Chapter 27 The Flower of Sorrow
Would Qin Wuyan like her? Like a man likes a woman?
Mu Yao had genuinely never thought about this question.
Over the years, he has indeed taken great care of her, but she has always regarded it as the care a master gives to his disciple.
Even as she grew older and began to understand that her feelings for Qin Wuyan were not as simple as a disciple's feelings for his master, she simply hoped that she and he could spend their lives together, just like they had in the past.
When people get used to a life that is always smooth sailing, they easily overlook the turbulent undercurrents hidden beneath the calm surface, and often develop the illusion that happiness and bliss will last forever.
So, if Su Zhenzhen hadn't told her today that Qin Wuyan might like other girls and might marry other women, she truly believed that she and Qin Wuyan could remain master and disciple for life, never to be separated. She would never have even considered the possibility that Qin Wuyan might also like her.
After all, he was so good to her. Apart from being extremely strict with her about cultivation, he almost always granted her every request.
Seeing Mu Yao's blank expression, Su Zhenzhen knew that the girl hadn't fully grasped matters of love yet. She herself had been a teenager and knew more about relationships. Moreover, since Mu Yao had called her "sister" for so many years, Su Zhenzhen felt a surge of responsibility and an obligation to help Mu Yao achieve her lifelong happiness.
She grasped Mu Yao's hand, her tone more solemn than ever before: "Yao'er, I know you and the Sect Master are master and disciple. But our Divine Sect is not like the Azure Cloud Sect. As long as there is no blood relation, we rarely care about such taboos. As long as the two truly love each other, what does it matter if they are master and disciple? Besides, it's not uncommon for disciples who cultivate immortality to fall in love with their masters in the past."
Mu Yao asked in surprise, "Did someone in the Divine Sect ever fall in love with their master before?"
Su Zhenzhen shook her head: "It wasn't our Divine Sect, it was a disciple of the Immortal Sect. However, that was more than a thousand years ago. It is said that a highly respected Immortal Venerable took in a female disciple. Later, the two actually developed feelings for each other, but the rules of the Immortal Sect were strict and could not tolerate such things. Later, for some reason, someone falsely accused that the female disciple was colluding with our Holy Sect and causing harm to the world. In order to uphold justice, that Immortal Venerable killed his own disciple."
"Ah!" Mu Yao exclaimed in shock, "But...but doesn't he also like his disciple?"
"Hmph..." Su Zhenzhen said disdainfully, "So this is what cultivation sects are like? What collusion with the demonic sect, what righteousness for the common people, it's all bullshit! They just wanted to take this opportunity to kill that girl and save face for the cultivation sect. But I heard that not long after that woman died, that immortal venerable also passed away. So many people say that he died for love."
This matter is still considered a scandal by cultivation sects, so the names of that immortal and his disciple, including their past achievements, have been erased from the sect's history. I only know this because I heard it when I went to the theater with your brother Song. Although some say it's false, I think, given the way those righteous sect disciples act, it's most likely true.”
Mu Yao said angrily, "They just like each other and haven't done anything immoral or immoral, so why can't they be tolerated?"
"that is!"
Su Zhenzhen was also indignant. "Those righteous disciples only put on a sanctimonious act, saying that they want to uphold justice and eliminate demons! But how do they know how many demons were forced into this situation by people like them! I also wanted to join a righteous sect back then, but both Fenxiang Valley and Qingyun Sect said that I had a bad temper, bad character, and had even killed people, so they refused to accept me. I had no choice but to come to Shenzong."
Mu Yao's eyes widened suddenly: "Sister Zhenzhen...you...you've killed someone?"
Su Zhenzhen was still smiling, but her eyes dimmed.
"Yes, I have killed people. But that person deserved to die! I lost my father when I was very young and worked as a servant in a wealthy family with my mother. My mother was very beautiful, and the eldest son took a liking to her and forced her to submit to him."
"But how many rich kids don't turn their backs on their parents once they've taken their clothes off? Besides, that young master's wife was extremely vicious. She thought my mother had seduced her husband, so she beat my mother to death! I was only eight years old then, and there was nothing I could do. I could only watch helplessly as my mother died such a humiliating death. Later..."
Her voice choked with sobs, and her hand holding Mu Yao trembled: "Later... that man was a beast, he... he actually... he actually did that to me too..."
