If he really was that unwilling.
But after that letter was delivered, there was no response. Qin Zhizhi never managed to wait for that figure who resembled an immortal.
It was actually quite funny to think about. After the Kunlun secret realm, she and Xie Yutai had never met again. The next time they met was at the Covenant Ceremony, and seeing him then was already a final farewell.
That tiny bit of expectation had finally withered and died during the day-after-day waiting.
She believed in the concept of “Great Love is Ruthless.” The system indeed had not lied to her.
Her past sincere gestures of goodwill had ultimately degenerated into a laughingstock for others.
Even though she was completely dead, she still could not have peace.
It felt like a form of retribution.
Xie Yutai did not seem to hear Qin Zhizhi’s question. After she stopped, he did not pause his steps but walked straight past her.
The white silk band tied behind his head swept past her eyes, its pure white, brilliant ends trailing in the air like a swallowtail butterfly breaking through the wind.
Qin Zhizhi stared at that light trailing band, her thoughts churning.
Xie Yutai, what on earth are you thinking?
Xie Yutai’s eyes were covered by the white silk, and his mouth seemed to be covered as well.
He was always like this, like a stone that could never be warmed.
She recalled when the system was still around, it had asked her more than once, “Host, do you feel hurt?”
Did she feel hurt? Should she feel hurt?
“Xie Yutai treats you this way, do you feel hurt?”
Xie Yutai had walked quite far before a faint voice drifted back.
It was so soft and light, like a whispered murmur that would shatter the moment it touched the air.
“She is very, very good.”
Qin Zhizhi did not hear clearly. She only stared blankly at Xie Yutai’s back for a moment before catching up to him.
Because they had been delayed on the road, the dining hour had already passed. Only a few scattered disciples remained in the Tiantong Sect’s dining hall, making it exceptionally quiet. Upon entering, Qin Zhizhi found a secluded spot and sat down with Xie Yutai.
The dining hall was not large but was decorated very exquisitely. Several pots of hanging orchids drooped from the open windows, and various saber techniques were painted on the walls. The tea set on the table was of a sky-blue glaze after rain, paired with high-quality pre-rain Dragon Well tea, which was pleasing to the eye.
The dining hall disciple knew that Qin Zhizhi was the disciple recently taken in by the Sect Master. Seeing her sit down, he walked over with a smile and asked, “Junior Sister is here. What would you like to eat today?”
Given his status, calling her Junior Sister was technically against the rules, but everyone in the sect loved to call her that, so he had simply followed suit.
Qin Zhizhi did not care about these things, so she had never corrected anyone.
She actually found the title “Junior Sister” very endearing.
Seeing him ask her, her eyes curved with smiles. “Trouble you, Senior Brother. First, serve our Senior Brother Xie a plate of Meidai Ice-Cream.”
“Right away,” the dining hall disciple noted it down, then asked, “And what about you, Junior Sister?”
Before Qin Zhizhi could speak, Xie Yutai sat at the table and ordered flatly, “Serve her a bowl of coriander fried rice.”
Qin Zhizhi: ?
Are you a demon, may I ask?
Qin Zhizhi already had large eyes, exquisite almond-shaped eyes on her face, glistening like water. Now that she glared, they were even rounder than usual. “What do you mean by this?”
Xie Yutai sipped his tea calmly. Hearing her, his movements paused slightly as he explained, “The last time, I heard you say you loved eating this.”
When did that happen. Ah, she indeed had said that.
Qin Zhizhi was dumbfounded.
“Get me another serving of hand-grabbed rice, and put more coriander, put more! I just love putting coriander in my rice.” Her past words still echoed in her ears, making her face feel quite sore.
After all her calculations, Xie Yutai’s eyes were ruined, but his ears were not. How could he remember so clearly?
Qin Zhizhi felt extremely resentful in her heart but did not dare to expose herself. She could only nervously clutch the chopsticks in her hand, her brow furrowed as she carefully calculated her wording. “This-this one serving, how could it be enough for me to eat? Why don’t we add another…”
Xie Yutai set down his teacup and said flatly, “Add a serving of lamb spine pot.”
Qin Zhizhi: “?”
What was wrong with him?
The dining hall disciple was in a bit of a tight spot. These things Xie Yutai ordered were things the Junior Sister absolutely did not eat. His brow furrowed as he looked at Qin Zhizhi with some difficulty.
Fearing Xie Yutai would hear something again, Qin Zhizhi quickly shot a glance to shut the dining hall disciple’s mouth. “Then let’s have those. I indeed have always liked them. Sorry to trouble you, Senior Brother.”
She hated this so much.
Once the dining hall disciple left, Qin Zhizhi felt a wave of anxiety.
