Chapter 96-2 |
P2
After a moment, she opened the window, glancing at him, her voice indifferent. “I’m truly tired, Young Master Mu. Please leave.”
She closed the window, ignoring him.
An ordinary person would have given up and left, feeling dejected.
But Mu Zhi’an wasn’t discouraged. He looked at the open window, a smile spreading across his lips.
She had closed the door, but she had opened the window.
Only a fool wouldn’t understand her intentions.
Ye Yu might believe her excuse about being tired and wanting to rest, but…
When a woman was upset, her defenses were also weakened.
He didn’t hesitate. He climbed through the window and saw her sitting on the bed, her posture elegant, but a flicker of anger still lingering on her face.
And on the floor beside her lay a snow lotus, discarded, its purity now tarnished.
It was a sight he had never seen before, a testament to her anger.
But her anger… it made her seem more human, less like an unattainable goddess.
She didn’t order him to leave, so he knew there was still hope. He approached her, his gaze meeting hers. “Are you angry, Lingxuan?”
She turned to face him, her voice cold. “Say what you have to say, Young Master Mu. I’m going to rest afterwards.”
She had known all along that he had ulterior motives, that he was trying to have his cake and eat it too.
But those thoughts had been subconscious. She had chosen to ignore them.
But the snow lotus incident had brought them to the forefront. She could no longer pretend.
She met his gaze, then quickly looked away, unable to bear his scrutiny, her profile exquisite.
“I’ve always thought the snow lotus suits you, Lingxuan,” he said, sighing, taking a seat beside her.
“Save those words for naive girls, Young Master Mu. Have you forgotten what you said earlier?” she replied, her voice laced with sarcasm.
He had just declared that the snow lotus was more suited to Bai Ruoxi. Only a fool would believe him now.
“Perhaps you believe I’m a two-timing womanizer…” he sighed. “The truth is right there I have nothing to say.”
He bent down and picked up the discarded snow lotus.
“But I truly believe this snow lotus suits you. Take it. I might not be able to give you any more gifts after this.”
“I might be branded a traitor soon” he added, his voice filled with a carefully crafted despair.
She had been ignoring him, but his words startled her, and she looked at him, her eyes widening. “What do you mean?”
He didn’t answer, simply brushing the dust off the snow lotus. “The snow lotus resembles you, Lingxuan. But Ruoxi, she also resembles it.”
“You must have heard from Elder Wei about my battle with your Brother Ye Yu in the Dragon Head Forest.”
She nodded, her eyes flickering.
She had investigated him. She knew about the incident, but she didn’t understand what he was trying to say.
“Ruoxi and I were nearly killed by a demonic cultivator in that forest. If not for her… I might be…”
He looked at the snow lotus, his voice soft. “Before he died, the black-robed man placed a demonic mark on me. It could activate at any time. And then I might be mistaken for a demonic cultivator…”
“Is you pink destiny related to that mark?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
He looked up at the ceiling, then down at the snow lotus, sighing.
“I’m not sure. Perhaps you’re right. Perhaps it’s the mark…”
“If the sect discovers it, the best I can hope for is expulsion. Ruoxi, she went through something similar. She was ashamed for a long time. If I hadn’t chosen her today, she would have been even more devastated”
Her expression softened, but she wasn’t ready to forgive him. “So you’re saying you chose her out of pity?”
Her voice was still cold, but the iciness in her eyes had melted.
He had considered everyone’s feelings, choosing her to spare Bai Ruoxi further pain…
“Why didn’t you tell me about the mark before?” she asked, her voice still laced with suspicion.
He smiled sadly. “You were so wary of me then, Lingxuan. What would have been the point? And besides, I didn’t want to burden you”
Her gaze softened, but a hint of annoyance remained. “Are you saying you considered me a stranger?”
You treated me like a stranger at first, no, you treated me like a thief… he thought to himself.
She paused, then scoffed. “If you had told me, I could have helped…”
“But it’s not too late,” she added.
He looked at her, his eyes filled with gratitude. “If the sect discovers the mark, would you plead for me, Lingxuan?”
“But that would make you an enemy of the sect, I don’t want that.”
“The Two Polarities Sect wouldn’t become our enemy because of one insignificant cultivator…” she replied calmly.
It seemed the mysterious power behind her was truly formidable. Even the Two Polarities Sect had to show them respect…
Her voice softened. “If that day comes, I’ll protect you.”
He stared at her, his eyes filled with gratitude and affection.
He took her hand, placing the snow lotus in her palm.
“I know you’re still angry. If this snow lotus reminds you of unpleasant things, throw it away.”
“What will you do if I throw it away?” she asked, glancing at him.
