“So pretty.”
Since things had come this far, he might as well ask everything clearly all at once. Gu Shi had figured out that although Feng Yingbai possessed a high level of cultivation, his mindset was naive and pure, making him not difficult to befriend. Pointing to the ball of light still playing in mid-air, he asked, “What on earth is this?”
Feng Yingbai replied, “Memories. A while ago, a lot of people suddenly died. When I was bored, I would dig out their memories to watch. Even though they were all messy, I still learned how to speak from them.”
Gu Shi knew that the period Feng Yingbai was talking about must have been a thousand years ago, when the Western Continent Secret Realm first opened.
Looking at Feng Yingbai’s proud and haughty demeanor, a guess suddenly popped into Gu Shi’s mind. “How long have you been imprisoned here?”
Without missing a beat, Feng Yingbai answered, “I do not know. Anyway, I have always been here and have never gone out.”
When Feng Yingbai said this, his tone was completely flat, without a shred of resentment, as if he were simply talking about some trivial, unimportant matter. Hearing this, Gu Shi felt a sour, aching sensation in his chest. No wonder he was so out of the ordinary.
“Senior, what needs to happen for you to be able to leave?”
Feng Yingbai replied, “Just exhausting all the power of the formation.”
It was a light, breezy statement, yet it caused Gu Shi’s heart to sink. If even Feng Yingbai could only rely on waiting for it to deplete, then he could be of even less help.
Gu Shi pulled several dozen sets of clothing from his storage bag. During that lazy period right after he transmigrated, having nothing else to do, he loved collecting pretty clothes, thinking he would satisfy his ancient-style aesthetic cravings before he died. As a result, his storage bag contained many garments.
“Senior, wearing clothes is for covering the body. The body is very precious and cannot be casually shown to just anyone. I am giving these clothes to you.”
The items Gu Shi took out were all complex and ornate in style. He had only collected them without ever wearing them himself; they were too flashy for his personal taste, but Feng Yingbai clearly liked them a lot, his eyes lighting up. “So pretty.”
A strange sense of satisfaction welled up in Gu Shi’s heart, and he asked, “Which set does Senior like? I will help you put it on.”
Feng Yingbai picked and chose before finally settling on a set of blue and white gauze robes. “This one. I like the color of the sky.”
“I will help Senior put it on.”
Gu Shi stood up and walked over to Feng Yingbai. Feng Yingbai blinked, then finally set down his bowl and stood up. Gu Shi placed both hands on Feng Yingbai’s shoulders and gently slipped off that veil-like outer layer of clothing.
“Spread your arms.”
Feng Yingbai obediently spread his arms. Gu Shi dressed him in the inner garments, then layered the outer robes over them one by one, totaling five layers altogether.
“Sit on the bed.”
Feng Yingbai sat on the bed, and Gu Shi squatted down to put on his trousers. “Lift your legs.” Obeying, Feng Yingbai lifted both legs, and Gu Shi quickly slipped on his trousers and shoes.
“Stand up.”
Feng Yingbai stood up quite obediently. Gu Shi picked up the waist belt and tied it for him. Feng Yingbai’s waist was very slender, and tying the belt made it even more obvious, easily encircled by a pair of hands.
Feng Yingbai’s hair cascaded loosely down his back. Gu Shi asked, “Does Senior want his hair bound up?”
Nodding repeatedly, Feng Yingbai’s eyes flashed with excitement. “Yes, I want whatever you want.”
Seeing his expression full of curiosity, Gu Shi knew he simply found it fun. He secretly rejoiced in his heart that he had collected so many of these little trinkets back then.
Gu Shi took out all the accessories from his storage bag, floating them in mid-air in a dense, crowded array that chimed with jade and metal sounds. “Senior, make your choice.”
Feng Yingbai liked everything he looked at and spent a long time deliberating without being able to settle on anything. “I like all of them.”
Gu Shi laughed in spite of himself. Even if Feng Yingbai had a hundred heads, he could not wear this many accessories. “I will choose for Senior, then.”
Feng Yingbai agreed. “Alright.”
While Feng Yingbai was choosing, Gu Shi had already made up his mind. He reached out and grabbed a silvery-white hair crown, inlaid with a crystal-clear blue sapphire.