She gritted her teeth in hatred, and after a long while, she continued, "Of course I didn't want him to succeed, so I pretended to be willing. How could he be wary of a little child? So when he was off guard, I killed that beast with one stab!"
Mu Yao had never heard her mention this before, and was deeply shocked after hearing it. She never imagined that Zhenzhen, who always seemed so carefree, had such a tragic past.
She couldn't help but think that Qin Wuyan had also said that he was an orphan abandoned by his parents and was only saved by being taken in by the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect.
People always condemn and kill those who belong to the evil cult, but who has ever considered whether these so-called evil cult members are truly wicked? If many of them had been treated kindly in the beginning, how could they have committed evil? They were simply forced to protect themselves in another way because they had been bullied in the past.
Su Zhenzhen wiped away her tears and laughed, "Look at me, I'm getting way off topic. All of that is in the past. Now that I'm in the Divine Sect, no one dares to bully me. I'm even able to marry the person I love, so you have no idea how grateful I am to the Sect Master for taking me in!"
"Yao'er, although I can't fully understand the Sect Master's feelings for you, I've never seen him show such concern and indulgence to anyone else as he has to you over the years. To be honest, when I first saw him with you in the dining hall, the way he looked at you made me wonder if he wanted to take you as a child bride..."
"Sister Zhenzhen!" Mu Yao exclaimed angrily, "How could Master be that kind of person?"
Seeing how protective she was of Qin Wuyan, Su Zhenzhen covered her mouth and laughed:
“It was my fault. I did think of him as something despicable at first. Later, I often went to Peach Blossom Garden to see you and realized that the sect leader had always been so good to you, like raising a daughter. But I always felt that the way he looked at you was still different from the way a father looks at his daughter.”
Mu Yao blushed. "Then... what exactly is different?"
Su Zhenzhen said, "I can't explain it either. It's because I don't understand it, and you were too young before, that I never told you these things. Now that you're older and you've told me you like the sect leader, I thought maybe you could try asking him."
"ah?"
Mu Yao was so startled that she immediately let go of Su Zhenzhen's hand: "Ask him? How can that be? Besides, how... how can I ask? What if... what if I ask and he doesn't actually mean anything by it, and just sees me as his apprentice? Wouldn't that be incredibly awkward? I'd never be able to face him again!"
Her face flushed red and then paled, feeling extremely embarrassed and terrified. Normally, she was spoiled and willful in front of Qin Wuyan, quite bold. But that was because the master-disciple relationship concealed her true feelings, so she wasn't afraid. However, when it came to actually breaking through that barrier herself, she still didn't dare.
Su Zhenzhen disagreed. She pulled Mu Yao back and said, "Yao'er, of course you can't just ask him directly if he loves you! It's easy to figure out a man's feelings. If he truly loves a girl, he definitely won't want her to marry someone else. So, you have to ask indirectly..."
She cupped her hands around her mouth and whispered a few words in Mu Yao's ear.
After hearing this, Mu Yao couldn't help but laugh, and said shyly, "Sister Zhenzhen, you really have a way."
Su Zhenzhen laughed happily: "Of course! My title as the leader of the White Tiger Hall is well-deserved!"
Mu Yao chuckled, and suddenly the sound of suona horns came from outside the room, indicating that the wedding procession would be arriving soon. Su Zhenzhen's makeup had been ruined from talking about the past, and the two of them hurriedly redid their makeup.
Fox Hill was bustling with activity for several days in a row. First, the White Tiger Hall Master got married, and then the Vice Sect Master came of age.
The peach blossoms on Fox Hill bloom early. On the sixth day of the third lunar month, the peach blossoms in Peach Blossom Garden are half-open, their delicate red petals just beginning to unfurl, blooming in a profusion and vibrant display, like layers of pink clouds covering the green branches, a scene both dreamlike and enchanting.
The birthday gifts from the disciples filled Mu Yao's room, and the Heavenly Fox Hall was filled with delicacies. Everyone in the sect was celebrating Mu Yao's birthday.
But at this moment, Mu Yao, sitting on the secondary seat in the main hall, was absent-minded amidst the splendor of the room, staring blankly at the doorway.
Ten days ago, Qin Wuyan went down the mountain on business, promising to return before her birthday. But even tonight, with the banquet more than halfway through, she still hadn't seen him.
