Mahayana 146
Chapter 146: Yuge’s Hundred-Year Invitation — A Gentle Refusal
TL : Cnine
ED/PF :
Part 1
“We originally planned to go to the Tianyue Kingdom to visit you and your brother and reminisce about old times, but unfortunately we arrived too late and missed you. Unexpectedly, we meet you again here instead. I suppose it must be fate,” Xiao Yifeng said with a smile.
He then glanced at the man beside her and asked, “And who this gentleman is? Why is Brother Zhang Tianzhi not with you?”
Only then did Yuge remember that there was still someone beside her. Looking slightly embarrassed, she introduced him. “This is His Highness the Qi Wang from the Yuanhai Kingdom. These two are my friends, Young Master Xiao and Fairy Su. They are cultivators.”
Qi Wang smiled slightly and said, “I did not expect to encounter such extraordinary individuals as Young Master Xiao and Fairy Su in this world. Meeting you today is truly a fortunate coincidence for this humble prince.”
“Your Highness overpraises us,” Xiao Yifeng said with an easy smile. Beside him, Su Miaoqing simply inclined her head in quiet greeting.
It was the first time the two of them had met this Qi Wang. During their earlier visit to the palace, the man had been nowhere to be seen. As for why, neither of them had the faintest idea.
“Have the two immortal masters also come to admire the blossoming flowers? This is precisely the season when the Sea Spirit Flowers bloom in splendour. I may sound immodest, but the scenery here is second to none!” Qi Wang said cheerfully.
“I’m merely running an errand for a friend,” Xiao Yifeng replied lightly. “She’s quite obsessed with the Sea Spirit Flowers here and asked me to buy some seeds. Our visit just happened to coincide with the blooming season. We’re hardly as free-spirited as the two of you, making a special journey just to enjoy the view.”
“Young Master Xiao, please don’t misunderstand!” Yuge said hastily, her voice carrying a trace of urgency. “His Highness and I only came here to discuss some matters. It isn’t what you think.”
Qi Wang’s smile faltered for the briefest moment. He had clearly intended to make a subtle declaration of his claim, yet Yuge had brushed it aside without the slightest concern for his feelings. A faint bitterness crept into his chest.
“Ahahaha, it seems we’ve ended up with quite a gathering of people who weren’t actually planning to admire flowers,” Xiao Yifeng said with a chuckle. “Since fate has brought us together like this, why not sit down and enjoy them properly?”
Yuge and Qi Wang naturally had no objections. The four of them took their seats in the pavilion and began chatting idly, though in truth most of the conversation consisted of Xiao Yifeng and Qi Wang trading the occasional remark.
Su Miaoqing said nothing and merely listened quietly as they spoke. Yuge, on the other hand, stared at Xiao Yifeng in a somewhat absent-minded manner, her expression unusually complicated.
This caused Su Miaoqing to keep glancing back and forth between the two of them, which made Xiao Yifeng feel extremely uncomfortable.
With such a strange situation, the atmosphere among the four people became somewhat awkward.
“Young Master Xiao, may I have a word with you in private?” Yuge finally asked after hesitating for a long time.
Xiao Yifeng glanced towards Su Miaoqing, but she deliberately turned her face aside, refusing to meet his gaze.
He smiled and said, “That will not be a problem. Senior Sister and Your Highness Qi Wang, please wait here for a moment.”
He rose and walked first into the sea of flowers. Yuge also stood, offering a polite bow. “Fairy Su, Your Highness Qi Wanf, please forgive my brief absence.” With that, she followed Xiao Yifeng into the vast field of blossoms.
The two walked one after the other among the flowers. Xiao Yifeng did not know what Yuge wished to speak to him about. Could it be related to the mysterious person he had once impersonated?
If that were the case, it would be somewhat troublesome. Given his current identity, he could not simply pretend not to know.
Before long, the two arrived at a place far from the pavilion. Xiao Yifeng stopped among the flowers, turned around to face Yuge, and quietly waited for her to speak.
The two stood in the middle of a blue sea of flowers. Petals drifted through the air as a gentle breeze passed by, stirring the ends of their hair. Yuge lightly adjusted the hair beside her ear and quietly looked at Xiao Yifeng.
Both of them possessed outstanding appearances. The man was handsome and the woman beautiful, forming an extremely picturesque scene.Back at the pavilion, Su Miaoqing and Qi Wang also turned to look in their direction, though it was unclear what they were thinking.
