Zanxing

Chapter 126 - The Lovebirds Tree (1)

Gu Baiying looked at Zanxing.

Yanxing was still wearing his snow-white robe, with a lake-green hairband wrapped around her waist like a spring willow. Her long hair cascaded down her back as she lethargically leaned on the table by the window, fiddling with a clay figurine in her hands, sighing, "If I had known, I would have let my senior brother roast more fish and pack it into the bag."

The young man paused for a moment, pulled out a redwood box from the bag at his waist, and tossed it onto the table in front of Yanxing.

The box landed with a "thud" in front of her, and Yanxing blinked in surprise, looking at Gu Baiying, "What is this?"

"Food."

Yanxing was more surprised than touched. When she opened the box, she indeed saw several exquisite pastries, which were surprisingly colorful, pink and tender, shaped like flowers.

She looked at Gu Baiying in astonishment, "Martial Uncle, you even carry snacks with you. How refined." No wonder he was so picky about food in Li'er Palace—turns out he had brought his own lunch.

"I'm not like you," Gu Baiying replied curtly, "This was given to me by the sect leader."

Yanxing gazed at the large red box carved with the pattern of "Playing the Sheng to Attract the Phoenix," and after a moment of silence, she realized that this festive style indeed bore the mark of Sect Master Shaoyang.

Seeing that she didn't move, Gu Baiying asked, "Why aren't you eating?"

"Martial Uncle," Yanxing looked at him, "I heard that the sect leader is skilled at preserving youth and is very particular about food. The pastries and meals from Jinhua Palace are all free of oil and sugar, making them taste like sandpaper."

Gu Baiying probably didn't expect Yanxing to be in the mood to think about these things at this time. He wasn't usually patient, and he huffed in response, "Eat if you want."

"I'm just saying, I didn't say I wouldn't eat," Yanxing said, pinching a piece and bringing it to her mouth. "As long as it's not poisoned, it's fine."

She took a bite.

The flower-shaped pastry was unexpectedly delicious. It didn't taste like sandpaper at all, nor was it bland and tasteless; it had a hint of sweetness and was so delicate that it melted in her mouth, like flower petals crumbling between her lips and teeth, leaving a refreshing fragrance.

Mimi sneaked over, trying to steal a bite, but Yanxing pressed down on its head.

"Martial Uncle, it turns out the food from Jinhua Palace is this special." Yanxing swallowed the sweetness in her throat and sincerely praised, "This is so much better than the meals in Li'er Palace. The sect leader truly cares for you; no wonder Meng Dong wants to become the sect leader just for the food."

"Shut up," Gu Baiying could no longer listen, "Just eat your pastry."

Yanxing said no more and happily nibbled on the pastry in her hand, breaking off a piece for Mimi as well. The cravings of hunger are always particularly unforgettable; both the girl and the cat ate quickly. When there was only one flower cake left in the box, Yanxing swatted away Mimi's paw that was reaching for the pastry, lifted the wooden box, and asked Gu Baiying, "Martial Uncle, would you like a piece?"

"No."

"Oh, I guessed you wouldn't." Without any psychological burden, Yanxing popped the last piece into her mouth and said, "Thank you, Martial Uncle."

Gu Baiying stared at the person sitting at the table.

The disciples in the sect always tried their best to present an ethereal and otherworldly image, avoiding any appearance of indulging in earthly pleasures. Even ordinary women in the secular world would usually eat less to maintain their slender figures in their elegant dresses.

But Yanxing never cared about such things.

She lived in a rough and comical manner, always inexplicably satisfied, and could nonchalantly show her lethargy in front of others, saying boldly, "I'm hungry."

That kind of freedom and authenticity, in a fleeting moment, was somewhat enviable.

While eating, Yanxing said, "Martial Uncle, you're so good to me."

Gu Baiying huffed and suddenly remembered something, reminding her, "Yanxing, don't misunderstand. My care for you..."

"I know," Yanxing interrupted him before he could finish, "Your care is the genuine concern of an elder for a younger one. Don't worry, your bell hasn't rung; I won't misunderstand."

Gu Baiying fell silent, and Yanxing thought she was being quite perceptive. She had originally thought that the author deliberately added so much drama for Gu Baiying because it was meant to develop her destined romantic storyline. Otherwise, why would there be two people trapped in danger and getting injured? But now it seemed she had overthought it. However... with Gu Baiying's temper, would the bell really ring?

Just as she was pondering this, she heard Gu Baiying's voice behind her, "Yanxing."

"What is it?"

"Why did you let Yin Li's soul possess you that day at the royal tomb?"

Yanxing turned back to look at him. "Martial Uncle, why do you suddenly ask this?"

Under the dim light, the youth's eyes resembled dark ripples. His gaze was a beautiful deep brown, usually bright, but now, under the warm light, it appeared profound.

Seeing his serious expression, Yanxing thought for a moment before answering, "Because Yin Li is so pitiful; no one could help him. If I could assist him, it would count as doing a good deed."

"A demon's soul possessing you would harm your cultivation."

Yanxing finished the last bit of cake, closed the wooden box, and tapped her fingers on the intricate floral patterns on it. "If I lose a bit of cultivation, will someone beat me to death? If I gain a bit of cultivation, can I become the best in the cultivation world? Since losing or gaining a little makes no difference, why treat it as something so important? Besides, my cultivation hasn't been affected anyway."

He dismissively said, "You're being lucky."

"I'm stating a fact." Yanxing looked at him. "You also feel sympathetic toward Yin Li, don't you? Otherwise, you wouldn't have smashed the mermaid statue by the sea with a spear. If that day you had encountered Yin Li's soul in the passage, you would have done the same."

A silence fell over the room.

"I wouldn't."

His snow-white robe was covered in dust and bloodstains. The elegant yulan patterns on the collar were meticulously neat, and the vermilion hairband under the night sky resembled a blooming crimson flower, highlighting the youth's handsome features and graceful demeanor. When he wasn't acting arrogant, he often bore an air of cold detachment that made him seem somewhat unapproachable.

Yanxing asked, "Why not?"

Gu Baiying's voice was calm. "The serpent shaman saw the end from the very beginning; fate is born and dies in an instant. Even if he traded his demon core for a mortal body, it ultimately leads to the same conclusion." The youth seemed to think of something, his gaze dark like the rising tide. "Even if you let Yin Li's soul possess you to meet Princess Li Zhu, he would still disintegrate, and Princess Li Zhu would remember nothing."

"Nothing would change."

The graceful patterns on his robe seemed ready to take flight. His voice, within the room, lost the usual flamboyance and arrogance, becoming low and tinged with a certain bitterness.

Yanxing looked at Gu Baiying.

He remained as he had been upon their first meeting—tall and handsome—just like his silver embroidered bone spear, both beautiful and majestic.