16: Chapter 16 Afraid she would misunderstand

Ye Xiaoyao was stunned by Cao Sini's sudden question.

What was going on between him and the Saintess?

The way she asked, it sounded as if there were some unknown secret between them.

"It's just as it was on the matchmaking stage this morning," Ye Xiaoyao said in a calm tone, as if stating the most natural thing in the world.

"Her Highness the Saintess chose me, and I agreed."

"Now, I am her Dao Companion."

He answered concisely and directly, not intending to exaggerate, nor was there any need to hide it.

Most Outer Sect Disciples already knew about this.

Cao Sini's slender eyebrows arched slightly, and the look of surprise in her beautiful eyes deepened.

She stared at Ye Xiaoyao's face, seemingly trying to find traces of lying, or at least a hint of smug satisfaction from climbing up the social ladder.

But there was only calmness on Ye Xiaoyao's face, and perhaps even a trace of... helplessness, like "that's just how it is, and I was surprised too"?

"Junior Brother Ye."

Cao Sini leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them. A delicate, elegant fragrance drifted over from her, and her voice lowered, carrying a tone of inquiry:

"You and Her Highness the Saintess... you knew each other before, right? Or, have you had any interactions?"

She really couldn't believe that an Outer Sect Disciple at the Qi Refining Third Layer with no background and mediocre Aptitude could receive the favor of the Saintess out of thin air.

The only reasonable explanation was that they had a history.

Ye Xiaoyao shook his head inwardly.

This Fairy Cao had quite a rich imagination.

As a bottom-tier nobody, how would he have the connections to know the high and mighty Saintess?

He immediately shook his head, his tone extremely certain, and said: "No. Before today, I hadn't even seen Her Highness the Saintess's face, let alone known her. Today was the first time we met."

The suspicion in Cao Sini's eyes did not fade.

She carefully examined Ye Xiaoyao's expression; his eyes were clear and frank, not looking like he was lying.

But the more she looked, the heavier her doubts became.

Didn't know each other?

Chose a Dao Companion upon the first meeting?

This was even more absurd than love at first sight!

How proud and arrogant was the Saintess? The entire Sect knew she was determined to only consider a Dao Companion after reaching Core Formation... Unless...

A thought flashed through Cao Sini's mind like lightning.

Unless there was something extremely special about Ye Xiaoyao, something that perhaps even he hadn't realized, but which the Saintess had noticed at a glance!

Recalling the faint, almost imperceptible agitation of her spirit power and blood essence when she had approached Ye Xiaoyao at the trade fair earlier, as well as the inexplicable sense of affection and attraction that had risen in her heart...

Cao Sini's heart skipped a beat.

She had originally thought she was attracted by this Junior Brother's handsome appearance and calm temperament.

Now that she thought about it, that feeling seemed more profound, as if it stemmed from some deeper level of attraction.

Her thoughts raced, but she quickly put on a look of realization mixed with a bit of apology: "Oh... I see. This Senior Sister was too abrupt, letting my imagination run wild. Junior Brother, please don't mind."

She lowered her posture, her tone gentle, making it easy for people to feel favorable toward her.

Immediately, she changed the subject, asking as if in casual conversation: "By the way, after Her Highness the Saintess chose you, did she say anything to you privately? For example... why she chose you? Or what arrangements she has for the future?"

Ye Xiaoyao clicked his tongue inwardly.

She asked so specifically.

What the Saintess said to him, what did that have to do with Cao Sini?

She was being a bit too nosy.

But he didn't show it on his face. Instead, he revealed an expression that was just right—a mix of being flattered and trying to stay calm—and deliberately used a slightly boastful tone:

"Her Highness the Saintess said that from now on, I am her person. If I encounter any troublesome matters inside or outside the Sect, I can use her name, or go directly to find her."

He paused, looked into Cao Sini's eyes, and added significantly: "Her Highness said that since we are Dao Companions, we should support each other, and she won't let me be bullied by others."

These words were half-true and half-false.

The Saintess did indeed say "You are my person," but the parts about "using her name" and "having her support" were entirely improvised by Ye Xiaoyao on the spot.

He just wanted to borrow the Saintess's authority to create a banner for himself, and incidentally, to warn Cao Sini.

To tell her that he had a backer now, and that the matter of him rejecting her this morning was best left in the past, and she shouldn't think about settling scores.

However, Cao Sini's reaction was completely beyond his expectations.

She didn't seem to care much about the Saintess standing up for him, only nodding slightly to indicate she had heard.

What she was more concerned with, clearly, was the information revealed in the first half of Ye Xiaoyao's sentence.

The Saintess had acknowledged this Dao Companion relationship and given it a certain degree of approval.

This further confirmed her guess.

There must be special value in Ye Xiaoyao!

In just a few breaths, countless thoughts had raced through Cao Sini's mind.

The Saintess was exceptionally talented and had the Sect Master as her Revered Master, but she did not come from a great cultivation Family. Her power within the Sect relied more on her personal talent and status.

And she, Cao Sini, came from a medium-sized cultivation Family in the Southern Border, with abundant resources and wide connections; her future potential might not be worse than the Saintess's.

