The arts are not taught lightly.
Unless one had officially joined the Destiny Pavilion, Su Xuan naturally could not participate in his sister’s education. Even eavesdropping was considered a major taboo. Therefore, he could only wait in the Outer Courtyard.
His heart remained uneasy, and a look of deep concern shadowed his face.
Regarding Su Tao’er, he certainly did not feel comfortable leaving her here alone. After all, though he had many siblings, only Su Tao’er was his legitimate sister born of the same mother. She was a relative he cherished deeply.
He had to leave by tomorrow morning at the latest. Time was running out, and he had to convince Su Tao’er today to return to the Kingdom of Tiansheng with him.
But of course, if he knew how his sister was currently dressed, he would likely have the urge to erupt in rage and fight Si Yan to the death.
This Destiny Pavilion, located in the heart of the Phantom Sea, truly revealed strange things everywhere. It made it impossible for Su Xuan to feel at ease from beginning to end.
In particular, Su Xuan had seen that person yesterday.
Bai Lan.
That man was more beautiful than a woman by 1,000 times.
Su Xuan had seen countless women in Kyoto, but none had given him a shock as great as Bai Lan did. Of course, he also secretly felt ashamed, feeling that his thoughts from yesterday were a stain on his life. He, who had never been moved by a woman, had actually babbled nonsense to a man yesterday, even losing his composure.
What he found most difficult to mention was that he had actually seen Bai Lan in his dreams last night. Bai Lan was still smiling at him, and that faint smile alone had made his heart flutter and his imagination run wild…
Just as he was waiting, Su Xuan suddenly heard the sound of footsteps. Turning around, he discovered that the scholar walking toward him was actually the person from his dream.
Bai Lan was still dressed in his white scholar’s robes, holding a folding fan. His long hair was tied back as he slowly walked toward him.
Su Xuan suddenly felt a bit dazed, as if he had fallen into another world. His consciousness became a complete blank.
It was not until Bai Lan stood before him and greeted him first. “Young Master Su.”
Su Xuan was startled. Coming back to his senses, he immediately returned the greeting in a panic. “Senior… Senior Male Disciple Bai.”
Bai Lan nodded slightly and then said, “My Honored Master is teaching a lesson. You cannot enter to listen, so it must be a bit boring.”
Su Xuan felt flustered but quickly replied, “It’s… it’s nothing… I’m just not worried about Tao’er being alone, so I’m waiting here.”
In contrast to his silence the night before, Bai Lan now seemed quite willing to speak. “It is fate that has brought that young lady to the Honored Master, who has not taken a disciple in 100 years. Young Master Su, you really do not need to worry about your sister.”
Listening to every word Bai Lan spoke and hearing that voice that was as pleasant as a silver bell, Su Xuan’s state of mind began to grow chaotic again.
‘How could such a beautiful voice belong to a man?’
‘And such a graceful figure, such beautiful long hair…’
Doubts arose in Su Xuan’s heart, but when he saw Bai Lan’s flat chest, those doubts wavered significantly.
Eventually, Su Xuan realized that Bai Lan had already walked to the steps of the mountain gate, and he had inexplicably followed along at his side.
“Young Master Su, the scenery of my Honored Master’s Destiny Pavilion is quite beautiful, is it not?”
Looking into the distance from the Destiny Pavilion, there were rolling, vast mountains and sprawling lakes and rivers. Amidst the chirping of kingfishers in the sky was an endless azure, as if one could see to the very end of the world in a single glance.
“Beautiful, it is indeed beautiful.”
“Young Master Su, why is there so much sweat on your forehead?” Bai Lan took out a handkerchief. “Let me wipe it for you.”
“Senior… Senior Male Disciple Bai?!”
But Su Xuan did not even have time to dodge. It also seemed as though he had lost the desire to dodge, letting Bai Lan take out a pinkish-white Silk Scarf to wipe the sweat for him.
Being so close to Bai Lan, Su Xuan could not help but feel his heart accelerating, making a *thump-thump* sound.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, snatching the Silk Scarf from Bai Lan’s hand and carrying it all the way to the bottom of the steps.
“Senior… Senior Male Disciple Bai! I’ll go get it for you!”
As if driven by some eerie power, the usually proud Su Xuan did something he never would have imagined—he went to pick up the Silk Scarf that had been blown away for the person beside him.
After picking it up, he actually felt a surge of uncontrollable ecstasy, as if he were seeking credit, desperately wanting to show off!
“Senior Male Disciple Bai! Your… your Silk Scarf!”
Bai Lan took it from Su Xuan’s hand but did not say a word. He only blinked his beautiful, autumn-water eyes and glanced at him before giving another faint smile.
And that smile seemed to strike something violently deep within Su Xuan’s soul…
Bai Lan opened his hand and once again let the Silk Scarf drift away with the wind.
“Young Master Su, it was blown away by the wind again.”
Su Xuan was dazed. Only then did he begin to snap out of it, realizing he was being toyed with. He said raspily, “This… you… you!”
Bai Lan still said nothing. He only paused for a moment before asking in return, “Are you not going to get it?”
“I… I… I… I!”
Su Xuan’s brain went blank. ‘Go pick it up?’
‘Certainly impossible!’
‘Who was he, Su Xuan?’
‘In the Kingdom of Tiansheng, he held such high status and power! He was so noble!’
‘How could he, for a man—a man—condescend to go beneath the stairs again to pick up that Silk Scarf!’
However, by the time Su Xuan regained his senses, he found himself at the bottom again. Holding Bai Lan’s personal Silk Scarf, he was still in a state of ecstasy, as if he were about to receive some magnificent reward. He was actually excited by it!
He looked up and saw the person standing high atop the stairs, giving him that faint smile. That person of peerless elegance, as beautiful as a mortal celestial, was smiling sweetly at him.
This time, he finally felt fear—a terrifying sensation that originated from the depths of his soul.
He was afraid that if he went forward again, if he approached that person again, he did not know how willing he would be to follow the other’s whims!
At this time, dusk had fallen. Su Xuan stood beneath the stairs, looking at Bai Lan and looking at this dilapidated exterior of the Destiny Pavilion… Finally, he did not dare to approach Bai Lan even half a step further. Fearing that his Dao Heart would collapse, he resolutely chose to leap away, fleeing as if his life depended on it. He could not even bring himself to look back!
Watching Su Xuan flee in a panic from a distance, Bai Lan pursed his lips and whispered to himself, “Why did he take my Silk Scarf with him anyway? Well, at least I have resolved a lingering worry for my Honored Master. Surely he won’t blame me, right?”
***
In the middle of the night, Su Tao’er lay in her bed, complaining with great confusion. “Hmph! What is wrong with my brother? Why did he go back without even saying goodbye? Really! What a hypocritical, rotten man!”