At this moment, the members of Long Mingzuo had already recognized that the disciple uniforms worn by Lei Xiuyuan and Li Fei were from No Moon Court. Given their young age, it was clear they were prodigies highly valued by their sect’s elders. A direct confrontation here would likely yield no advantage.
The eldest disciple among them spoke gravely, "This trial has only just begun—the final outcome is yet unknown! You all had best be careful! Remember, Immortal Techniques are merciless!"
With that, they turned and flew away, departing swiftly and decisively.
Baili Gelin was still fuming. "What was that supposed to mean? A threat? Are they planning to follow us and ambush us later?! I always knew Long Mingzuo was full of scoundrels! Just because they’ve refined a few Mystical Treasures, they think they rule the world!"
Yan Fei, now fully healed, had gradually calmed down from her earlier agitation. Her face filled with gratitude, she stood up and respectfully presented the Demon Vermilion Fruit with both hands, saying softly, "Thank you all for saving my life. Earlier, in my anger, I said many harsh words—please don’t take offense. Thanks to the Mountain Sect’s junior brothers, this Demon Vermilion Fruit was recovered. I have no way to repay you, so I’d like to offer it to the two friends from Mountain Sect."
Lu Li spoke gently, "Why not join us? We can search for your senior sister together. You should keep the Demon Vermilion Fruit for yourself."
Yan Fei was endlessly grateful. Suddenly, she stood up and hugged Lu Li, planting two kisses on his stunned face. Then she turned and embraced a shocked Baili Gelin, kissing her cheeks twice as well. Li Fei was next, pulled into a tight hug and kissed firmly on both cheeks. When Yan Fei moved to embrace Lei Xiuyuan, he took a step back with a faint smile, shaking his head—his refusal was unmistakable.
Yan Fei giggled, unbothered. "The friends from Mountain Sect are quite shy, aren’t they?" She then clasped her fists and bowed deeply in gratitude.
Li Fei touched her kissed cheek, murmuring, "This is the first time I’ve been kissed by a girl..."
Baili Gelin laughed. "Me too. Li Fei, does that mean you’ve been kissed by a boy before? Who? Lei Xiuyuan?"
How had the conversation circled back to this?! Li Fei’s face flushed crimson, her guilt obvious despite her attempts to appear nonchalant. She stammered defensively, "Don’t talk nonsense! Xiu Yuan and I are just fellow disciples!"
Baili Gelin burst into laughter. "Fellow disciples? Lu Shixiong and I are fellow disciples too, but he’s never been particularly nice to me. We don’t stick together every day, and we certainly don’t exchange glances and whisper secrets."
Hearing this, Li Fei felt an inexplicable sadness. She didn’t even know what she and Lei Xiuyuan were to each other. He would kiss her forehead, fight desperately to protect her, and cheer her up with all sorts of words when she was down. Yet they weren’t like Chang Yue and Ye Ye—a publicly acknowledged couple. In fact, they had no defined relationship at all.
How did those deeply devoted couples even get together? He had done so much for her—if this wasn’t affection, what was it? And if it was affection, why wouldn’t he give her even a single confirmation?
Li Fei couldn’t help but glance at Lei Xiuyuan. He stood near the Centipede demon’s head, chatting with Lu Li and Yan Fei, a faint smile on his lips.
The way he treated her—was it just another impulsive prank? If she couldn’t hold back and asked him directly, would he mock her with a sneering "You’re overthinking it"?
"...We have no relationship at all," Li Fei muttered, averting her gaze.Baili Gelin, ever so observant, had long noticed the subtle shifts in her expression and tone. She gently took Li Fei's hand and asked earnestly in a soft voice, "Li Fei, do you really like him?"
Li Fei didn't answer the question, pressing her lips tightly together.
Zhao Min Shijie always urged her to be reserved, yet here she was, constantly subjected to offenses by a man who never spoke a word, and she wasn't even the slightest bit angry. Every time she wanted to refuse, she found herself unable to resist. She couldn't lie to herself and say she wasn't happy with him—her joy was so overwhelming it made her feel weightless. But after each wave of happiness came an inescapable dread. She truly didn't know what she and Lei Xiuyuan were to each other.
Baili Gelin patted her shoulder and smiled. "There's a saying here in the Eastern Sea: a man's ten thousand sweet words can't compare to one small thing he does for you. Some people are like that—willing to act but unwilling to speak. Since childhood, I've seen that Lei Xiuyuan has his own set of principles and never conforms to anyone. Sometimes he's unexpectedly clever, other times unexpectedly clumsy. You're too close to see clearly. Don't overthink it for now. If he treats you well, just accept it openly. Our Li Fei is now a stunning beauty—are you afraid no man will want you?"
Li Fei listened in a daze. At first, Baili Gelin's words made sense, but then she started spouting nonsense, making Li Fei blush and pretend to hit her.
Baili Gelin laughed and blocked her hand. The two joked around for a while, and the sudden sadness in Li Fei's heart gradually faded. Just then, Ri Yan, who had been floating high above, descended with a bored yawn. "Finished chatting about love and romance?"