Gu Shi gently gathered Feng Yingbai’s white hair from behind, carefully bound it up, and then steadily placed the crown onto his head. Considering that Feng Yingbai would not be going outside, he added two hairpins, pinned on some pearl flowers, and even wove pearl strands into his hair. The full head of pearls and jade tinkled with his movements, appearing somewhat overly flashy. Gu Shi worried that he might not like it, but Feng Yingbai merely looked at him eagerly. “There are still so many left that we did not use.”
Seeing that there was truly no empty space left on his head, Gu Shi had no choice but to pick up a necklace to hang around his neck, tucking various pearl and gemstone pendants into his clothes, and even hanging a circle of jade pendants around his waist.
The originally plain and pale Feng Yingbai instantly transformed into a moving bell. Fortunately, his appearance was extremely breathtaking, and such exaggerated styling not only failed to look bizarre, but instead exuded a natural air of wealth and supreme nobility.
“That is good for now. We will save the rest for next time.” Gu Shi put the remaining accessories back into the storage bag and handed them to Feng Yingbai. “These are all gifts for Senior.”
Instead of taking them, Feng Yingbai walked straight over to the lotus pond, pushed aside the lush lotus leaves, and admired his reflection in the water. Every time he moved, ripples spread across the surface, yet it did not affect his view of his own appearance in the slightest. Feng Yingbai happily shook his head, listening to the crisp sound of colliding jade and pearls while joy rippled across his brows and the corners of his eyes.
“Gu Shi, I like this very much.”
Unconsciously, Gu Shi curled his lips into a smile as he followed suit, his speech losing its previous stiffness. “Senior is good-looking, so no matter how you dress up, you look good.”
Feng Yingbai raised his head to look at him, smiling with his eyes curved into crescent moons. “Am I good-looking?”
Feng Yingbai’s pupils were pale gold, radiant and clear, looking straight into Gu Shi’s heart. Without hesitation, Gu Shi replied, “Matchlessly gorgeous, second to none in this world.”
Feng Yingbai asked him, “What does that mean?”
Gu Shi explained, “There is no one else in this world as good-looking as Senior.”
Feng Yingbai laughed heartily, sweet dimples blooming at the corners of his lips like a jar of mellow wine, making one drunk just by looking at them. Caught up in his emotions, Gu Shi felt his own heart grow light and happy as well.
Delighted beyond measure, Feng Yingbai conjured a circular water screen in the center of the cave dwelling and spun around, making the accessories on his body jingle and chime. His novelty-filled expression made it seem as though he were seeing himself for the very first time.
Gu Shi smiled and, wasting no more time, walked back to his usual spot to begin cultivating. However, the commotion inside the cave dwelling was truly too distracting, so he intended to walk a bit further forward. Just as he stepped out, Feng Yingbai called out to him. “Gu Shi.”
Gu Shi turned back to meet his gaze. “What is it?”
Feng Yingbai asked him, “Where are you going?”
Gu Shi replied, “To the front tunnel to cultivate.”
Feng Yingbai pressed further, “Why go to the front?”
Gu Shi paused for a moment, then answered, “I am afraid of disturbing Senior.”
Feng Yingbai commanded, “You are not allowed to go to the front. Right here.”
Since the big boss had spoken, Gu Shi naturally complied. “Understood.”
Gu Shi drew his sword from his storage bag and began practicing sword forms. Hearing the sound, Feng Yingbai looked over. With just a single glance, he waved away the water screen. Gu Shi was tall with a straight back, and every single move was filled with fierce, powerful strength. His horizontal slashes and piercing cuts were executed with an explosive, upward-surging youthful vigor. No one could fail to love such an unrestrained and soaring vitality.
Feng Yingbai’s gaze was too direct, making it hard for Gu Shi to ignore. He stopped after finishing a complete set of combo moves. “This junior has just entered the sect and has yet to grasp the essentials, making a laughingstock of himself in front of Senior.”
This statement was pure modesty. Every single stance and movement of Gu Shi’s had been taught to him hand-in-hand by Yu Chanxin, and after practicing for three months, even Yu Chanxin could find no flaws.
Feng Yingbai paid no mind to his words and simply stated his own desire. “I want to learn too.”
Gu Shi was momentarily stunned. “Ah?”
Feng Yingbai walked toward him, snatched the sword right out of his hand, and casually executed a couple of motions. The blade cleaved through the air, producing a sound like tearing silk, and its destructive power far exceeded what Gu Shi could manage with all his might.
