Chapter 40: Azure Lake

Xiao Xiao looked at Ye Chen thoughtfully.

The faint light of the transmission stone reflected in her clear eyes, along with his slightly helpless face.

Ye Chen reached out his hand, subconsciously wanting to take the Jade.

Before his fingertips could touch it, Xiao Xiao stopped him with a single glance.

That look carried no emotion, yet it was like an invisible barrier, causing his outstretched hand to freeze in mid-air.

She didn’t look at him, only dropped her gaze back to the Jade in her palm.

With a gentle tap of her finger, a crisp, melodious, yet slightly familiar and complaining female voice rang out from the stone:

“Junior Brother Ye Chen, you really are impressive. You hid it from your senior sister so well!”

“A peerless cultivation genius among millions, making the stele by the Lake of Inquiry roar for a whole year because of you… I truly underestimated you before.”

The voice paused, as if laced with a soft laugh, then continued.

“Getting back to business, if Junior Brother has time, would it be possible to set a date?”

“Senior sister does have some confusion about cultivation and wishes to seek advice from a ‘senior expert’ like you. Would you honor me?”

As the voice faded, so did the glow from the transmission stone.

Inside the room, a deathly silence fell.

Ye Chen could only think that this Yan Hongxiu was far too forward.

They’d only met by chance, yet she managed to track him down.

As he pondered how to phrase his reply, Xiao Xiao suddenly smiled in front of him.

“Ye Chen?”

She turned her head, and on that face—exquisitely beautiful after tears—a gentle, graceful smile bloomed.

Her eyes curved like crescent moons, gazing quietly and softly at Ye Chen, saying nothing.

But behind that gentle gaze, she was silently measuring his reaction, scrutinizing the smallest waves within his heart.

This silent judgment was more oppressive than any fierce questioning.

“This…”

Ye Chen tried to gently push her away, wanting to explain in a more relaxed position.

“It’s not what you think…”

However, the moment his hand touched her shoulder, Xiao Xiao simply tilted her head, unmoving.

She looked at him, the smile unchanged at her lips, and softly spoke two crisp words:

“No.”

Ye Chen’s movement froze.

He looked into Xiao Xiao’s stubborn eyes and sighed inwardly.

He knew that any evasion would shatter the fragile trust they’d only just rebuilt.

He could only give up struggling, keeping that awkward posture, and told her everything about his encounter with Yan Hongxiu and how he ended up on the Lake of Inquiry’s records.

“…She must have seen me by the stele and, after hearing the rumors of ‘Ye Chen and Xiao Xiao’, mistook me for some hidden expert. That’s why she wanted to make connections and test the waters.”

Ye Chen explained.

He watched the unchanging smile on Xiao Xiao’s face, his thoughts churning.

Truly…completely changed.

The timid girl who would blush over the smallest things and be happy for an entire day from a single word of his a year ago, had now learned to wield the gentlest expressions with the firmest will.

Is human emotion truly so powerful?

Could it reshape a person’s very core in just a single year?

He collected his scattered thoughts, and added earnestly,

“If you don’t like it, I’ll refuse her immediately.”

“No.”

Xiao Xiao shook her head, and within that gentle smile, a hint of something else appeared—like someone calmly controlling the situation.

“Young master, please accept her invitation.”

She said.

“Let’s set the time for tomorrow morning.”

Ye Chen was stunned.

Xiao Xiao gazed at him and continued,”As for the place… let’s choose the pavilion in the center of the lake outside the Sword Courtyard. At that time, I’ll go in person to see for myself.”

After speaking, her expression calmed once more, but her eyes remained locked on Ye Chen, as if searching for any sign of guilt or weakness.

Ye Chen, however, met her gaze directly.

After a moment, he smiled helplessly.

“Alright, as you wish.”

He paused, moving his stiff neck.

“But, Xiao Xiao, shouldn’t you get down first? My body…is almost numb.”

Numb, of course, was an excuse.

It was simply that the pose was too ambiguous, making him uncomfortable.

Seeing his honest expression without a hint of a lie, the chill in Xiao Xiao’s eyes faded a little.

Her heart settled, and her body relaxed as she slipped off him and sat back by his side.

However, before Ye Chen could relax, his right arm was once again tightly hugged by a pair of soft little hands.

She rested her cheek lightly against his arm, like a kitten relying on its master.

“Xiao Xiao…”

Ye Chen said helplessly.

“Can you let go of my arm first? I still have things to do…”

“Liar.”

Xiao Xiao’s muffled voice came from his elbow, with a hint of willfulness.

“Young master has nothing to do, nothing at all!”

—

The next day, at dawn.

Mist hovered over Bibo Lake, the pavilion in the center like a pearl nestled atop the emerald waters.

This was not the Lake of Inquiry, but a scenic, ancient lake where inner sect disciples often gathered to discuss the Dao—each day, many disciples would meet here.

But today, the number of people was especially large.

Ye Chen felt the unreserved gazes from all directions boring into him, as prickly as thorns on his back.

Perhaps now he understood why Xiao Xiao insisted on such a conspicuous location.

At his side, Xiao Xiao seemed oblivious to everything around her.

She was quietly making tea for him.

A set of exquisite Jade teaware sat on the stone table, with Ling Tea leaves she brought unfurling in the boiling water, releasing a pure, refreshing fragrance.

Her movements were slow and focused, using no spiritual power at all, just the ordinary methods of tea brewing.

That tranquility and grace felt like time flowing backward, to a small courtyard in Qingyang City, to when she was a maid devoted to serving him—washing, dressing, preparing tea and food.

As for the gazes around them, she paid them no mind.

Or rather, she did it on purpose.

“Look… look over there! That female disciple in the pavilion—gods, she’s too beautiful… When did our inner sect get such a stunning junior sister?”

A new disciple’s eyes went wide as he whispered in awe.

“You idiot!”

His companion immediately slapped the back of his head, lowering his voice.

“Look at her clothing! Moon-white long dress, embroidered with cloud-patterned ancient swords… Only personal disciples can wear that! And by the looks of it, she’s most likely a senior sister from Heavenly Sword Peak!”

“Eh? A personal disciple?!”

The man shivered, cold sweat pouring down.

“That was close, that was close… I almost couldn’t stop myself from going over to talk to her…”

“But… strange.”

Elsewhere, a few veteran inner disciples gathered, brows furrowed.

“A lofty personal senior sister is actually making tea for an inner sect disciple? Who’s that guy? Other than being good-looking, his cultivation seems average…”

Amidst the rising tide of whispers, a figure clad in striking red appeared—like a flame dancing across the surface of the lake, she stepped lightly on the breeze, arriving at the central pavilion in a few flashes.

It was Yan Hongxiu.

She was still dressed in a martial outfit today, her ponytail tied high, her expression relaxed with a playful smile at her lips.

“Junior Brother Ye Chen, you’re right on time. Your senior sister…”

She began to speak, then abruptly stopped.

Because she finally saw the scene beside the stone table.

She saw the junior brother who intrigued her.

And also… the quiet, moon-cold white-clad girl making tea by his side.

The smile on Yan Hongxiu’s face froze for an instant.

Why… is there a personal disciple here?

Before she could recover from her shock, the white-clad girl slowly lifted her head.

Her clear eyes smiled at her, as gentle as water.

Yan Hongxiu only felt that smile was like a warm March breeze—yet, for some reason, a chill raced down her back.