Chapter 31

Shi Anxu cultivated with Mu Qingzhou for two more days before Mu Qingzhou took pity on him and let him go, saying the punishment was over.

Shi Anxu knew that his punishment was being ended early because their reading area was opening tomorrow. In Shi Anxu's mind, the biggest punishment for himself was to continue cultivating for a month.

There are only three days left now, it feels like a tickle to me, it doesn't do any harm at all, at most it will just make me suffer for a few days.

Mu Qingzhou still felt a little soft-hearted towards him. She felt that Mu Qingzhou was like a pastry with a molten center, hard on the outside but soft and sticky on the inside.

On the opening day, a large number of cultivators came to participate in the opening ceremony.

Shi Anxu instructed Mu Qingzhou to open the protective barrier around the peak, allowing the cultivators to enter.

He himself greeted guests in the reading area. But Mu Qingzhou couldn't be the one to greet guests. The moment he stood there, he exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay. Who would dare to come here to subscribe to cultivation techniques?

So he arranged for Mu Qingzhou to work as a "waiter" in the reading area, helping to solve any problems the visiting cultivators had.

He doesn't need to talk, he just needs to get things done. That way, even if he doesn't speak, no one will say anything.

Shi Anxu kept a smile on his face outside the reading area; if the visitors didn't stop soon, his smile would freeze.

Not knowing whether Mu Qingzhou could handle things inside, he decided to stay a few more minutes before going in to help Mu Qingzhou.

Those cultivators who wanted to subscribe were quite "sensible." As soon as he finished thinking about helping Mu Qingzhou, no more cultivators came. Even those who did come were few and far between. Shi Anxu turned around and went straight into the reading area.

As soon as he entered, he saw Mu Qingzhou searching for cultivation manuals on the bookshelf, his eyes focused and serious.

Two female cultivators stood beside him, whispering something to each other, one of them glancing at Mu Qingzhou from time to time.

She clearly had her eye on Mu Qingzhou, but because Mu Qingzhou's aura was too cold, she only dared to strike up a conversation with him under the pretext of looking for cultivation techniques.

During their occasional furtive glances and discussion, Mu Qingzhou had already found the cultivation techniques they needed and handed them to them.

One of them accepted the offer, but the other did not, instead blushing and saying, "May we get to know this immortal master?"

Mu Qingzhou coldly refused, saying, "I'm sorry, I already have someone I like."

The female cultivator lowered her head, took the attack weapon from Mu Qingzhou's hand, and, with tears streaming down her face, led another female cultivator away.

Because Shi Anxu was far away, she didn't hear what they were saying. Judging from the way the female cultivator walked with her head down, Mu Qingzhou was sure she had refused. He leaned against the door frame and shook his head with a smile.

As Mu Qingzhou turned to go somewhere else, he saw Shi Anxu and turned back to walk towards him.

Shi Anxu waited for Mu Qingzhou to come over. When Mu Qingzhou stood in front of him, he stepped forward, touched his shoulder, and teased, "Junior brother, you have quite a few suitors. Why did you reject them?"

Mu Qingzhou didn't react much to Shi Anxu's teasing, but asked seriously, "Senior brother, do you want to know why I refused?"

"Is there even a question? Of course it is! I'm wholeheartedly devoted to the Great Way," Shi Anxu thought to himself.

However, since Mu Qingzhou had asked, Shi Anxu still wanted to give him face, so he asked, "Why did you refuse?"

Mu Qingzhou did not answer the question directly, but said, "I told her that I already have someone I like."

Upon hearing Mu Qingzhou's words, Shi Anxu's eyes widened instantly. "Junior Brother really has someone he likes?"

Mu Qingzhou looked into Shi Anxu's eyes and replied, "Mm."

Shi Anxu was truly shocked. He asked several more questions in a row, "Who is it? Is it from the Qingyun Sect? Do I know them?"

Mu Qingzhou answered them one by one: "They are from the sect. You know them, and you are quite familiar with them."

Based on Mu Qingzhou's answer, Shi Anxu tried to recall the female cultivators in his mind who met his requirements, but after thinking for a long time, he still couldn't find one.

He doesn't usually have much contact with female cultivators, so how could he be so familiar with them? Is Mu Qingzhou simply trying to hide who he loves?

"Junior brother, just tell your senior brother directly. Your senior brother can't think of anyone."

Seeing that Shi Anxu still seemed oblivious, he couldn't just tell him that he liked him. He had to make his senior brother willingly like him and stay by his side forever.

"If you can cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage, I will tell you who my beloved is."

Shi Anxu would never have agreed to such an unfair contract, but he couldn't resist wanting to know who was so special that he could win Mu Qingzhou's favor, so he agreed.

"Okay, it's settled then. Don't try to renege on your promise later."

"No, I will still help my senior brother improve his cultivation level."

When he offered help, Anxu didn't understand whether he wanted Anxu to know or not.

Sigh, don't worry about these things. It's foolish to refuse something that's helpful. As for these doubts, they'll be resolved once he finds out who it is.

