SQLJBFDTW Chapter 95

Chapter 95: Winter Garden, Lord Yu’s Cultivation Partner

Mo Zezhi’s attitude towards Chao Jianxue improved significantly.

Not only did he stop yelling at him, but Chao Jianxue noticed that when he passed by his window, he would even whistle at him with great interest.

Chao Jianxue knew the reason for the drastic change in his attitude. It was nothing more than discovering his relationship with Yu Wei, which led Mo Zezhi to believe that he and himself were the same kind of “playthings” who had “lost their dignity.”

It turned out that he wasn’t the only one in the world who had experienced this kind of thing, so he felt more balanced, and even had a kind of sympathy like, “So you’re not doing so well either.”

If that’s what he needed to think to feel better, Chao Jianxue let him be.

The news of a deer demon from the human realm ascending to immortality caused quite a stir in the Xuanzhen realm. Those who didn’t know the details lamented their bad luck, that a small demon from the human realm had seized the opportunity first. The demon realm was ecstatic.

Qing Tu Liu sent him a message, laughing that many demon cultivators wanted to go to the human realm these days, but not to mention how tightly the human cultivators controlled things, when a few demons did go down to take a look, the spiritual energy in the human realm was so thin that they all gave up.

Chao Jianxue said, “Ascension isn’t just about cultivation level; it also depends on one’s Dao heart.”

Qing Tu Liu replied, “Really? Isn’t it just that after crossing the Tribulation stage and surviving the lightning tribulation, you can ascend?”

Chao Jianxue replied, “Yu Wei said so.”

Qing Tu Liu didn’t reply again.

Chao Jianxue thought that what Yu Wei said made a lot of sense. There were so many cultivators in the Xuanzhen realm, yet no one had ascended for many years. The deer demon’s cultivation level was also obviously inferior to those at the Tribulation stage. Did this indicate that the Heavenly Dao’s ascension now placed more emphasis on Dao heart than on cultivation level?

He circulated his breath for a week, received a message from Li Zhenzhen, and then left his small dwelling.

The lotus breeze was fresh. He didn’t disguise himself, and his plain clothes appeared golden in the sunlight, like gold leaves from some unknown source. Passing disciples couldn’t help but cast amazed and inquisitive gazes over, and Chao Jianxue returned their gazes with a smile.

Just like a golden butterfly, he fluttered into the White Jade Tower under the gazes of the crowd.

Li Zhenzhen covered his face: “You’re too dazzling.”

“Is that so?” Chao Jianxue shrugged. “Isn’t it good-looking?”

Yu Wei brought out tea and said, “It’s very good-looking.”

Chao Jianxue looked at him and smiled even more brightly.

Li Zhenzhen waved his hand between the two of them to attract attention, saying, “So the new demon ruler in the demon realm is you? How exactly did you manage to become a Tribulation stage cultivator?”

Chao Jianxue sat directly opposite Yu Wei and said, “Of course, it’s because I worked hard.” Seeing Li Zhenzhen’s suspicious face, he added, “Okay, it should also be related to my bloodline. My cultivation was poor before because of a bloodline seal. After I woke up from serious injuries that year, the seal was completely broken, plus my personal efforts!”

Li Zhenzhen looked back and forth between him and Yu Wei, and sighed speechlessly: “I’m really impressed by you two…”

At first, he thought that he and Chao Jianxue were suffering together in another world, and that they should run as far as possible before disaster struck. Later, he realized that the two of them had long been inseparable from the Xuanzhen realm. People weren’t plants or trees; how could they be without feelings? It wasn’t a place they could just leave whenever they wanted.

However, he didn’t expect the relationship between Chao Jianxue and Yu Wei to progress to this stage.

The atmosphere of intense affection between these two was simply too obvious, okay!

Li Zhenzhen’s thoughts drifted away. Shouldn’t he also have a sweet love?

However, Li Zhenzhen had serious business in Dongyuan.

He looked at Chao Jianxue and cautiously asked Yu Wei, “Did you receive the invitation from the Dream Butterfly Manor?”

Chao Jianxue’s action of drinking tea paused. He looked up and saw Yu Wei looking at him, without responding, his brow slightly furrowed.

He suddenly understood, smiled, and said, “I’m not that fragile. I have no intersection with the Ying family. They are them, and I am me. After all, my surname is Chao.”

This was the wish his mother gave him, that the morning would be like the rising sun.

Yu Wei then breathed a sigh of relief and replied to Li Zhenzhen, “It was just delivered.”

