307: Misunderstanding and envy

[You look at Cao Qingyi again; she has already stabilized Cao Tianxiong's injuries and is now looking up.]

[Her gaze is complex and difficult to describe, as if she has a thousand words to say but doesn't know where to start.]

[You put away your Dharma Image, disperse the Law Domain, and with a flash of your body, you are already by her side.]

["No wonder I was able to survive last time..." Cao Qingyi gazes at you and asks softly, "That time, it was also you who saved me, right?"]

["Cough, cough, cough..." Cao Tianxiong forces himself to sit upright and grins, "Brother-in-law, I really didn't expect... you to be so powerful."]

[Cao Qingyi raises her hand to slap his forehead, but he tilts his head and dodges it.]

["Stop shouting nonsense." Although her tone is cold, the tips of her ears are faintly turning red.]

[Cao Tianxiong wipes the blood from the corner of his mouth and chuckles: "Brother-in-law, you don't know, after you left, my sister lost her appetite for food and tea, and she led us out to find you the very next day..."]

[Cao Qingyi immediately reaches out to cover Cao Tianxiong's mouth and scolds in a low voice: "If you keep talking nonsense, be careful or I'll really hit you."]

[Cao Tianxiong grins and pries her hand away, nodding repeatedly: "Alright, alright, I won't say it, I won't say it anymore."]

[Cao Qingyi lowers her head, and even the tips of her ears turn a faint red.]

[A cool breeze blows past, but it cannot disperse the waves of burning heat on her cheeks and ears.]

[You turn to Yin Wujiu and speak in a calm tone: "From this moment on, your duty is to protect her safety... at all times."]

[Yin Wujiu looks solemn and bows his head in response: "Young Master, rest assured. Even if this subordinate's body perishes and his Dao vanishes, I will never allow Young Miss Qingyi to suffer the slightest harm."]

[You nod slightly and turn your gaze toward Chen Yongxiu and Ji Hui.]

[Ji Hui immediately understands and clasps her fists: "Senior, rest assured. Fu Hong committed many evils and deserved his death. Regarding today's matter, this Junior and Protector Chen... are unaware of it."]

[She glances sideways at the group of guards behind her: "These people are all my confidants; they will naturally keep their mouths shut, and there is no risk of any leakage."]

[You smile indifferently: "It doesn't matter. Even if your Cult Leader knows, it doesn't matter. I have never liked looking for trouble, but I have never been afraid of it either."]

["Senior, then... shall we Juniors take our leave first?" Ji Hui's tone is slightly tense.]

[You wave your hand: "Go ahead."]

[Ji Hui and Chen Yongxiu feel as if they have been granted a great amnesty; they immediately sacrifice a spirit boat and lead the guards away in a hurry.]

[You watch them disappear into the horizon, then turn around and return to your own spirit boat.]

[What you just said was not a momentary show of bravado, but based on other considerations.]

[You can take this opportunity to test things out—exactly which people will jump out to become your enemies because of this.]

[Besides, the Divine Dragon Cult is only a second or third-rate power after all. Unless their Old Ancestor has lost his mind, he would never exhaust the entire cult's strength to hunt down a Spirit Transformation Cultivator for the sake of a dead Saint.]

[If he still has some reason left, at most he would only send a Clone to test the waters.]

[When that time comes, let him truly experience the consequences of provoking you.]

[You aren't even afraid of a first-rate power like the Liu Clan Immortal Family, so why would you care about adding the Divine Dragon Cult?]

[If they truly are so blind as to come and provoke you, you might not be the one to suffer.]

[Furthermore, you know very well that after this trip to the ruins ends, Tianyang Star will no longer be a place for you to stay for long.]

[Once you leave this place, you still plan to go and take Venerable Yuqing as your teacher.]

[By then, it remains to be seen who will be looking for trouble with whom.]

[Thinking of this escape route, your confidence grows a bit more.]

[On this day, inside the three-story pavilion, everyone is sitting quietly in various places.]

[After some pleasantries, Peak Master Wuji and the others finally learn about the relationship between you and Cao Qingyi.]

[Those who were unaware all show expressions of astonishment—they find it hard to imagine that a Spirit Transformation Cultivator would actually condescend to pose as a Golden Core guard, following and protecting Cao Qingyi day and night.]

