Luo Qinghan transformed into a stream of light and landed on the plaza of the Sect Master Peak.
The night breeze gently caressed her, and her moon-white flowing immortal dress fluttered slightly. She stood there like a celestial maiden descending to the mortal world.
On the plaza, disciples who were coming and going or resting all stopped in their tracks, their gazes converging on her.
"It's Senior Sister Luo!"
"Junior Sister Luo is back."
"I heard Junior Sister Luo went to the Library Pavilion today, supposedly to visit an old acquaintance."
"An old acquaintance? What kind of person would be worth a visit from Junior Sister Luo herself?"
"I don't know, but anyone who can linger in Junior Sister Luo's thoughts must not be an ordinary person."
Whispers filled the air, and those gazes were full of admiration and envy.
Luo Qinghan's reputation in the Azure Cloud Sect was truly remarkable.
Upon entering the sect, she was personally accepted by the Sect Master as a closed-door disciple. Her cultivation speed over the past eight years was astonishing, reaching the Purple Palace realm at just twenty years old.
Such talent was a rarity in the sect's history spanning hundreds of years.
Moreover, she possessed such beauty.
Cold as frost and moonlight, as stunning as a heavenly immortal.
Countless disciples secretly admired her, countless dreamed of her, yet none had the courage to approach and speak.
Luo Qinghan was long accustomed to these gazes. Her expression remained cold, her eyes straight ahead, as she walked directly towards the interior of the Sect Master Peak.
At that moment, a voice with a hint of laughter came from the side.
"Junior Sister Luo."
Luo Qinghan paused slightly and glanced sideways.
A young man was walking towards her.
He had a handsome face, a tall and upright posture, and his dark brocade robe signified his extraordinary status.
His face bore a perfectly measured smile, appearing gentle and elegant, with an air of grace.
Xie Yinchuan, the only grandson of Deputy Sect Master Xie Yuan.
Luo Qinghan's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, a trace of disgust flashing deep in her eyes.
She knew this Senior Brother Xie all too well.
On the surface, he was as gentle as jade, impeccable in his dealings with others, and well-liked within the sect.
But she could sense something behind those gentle eyes that made her very uncomfortable.
Moreover, he had approached her multiple times, offering gifts and favors, with intentions she understood all too well.
Xie Yinchuan stood before her, blocking her path.
"Junior Sister Luo, coming back so late, did you go somewhere?" His smile was warm, his tone concerned.
Luo Qinghan's expression remained cold, her voice indifferent, "Does Senior Brother Xie have any business with me?"
Her voice was distant and polite, keeping people at arm's length.
Xie Yinchuan's smile faltered slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.
He reached out and took out a jade box, its entire body a lustrous white. As soon as it appeared, the surrounding air dropped several degrees.
A wave of icy spiritual qi emanated from the box, causing a few nearby disciples to shiver involuntarily.
Xie Yinchuan smiled, extending the jade box forward:
"Thinking of how Junior Sister practices a cold attribute cultivation technique, it might be useful to you.
Such a treasure would be wasted with me. Please, Junior Sister, accept it."
The crowd around them gasped.
Thousand-Year Cold Jade Marrow?
That was a true heavenly treasure.
For those practicing cold attribute techniques, having such an aid could increase their cultivation speed by at least thirty percent.
Such a treasure would tempt even a Golden Elixir stage cultivator, yet Xie Yinchuan was willing to give it to Luo Qinghan?
"Senior Brother Xie is truly generous!"
"Thousand-Year Cold Jade Marrow, that's a treasure money can't buy!"
"Junior Sister Luo is really lucky to have someone like Senior Brother Xie thinking of her."
"Indeed, Senior Brother Xie has a good family background, high talent, and a gentle demeanor. He's truly sincere towards Junior Sister Luo..."
Voices of discussion rose, with many female disciples looking on enviously.
Xie Yinchuan listened to these words, his smile growing even brighter, a hint of pride in his eyes.
He didn't believe Luo Qinghan would refuse.
Thousand-Year Cold Jade Marrow, who could resist such temptation?
Yet in the next moment, his smile froze.
Luo Qinghan didn't even glance at the jade box, her expression still cold, her voice still distant:
"Thank you for your kind offer, Senior Brother, but such a precious item is beyond my means to accept. Please take it back."
She paused, her tone growing even colder.
"If there's nothing else, I need to go cultivate."
Before she finished speaking, she had already turned and walked away, leaving only a cold silhouette.
Moonlight spilled down, her figure growing distant, her skirt fluttering like a startled swan.
Silence enveloped the area.
Everyone was stunned.
Refused?
A quick look at will leave you more fulfilled.
Luo Qinghan actually refused?
That was Thousand-Year Cold Jade Marrow, and she didn't even look at it before refusing?
"This... Junior Sister Luo is really..."
"As expected of Junior Sister Luo, steadfast and unmoved by external things."
"But this is too much of a snub to Senior Brother Xie..."
Whispers rose again, but this time, the content had changed.
Xie Yinchuan's smile completely stiffened, his hand holding the jade box tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white.
He felt the gazes around him piercing like needles.
The admiration and praise from earlier now seemed like mockery and pity.
He, Xie Yinchuan, the son of the Deputy Sect Master, with exceptional talent and noble status, when had he ever been treated like this?
But he didn't lose his temper.
After a moment, he took a deep breath, his face once again showing a gentle smile, and he called out loudly in the direction Luo Qinghan had left:
"No problem, Junior Sister, go ahead and cultivate. I'll leave the item at the Sect Master Peak, and you can come for it anytime you wish."
His voice was gentle, his tone sincere.
The crowd nodded in agreement.
"Senior Brother Xie is truly magnanimous!"
"Even after being refused, he's still so considerate. That's a true gentleman!"
"Junior Sister Luo may not understand now, but she will eventually see Senior Brother Xie's intentions."
Praises rose once more.
Xie Yinchuan maintained his smile, nodding slightly to the crowd, then turned and left.
Once out of sight, his smile gradually faded.
Under the moonlight, his face was terrifyingly dark.
"Luo Qinghan..."
He murmured her name softly, his voice gentle, yet carrying an indescribable chill.
"You still can't forget that worthless person."
He had investigated Luo Qinghan.
He knew she came from a remote mountain village, knew she entered the sect with a few fellow villagers.
And he knew that the one called Lin Changkong was the most important person in her heart.
The Library Pavilion.
That worthless person had been holed up in the Library Pavilion for eight years without stepping out.
If not for that old monster guarding him, he would have...
Xie Yinchuan clenched his fist, his nails digging deep into his palm.
He lifted his gaze, looking past the night sky towards the direction of the back of Purple Cloud Peak, a glint of cold killing intent in his eyes.
"That worthless person, hiding in the Library Pavilion for so long without coming out..."
He muttered to himself, his voice growing colder.
"That damned thing."
In his view, the reason Luo Qinghan was so cold to him, the reason she rejected all his goodwill, was all because of that worthless person.
As long as that person existed, there would never be a place for him in Luo Qinghan's heart.
But the Library Pavilion was guarded by Elder Willow, that old monster.
That old guy, rumored to have been in the sect for over two hundred years, with unfathomable cultivation, even his father had to be wary of him.
If he dared to make a move in the Library Pavilion, he might not even get through the door.
"It seems I'll have to find a way to lure that worthless person out."
Xie Yinchuan's gaze was deep, a cold gleam flashing in his eyes.
He turned and vanished into the night.