Chapter 106 Crane Cry (4)
Flowers surround the waterside pavilion. When the wind blows, the stems and leaves sway unsteadily. Occasionally, petals fall, and the water surface becomes still again, as if they have fallen into a mercury mirror and been suddenly fixed.
In the center of the lake stood a fairy-like pavilion with green gauze, jade steps and green tiles. It was surrounded by spiritual formations. The spiritual energy within was as rich as liquid. With every breath, one could feel one's cultivation level rising.
The furnishings in the pavilion are very elegant, with a piano platform, a banquet corridor, and a suspended wine rack. From time to time, cranes fly by, surrounded by white clouds and the sound of cranes' cries, creating a fairy-like scene.
The pavilion's layout is remarkably elegant, with a whalebone screen embroidered with gold separating the inner and outer rooms. The outer room offers a view of the surrounding scenery, while the couch is crafted from celestial jade, as white as snow. Ornate jewels adorn the sides, sides, and front, as well as the back. The inner room is also suitable for banquets, and from time to time, applause and cheers can be heard.
A group of young monks surrounded one person and flattered him. As Jian Shiyuan approached, his voice became clearer.
"Brother Shu is a genius! The first two lines of this poem are magnificent and majestic, and the abrupt ending makes one sigh and reminisce. The grandeur and silence blend together beautifully!"
"Everyone knows that Brother Bingxin is an expert in music and his zither skills are unparalleled. His piece 'Xiaoyaozi' resounds with its sound, yet Brother Bingxin's lyrics are a rare and exquisite masterpiece. If you don't read his lyrics, you are not worthy of being a Taoist."
"I originally thought that Brother Shu's 'Yong Shui Ling' was the pinnacle of poetry about water, but I didn't expect his new poem 'Ding Feng Bo' to be even better. The first stanza depicts the poet ascending a high vantage point, gazing out across the vast expanse of the world, while the second stanza depicts the slow flow of a stream, praising the subtle ripples of the water. The contrast between movement and stillness creates a poetic scene like the rushing waters of heaven, powerfully showcasing the extraordinary artistic conception!"
"As expected of the Shu family's son, he's truly extraordinary! He can compose a poem in just three steps. His speed and talent far surpass those of the literati whose 'one poem surpasses ten thousand'. I think in ten years, the world will only know Shu Su!"
"Only a man like Brother Bingxin can write such pure and clear poetry. In this literary competition, Brother Bingxin will definitely be the champion!"
"Brother Shu's talent is unrivaled among all the heroes. In this martial arts competition, Brother Bingxin, are you willing to compete for first place? Ha, if Brother Shu gives it his all, the two championships will definitely be yours!"
As they spoke, the sounds of laughter, drinking and praise could be heard.
Jian Shiyuan walked through the crowd and first saw a corner of a robe soaked with wine. The wet silk white robe was tightly attached to the white porcelain skin, and a hint of seductive wetness could be vaguely seen.
Looking up, I saw another piece of long black hair. Shu Su had not tied her hair up. Her hair seemed to have been washed with water, and it kept a damp feeling that was about to dry out. The color was a few points darker than when it was dry. It seemed as if it was painted, so exquisite that it didn't look like a real person. The only decoration was the silver moon-colored hanging chain earring on the ear bone.
Male cultivators rarely wear such fancy earrings, which are like a crescent moon with swaying silver hanging down.
Little bits of silver light.
Jian Shiyuan stretched out his hand, passed through Shu Su's hair, and just touched the heavy silver chain. The cold touch was like a drop of solidified tear.
Suddenly, a soft laugh came to my ears. Amid the clamor, it was like ice falling to the bottom of a well, making a crisp and unignorable sound.
Shu Su leaned forward, her hair loose, and glanced over. His lips were thin, and his smile was like a peach blossom in water, a fleeting flash of vibrant light and shadow. The smile was too shallow, yet arrogant. His eyelashes were damp with moisture, and the corners of his eyes were slightly red, looking like a peach hue.
He was only wearing plain shark gauze, his robe was empty, and he still had the figure of a teenager, tall and thin, with a hint of childishness in his eyes. His white fingers were hooked around the white jade wine bottle, and he looked somewhat casual.
