Chapter 83 Chapter 83 The Fifth Wish
Peaceful times always pass quickly, and before long, the wooden boat arrived in Zhongyunzhou.
This area was rich in various minerals, and the wooden boat had temporarily stopped to purchase Lan Cui ore. He Shile found an inn to rest while Lan Xin and Hong Zhu went to search for Lan Cui ore, while he remained at the inn to cultivate.
He had been to this place several times before, remembering a patch of wildflowers growing in a remote valley. Due to the unique geology and climate of Zhongyun Province, the wildflowers here were mostly dark in color, creating a dazzling spectacle when they all bloomed. When He Shile stumbled upon this sea of flowers, he'd only lamented that such beauty lay hidden, paused to admire it for a moment, and then left. Now, suddenly remembering it, he couldn't help but be moved.
Chen Mu encouraged He Shile to take the initiative and invite Hongzhu. That evening, He Shile mustered up the courage to invite Hongzhu to a place with him the next day, and Hongzhu agreed. The next day, He Shile appeared before Hongzhu, feeling both excited and apprehensive. He had clearly dressed up, wearing a low-key yet exquisite robe, each hair meticulously positioned, even the hems of his clothes adorned with casual deliberation. This was Chen Mu's bad idea. He firmly believed that to attract his daughter, he had to be exceptionally handsome. System 05 initially dismissed him, but eventually, unable to bear it, joined in on He Shile's attire, exchanging Chen Mu's black trench coat for a white robe.
"Hongzhu doesn't like that style." System 05 confirmed.
Chen Mu settled for the next best thing and added a red jade pendant to He Shile's waist, so that He Shile looked like a gentleman, just a fan away from being a gentleman. Hong Zhu was stunned at the first sight of him. Chen Mu said proudly, "It seems my choice was right," but then Hong Zhu laughed out loud.
He Shile was extremely embarrassed and wanted to change back into his plain clothes, but Hong Zhu stopped him and said, "Let's go. I just didn't react for a moment."
Speaking of which, she had been around He Shile for a long time, but had never noticed his face. Now, she realized that He Shile was truly impressive and handsome. The two of them headed into the valley. They chatted about some interesting things at first, but then fell silent. Occasionally, they would bring up a topic, but it would be quickly concluded. It wasn't until He Shile saw the familiar curves of the mountains, a river flowing gently like a ribbon around the steep mountains, that he perked up and walked into the valley with Hongzhu.
The moonlight was just right, its hazy light casting a soft white veil over the mountains and river before us, creating a long and peaceful scene. The only regret was that no flowers were in bloom. All I could see was a field of green grass swaying in the wind, like waves of green.
And in his sea of consciousness, System 05 and Chen Mu had already recognized this place.
Tianzi Peak.
Chen Mu killed the ancestor Hongde here in the past, and the sword energy also split the Tianzi Peak. After that, the river behind it ran across it, changing the terrain. Over the past hundred years, a valley was formed, which was full of vitality, far away from the world and unknown.
He Shile was stunned and said, "I clearly remember it was this season..."
Hongzhu smiled and took a few steps forward into the grass. The weeds reached her calves, making her feel like she was stepping into the waves, yet they were exceptionally soft.
"It's probably because it's too cold this year, so the flowers have withered early." Hongzhu's fingertips gently brushed the grass and she looked up. The moonlight made her silhouette look hazy and beautiful, but her eyes were bright. "But these flowers will bloom again next year, and they will bloom again every year. There will always be a chance to see them again."
He Shile's heart began to beat violently.
Hongzhu performed a complete set of sword techniques under the moonlight. She had now reached the third level of cultivation, a remarkable advancement. She retracted her sword, staring at the moonlight reflecting off it. She said, "My sister is always worried about me, and I hope she can put her mind at ease. We grew up together and have a deep connection, but now I realize we have different perspectives. Sometimes, I don't know what she's thinking. This sword technique book you gave me is perfect for me. Thank you. I hope my sister won't have to worry about this anymore."
"I'm glad I could help you." He Shile didn't know how to respond to this.
Hong Zhu said slowly: "He Shile, you are the best person I have ever met."
She paused, then continued, "The world of cultivation is a cruel place, full of murder and plunder, and the strong prey on the weak. My sister and I explored far and wide to collect our father's relics, trying our best to avoid other people, but we still encountered many dangers. You are indeed the only one who is willing to do something for others. People like this often don't have a good ending in the world of cultivation, but I hope you can get what you want. Good people will be rewarded. That's what I thought when I saved you the first time."
A surge of emotion surged through He Shile's heart, making him want to confess. "Actually, the reason I want to run for the successor of the Immortal Grass Sect is because I want to change the rules of the cultivation world, even if it's just a little bit. The higher your status, the more you can do. I know this idea is ridiculous..."
