If you think about it, Mu Cengxiao had been to Li’er Country, entered the Secret Realm, and met the Snake Shaman in Wufan City since joining Taiyan Sect. According to his original luck, he should have reaped a great deal from each of these places. Yet now, while Zanxing had returned with much to show for it, Mu Cengxiao had only acquired the God-Slaying Sword and nothing more. Was this why the Heavenly Dao was relentlessly pursuing her?
After all, taking others’ opportunities would eventually require repayment.
But what if she began repaying now?
Zanxing took a step closer to Mu Cengxiao and asked quietly, “Senior Brother Mu, would you like to go to the treasure site?”
Mu Cengxiao looked at her in surprise.
“In the treasure map given by the Snake Shaman, there might be other opportunities in the ruins where the Sacred Tree grows. How about I give the map to you and let you try your luck?” Zanxing sincerely suggested.
If Mu Cengxiao found an opportunity at the treasure site and followed the path that the Heavenly Dao had originally laid out for him, perhaps the impact of her actions could be overlooked.
“Junior Sister,” Mu Cengxiao said with a slight frown, “the treasure map was given to you by the Snake Shaman. It belongs to you by right. Even if you…” He glanced at Zanxing, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, and added, “I won’t go.”
“How can you not go?” Zanxing insisted. “It’s supposed to be yours!”
Her insistence seemed to alarm Mu Cengxiao. He said, “I appreciate your goodwill, Junior Sister, but there’s no need to bring it up again,” and quickly left.
Zanxing watched his retreating figure, puzzled. In ‘At the Pinnacle of the Nine Heavens’, Mu Cengxiao was depicted as a dedicated cultivator focused solely on becoming stronger. Now that a great opportunity was right in front of him, he showed no interest.
It seemed not only had the plotline changed, but the characters’ personalities had as well.
*
In the following days, Zanxing, motivated by the idea of remedying her mistake, tried every day to convince Mu Cengxiao to accept the treasure map. However, Mu Cengxiao steadfastly refused. To avoid Zanxing, he stayed out of the courtyard daily, leaving only Liu Yunxin to apologize awkwardly. “Miss Yang, Brother Mu is out again.”
News of this situation spread, and rumors about Zanxing and Mu Cengxiao surged overnight, sweeping through the entire Taiyan Sect once more.
People outside didn’t know the content of the treasure map, only that Zanxing was trying to see Mu Cengxiao daily while he avoided her. They naturally began to fabricate a melodramatic tale of unrequited love and missed connections.
“It seems Junior Sister Yang still hasn’t gotten over Senior Brother Mu. Even I am moved by such unrequited passion.”
“Speaking of which, Mu Cengxiao is really lucky. One adopted sister is deeply devoted to him, and one junior sister is infatuated with him. Why don’t we have such good fortune with us?”
“Come, come, come, place your bets! Will it be the graceful Liu Yunxin or the scarred Junior Sister Yang? One-to-one odds, once you bet, it’s final!”
“One-to-one odds? Why don’t you go rob a bank?”
“I’m betting on Liu Yunxin! Men always prefer their first love, who wouldn’t want the white moonlight?”
“Short-sighted! I’m betting on Junior Sister Yang. Look at how Sixth Uncle dotes on her. If you choose Junior Sister Yang, the future is bright. Which man wouldn’t want to avoid ten years of hard work?”
“Shallow! I support the white moonlight! I’m on the side of first love!”
“Old-fashioned, you’ll know when you’re weighed down by spirit stones! I’m choosing Junior Sister Yang!”
“Hey, stop arguing. We all know what men are like. Maybe Senior Brother Mu is just like those rotten men, saying one thing but thinking of something else.”
These voices drifted in from outside the hall, reaching the courtyard. The young man, with a cold expression, slammed the door shut with a thud, cutting off the noisy clamor from outside.
Men Dong, sitting on a long couch with short legs dangling, eating pastry, sighed at the scene. “Now every hall is betting on who Senior Brother Mu’s romantic interest is, and even our hall has joined in. I placed a bet too, but I don’t know if I’ll break even.”
Gu Baiying turned around and asked, “Who did you bet on?”
“I originally wanted to bet on Liu Yunxin,” Men Dong said with crumbs of pastry all over his mouth. “After all, Liu Yunxin is gentle, looks good, and has a childhood bond with Senior Brother Mu. Yang Zanxing seems to have no chance. But,” he shifted his tone, “when we were in Wufan City, Yang Zanxing saved us. I think she’s a good person, so I decided to bet on her, just to give her some support and not let her be laughed at.”
Gu Baiying gritted his teeth and said, “It’s admirable that you’re thinking ahead.”
“That’s natural,” Men Dong said, thinking for a moment. “Yang Zanxing is so devoted to Senior Brother Mu. Uncle, why don’t we help them get together?”
“How do you suggest we do that?”
“There are many ways,” Men Dong said. “I remember there’s a book in the Library Pavilion called ‘The Man I Can’t Handle’. Maybe we can borrow it for Yang Zanxing to read. It might give her some inspiration. There’s always more solutions than problems, right…” He noticed Gu Baiying’s expression and immediately sat up straight in alarm. “Uncle?”
Gu Baiying stared at him for a full moment before calmly speaking, “So, you were reading that kind of book in the Library Pavilion.”
Men Dong shivered, jumped down from the couch, and waved his hands repeatedly. “No, no, Uncle. I just looked at it occasionally!”
Seeing Gu Baiying fuming with anger, Men Dong was puzzled and cautiously chose his words. “Uncle, why do you look so unhappy? Actually, with the treasure map we have, the Sacred Tree’s fruit can repair the spiritual veins. The Qinchong seed is of no use now. Whether Yang Zanxing and Senior Brother Mu cultivate together or not doesn’t affect you much. Why not do them a favor…”
Gu Baiying’s eyes were like daggers as he coldly sneered, “Men Dong, I suggest you stop cultivating in Taiyan Sect and go to Pingyang Town to become an ice seller instead.”
Men Dong was completely baffled and couldn’t understand why Gu Baiying was so enraged. He thought for a long time, then suddenly had a flash of insight and looked at the young man across from him. “I understand now, Uncle. You’re worried about the possibility of an accident with the Sacred Tree’s fruit. If we can’t find the fruit and the Qinchong seed is gone, it would be a loss. That’s why you’re so keen on making sure they don’t cultivate together? You’ve thought this through, Uncle,” Men Dong said with admiration. “In that case, let’s wait a bit longer. Once you find the Sacred Tree’s fruit, we can give a generous gift to them on their wedding day to show our courtesy.”
Gu Baiying, enraged, shouted, “If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll kick you out of Taiyan Sect!”
Men Dong immediately fell silent, not daring to say another word. Gu Baiying took a sip of tea from the table, still feeling disgruntled, and then stood up and stormed out in a fit of anger.
Men Dong stared at his retreating figure for a while, murmuring to himself, “This rage is really inexplicable.”