Unlike his previous obedience, the young boy Shu Su was like a newly sprouted willow, with a dazzling unrestrained look from head to toe and an irresistible beauty.
The Golden Chain of Law sighed
[I didn't expect that he has such a cool and romantic side]
Shu Su has a cold and beautiful appearance. When she is asleep, she looks like a jade statue, cold and abstinent.
In the previous scene, he was always smiling, a subtle and restrained smile, looking well-behaved but lacking in sharpness. Now Shu Su was unrestrained and carefree, his eyebrows and eyes full of pride. In comparison, the young Shu Su was too dazzling.
Jian Shiyuan smiled slightly, "People always have to grow up."
What about you? What was your past like?
The Golden Chain of Laws likes to explore Jian Shiyuan's past. Even if it can flip through Jian Shiyuan's past, it also likes to hear Jian Shiyuan tell it in person.
Jian Shiyuan thought about it.
"I forgot, it was probably a very ordinary and dull half of my life."
“There’s nothing special about achievement, just trying to live.”
The disadvantages of losing love began to show. The past pain, happiness and deep memories became insignificant. Jian Shiyuan did not realize the change in himself.
The Golden Chain of Law noticed his change, but instead of pointing it out, it changed the subject.
[He actually enjoys it, huh]
Shu Su waved his hand lazily, and someone immediately fanned him. He took a sip of sake leisurely, and his lips were wet with water, turning a cherry red.
"How difficult is it to be the double leader?"
He took another sip of wine, and all the monks present laughed.
"Haha, I just like Brother Shu's personality. He's neither arrogant nor impatient, nor humble."
"Bingxin, we have a deal. You have to give in to me in the fight three days from now. Let's fight, but don't kill me with one sword in front of so many female cultivators. It's too embarrassing!"
"Brother Su, are you still bothered by this? Everyone knows that Brother Shu's swordsmanship is close to that of an immortal. We won't lose face if we lose to him in one move."
"You don't understand this, Brother Su's fiancée will also join the battle. If Brother Su falls straight in front of her, it will be embarrassing, but breaking off the engagement will be a big deal."
Amidst the teasing, Shu Su lay on his back, his lips slightly upturned, half holding the bottle, the clear wine rolling along the tip of his tongue, his eyes and brows full of uncontrollable vigor.
Someone next to him was stunned and reached out to take his bottle of wine. Shu Su was not careful and his fingertips loosened, causing the bottle to fall down. Just as the other person was holding the bottle, he turned his face slightly and raised the corner of his lips.
No words were needed, just a glance and in a flash, the man understood what Shu Su meant. They were close to each other and he could put his arm around Shu Su's waist. The man hugged Shu Su and fed him wine.
Shu Su leaned lazily on the man, not caring who the other person was. No matter how beautiful or ugly the monks present were, it made no difference to him. It was like placing green and blue vases in a pavilion. Whether they were beautiful or not, they were just vases.
He drank by himself, his eyes slightly closed, as if he was drunk, with a smile and tears in the corners of his eyes.
Soon, someone was clamoring for him to comment on the poem.
Sheets of rice paper soaked in ink were handed to him one by one, and the people around him vied to hand him paper and pen and show him poems. He just had to lean on other people's arms, move his eyes, and talk.
Even so, no one was unhappy, and everyone was vying to show off their poems.
"Brother Shu, please take a look at my new poem. If it's okay with you, I'll send it to you by Feixun."
"Let me take a look first. The fragrance of red and sparkling flowers is luring the shore, and immortals are sailing eastward. Red and sparkling flowers? Is that the pattern on Brother Shu's earrings?"
"[Immortal] refers to Brother Shu? Brother Zhang, with water as the theme, why are you praising a beauty? You're off topic!"
Someone picked up the poem, waved it, and then slowly unfolded it and spread it in front of Shu Su.
Shu Su was still in a drunken state, half awake. He did not pick up the pen, but leaned in someone else's arms, raised his arm, used his finger as a pen, and with just a stroke, the whole poem was covered with thick ink. A few words were twisting and contorting, and in a flash, the paper was shaking!
Shu Su tilted her head to drink, and heard a "pop" sound!
The paper suddenly stopped, every fold fully unfolded, and it floated in mid-air, motionless.
