57: Chapter 57 Wild Chrysanthemums on the Hillside, a Subtle Expression of Feelings

Lu Guan's cold corpse still lay on the competition platform in the Hall of Transmitted Teachings, the pool of blood gradually congealing.

No one went to collect the body, at least not for the moment.

The spectating Disciples dispersed, their expressions varied.

Some marveled at Ye Xiaoyao's ruthless methods, some envied him for possessing top-tier Magical Artifacts and Talismans, and others secretly cursed him for not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth.

After all, having killed one of the Saint's men, this grudge was firmly cemented.

But no one sympathized with Lu Guan.

The world of Cultivation is just like this.

Once on the competition platform, life and death are one's own responsibility.

If one's skills are inferior, dying is deserved.

Moreover, Lu Guan himself agreed to the "life-or-death" rules, so he could blame no one.

Fu Hongxue exchanged a few brief words with several Elders of the Hall of Transmitted Teachings.

It was generally that the competition was compliant, life and death were one's own responsibility, and the Sect would not pursue the matter.

Then she pulled Ye Xiaoyao away.

A streak of red light cut across the sky.

Fu Hongxue wrapped Ye Xiaoyao in her Spiritual Qi, and the two flew side by side.

The wind blew against their faces, carrying the unique coolness of the mountains.

"Senior Sister." Ye Xiaoyao turned his head and asked, "Where are we going now?"

Fu Hongxue turned to look at him, her eyes curving into crescent moons, a mysterious radiance in her smile.

"Junior Brother, Senior Sister is taking you to a place."

She didn't explicitly say where, and Ye Xiaoyao didn't press for an answer.

Assuming that Senior Sister wanted to give him a surprise, he nodded and smiled, "Alright."

After flying for a while, Fu Hongxue suddenly spoke, her tone casual, as if chatting idly.

"Junior Brother, that sword of yours just now... it was given to you by Revered Master, right?"

Ye Xiaoyao's heart tightened.

Did Senior Sister recognize this sword?

What he didn't know was that many years ago, when Liu Yunshuang was teaching Fu Hongxue sword techniques, she had taken out this cold frost sword to demonstrate.

At that time, Fu Hongxue was still in the Foundation Establishment Stage, and Liu Yunshuang would dance with the sword while recounting how she had used it to slay powerful enemies in the past.

That scene, Fu Hongxue still remembered to this day.

A trace of awkwardness flashed across Ye Xiaoyao's face.

This sword was indeed given by Liu Yunshuang, but the reason... was not very honorable.

He couldn't exactly say, "This is compensation Revered Master gave after taking my essence of pure yang," right?

He steadied himself and said as naturally as possible, "It was indeed given by Revered Master; she said it was a gift for becoming her Disciple."

Fu Hongxue gave an "Oh," nodded, and didn't ask further.

She believed him.

Revered Master held this little Disciple in particularly high regard; sending a top-tier Magical Artifact as a gift for becoming a Disciple, while valuable, was not impossible.

She changed the subject, her tone filled with approval, and said, "Junior Brother, your performance in the fight just now was truly excellent. To be able to win while facing two opponents, your strength far exceeds that of your peers."

Ye Xiaoyao smiled modestly. "Senior Sister, you flatter me. It's mainly because I've been cultivating the Nine Revolutions Hegemon Body Art, so my Physical Body is a bit stronger and my reactions are faster, plus this sword is indeed powerful..."

He didn't mention the Pure Yang Power, nor did he say that he had a Pure Yang Sacred Body.

It wasn't convenient to talk about this for now. When the time was right, he would tell Senior Sister later.

The two chatted while flying.

After more than half an hour, a verdant mountain peak appeared ahead.

The mountain wasn't particularly high, but the Spiritual Qi was dense. Clouds and mist swirled around the mountainside, and several entrances to Immortal Caves could be vaguely seen.

Fu Hongxue slowed down and pointed below, saying, "Junior Brother, this is White Phoenix Peak. Your Senior Sister and I both have our Immortal Caves here."

The Senior Sister was Liu Yunshuang's first Disciple, whose name was Song Yu.

Ye Xiaoyao asked curiously, "Senior Sister, is Senior Sister in her Immortal Cave now? Should I go and pay my respects?"

After all, he was a newly accepted Disciple of Liu Yunshuang, so according to the rules, he should meet the Senior Sister. Besides... he was a bit curious about what this Senior Sister looked like.

Revered Master, Second Senior Sister, and the Saintess were all stunning beauties. The Senior Sister shouldn't be any worse, right?

Fu Hongxue laughed, explaining, "Senior Sister was in the Central Plains for some time, but she is already on her way back to the Sect. It won't be too late to pay your respects when she returns."

She explained briefly. It turned out that two years ago, she and Song Yu went to the Central Plains together, wanting to find a pure yang object for Ji Chanxi to use for Core Formation.

Later, Fu Hongxue returned first, while Song Yu remained in the Central Plains to continue inquiring.

A while ago, there was a large auction in the Central Plains, and it was said that there was a pure yang object, but the competition was fierce and the price was too high, so Song Yu didn't manage to get it and only then set off to return.

The Central Plains was very far from the Yin Yang Sect in the Southern Border, and the journey would take quite a bit of time.

While speaking, the light had already landed on White Phoenix Peak.

Fu Hongxue didn't take Ye Xiaoyao to her own Immortal Cave, but instead led him toward a hillside.

The hillside was very gentle, and looking out, it was a expanse of golden yellow. They were wild chrysanthemums.

Thousands upon thousands of wild chrysanthemums were in full bloom, as if covering the hillside with a golden carpet.