Seeing Baili Gelin go over to joke with Yan Fei and the others, Li Fei turned away and asked softly, "Ri Yan, have you stayed in the Eastern Sea before?"
The fox sighed, a rare moment of sentimentality. "Yes, the Eastern Sea is a good place."
This was the second time he'd said the Eastern Sea was a good place, and his eyes were full of nostalgia. What kind of experiences had he had there?
Ri Yan suddenly let out a long sigh, muttering to himself, "The human heart is fragile, yet those who achieve the Great Dao are as rare as phoenix feathers. Such brilliance, yet why do they willingly fall into ruin? Humans! Humans! Humans! Ah, lamenting my old age and fading strength, the years pass swiftly and never return! Though I seek immortality and eternal transcendence, it would be better to return to my homeland!"
Li Fei listened to his obscure, ancient-sounding words, half-understanding. Was he thinking of someone?
"What were you saying just now?" she asked.
Ri Yan replied indifferently, "The deluded death chant of a Celestial. Little girl, you should grow up a bit! These matters of love are no more than dirt and stones. Humans often ruin themselves by clinging to emotions. Even with a perfect partner for a hundred years or a confidant for a thousand, true mutual understanding is impossible. The Great Dao is solitary, accommodating only a heart devoted to cultivation."
He had circled back to his old topic again. Li Fei shook her head with a smile. "But what joy is there in achieving the Great Dao all alone?"
Ri Yan spoke slowly, "If one day, your beloved demands your life, your confidant seeks your death, and every dear one who once shared their heart with you wishes to kill you, you wouldn't say such things. On the path of cultivation, the human heart kills—what's so strange about that? That's just how humans are!"Li Fei felt a chill run down her spine at his words, which also stirred memories of her own origins. Her heart gradually grew colder. After a long silence, she murmured, "They wouldn’t."
"Wouldn’t? Then why are you so unsettled? That brat knows all your secrets, yet what do you know about him? He doesn’t even need to lift a finger—just the thought of him is enough to rob you of peace, consuming your mind and emotions. Isn’t that killing you in its own way?"
Li Fei fell silent for a long while. She recalled his kiss in Chestnut Blaze Valley, the way he had thrown her aside, his words: That little difference of yours—I suppressed it in an instant.
She shook her head. "He wouldn’t. I trust him."
"Stubborn fool." Ri Yan sighed deeply, his massive form dissipating into mist. "This place is home to an extremely vicious Ferocious Beast. Be careful."
Li Fei asked softly, "Are you going back to sleep so soon?"
Ri Yan snapped, "Talking to an idiot like you is pointless! Can’t I even sleep in peace?"
She laughed. "Don’t sleep yet. I won’t bother you—isn’t the Eastern Sea your favorite? Enjoy the view in peace. By the way, what’s this Ferocious Beast you mentioned? Stop being so cryptic and tell us so we can prepare."
"I cannot speak of it. This beast is unlike any other. Even mentioning it affects me. Just remember this: Flowers in a Mirror, Moon in the Water—The Yellow Millet Dream. Do not lose yourself in it."
When he fell silent for a long while, Li Fei couldn’t help calling out again, "Ri Yan? Are you still there?"
He gave a faint hum—apparently still admiring the scenery.
Smiling, Li Fei stood and rejoined the others. Yan Fei was chattering away merrily. The lively, straightforward local girl from the Eastern Sea had already grown close to Ge Lin and the others. She stood before Lei Xiuyuan, enthusiastically explaining the customs of the Eastern Sea, her hand nearly tugging at his sleeve.
Li Fei couldn’t help but glance over a few times before stepping forward. "Are there any dangerous Ferocious Beasts in these Trial Grounds? Has anyone heard anything?"
Yan Fei grinned. "The Eastern Sea doesn’t have many fearsome Demonic Beasts—just some big ones. Not like your Central Land, where every Monstrous creature is terrifying. Rather than worrying about beasts, you should be more concerned about others trying to steal the Demon Vermilion Fruit. Oh, Lei-shidi, tell me about the customs in the Central Land too! I’ve shared so much with you just now!"
Huh, she’s already calling him Lei-shidi .
Lei Xiuyuan subtly avoided her hand and replied coolly, "When shijie has the chance to visit one day, you’ll see for yourself."
Yan Fei’s eyes lit up. "Are you inviting me to the Central Land?"
He smiled faintly. "With thousands of disciples in the Central Land, why would I need to be the one inviting you?"
Suddenly, he raised a hand to Li Fei’s head, nudging her forward a few steps before draping his arm over her shoulders and pulling her close.
Yan Fei looked disappointed. "Huh? Are they lovers? I must’ve overstepped—I hope I didn’t upset her!"
Baili Gelin clapped her hands and laughed, patting Yan Fei’s shoulder. "Yan Fei, this man really is no good. Not the kind who’s cold on the outside but burning inside—he’s genuinely bad. You won’t win him over! Give up!"
Before she could finish, the enthusiastic Yan Fei was already turning her sparkling eyes toward Lu Li, chatting away. The girls from the Eastern Sea were way too forward! If one didn’t work, they just moved on to the next?!Baili Gelin shook her head and ignored her, letting her suffer under Lu Li's hands!
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