Everyone was shocked. Some read the poem first, some drank some wine to calm themselves down, and some were still staring at Shu Su.
"This word change is brilliant! [Cui] suggests weariness, while the latter part of the sentence has a relaxed style. The use of [jia] is even more subtle. The fragrance of red flowers flanks the banks, creating both stillness and movement. Great!"
"Bingxin, is [游] changed to [流] to represent the dynamics of a boat?"
"Riding a boat on the East River is more leisurely than sailing on the East River. Swimming? Only ducks swim, haha."
""
Jian Shiyuan imitated Shu Su's gestures, pondered carefully for a while, and figured out the moves Shu Su was using.
“He’s very smart and flexible.”
As he spoke, Jian Shiyuan sighed.
The golden chain of laws is incomprehensible, [Why are you sighing?]
"I lament his fate."
"When he corrected a character, the direction of the ink flowed entirely according to his inner sword energy. The ink had already dried, and to rearrange the dry characters, he would use his sword energy to shave off a layer of ink powder. The plant fibers of rice paper are coarse, so precise control of force requires superb swordsmanship. He could correct a character while drunk, yet complete it in one go. He was an extraordinary person."
"At such a young age, he excelled in zither music and was also proficient in poetry. Most commendably, he was also a master of swordsmanship. If he had not died young, his name would surely have gone down in the history of swordsmanship."
The Golden Chain of Laws Disdains
Even if an ordinary monk survives, he may not achieve anything. His thoughts determine that he cannot transcend the scope of humanity.
In the previous scene, Shu Su's performance did not satisfy the Golden Chain of Laws. In its eyes, Shu Su was just an ordinary cultivator.
Jian Shiyuan smiled silently. "You're too harsh. How many people in the world can achieve godhood? From a cultivator's perspective, Shu Su is indeed outstanding. A young man from an aristocratic family like him usually has to learn a lot of complicated etiquette, so it's not difficult for him to specialize. In a limited time, he was able to hone his sword skills and apply them in his daily life. He is truly outstanding."
The Golden Chain of Law rolled his eyes inwardly
[He is currently in the Jindan stage, and he was still in the Jindan stage when he died. What does this mean? His future development is not going to be good. He has run out of ideas!]
Jian Shiyuan looked at Shu Su who had closed her eyes and said slowly, "Not necessarily."
How could a naive and unruly son of a noble family become timid and obedient?
The story doesn't need to be told in words, Jian Shiyuan can guess a little.
The Golden Chain of Laws did not want to continue this topic and said indifferently:
[Paviloin doesn't exploit others' strengths like you do]
Not everyone can praise others as sincerely as Jian Shiyuan.
After commenting on a poem, someone brought another piece of paper to him. Shu Su lazily opened her eyes a little and said, "You read, and I'll listen."
Shu Su laughed as she listened to the first few sentences.
"I would rather die clinging to a fragrant branch than be blown away by the cold wind"
Hearing something, Shu Su's expression froze. Immediately, he opened his eyes completely, no longer looking drunk and tired. He stared at the person reciting the poem with a calm gaze and said, "This poem is not good. Don't recite it anymore."
When Shu Su stopped smiling, her aura immediately became strong, like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, pointing at everyone.
No one dared to say a word.
Shu Su tapped the paper in the air, and it spontaneously ignited. The orange flames devoured the paper bit by bit, leaving pale embers. In the faint flames, Shu Su happened to raise her eyes. This moment seemed eternal, and everyone present remembered it from every angle.
Just like the stars in the sky suddenly shining, the throbbing at this moment is indescribable. Shu Su's hair is hanging down and her clothes are plain, like a white flower covered with dew overnight.
Cold and quiet.
What's wrong with him?
"Baoxiang died on a tree branch. This has a bad meaning. His sister's name is Shu Baoxiang."
[So superstitious?]
Jian Shiyuan just smiled and said nothing.
This is not superstition, he just cares too much about Shu Baoxiang.
[I came here to see the hatred of having my wife stolen. What the hell is this? I'm not interested in their brotherly love. Quick, change the scene!]
Under the urging of the Golden Chain of Laws, Jian Shiyuan sped up his progress. A golden light flashed by, and the scene in front of him changed.
The night is as cool as water.
