Love & Redemption
Chapter 104: Volume 3 Heartless Xuanji - 11 Post-Flower Language

Chapter 104: Volume 3 Heartless Xuanji Chapter 11 Post-Flower Language

Depressed as she was, after all, this matter had nothing to do with the disciples of Fuyu Island. After finishing breakfast, it wasn’t right for the four of them to always stick together, so they dispersed.

Xuanji had wanted to go to the northern hill to enjoy the scenery, but four persistent "tails" were always behind her, which made it difficult to shake them off. Reluctantly, she turned around with a stern face and walked back. Across the bridge was an apricot blossom forest. She remembered that last time with Si Feng here, they had heard Lady Dongfang singing, but regrettably, in just a few days, things had already changed drastically.

While she was lost in her gaze, a group approached from the opposite side—it was Yu Sifeng. The moment Xuanji saw him, her eyes lit up. She hurriedly waved her hand, but when she saw that those responsible for guarding him, the disciples of Fuyu Island, were following behind him, her face fell again.

"Silly girl," Yu Sifeng approached with a smile and tapped her on the head, "Since there’s nothing else to do, why not go and see the apricot blossoms?"

Xuanji nodded absentmindedly, glancing at the Fuyu Island disciples following closely behind him, and felt even less enthusiastic.

Yu Sifeng turned back and said, "Miss Chu and I would like to go to the apricot blossom forest to enjoy the flowers. No need for you brothers to accompany us."

Immediately, someone objected, "That... might not be a good idea. The forest has many paths, and what if you get lost..."

However, many knew about the close relationship between Yu Sifeng and Xuanji. They thought that the couple probably wanted a quiet place to whisper sweet nothings, and following them would be of no interest. Truly a thankless task. Thus, another person said with a laugh, "Please go ahead; we’ll wait outside."

When Xuanji heard they wouldn’t be following, she immediately brightened up, grabbed Yu Sifeng’s hand, and turned her face to enter the lush apricot blossom forest. While walking, she kept looking back, and seeing that they really hadn’t followed, she burst out laughing, "Si Feng, you’re amazing. How did you get them to stop following us with just one sentence?"

Yu Sifeng just smiled and didn’t comment, gently pinching her nose as he whispered, "Not everyone is as slow as you."

Was she really that slow? Xuanji asked him with her eyes. Yu Sifeng slightly shook his head in a non-committal manner and noticed that the jade orchid flower behind her ear was wilting. He looked around and then turned to her with a smile, "Wait here."

He grabbed a branch, lightly leaped up, and plucked a cluster of the most brightly blooming pink apricot blossoms from the top of the tree.

Xuanji watched him approach, removed the jade orchid flower from behind her ear, and inserted the delicate blossom into her hair bun, his voice tender, "This color suits you better."

Her cheeks reddened inexplicably; she blinked and lowered her head, whispering, "Don’t throw that flower away... I, I’ll keep it as a bookmark."

Yu Sifeng held her hand, and the two slowly walked through the apricot blossom forest. Their eyes were filled with blooming pink apricot blossoms, swirling and intertwining on the branches, displaying vibrant, cloud-like colors that seemed to stretch to the horizon, becoming endless clouds in the sky. They strolled through those clouds, their bodies and hearts feeling buoyant and slightly intoxicated. Actually, there wasn’t much to talk about, but the words just kept flowing, and they could chat endlessly about trivial matters.

Is there a stage in youth when everyone acts like fools? Sometimes they themselves felt silly, so they simply stopped talking and just watched each other smile, as if even looking was a pleasure.

When they grew tired, they leaned against a tree to rest. Seeing no one around, Xuanji suggested, "Why don’t we take this chance to sneak away? Surely no one will notice."

Yu Sifeng shook his head, "What about Min Yan and the others? Besides, there are many paths in the apricot blossom forest; what if we take the wrong one and all our efforts go to waste?"

Xuanji had to abandon the idea. Looking up at him, she felt as though he had grown even taller. Si Feng was naturally handsome, with fine eyebrows and starry eyes. He usually looked cool and indifferent, which made him seem aloof. However, she knew when he smiled, he was incredibly gentle, never blaming her no matter how much she messed around, certainly not flying into a rage.

She was somewhat enchanted, feeling inexplicably anxious. The silence at that moment made her feel suffocated, forcing her to chuckle awkwardly, "Well... the weather is really nice..."

Seeing Xuanji’s eyelashes flutter and her cheeks flush, he knew she was making idle conversation. His heart stirred uncontrollably, and he couldn’t help but reach out to touch her face when suddenly they heard voices from behind.

"He is on the island right now. Why not go and talk to him?"

The voice was clear and gentle, very familiar. For a moment, she couldn’t remember who it was.

