“Tsk tsk tsk. I never knew you’d be the type to be as jealous as a vinegar jar, Baili,” taunted Ling Chuxi as she raised a brow with a crooked smile as she looked at him.
Baili Han’s face flushed red and he dropped his head to continue to eat silently. He knew that he was no match for Ling Chuxi’s venomous tongue.
The fifth princess and Ling Chuxi started guffawing with laughter.
Ling Yichen was quiet throughout. He didn’t say a word and just ate in silence. It was hard to tell what he was thinking. Nevertheless, Fu Chengyu observed him and pondered.
…
That night, all was still at Fu Chengyu’s residence. Ling Chuxi had long since fallen into a deep sleep.
Ling Yichen stood by himself on the loft, looking at Ling Chuxi’s quarters from afar in the dark of the night with a worried look on his face and a frown plastered between his brows.
“What happened, Yichen? What exactly did all of you encounter before you got here?” asked Fu Chengyu’s deep voice as he appeared behind Ling Yichen unwittingly.
“Senior Brother, why are you still awake?” said Ling Yichen in reply indifferently, dodging Fu Chengyu’s question.
“I should be asking you that. It’s already so late and you must be tired from your journey, yet you are still awake. What is it that you’re thinking about?” Fu Chengyu naturally could tell that Ling Yichen had some matters in his heart, so he pressed further. “Just tell me. What happened? It looks like the matter is not so simple this time.”
Ling Yichen sighed gently, then resumed looking in the direction of Ling Chuxi’s quarters without speaking for a long while.
“Is it because of Chuxi?” prodded Fu Chengyu. Actually, without having to ask he already knew, for besides Chuxi, who else had the ability to make Ling Yichen lose his bearings like this?
“Senior Brother, the Divine Messenger from the Deity Temple, he and Chuxi…” Ling Yichen only managed to speak of the matter halfway before finding himself unable to continue.
“Are you talking about Huangfu Qingjue? The man with purple eyes and silver hair?” Fu Chengyu asked. He suddenly understood. It seems Ling Yichen had found out that the relationship between Ling Chuxi and that man was not an ordinary one.
“Senior Brother, you know about this?” asked Ling Yichen as he looked at Fu Chengyu in astonishment.
“By coincidence, I saw Huangfu Qingjue coming over to look for Ling Chuxi before. His cultivation is very strong,” said Fu Chengyu as he frowned. “At the time, I didn’t know he was the Divine Messenger from the Deity Temple. I also don’t know how Chuxi knows him.”
“Chuxi… She never once mentioned anything to me…” said Ling Yichen, a little depressed.
“Why? Do you feel that you can’t compare to him and want to give up?” said Fu Chengyu in a tone that was a little cool as he frowned slightly. “Yichen, did you forget why you risked your life to cultivate according to the manual Master left behind? Have you forgotten your original intention?”
Ling Yichen was stunned. His pupils contracted and his eyes widened as he looked at Fu Chengyu who had a stern look on his face. His heart suddenly shook. Indeed, what was his original intent for working so hard and so desperately for? It was to protect Chuxi, wanting to forever see her dazzling smile!
“Furthermore, the journey of this life is still very long ahead. Chuxi has yet to marry. You still have a chance. A Ling Yichen who gives up so easily is unlike the Ling Yichen I know,” said Fu Chengyu as he patted Ling Yichen’s shoulder and smiled slightly. “Question the depths of your own heart as to what your true thoughts are. All right then, I will stop here. I’m going to sleep now.” Without waiting for Ling Yichen to reply, Fu Chengyu turned around and returned to his own quarters after he finished speaking.
Ling Yichen stood alone, rooted to the spot, before slowly turning to look at Ling Chuxi’s quarters once more. His gaze slowly became more determined and passionate. The fist obscured by his sleeve slowly clenched tightly.
‘Chuxi, Chuxi…’
‘I will forever stand guard by your side, waiting for you to turn around. If you just turn around, you will see me at a single glance!’
