The Difference Was Clear

A flash of cold light, and the sword's edge pressed against Li Xuanxiao's throat.

Another inch forward, and it would pierce that vulnerable spot.

Su Wan's face was filled with shame and anger.

"If only you were this tough when facing Jiang Luoshui."

Li Xuanxiao said calmly.

Su Wan said in a low voice, "How can those be the same? Speak! Why did you place a Twin Image Stone in my cave dwelling?"

Li Xuanxiao shrugged. "Isn't the reason simple enough?"

"You..."

A bewitching flush, like peach blossoms first blooming in spring, spread across Su Wan's originally jade-white face.

It made her already lovely features seem even more delicate and radiant, utterly pitiful and moving.

Unfortunately, Li Xuanxiao was a man who did not understand romance. His gaze remained straight ahead, and not even his breathing faltered.

Su Wan had thought that her relationship with this junior brother of hers had always been fairly good, but she had never imagined he harbored such thoughts toward her.

She had not noticed it at all before.

He had even set up an Image Stone in her cave dwelling, and it had remained there for five whole years.

Yet she had not detected the slightest trace of it.

"Of course I anticipated that this day would come. From the moment Senior Sister brought Jiang Luoshui back to the sect, I warned you not to casually bring outsiders into the sect.

A few years later, I discovered that Jiang Luoshui had a crooked heart—she said one thing and did another, wore one face before others and another behind their backs!

So, to guard against the worst, I resorted to this."

"You expect me to believe that?" Su Wan said coldly.

Under normal circumstances, if she learned that someone had installed a Twin Image Stone in her cave dwelling—

And watched her every move for five years—

And had most likely already seen her naked body—

Su Wan would have slain that person with a single sword stroke long ago.

But he had stepped forward at the crucial moment and testified for her.

That was why Su Wan felt so conflicted.

Li Xuanxiao remained entirely unflustered. He was confident he could subdue Su Wan.

Even with her sword currently pressed against his neck.

Li Xuanxiao appeared weak in cultivation only because he wanted others to think his cultivation was mediocre.

Though he had no cheat and was not a Child of Destiny,

With his unyielding heart for cultivation and his understanding of the Dao of Heartlessness,

Among Shu Mountain's younger generation, Li Xuanxiao truly did not believe he was necessarily inferior to anyone.

Of course, that excluded Eldest Senior Brother Xue Yun.

That guy was a complete freak.

An eternal prodigy, yet unfortunately, a lovesick fool.

A trace of surprise flickered in Su Wan's eyes. She had not expected that even now, Li Xuanxiao could remain expressionless, with not the slightest disorder in his breathing.

He even explained his reasons to her with such righteous conviction.

"I can swear a Great Dao Oath," Li Xuanxiao said. "Before this, I never once peeped at any image of Senior Sister Su Wan within her cave dwelling. Everything I did was only to prevent Jiang Luoshui from framing you."

Seeing how earnest he sounded, even willing to make a Great Dao Oath, Su Wan could not help but believe him somewhat.

"Y-you... why did you do this?"

"What?"

"Why did you help me?"

"We are fellow disciples. Helping each other means helping Shu Mountain, and helping myself as well."

Su Wan's expression shifted slightly. "That is all?"

"That is all. And I must remind you of something, Senior Sister. When you encounter this sort of thing in the future, do not simply stand there with a cold face and stare at others.

Not everyone will believe your silent explanations. You must defend yourself. Even if there is only the slightest chance, you must explain things clearly.

Otherwise, what happened today will happen again."

Su Wan lowered her sword.

Li Xuanxiao smiled faintly. "Senior Sister, I hope you will be more careful in the future."

"Thank you... for what happened today."

"You're welcome."

"And do not install Twin Image Stones in my cave dwelling again!"

"Understood."

Su Wan left the thatched cottage.

Li Xuanxiao smiled and shook his head.

"Fourth Senior Sister, Senior Brother Murong is not quite what you imagine him to be. Be careful."

"..."

On the road away from Silver Sword Peak, Su Wan's heart was a tangled mess.

Could Li Xuanxiao... like me?

Yes. If he did not like her, why would he do all this for her?

He had begun planning five years ago.

No, even earlier—when she brought Jiang Luoshui back to the sect.

Li Xuanxiao had warned her at the time, but she simply had not taken it too seriously.

Now that she thought about it carefully...

Yet judging from all the signs before this, she could not see any indication that Li Xuanxiao had any feelings for her at all.

Li Xuanxiao was publicly acknowledged within the sect as the junior brother who pushed himself the hardest.

Every day, apart from cultivation, all he did was cultivate.

Later, he saved Zhao Lu, the princess of the Great Xia Kingdom, and Zhao Lu became his junior sister.

Everyone in the sect said Li Xuanxiao had gained the advantage of living near the water and caught the moon first—he had struck gold.

Yet over the past two years, the two had merely maintained a simple senior brother-junior sister relationship.

Even with a peerless beauty like Zhao Lu, Li Xuanxiao had remained utterly untouched by temptation.

Of course, she herself was no less beautiful than Zhao Lu.

Li Xuanxiao had secretly been in love with her, silently protecting her from behind the scenes...

That explanation was perfectly reasonable!!

And judging from the evidence now available, that was exactly how it was.

Thinking of this, Su Wan's cheeks flushed faintly.

What a devoted young man. Even though he clearly knew that she and Senior Brother Murong shared a close relationship,

He still wanted to silently protect her from behind the scenes. As long as she was safe and sound, he could rest easy.

Su Wan could not help imagining Li Xuanxiao, in the dead of night, facing the moon and letting out agonized roars.

Those were cries of longing for her, yet no one knew.

And during the day, Junior Brother Li Xuanxiao still had to pretend that nothing had happened and continue cultivating diligently.

He cultivated so desperately—perhaps it was also to protect her...

Thinking of this, Su Wan nearly burst into tears.

Just then, a drifting figure blocked Su Wan's path.

Murong Mo wore a long robe as white as snow, his sleeves fluttering in the wind. A faint smile rested on his handsome face, like a warm spring breeze brushing across one's features, making people feel incomparably warm and comfortable.

Within that smile was an unhurried confidence, as though it also contained endless tenderness and goodwill.

His eyes shone like stars, deep and captivating. Whenever his gaze shifted, it seemed capable of seeing into the deepest, most secret corners of one's heart.

Normally, whenever Murong Mo smiled, Su Wan's heart would stir.

But now, Su Wan looked at Murong Mo expressionlessly.

"Junior Sister, you didn't go find Junior Brother Li Xuanxiao, did you? You didn't do anything to him, did you?"

"No. He protected me. I merely went to thank him. I never expected that the one who spoke for me at the critical moment would be him."

Su Wan no longer had her usual gentleness.

"Junior Sister, are you blaming me? For not speaking up for you back then? You... how can you have such childish thoughts? I'm very unhappy."

Su Wan took a deep breath, recalling what Li Xuanxiao had told her before she left.

She looked the man before her up and down.

Compared with Li Xuanxiao, the way the two treated her was as different as heaven and earth.

One had painstakingly plotted for her sake, all to keep her safe.

The other had not uttered a single word when she was being falsely accused!

The difference between them was immediately clear.