Chapter 63: Getting Rid of a Troublesome Peach Blossom

Looking back, under the moonlight, a man emerged from the shadows.

His steps were slow and somewhat heavy; he might not have wanted to show himself if he hadn't been discovered.

Upon seeing the man's blue Taoist robe, Si Yao frowned slightly. "Chongyun? How could it be you?"

It turned out that the person who had broken the tree branch was Xia Chongyun from the Seven Star Temple.

Xia Chongyun's appearance prompted Ye Guyan to give Si Yao a meaningful look. "Little Si Yao, since someone is looking for you, I won't disturb you any longer. I'll look for you again tomorrow."

Are you coming again tomorrow?

Si Yao was completely baffled.

Before she could respond, a gust of wind swept by and carried Ye Guyan away into the distance.

After Ye Guyan left, only Si Yao and Xia Chongyun remained in the pavilion in the middle of the lake.

The lake reflected the moonlight, shimmering on the surface. Looking at Xia Chongyun's uneasy expression, Si Yao frowned. "You were following me?"

Xia Chongyun gasped and quickly stepped forward. “Si Yao… I was just worried about you, and I have a lot to say to you. When I saw you leave your seat, I followed you here.”

He hurriedly explained, "I didn't expect to bump into you and the Qin Master of Luanqin Valley. I... I didn't mean to, please don't be angry."

Si Yao wasn't angry at all, and her heart was completely unmoved. She raised her eyes and said, "Chongyun, you suddenly left your seat and followed me here. Is there something you want to say to me?"

After saying that, Si Yao pondered, "Has Xia Chongyun said enough already these past few days?"

But Si Yao also understood that if she didn't say it out loud, Xia Chongyun probably wouldn't understand. She didn't want to embarrass him, so she didn't respond to him directly most of the time.

As a result, Xia Chongyun always held onto a sliver of hope.

Therefore, Si Yao has decided that she should take a good look at the relationship between the two of them.

Inside the pavilion in the middle of the lake, Xia Chongyun, whose eyes were fixed on Si Yao, hesitated for a moment, his expression still somewhat awkward, "Yesterday at the beach gathering, I should have been in your group. Later... I never expected you to get drunk, and I regretted not drinking for you..."

He was rambling incoherently, his words disjointed and inconsistent.

Si Yao didn't know what he was trying to express.

"Chongyun, you might as well speak your mind."

Indeed, some things should be said directly.

With these thoughts in mind, Xia Chongyun mustered his courage and straightened his back. "Si Yao, what I want to say is that I fell in love with you back in Xingyang Mountain."

At this point, Xia Chongyun's face even turned slightly red. His gaze wandered before finally settling on Si Yao's pretty face. "It was the same in the past, and it is the same now. You have always been in my heart! If you are looking for a cultivation partner, you should really consider me!"

He was quite blunt; he had never said anything like this to anyone before. After he finished speaking, his whole body trembled slightly with excitement.

However, after hearing such a passionate confession, Si Yao slowly sat back down in Lanxuan. She leaned on the railing and looked at Xia Chongyun. "It's also my fault for not making things clear at the bonfire banquet that night, Chongyun. Our fate can only stay at Xingyang Mountain. Do you understand what I mean?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Chongyun's expression changed. He took a few steps back and shook his head. "Si Yao, have you changed your mind?"

Si Yao has never been moved, so how could she have changed her mind?

She said calmly, "Seven years have passed. Although seven years is just a blink of an eye, it is enough to change a lot of things."

She paused, then continued, "Back then, I was in a hurry to find someone to cultivate with, so some of the things I said to you were too explicit. But thankfully, you didn't agree to become my cultivation partner back then, did you?"

Xia Chongyun held his breath.

Then Si Yao said, "We didn't make any promises to each other that day, so it wasn't a fleeting encounter. Therefore, there has been no connection between us since then."

"Si Yao..." Xia Chongyun's voice was extremely hoarse, "Why have you suddenly become so heartless? Is it because..."

Si Yao looked up, "Because of what?"

Xia Chongyun gritted her teeth and clenched her fists. "Could it be because of the Qin Master of Luanqin Valley? I see that you have a close relationship with him. I suppose it's because you reunited with him today and rekindled your old feelings that you're in such a hurry to kick me away, right?"

