Chapter 35: Why is Your Face Red?

Although just a child, and not even male, the emotions contained in those eyes made people willingly violate ethical norms, just to get that person to look at them a little longer.

“Senior Sister Huang, why is your face turning red?” Ye Wenxin truly had no awareness that her words inadvertently touched Huang Hanyan’s most vulnerable spot, thinking that Huang Hanyan was just feeling a bit upset.

“It’s nothing, just that the wind today is a bit noisy.” Huang Hanyan smiled softly, picking up the items Ye Wenxin had placed on the ground and carefully putting them into her bag of holding.

“Is your bag full? I still have some extra here…”

“No, thank you. It’s already enough. Junior Sister, you’ve done too much already.” Huang Hanyan firmly refused. The reason she took each item separately was not because her bag of holding was too small, but because she cherished every single thing Ye Wenxin gave her.

Perhaps, she should even start keeping accounts, to avoid forgetting Ye Wenxin’s kindness in the future.

“Alright, remember our agreement, don’t keep everything to yourself in the future. Whatever you want, I’ll do my best to help you.” Ye Wenxin finally breathed a sigh of relief, unsure if this help would have a positive impact on Huang Hanyan. But if she did not offer her some assistance, Huang Hanyan might truly end up on a path she did not want to take.

Ye Wenxin had been forced into marriage in this world before, she could understand that feeling. And she did not want Huang Hanyan to experience such unpleasant experiences.

“Oh, by the way, Senior Sister Huang, do you have a good relationship with your family?”

Suddenly, another idea dawned on Ye Wenxin. Perhaps she did not need to go through so much trouble to push Huang Hanyan into a breakthrough amidst suffering and hardship. She simply needed to have Hei Tong take her to visit her family, use the identity of Demon Lord Gu Qingcheng to slay them all, and everything would be fine.

Forced marriages? Suffering? None of that would matter anymore.

“Except for my mother, I haven’t had much contact with anyone else. However, I still hope they can see my worth, rather than treating me as a tool for marriage.” Huang Hanyan was stubborn, but in a commendable way. Ye Wenxin did not dislike this kind of determined person.

“I see. Then, you’re similar to the past me.”

“Past? You’re only thirteen now.”

“Hehehe, it was just a short while ago.” Ye Wenxin smoothly continued her lie, feeling a bit guilty. She had relaxed too much just now and forgotten her current setting. Ye Wenxin was actually over fifty years old, but due to cultivation, living for thousands of years was absolutely possible.

However, she could not let others know about these things, especially Huang Hanyan. If she found out that Ye Wenxin was actually the Demon Lord Gu Qingcheng she had stood up, she would likely show a fearful expression beyond measure.

“It turns out Little Sister Wenxin also left home due to marriage issues. We’re quite alike in that regard.”

“I seem to recall mentioning it before, um, sorry, I must have been mistaken, I don’t think it was you I told.” Ye Wenxin fabricated too many lies, and because of that, she could not remember who she had told what.

“It probably wasn’t me,” Huang Hanyan laughed calmly, but in just one day, she felt much closer to Ye Wenxin.

Ye Wenxin smiled along, but could not help wondering how long Huang Hanyan would keep up the emotional drama. Right now, she wanted to hurry back to the courtyard to continue refining the Heart-Cleansing Pill.

After a while, their senior sister finally arrived to escort them. Following their previous agreement, Ye Wenxin gave this senior sister a first-grade Qi Refining Pill as compensation.

Otherwise, considering Huang Hanyan’s awkward situation in the Azure Wings Sect, it would be impossible for her to summon a senior sister capable of swordflight. Ye Wenxin did not make friends deliberately, nor did she want to owe anyone favors; this tit-for-tat approach suited her best.

The senior sister also seemed to not be very talkative. There was little communication between them until they reached the Azure Wings Sect’s twelfth gate teleportation point. After waving goodbye to the senior sister, they exchanged a few words before she quickly departed.

Continuing upstairs, they encountered the gatekeeper, whom they had not seen in a long time, Junior Brother Lu, or rather, Senior Brother Lu.

Previously, Ye Wenxin had been stopped by Senior Brother Lu outside the twelfth gate, but in such a short time, she had become Ling Jue’s assistant, coveted by various school masters, elders, and even the Sect Master himself.

Senior Brother Lu was very envious, but unfortunately, he had not even made the selection for the alchemy disciples. In addition, his attitude towards Ye Wenxin last time certainly would not leave a good impression on her, making it even less likely for them to become friends.

However, just as Senior Brother Lu was thinking this, Ye Wenxin unexpectedly greeted him.

“Good evening, Senior Brother Lu.”

Senior Brother Lu was a little flattered and immediately replied, “Hello, Miss Wenxin. I see you went out with Junior Sister Huang today.”

Looking at this lineup reminded Senior Brother Lu of the recent rumors that circulated from an unknown source.

“Senior Brother Lu, hello,” Huang Hanyan nodded slightly towards Senior Brother Lu, greeting him, but she pulled Ye Wenxin along, seemingly unwilling to have any interaction with the annoying Senior Brother Lu.