Utterly disappointed, Mu Yao couldn't help but drink one glass of wine after another in silence. As she drank her fourth glass, a hand reached out and grabbed her arm as she was about to pour another.
She thought it was Qin Wuyan and looked up with high hopes, but when she saw him, her eyes dimmed again.
It is Tang Yuan, the Left Protector.
He reached out and took the wine pot from her hand: "Yao'er, you can't hold your liquor, you can't drink too much."
Although Mu Yao is the vice sect leader, whose status is even higher than that of the left and right protectors, she doesn't usually care about sect affairs. So, during the time Qin Wuyan was away, most of the sect's affairs were handled by Tang Yuan, and he naturally began to keep an eye on her.
"Brother Tang, why hasn't my master come back yet?" Mu Yao asked with a hint of grievance and complaint.
Tang Yuandao said, "The sect leader just sent a letter saying that something has delayed him and he probably won't be able to return until tomorrow."
Mu Yao asked unhappily, "What exactly happened? He's even going back on his promise to me."
Tang Yuan sat down beside her and smiled, "I don't know either. But the sect leader had already prepared a gift for you and instructed me to give it to you." With that, he took out an exquisite box and handed it to her.
Mu Yao took it, her disappointment slightly eased. She eagerly opened it, and what came into view was a pure white, crystal-clear flower, radiating a light and dazzling glow. Upon closer inspection, she noticed a silver chain at the flower's stem. Gently removing it, she realized it was a bracelet.
Tang Yuandao said, "This is the magic treasure, the Heartbreak Flower. Your spiritual power belongs to the wood element, so this is the most suitable for you."
Mu Yao exclaimed in surprise, "Is this a magic weapon?" She had mistaken it for just a pretty bracelet.
Tang Yuan nodded: "That's right. This magic weapon was damaged in the war between the righteous and the demonic forces. It took the sect leader many years to repair it."
"Whose magic weapon was this before?"
Tang Yuan was taken aback, paused, and then smiled, "I don't know either. The sect leader only told me to give it to you. He said it was a birthday gift for you."
Mu Yao reached out and put on the Heartbreak Flower. The flower seemed to suit her perfectly. As soon as she put it on her finger, it shrunk to a size that matched her hand. She was surprised and felt as if the flower had belonged to her before. So she couldn't help but gather the spiritual power at her fingertips, wanting to see what it would be like when the Heartbreak Flower used magic.
Unexpectedly, the moment her fingertips touched the petals, the petals of the Heartbreak Flower suddenly enlarged, emitting a blinding white light that made her unable to open her eyes. A deafening buzzing sound filled her mind, as if rocks were cracking and the sky was collapsing, causing her excruciating pain.
"What happened?"
Tang Yuan supported her swaying body, and suddenly the Heartbreak Flower returned to its original state, standing upright on Mu Yao's finger.
Mu Yao rubbed her forehead, the headache gradually subsiding, but it felt as if something had crawled into her chest. Although it didn't hurt or itch, the feeling was very strange, and she couldn't explain it.
The good mood she felt from receiving the gift was suddenly ruined by this uncomfortable feeling. Mu Yao took off the Heartbreak Flower and put it back in the box, angrily saying, "Could this magic item be bound to its owner? I tried to use it, but it wouldn't listen to me."
Tang Yuan breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that she was alright, and chuckled dryly, "Maybe. When the sect leader returns tomorrow, you can ask him for another gift."
"Hmph! I don't care!"
She said that, but she was heartbroken. This was the first time Qin Wuyan had broken his promise. If he really had something come up and couldn't come back, that would be one thing, but to inexplicably give her a disobedient magical artifact? She already had a sword three years ago; what did she need this magical artifact for?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She got up and left, but after taking a few steps, she turned back and took the box containing the sad flowers from the table with her.
The Peach Blossom Garden was much quieter than during the day, with no one bringing gifts. She walked heavily into the courtyard, a few petals brushing against her face, and she reached out to gently grasp the soft pink petals.
She recalled her first visit here six years ago, when the peach trees were in full bloom, and she thought it was as beautiful as a fairyland. Later, after her mother left, she felt lonely living here alone, so she begged Qin Wuyan to move from Luoxing Palace to live with her.
