Creak…
The wooden door was gently closed. Yun Hao kept his eyes shut for a long time before quietly opening them.
Senior Sister had already left. He was sure of it.
“Mmm…”
His face flushed red as he curled up slightly. Senior Sister’s actions earlier had been far too stimulating for him. He could barely handle it.
Yun Hao lay there in a daze for a moment before gently touching his waist and removing the brocade pouch his junior sister had given him. He examined it carefully. The golden trim sparkled under the sunlight, and the semi-translucent light purple color gave off a captivating glow.
He breathed a sigh of relief. The brocade pouch was undamaged, still in perfect condition.
Why did Senior Sister get so angry?
Yun Hao didn’t understand. He had already explained properly why he had returned late. Elder Lin had passed away and, in his final moments, entrusted his junior sister to him, asking them to become Dao companions.
He had wanted to refuse, but he had promised to protect his junior sister for the rest of her life. Elder Lin’s words had left him with no way to refuse. Even the final betrothal had only been agreed upon after Senior Sister gave her consent. Senior Sister had no reason to blame him.
And yet… Senior Sister had given away the Clear Mist Flower…
Thinking of this, Yun Hao felt bitter again… That was the flower he had risked his life to obtain… and she had so casually given it away.
He let out a soft sigh, feeling dejected. He recalled all the conflicts with Senior Sister yesterday, especially that somewhat bald bastard. Even after a full day, he could still remember the anger he had felt at that moment.
When facing that bald man’s slash, he knew he couldn’t have blocked it. In the end, it was Senior Sister who had saved him, striking the bald man with a sword on his behalf. He owed her yet another favor.
But yesterday he had been truly too angry. Even though Senior Sister had saved him, he hadn’t shown any gratitude and had tried to walk away immediately. Because Senior Sister’s attitude had been so cold and dismissive.
It was as if the Clear Mist Flower meant nothing to her.
Yun Hao circulated a trace of spiritual power, and the Cloud Abyss Sword appeared in his hand. He gripped it tightly. The life-and-death moment when he faced the evil python that day still lingered in his heart. If not for the Hunyuan Pearls Elder Lin had given him, he probably wouldn’t have made it back alive.
Thinking about it now, his actions that day had been incredibly bold. He still felt lingering fear. His dissatisfaction with Senior Sister rose once again. He suspected she had been deceiving him… that she didn’t actually care about what he gave her and had only been humoring him like a child.
But… as Yun Hao thought, he suddenly recalled the words Senior Sister had murmured to herself earlier.
“…You have to be obedient. I won’t harm you…”
For a moment, he had wondered if Senior Sister knew he was awake. But from her subsequent actions, he realized she had truly been talking to herself.
Senior Sister didn’t know he was awake. In other words, those words were her true feelings—she wouldn’t harm him.
Yun Hao’s face reddened. Senior Sister’s words had been so sincere. He could tell there was no malice in them.
And… Senior Sister even combed my hair for me, over and over again.
He felt that the way Senior Sister had combed his hair was just like how his mother used to sit in the courtyard and comb his hair when he was little. Gentle and包容. He really liked it.
In the end, when Senior Sister had used her spiritual power to heal his body, it had also felt very warm.
All of this was Senior Sister being good to him…
……….
Yun Hao felt confused. He couldn’t see Senior Sister’s true face clearly. Every time he felt he was getting closer to her, she would push him away, again and again. He was starting to feel afraid to approach her anymore.
…You have to be obedient. I won’t harm you…
Senior Sister’s words echoed in his ears once more. The bed beside him still carried a trace of warmth, reminding him that he and Senior Sister had slept in each other’s arms yesterday.
Yun Hao stretched out his body again, lying spread-eagle. An intense internal struggle raged in his mind.
Should he continue trusting Senior Sister, or doubt her?
After a while, he seemed to reach a conclusion.
With a trace of bitterness, the youth smiled faintly. It was as if he was trying to convince himself.
“Senior Sister treats me well. I shouldn’t doubt her.”
“I told her the Clear Mist Flower was something I casually picked by the roadside. Senior Sister didn’t know the truth, so she gave it away so easily.”
“Senior Sister was angry because I returned late and neglected my cultivation. She said that right now I should focus on cultivation and not indulge in pleasure.”
Yun Hao murmured to himself. He forced himself to smile, constantly trying to persuade himself and find excuses. But he didn’t notice that the more he did this, the deeper the wound in his heart became.
On the surface, he covered it with words, making it seem seamless. But in reality, it had sunk deep into his heart and would become a hidden ailment.
“Senior Sister said I was wrong… so I was wrong… I shouldn’t have talked back.”
………….
“…All I have left is Senior Sister.”
