Cloudlian inwardly looked down on Chen Yuyang’s refusal.
If you’re not just a random man, then what about those things between you and your cheap Master and Senior Sisters?
Just a mere cauldron of the Hehuan Sect, and still pretending here.
But what could she do if the other party wouldn’t give in?
Use force?
That wasn’t entirely out of the question, but…
They were both at the first level of Golden Core, and she might not be his match.
Especially since she clearly knew he possessed the Pure Yang Supreme Body, had a complete sword intent, and most likely had slain the Nascent Soul realm’s Anyu.
As she thought this, Cloudlian suddenly pulled Chen Yuyang’s arm into her embrace, pressing him with a gentle yet “accidental” softness.
She swayed her body, her voice sweet and coquettish.
“Senior Brother~ You mustn’t belittle yourself~ If Master and Senior Sister can, why can’t I~?”
“Or is it because I’m new to the sect, and you still have some bias against me, Senior Brother?”
As she spoke, Cloudlian’s face showed grievance, her eyes brimming with tears.
Chen Yuyang still frowned, analyzing the information in Cloudlian’s words.
What did she mean by Master and Senior Sister can, but she can’t?
Since when did I dual cultivate with Master and Senior Sister?
Fine, between me and Master, indeed…
But that hardly counts as dual cultivation, and both times were before she even joined the sect, so there’s no way she could know.
As for anything between myself and Gu Qiushui or Lingxi, we’re utterly innocent; nothing ever happened.
Chen Yuyang narrowed his eyes, still unable to make sense of it.
“You jest, Junior Sister. How could I hold any prejudice just because you’re new to the sect.Hehuan Sect is a righteous sect now; how could we do such yin-yang harvesting acts? You must be mistaken.”
“Harvesting yang to replenish yin? Why would you say that, Senior Brother? I just simply want to dual cultivate with you~ I have no thought of seizing your essence at all.”
Though Cloudlian spoke thus, her heart was conflicted.
Just by mentioning dual cultivation, he assumes it’s yin-yang harvesting—truly used to being a cauldron.
As she continued her coquettish act and pressed herself closer, Chen Yuyang couldn’t help but feel a wave of excitement in his heart.
Damn…
Is it because she’s born with seductive bones?
Even without specialized seductive techniques, just acting cute makes my body react uncontrollably.
Junior Sister, you are fatally tempting.
But unfortunately, I, Chen Yuyang, am a man of principle.
He raised his hand, neither gentle nor rough, and separated Cloudlian’s hands, stepping back half a step, looking her straight in the eyes with righteous firmness.
“Junior Sister, I really don’t know what misunderstanding you have.”
“My relationship with Senior Sister and Master is completely innocent.”
“And as for dual cultivation, let’s not mention it again!”
Speaking a bit sternly, Chen Yuyang flicked his sleeve and turned away.
His decisive stance left Cloudlian momentarily dazed.
He had refused her again.
The girl’s pupils shrank slightly.
Was he still putting on an act, or had she guessed wrong?
Cloudlian couldn’t tell.
But seeing that resolute back, her thoughts churned.
If it’s the former, then perhaps she simply wasn’t close enough with him yet, or maybe there were some preconditions for dual cultivation with him that she didn’t know about.
If it’s the latter…
A deep suspicion flickered in Cloudlian’s eyes.
Are there really such upright men in this world?
Not to boast, but her beauty could be called peerless, and on top of that, she was born with seductive bones; even without trying to entice, she had the charm to make countless men fall at her feet.
Within the Holy Sect, she had no fewer than a dozen suitors.
Those men either wanted to use her and her elder sister to climb the social ladder, or they coveted her beauty.
Thinking this, Cloudlian decided she might as well test him a bit more.
She took a deep breath, stepped forward, and wrapped her arms around Chen Yuyang’s waist from behind, resting her head on his back.
“Senior Brother, do you know what love at first sight is?”
“Back on Ziyang Peak, when I saw you stand up for Master, not hesitating to offend the Yanjia Eldest Miss, your tall, unwavering figure left an imprint on my heart.”
“When I heard Hehuan Sect was recruiting disciples, I was overjoyed.”
“Do you know why I kept seeking you out to comprehend sword intent?”
L“Do you really think I could comprehend it so quickly?”
“It’s because, without realizing, I wanted to be with you.”
Cloudlian spoke with genuine emotion, eyes brimming with tears.
She was confident—her performance flawless, her words impeccable.
She couldn’t believe that, after all this, he would still refuse her again.
At the very least, he should leave her a little opening, give her a chance to take things further.
Especially now, pressed close to him, Cloudlian could feel the young man’s heartbeat racing and his body warming.
Clearly, he wasn’t really made of stone; he reacted to her intimate touch.
Chen Yuyang felt the girl’s head against his back.
Though he couldn’t see her face, her feelings in her words seemed real, leaving him dumbfounded.
Cloudlian, joined the Hehuan Sect for me???
Does love at first sight really exist in this world?
For a moment, Chen Yuyang was thrown into confusion.
Especially since, from Cloudlian’s words, he couldn’t pick out any flaws right away.
“Cloudlian, you…”
“I’m truly heartbroken, knowing about your relationship with Master and Senior Sister. I was afraid I’d have no chance, so I boldly made my request for dual cultivation.”
