Chapter 154 What is that?!

"Bang!"

A loud, impolite kicking of the door abruptly shattered the silence of the corridor.

The door panel sprang open and, as expected, crashed into the "human-shaped obstacle" leaning against the door.

Xie Linyuan seemed startled by the sudden commotion. He swayed slightly and took a small step back to the side in a very "natural" manner. Then he looked up at Shen Zhaozhao, whose face was as black as the bottom of a pot inside the door.

A perfectly timed look of panic and helplessness flashed in her peach blossom eyes, her long eyelashes trembled a few times in a flustered manner, and even her voice carried a hint of timidity as if she had been caught out of her element.

"...Zhaozhao, you're here..."

He lowered his head slightly, his gaze darting around, not daring to look directly at Shen Zhaozhao, and said in a very aggrieved and humble tone, "I didn't mean to block this place... I was just passing by and was about to go back to my room..."

Shen Zhaozhao crossed her arms and coldly watched the man in front of her act out his dramatic act.

Despite his aloof and cold demeanor, he insisted on putting on this timid and submissive act, like a little wife.

Listening to his voice, which should have been as clear and melodious as a spring striking jade, forced out such a pitiful tone.

She sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm.

However, when her gaze swept over his slightly trembling long eyelashes and met those peach blossom eyes filled with "cautiousness" and "tears welling up"...

Shen Zhaozhao's conscience, which had grown because of Xie Linyuan, resurfaced for the first time.

well.

Who can blame them when this thing, though foolish, is undeniably beautiful?

After a brief standoff, Shen Zhaozhao finally pressed her throbbing temples and said in an almost resigned tone, "...I'll take you to the Flower Festival tomorrow."

Xie Linyuan was preparing his next "confession" lines when he heard her words and suddenly paused, looking up at her with undisguised astonishment in his eyes.

...You agreed to that?

He anticipated that it would take considerable effort to gain her approval.

She agreed so readily?

Could it be... that she listened to him?

This thought was like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating ripples that he found unbearable.

Xie Linyuan's eyes, which had been filled with grievance, lit up almost instantly.

Since she listened, does that mean... she would be willing to do the same things the waiter said about his feelings and his constant clinging to her?

Thinking of this, Xie Linyuan's gaze became even more intense and persistent. He stared intently at Shen Zhaozhao, his eyes filled with a burning expectation that was eager to be verified.

When Shen Zhaozhao was stared at like that, she almost instantly understood what outrageous ideas this lunatic was having!

No, no, no!

She can't do the others, she really can't!

Shen Zhaozhao quickly grabbed Xie Linyuan's wrist and practically dragged him toward the stairwell, trying to forcefully change the subject and the strange atmosphere through her actions.

"...Alright, come with me to the Four Directions Ranking to find out about the recent activities of the Heavenly Evolution Sect's Weapon Refining Pavilion. Since I'm taking you out to play tomorrow, you have to work properly for me today, understand?"

Xie Linyuan was naturally happy to be dragged along by her and obediently followed, but obedience did not mean that he could give up.

The peacock's gaze remained fixed on Shen Zhaozhao, and it whispered behind her in a tone that seemed to be trying to inspire and guide her.

"Zhaozhao, is there... something you haven't said yet?"

"If I forget how to phrase it, I... probably still remember some of it."

"Are you... trying to say, 'My heart is small, it can only hold one person'? Or... 'All living beings are like grass and trees, only you are the green mountain'?"

Shen Zhaozhao: "..."

roll!

The area in front of the notice board was bustling with activity, as cultivators of all kinds moved about, some looking up at the list, others gathering in one place to talk in hushed tones.

Shen Zhaozhao's gaze was sharp as lightning, quickly locking onto two young cultivators who were huddled together, pointing at a gathering task on the list. Their blue robes, the standard uniform of outer disciples of the Tianyan Sect, were particularly eye-catching.

She grabbed Xie Linyuan beside her, raised her chin at the two of them, and spoke as if she were giving her troublesome spirit dog a simple command to "go and retrieve the frisbee."

"See that? It's that kind of clothing."

“In the past, we would just randomly pick a couple and subtly inquire about the recent situation of the Heavenly Evolution Sect's Weapon Refining Pavilion.”

Fearing that this scoundrel wouldn't grasp the essence of "indirectly probing," she added a few more simple instructions: "Just say you've been wanting to buy a few protective magic items lately, and inquire whether their weapon-refining pavilion is available to take orders, whether the elders are in charge within the sect... and so on, understand?"

Xie Linyuan lowered his eyes and listened quietly as she finished speaking. His deep, cold eyes lingered on her face for a moment before he obediently nodded slightly, his voice clear and steady, without the slightest ripple.

"Um."

After saying that, he actually turned around as instructed and walked calmly toward the crowd. His composed demeanor, as if he were really going to consult about weapon crafting, left Shen Zhaozhao momentarily stunned.

...So obedient?

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but then thought that sending this troublemaker away to have something to do was better than letting him follow her around and continue to mentally attack her.

As for what useful information he can find out?

Shen Zhaozhao had no hope for this; as long as he didn't ruin the whole thing, she would consider it a success.

After seeing Xie Linyuan off, Shen Zhaozhao immediately began to get down to business.

She wandered around the square for a while before finally settling on another target—two female cultivators, both dressed in Tianyan Sect attire, standing in front of a stall selling spiritual herbs, chatting and laughing in hushed tones.

Shen Zhaozhao straightened his gray-blue men's robe, adjusted his expression, and tried to make himself look like a gentle and polite rogue cultivator who happened to be somewhat curious about the Tianyan Sect.

He stepped forward slowly, a perfectly timed, slightly apologetic smile on his face, and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to the two female cultivators, deliberately speaking in a clear and gentle voice.

"Greetings, esteemed fairies. I apologize for disturbing you..."

She had barely begun speaking when the two female cultivators who were selecting spiritual herbs looked up at her voice.

Their gazes first fell on Shen Zhaozhao's face, a hint of admiration flashing across their eyes. Then, as if they had just realized something, the two of them huddled together and whispered, "Is the couple that Senior Brother Zhou was talking about him?"

"It looks like it to me!"

Immediately afterwards, an indescribable...excitement appeared on the faces of the two female cultivators almost simultaneously.

They exchanged a knowing glance, and when they looked at Shen Zhaozhao again, the meaning in their eyes had completely changed. The previous simple appreciation had disappeared, replaced by a strange smile that said, "I understand," "So that's how it is," and "tsk tsk tsk."

One of the female cultivators, with an undisguised maternal smile playing on her lips, spoke to the bewildered Shen Zhaozhao.

"Young man, although we would love to support you, but... listen to your sister, the job up there is thankless and exhausting, and with your small frame, you obviously can't overpower your man."

Shen Zhaozhao: "???"

What is that?!?!

Another female cultivator, unable to suppress her burning gossip spirit, moved closer, her eyes sparkling with a strange excitement.

"Oh, don't be shy. My senior brother Zhou already told us using a communication talisman that you and your sweetheart are going to have a competition to see who can talk to more people in front of this notice board. Tonight,... cough, whoever does is the one at the top~"