Chapter 134: The Choice (Part 6)

Practicing the new swordsmanship manual was exhausting. After a few days of combing her hair, Xu Qianyu couldn’t help but doze off.

Shen Suwei glanced at her. The mental technique he had just handed her was now carelessly folded into a paper boat and left on the desk. Xu Qianyu’s head had already droop.

“Don’t sleep,” he said, one hand supporting her hair while the other gently lifted her face. He brushed aside the curls on her forehead, revealing her skin, and saw her eyelashes fluttering heavily like wet butterfly wings. Shen Suwei paused for a moment but didn’t call her again.

The mental technique she was supposed to study hadn’t been tested.

He pressed his two fingers together and gently placed them on her forehead, helping her to wake up.

Xu Qianyu had been quite restless, but the coolness on her forehead felt very soothing, and her brows gradually relaxed. It wasn’t until the noise at the door startled her awake that she realized what had happened. Her senior brother’s companion had called Shen Suwei away, saying that their master needed him for something.

Shen Suwei whispered in her ear, “I’m leaving.”

By the time Xu Qianyu had fully woken up, her senior brother was already gone. She glanced at the mirror and saw the two buns in her hair, each decorated with small jasmine flowers. She touched the buns, and her mood lifted, then began reciting the mental technique she had just unfolded.

After that day, Senior Brother seemed to become incredibly busy and hadn’t had time to help her comb her hair for several days.

In the past, Shen Suwei would also help Xu Binglai with things and often had periods of leaving early and returning late, which Xu Qianyu had become used to. It could only be said that the sect’s affairs had a peak season and an off-season, and now it was the busy season, so she could only trouble Senior Brother.

But Xu Qianyu’s mind was focused on something else.

In the blink of an eye, it was April of the year, and Xu Qianyu began preparing for Shen Suwei’s birthday.

She lay on the bed thinking, How could she make Senior Brother happier? When this idea came to her, she felt a surge of excitement: she wanted to celebrate his birthday, the one no one knew about.

Once Xu Qianyu decided to humble herself to please someone, it was a very domineering kind of pleasing: she would pile everything in front of that person, and they had no choice but to be happy, with no room for rejection. Whenever she had free time, she would sneak out of Penglai, go to the mortal realm, and buy all the necessary things—hairpins, jade pendants, ribbons, and of course, clothes.

Shen Suwei had a great figure, and even in plain white robes with no adornments, he exuded an ethereal, snowy air. But Xu Qianyu couldn’t take her eyes off the luxurious embroidery and the fish scale silk, so she bought them.

She wanted to see Senior Brother look even more handsome.

Moreover, she was certain that if she insisted he wear it, he wouldn’t refuse.

Thinking that in the future she could dress him according to her own ideas while no one else could made her very happy.

Xu Qianyu was extravagant when buying things. She took all the gold and silver she had hidden in the mortal realm, and when she couldn’t decide what to pick, she just bought everything. She made the noble ladies at the clothing store look at her with jealous, unspeakable gazes.

After returning, she carefully packed the mess of items in a mustard seed golden bead, stacking them one by one, then took the entire mustard seed golden bead off and placed it in a box.

In the past, Xu Qianyu would also set off fireworks for her birthday. Naturally, she had to buy some fireworks sticks as well. She tied several together with spiritual power and stacked them up, secretly burying them around the lotus pond while Shen Suwei wasn’t around, and also buried a circle of firework sticks outside his pavilion.

But such a grand gesture wasn’t enough for her to finish on her own.

However, Yu Chu, who was now the chief tool master of Penglai, was very busy, and Lin Shuyue, after returning from the demon realm, had cut off contact with the outside world to focus on her cultivation. Xu Qianyu had no choice but to call Ruan Zhuqing to help her dig the pond and move the mud.

Ruan Zhuqing stood in the dark across from her, a resentful figure: “You called me here before dawn just to have me move all these stones and then put them back?”

Xu Qianyu replied, “Yes.”

Ruan Zhuqing asked, “Why not use the technique of exchanging items across space?”

Xu Qianyu said, “I can’t use spells. We can’t leave any traces or disturb anyone.”

“Are you deliberately torturing me?” Ruan Zhuqing gasped, moving the stones as he painfully asked, “Why can’t we do this during the day?”

Xu Qianyu, who was also moving stones, answered righteously, “I need to cultivate during the day; I can’t waste time.”

Although Ruan Zhuqing had the cultivation of a Golden Core, he came from a wealthy family and had long been used to a life of extravagance, using bought talismans and magical tools instead of doing manual labor. When the sect leader scolded him for being lazy and indulgent, it was because he didn’t put effort into physical cultivation.