As Cloudlian spoke, tears soaked the back of his robe, and she hugged him even tighter.
At the same time, she began to look forward to him accepting her “love” and then following through with the next step.
Hearing this, Chen Yuyang finally understood.
No wonder Junior Sister was so direct at their first meeting.
Now it all made sense.
But…
“Cloudlian, you really misunderstood. There’s nothing between me and Senior Sister or Master.”
Chen Yuyang spoke righteously, “I’m not coldhearted, but your request is far too sudden.
You’re still young—maybe you’ve just mistaken your feelings or have a momentary infatuation.
But feelings are no small matter, and I hope you’ll be cautious and keep yourself pure.”
“As your Senior Brother, my heart is wholly on the Dao now; I have no such intentions.”
With that, Chen Yuyang gently broke out of her embrace, putting more distance between them, then continued: “Go back, please. What happened today, I’ll pretend it never happened.”
“From now on, you’re still my Junior Sister.”
Cloudlian froze.
Even after all she’d said, he still rejected her without hesitation.
His heart on the Dao, no interest in such matters…
Was he saying she had no chance at all?
Biting her lip, Cloudlian was filled with unwillingness.
She didn’t believe Chen Yuyang truly had no interest in women.
If that were true, how could his body have reacted?
He must just be stubborn, playing it cool.
Hmph, men.
I, Cloudlian, don’t believe it.
Compared to Master and Senior Sister, just where am I lacking in charm!
At this moment, Chen Yuyang couldn’t worry about whether his words might hurt Cloudlian.
Secretly in love with me?
What a joke!
He still didn’t know how to deal with Master; how could he afford another complication?
Cutting things off decisively now, ending Junior Sister’s thoughts, was simply to avoid further entanglements and future pain.
“Senior Brother… I…”
The girl’s voice trembled. “I just…”
Her tears fell like rain.
Cloudlian sobbed, wiping at her eyes with her hands while sneaking glances at Chen Yuyang.
I don’t believe you can just sit there stone-hearted and unmoved.
If you don’t come comfort me, I’ll just stand here and cry all day.
Sensing the girl’s tears, her sobbing almost unceasing, Chen Yuyang frowned.
Not out of annoyance, but true helplessness.
A woman’s tears, to him, were ten times, a hundred times harder to handle than any heavenly tribulation.
He’d faced countless tribulations, but rarely any tears.
What should he do now?
Should he try to comfort her?
But if he softens now… would Junior Sister just think he cared, and keep her hopes up…
Chen Yuyang was torn.
Matters of the heart, he had always been cautious, even over a hundred lifetimes.
Because the karma entangled in such matters was the most complicated, hardest to cut or escape.
Perhaps, because he’d avoided romance for ninety-nine lifetimes, fate now, in this last life, threw so many women into his orbit.
No, he had to harden his heart.
But…
Chen Yuyang was used to being ruthless with enemies, But not with those close to him…
Hearing her weeping grow louder, her face streaked with tears, her sorrow deepened.
Chen Yuyang finally sighed helplessly inside.
Fine, maybe I’ll just coax her a little…
“Eh, what’s going on in here?”
Just then, a voice came from outside the door.
Gu Qiushui poked her head in, surprised to see the scene inside.
The youth turned away from the girl, who was sobbing.
“Senior… Senior Sister!”
Seeing who it was, Chen Yuyang was slightly taken aback.
Another master?
But soon his eyes lit up.
Both women—maybe Senior Sister could comfort Junior Sister on his behalf.
“Yuyang!”
Gu Qiushui put her hands on her waist, her face stern.
“Don’t tell me you bullied your Junior Sister?”
Chen Yuyang was speechless.
Did he look like that kind of person?
But before he could explain, Cloudlian quickly stepped forward, holding onto Gu Qiushui’s arm and speaking softly: “Senior Sister, it’s not like that…”
“It’s all my fault, please don’t blame Senior Brother.”
At this, Cloudlian was a bit caught off guard.
She hadn’t expected Gu Qiushui to show up now.
Her “confession” to Chen Yuyang absolutely couldn’t be revealed to her cheap Senior Sister.
If they grew hostile toward her because of this, that would be trouble—she still needed to stay undercover in the Hehuan Sect.
Seeing Cloudlian say this, Gu Qiushui frowned even deeper, suspicious, but still gently patted Cloudlian’s shoulder and softly asked, “Junior Sister, can you tell me what happened? If this brat bullied you, I’ll make sure to stand up for you.”
“Really, it’s nothing, Senior Sister.”
Cloudlian shook her head, looking as if she didn’t want to say more.
“Senior Brother… I’m leaving.”
As Cloudlian spoke, she wiped her eyes again and looked back at the young man with deep affection.
Chen Yuyang was silent, nodding lightly.
Yet, the look in the girl’s eyes was determined.
“Senior Brother, I won’t give up.”
With that, she lifted her skirt and ran off.
Gu Qiushui grew even more suspicious, narrowing her eyes at Chen Yuyang.
“What’s that supposed to mean now?”
Chen Yuyang thought for a moment, then sighed helplessly and shook his head.
“It’s nothing.”