Fairy, Don't Be Afraid, I Am Blind

"She really has the recognition of the sword!"

You Su was sincerely happy for the young girl.

Ji Lingruo froze in place, seemingly lost in thought, unable to believe she had truly achieved it.

Her best achievement was forcing a ghost mite an entire major realm stronger than her to use a deadly poison it normally wouldn’t, but in the end, it was You Su who saved her.

So she wasn’t very confident in herself, even though her senior brother and master praised her, which she appreciated, she only considered herself a somewhat talented female sword cultivator.

But it wasn’t until the moment the immortal sword acknowledged her that she realized she was indeed a one-in-a-million genius.

She casually swung the sword, and a towering ancient pine not far away shook slightly before its lush green canopy slowly fell in the cold wind, revealing the smooth, prominent annual rings.

Seeing this sight, her eyes warmed, and tears fell uncontrollably.

"Wuwuwu..."

Like a young swallow returning to its nest, the girl threw herself into You Su’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably, intermittently muttering:

"Thank...you...senior...brother..."

You Su gently stroked the young girl’s fragrant back, continuously offering words of encouragement.

The two remained in each other’s embrace until the girl was tired, and her crying gradually subsided.

At this moment, she was no longer her usual proud and reserved self; after all, her senior sister was not around, so she simply rested openly in You Su’s arms.

She carefully put away the Shadow-Bearing Sword, apologizing:

"Senior Brother, I’m sorry... you haven’t even used an immortal sword yet, but I got to use it first... I will definitely find you an immortal sword too!"

You Su affectionately tightened his embrace:

"What are you apologizing for? We’re family, of course, the good stuff is for the wife to use first."

It was the first time Ji Lingruo heard these two words from You Su’s lips, and immediately she went soft all over, hastily turning her head, her face and neck blushing, charmingly beautiful.

"Who’s your wife..."

"Did you not accept my betrothal gift, trying to deny it?"

With an immortal sword as a betrothal gift, probably not even the three immortal families in Henggao City could make such a gesture.

"Clearly, it’s my graduation gift; how did it become a betrothal gift?"

Ji Lingruo habitually bickered with You Su, but in reality, her heart was jubilant, overwhelmed with emotion, so she could only murmur softly:

"The betrothal gift needs to be separate..."

"Marrying Junior Sister is really expensive." You Su’s lips curled up, then he whispered in the young girl’s ear, coaxing, "So pricey, shouldn’t Junior Sister give Senior Brother a little taste first, in case I decide to quit?"

"If you quit, I’m not returning the immortal sword to you."

Ji Lingruo snorted lightly, knowing of course that You Su was teasing her. But having just received such an extravagant gift, it was only right to compensate You Su a little.

"What...what kind of taste do you want to try?"

You Su gave a mysterious smile, said nothing, then picked up a ginkgo leaf to sniff it, as if he detected the sweet scent he mentioned earlier.

Seeing this, Ji Lingruo felt so embarrassed she would have rivaled blushing peaches and shy plums, thinking, small sweet water isn’t considered a treat at all!

The young couple was tender and sweet, with no one else around, naturally inseparable.

Meanwhile, behind the celestial forest, in the Lotus Pool.

He Shutong, as if electrified, abruptly cut off her divine sense, retracting her view.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, her bright eyes shimmered, and beneath the water, her snow-white peaks rose and fell, creating ripples, seemingly greatly shaken.

Though trapped in the Lotus Pool, it didn’t mean she couldn’t extend her divine sense to explore, yet her current cultivation only allowed her to barely maintain this mysterious forest array.

To look further would require using her unstable cultivation. Such cultivation could be like water once spilt, never to return.

Thus, she never used divine sense to intrusively watch her disciples’ lives, partly because she wasn’t someone who spies, partly to safely refine the Lotus Heart, and thirdly because her disciple’s lives were harmonious, there was no need for her to intrude.

But earlier, while meditating to refine the Nine Revolutions Spirit Recovery Elixir, a surge of sword qi awakened her. She frowned, assessing, only to realize a sword acknowledgment was taking place at Lotus Peak.

She wasn’t sure if it was You Su or Ji Lingruo, but she felt happiness for them.

Initially wanting to continue cultivating, she suddenly sensed a tree being chopped down at the forest’s outermost edge!

This forced her to become alert, suspecting a situation arose. Out of concern for her disciples, she forcibly extended her divine sense, witnessing something astounding—

The You Su she knew, polite and courteous, kind and humble...

How could he be so eager, nestled against Lingruo like an excited puppy?!

Wasn’t Su’er the most respectful and protective of women... how could he let Lingruo make such an expression?!

He Shutong’s cheeks reddened, her mind a tangled mess.

She had studied the sect’s books extensively, understood the desires between men and women, but it didn’t mean her heart, frozen for two hundred years, could easily accept such provocative acts...

Though aware the couple acted from an overwhelming passion, it shouldn’t have been so openly under the sun, in broad daylight!

Recalling Ji Lingruo’s once submissive demeanor, He Shutong’s heart clenched tightly...

Could...could it be Su’er was orchestrating this?

Truthfully, she had tried persuading You Su to release his yang energy multiple times, even personally helping him twice, but to her, over two hundred years old, You Su was still an unseasoned, youthful boy.

But at this moment, the image of You Su as immature in her mind shattered instantly.

She realized that You Su was indeed a man now...

Suddenly, she thought of a more shocking possibility: if Wangshu ever became Dao companions with Su’er too...

She was so obedient to You Su, she and Lingruo wouldn’t...

Yet if she hadn’t finished refining her essence by then, wouldn’t she be enjoying serenity while chaos ensued outside?

No way! Absolutely not!

He Shutong tightened her delicate fist, then abruptly released it.

She looked at her perfect jade-like hand, recalling what might have been mixed in this Lotus Pool to make it so effective, her determination quickly waned.

If they and You Su are consensual, isn’t that only natural, in line with the Mandarin Duck Sword Sect’s principles?

Wouldn’t meddling just make... her a busybody? Have I become too rigid?

Thinking this, He Shutong’s body softened even more.

"Master, don’t you like the master?"

"Master, we’re friends after all."

Those words from You Su rang in her ears as she gazed at her jade feet lightly covered in black silk, reflected in the rippling water.

She knew she could no longer see You Su as a child.

...

Three days later.

Zhongyuan Continent, Brocade City.

Inside an ancient, elegant tall building, the wooden floors, seasoned by time, retained their deep brown luster, tranquil and profound.

Exquisite wooden lattice windows divided sunlight into fine strands, casting them upon a luxurious bed.

There were a pair of legs as smooth and jade-like, with snug and smooth black stockings adding an alluring temptation.

Tracing the stockings upwards was a black and gold cheongsam, exquisitely tailored, highlighting the woman’s graceful figure, noble and enchanting.

Her hair was pinned up high, her gaze beautiful and lively, with a beauty mark near her lip. Upon her high, straight nose rested a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, adding an intellectual touch to her classic charm.

Opposite her sat a demure Wangshu Fairy in white.

"There’s no evil spirit here at all; you’re lying." Wangshu’s blue eyes fixed intensely on the noble woman across from her.

The noble woman’s lips curled slightly, her gaze suddenly sharp:

"Wangshu Fairy, you wouldn’t want the Bihua Pavilion your junior brother just revived to collapse immediately, would you?"