As long as she operated properly, she might be able to slowly attract this potential stock, Ye Xiaoyao, away from the Saintess.

To be precise, to lure him over.

She couldn't snatch him by force; that would directly offend the Saintess and be counterproductive.

She could only plan slowly, using benefits to gradually entice him, letting him come over willingly...

Cao Sini quickly set her strategy.

Thus, the trace of inquiry and scrutiny on her face completely disappeared, replaced by an expression so gentle it seemed to drip with water.

Her eyes flowed with a touch of just-right concern and charm, and her voice softened a few degrees.

"So that's how it is... Senior Sister understands."

She sighed softly, a faint look of worry clouding her brows.

"However, Junior Brother Ye, Senior Sister still feels uneasy. Her Highness the Saintess choosing you so suddenly is certainly your Opportunity, but... when things are abnormal, it's hard for Senior Sister not to worry about you."

She took half a step forward, the distance closing, the fragrance becoming clearer. She said with a sincere tone:

"A woman's intuition tells me that Her Highness the Saintess choosing you, perhaps... has other motives."

"Junior Brother, you are simple-minded and your cultivation is still shallow. In the future, by the Saintess's side, you must be extra careful and keep your wits about you in everything, you know? Senior Sister... is genuinely worried for you."

These words were filled with genuine emotion, accompanied by her bright, moving face and eyes that seemed to say more than her words.

If it were a male cultivator with less willpower, he would probably have been swayed and moved to tears of gratitude long ago.

Ye Xiaoyao, however, was left even more confused by her sudden, deep concern, completely baffled.

This Senior Sister Cao... changed her face faster than turning a book page.

The displeasure in her eyes when she was rejected by him this morning wasn't fake; now she was playing the role of a caring older sister?

What kind of act was she putting on?

His wariness deepened, but he could only force a polite smile on his face, smiling faintly:

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister Cao. Junior Brother has noted it, and I will be careful."

He looked up at the sky; the sunset had mostly sunk, and the sky was dyed with dusk.

"It's getting late. If Senior Sister has no other instructions, Junior Brother will take his leave. I still have to go back and Cultivate."

He really didn't want to continue dealing with this Fairy Cao, who was so hard to fathom; it was better to go back and take medicine and practice.

After speaking, he bowed and turned to leave.

"Junior Brother Ye, don't be in such a rush to leave."

Cao Sini quickly spoke up, her voice carrying a hint of just-right reluctance and coquettishness.

Ye Xiaoyao's footsteps paused, he sighed inwardly, and turned back helplessly.

"Does Senior Sister Cao have any other business?"

Cao Sini didn't speak immediately, her gaze landing on the low-grade Storage Pouch at his waist, with its worn edges and somewhat outdated style, lingering for a moment.

Then, she raised her slender hand, a faint flash of spiritual light, and a brand-new Storage Pouch appeared in her palm.

The material of that Storage Pouch was clearly more Advanced, presenting a warm, light brown color.

The pouch was embroidered with exquisite cloud-crane patterns in silver thread, the drawstring knot was intricately woven, and it was adorned with a small piece of translucent warm jade.

One look told you it was more than a grade better than the shabby item on Ye Xiaoyao.

"Senior Sister sees that this Storage Pouch of yours has been used for quite a few years, right? The edges are frayed."

Cao Sini's tone was gentle, carrying consideration: "It just so happens that Senior Sister has a spare middle-grade Storage Pouch here, which I acquired before; I've only used it once or twice, it's almost new."

She held the Storage Pouch in her palm, presenting it to Ye Xiaoyao, smiling like a flower, her eyes curved.

"This is for you, Junior Brother! It's a middle-grade Storage Pouch; the space inside is dozens of times larger than yours, and it's more convenient and effortless to store and retrieve items."

As she spoke, her beautiful eyes shone, her cherry lips parted slightly to reveal pearly teeth, and her graceful eyebrows were as beautiful as a new moon.

Most of all, the faint smile on the corner of her lips was gentle and warm, as if carrying a fragrant, warm breeze that drilled straight into one's heart.

With such appearance and attitude, paired with the valuable gift in her hand, her sincerity could be called absolute.

Ye Xiaoyao looked at the exquisite Storage Pouch offered before his eyes, and his head buzzed.

Was this peach blossom luck today... blooming a bit too fiercely?

First being forcibly chosen as a Dao Companion by the Saintess this morning, and now the number one beauty of the Outer Sect is actively giving gifts?

Did I trigger some hidden plot?

But reason immediately pulled Ye Xiaoyao back from his brief pondering.

Showing courtesy without cause—either a traitor or a thief.

This move by Cao Sini was too abnormal.

He quickly retreated half a step, raised both hands, making a gesture of firm refusal, his tone also carrying trepidation.

"Senior Sister Cao, this simply won't do! Such a valuable gift, this Junior Brother absolutely cannot accept it!"

"If... if Her Highness the Saintess finds out, I'm afraid it will cause a misunderstanding, which would be bad for both Senior Sister and Junior Brother!"