Xie Yutai, you are truly my natural nemesis.
Xie Yutai seemed to sense something, asking in a low voice, “What is it?”
Qin Zhizhi’s energy remained low. “Nothing.”
She was tired of this; let the world end.
Had she known it would turn out like this, even if she had to play deaf and mute, act crazy, abandon Xie Yutai halfway, or dump him in the back mountains, she would never have brought him into the dining hall!
Fortunately, this awkward atmosphere was quickly relieved.
Because Pei Lanzhou had arrived.
She wore a long saber at her waist. She was as beautiful as a painting and stood tall and graceful. The moment she entered the dining hall, she drew everyone’s gaze.
Pei Lanzhou swept her eyes over the hall and let them rest on Qin Zhizhi, walking over to her.
Qin Zhizhi called out obediently, “Senior Sister Pei.”
Pei Lanzhou came to her side. “Junior Sister, Master is looking for you.”
“He finished handling his business?” Qin Zhizhi was somewhat surprised by Fu Xingyun’s speed.
“Yes, Master wants you to return with me immediately,” Pei Lanzhou said.
Qin Zhizhi actually wished nothing more than to escape from Xie Yutai’s side immediately. Hearing this, she stood up from her chair.
Xie Yutai spoke, “What is the great rush? Miss Qin has not eaten yet.”
Only then did Pei Lanzhou look at Xie Yutai, quickly withdrawing her gaze. Her voice was gentle and without any ripples: “Master said that his earlier rejection of Jun Wuya was too swift because he felt the boy’s strength was too weak and untrustworthy. Now, he would very much like to hear what Junior Sister’s thoughts actually are. After all, Junior Sister and he-”
She paused slightly before continuing, “Were childhood playmates and innocent companions.”
For some reason, Qin Zhizhi’s cheeks suddenly flushed hot, and she felt a bit nervous.
Fu Xingyun truly was too good at this.
This phrase “childhood playmates and innocent companions” was exactly what she had said before in front of Xie Yutai, confirming the relationship between Qin Zhizhi and Jun Wuya. Even if Xie Yutai had a shred of doubt in his heart, hearing this now would force him to reconsider.
She stood up, her voice carrying a trace of shyness. “I have troubled Master to worry. I will return with Senior Sister right away.”
Was this a joke? Since it concerned her lifelong happiness, how could Qin Zhizhi not pay attention to it? Was it appropriate to still sit here eating with an unrelated person?
“Immortal Cultivator Xie, please take your time.” Having said this, Qin Zhizhi followed behind Pei Lanzhou and walked out of the dining hall without any sense of guilt.
Just before stepping out of the door, her heart suddenly stirred, and she looked back toward the corner where Xie Yutai was.
He sat upright and proper, with a distinguished air, to the point that even the surrounding wind seemed to flow past him with caution. His eyes, covered by the white silk, were facing her direction, as if, as if he could see.
For some reason, Qin Zhizhi felt a bit panicked and hastily averted her gaze.
Soon, Qin Zhizhi returned to the main hall. Fu Xingyun was already sitting in the master seat, and Pei Songzhou was half-squatting, listening to him say something with a dejected face.
Seeing Pei Lanzhou and Qin Zhizhi return, Pei Songzhou’s eyes lit up, and he said quickly, “Master, Master, Sister and Junior Sister are back.”
Fu Xingyun glared at him. “You can’t even practice ‘Moon in the Center of Heaven’ properly, and you still don’t want me to scold you.”
Pei Songzhou smiled forcedly. “Master, Junior Sister is still here. Leave some face for your disciple.”
Actually, you lost your face long ago, Pei Songzhou.
Qin Zhizhi secretly wanted to laugh in her heart, not expecting that Pei Songzhou still hadn’t managed to practice the “Moon in the Center of Heaven.”
“Moon in the Center of Heaven” was a highly crucial move in the saber techniques practiced by the lineage of the old Sect Master Qin Mingxiu. It could use the saber’s edge to tear open a saber domain, sending enemies directly to the heavens. As one’s cultivation grew, the saber domain would expand accordingly. When it reached perfection, it would tear open a full circle, resembling a silver plate high in the sky.
Pei Songzhou and Pei Lanzhou had entered the sect together and practiced together. Now, Pei Lanzhou’s cultivation had reached the mid-Fasting stage, and she could already tear open a saber domain with the “Moon in the Center of Heaven.” Although it was only a slit, it was already extremely difficult. Meanwhile, Pei Songzhou’s cultivation was barely at the Fasting stage, and his “Moon in the Center of Heaven” was learned to no effect.
It was like a celestial dog devouring the moon, pitch black. It was nothing at all, with nothing to show for it.