Gu Shi possessed good self-awareness; he did not dare flaunt his low-level cat-and-dog moves in front of the big boss. “Senior’s cultivation has already reached the pinnacle; this junior’s unrefined moves would only tarnish Senior.”
Feng Yingbai asked him, “What does that mean?”
Gu Shi paused for a moment and explained it in plain terms, “You do not need to learn this.”
Feng Yingbai asked him, “Why?”
Naturally, because he could not possibly teach him, but Gu Shi said, “Senior, you are already powerful enough. You do not need to learn these things.”
Feng Yingbai was quite straightforward. “But I feel like what you are doing looks very nice.”
Gu Shi thought to himself, isn’t standing still and moving your fingers around nicer-looking than hacking and slashing?
“Senior, you are wearing too many accessories, so practicing the sword is not very convenient.”
This sentence instantly persuaded Feng Yingbai. He tossed the sword back to Gu Shi and said, “Forget it then. You practice; I will just watch.”
Gu Shi heaved a heavy sigh of relief and resumed practicing his swordplay. With Feng Yingbai watching from the side, his speed noticeably increased. His sword whipped up afterimages in the air, and sword forms that normally took two breaths were completed in just one. However, it failed to earn any praise from Feng Yingbai, leaving a faint sense of disappointment in Gu Shi’s heart.
After watching for only a short while, Feng Yingbai went back to admiring himself, leaving Gu Shi alone in place to finish his sword practice and sit down to begin cultivating.
Half a day passed quickly. Taking a deep breath, Gu Shi opened his eyes and prepared to look for some food, but upon standing up and inspecting the area, he saw that all the food he had brought had been mostly eaten up. Feng Yingbai’s stomach was rounded from overeating, and he was lying on the bed in a daze.
Gu Shi’s stomach rumbled twice, and Feng Yingbai looked over at the sound. “What is that making a cooing noise?”
Gu Shi blurted out, “Gu Shi.”
Not understanding, Feng Yingbai asked, “Then why are you cooing?”
At that moment, Gu Shi deeply understood what it meant to lack culture. Originally, he had felt a bit embarrassed, but now he felt none at all, saying frankly, “Senior, I am hungry. May I go outside to find something to eat?”
Hearing his words, Feng Yingbai finally glanced over the leftovers scattered all over the room. “Oh, you only brought this much.”
Gu Shi fell silent. Originally, these provisions should have lasted him three months, but Feng Yingbai had finished them in a single day.
“I came in a rush and my preparations were not thorough enough.”
Feng Yingbai asked, “Where are you going to find food?”
Gu Shi probed cautiously, “If Senior grants permission, I would like to search the secret realm for food.”
Feng Yingbai readily agreed. “Alright.”
To be safe, Gu Shi asked further, “I heard that the rule of the Western Continent Secret Realm is that one cannot touch anything inside. Does Senior know about this?”
After pondering for a moment, Feng Yingbai countered with a question, “Is there such a rule?”
Gu Shi’s heart sank. Could it be that Feng Yingbai was not the master of the Western Continent Secret Realm?
“A thousand years ago, when the Western Continent Secret Realm opened for the first time, everyone who attempted to lay hands on the treasures within was turned to dust.”
Hearing his words, Feng Yingbai fell into deep thought. “A thousand years ago?”
Gu Shi quickly nodded, only to hear Feng Yingbai continue to ask, “When was that?”
Gu Shi fell silent. How was he supposed to explain a thousand years ago? After a moment of thought, he decided to speak plainly. “Senior, are you the master of this place?”
Under Gu Shi’s expectant gaze, Feng Yingbai asked him, “What is a master?”
Gu Shi fell silent once more, forced to phrase it even more simply. “If I touch things in the secret realm, will I die?”
This time Feng Yingbai did not ask a counter-question, answering quite crisply, “No.”
The conversation was finally back on track, and Gu Shi hurriedly asked, “Why?”
Feng Yingbai could not explain it clearly either. “If you will not die, then you just will not.”
With his life on the line, Gu Shi did not dare to take risks, so he decided to test the waters first. “Senior, may I pluck a lotus leaf?”
Feng Yingbai did not care in the least. “Go ahead and pluck it.”
At the entrance of the cave dwelling was a pool of lotus flowers. The lotus leaves were lush and layered, hiding the water entirely from view. Pinkish-white lotus blossoms stood independently, their glowing radiance exuding an ethereal, otherworldly fairy aura. At a glance, they were clearly not ordinary items, making them perfect for an experiment.