Facing the moonlight, what comes into view is a round, blue bead.
It lay in a brocade box. Shu Baoxiang handed it to Shu Su and said, "Brother, this is my only gain on this trip. During the Qingzhou Ghost Rebellion, I found this bead in the belly of a ghost general. After inspection by the elders, it should be a heavenly-level magic weapon. Unfortunately, when I urged my spiritual power into it, the bead indicated that I need to wait ten days before it can be used."
Shu Baoxiang raised his chin slightly as he spoke, his expression arrogant, pretending to be indifferent. "It's a heavenly-grade magic weapon, not a spiritual weapon, and you still refuse to directly recognize me as your master. You're so picky. It's really abominable."
"Picky?"
"There is a restriction in the bead. It reminds me that if no one better than me appears within ten days, it will recognize me as its master."
Shu Baoxiang sneered, "What a hassle."
Obviously, she is very confident in herself and she doesn't think there is anyone better than her in the world.
Shu Su's eyes darkened, and his hand that was about to take the bead froze. He didn't touch the bead, closed the box, and pushed it directly to Shu Baoxiang.
"Brother, don't you want to take a look?"
"It's just a heavenly-level magical weapon. I don't want to waste time."
"Eh? But okay."
Shu Baoxiang bit her lower lip, her eyes full of desire, as if she wanted to say something but stopped herself.
Jian Shiyuan could see that Shu Baoxiang wanted to show off. This experience was not as easy as she said. Shu Baoxiang valued this only gain very much.
"Fortunately, everything went smoothly without any delay. Tomorrow is your birthday, and I have prepared a special gift for you, which I have placed in—"
Before he could finish his words, Shu Baoxiang interrupted him hurriedly, "Don't say anything yet! If you tell me the surprise, it's no longer a surprise. I'm going to go pay my respects to my father and mother first. Brother, wait for me to come back!"
She jumped up and down, took a few steps, then stepped back and smiled at Shu Su, "Brother, I have a gift for you too."
She emphasized again, "Wait until I come back."
Under the moonlight, Shu Su was wearing an embroidered crane robe, a delicate and translucent hair crown, and a fancy earring on her right ear, like a handful of ice, reflecting the bright moonlight.
He said, "Yeah."
[Hurry up and follow her! Something big is probably happening, I want to go see what's going on!]
The Golden Chain of Law urged Jian Shiyuan excitedly.
"Just split the screen, don't worry."
Jian Shiyuan pinched his fingers together, and his golden nails suddenly grew longer.
The sky and the earth separated and united, the complete space and time was broken, and a black crack with no end in sight completely separated the two scenes.
Like the universe in chaos, two realms suddenly opened up.
[You mastered the method of splitting space so quickly?!]
Damn! Do you have to be so evil?!
It took Paviloin nearly a hundred years to come up with a similar method.
"It's just a split-screen memory clip. It's not that difficult."
Golden Chain of Laws: Okay, you are awesome.
Shu Baoxiang's body was like a white crane, nimbly crossing several obstacles and stepping through the formation.
The Shu clan's territory is full of foggy peaks, with towering mountains on both sides. A bright white dividing line appears right in front of you. Before you get close, you will feel an endless strong wind surrounding it, and a terrifying pressure rushing towards you.
It was a vast forest of flowers, and the sky and the earth were covered with white flying petals.
Shu Baoxiang held up the protective shield with one hand. She moved very quickly, and the scene in front of her kept changing. Countless lotus-colored petals flew towards her, and she could vaguely see lines of magic array.
The flying petals formed a series of killing arrays. Anyone who forced their way in would surely be killed.
Shu Baoxiang looked at her with contempt, and the corners of her mouth rose slightly. She did not avoid the extremely powerful killing formation, but broke it with force, rushing forward with a burst of force!
The petals are surging, full of murderous intent!
Divination from the three mountains of Gen, Xun and Li!
The next one should be!
Jian Shiyuan muttered silently in his heart. Just as Shu Baoxiang leaped up and his palms condensed into ice, he finally spoke, "That is the way out."
Almost at the same time!
Shu Baoxiang split the flower cluster with one palm, and the cool wind blew away her hair. She was like a soaring white crane, with graceful posture and momentum like a rainbow. Countless ice spikes exploded behind her, and the petals were shattered by the force. The fine pollen was like dust, floating up, filling the sky, and then fading away.
