Chapter 32

Qu Panyan blushed, but this time she had nowhere to hide.

Su Lingyu looked down at her from a higher standing position and faintly saw a blush on her fair face. She smiled knowingly, “Are you feeling shy?”

Qu Panyan: !!!

Her embarrassment was exposed by Su Lingyu’s remark, making her even more shy. She involuntarily straightened her back, twiddled her fingers for a moment, and then suddenly covered her face, pouting, “It’s all Sister Lingyu’s fault! You praise me so much that I feel embarrassed!”

Su Lingyu touched her own hair, removed the silver hairpin, and her long, shiny black hair cascaded down like a flowing waterfall. Su Lingyu’s five fingers ran through her hair, smiling as she asked, “Panyan, with your good looks, shouldn’t you have already grown tired of such compliments? Yet you still feel shy hearing them?”

Just like Su Lingyu, the number one beauty of the sect, when people talked about her, they would most likely think of her enchanting appearance first, and only afterward her unattainable status as the Sect Master. So, she had long grown tired of compliments about her looks, and now, even if she heard them eight hundred times, it wouldn’t stir any ripples in her heart.

“Not the same.” Qu Panyan said earnestly, “I don’t like them, so even if they praise me like a flower, I wouldn’t be moved.”

Su Lingyu gathered her long hair in her hand and continued, “So Panyan likes Sister Lingyu?”

Qu Panyan’s heart skipped a beat.

This seemingly casual question was like an unknowing flirtation, and it was the most deadly and captivating.

“I like you.” Qu Panyan lowered her hand, “I really like Sister Lingyu.”

Su Lingyu was startled, and she couldn’t contain the inexplicable joy in her heart for some reason. She suppressed the strange emotions and calmly responded, “Mm, Sister Lingyu also likes Panyan.”

Qu Panyan understood that Su Lingyu interpreted her liking as a younger sister’s affection for an elder sister, and her response was naturally that of an elder’s fondness for a younger one. She felt a little disappointed, but not hopeless. Soon, she rallied herself—it’s okay, Sister Lingyu will definitely come to like me more in the future!

Su Lingyu reached past her and opened the third layer of the sandalwood makeup box with plum blossom gold inlay. She saw clearly that this layer had two compartments, containing only two things: a jade comb and the plum blossom jade hairpin she had gifted.

Qu Panyan hadn’t expected that Su Lingyu would be willing to place the hairpin in a spot she saw daily, and she was momentarily stunned.

Su Lingyu took out the jade comb and started combing her long hair. Noticing her silence, Su Lingyu thought she was worried that she hadn’t “treasured it properly.”

Su Lingyu’s hands kept moving, and she said slowly, “I promised you to treasure it properly. I placed it in a spot I open every day. When I open it, I can see it. Isn’t that treasuring it properly enough?”

She was not the type of person who would carefully stow away precious things and keep them hidden away, as she was prone to forgetting, and over time, they would gather dust. Her idea of treasuring something meant being able to see it frequently, even constantly, and being reminded of it, just like the place where she kept this plum blossom jade hairpin.

With just a light pull each day, she could see this plum blossom jade hairpin, and it would remind her of that adorable junior disciple. In her heart, this was what she considered “treasuring.”

Qu Panyan beamed with delight. Yes, it definitely counted; this was the ultimate way to treasure something!

She nodded enthusiastically, “It’s enough, enough! I couldn’t be happier that Sister Lingyu is willing to keep it here!”

“However…” she trailed off, changing her tone, “if Sister Lingyu occasionally wears it… I would be even happier!”

Su Lingyu suddenly bent down, looking at her reflection in the mirror, and smiled faintly, “then Panyan should personally put it on for Sister Lingyu.”

Thump, thump.

Facing this person who was so close, her heartbeat quickened.

Too close…

Close enough that she could hear her breathing, close enough that she could smell the unique fragrance on her, and close enough that a slight turn of her head would bring her lip to her delicate skin.

Qu Panyan felt like she was sitting in a hot pot, every minute and second was tormenting. She desperately tried to restrain herself, her hand on her knee involuntarily clenched tightly—the damned cupid of love was running wild in her heart again!

She needed to get rid of this awkwardness quickly, or she’d be discovered!

She hastily took out the plum blossom jade hairpin from the makeup box, her gaze shifting to Su Lingyu’s glossy black hair. She didn’t dare to pause for a second and directly inserted the hairpin into the same spot where Su Lingyu had removed the silver hairpin earlier. Turning back nervously, she stammered, “I’m… I’m done…”

Her shoulders were suddenly held down. Su Lingyu didn’t get up, maintaining her posture and looking directly at her reflection in the mirror. She said, “You seem a little nervous?”

Qu Panyan: !

Oh no, she saw through me!

Qu Panyan’s mind raced, and three seconds later, she said with a serious expression, “It’s all because Sister Lingyu is too gorgeous!”

