Chapter 119 Welcome Banquet After Xie Jiaoyue got rid of the others, she secretly...
After escaping the others, Xie Jiaoyue secretly searched for Chu Xingjin's whereabouts.
Her plan was simple: Chu Xingjin was, after all, the protagonist, and keeping an eye on the protagonist's movements was a self-cultivation for a perfect cannon fodder.
As a result, Chu Xingjin encountered setbacks with several people in succession.
She couldn't help but sigh, feeling that the cultivation world was like the e-sports world, where only the first place was remembered, and even saying "Congratulations on winning the runner-up" sounded like mockery.
However, Chu Xingjin wanted too much.
Xie Jiaoyue observed that, thanks to Gong Shiyu's selfless dedication, even without those spirit swords, Chu Xingjin still ranked second. Several people ranked after Chu Xingjin were shown concern and care by their respective department heads.
In the end, Chu Xingjin became the only one who was left out.
Xie Jiaoyue was secretly laughing when she bumped into Xie Lingliu, who was walking out of the alley.
Xie Lingliu stopped abruptly, her face contorted with embarrassment. She didn't know what to do with her facial features or where to put her limbs, and nearly lost her balance and fell to the ground.
Xie Jiaoyue immediately stood up straight, as upright as a student facing a teacher in class, with her hands obediently placed at her sides, and even her gaze was not as natural as usual, but fixedly looking ahead.
Xie Lingliu's figure seemed to appear and disappear in my sight; the focus would sometimes be on Xie Lingliu and sometimes not.
Both of them were extremely embarrassed. One felt that he had finally managed to let loose and had been discovered, while the other felt like he was about to be mistaken for a voyeur.
Xie Lingliu spoke first: "Well, Jiaoyue, I admit that my thoughts were not entirely pure before, but don't worry, I will definitely sever ties with Chu Xingjin from now on, and I will never be within ten meters of him."
Xie Jiaoyue quickly replied, "Yes, yes, I believe my cousin, and actually I don't mind that Xingjin has a female confidante."
She has now completely accepted the nickname "Brother Xingjin" and is so used to it that she doesn't find it disgusting anymore.
Upon hearing this, Xie Lingliu quickly reprimanded her younger sister: "Jiaoyue, you can't do that. Love is a selfish thing. There's only so much room in a person's heart. If you truly like him, you can't just share him with others. Otherwise, will he still have a place for you in his heart in the future?"
Xie Lingliu realized her mistake after speaking and quickly added, "I said this not because I still have feelings for Chu Xingjin, but because I'm worried about you. You heard it just now, I only like people who are truly capable."
"Oh dear, I'm not trying to badmouth your sweetheart. Chu Xingjin isn't incapable, it's just that I might be looking for someone with even better talent."
“I’m not saying you’re only worthy of someone like Chu Xingjin, nor am I saying that the Daoist partner I find in the future will definitely be better than you.”
Xie Lingliu became increasingly confused as she spoke, and finally gave up, closing her eyes and steeling her resolve: "Fine, Jiaoyue, I'll be frank, you are my ideal type. I feel like I can't find anyone better than you even in the Eastern Region. From now on, I'll follow you!"
Xie Jiaoyue cautiously took a step back, covering her chest with both hands: "Well, although you are gentle, generous and good-looking, cousin, I might still prefer male cultivators."
Seeing Xie Jiaoyue's cautious attitude, Xie Lingliu couldn't help but chuckle.
She smiled, and Xie Jiaoyue smiled too.
The two of them laughed one after another, unable to stop, until they were both squatting on the ground laughing, completely abandoning their usual glamorous female cultivator image.
Xie Jiaoyue didn't know what she was laughing at, she just found it quite funny. She laughed for about fifteen minutes before finally stopping.
Actually, she quite admired Xie Lingliu. After all, she didn't have any real feelings for Chu Xingjin, nor did she care whether Chu Xingjin would be taken away by someone else, or whether her status in Chu Xingjin's heart would decline.
Therefore, she quite admired Xie Lingliu, who was a dodder vine with very clear goals and full of action.
Although there are still ethical issues in the behavior.
After Xie Jiaoyue finished laughing, she said, "Cousin, it's not really a problem to want to be a parasitic plant and grow by relying on others. However, you should be more careful when choosing a partner. Don't choose someone who is already taken. I may not care about this, but that doesn't mean others don't."
"We dodder should also act with dignity and integrity."
Xie Lingliu was very embarrassed: "Actually, when I used to choose a target, I would never look for someone who was already taken. That would be so tasteless, and it would easily ruin the reputation I had worked so hard to build up."
"I don't know what's wrong with me this time, I seem to have lost my mind as soon as I see Chu Xingjin."
Hearing this, Xie Jiaoyue roughly understood. Xie Lingliu was probably influenced by Chu Xingjin's "protagonist halo," which triggered her own self-positioning as a "supporting female character," so she uncontrollably became someone who chased after Chu Xingjin.
She even came up with a very self-consistent logic, just like Feng Qianqian, who fell in love with Chu Xingjin according to her own logic.