“Hello, Junior Sister Huang. You’ve been making good progress in your cultivation lately,” Senior Brother Lu initiated small talk, but Huang Hanyan frowned slightly, clearly not liking Senior Brother Lu beating around the bush.

“Senior Brother Lu, if you have something to say, just say it directly,” Huang Hanyan said bluntly, not wanting to waste time with Senior Brother Lu.

“No, I don’t have any ill intentions. I’m just curious about a rumor,” Senior Brother Lu replied.

“What rumor?”

Ye Wenxin also perked up her ears, but Senior Brother Lu seemed reluctant to speak it to her face.

“Come on, since it’s just a rumor, there’s no need to be this roundabout,” Huang Hanyan said casually, obviously not taking the so-called rumor seriously and likely aware of its general content.

“There’s a rumor going around that you and Senior Sister Long Qing’er are the most likely candidates to become Fairy Fengya’s true disciple.”

“This is the rumor you’re curious about?” Huang Hanyan looked at him as if he was an idiot, leaving Senior Brother Lu feeling embarrassed.

“Come on, even with my current status, it’s impossible for me to become Fairy Fengya’s true disciple. Please consider the credibility of the rumor next time before speaking to me.” Done talking, she grabbed Ye Wenxin’s hand and quickly walked away, clearly unwilling to see Senior Brother Lu’s obnoxious face any longer.

Ye Wenxin could sense Huang Hanyan’s anger, probably because she felt isolated among the inner disciples, among other reasons. Even though this rumor was so obviously false, the dark side of human nature could amplify it until it consumed everything.

“Senior Sister Huang, are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Huang Hanyan immediately replied, but seeing the concerned look in Ye Wenxin’s eyes, she sighed, “Sorry, I’m just a bit annoyed. They act like children, speculating about things that don’t even exist. You, an actual child on the other hand, are more mature than them.”

Ye Wenxin smiled gently, without retorting to being called a child.

Since ancient times to present day, words could be dangerous, not just empty talk. She understood that, but she would be foolish if she cared too much.

“It’ll pass soon. After all, Fairy Fengya has been pushed to the limit lately, and it’s likely she’ll choose a true disciple soon.” This was only Ye Wenxin’s guess though.

From the reactions of the school masters and Sect Master, they would surely find a way to make Long Qing’er become Fairy Fengya’s true disciple as soon as possible, putting an end to all the troubles caused by Long Qing’er’s antics.

By then, the rumors would stop, and Huang Hanyan would endure much less trouble.

“Hopefully, but I think the matter of choosing a true disciple won’t be so simple. Although I’ve only met Fairy Fengya once, I have a feeling she’s searching for that person.”

“So, what you mean is that Fairy Fengya is actually looking for a true disciple, but hasn’t found the right candidate yet?” Ye Wenxin deliberately continued the conversation, wanting to gauge what Huang Hanyan’s understanding was.

“Yes, if the rumors are true, and the other school masters and elders are forcing Fairy Fengya to choose a disciple quickly, I think she might actually choose a true disciple from among the new recruits this time.” Huang Hanyan analyzed, looking at Ye Wenxin’s unwavering expression, she could not help but smile, “But this is just my guess. After all, even if Fairy Fengya is perfect in many ways, she’s still just a mortal. If pushed too hard, she might do the complete opposite, and Senior Sister Qing’er’s chances aren’t actually that high.”

Ye Wenxin nodded in agreement, feeling that Huang Hanyan’s words resonated with her, “You’re right. After all, no matter how great Fairy Fengya is, she’s still just an ordinary person.”

Huang Hanyan chuckled, “It seems that Wenxin doesn’t like Fairy Fengya as much as I thought.”

“I just like her face, I haven’t seen her yet though.”

Ye Wenxin had lost count of how many times she had been asked about Fairy Fengya, she had become numb to it. However, it had to be said that whenever Fairy Fengya was mentioned, there was always plenty to talk about.

“Fairy Fengya will definitely be at the recruitment assembly. You should take a good look then, Wenxin.”

“Is she really that beautiful?”

Ye Wenxin still could not understand. In her eyes, Ling Jue was already pretty enough, and Long Qing’er was also quite good-looking. She could not help but feel that this Fairy Fengya was probably just exaggerated in legends, maybe not even as beautiful as the beautiful mute in the backwoods.

“Yeah, extremely beautiful. Even I can’t help but be attracted,” Huang Hanyan replied earnestly, longing revealed in her expression.

“Is that so? I really want to meet her soon.”

Ye Wenxin gave a cursory response, her steps coming to a halt.

“We’re here.”

“Yeah, I’ve reached home.”

Their arrival at the Alchemy Workshop signaled their impending parting. Ye Wenxin took a step forward and pushed the door, which opened effortlessly.

Huang Hanyan watched as Ye Wenxin walked inside, then suddenly called out to her.

“Little Sister Wenxin, can I hang out with you in the future?”

She asked somewhat nervously, afraid that she might have assumed Ye Wenxin as a friend one-sidedly, while Ye Wenxin might not share the same sentiment.