"Then it's settled. I will come to learn from my junior brother every day. And even if you don't like her anymore by then, you still have to tell me who she is."

"Okay." I will never dislike you...

"Well, let's not chat here anymore. You go collect the spirit stones and resources, and I'll take care of the guests."

After saying that, Shi Anxu turned around and disappeared into the crowd, looking for any guests who needed help.

Mu Qingzhou stood rooted to the spot until Shi Anxu's figure disappeared before returning to the place where he collected spirit stones and resources.

He just didn't expect that the two female cultivators who had been rejected earlier would suddenly walk towards him again. It's not that he's not as good-looking as Mu Qingzhou, so why did they come to him after being rejected by Mu Qingzhou?

Are they asking about anything that looks good? Luckily, Mu Qingzhou has already rejected both of them. She should take advantage of the crowd and escape quickly.

Just as he was about to flee, one of the female cultivators called out to him, "Immortal Master, wait a moment, we have something we want to ask you!"

Since they had all cried out, Shi Anxu naturally couldn't just take advantage of the chaos to escape, so he stopped, turned around, and smiled brightly, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

The two female cultivators ran up to Shi Anxu and whispered, "Could we go somewhere less crowded? I have something rather private to ask."

Since you know it's a private matter, why did you ask? You really have no sense of boundaries.

But Shi Anxu only dared to say it in his heart. As a qualified businessman, Shi Anxu still had to follow the principle of customer first.

He gave a polite smile and gestured for the two female cultivators to follow him. "Alright, please come with me."

The two female cultivators nodded and followed Shi Anxu to the library.

Shi Anxu led them to the place where he had practiced array diagrams last time. "Please sit down. You can start asking any questions you have."

The female cultivator who had struck up a conversation with Mu Qingzhou glanced at the other female cultivator, as if she wanted to say something but dared not.

Another nun encouraged, "What are you afraid of? Just ask. If you don't ask, there's no hope at all."

Hearing her friend say that, she took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and asked, "I'd like to ask if the other immortal is with his sweetheart?"

Shi Anxu had already come up with a reason to refuse, but ended up asking Mu Qingzhou instead.

Well, his prepared speech is useless now.

To be honest, he really didn't know. He was so focused on finding out who it was that he forgot to ask this.

Shi Anxu gave the cultivator a helpless look, "I don't know either. I haven't seen my junior brother getting close to any female cultivators recently."

Upon hearing Shi Anxu's reply, the light in the eyes of the female cultivator who had asked the question instantly went out.

Another female cultivator patted her on the shoulder and comforted her, saying, "Isn't there no hope? No news is the best news. Besides, didn't this immortal master say that he hasn't seen your sweetheart get close to any other female cultivator? Isn't that hope?"

Hearing her friend's words of comfort, she felt that it was indeed true, and that she still had hope.

Shi Anxu watched as the light in the female cultivator's eyes flickered and shone again. He felt that this female cultivator's emotions were too easily swayed by others, which was a very bad thing. If she could really be with Mu Qingzhou, he would have to change her temperament.

Seeing that the female cultivator had calmed down, he offered, "If you have no further questions, please leave. Outsiders are not allowed to come here."

The two female cultivators said, "Yes, we really have to trouble you, Immortal Master. If you are punished for this, we are willing to speak on your behalf."

Shi Anxu bowed to the two female cultivators and said, "Thank you for your kindness. I will contact you if I need anything. Now let's get out of here as soon as possible."

The two nodded and followed Shi Anxu out of the library.

After seeing the two female cultivators off, Shi Anxu started wandering around the reading area again, looking for any customers who needed help.

Before long, Mu Qingzhou came running towards him, panting heavily.

He looked at Mu Qingzhou with suspicion and asked, "What happened? Why are you in such a hurry?"

Mu Qingzhou calmed himself down for a moment and asked, "Senior brother, where did you go? I thought something had happened to you."

Hearing Mu Qingzhou's question, Shi Anxu found it somewhat amusing. He replied, "We're all on my own turf, what could possibly happen to me? I was just taking your peach blossoms to the library to answer questions."

Mu Qingzhou frowned deeply and asked, "What do they want from you?"

Shi Anxu laughed and asked in return, "What else could they possibly want from me?"

Mu Qingzhou actually started to think about it seriously and said, "I'll change the target to you."

Shi Anxu chuckled and playfully punched Mu Qingzhou's chest, saying, "Junior brother and I are so in sync. I initially thought the same thing. But then, the first thing they asked me was, 'Are you and your sweetheart together?' Of course, I didn't know, so I told them the truth. But I'm also curious about this: are you two together?"

Mu Qingzhou lowered her eyes and replied, "No, he doesn't know that I'm in love with him yet."

Shi Anxu pulled Mu Qingzhou aside and whispered to him, "Junior brother, I'm telling you, if you like her, you should be brave and pursue her. Unrequited love can lead to missing out for a long time."

Mu Qingzhou kept his eyes down and shook his head. "He has no feelings for me now. I'm trying to win him over."