Su Lingyu: “…Hmm?” What kind of reason is that?

Qu Panyan quickly explained, “When someone as gorgeous as you gets so close, anyone would feel nervous!”

Su Lingyu chuckled lightly, raised her finger, and gently poked her cheek, sighing indulgently, “You…” then she moved away from her and continued to comb her hair.

She clearly poked her on the cheek, but it felt like her heart was poked too…

Why does this sister always manage to flirt with me unintentionally!

To distract herself, Qu Panyan let her gaze wander around, finally landing on the dressing table. All her hair accessories were taken down by Su Lingyu yesterday and carefully placed in an exquisite small sandalwood box.

Qu Panyan glanced at the person in the mirror with her peripheral vision. She was still patiently doing her hair, and her usual icy demeanor was replaced with a serene and beautiful expression.

Not only did Su Lingyu personally attend to her grooming, but she also adorned herself with the plum blossom jade hairpin Qu Panyan had given her.

With dark hair and a charming face, she was lovelier than any flower.

Qu Panyan suddenly spoke up, “Sister Lingyu, can I use your silver hairpin?”

Su Lingyu didn’t even lift her eyes, “It’s up to you.”

Qu Panyan’s eyes curved into a smile, “Thank you, Sister Lingyu!”

Su Lingyu simply tied a bun for her, adding a few pearl flowers and the silver hairpin as decorations, which looked simple yet elegant.

Afterward, she took Qu Panyan to the medical pavilion for a check-up.

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The Master of the Medical Pavilion carefully examined Qu Panyan’s pulse and found no other miscellaneous ailments, but he did detect erratic fluctuations in her spiritual energy, which fluctuated intermittently. Realizing something, he asked, “Young lady, are you unable to control your spiritual energy?”

It was too chaotic; her spiritual energy was in such disarray, almost uncontrollable.

Qu Panyan replied, “As the Pavilion Master said, I indeed can’t control it.” I can’t even dry my own hair properly, can you imagine how miserable it is?

The Pavilion Master looked uncertainly at Su Lingyu, and she nodded in confirmation. He understood—the same as Elder Tianhong back then, afflicted by Minor Heavenly Punishment. It was a coincidence that when Elder Tianhong underwent the punishment, he also caught a cold, and it was him who was responsible for diagnosing and treating him.

Those of the Fire-attributed who experienced Minor Heavenly punishment probably suffered from an illness afterward. They were truly pitiful.

The Pavilion Master sympathetically pulled her sleeve down and said, “Don’t worry, you’re recovering well. Take the prescribed medicine for another day or two, and your fever will be gone. In these next couple of days, keep yourself warm and avoid the cold to prevent the condition from worsening.”

Qu Panyan withdrew her hand and replied graciously, “Thank you, Pavilion Master. I’ll remember.”

The Pavilion Master nodded, got up, and respectfully said to Su Lingyu, “Sect Master, then I’ll go and prepare some medicine for her and have it sent to the Tailing Peak. I’ll take my leave now.”

Su Lingyu raised her chin slightly, “Thank you, Elder Qing. Go ahead.”

As soon as the Pavilion Master left, Qu Panyan took out the fire jade, tightly clenching it in her palm, afraid of getting cold and making her condition worse. If she doesn’t recover quickly, not only will Su Lingyu worry about her but she will also inform Qu Muqiu!

Seeing her clutching the fire jade meant for An Cheng, Su Lingyu’s heart stirred, feeling even more guilty towards her. She blurted out, “Let me find a new one for you.”

Qu Panyan was taken aback, loosening her grip on the jade. She looked at the blood-red fire jade in the palm of her hand. 

After all, this jade was originally prepared for An Cheng, not her, so she felt a little awkward using it. If it weren’t for the special circumstances and her needs to survive, she wouldn’t have accepted it, and Su Lingyu wouldn’t have given it to her in the first place.

Qu Panyan wrapped both hands around the fire jade again and replied with a gentle smile, “Okay.”

“When does Lingyu Sister plan to go?” she asked.

Su Lingyu said, “Right now.”

“Now?!” Qu Panyan was surprised. You really are a proactive fairy, so powerful!

Su Lingyu reassured, “Don’t worry, I’ll ask Elder Changxing to take good care of you. You can spend more time with the Yue Family’s girl and just wait for me to return.” 

Concerned, Qu Panyan asked, “Is the place Sister Lingyu is going to very dangerous? How long will you be gone?”

Su Lingyu smiled and said, “Not dangerous, just a bit far. I’ll be back by tonight.”

She sent out a sound transmission, and with a wave of her long sleeves, the message rushed out of the medical pavilion on its own, heading straight for Elder Changxing’s location.

Elder Changxing quickly responded, telling Su Lingyu to go without worry, as he would take care of his little junior sister. He would have Yue Xiaomeng come to pick her up shortly. He also specially asked Su Lingyu to bring him a piece of fire jade, as he hadn’t carved jade for a long time.

