He previously liked Senior Sister's straightforward and transparent personality, but now it seemed a bit foolish.
He glanced and withdrew his gaze, unwilling to pay her any further attention. He lifted his foot, intending to continue on his way.
Xinxi had never encountered an outer disciple so arrogant. Did he truly believe he was protected by someone from Qingxin Hall! It was sheer presumption!
A surge of anger welled up within her. Xinxi didn't think much further. She merely wanted to teach the young man a lesson. Condensing spiritual energy in her hand, she waved it, swiftly attacking the youth.
Bi Lian's eyes sharpened. Tendrils of demonic energy coiled around his fingertips. Just as he raised his hand, his ear twitched. The demonic energy on his fingertips vanished instantly. He stood there, not dodging, and was struck by the spiritual energy. He staggered back a few steps, then fell to the ground. The peach blossom soup in his hand seemed to slip, hitting the ground with a *splat*, spilling all over the place.
The young man's face was pale. He clutched his chest with one hand, his voice so weak it sounded as though he could stop breathing at any moment. "Elder Xinxi, why... why would you attack me without a word..."
As he spoke, he coughed, as if gravely injured.
Xinxi scoffed at his theatrics. She had used only a fraction of her spiritual power, even holding back considerably. She hadn't truly exerted herself, and it was barely painful. Her intention was to teach him a lesson. She found the young man's pretense even more detestable.
"Stop faking it here. Qingxin Hall is not a place for people like you. Now get out."
"Who are you telling to get out?"
A clear, cool voice laced with a hint of frost.
Xinxi's body stiffened. She caught sight of a figure in white approaching.
Faint golden light illuminated the icy white brows of the immortal in white. Clad in snow-white robes, with silver hair, her eyes were like frost and snow, cold and detached.
Aloof, untainted by the dust of the world.
She had always been like this.
She had never changed.
But the flutter of a maiden's heart, facing such indifference, could not be voiced. Even if voiced, there would be no reply.
It was enough to drive one mad.
Shen Yue arrived precisely in front of the young man. The wide, clean sleeve of her robe fell, and she extended her hand towards him. It was pure white and beautiful, each finger like jade.
The young man, looking wronged, raised his hand to grasp it. The exceptionally soft, cool touch made him deliberately squeeze tighter. He then quietly hid behind the immortal in white, looking even more pitiful. "Immortal Venerable, I apologize. The peach blossom soup fell because I wasn't holding it properly. Elder Xinxi didn't mean it, please don't be angry."
His words sounded conciliatory, but in reality, they accused Xinxi, calling her a master of pretense.
Xinxi's face flushed red. She instinctively looked at the immortal in white in a panic. "Senior Brother, don't listen to his nonsense. It's not like he says at all!"
The immortal in white possessed a naturally cold demeanor, her face like a frost-covered snow. Xinxi knew Xi Yu detested being touched more than anything. Even though she had grown up with Xi Yu, they had never engaged in any intimate gestures.
Yet now, Xi Yu was allowing an outer disciple to hold her hand, not reprimanding him, not pulling away, simply letting him hold it!
This filled Xinxi's heart with bitterness.
Shen Yue's voice was cold yet soft.
"Then how is it? Perhaps you can explain it in detail."
Xinxi opened her mouth, a myriad of words wanting to be explained, but she didn't know where to start. It was indeed she who had initiated the attack, and the outer disciple had done nothing excessive. She had no way to explain, because if Shen Yue knew the sequence of events, she would likely be even angrier.
Yes, angry. Shen Yue would be angry at her because of an outer disciple.
The prolonged silence made Shen Yue's expression even colder. "Xinxi, as an elder of Qingyun Sect, you are so sharp-tongued towards your disciples. I see you are indeed regressing."
Although Xi Yu's temperament was cold, her words were never harsh. Instead, they conveyed a clear and comfortable feeling. But now, her tone was frigid, her expression was cold, and the aura she exuded made Xinxi barely dare to meet her gaze.
She lowered her head, biting her lip. "Senior Brother, Xinxi knows she was wrong."
Shen Yue turned her head away, not looking at her. "You may go."
Xinxi rarely had such harsh words spoken to her. She felt wronged and bitter, but dared not show it. With red-rimmed eyes, she ran out.
Bi Lian stood behind Shen Yue, still holding that cool hand. He looked at Shen Yue's profile, her expression cold because he had been wronged.
She was angry on his behalf.
That pale, refined face, lips redder than blood, strands of silver hair gently stirred by the breeze. She turned her head, her eyes clear and cold, like a handful of snow, sharp and pure, dispelling darkness.
When she looked at him, that bone-chilling indifference lessened slightly.
Truly...
Bi Lian hooked his lips. Feigning unease, he moved a few steps closer to the white figure, close enough to clearly smell the faint, sweet, cool fragrance.
"Immortal Venerable, is Elder Xinxi angry? It's all my fault."
The young man seemed annoyed with himself, his voice growing deeper. Yet, his delicate and beautiful face showed no sign of self-reproach or distress.
Shen Yue, unable to see, took the young man's words as truth. She wasn't good at comforting people. After a moment of silence, she said, "You did nothing wrong. There's no need to be sad."
Bi Lian was truly somewhat surprised. He knew Shen Yue actually doted on Xinxi quite a bit, ever since they were young. Whenever he bullied Xinxi, Shen Yue would scold him with a cold face. But now, for him, a mere ordinary disciple, she had berated Xinxi.
Curious, it was truly too curious.
Bi Lian found himself unable to fathom the person before him any clearer.
Bi Lian suddenly recalled that in the demon realm, some high-level demons, upon gaining consciousness, favored collecting shiny, beautiful objects. They loved beautiful things, beautiful people; if it was beautiful, they loved to collect it.
If it was a living creature, they would turn it into a puppet and cherish it in a secret chamber.
This was to preserve beauty at that particular moment forever, always pleasing to the eye.
And what could be more obedient, more easily controlled, than a puppet?
The Immortal Venerable's appearance was beyond mere beauty; she was exquisitely strange, as if she didn't belong here.
Someone like the Immortal Venerable, surely many would want to possess.
Bi Lian sighed inwardly.
Turning Shen Yue into a puppet now would be too boring.
He hadn't had enough fun yet. When he had tasted enough of the Immortal Venerable's exquisite body, when he had severed her tendons, dug out her spirit core, only then would he turn her into the most beautiful puppet, keeping her by his side forever.
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. Bi Lian couldn't help but smile blissfully, a childlike, happy, and joyful smile gracing his delicate face, utterly unsuited to his tall stature.