Rong Hua also came back to his senses. He glanced at Yin Jing's reddened hand and a ripple of emotion flickered in his eyes. "...I'm sorry."
Although Yin Jing felt wronged and confused, she wasn't the type to make a scene. So, with reddened eyes, she managed a smile. "It's alright. I know you didn't do it on purpose."
The man fell silent again. He had been very quiet lately, rarely speaking at all.
Yin Jing couldn't help but glance at the sword the man was holding tightly, and softly asked, "Is this sword very important to you?"
"Not important."
This answer surprised Yin Jing. "Not important, then why do you... treasure it so much?"
Rong Hua remained silent again. He simply pressed his lips together, his expression turning ashen.
Not knowing she had touched a nerve, Yin Jing continued to chatter, "You never let me touch this sword, you always have it in your hand. Do you even hold it while you sleep at night..."
Before she could finish, Rong Hua turned and left without a word.
Watching the man's cold and heartless back, Yin Jing stomped her foot in anger and huffed, chasing after him.
---
Shen Yue agreed to stay in the Xinqing Palace with Rong Hua.
However, she didn't come out often, preferring to stay alone in her chambers, claiming to be cultivating, but actually hiding to watch dramas.
Shen Yue cried buckets: "So pitiful... The female lead is just too pitiful. After they finally fell in love, the male lead lost his memory."
The system also dabbed at imaginary tears with a tiny handkerchief: "Sob sob, it's so heartbreaking. The male lead even has to marry another woman..."
Shen Yue: "Wuwuwu."
System: "Ying ying ying."
One person and one system wept together.
After watching dramas for several days, Shen Yue's spirits improved considerably. Just as she was about to start the next one, a paper crane flew in, hovering before her before dissolving into tiny specks of starlight.
Xuan Cheng's voice transmission echoed: "Senior Brother, come to the front hall quickly. There are important matters to discuss."
Shen Yue got out of bed, stretched her limbs, and went to the front hall.
All the elders were present in the front hall.
Shen Yue took her seat, leaning slightly forward, her eyes narrowed. "What is the matter?"
One of the elders spoke indignantly, "A demon actually trespassed into our Lingfeng Pavilion and injured many of our disciples. Fortunately, Jiang Ling appeared in time. That demonic creature is now severely injured and hiding somewhere. Everyone must be extra vigilant."
This greatly surprised many elders, as the barrier of the Qingyun Sect was not something an ordinary demon could breach. Not only had it broken in, but it had also injured people within Lingfeng Pavilion, which was akin to slapping the Qingyun Sect in the face.
Xin Xi's expression turned slightly cold. "Does the demon have any distinguishing features?"
The Lingfeng Pavilion elder replied, "It has a scar on its face, very long, from the tip of its brow to its chin. It looks fierce."
A scar on the face made identification easy.
Besides this matter, there were also various trivial affairs from the disciples of the various elders. Shen Yue no longer wished to listen and got up to leave. Xuan Cheng followed behind her.
Outside the front hall, Xuan Cheng still maintained his usual lazy and nonchalant demeanor. "This Qingyun Sect is really not as good as it used to be. How dare a mere demon creature intrude and act so presumptuously."
Shen Yue turned her head, half of her face, like moonlight and frost, facing Xuan Cheng. Her voice was faint, "I fear that demon is not simple at all."
Xuan Cheng unfurled his jade fan, treating a divine artifact as if it were a common fan, still complaining that it wasn't windy enough to be cool.
Seeing this, Shen Yue said nothing more.
"Greetings, Master."
A clear, bright voice rang out, tinged with excitement.
Shen Yue turned her head to find the source of the voice. She felt the voice was very familiar, and after a moment's thought, she remembered who it was.
"Jiang Ling."
The voice seemed even more excited. "Yes, it is indeed your disciple."
Shen Yue generally had a good impression of diligent disciples. Although her expression remained impassive, she said, "I heard you were the one who injured the demon. Are you hurt?"
Jiang Ling's eyes widened in flattered surprise. He quickly shook his hands nervously, and knowing Shen Yue couldn't see, he explained specially, "Just some minor injuries, nothing serious."
Hearing him say this, Shen Yue still gave him a bottle of healing medicine.
Jiang Ling received the small jade bottle with both hands, respectfully and carefully. His eyes were bright, and his handsome face was flushed red with excitement. His voice rose a few decibels.
"Thank you, Master!"
It was just a small gesture for Shen Yue, and she didn't think much of it. She left with Xuan Cheng.
Jiang Ling, still standing in place, looked at the white bottle in his hand. It was a Ningbi Pill, a seventh-grade immortal elixir, a legendary super-spiritual medicine said to be able to revive even a dying person who still had a breath. For others, it was a medicine that could not be bought with a thousand gold, but for his Master, it seemed like just an ordinary bottle of medicine.
Perhaps because the jade bottle had been on his Master for too long, it seemed to have a sweet fragrance.
Clenching the jade bottle, Jiang Ling ultimately couldn't bear to use even a single pill and carefully treasured it away.
---
Xuan Cheng and Shen Yue arrived at Xinqing Palace together. They sat down to drink tea, thin veils fluttering in the wind.
To be honest, Xuan Cheng couldn't discern the taste of the tea at all. It only felt very bitter, yet inexplicably made one want to take another sip.
Xuan Cheng took a sip and scowled, then took another sip and scowled again.
Meanwhile, Shen Yue on the opposite side was savoring it, unlike Xuan Cheng who drank it like water.
Xuan Cheng still felt the tea couldn't compare to fragrant wine; it smelled good but tasted bitter.
The white-robed immortal had a serene expression, as if covered in frost and snow. Her back was as upright as a green bamboo, and she slightly nodded, taking a shallow sip of tea.
Her nature was always quiet. When she wasn't speaking, her expression was cold and aloof, like frost and moon hanging in the sky, distant and unattainable.
But at this moment, her manner of savoring the tea delicately seemed to melt away that sense of distance, instantly stirring feelings and making one forget all decorum.
Xuan Cheng became engrossed. He was a superficial person, loving good wine and beautiful women.
He felt that the white-robed immortal before him belonged in the heavens, perhaps punished for some offense in the celestial court and thus cast down to the mortal realm.
Thinking this, Xuan Cheng chuckled to himself. How could he be drunk without having had any wine?
Shen Yue heard his laughter and looked up in confusion, "What are you laughing at?"
Xuan Cheng put down his teacup, propped up his chin, and looked at the soft white cloth on Shen Yue's face. "Why didn't you tell me you took on a young disciple?"
Shen Yue paused, and she too put down her teacup. She pursed her lips. "You saw him?"
"Yes, I did." Xuan Cheng's smile slowly faded, and his charming brows were veiled with a shade of gloom. "Why does he look... so similar to that person?"