Chao Jianxue was curious: “What invitation? Even the sect received it?”

A bright letter was handed to him. Chao Jianxue stared at it and saw that it was the Ying family head succession ceremony, inviting everyone to attend.

He looked at the name on the letter: “Ying Feishang, the eldest daughter of the Ying family?”

They had never met this eldest daughter when they were in the Dream Butterfly Manor. According to the general rule, with a lively third son like Ying Liuzheng, this elder sister must be a steady, dignified, and competent person.

The head inheritance ceremony of the number one clan in Dongyuan should invite celebrities from all walks of life.

Chao Jianxue nodded: “It’s tomorrow, no wonder you came to Dongyuan.” He said to Li Zhenzhen.

Li Zhenzhen said embarrassedly: “The sect leader doesn’t come out, and my master doesn’t like to get involved in these things either. I happened to have some free time, so they pushed me to come.”

Chao Jianxue happily said: “You can already represent the Wuwu Sect, which shows that you’ve been doing quite well these past few years. Very good, very good.”

Li Zhenzhen said with false modesty: “Nothing of the sort, nothing of the sort. I came here to ask if Junior Brother Yu will accept the invitation?”

“No…” Yu Wei had just opened his mouth when Chao Jianxue interrupted him and naturally said, “Go, after all, we’re both in Dongyuan. The Ying family and the Yu family used to be on good terms, there’s no reason not to go.”

The two looked at him, and neither spoke.

Chao Jianxue said “Mm” in an upward tone.

Li Zhenzhen said: “They used to be on good terms, but when collecting your belongings that time, Junior Brother Yu made it clear that he had offended the Ying family.”

Hearing him say this, Chao Jianxue was really curious about the specific situation that day, what exactly Yu Wei said. It was a pity that he didn’t see it with his own eyes.

He said: “The Ying family could have chosen not to send One Leaf Boat an invitation. Since they sent it, it’s nothing. Besides, how do you know that Yu Wei offended the Ying family, and it can’t be considered that the Ying family offended Yu Wei?”

Chao Jianxue’s words made Li Zhenzhen dumbfounded: “You… you’re quite proud.”

“But what you said also makes sense. When ranking by seniority, Junior Brother Yu is a junior, but according to cultivation level and status, Yu Wei is indeed ahead.” Li Zhenzhen agreed with his opinion.

However, Li Zhenzhen wanted to find a hole to crawl into.

Looking back, when he didn’t know about their relationship, even if he thought they were close, it was nothing. It was normal for fellow disciples to be close.

But now that he knew they were in a relationship, the more he looked at it, the more he felt like he was superfluous, and he couldn’t help but sit on pins and needles.

Looking at Chao Jianxue’s every move and smile, in front of Yu Wei, how could it appear, so…

Charming?

Li Zhenzhen covered his head and shook it, trying to shake some stereotypes out of his mind.

The next morning, Li Zhenzhen waited specifically at the entrance of One Leaf Boat to go to Dream Butterfly Manor with Yu Wei.

After a while, two people came out, and he couldn’t believe it: “Aren’t you afraid that the Ying family will find out that you’re not dead? And you have to show an invitation to enter and exit Dream Butterfly Manor.”

“That’s easy.” Chao Jianxue waved his hand and took out a veiled hat as if by magic.

“As for my identity, I’ll say I’m Lord Yu’s cultivation partner, where is there anything wrong?” He blinked, and Li Zhenzhen was speechless.

Chao Jianxue used to tease Yu Wei by saying that he was his cultivation partner, but now he really guessed right.

In front of the Dream Butterfly Manor, there was an endless stream of carriages and horses, mostly from the prominent families of Dongyuan, as well as gift-giving envoys sent by other sects.

Although Yu Wei was the owner of One Leaf Boat, he rarely showed his face in Dongyuan. Therefore, the appearance of the three of them attracted everyone’s attention.

“Lord Yu actually came, I didn’t feel anything when I heard the rumors, but seeing him today is really amazing, a young Tribulation stage cultivator?”

“Didn’t a demon ascend to immortality in the human realm a few days ago? I think the next one to ascend will either be him or Lord Ziwei of the Hehuan Dao.”

“Who are the two people beside him?”

Li Zhenzhen turned his head, and that person excitedly said: “They are from the Wuwu Sect. I saw the Wuwu Sect’s jade token!”

“Lord Yu once studied in the Wuwu Sect, no wonder they’re walking together.”

Then they talked about the other person next to him.