Xie Jiaoyue could only comfort Xie Lingliu according to her own character's logic, revealing some of the information she could: "Yes, Xingjin's charm is irresistible, it's normal for you to be attracted, cousin. Just don't do it like this in the future."
Xie Lingliu was speechless after hearing this. She took two steps forward, blocking Xie Jiaoyue's retreat, and put an arm around Xie Jiaoyue's shoulder: "Now I understand, Jiaoyue, you are really blinded by love. This won't do. I have to keep a close eye on you from now on, so that you won't be tricked into being sold as merchandise."
Xie Jiaoyue scratched her head in distress: "But cousin, everyone around me is useful. Feng Qianqian is a descendant of the Phoenix Clan, Xie Xinghui has his own unique insights into the art of weapon refining, and Xin Xiuying is also a hardworking and talented alchemist. What use are you?"
"Jiaoyue, if Qianqian hears you saying this, she will definitely be heartbroken. Besides, all of them are useful, so what about Gongshi Moyu? A pill cultivator whose talent surpasses Xin Xiuying's. Between him and Xin Xiuying, which one do you really need?"
Thinking of Gongshi Moyu, Xie Jiaoyue fell silent for a moment, looking troubled by the relationship between the two of them: "Brother Moyu and I are family."
"Jiaoyue, are Xie Xinghui and I not your family? Your cousin will be sad if you say that."
Xie Jiaoyue rolled her eyes: "Cousin, you don't need to pretend in front of me. What family member would steal their sister's fiancé?"
She also avoided Xie Lingliu's question and did not really answer what Gongshi Moyu meant to her.
It seemed that Gongshi Moyu was different to her, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was different, so much so that she subconsciously didn't want to answer his questions.
Xie Lingliu chuckled and pulled Xie Jiaoyue along as they walked back: "Sister, what use am I? I haven't really thought about that question before. Does that count as me being particularly good at pleasing people? If Jiaoyue is willing to have me by her side every day, I guarantee you'll be very happy every day."
Xie Jiaoyue shook her finger, indicating that she didn't need that kind of service: "Cousin, you can think about it first, and then we'll talk about it later. Where are we going now?"
Xie Lingliu said, "Of course we'll go back to the inn. Although I didn't come with the Madam, I can guess which inn she chose, and I know she must be preparing a welcome feast for you there." She said smugly, "See? Isn't your sister very useful?"
Xie Jiaoyue smiled but did not answer.
It was indeed useful, but she hoped that Xie Lingliu could find what she truly wanted to do, otherwise there was no point in following her, and she might be influenced by Chu Xingjin's protagonist halo one day.
Xie Jiaoyue said, "This kind of use can also be done by Hua Yi, the little servant who used to be by my side. Now that Hua Yi has gone to manage Fulai Restaurant, is this what you're aiming for in the future, cousin?"
"Don't worry, cousin. Whether you want to stay with Jiaoyue or not, if Jiaoyue has the opportunity to go to the Eastern Region, she will definitely take you with her and be a good stepping stone for you to find a good marriage."
Upon receiving such assurance, Xie Lingliu paused.
She admitted that when she said she wanted to follow Xie Lingliu, that was indeed her inner desire.
Xie Jiaoyue is her stepping stone, but of course she won't take advantage of her for free. She will do her best to help Xie Jiaoyue, becoming Xie Jiaoyue's eyes and ears, so that Xie Jiaoyue can live more freely in the Eastern Region.
Unexpectedly, Xie Jiaoyue could not hide her thoughts at all; she clearly felt that her performance was flawless.
She took Xie Jiaoyue's arm and couldn't resist kissing Xie Jiaoyue on the cheek: "Jiaoyue, you are so adorable."
Xie Jiaoyue quickly grabbed her sleeve and started wiping: "Oh dear, drool, all drool!"
The two bickered and teased each other, and soon arrived at the inn.
The inn has been booked by Gong Shirao, and there is no one else there. Logically speaking, there should only be a few people from the Xie family, so the number of people should not be large, but at this time the inn is full of people.
Several tables.
A table was filled with Xie Jiaoyue's acquaintances, including Feng Qianqian, Xie Xinghui, Gongshi Moyu, and Xin Xiuying, whom they hadn't seen in the secret realm.
At the tables next to them sat members of the Feng and Xin clans. Except for one person seated at the main table, everyone else was present. They had forwent a separate celebration for their daughter and instead joined the Xie family's welcoming banquet.
Looking further to the side, one can understand these people's decisions.
At the very center table sat two directors: Baili Tao, director of Jinling City, and Wan, director of Yi City. Beside them sat the Grand Elder of the Gongshi Clan, as well as the patriarchs or elders of several other prominent families from Yi City and Jinling City.
There is no public offering.
Gong Shirao was standing at the door, wondering when her daughter would arrive.
She wanted to go find her herself, but Gongshi Moyu stopped her, saying that he had already sent a message to Jiaoyue and that she should be able to see Jiaoyue soon.
