Chapter 49
One stood at the foot of the steps, the other inside the room.
Their eyes met.
Liaoyuan showed no sign of awkwardness.
Holding the door, which was only half-open, he smiled faintly. “Senior Brother, what brings you here?”
“Lord Luo is my guest. I came to see her after finishing my business,” Liaowu replied.
His expression and tone were as calm and gentle as ever, seemingly undisturbed.
But Liaoyuan knew his senior brother well.
Looking down, he noticed Liaowu’s stiff back and tightly pursed lips.
He was actually affected. Liaoyuan thought to himself. His senior brother cared about Lord Luo more than he had thought.
Heng Yu was reading a formation book in her room, her divine sense not extended.
Hearing their conversation, she realized Liaowu had arrived.
She tossed the book aside and walked to the door.
The half-open door was blocked by Liaoyuan’s figure, preventing her from seeing Liaowu.
Heng Yu glanced at Liaoyuan. “Senior Brother Liaoyuan, aren’t you leaving yet?”
Her dismissal was quite obvious.
Liaoyuan’s gaze was still fixed on Liaowu.
He noticed that Liaowu’s lips relaxed slightly when Heng Yu spoke.
Liaoyuan turned around, released the door, leaned closer to Heng Yu, and said with a grievance-filled tone, “Lord Luo, you’re quite adept at discarding people after they’ve served their purpose. Ever since we met, I’ve been doing my best to help you.”
Heng Yu chuckled softly. “I didn’t mean to offend you. Senior Brother Liaoyuan said he was leaving.”
She paused, then added, “But you’re not the first person to say that about me.”
Liaoyuan touched his nose, his smile deepening. “Really? It seems that although we haven’t known each other for long, I understand Lord Luo quite well.”
His words were a bit too familiar.
Heng Yu glanced at Liaoyuan, then at Liaowu, who was standing outside with an impassive expression, and raised an eyebrow.
—What was this Joyful Buddha cultivator’s purpose in constantly appearing before her, being friendly and engaging in verbal sparring? Was it because of Liaowu?
Heng Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly.
If Liaoyuan’s intentions were truly directed at Liaowu, then he had miscalculated.
She didn’t mind Liaoyuan using her for something.
But she didn’t like him using her to scheme against Liaowu.
Seeing that Liaoyuan didn’t intend to move, Heng Yu opened the door fully, stepped outside, and walked towards Liaowu, tugging on his sleeve.
As she tugged on his sleeve, although he still stood as straight as a pine tree, his back relaxed slightly.
“You’re just in time. I have something to tell you,” Heng Yu said.
Seeing her actions, the smile on Liaoyuan’s face faltered and then disappeared.
Liaowu looked at Heng Yu, ignoring Liaoyuan, a hint of amusement in his voice. “What is it?”
“Let’s talk inside.” Heng Yu turned around and, seeing Liaoyuan still standing there, called out, “Senior Brother Liaoyuan?”
Liaoyuan snapped back to reality.
He lowered his gaze, his expression downcast.
“It seems I’m an unwelcome guest today. Farewell.”
As he passed by Heng Yu, she released Liaowu’s sleeve and bowed to Liaoyuan with a gesture.
“Thank you for your help today, Senior Brother Liaoyuan.”
Her sudden thanks made him pause.
He instinctively looked at Liaowu, but seeing no reaction from him, Liaoyuan pouted slightly.
It seemed Luo Heng Yu’s decisive choice had settled his heart.
“But—”
Heng Yu’s sudden change of tone made Liaoyuan look back at her.
“I hope our future interactions will be less… tiring.”
Liaoyuan raised an eyebrow, a cold smile in his peach blossom eyes, making him appear even more alluring.
Was she telling him to stop scheming so much?
“Lord Luo’s words truly sadden me. I always thought we got along well and had much in common.”
Heng Yu smiled without replying.
But this silence was more powerful than any words.
Liaowu couldn’t help but turn his head away, covering his mouth to hide his amusement.
Liaoyuan coughed lightly and glared at Heng Yu with a look of grievance.
Heng Yu looked up at the sky, pretending not to see.
She thought inwardly, this Joyful Buddha cultivator was truly a seductive monk. Fortunately, she was strong-willed and unmoved.
Liaoyuan, almost amused by her reaction, turned and left.