Chao Jianxue deliberately turned his body to the side where the chattering crowd was, and heard: “I can’t see his appearance, but from the back, you can tell that he’s a very good-looking expert.”

A very good-looking expert.

Chao Jianxue thought this comment was very reasonable.

The three walked up the steps. The attendant checked the invitation. When it was Chao Jianxue’s turn, the attendant respectfully said: “Please wait a moment, distinguished guest. You cannot enter the manor without an invitation.”

Chao Jianxue slowly called out: “Lord Yu.”

His voice was clear and crisp, like a mountain spring and the sound of a zither, washing away all the impetuous noises. The surrounding people all curiously quieted down, wondering what the origin of this mysterious person, whose internal energy was obviously not weak, was.

He just slightly raised his hand, and the Lord Yu, who was naturally cold and didn’t interact with people, reached out and took his hand.

Lord Yu’s eyes were like cold stars, calmly and naturally saying: “Excuse me, he is my cultivation partner.”

As soon as these words came out, everything was silent.

The attendant was the first to react, respectfully inviting them in.

Li Zhenzhen’s teeth were so sour that he hissed and said: “From today onwards, the dreams of many young men and women will be shattered.”

Yu Wei held Chao Jianxue’s hand tightly and didn’t let go, asking: “What do you mean?”

Li Zhenzhen said: “Junior Brother Yu, are you pretending to be stupid or do you really not know? What dreams, naturally spring dreams! So many people regard you as an idol, and will only form a cultivation partnership with you!”

Chao Jianxue chuckled, and heard Yu Wei coldly say: “Indeed, they should be shattered.”

The guests gathered in the manor.

Chao Jianxue saw the true face of the Ying family’s eldest miss for the first time, seeing that her eyebrows were curved, her lips were bright and her teeth were white, she was wearing a peony wide-sleeved dress, and she was quite tall, and she had an extraordinary temperament when she stood.

What followed was a series of ceremonial words.

Through the veil, Chao Jianxue saw Madam Ying standing to the side, as well as two young masters dressed in the same solemn manner.

Ying Liuzheng looked at Ying Feishang in front of him with tears in his eyes, looking very moved.

After not seeing him for many years, he had grown taller, but his childishness had not changed at all, he must have been well protected by several elders.

It was only through a casual conversation with the surrounding people that he learned that the Ying family head had died of illness a year ago, and that the position of family head had been suspended for a year before Ying Feishang succeeded to it.

Someone also mentioned Ying Xiange of that year, saying that Ying Xiange’s talent was outstanding. If she were still alive, she might be able to make Dream Butterfly Manor famous throughout the Xuanzhen realm, not just in Dongyuan. They also said that Ying Xiange’s child was actually a half-demon.

Yu Wei’s hand tightened.

Chao Jianxue squeezed his fingers to show that he was fine.

When the ceremony was over, Ying Feishang obtained the treasured seal symbolizing the position of the Ying family head, followed by the guests’ free time.

Madam Ying took the initiative to come to them and greeted: “Long time no see, Lord Yu’s cultivation has improved greatly, it’s admirable.”

“Madam is too kind.” Yu Wei replied coldly.

Madam Ying smiled bitterly: “I know that you have some dissatisfaction with Dream Butterfly Manor, but the former family head gave the order that Dream Butterfly Manor would not accept a child with impure blood.”

Yu Wei shook his head and said, “There’s no need to talk about this matter anymore.”

“Okay.” Madam Ying didn’t mention the matter again, and then talked about One Leaf Boat.

The guests came and went in droves. Chao Jianxue patted Yu Wei’s hand to let him let go of himself, wanting to go for a walk on his own.

It was that Winter Garden again.

The magic in the Deep Snow Pavilion caused it to be covered with a thick layer of snow.

Chao Jianxue slowly approached. The dark sandalwood-colored pavilion pillars surrounded him. He looked up and saw exquisitely carved patterns, trees, flowers, birds, beasts, and fish, all wrapped in the pavilion.

There were also two lines of small characters.

Deep snow, deep snow, today I see snow, the snow is still deep.

Walking the mountain, walking the mountain, going straight to the cloud mountain, the mountain becomes clearer.

“Who is here?” A clear and steady voice rang out.

Chao Jianxue looked back and saw the new family head, Ying Feishang, standing outside the pavilion, tall and straight, with a refined and handsome aura.

She gracefully saluted and asked: “Who is this distinguished guest?”

Thin snow fell one after another. Chao Jianxue returned the salute and said in a gentle voice: “I came with Lord Yu.”