“I’ll find a flower that suits you even better, Lingxuan,” he replied, his gaze meeting hers.
“There’s a flower that blooms in the Demon Realm called the Purple Sun Flower. If I ever find it, I’ll bring it to you.”
Her expression shifted at the mention of the “Demon Realm.”
She looked at him, her gaze softening, but her voice remained calm and composed. “You’re quite the smooth talker, Young Master Mu.”
But the coldness was gone.
It seems it’s fine for now. He sighed inwardly, relieved.
As he had predicted, choosing Bai Ruoxi had been the right decision.
She might appear delicate and innocent, but he had realized, through their interactions, that she was quite skilled in the art of manipulation. Choosing someone else would have resulted in unpleasant consequences from the Heart-Binding Lock.
Senior Sister was proud and intelligent, but she had somehow learned about his multi-threading. Choosing her wouldn’t have made her happy. She might even be disgusted by his behavior.
He had to be more subtle with her.
As for Ye Lingxuan, despite her calm demeanor and seemingly calculating nature, she was inexperienced when it came to romance.
And she had been pampered and protected since childhood. So as long as he was sincere and charming, he could melt her icy exterior.
“Qian’er went back to her room without saying a word. Don’t go after her yet. She won’t see you,” Ye Lingxuan said suddenly.
Ye Qian was a kind and innocent girl, easily hurt. But if he waited a while, then comforted her gently, she would open up to him.
He nodded, then, realizing it was getting late, he said, “You haven’t collected your sect token yet, have you? I’m going out. I’ll bring yours back.”
She nodded. “Thank you, Young Master Mu.”
She’s still being tsundere. Why won’t she call me “Brother Mu”? He nodded, then chatted with her for a while longer, noticing that her anger had subsided.
He left her room, feeling refreshed and victorious.
He found a disciple and asked for directions to the sect token distribution point, then he returned to his courtyard.
Wei Mengrou didn’t even ask. She simply looked at him and scoffed. “Scoundrel.”
I’m not a scoundrel, I’m a pond master. I pursue the women I like, I flirt, but I never abandon them.
It’s different from being a scoundrel.
He didn’t mind her disdain. He even enjoyed her judgmental gaze.
“The sect tokens are distributed near the library. Do you want to come, Mengrou? Or should I bring yours back?” he asked.
She hesitated, then nodded. “I’ll go as well.”
She was socially awkward, preferring to avoid crowds, but the library might have information about destiny.
She wasn’t hopeful, but it was worth a try.
…
They walked along a translucent golden bridge, arriving at the library, a grand, ancient palace before them.
“I’ve read descriptions of the library, but it’s even more magnificent in person,” Bai Ruoxi murmured, her gaze sweeping over the palace, perched on a peak, its aura imposing.
Mu Zhi’an nodded, glancing around.
Many new disciples were entering the library, seeking suitable cultivation techniques.
And near the entrance, there was a stone table, and behind it sat a beautiful woman, smiling as she handed out sect tokens.
The disciples channeled their spiritual energy into the tokens, and their names appeared on the surface.
“The tokens are blank at first, but when you infuse them with spiritual energy, your name appears. Such a marvelous technique,” he murmured, impressed.
Bai Ruoxi nodded, then frowned, her gaze landing on something near the cliff. “What’s happening over there?”
He followed her gaze and saw a group of disciples standing at the edge of the cliff, looking down at something.
“Let’s go see.”
They approached the cliff and looked down, seeing a massive dragon swimming through the clouds, its form serpentine, with four legs, its size immense.
“Ling Long?” He remembered what Lan Mulian had said about the spirit dragon.
He noticed that the disciples were all emanating a faint glow, some even a red light.
…It’s destiny…
The dragon swam through the mist, seemingly searching for something.
“They say encountering Ling Long will grant you its blessing. Are they using their destiny as bait hoping to attract its attention?” he wondered.
But judging by its lack of interest, it wasn’t working.
He turned away, intending to collect his sect token.
“Ling Long is reacting!” someone shouted, their voice filled with excitement.
He turned back to see the dragon emerging from the mist, its head rising above the clouds, its form both terrifying and beautiful, its massive golden eyes gazing at the disciples.
Then its gaze fixed on a spot in the distance, and it began swimming towards the library.
He froze, staring at the dragon.
For a moment, he thought their eyes had met.
No, it’s not looking at me. It’s looking at…
He glanced at Bai Ruoxi, his gaze sweeping over her beautiful face, her alluring figure, then settling on her delicate profile.
Is it attracted to her?
But he felt a nagging doubt.
He had a feeling the dragon wasn’t looking at Bai Ruoxi…
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pond master.: Used to describe someone who has multiple romantic partners or admirers, usually in a humorous or ironic way.