Fairy, Don't Be Afraid, I Am Blind

A thin mist floated above the Lotus Pool, warm vapors rising and meeting the cold winter air, forming a beautiful layer of ice crystals that hung on the surrounding fairy tree leaves like sparkling little diamonds, glistening brightly.

You Su stood outside the pool, the tranquility here was such that only his own breathing could be heard.

Was it always so silent when Master was alone?

Would it be... a bit too lonely?

He Shutong’s exquisite figure was hidden behind the mist. She gazed at You Su gently, as if assessing whether the boy was injured.

"Master," You Su broke the silence first.

"Just returned to the peak?"

"Yes."

You Su nodded, hesitated for a moment then added, "I wanted to report my safety to Master as soon as I returned... so I entered the forest without delay, hoping I didn’t disturb you..."

"Didn’t chat with your senior or junior disciples first?"

You Su shook his head.

Receiving this answer, He Shutong’s smile deepened, and she said softly:

"If I felt you would disturb me, you wouldn’t have been able to get close to the Lotus Pool. So whenever you wish to find your master, just come find me. There’s no need to have concerns about these things."

The outer fairy forest moved according to He Shutong’s will, if she didn’t want it, even the Third Elder would be kept outside.

"Yes."

You Su nodded slightly. Having reported his safety, he should have withdrawn, but his steps hesitated, showing reluctance.

Fortunately, He Shutong didn’t seem to want the boy to leave so soon either, she softly said:

"Tell me the events of your journey. You’ve accomplished a lot outside, yet I know very little."

Her latter words held an undertone of complaint, but it wasn’t directed at You Su, rather at herself.

Such words softened You Su’s heart, leaving him no reason to refuse.

Hence, he began recounting the experiences of recent days, mindful of the principle of reporting joy, not worry, he downplayed the perilous aspects of the tale, instead highlighting the eventual gains.

Some covert matters were naturally left unspoken, and so was the name of He Kongyue. After all, it was meant as a surprise for his master, and You Su hadn’t yet revealed his involvement with the He Family’s affairs. Regarding He Kongyue, whose presence was strong in the story, he merely summarized it as having made a new friend.

"Is this new friend of yours male?" He Shutong suddenly asked.

You Su was initially stunned, then slightly awkward, could it be that in his master’s view, he was a Jia Baoyu who only played with girls?

"Of course, he’s male."

He Shutong reacted with a delighted smile, asking a flurry of questions:

"What’s his name? Is he from the Profound Sky Sect? Or another sect from Divine Mountain? Which family’s son from Henggao City is he..."

"What’s Master asking for?"

"He’s the first person you acknowledged as a friend, naturally, I want to understand him more clearly. So that if I see him in the future, I can take care of him a bit."

You Su found it amusing, couldn’t help but ask himself: Am I that hard to get along with?

Master seemed as if she were watching a solitary child from her family finally making his first friend, feeling immensely gratified yet also wanting to cling tightly to that friend, afraid he might not play with her child.

"Master doesn’t need to, it’s not like I can’t make friends."

You Su casually deflected the conversation, then shifted the topic:

"Does Master have any friends? So that when I meet them in the future, I can respect them a bit and spare Master any awkwardness."

You Su’s disrespect towards Venerable Jiyuan was clear evidence of his fearless and audacious nature when the situation called for it.

Yet He Shutong struggled to answer for a while, feeling somewhat guilty, she replied mournfully:

"I don’t really have any friends... your master could be considered one."

Her guilt was not baseless, many young people’s elders could use their accumulated connections to bring blessings to their progeny, while You Su didn’t enjoy the convenience she should have brought him. Even relying on her was hardly possible...

Once hearing this, You Su was filled with self-reproach, knowing Master’s aloof personality from before yet still asked such a question, wasn’t it purposely touching a sore spot?

"Master and Mentor... are just friends?"

You Su almost instinctively asked this.

"I suppose they are, your Mentor seems unassuming, but is actually quite proud, I’m perhaps the only one who can hold a conversation with her, and I’m pretty much like her too."

He Shutong smiled faintly, recalling Guan Chujun, who was so straightforward.

"Is that so..."

You Su fell into contemplation, he had thought Master and Mentor were just ordinary senior-junior disciples, but their relationship was better than he imagined, which made him feel some obscure guilt.

"Why then is Master pretending to be Tao partners with Mentor?"

"If not pretending, then should it be real?"

He Shutong perplexedly replied, watching You Su’s eager but hesitant expression, her brows furrowed slightly like distant mountains, her voice grew sterner:

"Didn’t I tell you whatever you want to ask, just ask? So there’s no need to be shy."

"Then... should I ask?"

"Yes."

You Su summoned his courage, seeking confirmation:

"Does Master not like Mentor?"

?

He Shutong was taken aback, "Why are you asking this?"

"Oh, nothing... Master doesn’t have to answer."

He Shutong keenly noted that You Su unexpectedly lowered his head, she focused closely and discovered the boy was unusually blushing.

Though unclear about the reason for You Su’s blushing, since He Shutong had already spoken in such a manner before, she wasn’t about to leave the question unanswered:

"I hold no romantic feelings towards your Mentor, nor does your Mentor towards me."

She gently pressed her lips as thin as cicada wings, then added:

"But even if I’m not truly a Tao partner with your Mentor, I am truly your Master. Or is it that you feel some resentment towards this false title?"