She bullies me like this, and you still protect her! You... you ungrateful scoundrel! I'll fight you too!"

"Haha!" Yue Mingzhu couldn't stop laughing. "Gong Caiyi, your true colors are showing, aren't they? You even called him an ungrateful scoundrel. Hahahaha."

Uh— Jiang Fan rubbed his nose. Yue Mingzhu had actually been right. But, when did this even happen? How had he completely failed to notice Gong Caiyi's feelings?

Seeing Gong Caiyi, overwhelmed with shame and anger, attack recklessly, he quickly said, "Sect Master Gong, calm down. Don't fall for her tricks again."

Yue Mingzhu also tilted her head, displaying a smug expression.

Gong Caiyi suddenly snapped back to reality. Wait! What did I just say? Was that something to blurt out? Oh heavens! She had actually called him an ungrateful scoundrel right in front of Jiang Fan! Wouldn't that be tantamount to admitting her true feelings for Jiang Fan?

Her exquisite, jade-like face visibly flushed. Her eyes darted nervously, avoiding Jiang Fan's gaze, feeling utterly guilty. She glared at Yue Mingzhu, a mix of shame and vexation on her face: "You hateful woman!" She finally understood. Yue Mingzhu had fallen into Jiang Fan's troublesome situation and, not wanting to bear the world's strange gazes alone, had dragged Gong Caiyi down with her.

Yue Mingzhu twirled a strand of hair that fell across her chest with her finger, smiling charmingly: "Aren't you going to come and meet our husband? From now on, we'll be sisters sharing one husband."