Chapter 27 Chapter 27 "I lost, but how could...

The crisp chirping of birds pierced the darkness, and the faint fragrance of flowers and slightly bitter sandalwood lingered in his nose. Yao Ning's eyelashes trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes, reflecting the rose-colored silk tent ceiling.

She sat up, and the soft primrose-colored cloud-patterned quilt slipped off her shoulders, revealing a white silk undershirt.

The serious injuries caused by the fall have recovered by 70%. She didn't know how long she had slept. At this moment, her mind was clear and the spiritual energy in her body was flowing smoothly.

I got out of bed, walked to the window, pushed open the window frame with cloud patterns, and a breeze rushed in. The mountain mist dissipated in front of me, and the green tiles and flying eaves extended from high above. A corner of the white jade railing was visible among the green trees.

With connected pavilions and palaces and circular roads, such exquisite and magnificent buildings can only be found in the Tianshu Sect in Jiuzhou.

She suddenly discovered that the mountains and palaces in the distance seemed to be moving. After a moment of surprise, she realized that it was her side that was moving.

The scene changed, and after a stick of incense, there was a sound of gears meshing underfoot, and the whole room stopped shaking.

Yao Ning pushed open the door and found that he was in a small flying boat, which should be driven by mechanical techniques and magic stones. After Yao Ning came out, the flying boat changed direction and headed for the pavilion in the mountains.

Yao Ning withdrew his gaze, but saw that this was halfway up the mountain. A waterfall crashed down from the sky, scattering cold mist. Various flowers and trees bloomed along the plank road, and cranes were circling and dancing.

Walking along the plank road, passing the waterfall and turning around a mountain gate, the view suddenly opened up. In a small open space, a fiery red maple tree towered over the sky, blocking out the sun. Beneath the tree sat a person, with his back to Yao Ning, revealing a head of long hair like dark clouds.

The place is small and very quiet, the sound of the waterfall and other sounds from the outside world are gone.

It was late spring, but the maple tree was as dazzling as a flame.

Yao Ning walked towards the man, his feet stepping on the fallen leaves, making a crisp "squeaking" sound. The man turned around and asked: "Are you awake?"

Yao Ning bowed politely and said, "Thank you, Senior Sister Meng, for saving me."

Meng Yaoguang waved his hand and motioned Yao Ning to sit down.

The coffee table was a cross section of a tree trunk, with visible growth rings. Meng Yaoguang put down the nine-section steel whip he was wiping and picked up the teapot.

"I stumbled upon this place when I was a kid. It's small, but very quiet. Ever since then, whenever I've wanted to be alone, I've come here." Tea poured into the cracked ice teacup, the aroma lingering in the air. Meng Yaoguang smiled, "You're the third person to come in."

Meng Yaoguang stood up and offered the teacup with both hands. She was so serious that Yao Ning also stood up and took it with both hands.

Meng Yaoguang said seriously, "Mianzhi was rude that day. I apologize to you on his behalf."

Yao Ning was stunned for a moment and shook his head: "I forgot about it a long time ago."

The two sat down again, and Meng Yaoguang supported his head and looked at Yao Ning.

Yao Ning let her look at him. He felt that the tea was very fragrant, so he picked up the teapot and poured another cup himself.

Meng Yaoguang said, "Mianzhi has been spoiled since he was a child. His mother often tells him to protect Chen Qian. He also comes from a prominent family, so he's been influenced by them since he was a child, and has been exposed to some of the family's influence. In short, don't take what he said to heart."

Yao Ning smiled softly and agreed: "Okay."

"But then again—" Meng Yaoguang lamented, "Sometimes he can be so mean with his mouth! So mean that I want to slap him, but unfortunately I never have the chance."

Yao Ning chuckled: "Senior Sister Meng has a very good relationship with my cousin."

"We grew up together. I've even seen him wearing open-crotch pants." Meng Yaoguang smiled. "At that time, Chen Qian often came to his aunt's house. The three of us could be considered childhood sweethearts, right?"

