Guo Xuyang and Huang Yirong finally walked out of the reception hall of Quanqing Taoist Temple.Although it had been less than an hour since they entered,Huang Yirong felt as if an entire day had passed.
Huang Yirong walked in silence,with Guo Xuyang quietly following by her side.After walking along two gravel paths,each lost in their own thoughts,Huang Yirong turned left and said,"You should go rest.I'm heading back to my room."
"Miss Huang!"
Guo Xuyang's voice made Huang Yirong stop in her tracks.
"Thank you,Miss Huang!"Guo Xuyang bowed deeply,clasping his fists in a gesture of gratitude.
Huang Yirong turned around."Thank me for what?"Seeing that Guo Xuyang still stood rooted to the spot,she curled her lips."Is it again for saving your life?There's no need."With that,she turned to head back to her room.
Guo Xuyang straightened his back and raised his voice."There's more than that."
"What else?"Huang Yirong's delicate figure in white turned back once more.Dressed in women's clothing today,the flutter of her snow-white sleeves and skirt caught the eye as she spun around.
Guo Xuyang extended his arm,gesturing for Huang Yirong to continue walking.The two began to talk as they strolled along.
Huang Yirong lightly bit her red lips,hesitating for a moment before finally taking a step forward."Go on."
"I owe you five great kindnesses,"Guo Xuyang said,holding up his hand to indicate the number.
Huang Yirong was somewhat surprised and turned her head to look at Guo Xuyang,who was so close.His handsome face,straight nose,and sharp,bright eyes met hers,but she quickly averted her gaze to the distant scenery.
The Quanqing Taoist Temple was built high in the mountains,with a natural and unspoiled beauty.The stones,trees,flowers,and birds in the mountains needed only a little fencing and decoration to become unique landscapes.At that moment,Huang Yirong was staring at a patch of white stones,lost in thought.
Guo Xuyang seemed to anticipate that the woman beside him would not respond,so he began to count on his fingers,listing each kindness one by one:"First,of course,is the kindness of saving my life.Second,I must thank you for the trouble you took to carry me to the top of the cliff.Third,it's the kindness of helping me bring Old Master Xu and his grandson here for two days.Fourth,I never expected that you would give me such a rare treasure as the'Vajra Lotus Flower'..."When he got to"fifth,"his words became somewhat hesitant."The last one is for keeping my secret."
"Vajra Lotus Flower..."Huang Yirong's body trembled slightly.
Guo Xuyang noticed this,his brows furrowing in concern."After Old Master Ma helped me treat my injuries last night,I've recovered about seventy to eighty percent.Previously,due to my severe injuries,the flower's power focused on healing my wounds.Now that I'm mostly healed,I can clearly feel that my internal energy is much more abundant than before."He paused,then said,"Miss Huang,I will never forget the kindness of giving me the flower.If you ever need anything in the future,I,Guo Xuyang,swear to risk my life to repay you!"
Huang Yirong shook her head gently,her eyes vacant as she gazed into the distance."Actually..."
"Actually what?"Guo Xuyang pressed,seeing her hesitation.
"Never mind."Huang Yirong sighed deeply,speaking indifferently.
Guo Xuyang pondered inwardly:"According to Old Master Ma,the'Vajra Lotus'is an extremely rare treasure.How could Miss Huang,so young,have obtained such a valuable item?Why did she carry it with her while traveling in the martial world,and why did it end up being consumed by me so coincidentally?...Who exactly is she?"He had too many doubts that he couldn't figure out.But seeing that Huang Yirong had no intention of revealing more,he continued:"As for the kindness of keeping my secret..."
"Didn't you initially suspect that I was the one who revealed your secret to Cang Ye?Now you're still talking about this so-called kindness,"Huang Yirong interjected.It seemed that whenever she was a little angry,her usually indifferent tone would rise a few notches.
Guo Xuyang blushed and bowed deeply to her,clasping his fists."It was I who judged you with a petty mind.I have no words to say to Miss Huang's words."
Huang Yirong looked at the tall figure beside her,who had bent himself lower than her by a head,showing a posture of complete submission to express his apology.The anger in her heart dissipated in an instant.
"Never mind,it's not your fault.No one could have imagined that Cang Ye was so formidable that he could deduce from your act of saving Old Master Xu that the sword on your back was not the'Dragon's Abode Sword,'"Huang Yirong reached out and lifted the fist Guo Xuyang was holding,signaling that he didn't need to blame himself so much.
Huang Yirong's palm was like a piece of jade,smooth and soft to the touch.Guo Xuyang barely touched it,and his mind was momentarily shaken.He quickly took a step back,subtly avoiding her touch,and said,"Thank you,Miss Huang,for your understanding!"
Seeing this,Huang Yirong's cheeks turned slightly warm,and she immediately withdrew her hand as well."Let's go."
Earlier at the bottom of the cliff,Huang Yirong had saved the severely injured and unconscious Guo Xuyang.Guo Xuyang originally had a wooden sword on his back.Huang Yirong,in order to treat his injuries,had removed the white cloth wrapping the wooden sword and placed it aside.
The different tactile sensations of an ordinary iron sword and an extraordinary sharp sword would hardly escape the keen eyes of Huang Yirong,a highly skilled martial artist,even through thick white cloth.At that time,what Huang Yirong held was just a wooden sword.The weight difference between an iron sword and a wooden sword is significant,and even an ordinary person could tell the difference with just a little weighing in hand.So Guo Xuyang had known at that time that his secret had already been exposed to this woman.
However,Huang Yirong never mentioned it from beginning to end,which meant she had implicitly agreed to keep his secret.But just now in the reception hall,the palace master Cang Ye had suddenly asked a question based on a minor connection.Guo Xuyang had subconsciously thought that Huang Yirong had leaked the secret.Now that he thought about it,Guo Xuyang was indeed in the wrong,but it was also understandable.
Guo Xuyang and Huang Yirong strolled along the bluestone path in the bamboo forest.This bamboo forest was specially planted and cultivated by Quanqing Taoist Temple and could be considered a unique place in the mountains.At the end of the winding path was the highest point of the mountain top.The two of them seemed to walk casually but默契地 chose the most secluded and quiet paths of Quanqing Taoist Temple.
"I understand what you're saying,"Huang Yirong's soft voice sounded in Guo Xuyang's ear."I've said it before,I did all these things voluntarily.You don't need to keep thinking about repaying my kindness."She casually picked a bamboo leaf and placed it to her lips.Her bright red lips,paired with the tender green leaf,produced a gentle and melancholic tune that lingered in the green forest.
Guo Xuyang listened quietly,lost in a daze until Huang Yirong finished playing the tune and put down the bamboo leaf.The absence of the melody brought him back to his senses.He clapped his hands in admiration and said,"Alas,what sorrow and grief.Is this the lament of Zhaojun?"
"You know quite a lot,"Huang Yirong smiled faintly.
This was the first time Guo Xuyang had seen Huang Yirong smile since he had known her.Her thin,vermilion lips slightly curled up,and her lively big eyes seemed like two crescent moons.But even when smiling,she still had a hint of indifference and melancholy.A sense of admiration and pity welled up in Guo Xuyang,and he quickly averted his gaze."I've just heard others play it before."
Huang Yirong opened her palm,and the green leaf between her fingers was tossed about by the strong wind from the mountain top,spinning and dancing in the air without falling to the ground for a long time.
"In this life,people already carry too many burdens.You don't need to keep these so-called debts of gratitude in your mind and add more shackles to yourself,"Huang Yirong gazed steadily at the bamboo leaf tumbling in the gale,her smile fading,and a trace of sorrow appearing in her eyes.