Rong Hua then discovered that there was another creature here.
It was entirely green, only the size of a palm, making it very difficult to notice.
And it was clinging intimately to Shen Yue's shoulder, even trying to climb onto her face.
Shen Yue's indifferent treatment seemed to melt away much of the green creature's demeanor. Even when it climbed onto her face, not a hint of displeasure appeared. Her eyes even softened slightly with tenderness.
She said softly, with a hint of helpless indulgence, "Stop messing around."
Her tone was doting and permissive.
Rong Hua couldn't help but frown, asking in a low voice, "What is this?"
Shen Yue was unwilling to say more, merely stating, "It's just a little tree spirit."
Though she spoke casually, her actions betrayed her words. Rong Hua was surprised, not knowing when his master had acquired such a little thing.
A mere ordinary little tree spirit without any spiritual power, much like himself in the past. He wondered what had caught his master's eye.
Rong Hua's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes darkened for a moment. His voice, as usual, was deep and gentle, saying words that completely contradicted his inner thoughts, "This little tree spirit is quite cute. Master, would you be willing to gift it to me? It's always a bit boring to be alone in Qingxin Hall."
He had originally thought Shen Yue would hesitate for a moment, then agree, after all, Shen Yue had once brought him the Resurrection Elixir without a second thought for his request.
If that was the case, what couldn't she give him?
But Shen Yue refused without even a moment's hesitation, "No."
The direct and cold refusal stunned Rong Hua. He clenched his fingers unwillingly, pressing on, "Why."
The white-robed immortal, with her clear eyebrows and jade-like skin, her eyes covered by a white cloth, resembled moonlight reflecting on snow.
In stark contrast to her noble bearing, the completely green creature had already climbed onto Shen Yue's head. Seemingly delighted, it even bounced twice.
Rong Hua narrowed his eyes, his face frosty, and asked again with slight urgency, "Why?"
It was as if he wouldn't stop until he got an answer.
This was indeed his nature.
Shen Yue put down the brush in her hand and stood with her hands behind her back, addressing Rong Hua, "If you find yourself bored, you can go to other senior or junior disciples for guidance. I observe your cultivation has improved; it would be best to focus your mind on cultivation and not let other things distract you."
This was the first time Shen Yue had spoken so much to him, yet it was all a reprimand, accusing him of being playful and not focusing on cultivation. But how could Shen Yue know how hard he worked when she wasn't watching?
Rong Hua was unaware that in Shen Yue's eyes, he appeared so frivolous and undisciplined.
He felt wronged and hurt, "Master..."
Shen Yue remained unmoved. The green creature perched on her head, her face expressionless, "You don't need to make peach blossom soup either. Cultivation is the main thing."
She spoke of cultivation repeatedly, as if it were the only thing in her eyes, and everything else was superfluous.
Even his attempts to please her were in vain.
Rong Hua gritted his teeth as he looked at her, his heart pierced again by her icy gaze, fueling his rebellious desires.
"Since that's the case, then Master, give me that little tree spirit. Consider it encouragement."
He simply found the green, bouncing thing on his master's head exceptionally irritating, making him want to cleave it with a single blow.
It seemed to particularly enjoy crawling all over Shen Yue. After bouncing on her head for a moment, it slid onto the white cloth covering her eyes, its two hands gripping the cloth as its green body swung back and forth.
And Shen Yue, from beginning to end, had not uttered a single word or shown any displeasure.
Their intimacy was almost blinding.
"..." Watching this scene, Rong Hua, for some reason, couldn't look away.
"...Too close."
Half of his face was hidden in the dim light of the shadows, making him appear somewhat obscure. His dark eyes were even more terrifyingly black.
"What?"
Because the man's voice was too low, Shen Yue hadn't heard him clearly.
"I mean, this little tree spirit is truly presumptuous."
Rong Hua's voice was calm, his gaze indifferent, his expression restrained, returning to his usual composure.
Shen Yue's expression was serene, her features exceptionally clear and pure. Her lips, the color of crabapple blossoms, curved slightly as she doted on the green creature.
"It's very cute."
Very cute?
Rong Hua almost snorted with cold laughter. Annoyance surfaced in his heart. He truly wanted to mock Shen Yue, who couldn't see; how could she possibly find this green, squishy thing cute?
Perhaps it was precisely because she couldn't see that she found it cute. If she could see, would Shen Yue still be able to say that?
He desperately wanted to smile, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't muster one, eventually reverting to a blank expression.
That smile was too dazzling.
Especially when it was directed at the offensively cute green creature, the subtle curve of her lips made him feel irritated.
How was it cute?
Master rarely smiled at him like that. Did she perhaps find this soft, green thing cuter than him?
As Rong Hua thought this, his inner vexation grew.
And this vexation intensified when Shen Yue gently pulled the green thing off her head and carefully placed it in her palm.
Rong Hua's eyes darkened further, and a bloody haze quickly spread in their depths.
As if sensing the agitation emanating from Rong Hua, Shen Yue looked up suddenly.
She thought Rong Hua's anger was because she hadn't given him the little tree spirit.
Placing the little tree spirit back on her shoulder, Shen Yue paused, "Besides this little tree spirit, what else do you want?"
It seemed she truly didn't want to give it away. This was the first time Rong Hua had seen Shen Yue unwilling to part with something. After all, Shen Yue had even given him her life sword; why was she so reluctant to part with this little tree spirit?
Was it too important, which was why she refused to give it?
More important than him? That's why she refused him.
However, the more Shen Yue refused to give it, the more unsightly that clump of green seemed to him.
It made him want to rush over, strangle that green clump, and burn it to ashes before he could be satisfied.
Violent and dark thoughts surged in his heart. His fingertips, digging in with too much force, pierced his palm. Scarlet blood dripped onto his white clothes, forming clusters like snowflakes.
It also brought Rong Hua back to his senses.
Rong Hua released his hand, glanced coldly at the bloodstain on his palm, and after a long moment, took a deep breath, regaining his composure.
He no longer displayed the gentle, adoring emotions from when he first arrived. He lowered his eyelids, obscuring the feelings in his eyes.