Elder Changxing, who had no intention of breaking through to the Mirror Shattering Ascension stage for now, was idle aside from teaching classes, so he dabbled in various things. Among his interests, he had studied jade carving to some extent, and An Cheng’s beautifully intricate fire jade talisman was one of his exceptional works.

Su Lingyu turned back and instructed Qu Panyan to wait here for Yue Xiaomeng. She then solemnly said, “Whether I come back or not, Lingnu will bring the medicine to you. You must take it properly, understand?”

She looked like an old mother who was worried sick about Qu Panyan.

Qu Panyan obediently nodded. Drink the medicine? Of course, for the cool and sweet spring water, she would definitely drink it!

Su Lingyu then disappeared in a flash.

Qu Panyan thought she would have to wait for a long time, but Yue Xiaomeng arrived quickly. From afar, Qu Panyan heard her calling out repeatedly, “Qu Panyan, Qu Panyan! I’m here, I’m here!”

Qu Panyan watched as she sparkled with sparks and lightning, riding on the silver-white spirit deer as fast as the wind, and bravely rushing into the medical pavilion. With lightning-fast reflexes, she skillfully avoided each medicine shelf and performed a soul drift to bring the deer to a smooth stop at the entrance of the main hall; her actions left Qu Panyan in a daze.

Some girls may appear silly, but when they ride a deer, they drive with the skill of a seasoned driver—no, even seasoned drivers couldn’t compare to her. That driver couldn’t create the feeling of driving with a deer!

Miss Yue Xiaomeng, keeping her talents hidden, was truly impressive!

Then Yue Xiaomeng got scolded by the head of the medical pavilion—the medical pavilion must maintain a quiet environment.

Yue Xiaomeng sincerely apologized, promising it wouldn’t happen again, so the Pavilion Master let her go.

Yue Xiaomeng looked at Qu Panyan and sheepishly scratched her head, “It’s been a long time since I rode a spiritual beast. I was so happy, and I got a bit carried away. Sorry about that. But why did you get sick?”

Qu Panyan thought to herself, with your wild way of riding, Xianmeng Sect could become a racetrack. No wonder they banned you from riding spiritual beasts.

Qu Panyan brought her chin back and silently said, “Because I… well, I ended up getting hit by the Minor Heavenly Punishment.”

Yue Xiaomeng tilted her head. “Minor Heavenly Punishment?”

Qu Panyan explained, “It means bad luck, having a streak of bad luck.”

“Oh, I see!” Yue Xiaomeng suddenly understood. She genuinely thought Qu Panyan was impressive, knowing so many things, like what a hand-warmer was… She had never even heard of it.

Both of them were young ladies from prestigious families, but why were they so different?

Fortunately, Yue Xiaomeng was pure-hearted and didn’t dwell on such matters. She patted the spirit deer and said with a bright smile, “Why are you just sitting there? Come on, hop on the deer!”

Qu Panyan: “…”

Qu Panyan: “Could you tell me first why you came riding on a deer in the first place?”

Yue Xiaomeng replied, “Master said you’re sick and can’t use magic. Wuyun Peak is far from the medical pavilion, so I couldn’t ask a sick person like you to walk all the way there.”

Qu Panyan looked at her and said, “Thank you, Martial Niece, for being so considerate. I’m really touched. But can you please go slowly when you ride, cough, I mean, can you ride more steadily?”

Without her spiritual energy to protect herself, her body was fragile. She was afraid that Yue Xiaomeng’s soul drift might throw her off and break half her bones.

Yue Xiaomeng patted her chest and assured, “Don’t worry, I’ve been riding since I was little, and I’m very steady with these things! My older brothers and sisters always praise me for it!”

Qu Panyan couldn’t bear to hurt her feelings, so she climbed onto the spirit deer with a worried expression. Once she was ready, Yue Xiaomeng patted the deer’s neck and led it forward.

Even though she had prepared herself beforehand, when the spirit deer started moving, Qu Panyan couldn’t help but feel nervous, and her heart pounded in her chest.

But soon she calmed down, and contrary to her imagination of sparks and lightning, Yue Xiaomeng actually handled the spirit deer smoothly and steadily, making Qu Panyan feel at ease. The two of them strolled out of the medical pavilion.

Qu Panyan let out a sigh of relief, patting Yue Xiaomeng’s shoulder. “Let’s not go back to Wuyun Peak just yet. I want to find Miss Kang and let her know I’m safe.”

Yue Xiaomeng replied, “Sure, no problem.”

After a while, Yue Xiaomeng suddenly turned and said, “Can I ask you a question?”

Qu Panyan replied, “Go ahead.”

Scratching her head, Yue Xiaomeng asked, “It’s about… your sister.”

“Your sister… does she have someone she likes?”

Qu Panyan: ?!?

Did I hear that right?!

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: iToon

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