"Really?" Yao Ning's eyelashes trembled, and he changed the subject. "I wonder if the demon world has committed crimes again since that day?"

"No, I just heard Dad say..."

Meng Yaoguang paused and said, "There's no rush. Sect Master Gu and Master Kongwen will lead all the sects in discussing matters concerning the Demon Realm. You've finally recovered from your injuries, so relax and recuperate."

Yao Ning nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

Meng Yaoguang tilted his head: "So obedient?"

Yao Ning was slightly startled and didn't know what to say for a moment.

She and Meng Yaoguang were not actually familiar with each other. She had a fleeting glimpse of him when she was young, and she had always admired him, but she was afraid to get close to him because of her low self-esteem.

Instead, it was Meng Yaoguang who noticed her for some reason after that.

Whenever she encountered Yao Ning, she could always make her way through the crowd and accurately find the girl in the corner, and either say hello or offer her a glass of wine, which would attract the attention of those who were originally on the eldest lady of Tianshu Sect to look at Yao Ning in surprise.

Every time this happened, Yao Ning felt at a loss. She was not used to being stared at by so many people, but she was particularly excited that the older sister she admired noticed her and that she was different from others.

It's like a princess who is the center of everyone's attention, handing the flower in her hand to the little mouse in the ditch. Even if it is just a flower that can be found everywhere, the most insignificant thing among the princess's wealth, it can make the little mouse, who has never received a flower, feel moved and unable to control himself.

The little mouse carefully accepted the bouquet and treasured it in his heart. From then on, his gaze towards the princess became more and more passionate, but he knew enough to keep a suitable distance.

Yao Ning had never sat across from Meng Yaoguang to drink tea, and had never spoken so much at once.

Not to mention Meng Yaoguang's very intimate words.

She looked at Meng Yaoguang in a daze.

There was a smile in Meng Yaoguang's eyes, but suddenly the smile melted away like ice and snow, and with a "whoosh", a nine-section steel whip came through the air.

Meng Yaoguang was born with supernatural powers. If he whipped Yao Ning, his brain would burst and he would die on the spot.

But she didn't even blink and continued to look at Meng Yaoguang.

The steel whip hovered an inch above Yao Ning's head. Meng Yaoguang made a "tsk" sound and slid the whip down. The cold weapon, still smelling of blood, swept across Yao Ning's fair and tender face and lifted her chin.

Meng Yaoguang leaned closer: "Why don't you fight back?"

Yao Ning kept her chin raised, her cheeks slightly flushed. She reached out and touched Meng Yaoguang's wrist. With her five fingers turned, the steel whip was removed with a gentle and irresistible force. She caught the fallen steel whip with her other hand and handed it to Meng Yaoguang.

"Senior Sister Meng didn't use any strength at all."

Meng Yaoguang took the steel whip, covered his face with his hands, and lay down on the grass. After a while, he raised his head and stared at Yao Ning, saying fiercely, "Don't laugh."

After saying that, he laughed first.

Her laughter was crisp, open-minded and unrestrained. Yao Ning looked at her head tenderly as a few blades of grass touched it. He suddenly realized that the princess he had always admired was not so unapproachable.

Meng Yaoguang pulled a handful of hair and said gloomily, "You know I was actually attracted to Shen Qian when I was young, right?"

Yao Ning's heart moved and he nodded.

Meng Yaoguang's eyes were empty as he thought of the distant past: "He and Mianzhi and I have known each other since childhood. Since I was born into a noble family, I naturally felt that only the best man in the world could match me.

"Chen Qian is both handsome and talented, so it was natural for me to admire him. I used to think that if I wanted something in the world, I would definitely get it. So when I found out that Chen Qian had no romantic feelings for me, I was furious for the first time in my life."

Meng Yaoguang curled his lips, his eyebrows reaching his temples, giving him a very heroic look. "But I quickly let it go. Because he didn't like me, I didn't bother to like him either."