"Haha?" Si Yao couldn't help but laugh. She herself thought Xia Chongyun's idea was absurd. "If it weren't for him, I would have said the same thing today. Chongyun, there was never any possibility between us."

However, Xia Chongyun could no longer contain his emotions. He said excitedly, "You don't need to lie to me! The status of the Qin Master of Luanqin Valley is much higher than that of me, the chief disciple of the Seven Stars Temple. Of course you would choose the latter between me and him."

These words struck Si Yao like a chord, causing her to furrow her brow and raise her voice, "Me, that kind of person? Chongyun, don't make assumptions. I'm just stating the facts. There's no fate between us, and we're not compatible!"

“How could it not be suitable?” Xia Chongyun continued to shake his head. “That’s not what you said back then!”

Si Yao closed her eyes and sighed, "Just consider it a lie I told you seven years ago. It's all my fault."

"I don't believe it!" Xia Chongyun completely ignored Si Yao's words. "You have definitely fallen in love with Ye Guyan."

Are you crazy?

Si Yao felt that Xia Chongyun was really troublesome.

She had no choice but to open her eyes, her cold gaze fixed on him. "There are things I really don't want to say because I'm afraid of hurting your feelings. Xia Chongyun, if I'm not mistaken, you and your junior sister Jiu Xin were engaged long ago, and that engagement was before you first met me, wasn't it?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xia Chongyun felt as if he had been doused with cold water, chilled to the bone, as if someone had grabbed his tail and left him rooted to the spot, unable to move.

"This..." He was speechless, his face a mixture of embarrassment and guilt. Finally, he lowered his head and hesitated, "I will handle this!"

Seeing that he was no longer in the right, Si Yao continued to press the matter, "I have seen your junior sister pestering you every day. Chongyun, do you want to play both of us? It is common for our Hehuan Sect to have many partners, but your junior sister will certainly not tolerate your behavior."

"I..." Xia Chongyun was speechless, stammering for a long time, but couldn't utter a complete sentence.

In order to get rid of this unwanted advance as soon as possible, Si Yao pressed her advantage: "And your junior sister is the daughter of Master Hai Qian of the Seven Star Temple. If he finds out that you are having an affair with me behind his daughter's back, you should know what will happen to you, right?"

Xia Chongyun was instantly enlightened, and he gasped. Although he was the chief disciple of the Seven Stars Temple Master, he knew his master's temperament very well.

If, as Si Yao said, his master finds out that he is not focused on his marriage and may break the engagement, his master will surely punish him severely.

Si Yao saw the retreat in his eyes, so she gave a cold smile and said, "Look at you, you're still afraid of your master, aren't you?"

"Si Yao, I... I'm not like that... I'm actually more..."

“Chongyun, it’s your own fault for not seeing your own heart clearly. In reality, you care about your identity in the Seven Stars Temple, you care about your fellow disciples in the Seven Stars Temple, you care even more about your master’s high regard for you, and you also care about your junior sister who is engaged to you. You can’t give up these things.”

Si Yao, as if brainwashing him, gradually convinced him, "So, there's absolutely no relationship between you and me. You're just still a little upset about our encounter seven years ago."

Every word she said struck a chord deep within Xia Chongyun's heart.

"Is that really true?" He still wanted to insist and struggle, but the other party had already revealed that he was already engaged.

If he continues to argue, he will seem shameless.

Just moments ago, he was questioning Si Yao, and even felt a bit angry, angry that Si Yao had changed her mind and wanted to associate herself with the zither master Ye Guyan.

But now he has no right to criticize Si Yao anymore.

He has no right to have any more delusions about her.

"I'm sorry, Si Yao..."

Finally, Xia Chongyun said weakly, his face instantly showing signs of exhaustion.

"There's nothing to apologize for. We didn't owe each other anything," Si Yao said with a smile, looking genuinely wishing him well. "From now on, you should live a good life with your junior sister."

Upon hearing the mention of "Junior Sister," Xia Chongyun's expression became even more remorseful. He did not respond, but instead raised his heavy hands, clasped his hands in a salute to Si Yao, and finally turned and left.

The summer night breeze carries the fragrance of lotus flowers from the lake.