Xuanji and Yu Sifeng exchanged glances, both crouched down, and peeked out. Not far away stood two people, the dense apricot blossoms mostly obscuring their figures. However, one in red like Fierce Fire and one in white like new snow were unmistakably Pian Pian and Yu Ning.

Could it be that they too had come here to whisper sweet nothings? The two exchanged glances again, reading the words whisper sweet nothings from each other’s eyes. Both felt a bit flustered, not understanding why they had used the word "too."

Yu Ning was stunned for a moment, then suddenly said coldly, "Why do you always bring him up in front of me? If you are fond of him, why don’t you talk to him yourself!"

The remark had a touch of pique. Pian Pian immediately burst into laughter. "Why are you laughing? What’s so funny?"

Pian Pian spoke leisurely, "I laughed at a fool who had been pining for someone for years but never dared to say a word to him."

Yu Ning’s face flushed red as she retorted hastily, "What has that got to do with you!"

Pian Pian suddenly became serious and said earnestly, "It has nothing to do with me, but I am worried. That year when you accidentally injured Duan Zheng, you were so remorseful; did you think I didn’t know? You didn’t dare to face him, you could only secretly leave ointment at his door. When you faced him, you deliberately acted arrogantly, letting everyone say that you were proud and haughty, making him hate you to the bone. What was the need for that?"

Yu Ning was so unsettled by his words that she could barely stand, and she pushed him hard with her hand, but he grabbed her wrist and she couldn’t move.

"In your second duel with him, you deliberately lost to boost his reputation and let him hold his head high. Why put yourself through that?"

After struggling in vain for a while, Yu Ning finally gave up, dejected, and after a long time, she said, "What I do... is my own business, and it’s none of your concern! You... you should mind your own business and stop bothering me!"

Pian Pian sternly said, "Wrong! We grew up together, practicing Dual Swordsmanship. Yet you always decide everything on your own. Where do you place me? Do you think I should always agree with you?"

Yu Ning had nothing to say, suddenly feeling an immense sense of injustice, she couldn’t help but tearfully say, "I didn’t consider your perspective... that was my mistake. From now on... I-I won’t force you. If you feel aggrieved and want to hit or scold me, you may do as you please!"

To hit or to scold... He narrowed his eyes, the woman in white before him was always so proud and stubborn; even when she cried, she held her head high, never admitting defeat. Seeing her like this always gave him an impulse to see just how much it would take for her to concede, to wake up a little.

"Since you want me to punish you, show some sincerity." He smiled, "Close your eyes; I need to let out a good burst of anger."

Yu Ning glared at him fiercely, clenching her eyes shut, simply waiting for him to slap her or punch her, to get it over with.

Pian Pian quietly watched her trembling lashes and then suddenly, lifted his hand and firmly pulled her into his embrace, allowing no resistance, and kissed her red lips.

"You’re really a bastard," He murmured against her stunned lips, "Why do you always forget that I’m here."

He sharply let her go and walked away.

Yu Ning’s eyes blankly followed his fiery silhouette as it disappeared behind the marvellous apricot blossom forest, and suddenly, her knees softened, and she knelt on the ground, unable to speak for a long time.

Xuanji felt her wrists trembling uncontrollably, unable to watch any longer, she turned to leave but was stopped by Yu Sifeng pulling at her sleeve, signaling her to be quiet.

Yu Ning was dazed for a long time, finally slowly getting to her feet and walking out of the apricot blossom forest.

The two of them happened to witness this drama through some twist of fate; their hearts pounding heavily, they exchanged glances, both seemingly amused. After a while, Yu Sifeng finally cleared his throat and tried to sound casual as he smiled, "Unexpectedly, the relationship... is quite complicated."

Touching her face, Xuanji felt her palms burn, stunned for a long while, she then whispered, "So Linglong was right after all, Yu Ning really likes Master Duan Zheng... but Pian Pian..."

As she recalled the scene of him bending down to kiss Yu Ning, she suddenly couldn’t continue.

The two sat on the ground for a while, both feeling awkward, and finally decided to get up and walk back. Seeing Xuanji lost in thought, her eyebrows furrowed as if contemplating a difficult problem, Yu Sifeng curiously asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Xuanji suddenly looked up, staring intently at him, and said quietly, "Si Feng, you... are you..."

What? She couldn’t continue, and he couldn’t ask. So many signs, so many unintended touches and gazes, and she hadn’t noticed anything. Such bittersweet ambiguity was utterly exquisite and painful.

Yu Sifeng looked at her snow-white face, seemingly facing some difficult problem, biting his lip, deep in thought. Suddenly, he felt a bitterness in his chest, as if something was slowly sinking, weighing down his heart with a slight pain.

He raised his hand, plucked a petal from her hair, and said softly, "Yes. Xuanji, I like you. More than anyone else, more than anything else."

The youth’s eyes, dark as Black Jade, shone brilliantly. In that moment, she felt as if her breath had stopped, the entire world went silent, and she could hear nothing.