Chapter 95: The Snow Lotus Represents Loyalty in Love? |
Chapter 95: The Snow Lotus Represents Loyalty in Love?
That simple statement landed like a thunderbolt, shattering the peaceful atmosphere.
Ye Lingxuan blinked, staring at Lan Mulian in disbelief.
She remembered Lan Mulian’s strange expression when she had mentioned the snow lotus at the Rising Phoenix Inn.
Now she understood. Lan Mulian had realized that Mu Zhi’an had given the same snow lotus to others, hence her complex reaction.
“S-Senior Sister… received a snow lotus from Brother Mu?”
Ye Qian’s eyes widened, her gaze flitting between Lan Mulian and Mu Zhi’an, a mixture of surprise, disappointment, and sadness in her eyes.
She was surprised that the aloof and unattainable Lan Mulian would accept a gift from him, but she was also disappointed and saddened that both her sister and Lan Mulian had received snow lotuses, while she had not.
“Are you joking, Senior Sister?” Bai Ruoxi asked, forcing a smile, her voice laced with disbelief.
Her words silenced any doubts.
She was too proud to lie about something like this.
So… he really did give her a snow lotus.
Ye Lingxuan and Bai Ruoxi looked at Mu Zhi’an, their gazes accusing.
Ye Yu, who had been about to leave, stopped, staring at them, unsure whether to stay or go.
He had witnessed a similar scene at the auction, but it hadn’t affected their relationships.
But this time… it was different.
He had given the same snow lotus to three women, such behavior would surely disgust them.
He felt a surge of excitement, a mixture of schadenfreude and opportunity.
After this, Lingxuan and Qian’er would surely be disillusioned with Mu Zhi’an, and then perhaps it would be his chance. He watched them, his heart pounding with anticipation.
Bai Ruoxi looked at Mu Zhi’an, her voice soft but accusatory. “He told me the snow lotus represents loyalty and purity in love, and that I reminded him of it. That’s why he gave it to me.”
Silence descended upon them, the air heavy with tension.
Ye Lingxuan’s eyes darkened, and she spoke, her voice low and trembling. “He said similar things to me…”
Their gazes converged on Mu Zhi’an, his scalp tingling.
Lan Mulian chuckled, her eyes twinkling. “The snow lotus represents loyalty and purity in love? Why does that sound so familiar?”
“If I’m not mistaken, you said similar things to me in our letters, Junior Brother Mu?”
Mengrou, help me… He looked at Wei Mengrou, but she had vanished, her arms crossed, pretending ignorance.
He felt a pressure he had never experienced, not even from the black-robed man.
How does she know about the snow lotus? Was it just a coincidence?
No, it was too much of a coincidence. She must have heard it from someone.
He looked at her, but she was already staring at him, a knowing smile on her lips, her eyes twinkling with amusement despite the veil concealing her face.
“Which one of us does the snow lotus truly resemble, Mu Lang?” Bai Ruoxi asked, her voice soft and sweet, but her words were explosive.
Their gazes were fixed on him, the tension palpable.
Even Wei Mengrou, despite her indifference, glanced at him.
“What do you think, Junior Brother Mu? Who does the snow lotus resemble more?” Lan Mulian asked, her voice softening slightly.
When a cold and aloof beauty softened her voice, it was either because she was speaking to a lover, or because she was about to unleash her wrath.
Lan Mulian clearly belonged to the latter category.
Ye Lingxuan remained silent, watching him, a smile playing on her lips.
She disliked conflict, but she was curious about his answer.
“Say something, Mu Lang,” Bai Ruoxi urged, her voice gentle.
If I say something, I’m finished.
He wanted to jump off the cliff and start over.
He had assumed they wouldn’t brag about the snow lotus.
Who told Senior Sister? Or did she guess?
No, it didn’t matter now. They wanted an answer.
It wasn’t that they were all madly in love with him. They were simply proud, wanting to know who he considered worthy of being compared to the snow lotus.
I have to answer before they start fighting… Or I could redirect their anger towards Ye Yu. But how?
He appeared calm, but inwardly, he was panicking, his mind racing.
His gaze landed on someone approaching along the golden path, a young man in luxurious robes, his expression thunderous.
Relief washed over him. He looked at the newcomer as if he were a savior.
Gongsun Cheng!
A plan formed in his mind.
Gongsun Cheng also noticed him, his expression darkening, his gaze filled with hatred.
He had been beaten by those candidates from Boundless Sea Peak, and he had barely managed to reach the summit, his spiritual energy depleted, even with the help of pills.