For a moment, the sounds of explosions, buzzing sounds, and Shu Baoxiang's cold snorts were heard continuously.
The Golden Chain of Laws hates others pretending to be cool in front of him. He grumbled and muttered:
[Flirty! Arrogant! Hateful!]
Who would go home and blow up half of the tribe’s defensive formation?
So ostentatious! Looking at this posture, I would have thought it was a mortal enemy attacking.
Jian Shiyuan chuckled, "Very energetic."
Shu Baoxiang acts flamboyantly, but she is smart in doing things. She did not destroy the core of the magic circle, but only used ice spikes to shatter one or two levels of it. The Shu family's clan defense magic circle uses the [Nine Kans Absolute Spirit Formation] of Kaiyuan Daojun. Although this move has depleted the defense of the magic circle, it is not enough to destroy the entire magic circle. It is also very simple to repair the formation by replacing the consumables when replenishing the spirit stones.
What Shu Baoxiang did was not enough to destroy the magic circle, but it could announce his return to all the tribesmen.
It was a really arrogant way to make an appearance.
Sure enough, the spiritual energy and fairy mist in front became restless.
A beam of light swept across Shu Baoxiang, brushed across her face and illuminated her eyes. Jian Shiyuan saw a pair of eyes filled with desire. The ambition that Shu Baoxiang concealed was illuminated by the beam of light, turning it white and dazzling. It was so glaring that it made people's heart palpitate.
An angry snort came from above his head.
Inexplicably, all the noise around her disappeared. There was no room for resistance. A brutal pressure surged down from the sky, and the strong wind blew Shu Baoxiang's long hair. She raised her head slightly and let the strong wind howl.
The old male voice said angrily: "Shu Baoxiang, it's you again."
A monk in the out-of-body stage!
Apparently, this wasn't her first time causing trouble.
Shu Baoxiang put on a false smile, and the stars twinkled beneath her feet. She nonchalantly gathered her hair and said, "I checked the defensive formation for you. It's indeed been neglected for a long time. It breaks easily. Elder, you should have it maintained regularly."
"you!"
Ignoring the old man's roar, Shu Baoxiang touched his lips to hide the malice at the corners of his mouth.
A magic circle suddenly took shape under her feet!
In the last few seconds before disappearing, her lips moved and she uttered the last silent words.
——Let’s play slowly
The fierce aura turned from virtual to real and crashed down, but Shu Baoxiang had already disappeared.
Finally I saw a towering tree.
I saw thousands of branches hanging down from the sky, and countless twinkling stars on each branch. The tree was so tall and magnificent, connecting heaven and earth, like a giant tree supporting the sky in mythology. There was a cave on each huge branch, and countless branches extended outward, dense as a spider web.
Shu Baoxiang is even faster.
As they got closer, Jian Shiyuan could see many fairy buildings and jade palaces, some of them resplendent and some simple and ancient, stretching towards the sky with huge branches.
This tree is the [Sky-supporting Tree], and this place is the Shu family’s land, [Shujing].
It is said that this towering giant tree was the first spiritual tree in the world to be born with intelligence. Later, when humans and demons fought each other, the tree took the initiative to sign an agreement with Kaiyuan Daojun to protect itself. Kaiyuan protected its growth, and the tree provided Kaiyuan with a fairy cave with sufficient spiritual energy for his disciples to practice.
After the Kaiyuan clan was destroyed, the spirit tree was also deceived by the ancestors of the Shu family and became the foreign ancestor worshipped by the Shu family. The Shu family built their clan land within the protection of the spirit tree, and the two lived in mutual benefit. After a long time, the Shu family's base camp - Shujing was born.
Shu Baoxiang walked over to a hanging vine and gently stroked the huge green vine.
"go."
The vines wrapped around Shu Baoxiang and slowly rose up. A ball of spiritual light burst out. For a moment, everything in the world fell into nothingness and paleness. All the scenes that Jian Shiyuan saw were filled with dazzling white light.