After some time, he was sweating like rain, lying flat on the ground.

In his blurred vision, he saw Xu Qianyu looking at him with disdain in the morning light, her breathing steady. He felt a deep sense of humiliation, stood up, and continued moving the stones.

As the wind brushed away the sweat on his face, he heard the morning birds chirping and the insects singing, feeling his mind becoming clearer and his mood lighter.

At this moment, a butterfly carrying a letter from Xiaolu appeared.

She said she had sprained her ankle and couldn’t move, asking him to come help her fetch water.

Ruan Zhuqing was momentarily dazed and subconsciously thought, I’m so tired; can’t I not go? But he quickly shook his head and scolded his selfishness.

Xu Qianyu heard him muttering about how poor Xiaolu was, and, already irritated from waking up, snatched the stone from his hands. “If you want to go, go! Get lost.”

Ruan Zhuqing stepped back, feeling that Xu Qianyu was being rather aggressive.

Turning around, he saw the figure of the girl moving stones by the water’s edge. The scene felt strangely familiar, and an inexplicable heaviness filled his heart.

After not receiving a reply for a long time, Lu You was feeling restless.

Ruan Zhuqing was an important figure in her return to Penglai, and she remembered how, in the past, this younger disciple had been infatuated with her for many years, deeply devoted to her.

He was good to female cultivators, and when he liked someone, he had no principles.

After she intentionally approached Ruan Zhuqing, he had indeed been drawn to her, constantly revolving around her.

Thankfully, Ruan Zhuqing finally rushed over, his forehead covered in sweat, and Lu You felt very satisfied.

However, Ruan Zhuqing seemed somewhat distracted, which bothered Lu You. It seemed that simply keeping him tied to her wasn’t enough; she needed more moments that would leave a deeper mark on his heart.

So, at the moment of handing over the water bucket, her veil fluttered, and her appearance, already innocent and pure, became even more enchanting. Her smile was captivating.

Ruan Zhuqing had once done so much to make her smile, like braiding a shuttlecock for her or catching crickets for her.

She had once had so much love given without expecting anything in return.

Ruan Zhuqing indeed couldn’t take his eyes off her, as if time itself had stopped: “Xiaolu, why… why do you say you’re plain? You’re very beautiful; you should be confident. In the future, don’t always hide yourself.”

Just as Lu You was about to speak, she saw Ruan Zhuqing stand up.

“Why are you leaving?”

Ruan Zhuqing looked troubled. “I have to go help Xu Qianyu move stones.”

Lu You couldn’t believe it. “What?”

Ruan Zhuqing sincerely said, “I have to go; I need to help Xu Qianyu move stones.”

Ruan Zhuqing suddenly realized that, although moving stones had been painful at the time, afterward he felt refreshed, almost addicted, and wanted to try again.

As for Xiaolu’s looks, although they had exceeded his expectations, with Sister Qinghe from the Water Moon Flower Realm as the standard, Xiaolu was only considered good-looking.

He cupped his hands in salute. Lu You’s lips moved, but no words came out.

As soon as he stepped out, Lu You spat out a mouthful of blood. Ruan Zhuqing’s actions clearly showed that her lucky halo had a flaw and was now backfiring on her.
Lu You heard a sneer.

“Are you laughing at me too?” Lu You shuddered, tears falling, her voice full of hatred. “Why do you have the right to laugh at me?”

The young demon king’s voice, full of laughter, echoed: “I laugh at my queen, who once played with the world at her fingertips but now has fallen to such a state. How pitiful. Why not strike a deal with me? You help me lure these cultivators into the trap, and I’ll help you escape.”

*
Every day, Xu Qianyu quietly made arrangements, watching as the firework array was almost complete. Suddenly, Hua Qingyu made a request, asking her to move in and stay with her.

Xu Qianyu was confused: “Hua Liangyu has already gone back, and there’s no need for anyone else to help suppress the ghosts. Why do you still want me to stay here?”

Hua Qingyu, propping her head with one hand, comfortably lay in the bed curtain, speaking in a strange tone: “Oh, I worked so hard to teach you how to draw talismans, and now you’re unwilling to accompany me for a few days?”

She floated over, shoved a talisman book into Xu Qianyu’s hands, and then poked her sharply on the head with her slender finger: “I’ll test you every day. Memorize it.”

Xu Qianyu could only helplessly memorize the book, already beginning to doze off while still drawing talismans.

In the haze of sleep, she caught a glimpse of Hua Qingyu forming a seal with her hands. A talisman glow flew from her palm and spun as it landed on the door, effectively locking it. But in the past, Hua Qingyu had never locked the door like this.