Carrying a sour pain in his heart, Yun Hao forced himself to forget the matter. Just like with the osmanthus cakes before, he chose to escape reality once again. Because deep down, he believed he had done nothing wrong.
But between two people, one had to yield… and he would be the one to do it.
“Huu…”
After a while, Yun Hao exhaled a long breath. He changed into a fresh set of clothes and prepared to go out to see Senior Sister. No matter what attitude she had toward him, he still needed to apologize.
He examined himself carefully to make sure nothing was amiss. His clothes were neat, and his hair had already been carefully combed by Senior Sister, so it didn’t take much effort to tidy up.
Creak.
The wooden door was pushed open once more. Though somewhat timid, he gathered his courage and looked toward the osmanthus tree. Senior Sister was still sitting there.
Carrying unease and hesitation, he walked over. He stopped beside Luo Shuiling but did not sit down. Instead, he gave a light bow and called out softly.
“Senior Sister.”
………….
Luo Shuiling looked at Yun Hao, who was clearly anxious and timid. A trace of delight rose in her heart. She knew the youth well. If he was showing this kind of expression, things were probably fine.
While Yun Hao had been struggling anxiously inside the house, Luo Shuiling hadn’t been much better. She knew she had gone too far yesterday. Not only had she scolded Yun Hao without reason, but she had also forced him into dual cultivation.
Even when the youth kept shaking his head in refusal until he fainted, she hadn’t shown any mercy. To outsiders, this would be completely unacceptable.
She regretted her irrational behavior yesterday and felt a thread of worry. She didn’t know how to face him once he woke up or what expression to use—one that would maintain her image while also letting him feel her apology. This had troubled her for quite a while.
But now it seemed there was no need. The youth’s current appearance clearly showed he was worried she was still angry.
(Hehe!)
The corners of Luo Shuiling’s mouth curved up slightly. She felt extremely pleased. This was proof of her unshakable position in the youth’s heart—a fact no one could change. Lin Shengyu? Hah, just a little girl.
Just as she expected, after softly calling her name, Yun Hao spoke in an extremely awkward and uneasy manner.
“…It was my fault… Senior Sister…”
“…Yesterday… I…”
“That’s enough. There’s no need to say any more.”
Before Yun Hao could finish, Luo Shuiling interrupted him. She maintained her usual indifferent expression, as if nothing could stir even the slightest ripple in her heart.
“What’s past is past. It’s enough that you know you were wrong.”
“…Yes… Senior Sister…”
Luo Shuiling gave Yun Hao a way out. As long as he admitted his mistake, there was no need to press him too hard. However, she herself would never admit fault—even if she was the one who was wrong.
Her pride and self-respect would not allow it.
Feeling pleased, Luo Shuiling moved past the topic. What she didn’t notice was the deep pain hidden in the depths of Yun Hao’s eyes, completely exposed for anyone to see. Unfortunately, she didn’t see it.
In the end, Luo Shuiling still had Yun Hao sit down. The two sat facing each other and chatted about the experiences of the past few days.
As Yun Hao spoke, he carefully observed Senior Sister’s expression. If Luo Shuiling showed even the slightest displeasure, he would quickly skip over that part.
Only at the very end did Yun Hao speak carefully, choosing his words with great caution.
“And then, I promised my junior sister that I would visit her once every day.”
“Junior Sister is now an ordinary person, and her eyesight has only just recovered. She needs someone to take care of her.”
Afraid that Senior Sister would get angry, he explained earnestly before looking at her with somewhat timid eyes, seeking her opinion.
(Tch!)
Luo Shuiling felt irritated. She didn’t want Yun Hao going to Western Peak anymore. But Lin Shengyu was now his fiancée, and she couldn’t find any immediate fault with what he said. This left her feeling extremely frustrated.
Looking at the youth whose eyes carried traces of timidity, her own image ultimately took priority.
“…That’s your own business. You can decide for yourself…”
“But remember, a cultivator should prioritize cultivation. Romance and affection can wait until you become stronger.”
She still wasn’t fully at ease. Even as she agreed to Yun Hao’s request, she added another restraint.
“I understand, Senior Sister.”
…………
Neither of them spoke again. It was as if they had returned to how things used to be.
Yun Hao looked at Senior Sister, whose beautiful eyes were lightly closed. His heart was incredibly complicated. There was sourness, bitterness, and sweetness. These emotions intertwined and tangled tightly inside him.
The osmanthus tree beside them had been in full bloom when he left, but now all the flowers had completely withered… Just like a reflection of himself—caught in turbulent waves, yet powerless to control his own fate…
He looked at the osmanthus tree, now bare of all petals, with a dazed expression. No matter how hard he tried, he could not see his own future clearly…