For the past five years, she had spent not only her birthdays but every single day with him in Peach Blossom Garden. Those days with him were the most beautiful time of her fifteen years of life.
Today, she turns fifteen, the most important coming-of-age ceremony for a young girl, but he's not here...
Even though they had only been apart for a little over ten days, she missed him so much.
Before she understood her own feelings, she was a carefree girl, as if all the good things in the world were within her grasp.
But once a girl's heart begins to flutter with romantic feelings, she is plagued by a host of inexplicable and inexplicable troubles.
“Master… Qin Wuyan…” she murmured his name, her heart pounding, yet feeling a tenderness within her.
Suddenly, a sharp sound came from not far away, followed by thousands of stars flying into the night sky, exploding into a sky full of stars in the dark night, instantly filling the sky with brilliance, like a galaxy pouring down, dazzling and mesmerizing.
Mu Yao was stunned. One dazzling firework after another lit up the night sky. Amidst the shimmering sparks, she saw a familiar figure.
The man, dressed in white, seemed like a god descending from the moon, elegant and otherworldly. As his robes fluttered, he slowly landed before her.
At the same time, a sound came from somewhere around us, shaking the heavens and the earth!
"Happy birthday, Vice Sect Leader!!! Happy birthday, Vice Sect Leader! Happy birthday, Vice Sect Leader!!! Oh ho ho..."
A large number of disciples had gathered around Peach Blossom Garden at some point. Some were setting off fireworks, some were shouting, and some were clapping in celebration...
Mu Yao stood there dumbfounded, as if she couldn't see or hear anything, just staring blankly at the person in front of her.
"Yao'er?"
Qin Wuyan gazed at her tenderly. The little girl had grown into a graceful young woman. Not only did she look exactly like Biyao from back then, but she even shared the same tastes. She always loved wearing a green dress, looking elegant and refined. Every smile and frown of hers was radiant and captivating.
At this moment, gazing at the face that had appeared countless times in his dreams, Qin Wuyan truly felt that Biyao had come back to life.
She was really standing right in front of me.
"Yao'er," Qin Wuyan called out, taking another step forward as he saw her still lost in thought.
"Master..." When Mu Yao realized what was happening, she leaned forward and threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.
When she saw him appear, she thought she was dreaming, but when she felt his familiar and warm embrace, she realized it wasn't a dream.
He came back, he really came back, he kept his promise!
He hadn't expected to be hugged by her the moment they met.
He had hugged her before, but Mu Yao was still young then. As she grew older, around thirteen or fourteen, her girlish figure became more prominent, and he felt that, being a man, he should avoid any impropriety for the sake of her reputation. Therefore, he consciously avoided any overly intimate behavior between them, and Mu Yao would only occasionally cling to his arm and act coquettishly.
Upon reflection, this turned out to be the most intimate moment the two had shared in the past two or three years.
He was momentarily at a loss, not knowing what to do. He wanted to hug her, but he had invited many disciples to help set off fireworks to celebrate her birthday, all to give her a surprise.
He didn't care what others thought of him, but he was afraid that rumors would spread against her.
After hesitating for a while, Qin Wuyan simply raised his hand and waved, signaling the disciples outside Peach Blossom Garden to step back.
"Yao'er?" Qin Wuyan saw that she was still buried in his arms and didn't say anything, so he was not sure what was wrong with her.
Mu Yao still clung to him, refusing to let go. She raised her head, her eyes misty with tears, and looked at him. She pouted, a hint of grievance in her voice, and said, "Master lied to me!"
Qin Wuyan laughed and said, "I wanted to surprise you. What? Aren't you happy?"
Mu Yao said, "I'm happy, but I was also very sad when I thought Master really wouldn't come back."
He had never seen her look so aggrieved and angry before. Looking into her misty eyes, Qin Wuyan felt that she seemed to have changed after just a few days, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what had changed.
And now, she was still tightly hugging his waist, her soft, girlish body pressed against him, her face completely resembling Biyao's...
His body even started to heat up; Qin Wuyan was finding it hard to resist her intimate gestures and those captivating eyes.
So he grasped her shoulders and subtly and slowly pulled away from her. Seeing her hands were empty, he asked, "Where's the Heartbreak Flower? Didn't Tang Yuan give it to you?"
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