Si Yao stretched and leaned leisurely against the railing.

Having finally gotten rid of one of her admirers, Si Yao was secretly delighted. Although she had been the one to "seduce" Xia Chongyun first, fortunately, the two had never established any relationship, nor had they made any promises to each other.

Furthermore, given that Xia Chongyun is already engaged, it would indeed be wrong of him to provoke Si Yao again.

Therefore, Si Yao did not feel much guilt.

With the matter settled, she felt completely relieved and almost fell asleep in the pavilion in the middle of the lake, until another clap of thunder rang out in the sky, which jolted her awake.

It's rainy this season, and if we don't leave soon, a heavy downpour might suddenly come.

So, Si Yao reluctantly walked out of the pavilion in the middle of the lake.

The sounds of string and wind instruments had ceased from the direction of the banquet, presumably indicating that the banquet had ended.

Si Yao ultimately had no choice but to return to Huanzong Guest House.

Thunder rumbled incessantly, but the heavy rain did not arrive, and Si Yao did not quicken her pace, as if she were strolling leisurely.

Unexpectedly, the next moment, she heard two disciples exclaim behind her, and then with a "bang," Si Yao felt someone step on her skirt.

It seemed like someone was crashing into me from behind.

Si Yao shuddered, quickly spinning in the air before retreating a few steps.

Turning around, he saw a male disciple lying on the ground, and the disciple accompanying him hurriedly helped him up.

The air was filled with the smell of alcohol, which was coming from the male disciple who had just been lying on the ground.

Judging from the looks of it, the male disciple must be drunk.

The male disciple who helped the drunken disciple up apologized to Si Yao, saying, "I am so sorry. My junior brother is not a good drinker and was already quite drunk, but he wanted to fly on his sword. He lost his balance and offended you, young lady."

The disciple who was helped up was completely drunk, leaning against the male disciple next to him like a lump of mud, occasionally hiccuping.

Seeing that Si Yao did not react, the sober male disciple continued to apologize, "I am really sorry, young lady. I didn't know which sect you belong to. Tomorrow, after my junior brother sobers up, the two of us will definitely come to apologize again."

Just as Si Yao was about to say something, a clear, cold voice rang out, "Pei Su, what happened?"

The sober male disciple named Pei Su immediately bowed to the person behind Si Yao and said, "Your Excellency, Junior Brother Mo Yun was drunk and accidentally offended this young lady."

"Abrupt?"

The man behind Si Yao spoke in a voice as cold as ice.

She couldn't help but turn around and look, only to realize that the man was the same otherworldly man she had seen at the banquet.

Jiang Cifeng, the Heavenly Revelation Venerable of the Wind Sword Sect.

"Here's what happened." Pei Su suddenly panicked and quickly recounted what had just happened.

Even though Pei Su kept emphasizing her apology, Jiang Cifeng's voice was icy, "You two, go back to the guest courtyard and find Elder Gu Ying to receive your punishment."

Upon hearing this, Pei Su's expression changed drastically.

Seeing this, Si Yao couldn't help but intervene, "Actually, that young man just accidentally stepped on my dress, which wasn't anything offensive to me. I don't think it's necessary for them to be punished."

Unfortunately, Jiang Cifeng remained unfazed, still coldly staring at Pei Su and Mo Yun, "Aren't you going yet?"

Pei Su's shoulders trembled slightly, and she had no choice but to help the drunken Mo Yun take her leave.

Jiang Cifeng then turned around and prepared to leave.

He ignored Si Yao's words from beginning to end.

His cold and indifferent attitude prompted Si Yao to remark, "The people of the Wind Sword Sect are so rigid!"

Jiang Cifeng stopped in his tracks and finally turned around. Beneath his elegant and refined brows, his eyes revealed endless iciness. "They have been disrespectful to the young lady and deserve to be punished."

Si Yao frowned. "I, the person involved, have already said that everything is fine, but you insist on following the rules of the sect. That's really not humane at all."

"Rules are rules, what's the point of talking about personal feelings?" Jiang Cifeng finished speaking, then with a flick of his hand, he disappeared into the wind.

Even after walking for a long time, the air was still filled with a chilling atmosphere, and Si Yao couldn't help but shiver.