Morning light broke gently over the courtyard.
A soft breeze caressed the surroundings. Hong Yuye’s hair swayed lightly, as she stood still on the balcony. Jiang Hao, looking up at her, felt as if he was gazing upon a beauty more vivid than any earthly landscape.
His heart, which had found calm after half a year, stirred with unease once more. For a moment, he wanted to praise the beauty before him. But soon, he steadied his thoughts. Yet, a slight disappointment lingered; his months of mental tempering had seemingly accomplished little at this moment. He still couldn’t remain as calm as usual.
Then, Hong Yuye spoke calmly, her voice crisp as the morning air:
“Have you already forgotten who I am?”
Hearing this, Jiang Hao leaped down into the courtyard, greeting her respectfully:
“Not at all. I was just momentarily taken aback by your arrival and didn't manage to welcome you properly. I beg your pardon.”
Facing him, Hong Yuye wore a red robe, cinched at the waist, her celestial skirt brushing the ground. The coldness in her gaze made her seem unapproachable. She was a woman powerful and beautiful, mysterious in her origins and strange in her magical techniques—it was no wonder she required the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower to catch her interest.
"What have you been doing these past six months?" Hong Yuye casually asked, retracting her gaze. At that moment, she stood beside the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower, with a battered rabbit tossed onto the branch of the Immortal Peach Tree, looking half-dead.
"I've been tending to your flowers," Jiang Hao quickly replied.
“Really?” Hong Yuye gave Jiang Hao a half-smile, but since his words were passable, she didn't press further. Instead, she lowered her gaze to the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower and said, “You've done well; the fragrance is just right. I like it.”
Jiang Hao should have found comfort in her words, but he felt anxious instead, afraid she might take the flower away prematurely. That would spell disaster for him.
“It’s good that you like it, senior,” he said with a forced smile.
Seeing Jiang Hao's nervousness, Hong Yuye seemed satisfied and walked towards the Immortal Peach Tree. The tree now towered over her, though it showed no signs of blooming.
“It should bloom this year,” Jiang Hao explained as he stood by.
Hong Yuye looked at the peach tree for a while before asking, “Will the fruit be sour or sweet?”
Recalling the appraisal from before, Jiang Hao cautiously replied, “It should be sweet.”
Hearing this, Hong Yuye glanced back at Jiang Hao and softly said, “If it turns out sour, I will assume you are deceiving me.”
Jiang Hao felt speechless. It seemed his troubles stemmed not from doing too much but perhaps saying too much. He then noticed the rabbit hanging on the tree and found it quite an eyesore, so he removed it and tossed it aside.
Hong Yuye seated herself on a wooden chair and asked Jiang Hao to make tea. In the meantime, she took out a blueprint and said, “Enhance the surrounding formation to prevent changes that might affect the flower’s growth.”
“I have recently gathered enough spirit stones and was planning the upgrade,” Jiang Hao lied as he prepared the tea. He hadn’t intended to enhance the formation as the blueprint and materials were too costly.
"You neither possess any formidable artifacts nor powerful techniques; where have all your spirit stones gone?" Hong Yuye asked while sipping tea.
Jiang Hao was bewildered; he, too, didn’t know where his spirit stones went, just that they’d always run out. Remaining silent, he observed the woman sipping tea. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, though he couldn’t tell if she was contemplating something or found the tea unsatisfactory.
It was an expensive tea he’d never tried himself, but soon enough, Hong Yuye broke the silence:
"In a while, I plan to visit a mundane town, and when the time comes, I'll seek you out to accompany me."
“What?” The notion of leaving the Heavenly Sound Sect shocked Jiang Hao. “Senior, I—"
“What about you?” A massive, oppressive force surged forward, and Hong Yuye, looking at Jiang Hao without a change in her calm demeanor, asked, “Do you have no time?”
Overwhelmed by the powerful aura, Jiang Hao felt as though he was falling apart and hurriedly replied, “It would be an honor for me to accompany you, senior.”
“Full of empty words.” Unbothered, Hong Yuye rose and walked inside.
Jiang Hao, relieved, followed her. He assumed she would remain in the hall but was surprised when she headed upstairs directly. It was her second time on the second floor—the first time being at the very beginning.
"Your little building seems sturdier now," Hong Yuye remarked as they ascended.
“It was refurbished once,” Jiang Hao replied awkwardly. He had appraised the wooden house earlier and, after an unexpected result, undertook repairs to ensure it wouldn’t collapse easily.
Soon, Hong Yuye reached the second floor, walked through the bedroom to the balcony, standing silent as she looked at the courtyard below.
After a while, she stepped back and signaled Jiang Hao to stand before her, facing her.
“Here?” Jiang Hao stood on the balcony facing Hong Yuye as he asked, somewhat puzzled but compliant. The two locked eyes, and Hong Yuye nodded slightly, then extended her slender, white left hand, pressing gently against Jiang Hao's chest.
The sudden gesture startled Jiang Hao. Before he could think, he felt a strong push. The next moment, he was falling, having been pushed off the balcony by Hong Yuye.
This unexpected action left him feeling strange. The fall wasn’t high, and with his late-stage Core Formation strength, it naturally caused him no harm other than a dull thud upon impact. Standing up, he looked up and froze.
The gentle wind blew past, and on the balcony, Hong Yuye’s long hair fluttered wildly, her skirt swaying slightly with the breeze. Her released hair danced near her mouth.
She stood there, hand resting on the wooden railing, gazing downward with peace in her eyes.
Their gazes met.
In that moment, Jiang Hao’s once-agitated heart found tranquility. It was an entirely different view from what he’d seen before.
After a while, Jiang Hao mused, was she trying to tell him that he should only be looked down upon by her?
"Remember, when it’s time to visit the town, you'd better step out as well. You know the consequences otherwise." With that, Hong Yuye disappeared from the balcony.
As soon as she left, the courtyard erupted with the rabbit’s wails.
“So painful, so painful, aaah!” The rabbit cried, clutching its face.
Jiang Hao couldn’t fathom why she always hit the rabbit whenever she visited. Maybe it was because it was too close to her flowers? “I’m not sure why she wants to take me to town. This could be quite troublesome,” Jiang Hao thought, trying to think of a valid reason to leave but to no avail.
Additionally, he would have to consult with Liu Xingchen, as his name was still registered at the Law Enforcement Hall. Though Hong Yuye's presence promised safety, he feared her presence might be discovered.
Exhaling deeply, Jiang Hao collected the formation blueprint, planning to head to the Spirit Herb Garden. Just as he stepped out of the courtyard, a talisman floated his way—it was a communication talisman.
“From Master?” he wondered. Upon checking, his brows furrowed.
The message was simple: Xuanyuan Tai wanted to meet him today. But why would someone of his status want to see him?