If not for Mu Zhi’an, he wouldn’t have wasted so much energy in the forest, nearly failing the exams.
He was furious, and he approached them, bowing to Lan Mulian. “Senior Sister.”
Blinded by rage, he didn’t notice the tense atmosphere. Lan Mulian nodded, and he continued, his voice cold.
“If I discover someone cheating during the exams, Senior Sister, will they be disqualified?”
Mu Zhi’an had used his tricks to bring a group of candidates to the summit. It was clearly cheating.
Gongsun Cheng is a lifesaver, but I need to add fuel to the fire. Mu Zhi’an frowned, his voice grave. “How can you prove I cheated, Young Master Gongsun?”
He appeared reluctant, but inwardly, he was hoping Gongsun Cheng would cause more trouble.
But before Gongsun Cheng could respond, Lan Mulian interrupted, her voice calm but cold. “The peak lord of Boundless Sea Peak is aware of this matter. You can leave now.”
Her words were polite, but her tone was dismissive.
Gongsun Cheng stared at her, his mouth opening and closing, about to speak.
But then he felt a chill behind him, and he looked up to see Bai Ruoxi staring at him, her gaze icy.
He suddenly remembered the bronze sword behind her, and a wave of fear washed over him. He instinctively took a step back.
He finally realized that the atmosphere was dangerous… It wasn’t just Bai Ruoxi. The Ye sisters, even Senior Sister Lan, their gazes were filled with a menacing glint.
And then he saw Wei Mengrou, her arms crossed, watching him with a cold, detached expression.
His heart skipped a beat, and he bowed, his voice trembling slightly. “I apologize, Senior Sister. I’ll… take my leave…”
He hurried towards the palace, his steps quick and uneven.
You’re useless… Mu Zhi’an glared at him, his frustration growing.
He noticed Lan Mulian’s gaze, her eyes flitting between him, Bai Ruoxi, and Ye Lingxuan, and his heart sank.
How am I supposed to choose…?
After a moment of silence, he sighed.
“The snow lotus grows on snowy peaks, so it also represents, aloofness, inaccessibility. In reality, every woman, no, every person, before you get to know them, they seem distant…”
“I believe the snow lotus represents all cultivators. At first glance, they seem unattainable, but if you truly pursue them, you can hold them in your hands.”
He looked at them, his gaze finally settling on Bai Ruoxi. “But if I had to choose, I would say Miss Bai resembles the snow lotus the most.”
Despite his elaborate explanation, he had ultimately chosen Bai Ruoxi.
Ye Lingxuan bit her lip, remembering how he had entered the Trial Forest for her, her heart filled with a strange mix of emotions. She turned and walked towards the palace, her steps quick and determined.
Ye Qian’s eyes glistened with tears, and she bowed to Lan Mulian, then hurried after her sister.
Lan Mulian looked at Mu Zhi’an, her voice cold. “I have matters to attend to, Young Master Mu. Please excuse me.”
She turned and departed, riding upon a cloud.
Mu Zhi’an, pretending indifference, turned to Bai Ruoxi. “Let’s go see our accommodations.”
She smiled, her joy evident, and he smiled back, chatting with her as they entered the palace, Wei Mengrou following behind.
After finding their rooms, he chatted with Bai Ruoxi for a while, then he suddenly clapped his hand to his forehead. “I almost forgot. We have to collect our sect tokens. I’ll ask someone where to go. Let’s go together later.”
Bai Ruoxi, her mood clearly improved, nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
He smiled, then left the room, closing the door behind him.
He hurried towards Wei Mengrou, who was leaning against a pillar, her arms crossed.
He glanced at her ample bosom, “Did you see where Lingxuan went, Mengrou?”
She smiled, her voice teasing. “You’re finally realizing that women aren’t so easy to understand?”
He sighed. “Did you predict this?”
“Giving three women the same snow lotus. Did you truly believe that understanding their surface personalities would be enough?” she asked, her voice laced with amusement.
She studied him, her brow furrowing. “You don’t seem panicked. Have you given up on them?”
He shook his head, smiling. “I could never do that. I hate seeing women sad.”
“So what are you going to do? Comfort them? Both Lingxuan and Qian’er probably don’t want to see you right now,” she said.
“They’ll see me,” he replied confidently.
Come to think of it, this wasn’t entirely a bad thing. Not a good thing either, but…
He noticed her doubtful expression and glanced at the other candidates entering the palace. “When a woman is upset, you have to coax her.”
It was the same for all women.