[For a moment, the same thought rises in everyone's mind: If it weren't for deep affection, why else would one act like this?]

[Even Cao Qingyi herself cannot help but lower her eyes, her ears feeling slightly hot, as similar ripples quietly rise in her heart.]

[The atmosphere in the pavilion thus becomes soft and subtle, as if there is a silent warmth slowly flowing in the stillness.]

[Qin Han squats on the low table by your hand, his gaze still shifting between Cao Qingyi and Nangong Xueyu from time to time.]

[When Nangong Xueyu looks at you, the initial vigilance and fear are no longer in her eyes.]

[Perhaps because of Cao Qingyi, she begins to feel that you aren't so frightening after all.]

[Instead, a hint of envy arises in her heart—]

[Perhaps it is because a man of deep affection is what touches a woman's heart the most.]

[However, the look in Cao Qingyi's eyes as she gazes at Nangong Xueyu faintly reveals a trace of imperceptible scrutiny and defensiveness.]

[From the way you look at Nangong Xueyu, she captures a different temperature, a kind of perfectly measured gentleness.]

[This subtle emotion is not difficult for Cao Qingyi to perceive.]

[This is likely due to a woman's natural intuition.]

[Because of this, the atmosphere in the pavilion seems subtle and stagnant, as if invisible undercurrents are surging in the silence.]

[With your experience as a playboy, you naturally understand the thoughts in these two women's hearts.]

[You laugh and give a "haha," raising the spirit wine in your hand: "Peak Master Wuji, before you said you were going to leave first, right?"]

[Peak Master Wuji picks up his wine cup, his expression solemn: "To be honest, previously... I was narrow-minded."]

["After learning that Senior was originally Fellow Daoist Cao's Dao Companion, I understood that Senior is a person of deep sentiment and righteousness."]

["All previous suspicions were truly a case of measuring the heart of a gentleman with the mind of a petty man."]

[Meaty also nods repeatedly on the side: "Yes, yes! We asked around before coming to Tianyang City, and everyone said the City Lord's daughter, Cao Qingyi, is beautiful and kind-hearted, managing the city in an orderly fashion. The commoners all praise her as the number one Fairy of Tianyang City!"]

[Peak Master Wuji continues: "The character of someone who can win the heart of Fellow Daoist Cao naturally goes without saying."]

["Right, right, right," Meaty nods vigorously again, "I saw long ago that your face didn't look like a bad person's."]

[As she speaks, she points to Elder Jia nearby, "Look at him, he looked fierce and malicious before, but now he looks much more pleasant!"]

[Hearing this, Elder Jia can only force a smile and say repeatedly: "You flatter me, you flatter me. I am ashamed, I am ashamed..."]

[Being praised by the two of them in such a coordinated manner, you actually feel a bit uncomfortable.]

[But a sense of strangeness that you can't quite explain always lingers in your heart.]

[Since gaining an entry-level understanding of the Laws of Karma and Fate, you often have vague premonitions about certain things.]

[This trip to the ruins makes you faintly feel... that it will not be peaceful.]

[Even for Cao Qingyi, you are unwilling to have her accompany you.]

[If you are secretly led away by the Artifact Spirit at that time, wouldn't she and Cao Tianxiong become the targets of everyone?]

[Thinking of this, your expression turns serious, and you look at Peak Master Wuji: "Peak Master Wuji, to be honest, this trip to the ruins might be fraught with danger. The opponents you will face by staying by my side... are no small matter."]

[Though the words are not fully spoken, Peak Master Wuji already understands.]

[He nods solemnly: "What Senior says is absolutely right; I was inconsiderate."]

[Having said that, he stands up and clasps his hands: "Thanks to Senior's care along the way, we three, master and disciples... will take our leave here."]

["Very well. If fate allows, we will surely meet again in the future." You smile warmly.]

[After some pleasantries, Peak Master Wuji leaves with Nangong Xueyu and Meaty.]

[As they depart, Nangong Xueyu looks back at you and Cao Qingyi, her eyes filled with a complex expression—there is guilt, and there also seems to be a hidden, unspeakable envy.]

[Perhaps only at this moment does she understand that all her previous suspicions about you were nothing more than a misunderstanding.]