Fairy, Don't Be Afraid, I Am Blind

The Third Elder took out the jade wine pot she carried and drank deeply. Before the shop opened, she was too busy to drink, and after it opened, she seemed determined to make up for half a month’s worth of missed drinking in these three days.

The disciples felt a tightness in their hearts, vaguely guessing what the Third Elder was about to say next.

Wangshu’s eyes were dim, and Ji Lingruo pursed her lips, unable to believe that her dream had shattered just like that.

"The past half month, we’ve endured hardships, only to receive such an outcome. I feel your efforts have gone unrewarded. Since that’s the case, we might as well do what we’re meant to do. Let’s just close Bihua Pavilion."

As soon as she finished speaking, a heavy stone seemed to drop in the hearts of all the girls. More than the relief that came with letting go, there was disappointment following the collapse of their fantasy.

"However, our effort wasn’t completely in vain. At least we learned the skill of weaving. Anyway, we don’t plan to sell in large quantities. With our skills, indulging ourselves is more than enough. In the future, not only stockings but we can also make dresses we like with our own hands. Isn’t that beautiful?"

The Third Elder consoled them gently. As a mentor, she also enjoyed the time spent bonding deeply with her female disciples. She felt that she had never been this close to her disciples before. The camaraderie of a mentor and disciples who have worked together is different from that of ordinary mentor-disciple relationships.

"Exactly! We sisters no longer need to spend a fortune at Qianhua Pavilion to buy clothes! We can make whatever style we like! I refuse to believe they can say we don’t look good!" One of the female disciples proudly raised her chin and agreed loudly.

These words are not just empty talk. As female disciples of the Third Elder, each is a beauty, even if they fall a few points short of someone like Ji Lingruo, they are still undeniably lovely. Moreover, being True Disciples of the Profound Sky Sect, both their talent and family background are unmatched. Even if they wear clothes made by themselves, no one would dare to drive them away.

"It’s not that our stockings can’t be sold; it’s that they are unworthy to wear our stockings!"

In this way, the female disciples comforted themselves and each other, but Lin Si Han couldn’t bring herself to speak.

She felt unwilling to accept it. Clearly, she and her fellow disciples had put in enough effort, and the quality of the stockings was good enough. Why did they have to face such an outcome?

In fact, she wasn’t the only one thinking this way. When had these geniuses, born with silver spoons, ever wanted to achieve something so much? How could they so easily accept their failure?

In this way, it was merely a forced smile, leaving themselves with one last semblance of dignity.

"Alright, everyone can disperse now. No need to wake up early tomorrow thinking about Bihua Pavilion; get a good sleep. From now on, Bihua Pavilion will be your exclusive wardrobe. Looking across the Five Continents, there’s probably no female cultivator who has such a luxurious building just to store clothes."

The Third Elder resumed her smile.

"Yay!"

The female disciples gradually dispersed amidst such hollow cheers.

At the end of the mountain path, just after completing his meditation at Siguoya, Ye Qingchen looked at the desolate scene in front of Bihua Pavilion and curled his lips in a cold smile:

"Master, oh Master, without Qingchen, you truly accomplish nothing... Perhaps cooperating with the Ye Family could still bring you back to life..."

...

Something’s very wrong, a hundred kinds of wrong.

Why did the senior and junior sisters return today and directly head back to their rooms, not saying a word?

You Su looked at the meticulously prepared meal before him, but felt reluctant to start eating by himself.

Fortunately, Ji Lingruo and Wangshu finally came out amidst his calls, but they still remained silent.

"Junior Sister, why did you buy wine?"

You Su looked at the wine jar Ji Lingruo had brought out, somewhat surprised.

Junior Sister had secretly tasted alcohol in Chuyun City before and found it spicy and unpleasant, developing a dislike for it. Why did she voluntarily buy wine today?

"I bought green plum wine from Bihua Residence, you drink with me."

Ji Lingruo set down two large wine bowls with a bang, showing an attitude of determination to drink away her sorrows.