Before Jian Shiyuan could even begin to read anything else, the scene suddenly changed—
The clouds were floating, the rosy clouds were like mist, and the fairy flowers and herbs were growing vigorously. For a moment, all the emotions in the world came to my heart, and all the blood vessels in my body were connected. I could feel that all the cells in my body were madly sucking in spiritual energy.
The Sky-Supporting Tree is best at absorbing spiritual energy from all over the world. This place is its main branch. After tens of millions of years of nourishment, the spiritual energy is like liquid. With every breath, one can feel that the cultivation level is rapidly improving.
Shu Baoxiang walked through numerous palaces. There were many palaces here, some large and some small, more than ten stories high. Each palace was equipped with cranes to welcome guests. When the cranes saw Shu Baoxiang, they felt like they saw their natural enemy. They lowered their heads, flew around, and made sharp cries from time to time.
Shu Baoxiang cursed them as "beasts" and didn't go to see them.
She doesn't like white cranes, and she hates feathery birds the most.
After entering the cave, Shu Baoxiang ignored the maid who greeted her and simply asked, "Where is the Madam?"
"Miss"
"Um?"
Shu Baoxiang stopped and glanced at the maid indifferently. Just one glance and the maid felt as if she was facing a great enemy. Her face turned pale and she knelt on the ground trembling and begging for mercy, her pearl hairpins shaking crisply.
"Lady Xiangxianzi—Madam, Madam, she is at Lingbi Pond."
Shu Baoxiang looked down at her, "Idiot."
The maid didn't dare to look up, her body was hunched up into a ball, tears and cold sweat rolled down her face.
"I'm in a good mood today, so I'll spare you."
Before she finished speaking, the maid's face showed joy, and Shu Baoxiang said again: "You should destroy your spiritual roots."
Condescending tone, cold language.
The maid was shaking like a sieve. She didn't dare to beg for mercy, or even cry out loud. She kowtowed heavily, holding back her tears. "Yes."
Shu Baoxiang never looked at her again.
Lingbi Pond is a man-made spiritual pond, its surrounding walls and ground constructed entirely of spiritual stone. It appears smooth to the eye, like a dazzling jade mirror. Abundant with spiritual energy, it's a perfect place for spiritual practice. However, the pond is engraved with thousands of spells that affect the soul. Looking at it for too long can cause dizziness. Anyone seeking spiritual power and lingering here will quickly suffer soul damage, their cultivation rapidly declining, and ultimately, a lifelong disability.
A normal person would definitely not set up such a dangerous bathhouse at home, but the Shu family are not ordinary people.
The Shu family’s ancestral motto is “avoid greed.”
Lingbi Pool is for sharpening one's mind. If the clan members lose their minds just for the sake of immediate benefits, then they deserve to die. The weak should be eliminated.
There is a courtyard beside the Lingbi Pool. The courtyard is covered with spiritual stone bricks and tiles, and is covered with emerald green jade. A beautiful woman is sitting on the corridor. When she hears the noise, she looks back and sees Shu Baoxiang. She turns back to play the piano.
The woman looked young, with eyes similar to Shu Su's and lips similar to Shu Baoxiang's. It was obvious that she was their biological mother.
Shu Baoxiang bowed respectfully, "Mother."
The woman lowered her head and smiled, without even glancing at her. "Are you back?"
Her eyelashes were a rare dark purple color, and when they drooped, they looked like flowing light, bewitching people.
Shu Baoxiang hummed in a muffled voice, and the two of them stopped communicating.
The strings were twanging, and Shu Baoxiang wanted to start a conversation, but perhaps it was because of tacit understanding, the woman spoke at the same time. The words that were about to come out of her mouth were swallowed back by Shu Baoxiang, and her expression became even gloomier.
"Don't bother him anymore. Every time you come back, you destroy the tribe's defense formation. Many tribe members are already dissatisfied. You are asking for trouble."
Shu Baoxiang bit her lip, her expression sinister. "He was the one who attacked my brother first, disregarding our kinship! He attacked during the trial so that his grandson could win the championship. He actually locked Shu Su in the Dragon Trapping Formation! If I hadn't arrived, Shu Su..."
He will die.
"He won't die."
The woman's voice was cold, "Shu Su won't die. You think too little of him. If he dies, he's not my child."
Shu Baoxiang sneered, lowered his head and said nothing.
How can a person not die?