After he disappeared into the bamboo grove, Heng Yu shrugged and looked at Liaowu. “Now that the interruption is gone, come in.”
Liaowu took a step forward, then, hearing her teasing words, chuckled and entered the room.
Seeing that he wasn’t affected by her teasing, Heng Yu sighed inwardly.
Had this once innocent Buddha-son become immune to her charms!?
Inside the room, Heng Yu poured Liaowu a cup of tea.
The tea was freshly brewed, and Liaowu could feel the warmth through the cup.
“Lord Luo said you had something to tell this poor monk. What is it?”
Heng Yu sat down opposite him, lazily swirling her teacup, and told him about the Demon Detection Formation.
“This poor monk has heard of this formation before.”
He lowered his gaze slightly —
So Liaoyuan had been with her all day.
But he understood why Liaoyuan had been in her room.
Liaoyuan was very knowledgeable about formations. Knowing Lord Luo’s character, he must have guessed she would be interested in this formation, and they had probably been discussing it together.
Liaowu’s guess was correct.
Heng Yu sighed slightly. “I originally wanted to study this formation and simplify it to gain a lot of admiration points. But it’s too complex. I can’t memorize or copy it in just a few days.”
“You want to copy the Demon Detection Formation?” Liaowu frowned slightly. “If I remember correctly, there should be a jade slip with the formation imprinted on it on the fourth floor of the Scripture Pavilion.”
Heng Yu’s eyes lit up.
But then she shook her head helplessly.
The fourth floor wasn’t open to the public, supposedly only accessible to the elders and Buddha-sons of the Undying Sect. It was clear how important the items there were.
Even ordinary inner disciples couldn’t enter this forbidden area, let alone an outsider like her.
“The Demon Detection Formation is on Binglian Lake. The jade slip isn’t of much use to the sect. This poor monk will ask Master. I can get it for you tomorrow.”
Heng Yu refused. “No, I don’t want to trouble you.”
“But Lord Luo wants it.”
Liaowu didn’t want her to feel troubled either. He added, “This poor monk knows that Lord Luo is incredibly talented in formations. Perhaps you can truly simplify it. If a jade slip can bring such great benefits, I think Master will be happy to provide it.”
“So, what trouble is there for this poor monk?”
He didn’t understand what Liaoyuan meant by “unromantic,” nor did he know how to make someone happy.
But if she wanted something, as long as it didn’t violate his principles, he would do his best to obtain it for her.
As he spoke, the identity jade pendant in Heng Yu’s storage ring glowed faintly.
But the light was too subtle, masked by other items, and Heng Yu didn’t notice it.
Liaowu’s words stunned Heng Yu.
His reasoning made sense.
But it was based on the assumption that she could simplify the formation.
After a moment of thought, Heng Yu smiled. “Alright, I’ll trouble you then.”
There was no need to be so polite.
Since Liaowu was willing to help her, she was confident that she would eventually simplify the Demon Detection Formation!
And once she succeeded, his actions today would prove to be wise. He wouldn’t be blamed but praised instead.
The tea in her cup had gone cold.
Liaowu refilled her cup and his own. He took out a small bag of pine nuts from his storage ring, placed it on the table, and gently pushed it towards Heng Yu. “These are fresh, raw pine nuts. Would you like some?”
“Raw?”
“There’s a pine forest in the Undying Sect. This poor monk saw a squirrel with pine cones this morning and thought of picking some.”
Hearing his description, Heng Yu imagined him snatching the pine nuts from a squirrel’s mouth.
She chuckled, cracked open a pine nut, and ate it.
After a while, she asked Liaowu, “Have you been cultivating these past few days? Preparing for the Dharma Assembly?”
“Yes,” Liaowu said. “Although this poor monk doesn’t care about winning or losing, I can’t be too far behind, representing the sect.”
Unlike Heng Yu, who was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, his opponents would be much stronger than him, so he had to prepare.
“Cultivate well then,” Heng Yu smiled.
It seemed he wouldn’t have time to show her around the Undying Sect.
Just as she felt a little disappointed, Liaowu suddenly said, “Tomorrow morning, this poor monk won’t be doing morning prayers. If Lord Luo is free, I’d like to show you around the sect. There are many scenic places in the Undying Sect.”
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