Wangshu, seeing this, pushed her bowl forward as well; even if she didn’t drink, she wouldn’t willingly be left out.

You Su raised an eyebrow, realizing today’s situation was quite serious; these two must have suffered a great blow:

"Junior Sister, Senior Sister, what happened exactly?"

"Oh, never mind that, just drink."

Ji Lingruo took a big gulp first, but it was too much for a girl to handle in one go, and she choked, her face turning red.

Wangshu carefully patted Ji Lingruo’s back to help her breathe, her gaze filled with tenderness.

More than tender feelings, You Su felt anger.

He put his chopsticks down on the table with a clatter.

Though he was always gentle with the women around him, that didn’t mean he couldn’t be serious:

"I know you’re hiding something from me. Out of respect, I’ve never asked. I can see you’ve been facing difficulties for the past three days. I’ve always told you that you can talk to me because I believe we’re a sect, a family. Any hardship can be overcome together; there’s no need for secrets. But even now, you still won’t tell me. Do you feel I’m unworthy of knowing?!"

You Su’s tone was somewhat harsh, scaring Ji Lingruo a bit.

Already uncomfortable from choking, she now felt even more upset, her nose tingling. She no longer wanted to keep these distressing matters to herself. If there was anyone she could vent to, it would only be You Su.

"Wah, Senior Brother, I’ve failed so badly..."

...

"You invested the royalties from ’The Return of the Condor Heroes’ as well?!"

You Su asked in shock.

Ji Lingruo nodded guiltily, "The Third Elder said she didn’t want my money, but I thought if I invested more, the dividends she’d give me in the future would be more, so I insisted on giving it to her. She doesn’t lack my little bit of money. Now that Bihua Pavilion is closing, she’ll certainly return it to me, but how can I have the face to take it back..."

You Su rubbed his forehead and shook his head, only realizing now that his junior and senior sisters had secretly started a business without him, and he felt despondent:

"Is it that I don’t earn enough from writing to support you? Why do you need to go through all this?"

"It’s not like that..." Wangshu rarely spoke. She also feared this serious version of You Su, lowering her head, she murmured softly, "We wanted to spend money on Junior Brother too, not always have Junior Brother spending on us..."

You Su felt a surge of warmth in his heart upon hearing this.

He hadn’t realized that all their busy efforts were actually for his sake.

This filled him with guilt, and he softened his tone, saying gently:

"So, all the sabotages against Bihua Pavilion’s opening were orchestrated by Qianhua Pavilion?"

"Though there’s no concrete evidence, it’s highly likely." Ji Lingruo said with a dismayed face, suddenly pulling on You Su’s sleeve, "Senior Brother, don’t act impulsively! If you challenge Qianhua Pavilion alone, not even eight hundred lives would be enough for you!"

You Su forced a bitter smile, challenging a powerful place in a fit of rage for the sake of beauty was not worth throwing his life away.

"Do I seem like that kind of reckless person to you, Junior Sister?"

With those words, You Su stood up. The cold wind rustled, and he had a determined air, like a hero riding into an uncertain fate.

"And you say you’re not!" Ji Lingruo quickly grabbed You Su, afraid he’d do something foolish.

You Su patted her head, "I’m going to see the Third Elder."

Seeing this, Wangshu’s eyes lit up, and she reached over as well, curling up beside him. You Su then affectionately patted Wangshu’s head.

"What will seeing the Third Elder do? If she’s going to return the money, she will; if not, you can’t just demand it directly!"

Ji Lingruo didn’t even care about the intimate actions in front of her.

"I won’t demand it. Not only that, but I will also find a way to earn it back."

Ji Lingruo was taken aback, "How will you earn it?"

And You Su was already heading toward the cloud ladder:

"Senior Sister, Junior Sister, trust me, Bihua Pavilion won’t close down. It won’t just stay open; it’ll become wildly popular!"

The two girls watched You Su’s receding figure and exchanged a glance. For some reason, they felt strangely reassured with You Su standing ahead of them.