The woman wasn't admonishing her, but warning and commanding her, as if she were instructing a subordinate, saying coldly, "Don't provoke him again."
In an instant, the atmosphere between the two of them reached freezing point.
Shu Baoxiang remained silent for a long time. She opened her mouth slightly, suppressing all her anger and dissatisfaction, and smiled coldly.
She said, "Yes, ma'am."
The woman didn't care about Shu Baoxiang's attitude. They were clearly mother and daughter, but they were as unfamiliar as superiors and subordinates. She took something out of the embroidery box beside her and handed it to Shu Baoxiang.
In the moonlight, her expression was calm and peaceful.
"Tomorrow is your birthday, and this is the gift I prepared for you."
It was just an ordinary green sword tassel with the white crane pattern on the end, which was what Shu Baoxiang hated the most. However, Shu Baoxiang could not suppress the joy on her face. She stretched out her hands to catch the sword tassel and held it tightly.
"Mother--"
Shu Baoxiang wanted to say something, but the woman didn't wait for her to finish and continued, "Last birthday, I gave your brother a sword tassel. Now I've made an identical one for you. Don't accuse me of partiality. I treat you all equally."
Shu Baoxiang's joy froze on her face.
She felt like she had stepped on empty air and was falling rapidly.
Shu Baoxiang looked at her mother, and the only questions in her mind were "why" and "why".
Why did you give me the same sword tassel?
Why should I cater to his preferences?
I don't like white cranes! I hate them! I like red jasmine flowers!
Growing up, I've always followed his preferences. I hate white cranes! I hate the color green! I hate you all!
That's what he likes
Why do you want me to fit in with him if you want to prove that you are not biased?
Why?
I am as talented as him, and I work harder than him. Why is that?
Why do you always think of me when trying to keep things fair?
Always, forever, from childhood to adulthood, I have always been his shadow. What I like and what I hate are meaningless. In your hearts, am I Shu Baoxiang or Shu Su's sister?
It's disgusting that charity is given without discrimination.
Shu Baoxiang accepted the gift with a smile, looked at the woman deeply, and turned away.
How stupid! I shouldn't have expected anything from you in the first place.
Jian Shiyuan sighed, "Indeed, he's biased."
Shu Baoxiang walked forward, and her tears finally fell, drop by drop, rolling down with the wind.
Jian Shiyuan looked at her silently. She cried for a while, then calmed down. As if she thought of something, she turned around and went back.
It was the same road, but she had a different mood when walking it. When she came here for the first time, Shu Baoxiang was very happy, but this time when she walked the old road again, she had no expression on her face.
Before he got close, Jian Shiyuan heard voices.
The woman was chatting with someone, Shu Baoxiang stopped and listened silently.
"Even though I prefer my daughter, I still want to say that Baoxiang's personality is not suitable for being the head. She is too extreme, and some of her actions I cannot agree with. Even if she has achieved some success, it is just luck. In comparison, Bingxin is more down-to-earth. Given the same situation, he can do better."
"We can't ask Bingxin to make concessions just because he's physically and mentally sounder. Nor do we need to feel sorry for Baoxiang. This is all her own fault. No one forced her to back down, much less put her in a situation where she was doomed to die."
"She acts in an extreme way, so she can only be a tool, not to mention that she is a woman."
Shu Baoxiang smiled once, and then she smiled again.
The previous words were all excuses, and Shu Baoxiang simply ignored them.
She only asked herself
——Just because I am a woman?
I'm a female cultivator, and I can only retreat? Why?!
After watching this farce, Jian Shiyuan suddenly felt like chatting. He sighed, "This mother is indeed partial, but she's not partial to her daughter."
The golden chain of the law smiled meanly
Look at Shu Su! That's hilarious! He's contracted the bead.
Jian Shiyuan frowned and looked at Shu Su. Under the moonlight, Shu Su was staring at the round beads in front of her in shock.
Shu Su couldn't understand why, even though he just wanted to hide the gift in the brocade box as a surprise for his sister, a voice informed him that the contract was successful before he even touched the beads?!
[There's something interesting to watch, hehe]
Shu Baoxiang is walking back. She will soon return to Shu Su, but soon she will find that her only gain is the contract with her brother, and she has been abandoned again.
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