Transcending the Nine Heavens

The three men of unparalleled talent had spent too little time with Mo Tianji, so they naturally had no say in the matter. However, Ao Xieyun and Rui Butong knew Mo Tianji very well; they could almost tell how many hairs he had on his body, yet they were currently puzzled.

Just as they were about to speak up and inquire, they saw Mo Tianji wave his hand with great flair and say, “I am currently contemplating strategies to defeat the enemy. Do not disturb me… Silence!”

Everyone was at a loss for words. Was he really considering some grand strategy for victory? It didn’t seem like it!

It resembled something else entirely!

At this moment, Mo Tianji was certainly not contemplating any great scheme for victory—he hadn’t thought about it even a little.

In fact, he wasn’t thinking about anything else either. In reality, what he was thinking in his heart was something even outsiders didn’t know, and he wasn’t sure of it himself. At this moment, the “master strategist” felt a chaotic whirlwind of thoughts rushing in. Yet, like the tide, they receded just as quickly.

Once he tried to gather his thoughts and organize the chaotic feelings, he discovered that there was nothing in his mind at all, and all his thoughts had vanished.

This strange situation had never occurred in Mo Tianji's life before.

He felt novelty and surprise at this situation, even some fear and anticipation.

After all his random thoughts disappeared, a clear face suddenly emerged in his mind.

It was a delicate, clever, yet strong and charming face.

Her eyes were spirited, strong-willed, and stubborn, yet there was a hint of fragility that made one feel compassion.

The owner of that face looked so pitiful, yet she possessed a proud demeanor that relied on no one.

Such a girl was very special, exceptionally special. At least, Mo Tianji had never seen anyone like her.

So special that for the first time, a surge of tenderness and a desire to protect her arose in Mo Tianji's heart.

This feeling of wanting to protect someone, apart from his own sister Mo Qingwu, had never appeared for any other girl, not even for the two women from earlier (his nominal concubines) or little snow from Heaven's Secret City.

However, that feeling was somewhat different.

For his sister, it was full-hearted protection, indulgent pampering, and complete leniency.

Yet, for this unexpectedly appeared little girl, apart from indulgence and leniency, there was also a sense of possessiveness and selfish protection.

Just that slight difference led to entirely different results.

Mo Tianji was lost in thought, and a light sense of confusion and anxiety arose in his heart…

He stood there in a daze, completely motionless, for quite some time.

Ao Xieyun and Rui Butong initially stayed with him, fulfilling their duty as bodyguards, but later they completely ignored him. The two of them brought out plenty of food and drinks, indulging in a feast with the others, drinking to their heart's content.

Bodyguards are also human; they need to eat too. They can't just not eat because they're bodyguards. Besides, they hadn’t gone far. They were right in front of him, reminiscing about the past…

Moreover, while he treated them as bodyguards, it’s true that without brotherly feelings, he wouldn’t be able to afford bodyguards like them.

During the drinking, they called out to Mo Tianji several times, but in his state of distraction, he completely failed to hear them. Everyone thought he was contemplating a profound and serious issue, and no one dared to disturb him.

Even the voices of lively conversation were significantly lowered…

According to Ao and Rui, once Mo the Great Deceiver began pondering a problem, if he couldn’t come up with a solution, he would never rest.

There was a time he was considering a layout, and after a long while, it still hadn’t taken shape. He hadn’t slept for several nights and was extremely haggard, falling into a similar distracted state. His brothers, with good intentions, offered him a bowl of ginseng tea to let him rest, but they were met with a thunderous curse for interrupting his thoughts, saying they had ruined something that was about to have some clarity.