Chapter 12: (Twelve) The Meaning of the Jade Pendant

Leng Lingxue stretched lazily, only to fall into a somewhat cold embrace. Without needing to look, she knew who stood behind her. The faint scent of ink invaded her senses, and her heart instantly settled. For some reason, despite knowing the man before her was dangerous, she seemed to feel a thrill akin to finding a kindred spirit.

Ye Luoxuan scooped up Leng Lingxue's petite frame, casually tossing the book from her hand aside, and carried her out of the room.

After returning to Mo Xuan Pavilion and having Leng Lingxue bathe, he then carried her into the spacious and luxurious main hall. Everyone in the Ghost Shura Hall stared at the tiny figure nestled in Ye Luoxuan's arms, their eyes revealing shock.

They had long heard their King had taken a disciple, but never imagined he would personally hold her, even allowing her free access to Mo Xuan Pavilion—no, "allowing" wasn't the right word; she simply lived there. Such an honor was what countless people dreamed of.

It appeared their King truly treated the little girl in his arms differently.

Leng Lingxue wore a bewitching red rose-colored long dress, her hair still personally styled by Ye Luoxuan. The hair clasp used was still the crystal-clear jade pendant from yesterday. Only, this red long dress seemed to accentuate Leng Lingxue's stunning beauty even more than yesterday's moon-white peony dress.

Especially now, with Leng Lingxue's entire bearing exuding languor, a wicked charm radiating from every pore, dazzling enough to make one sink willingly into depravity.

"King~" The moment he stepped into the hall, a purple figure rushed toward them—Zi Mei. Truthfully, this purple suited her better, looking far more attractive than yesterday's red dress. This was the conclusion Leng Lingxue reached after a single glance. Upon seeing Leng Lingxue held in Ye Luoxuan's arms, Zi Mei's originally cheerful steps instantly froze in place, the smile on her face stiffening as well. Her gaze toward Leng Lingxue brimmed with unwillingness, jealousy, and resentment.

Faced with this complex look, Leng Lingxue merely yawned softly, ignoring it entirely.

Just as Ye Luoxuan carried Leng Lingxue straight past Zi Mei without even a glance, heading directly for the seat of honor, Zi Mei—who had been burning holes into Leng Lingxue with her eyes—suddenly widened her eyes, her gaze instantly turning hollow. Watching the jade pendant dangling from Leng Lingxue's ink-black hair flash past, Zi Mei's body couldn't help but tremble slightly.

That jade pendant—that jade pendant was the King's most cherished possession, and the symbol of the Ghost Shura Hall's highest authority. Yet now, it hung atop Leng Lingxue's head, setting off her city-toppling beauty into something even more blinding.

Once seated, Leng Lingxue glanced slightly at Zi Mei standing frozen stiffly in place. If she wasn't mistaken, Zi Mei's current reaction was because she had seen the flawless, crystal-clear jade pendant on her hair. Did this jade pendant hold some special significance?

"This jade pendant?" Leng Lingxue raised her eyes to look at the indifferent Ye Luoxuan, reaching out to touch the pendant dangling from her hair strands, and asked softly.

"Nothing much, just the Ghost Shura Hall's token." Ye Luoxuan replied with a couldn't-care-less tone. At these words, everyone finally noticed the jade pendant binding Leng Lingxue's hair, and one by one they froze in shock, eyes full of disbelief.

Qing Yao, Bai Sha, Mei Huan, and Shi Xuan quickly exchanged a glance, each seeing the astonishment in the other's eyes.

This jade pendant wasn't merely the Ghost Shura Hall's token; it held another layer of meaning entirely. Only they, as Ye Luoxuan's confidants, knew this. Precisely because they knew, they were astonished; precisely because they knew, they were shocked; precisely because they knew, they found it inconceivable, unbelievable...