In the stillness of the night, Xu Qianyu felt a vague sense of doubt rising in her heart.

She vaguely remembered that time when Wuzhen had stopped her, and the senior brother had called Shen Suwei away from her room.

When piecing everything together, she realized: the people around her seemed to be preventing her from getting too close to Shen Suwei.

The thought made her break out in a cold sweat.

She hadn’t seen her senior brother in a long time, and an uneasy feeling grew in her. Late at night, Xu Qianyu quietly tiptoed to the door, easily unraveling the talisman, and, taking advantage of Hua Qingyu’s distraction, pushed open the door and ran out.

She ran all the way back to Zhaoyue Hall, only to find that her senior brother’s room was dark.

He hadn’t returned. Where had he gone?

Shen Suwei was in the library.

The library, in the tall tower near the training grounds, was filled with the deep fragrance of ancient books.

Shen Suwei’s robes fluttered as he sat silently on the floor: “Are you here to be a mediator for the master as well?”

Xu Baopu looked at him, feeling utterly helpless. Xu Binglai didn’t understand why he resisted seclusion, but Xu Baopu knew it all too well: “I know this is cruel to you. But the heart demon develops through indulgence. If you don’t stop, it will only get worse. At this point, we can’t afford to have another one like you.”

Shen Suwei naturally understood. He had reached the Yuan Ying stage, and if he entered the realm of dreams, it would become a great calamity. The only solution was to further strengthen his martial arts, adopting the heartless path, as he did in his past life, to live in peace with the heart demon for a hundred years.

“Did you hear that?” Xu Baopu forcibly took the book from his hands.

“It’s my fault, forcing you to think about the matter of merging.” Xu Baopu opened the page and saw it was about the ritual of merging, his heart aching as he spoke, “Listen to your senior brother. If you don’t want to harm little junior sister, just drop it. In her heart, you are still her senior brother, and that bond is long-lasting.”

“Drop it?” Shen Suwei replied, “I can’t.”

“Why not?” Xu Baopu asked, “Wasn’t it me who urged you to move forward, and you refused?”

“She will fall for someone else.”

“She won’t. Little junior sister doesn’t have the love soul, so how could…”

“She will,” Shen Suwei said with an unexpected certainty, making Xu Baopu glance at him in surprise.

He knew Xu Qianyu too well. In his past life, it was just one wrong decision, one misstep.

Because he didn’t do enough, fate played its hand, and the next time they met, they were separated by life and death.

Xu Baopu fell silent.

Shen Suwei didn’t speak again. Xu Baopu had long known that this junior brother’s fate was full of twists and turns. He was clearly fighting for the sect and sacrificing himself for it. If it were someone else, they would have already complained about the unfairness of destiny. But Shen Suwei remained calm. Xu Baopu asked him what he was thinking, and Shen Suwei lowered his eyes: “I’m thinking, who am I?”

He had cultivated the Way for over a century, traveling day and night for the great path. But now, Ling Su Daojun had cut off his future, and his master and senior brothers had severed his past.

How could he not be lost?

Xu Baopu tried to persuade him again. Shen Suwei, with rebellious determination, stopped him:

“I’m fine. Rather than worrying about me, you should worry about Xu Qianqian.”

When Xu Baopu heard that Xu Qianqian had a spiritual root, he almost lost his balance: “I thought the Elder Tai Shang at least cared about Qianqian, but I never imagined that he would disregard even family. We can’t tell the master about this yet; his cultivation…”

“What about the master’s cultivation?”

Xu Baopu realized his mistake but refused to say more. He only told Shen Suwei to stay in the tower and read the heart method. Later, he should meditate in the stillness pool and think things through.

Xu Qianyu searched everywhere and eventually arrived at the tower.

It was her first time discovering that the library had a large spiritual pool, with mist rising from the water. By the pool, there were satin ribbons, which were her senior brother’s clothes. Her footsteps faltered.

Her senior brother and the master’s brother were speaking in secret. Both of them were stronger than her. She stood outside the curtain, vaguely hearing only her own name and the matter of merging.

Her heart raced.

Merging?

Soon the master’s brother, with a serious expression, hurriedly left. Xu Qianyu hid behind a bookshelf, ensuring he didn’t spot her. Once he was gone, she used talisman magic to lock the door and sneaked inside.

When Shen Suwei saw her, he was unusually surprised, dropping the curtain and separating them: “Don’t come over.”

Xu Qianyu couldn’t hold back and pulled back the curtain, rushing to embrace Shen Suwei, pushing him back a few steps until he bumped into a bookshelf. She pressed her face against his chest, aggrieved: “Senior brother, you smell so good.”