By right, the two of them had the same talent, the same spiritual roots, and the same master. How could the difference be so vast?
Fu Xingyun was also very troubled.
“Master,” Qin Zhizhi suppressed her laughter, paying her respects to Fu Xingyun alongside Pei Lanzhou.
Fu Xingyun looked at Qin Zhizhi. “You’re here? How was it?”
“It was quite good,” Qin Zhizhi replied.
Pei Songzhou asked curiously, “Junior Sister, is Jun Wuya really your fiancé? Are you going to marry him?”
Fu Xingyun was so annoyed he kicked him directly. “Mind your own business.”
This kick only used twenty percent of his strength and was not painful at all, but Pei Songzhou still dramatically fell to the ground, crying out, “Ouch! Master is indeed partial. Ever since Junior Sister came, you don’t care about me anymore.”
“Get lost.”
Ignoring him, Fu Xingyun retrieved three Shadow-Like Talismans from his robes and handed them to Qin Zhizhi and the Pei siblings.
Pei Songzhou scrambled up from the ground in an instant. Pei Lanzhou accepted the Shadow-Like Talisman with both hands, her eyes flickering. “Master, did Elder Yanchen say something?”
Fu Xingyun stuffed the talismans into their hands respectively and sneered without raising his head, “You kids, why do you care so much? Making a name for yourself is the way to bring honor to your master.”
When his fingers brushed across Qin Zhizhi’s palm, his movements paused. “However, during this trip to the tournament, reputation is secondary; safety comes first.”
“This goes for all three of you.”
The moment his words fell, even the usually playful Pei Songzhou sat up straight and solemn.
“Alright, you may all leave. Qin Zhizhi, you stay.”
As Fu Xingyun spoke, Pei Lanzhou and Pei Songzhou turned to leave the hall. Once they had left, Qin Zhizhi dared to walk to Fu Xingyun’s side, asking in a low voice, “Senior Brother, did something happen?”
Fu Xingyun’s gaze was dazed. “I did not expect that the old fellow Yanchen actually had business with me.”
For the past several hundred years, Elder Yanchen had been guarding the Liantian Abyss. He was only one step away from ascension and was the undisputed peak of combat strength at the time.
These past several hundred years had also been very peaceful.
However, this time, Elder Yanchen said that there seemed to be unusual movement in the Liantian Abyss.
He had deduced it countless times beneath the night sky, but had consistently been unable to fathom the mystery behind it.
Therefore, he had come to invite Fu Xingyun to go to the Liantian Abyss together to join forces to reinforce the seal.
Originally, the seal of the Liantian Abyss was created by the joint efforts of the Three Sects. But now that the Sect Master of the Mount Sabo Sect was in closed-door cultivation and had not emerged for a long time, Elder Yanchen had no choice but to find Fu Xingyun first.
But because of this, Fu Xingyun would not be able to attend the Three Sects Tournament to watch over his little disciples.
“I thought it was some major matter, but it’s only that you can’t watch over us,” Qin Zhizhi sat beside Fu Xingyun, tilting her head to rest her chin on her hand while blinking. “At any rate, there are still the Sect Master of the Guiyuan Sect and other elders watching, so what could go wrong? There are so many disciples from various sects in the tournament, and many of their masters cannot personally come. If everyone was like you, they would worry themselves to death.”
Fu Xingyun rarely did not retort, only pinching the bridge of his nose. “I always feel uneasy, as if something is about to happen.”
“Since there is unusual movement in the Liantian Abyss, it will likely be somewhat dangerous. Senior Brother must also be careful of your own safety,” Qin Zhizhi said seriously.
Fu Xingyun was slightly startled, then burst into laughter, his face looking very bright. “Rest assured, when has your senior brother ever dropped the ball? I will finish reinforcing the seal as quickly as possible, then go see how my disciples bring honor to my name.”
Only disciples with cultivation at the Foundation Establishment stage or above could participate in the Three Sects Tournament. This time, the Tiantong Sect had about thirty people going, not many, but definitely not few.
The secret realm opened by the Guiyuan Sect this time was called the Illusionary Sovereign Realm. It required the assistance of the Mount Sabo Sect to open together. Therefore, once they reached the tournament grounds, besides the Sect Master of the Guiyuan Sect, the other person sitting in the high seat was Luo Hou of the Mount Sabo Sect, who attended on behalf of his Sect Master.
The scenery inside the Sovereign Realm was beautiful, containing many rare spiritual herbs and low-level demon beasts. Slaying demon beasts or gathering celestial herbs could earn points, but those were only the most basic points. At the same time, there were two hidden secret realms within the Sovereign Realm. If one could find and enter them, they could obtain extremely high points.
