Chapter 53
Opening the door, Heng Yu surveyed the room. It was spacious, with a soft bed, a desk, and ample space to move around. A thriving clivia sat on the desk. Heng Yu touched its leaves, guessing it was from Liaowu. She placed her sword on the desk, sat on the bed, and took out the jade slip containing the Demon Detection Formation, immersing her divine sense in it.
The complex formation was identical to the one she had seen at Binglian Lake. Heng Yu focused on its core. After a while, she withdrew her divine sense, feeling dizzy — the formation was too vast, consuming her mental energy. She poured herself a cup of water, which helped alleviate the dizziness, then sat down and began refining her spiritual energy.
For the next few days, Heng Yu barely left her room, alternating between studying the formation and refining spiritual energy.
Five days passed.
After finishing her cultivation, Heng Yu stretched and stood up. “I can’t stay cooped up forever.”
Taking her sword, she left her room. Passing by Liaowu’s door, she hesitated, then decided not to disturb him. He needed to focus on his cultivation.
She walked along the corridor and reached the deck.
The spacious deck was bustling with disciples meditating, cultivating, or discussing Buddhist teachings. Master Yuanxin sat in the center, meditating with his eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to everything around him.
The airship flew swiftly, the scenery below a blur. A large spiritual energy barrier surrounded the airship, only allowing a gentle breeze to enter.
Heng Yu’s hair was loose, not tied up.
The breeze blew her hair around her face, some strands tickling her forehead and eyebrows.
She raised her hand to brush them away.
A slender hand reached out from the side, a sandalwood bracelet around its wrist.
Heng Yu recognized Liaoyuan from the bracelet and instinctively stepped back, avoiding his hand.
Liaoyuan’s hand grasped at empty air. He withdrew it and chuckled ruefully. “He’s not here. There’s no need to avoid me like this.”
“There’s nothing to avoid between us,” Heng Yu emphasized.
Liaoyuan’s tone made it sound like she owed him something.
But they had only known each other for half a month and weren’t close at all.
Liaoyuan winked at her, his eyes playful. “True, but on the day we met, you dared to pull open my robes with your hairpin, exposing half my chest. Now, I can’t even help you with your hair. Isn’t this because of Senior Brother Liaowu?”
He didn’t lower his voice.
Many disciples meditating nearby opened their eyes, exchanging glances. Even some Foundation Establishment and Nascent Soul disciples couldn’t help but eavesdrop.
Heng Yu winked back. “That only means Senior Brother Liaoyuan’s charms aren’t strong enough.”
Several monks looked at Liaoyuan, appraising his appearance — he was handsome and elegant, his eyes gentle and alluring.
They might be Buddhist cultivators, adhering to precepts, but that didn’t mean they had no appreciation for beauty.
Wasn’t Liaoyuan charming enough?!
Sensing their gazes, Liaoyuan gritted his teeth inwardly: He would deal with these gossipy monks later.
He quickly composed himself and chuckled. “It’s not that my charms are lacking, but that Lord Luo favors Senior Brother Liaowu too much. Do the Hehuan Sect’s rules forbid having multiple partners? Has a goddess like Lord Luo never considered enjoying the blessings of multiple men?”
He leaned closer, as if wanting her to examine his face more closely.
“If the Hehuan Sect’s Young Master pursued two Buddha-sons simultaneously, wouldn’t that make you famous throughout the Canglan Continent? And the entire Hehuan Sect would remember your impressive feat. What do you think?”
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Even Master Yuanxin, who had been meditating in the center, opened his eyes.
Heng Yu looked at Liaoyuan.
She was good at reading people, but she still couldn’t understand his intentions.
Everyone acted with a purpose, unless they were completely impulsive.
So, what was Liaoyuan’s purpose?
After a moment of thought, Heng Yu smiled faintly.
Just as she was about to speak, a familiar, cold voice came from behind her. “Enjoying the blessings of multiple men? Or are you using her to temper your heart and further your Buddhist cultivation?”
His hidden intentions exposed, Liaoyuan’s smile faltered.
He raised an eyebrow and turned to Liaowu, his tone slightly defiant.
He transmitted his voice to Liaowu, his expression mocking. “Senior Brother, are you talking about yourself? The one using Lord Luo to temper his heart and further his cultivation is clearly you.”
Liaowu’s hand clenched slightly.
He chuckled self-deprecatingly, then looked past Liaoyuan at Heng Yu.
Heng Yu walked over to Liaowu, bypassing Liaoyuan. “Why are you here?”
“I went to the kitchen and saw them making brown sugar buns. I brought two for you. I didn’t find you in your room, so I guessed you were on deck,” Liaowu replied.
“Where are the buns?”
“In my room.”
“I’ve had enough fresh air. Let’s go eat.”
Watching them leave, Liaoyuan raised an eyebrow, a faint smile on his lips.
“Liaoyuan,” Master Yuanxin, who had been meditating, suddenly appeared beside him. “Although you cultivate the Joyful Buddha path, your words just now were inappropriate.”
Liaoyuan bowed. “Elder is right.”
Leading Heng Yu to his room, Liaowu realized it wasn’t much larger than hers. With both of them inside, it felt a bit cramped.
Heng Yu didn’t mind and sat down on a chair.
Seeing a clivia on Liaowu’s desk, she smiled: It seemed the one in her room was indeed from him.
Two brown sugar buns sat on a plate on the table. The melted brown sugar had seeped into the buns, giving them a yellowish tint.
The buns were still steaming, freshly made.
Heng Yu picked one up and took a bite.
The soft, warm bun filled her mouth with the sweet taste of brown sugar.
Liaowu sat opposite her, watching her quietly.
After she finished the bun, he said, “Don’t mind Liaoyuan’s words.”
Heng Yu shook her head. “There’s nothing to mind. He’s playing, and so am I. I didn’t lose anything.”
Looking at her, Liaowu suddenly said, “This poor monk feels that Lord Luo’s demeanor is different when you’re with Liaoyuan.”
She was more lively and sharp-tongued with Liaoyuan, like a blooming Hehuan flower, captivatingly beautiful. Liaowu understood why Liaoyuan kept approaching her, even after being rebuffed.
But she rarely showed this side of herself to him.
Heng Yu blinked, not immediately understanding his deeper meaning.
But then she felt the identity jade pendant at her waist warm slightly, indicating a fluctuation in her admiration points. The warmth made her realize the implication of his words.
She stood up and leaned closer to him. “Then tell me, if Mu Huan and I were both standing before you, would you treat us the same?”
Her eyes widened slightly, as if threatening him to say “yes.”
This playful defiance was also rare for him to see.
A smile flickered in Liaowu’s eyes. “No.”
Lord Luo was different from other women in his eyes… It wasn’t about romantic love. Since that day, guided by Buddha to meet her in the south, a special bond had formed between them. He shouldn’t differentiate between people, but his tribulation of love had made her his destined partner.
This bond was like a test from Buddha.
And also like a gift.
“Then this poor monk understands,” Liaowu said.
Heng Yu sat back down and picked up the other bun.
After finishing, she clapped her hands, stood up, said “Let’s go,” and left his room.
Closing the door behind her, she took out her jade pendant and infused it with spiritual energy.
Admiration points — 4000.
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