“I wonder what Miss Yuge wishes to speak with me about in private? Surely you have not come to tease me again?” Xiao Yifeng recalled how she had teased him on the boat earlier and said with a smile.
Yuge shook her head. Looking at Xiao Yifeng seriously, she said, “There is something Yuge wishes to ask of Young Master Xiao. I hope the young master will agree.”
“You give me too much credit, Miss Yuge. Please go ahead and speak. If it is within my power, I will do everything I can—even if I must brave fire and water,” Xiao Yifeng said in a deep voice.
Yuge took out a pair of jade pendants and handed one to Xiao Yifeng. With a charming smile she said, “How could Yuge ask the young master to brave fire and water? I only ask that when this jade pendant lights up, the young master come to meet Yuge once.”
Xiao Yifeng accepted the jade pendant. His heart sank slightly, yet he deliberately asked, “Miss Yuge, may I ask what this means?”
Yuge shook her head gently and said softly, “You will understand when the time comes. The timing is uncertain, but it should be within a hundred years. When that moment arrives, I hope the young master will come to see me.”
“Miss Yuge’s request will not be forgotten,” Xiao Yifeng said solemnly. “No matter what happens, I will certainly come as fast as I could.”
How could he not know? Yuge had chosen a time before the mysterious man he had impersonated would seek her out again. He believed that when the time came, she would find an excuse to delay for a few days so she could meet him once more.
Such deep affection and loyalty left Xiao Yifeng feeling overwhelmed. Even if his heart were made of iron and stone, it would still be difficult for him to bear.
Yuge stood there quietly, her gaze fixed on him. The emotions swirling within those eyes were so complicated that Xiao Yifeng felt his heart quiver the moment he met them.
“I believe the young master has already seen that I now possess cultivation,” Yuge said gently. “From now on, my life will no longer be in danger. But if you ever pass by here again, please remember to come and look for me. The words I spoke to you before still hold true.”
“Miss Yuge… I already have someone dear to my heart. Regarding your feelings… I…” Xiao Yifeng forced the words out, yet the rest simply refused to leave his throat.
Yuge slowly shook her head. Those autumn-clear eyes shimmered with tears as she gazed at him, biting her lip as if holding back a sob.
“I’m sorry… I truly didn’t mean for things to turn out this way.” Cruel as it sounded, Xiao Yifeng forced himself to say it aloud.
The moment Yuge heard his words, tears began to pour down her cheeks. Before Xiao Yifeng could react, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.
Xiao Yifeng froze instantly, completely caught off guard by the sudden embrace. He stood there stiffly and sighed to himself. Why was it that everyone these days seemed so fond of suddenly throwing themselves into his arms? Without even turning around, he could practically feel Su Miaoqing’s murderous glare burning into the back of his head.
Inside the pavilion, Su Miaoqing sat perfectly still, her face utterly expressionless. No one could tell whether she felt anger or indifference. Only her eyes were cold as winter frost. Sitting beside her, the Qi King hardly dared to breathe. At that moment, his heart felt as though it had already died.
Yuge quickly regained her composure. Her face flushed bright red as she stepped back from Xiao Yifeng and said awkwardly, “I’m sorry for causing you trouble. Young Master Xiao… I don’t know what came over me. Let’s go back.”
With that, she turned and hurried towards the pavilion. Xiao Yifeng let out a long sigh and followed after her.
By the time they arrived, Su Miaoqing had already returned to her seat. Calmly holding her teacup, she looked as though nothing had happened at all. The Qi King forced a stiff smile, but the atmosphere in the pavilion had become painfully awkward.
Fortunately, before the awkwardness could linger any longer, word arrived from the manor that everything had already been prepared. The group promptly moved over.
Standing in the plaza, Xiao Yifeng gathered all the flower seeds and placed them into his storage pouch before settling the remaining payment. The steward, practically beaming with joy, chatted with him for a few moments.
Then suddenly, Xiao Yifeng and Su Miaoqing both turned their heads towards the distance. A moment later, Yuge followed their gaze.
Two brilliant streaks of light swept across the sky and descended before them, revealing the figures of a man and a woman.
Both wore white robes with pale blue outer garments. The man possessed a refined and handsome appearance, though there was a faint shadow of gloom about him. The woman, meanwhile, was tall and slender, her beauty bright and captivating.