Besides these, there were two points in the Sovereign Realm that required special attention. First, the flow of time inside was different from the outside world. Furthermore, day and night did not follow a regular pattern, which invisibly increased the difficulty of the tournament. Second, teleportation arrays were scattered everywhere within the Sovereign Realm, making them very difficult to identify with the naked eye. They would randomly open every half hour. It was highly possible that one moment a person was gathering herbs, and the next moment they were teleported right in front of a demon beast.
Given this unpredictability, the Illusionary Sovereign Realm was generally very difficult to complete in teams. After all, your teammate might be teleported who knows where in the next second.
The tournament would last for three days.
Before entering the illusion, Qin Zhizhi saw many familiar faces. Jun Wuya of the Heguang Sect, Su Qingyi, and Lu Yuandao were all old friends. Su Qingyi even waved to her from afar, and Jun Wuya also frowned as he looked at her, appearing somewhat worried.
Speaking of Jun Wuya, Qin Zhizhi recalled the gate disciple’s complaints when she left the Tiantong Sect today. He said that after Jun Wuya left yesterday, he did not go far but instead stood at the gates of the Tiantong Sect doing who knows what. After a long while, seeing Xie Yutai emerge, Jun Wuya had stepped forward. After some exchange of words, Jun Wuya had actually directly attacked Xie Yutai.
The gate disciple was both shocked and terrified. Fortunately, the two of them fought as they went, eventually leaving the territory of the Tiantong Sect.
She couldn’t help but steal another couple of glances at Jun Wuya.
A zither cultivator at the Fasting stage with what did he think he could fight a sword cultivator at the Golden Core stage? Had Jun Wuya lost his mind?
Jun Wuya sensed her gaze and actually raised his head to offer her a slight smile.
Qin Zhizhi calmly averted her gaze.
To her surprise, she actually saw Qin Zhijie in the crowd as well. Standing beside Qin Zhijie was a youth. Although she couldn’t see his face clearly, Qin Zhizhi still recognized him as Qin Zhijie’s younger brother, Qin Guanlou.
The Lord of Wudu City truly doted on these two children. Even though Qin Zhijie had caused such a mess, he still managed to squeeze her into the Three Sects Tournament for training; he really was a doting father.
She had not expected that Qin Zhijie, who was previously at the peak of the Qi Refining stage, had now entered the early Foundation Establishment stage. Using her gold and water dual spiritual roots, she seemed to be doing quite well. Qin Zhizhi calculated in her mind, quietly shifting her gaze away.
“Junior Sister, we will be randomly teleported into the illusion later. If we get separated, remember to make a mark along the way so I can find you.”
Pei Songzhou leaned over to Qin Zhizhi to instruct her.
Pei Lanzhou also stood beside her holding her saber. “I’ve placed some transmission talismans in your spatial bag. If all else fails, remember to send me a transmission.”
Seeing these two instructing her as if caring for a child, Qin Zhizhi was also somewhat amused. “I know, I know. You two also be very careful, Senior Sister and Senior Brother.”
Pei Lanzhou and Pei Songzhou smiled at each other. Pei Songzhou grinned to reveal a row of white teeth, patting her shoulder. “Rest assured.”
As the voice of the Guiyuan Sect Master echoed out, the massive waterfall before everyone’s eyes—cascading down three thousand feet, gradually parted from the middle, revealing the Water Curtain Cave. The Sovereign Realm was open.
Before stepping into the secret realm, Qin Zhizhi cast a final glance toward the high seats. The Sect Master of the Guiyuan Sect and the elders of various sects sat there, their every move under these people’s watchful eyes to ensure the safety of the disciples.
The snowy-white figure was not there.
Indeed, Xie Yutai likely would not come.
He was neither participating nor sitting in a high seat.
Qin Zhizhi stepped into the water curtain, only feeling a faint flash of light before her eyes. Her body felt as light as though she were flying in the air, floating, before suddenly plummeting down!
After her dizziness subsided, she slowly opened her eyes.
A butterfly flew past her leisurely. Qin Zhizhi had landed right inside a patch of flowers. With various colors blooming in abundance, it looked like a fairyland. Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, she indeed was not with the Pei siblings, and there was no one else around her either.
This was truly a start with absolutely nothing.
Grasping her saber hilt, Qin Zhizhi could not help but feel a bit nervous. After all, mutual attacks were allowed in this secret realm. Just because she was a pacifist did not mean others wouldn’t attack her.
Since there was a patch of flowers right beside her, Qin Zhizhi was in no hurry and focused on squatting down to gather some celestial herbs first. Burying her head in the task, she did not look up.