An Itch That Can't Be Scratched

Seeing Li Mo's earnest inquiry and then glancing at Qin Yuzhi, who was nearly numb from losing, Shangguan Wencang and the group of elders weren’t shocked at first—instead, they fell into deep contemplation, trying to make sense of the words Li Mo had just uttered. Words they recognized, but strung together in a way that defied logic.

Demon Summoning Sect’s leader?

Your employee?

Qingyuan Sect’s Supreme Elder???

How the hell could these three titles possibly belong to the same person?! This was absolute nonsense!!

"Hold on, let me sort this out..."

Shangguan Wencang and Elder Hanhe attempted to comprehend, only to realize their understanding needed serious improvement.

"Uh, maybe I should start from the beginning."

Li Mo cleared his throat and said:

"Back then, I saw the people of the Southern Border suffering under the oppression of the Demon Summoning Sect. Coincidentally, I needed the power of the masses for a certain martial technique, so I teamed up with some senior demon elders—as everyone knows, they’re quite skilled in imitative martial arts..."

"And then, somehow, I ended up becoming the Demon Summoning Saint’s uncle-in-law..."

"So you created a new sect?! To scam the Demon Summoning Sect?!"

Elder Hanhe’s eyes bulged as he rolled up his sleeves.

He was completely dumbfounded.

A "Myriad Phenomena Immortal Sect"? The "Primordial Heavenly Lord"? And even dragging little Bing'er into being their saintess?

It almost sounded plausible...

"Hanhe, look at you, always so impatient."

Seeing the eccentric Elder Hanhe on the verge of losing his temper, Shangguan Wencang quickly stopped him.

Taking a deep breath and reminding himself to stay calm, the Sect Master finally said:

"Go on."

"Actually, there’s no treasure beneath the Cloud Dream Palace—just the former Divine Summoning... no, Demon Summoning Sect’s leader, Qin Yuzhi. But of course, no one would believe that, so I used a body-transforming martial technique to kick a rock and lure them away..."

"Tch, those Demon Summoning Sect folks aren’t the brightest. They’re probably still celebrating over there."

"......"

This time, it was Elder Zeng and the Three Heroes of Hengyun’s turn to fall into contemplation.

So that strand of hair they fought over...

Was literally just a strand of hair?! (Throws it down in frustration)

The Sect Master and the Divine Armory Peak’s elder felt their scalps tingle.

This kid... no, this little bastard’s audacity was off the charts! His actions were downright Shang Wu-level outrageous!

"Then I thought, since Sect Leader Qin was all alone with nowhere to go, and we already had a strategic partnership with the Demon Summoning Sect—plus, she’s practically born to be a worker—why not recruit her into the Myriad Phenomena Immortal Sect?"

"And while we’re at it, have her join our Qingyuan Sect as a Supreme Elder. A nice bonus, really..."

"You little bastard, shut your mouth!!"

Elder Shangguan lost his composure and nearly swung his smoking pipe at Li Mo’s head.

Would their ancestral legacy just become a den of misfits?!

Could they even still call it a sect? At best, it’d be a corporation—a massive one at that.

"Oh right, the Qingyuan Imperial Mausoleum..."

Qin Yuzhi suddenly looked up as memories flooded back:

"I was the one who designed the mausoleum. I even placed several divine-intent statues at the entrance to scare off tomb raiders. Why can’t I see them anymore?"

Wait, so Jade Cluster Peak was the mausoleum’s entrance?

Those "divine-intent statues" she mentioned...?

Li Mo turned to his master.

"?"

Shangg Wu touched the bridge of her nose and whistled, gazing up at the sky at a 45-degree angle.

The beautiful master had no idea what he was talking about.jpg

Well, turns out their ancestral legacy was designed by her all along.

Shangguan Wencang’s expression was complicated. A seventh-realm expert—many major sects guarding entire regions didn’t even have such old monsters in their ranks.

Immortal realms were legends, and those of the Heaven-Treading Realm had vanished from the world.

The seventh realm was already the strongest known force in the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands.

But her identity was far too sensitive, with too many entanglements.

"This is a grave matter that requires careful deliberation."

The Sect Master hurried back to the main peak—perhaps to consult the real Supreme Elders.

Elder Zeng of Hengyun Sword City and Bai Jinghong’s group temporarily settled at the Divine Armory Peak. Since the Three Heroes of Hengyun were on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, heading to the imperial capital from Purple Sun Prefecture would be more convenient.

As for Elder Hanhe...

"Perfect, I’m not great at this. You take over, Elder."

Li Mo vacated his seat and sat next to the ice block (Ying Bing), ready to learn.

Elder Hanhe frowned. "This old man never partakes in such gambling gatherings. A waste of spirit."

"Hammer Treasure, didn’t we agree earlier to return to the Divine Armory Peak for some forging?"

Li Mo suddenly muttered.

Did this kid actually have an interest in smithing?

Oh right, the "Divine Hammer Little Tyrant"...

Elder Hanhe subtly reversed course and sat back down.

"Occasional leisure is harmless."

"Shang Wu, today you’ll learn that the true Mahjong King of Qingyuan Sect is someone else!"

And so,

The clattering of tiles resumed.

The true Mahjong King of Qingyuan Sect was indeed someone else—not Shang Wu, but not Elder Hanhe either.

After Li Mo left the table, the ice block (Ying Bing) played even better!

Meanwhile, Little Li was offering "mahjong loans" on the side.

One winning money, the other lending it—

Could anyone deny this was a marital scam?!

For the sake of the other three players’ experience, the overconfident Li Mo, who believed he’d mastered the game, was swapped back in.

"How come the tiles I draw are so bad from this spot?"

Li Mo grumbled, scratching his neck.

Ying Bing glanced down and noticed a few beams of sunlight filtering through the banyan tree, casting dappled light on Li Mo’s neck—accentuating the red marks from his scratching.

"Hahaha, winning hand! Pay up, pay up!"

Once again, Li Mo was the only one without a winning hand, leaving him frustrated.

Before he could reach for his neck again, a cool touch suddenly soothed the itch.

Huh?

He turned and realized—somehow, he and the ice block were sitting much closer. Any nearer, and she’d practically be in his lap.

"Here?"

"Mhm... another spot itches too."

"Where?"

"The other side."

Li Mo replied, slightly guilty.

"?"

What kind of position would allow scratching both sides of the neck at once?

She’d have to stand behind him, letting his head rest against her stomach...

Ying Banished the mental image and glanced at the neatly stacked tiles.

"You’ve misplayed several tiles."

"Eh?"

Li Mo raised a brow and saw his already terrible hand worsen. He clicked his tongue, unsure if his melancholy was due to mahjong or... something else.

His luck only worsened.

This round seemed doomed from the start.

Little Li’s lips twitched as he leaned back—only to bump into something soft and warm.

Was it his imagination?

His breath caught a faint, cool fragrance, and the icy touch against his neck lingered.

Dazed, he turned, his cheek brushing against the elegant curve of her abdomen.

"Still itchy?"

"Not anymore."

Li Mo took a deep breath, inadvertently scattering the tiles. Across the table, Elder Hanhe and the others frowned—then their eyes widened.

"Looks like we won."

Ying Bing spoke softly, though her flickering gaze wasn’t on the tiles.

He said the itch was gone.

But had his restlessness somehow spread to her—settling somewhere she couldn’t reach?