Although she didn't go looking for her, she was unwilling to leave, just so that her daughter could see her as soon as possible.
So much so that Xie Jiaoyue, upon arriving at the inn, only glanced briefly into the room before immediately finding herself enveloped in a soft embrace.
The familiar fragrance lingered at her nose, and the familiar embrace enveloped Xie Jiaoyue completely.
That embrace was reassuring and comfortable. There was no need to worry about the system's new tasks, whether Chu Xingjin was causing trouble, or whether the female lead and supporting female characters had been completely brainwashed and "betrayed" her. It seemed that all she had to do was rest peacefully.
Gong Shirao's embrace was the only one that asked nothing of her, an embrace that wholeheartedly believed in and supported her.
Xie Jiaoyue took several deep breaths greedily, then said with a slight sob in her voice, "Mother, I'm back."
"Good Jiaoyue, Mother knows."
"Mom, I got first place! And I even got a really amazing master!"
"Yes, Mother knows that Jiaoyue is the best and Mother's pride."
Xie Jiaoyue leaned close to Gong Shirao's ear and whispered, "Mother, I know that the Gong Shi family treated you badly before, and they will pay the price sooner or later."
Although she doesn't have the ability yet, and she probably can't do it in Yicheng, one day she will make Gongshi pay the price she deserves and make Gongshi understand that furnaces are also people, not commodities that can be disposed of at will.
This way, her mother would no longer be pointed at and gossiped about by others because she was a furnace vessel abandoned by the Gongshi clan.
Gong Shirao sniffed, her voice tinged with a hint of tears: "You don't need to worry about any of this."
She released Xie Jiaoyue and personally wiped away the tears in Xie Jiaoyue's eyes: "Today, our Jiaoyue is the star!"
She turned around, holding Xie Jiaoyue's hand as if she were holding her own precious treasure, showing it to everyone present, until she reached Director Baili Tao's side. She handed Xie Jiaoyue over to Director Baili Tao and then stood behind him.
She felt that her daughter needed someone more prestigious to propel her onto a bigger stage.
Xie Jiaoyue insisted on keeping Gong Shirao by her side, and whispered to Director Baili Tao, "Director Baili, you don't mind my mother standing here, do you?"
Baili Tao had slightly offended Gong Shirao today, so he naturally didn't want to cause trouble over such a trivial matter. He quickly said, "Of course, the First Madam is a hero of our Jinling City, and she has nurtured you, so it's only natural."
Then, with a smile, he pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket, on which he had written down his prepared speech in advance, and began his passionate speech.
There is only one core principle: Xie Jiaoyue is from Jinling City. It was he who tested Xie Jiaoyue's talent back then, and later Xie Jiaoyue was also educated by the Jinling City Clan School. A sensible and grateful child like Xie Jiaoyue will not abandon Jinling City.
He had barely finished speaking when Director Wan, not to be outdone, stood up and pulled out a piece of paper as well.
The core message written in tiny, dense characters was simple: Yi City offered better conditions and could provide Xie Jiaoyue with more support. With the Grand Tournament still some time away, Xie Jiaoyue's cultivation in Yi City was definitely superior to that in Jinling City. For Xie Jiaoyue's future, Jinling City should release her.
Baili Tao cupped his hands in thanks to Director Wan for his thoughtful plans, and said that he would definitely provide Xie Jiaoyue with the best training ground, so that outsiders would not have to worry.
Director Wan suggested that Xie Jiaoyue experience it herself and then make her own choice.
The two exchanged a few words and then dropped the matter. They were both directors, so they couldn't very well start a fight in front of so many people.
Xie Jiaoyue did not answer the two people at this time and in this place. She needed to carefully plan this opportunity to make demands.
After the directors finished speaking, the welcoming banquet officially began. One dish after another was served, and it was clear that Jin Wan had modified the dishes to suit her tastes.
She looked in Jin Wan's direction, and Jin Wan immediately pointed to the people next to her, indicating that the dishes were decided by them together, and she especially pointed to Gong Shi Moyu.
Xie Jiaoyue felt a warmth in her heart. Although she had previously described each person in terms of their function, in her heart, these people were clearly more than that.
She raised her glass in the distance, then tilted her head back and downed the juice in one gulp.
It's so sweet, just the kind she likes best.
After having a meal with several important figures at the main table for a while, she took a glass of juice and started wandering around, visiting each table like a butterfly to expand her network. After that, Xie Jiaoyue went to the corridor and opened the window to let some fresh air in.
She leaned out the window and looked to her left, where she saw Xin Xiuying, who had also come out for some fresh air.
Xie Jiaoyue subconsciously raised her glass, but through the glass, she saw Xin Xiuying's slightly lonely expression.
She was so frightened that she immediately checked the system. Could it be that Xin Xiuying has also become love-struck?
The author's note: I think I have hepatitis B. I had a fever for more than two days, and then I had diarrhea. One day, I slept for a full 24 hours without eating or drinking...
Sigh, I feel like I'm about to die.
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