Chapter 480 - 167: Master’s Generous Gift, Senior Sister’s Dejection
On the mountain path, a few Inner Sect Disciples were passing by together. Spotting Si Jiawen, they hurriedly stopped and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Senior Sister!"
Si Jiawen nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping over them as she asked, "Have any of you seen Yang Jing?"
One of the disciples quickly answered, his tone respectful, "Senior Sister, I saw Senior Brother Yang heading toward the Training Room earlier. I imagine he’s still inside cultivating."
Si Jiawen nodded in understanding.
She knew a little about this new junior brother of hers. He was a complete cultivation fanatic who spent nearly all his time training. If he wasn’t in the Training Room, he was cultivating in his own courtyard. She had rarely seen him take a moment to relax.
Si Jiawen raised a hand to smooth the hair at her temple and murmured to herself, ’So he went to train. I’ll just come back another time.’
With that, she turned and walked away with a light step, heading down the peak.
Those Inner Sect Disciples, however, didn’t hurry off. Instead, they huddled together and began whispering in low voices, their faces alight with gossip.
Just then, a slender figure appeared on the distant mountain path, walking over slowly. It was Sun Ningxiang.
She had some free time today, so she had come to Lingxi Peak to see Yang Jing. But from a distance, she spotted Si Jiawen.
Watching Si Jiawen stand before Yang Jing’s courtyard gate, only to turn and leave, a strange, imperceptible glint appeared in Sun Ningxiang’s eyes, and her pace slowed unconsciously.
She ambled toward an ancient tree not far from the gate of Qing No. 4 Courtyard. Just as she was about to stop, the voices of the Inner Sect Disciples drifted to her ears.
"Tell me, why is Senior Sister always coming to look for Senior Brother Yang? If you ask me, their relationship isn’t as simple as just a senior and junior disciple."
"I know, right? Senior Sister used to be so aloof with everyone. When has she ever been this attentive to a junior brother? The last time I was at the Training Room, I even saw her holding hands with Senior Brother Yang! If you ask me, they’re probably going to become cultivation partners and tie the knot!"
"That makes sense! Senior Sister is exceptionally talented, the pride of our Lingxi Peak. Senior Brother Yang is a powerhouse in the Qi Eating Realm and has even made it onto the Hidden Dragon List. The two of them together are a handsome and talented pair, a match made in heaven!"
Every word of their discussion was like a fine needle, pricking Sun Ningxiang’s heart.
Her face gradually paled without her realizing it. The fingers at her side curled into a fist, their tips turning white.
She unconsciously mumbled to herself, repeating the same four words over and over again, "A handsome and talented pair... A handsome and talented pair..."
Then, Sun Ningxiang looked up. A faint, bitter smile touched her lips, and a trace of unconcealable sorrow flickered in her eyes.
She quietly asked herself:
’Yes, they’re a handsome and talented pair... so what am I?’
’With my ordinary physique and mediocre aptitude, I’m just a commoner who can’t even touch the threshold of developing refined strength. How could I dare to harbor such inappropriate feelings?’
She stared blankly at the closed courtyard gate.
After a long moment, she took a quiet breath, suppressing the bitter ache welling up in her heart. She turned, her steps heavy, and walked toward the foot of Lingxi Peak.
Hearing footsteps behind them, the Inner Sect Disciples from Lingxi Peak glanced back instinctively. They watched Sun Ningxiang’s retreating figure, their faces filled with confusion.
One of them scratched his head, puzzled. "Huh? Judging by her robes, she looks like a disciple from Yunxi Peak, doesn’t she? What’s she doing all the way over here on our Lingxi Peak?"