He never told anyone else about it, and even he himself thought the idea was naive, but he decided to do it anyway.
Hongzhu smiled and said, "I think you can do it."
The air became quiet again. He Shile stared at her for a long time, then realized that he had stared for too long and hurriedly looked away.
Chen Mu suddenly said, "If you confess your feelings to her now, the success rate will be very high."
He Shile's face flushed. This was a very tempting suggestion, but he didn't do it.
When they returned, He Shile and Hong Zhu had a silent understanding. Lan Xin knew this very well, but she didn't express any affirmation or denial.
The journey was relatively smooth, and the wooden boat finally arrived at Xiancao Gate. Within the stipulated time, two candidates returned with their treasures. The others either withdrew for various reasons or disappeared.
He Shiqing was supposed to run for election, but suddenly announced his withdrawal, so the only remaining candidates were He Shilie and He Shile.
Before the election, He Shile arranged for Hongzhu and Lanxin to stay in the guest room. Xiancao Sect was a luxurious, expansive place filled with exotic flowers and plants. When He Shile returned, he saw Hongzhu conversing with an orchid. The orchid had been languishing for days, and many of the sect's professional cultivators had been unable to find a solution. Because the orchid had no special qualities, the sect had decided to leave it alone, relegating it to a corner and leaving it unattended. Meanwhile, Hongzhu spoke with the orchid, infusing it with spiritual energy, and the orchid perked up and stretched its leaves.
He Shile was curious, and Hongzhu explained, "She was just too cold, but the surrounding temperature couldn't be too high, so I used my spiritual power to keep her roots warm."
He Shile: "Can you also grow flowers?"
Hongzhu shook her head and changed the subject, "How's the election going?"
"Everything is proceeding according to procedure and will start in three days."
Hongzhu gave him an encouraging look. After hesitating for a moment, He Shile said, "I met He Shilie today. He has a violent temper and does what he wants. If he offends you later..."
It would definitely be offensive, but He Shilie shouldn't resort to violence in public.
"Perhaps, you don't have to show up tomorrow. The lotus seeds only need to be displayed for a moment..."
"There's no reason to run away from a battle." Hongzhu said, "Don't worry, I won't mind."
Three days later, on the day the election officially began, all the disciples of the Xiancao Sect gathered in the square. Over the past century, the Xiancao Sect had grown steadily, occupying the entire nearby mountain range, which it had transformed into its headquarters. They cultivated a variety of spiritual plants, exotic flowers, and trees, and accepted the world's most talented disciples. The crowd was solemn, dressed in uniform white and blue uniforms, creating a grand spectacle. Seated on the high platform were the sect's leaders and the headmaster, He Ying. He was a rare cultivator in the Spiritual Severing stage, and on the verge of a breakthrough, a breakthrough that would make him the foremost in the world of cultivation.
In addition to the people from Xiancao Sect, He Ying also invited many other guests from prominent families to visit, both to demonstrate the strength of Xiancao Sect and to pave the way for future heirs.
He already had the answer in his mind. He Shilie was his biological son. Although He Shilie had a bad temper, Xiancao Sect was not suitable to be controlled by a weak-willed person. Moreover, He Shilie was talented and diligent. This election could basically be said to be a formality.
So he watched He Shilie use various methods to force other candidates to withdraw from the election, which was also part of the tactics.
At this moment, He Shile, the candidate, was still standing in the square below. He would need to deliver his treasure later. At this point, he wasn't nervous at all. Hongzhu and Lanxin stood beside him, while He Shilie stood on the other side, with his other disciples standing behind him. He held his head high, not even carrying the box himself, but letting He Shiqing beside him do the job. It was unknown what was inside the box, but He Shiqing was clearly trying his best to suppress it.
He Shilie's eyes turned and fell on He Shile, saying, "You're so lucky that you didn't get killed by me."
He Shile turned a deaf ear to it. This kind of verbal abuse had no effect on him at all.
He Shilie continued, "It seems you've had a wonderful adventure. You should thank me, because it's because of me that you've been transformed."
This was so shameless that Hongzhu couldn't help but look over. He Shilie caught her gaze and immediately said excitedly, "Cousin, I heard you brought back a sword. That piece of scrap metal can't compare to mine. But if you brought back these two beauties for the competition, it might not be the same. I didn't expect you to be so ingenious."
"Shut up!" He Shile said, "They are my friends, show some respect!"
"Oh." He Shilie became even more excited. He Shile's reaction amused him: "Then give me these two beauties. If you make me happy, maybe I can let you go later..."
Hong Zhu grabbed the angry He Shile and said calmly, "Why bother with the dog barking? He can still bark a few times now, but he won't be able to bark anymore."
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