She stretched out a finger that looked like she was peeling an onion: "One day, it only took me one day to let go of my love for Shen Qian."

Yao Ning was a little stunned when she heard this. Meng Yaoguang tilted his head to meet her gaze and blinked.

"Surprised, right? Everyone around me finds it incredible, thinking I'm being insincere, that I can't bring myself to lose face because I've always been successful since I was a child. But only I know that the moment I found out that Chen Qian didn't like me, he lost most of his luster in my eyes."

"The person I, Meng Yaoguang, admire must be in his eyes and heart. From beginning to end, there will only be me."

Yao Ning reached out and plucked the leaves from Meng Yaoguang's hair. Meng Yaoguang took her hand and stood up to approach her: "But I'm also curious, in Shen Qian's eyes, who am I inferior to?"

"Senior Sister Meng, it's not like that." Yao Ning shook her head, wanting to say that Chen Qian didn't have her in his heart, and that their marriage was her plan. She opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything, so she could only say, "I think people are not loved because they are more beautiful, more powerful, or more noble."

"Although Chen Qian married me, it doesn't mean that you are inferior to me."

Meng Yaoguang smiled with satisfaction and let go of Yao Ning: "Although that is true, I am also curious, so I took a look, and this look -"

Yao Ning looked at her.

Meng Yaoguang spoke softly, his eyes frank and sincere, "I've discovered he has good taste."

Yao Ning blushed.

Meng Yaoguang lay down again, the green grass swaying in the wind. A few steps away was the Qianxun Cliff. The mountains and rivers in the human world seemed so low and so small.

"I know that love between men and women is not determined by family background, appearance, or cultivation, but Chen Qian chose you and formed a Dao with you. I lose to you and am convinced."

Yao Ning wanted to say that Meng Yaoguang didn't lose, and she didn't win either.

There are no winners here.

Meng Yaoguang frowned, his tone becoming somewhat weak: "I lost, so what? But how could anyone fall in love with someone who defeated them?"

Yao Ning's body froze. He turned these words over in his mind three times before he understood what they meant. His face flushed red, his eyes darted around in shock, and he spoke incoherently: "Ah? What? Who... It's not, I..."

At the end of her words, she covered her face with her hands, groaned inwardly, and fell to the ground stiffly.

The two of them lay side by side on the grass, with the same look of despair in their eyes.

After a while, a burst of laughter broke out under the tree.

The two girls couldn't help laughing, their cheeks flushed and tears welled up in their eyes.

Meng Yaoguang grabbed Yao Ning's hand and looked at her sideways. "I don't have many friends. This is the first time I'm trying to make friends. I've tried to talk to you several times, but why are you always so cold and indifferent? It makes me sad time and time again."

Yao Ning's face was still a little hot: "I don't... I only have a senior sister, but she always likes to fight with me."

She glanced at Meng Yaoguang and said, "I've never made friends with anyone before. If you come to me, I'll just treat it as a deity looking down on me."

Meng Yaoguang looked at her for a long moment, then turned away with a blank expression. "Are you always this frank and passionate when you talk to people? No wonder even that icy Chen Qian couldn't resist the temptation."

Yao Ning turned his face to the other side and stopped talking.

Meng Yaoguang nudged her shoulder and said, "From now on, you and I will be good friends."

Yao Ning's heart was filled with joy, and a long-lost bright smile appeared on his face: "Yeah."

Meng Yaoguang was also very happy. She rolled a few times on the grass, with grass debris all over her head. She climbed up with her hair full of green hair, and used all four limbs to get closer to Yao Ning, her face becoming serious.

"Since we are friends, I will speak frankly."

Seeing her serious expression, Yao Ning couldn't help but get nervous: "Just say what you want to say."

Meng Yaoguang looked at Yao Ning: "You have been deliberately avoiding Chen Qian since just now. Although I don't know what happened between you two, but-"

"Chen Qian was already in danger the day before yesterday."