The flowers were not large, but they bloomed passionately, shimmering with a warm luster under the sunlight.

A gentle breeze blew by, causing waves of flowers to rise and fall, the fragrance drifting with the wind.

Ye Xiaoyao took a deep breath. Truly beautiful.

Fu Hongxue walked to the edge of the flower cluster, sat down very naturally, patted the grass beside her, and said, "Junior Brother, sit."

Ye Xiaoyao sat down next to her. Neither of them spoke, quietly watching the sea of flowers before them.

The sunlight was lovely, shining warmly on their bodies. The faint fragrance of flowers, mixed with the scent of grass and earth, made one involuntarily relax.

Fu Hongxue turned her face to look at Ye Xiaoyao. Sunlight shone on his profile, his features distinct, his eyelashes long, casting shallow shadows on his eyelids.

A faint smile played at the corners of his lips, his eyes gentle as he looked at the sea of flowers, not knowing what he was thinking about.

Fu Hongxue's cheeks flushed slightly. She bit her lip, as if having made a great resolution, and spoke softly:

"Junior Brother... Senior Sister wants to ask you a question, a rather private one, is that okay?"

Ye Xiaoyao turned to look at her, some confusion in his eyes, but he still nodded: "Ask away, Senior Sister."

Fu Hongxue's fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her skirt, her voice even softer than before:

"Junior Brother, do you... have someone you like?"

Ye Xiaoyao was stunned. This question... was too sudden.

He opened his mouth but didn't answer immediately. Three lovely figures flashed through his mind.

Seeing him hesitate, Fu Hongxue quickly waved her hand and said, "Junior Brother, you don't need to rush to answer me."

She turned her head, looking at the distant sea of flowers, as if talking to herself:

"I entered the Sect at twelve. Because my Aptitude was alright, I was lucky enough to be accepted under Revered Master's tutelage. Revered Master has been very good to me, teaching me to Cultivate and helping me grow."

She paused, her voice becoming a bit ethereal. "The Sect mainly Cultivates the Yin and Yang Dao, emphasizing that men and women should engage in Dual Cultivation and progress together. Every Disciple must find their own Dao Companion, but I have never met anyone who moved my heart."

"I've met quite a few male cultivators; some were obsequious, some feigned aloofness, some were strong but arrogant... none were what I wanted."

She suddenly smiled, her smile holding a girlish shyness. "Fortunately, the lucky thing is... not long ago, I met someone."

She turned to look at Ye Xiaoyao, her beautiful eyes sparkling with a brilliant light. "His appearance is the type I like, his personality is good, he is neither humble nor arrogant, knows propriety, knows when to advance and retreat, and what's more... he has great potential."

"It's just that I don't know what his feelings are toward me."

When things reached this point, even the dullest person would understand. Ye Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat.

Wasn't Senior Sister talking about... him?

Recalling all the previous events. Fu Hongxue's special care for him, her initiative in suggesting to Revered Master to accept him as a Disciple, and today, pulling his hand so intimately and bringing him to this sea of flowers... so that was it.

Ye Xiaoyao was silent for a few breaths. He actually had a good impression of Fu Hongxue.

This Senior Sister appeared cold on the surface but was gentle on the inside, and she was indeed very good to him. Moreover, she was beautiful, had high cultivation, and had a good personality.

But... he had already engaged in Dual Cultivation with Ji Chanxi and had physical intimacy with Liu Yunshuang. Although those two times were more of a transaction, the relationship had indeed occurred.

If he accepted Fu Hongxue's feelings now, he felt something was wrong. Besides, he didn't want Fu Hongxue to confess so humbly. She was so good that she deserved to be treated more formally and seriously.

Ye Xiaoyao steadied himself, a look of "sudden realization" appearing on his face, his tone as sincere as if he were giving Senior Sister advice:

"Senior Sister, if you like that Junior Martial Uncle, I think you can boldly confess to him!"

He paused, then added, "If Senior Sister is embarrassed, I, Junior Brother, can help pass the message. I'll go tell that Junior Martial Uncle that Senior Sister is interested in him, and let him be more proactive!"

He said it with a straight face, like a warm-hearted Junior Brother.

The smile on Fu Hongxue's face froze. She stared at Ye Xiaoyao for a long while, her eyes slowly shifting from anticipation to disappointment, finally turning into a soft sigh.

"Oh..." She lowered her head, her jade fingers gently gripping the hem of her skirt, looking somewhat at a loss. "That won't be necessary."

Her voice was very low, tinged with obvious dejection, and she said, "Thank you, Junior Brother, Senior Sister will find a way herself."

She stood up and brushed the grass debris off her skirt, her movements quick, as if trying to hide something.

"It's getting late." She didn't look at Ye Xiaoyao, her voice returning to its usual calmness. "Senior Sister still has matters to attend to; Junior Brother... you should go back on your own."

After saying this, she turned and left. Her red dress fluttered among the flowers, her retreating figure appearing somewhat hurried.

Ye Xiaoyao sat where he was, watching her retreating figure gradually fade into the distance, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Did he... do something wrong?

But he really didn't want Senior Sister to confess in such a hasty situation. And he didn't want to easily accept her feelings just because he had already had physical intimacy with two other people.

Let's wait a bit longer. Wait until the time is right, wait until he has thought it through, wait until he can give her a more formal response.

Ye Xiaoyao stood up, took one last look at this sea of golden flowers, and turned to fly on his sword toward Saintess Peak.

The wind was still blowing, and the wild chrysanthemums swayed gently, as if silently telling something...