Bai Qiuran led the other three back to a nearby town. Along the way, he couldn't help but annoy Su Xiangxue, who, at such times, wouldn't hold back. With her treasured qin in hand, she would ruthlessly throw it at Bai Qiuran. Hearing her words, Zuo Yanfei beside them felt very self-conscious and lowered her head, muttering, "Why do the boys from my sect say I'm more outgoing than them..."
Tang Ruowei felt a little shy but couldn’t help but be curious about the topic. Zuo Yanfei also perked up her ears, secretly eavesdropping on their conversation. After a pause, Tang Ruowei continued to ask, "So, how does Sect Master Su absorb Yang energy?"
Su Xiangxue smiled and replied, "It’s about liking someone. But what if I like him? What if I don’t? Even if we are strong enough to withstand the pressures of both righteous and evil factions, it’s like the falling flowers have intentions while the flowing water is indifferent. Besides, would little girl Ruowei like me to be your master aunt?"
Recalling what Bai Qiuran had previously said about Su Xiangxue's abilities, Tang Ruowei felt a chill in her heart.
"Hmm?"
"I haven't mentioned it to him before."
Upon entering the town, Bai Qiuran left Zuo Yanfei and Tang Ruowei in Su Xiangxue's realm of joy for the time being while he himself departed for the mountain where the Moon-Worshipping Temple was located.
"That's right," Su Xiangxue tactfully avoided answering. Looking at her face, she waved her hand. "Ah, if it’s a sect secret, then forget it; I don’t want to hear about it."
Since the atmosphere of the Joyful Sect's branch was evidently uncomfortable for the two girls from the righteous path, Su Xiangxue took them to the back courtyard of the Joyful Realm. Because the sect master enjoyed moving between different branches, a tranquil annex was built behind each, serving as temporary lodging for her or a place for the upper echelons of the sect to discuss important matters.
"Cuibao is currently one of the four great governors under the demon emperor. Her status in the demon world is rather special. If she were to die in the human realm, it would undoubtedly lead to another war between humans and demons, resulting in countless casualties."
Su Xiangxue and Tang Ruowei exchanged glances for a few seconds and then suddenly burst into laughter, leaving Zuo Yanfei stunned beside them.
"I really can't imagine a woman giving so much for a man without any personal feelings involved."
"Hmm?"
"Don't think that his letting Cuibao go is an easy choice. He’s grown old, and as he ages, he seems more like a child."
"Ah?"
Buzz! Su Xiangxue thought for a moment and then angrily asked, "Are you saying that he has always seen me as a man in his heart?"
"Cuibao is currently one of the four great governors under the demon emperor. Her status in the demon world is quite special. If she were to die in the human realm, it would lead to yet another devastating conflict."
"I find it hard to believe that without personal feelings, a woman would give so much for a man."
Su Xiangxue chuckled with a smile, "That’s curiosity, but why don't you share your thoughts?"
Once Bai Qiuran had left, Su Xiangxue sat down to play her qin for the two girls, concurrently defending Bai Qiuran.
Tang Ruowei remarked, "As a girl, I understand. Women’s minds and actions are more reserved. Especially since you are a figure from the demon sect, having such close relations with someone of righteous standing like my master, have you never felt pressure? I don't believe it."
Tang Ruowei clapped her hands and added, "I get why. It feels like when my master was with you, he spoke as if he regarded you as his good brother. It’s normal for a buddy to help another find a woman; that’s pretty common among male friends."
"Then does my master know about this?" Su Xiangxue pondered for a moment and nodded.
Recalling Bai Qiuran's words about Su Xiangxue's abilities, Tang Ruowei felt a strange mixture of horror and disbelief in her heart.
"Sigh, little Ruowei, why are you so concerned about your master’s romantic life?”
"I never thought I would one day be forced into silence by younger generations."
Cuibao is currently one of the four great governors under the demon emperor. Her status in the demon world is rather special. If she were to die in the human realm, it would undoubtedly lead to another conflict between humans and demons, resulting in many lives lost.
"Why are you so concerned about your master’s love life, little Ruowei?"
Tang Ruowei sharply remarked, "What impression do people generally have of the Joyful Sect? Lecherous, alluring, hiding a heart of ice beneath a beautiful exterior. If they sit down, they can absorb… cough cough, I mean, I’d bet not a single man would want to marry a woman from the Joyful Sect unless they had special preferences."
"So, about that, um…"
Recalling Bai Qiuran’s earlier discussions with her about Su Xiangxue's capabilities, Tang Ruowei felt overwhelmed.
Buzz! Arriving at the town, Bai Qiuran temporarily left Zuo Yanfei and Tang Ruowei in Su Xiangxue's joyful realm while he made his way to the mountain where the Moon-Worshipping Temple's sect was located.
"Because of your status, you are from the Joyful Sect."
"I never learned about keeping one's word and being grateful in the cultural courses at Qinming Sword Sect."
“Oh? Are you trying to help this senior resolve emotional matters?”
"I find it hard to believe that without personal feelings, a woman would give so much for a man."
Buzz! Su Xiangxue and Tang Ruowei remained unaffected by Zuo Yanfei's self-doubts. After thinking about it, Su Xiangxue commented to Tang Ruowei, "Young Master Bai has great kindness toward me; I must repay him. Without his help, Su Xiangxue would only be a cauldron to be used by my master for refining Yang energy. My position as the sect master of the Joyful Sect, calling the winds and summoning the rain, all depends on Young Master Bai’s support. Such kindness, how could I not repay it?"
"I never thought I would be forced to silence by younger generations."
It turns out, that's the kind of fatal beauty; if she were to remove her veil and stroll in front of the sovereign of the Cangzhou Three Kingdoms, she wouldn’t even need to do anything—just by simply walking around, it’s likely that the three kingdoms would fall into chaos and perish due to war.
Upon hearing this, Zuo Yanfei lowered her head, feeling very self-conscious, muttering, "Why do the boys from my sect say I'm more outgoing than them…"
Tang Ruowei said, "I'm a girl; I understand that female thoughts and actions are more reserved, especially since you are a major figure from the demon sect, getting along so closely with a righteous person like my master. I don’t believe you haven’t felt pressure."
After glancing at Su Xiangxue's expression, she waved her hand dismissively, "If it’s a sect secret, then forget it; I’m not interested."
"It’s not a sect secret; in fact, my master also helped to revise this technique."
As Bai Qiuran led the others back to the nearby town, it was inevitable that he would annoy Su Xiangxue during the journey. Every time this happened, the leader of the Joyful Sect would not hold back, her treasured qin striking out mercilessly at Bai Qiuran.
"That seems rather excessive even for being grateful; it’s almost like letting him take whatever he wants."
“Ah?”
Bai Qiuran’s journey had already led to "sparking" differences and silly misunderstandings, which were tackled with straightforwardness by the young Yifei and Ruowei.
Suddenly, Zuo Yanfei’s self-doubt led her to take stock of her surroundings, her inner voice echoed in her heart. "Speaking of which, does Sect Master Su not have romantic feelings for my master?”
"Is it possible that you have feelings for my master?"
“Uh…”