My Fault Even If You Can't Pick It

Lovesick Heartbreak Red.

A symbol of unwavering love.

As she received this information, ripples stirred in Xiao Wu's eyes. A tragic yet beautiful love story slowly unfolded in her mind.

Legend had it...

A flower fairy from the upper realm fell in love with a young man who tended flowers and trees. She secretly left the immortal realm and descended to the mortal world to love him, where they enjoyed the bliss of husband and wife. Yet good times did not last. In the end, immortals and mortals belonged to different worlds. The flower fairy was forced to return to the upper realm, while the young man sank into lovesick despondency.

Later, under the guidance of an expert, he learned that his wife's true form was a peony. As long as he destroyed her original body, she would permanently lose her immortal form, fall into the mortal world, and reunite with him.

Though the young man dearly loved his wife, he could not bear to destroy the peony. From then on, he returned to tending flowers, caring for it with utmost devotion. He wept day and night until his tears ran dry and his heart broke.

In the end, he died of heartbreak from longing. At the moment of his death, he sprinkled his blood over the peony's petals, staining them crimson. Thus came this Lovesick Heartbreak Red!

After receiving the information Ye Qiu had passed to her, Xiao Wu felt as though her head was spinning.

To her, the significance of this immortal herb was not merely that of a gift. It was also Ye Qiu's acknowledgment of her.

He believed she could pick it. He must really like her and not want to leave her either.

"Ye Qiu, are you really giving it to Sister Xiao Wu?" Xiao Wu stared blankly at Ye Qiu. She truly liked this flower.

"Could my true feelings possibly lie?" Ye Qiu smiled faintly. Of course, he sincerely wanted to give this flower to the little rabbit. That way, even if he took her elsewhere in the future, her identity would not be exposed.

But Ye Qiu was also somewhat worried.

He wondered whether Xiao Wu could successfully pick it now.

Or perhaps she had originally been able to pick it, but after learning about him and Dugu Yan, a thorn had formed in her heart, and she could no longer do so.

"I-I can definitely pick it!"

Sensing Ye Qiu's concern, Xiao Wu fixed her watery eyes tightly on him and hurriedly declared her stance. Her little hand gripped his firmly, her gaze unwavering. "Ye Qiu...?"

Xiao Wu called softly, looking at Ye Qiu in confusion as he withdrew his hand.

A flash of dazzling purple light passed through Ye Qiu's eyes, and the world before him became incomparably clear. He could see Xiao Wu's true form with complete clarity. The pink little rabbit Xiao Wu, still growing, blushed furiously and hurriedly covered her chest. Ye Qiu's gaze seemed capable of seeing straight through her.

Under Xiao Wu's strange gaze, Ye Qiu looked around before closing his eyes again to carefully sense his surroundings.

In Sunset Forest, Ye Qiu had gained another ability: active perception. He had acquired it over more than a month by piercing thousand-year snake soul beasts every day. It was similar to thermal imaging.

Then, after taking another dip in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and absorbing the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, this ability had improved further and fused with Spider Sense.

At that moment, he was sensing whether any powerful figures were nearby. The more abundant a person's Soul Power, the brighter they appeared in Ye Qiu's perception.

After carefully checking the area, Ye Qiu finally settled his mind, a faint smile curling at his lips. Very good. That old bastard Tang Hao was not nearby for the time being. Who knew where he had gone off to drink himself senseless again.

"Xiao Wu, come with me."

Ye Qiu got to his feet and happily called out to Xiao Wu before walking outside the Seventh Dorm.

"Ye Qiu... wait for me."

Xiao Wu hurried after him, taking his hand of her own accord. She followed closely at his side with her head slightly lowered, cheeks flushed.

They left beneath the puzzled gazes of everyone in the Seventh Dorm.

It was the day students returned to school.

The main road of Notting Academy was filled with people coming and going. The blazing sun hung high overhead, and students and teachers exhausted from travel were either busy unpacking or resting in bed.

Xiao Wu pressed close to Ye Qiu. Even under the scorching sun, she felt faint traces of coolness while standing beside him.

This was naturally the effect of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot. Thanks to the two immortal herbs, Ye Qiu's body and the area around him were warm in winter and cool in summer.

Before long, Ye Qiu led Xiao Wu to a corner beside a teaching building.

At this time of day, there was absolutely no one who would come here. Still, to be safe, Ye Qiu carefully scanned the surroundings. Only after confirming that everything was clear did he release Xiao Wu.

"Alright, here it is."

As the words fell, Ye Qiu patted the Ruyi Treasure Sack at his waist beneath Xiao Wu's expectant and curious gaze.

A streak of red light flew out from the Ruyi Treasure Sack and landed in Ye Qiu's hand.

It was a blood-red flower resembling a peony.

Beneath it was a strange stone, with a slender branch rooted in the stone. Several narrow leaves spread from the tip of the branch, forming a calyx.

Resting in that calyx were slender petals stained with several spots of dark-red blood, forming a fully bloomed, delicate, breathtakingly beautiful blood-red peony.

Xiao Wu's heart trembled. Excitement flickered in her crimson eyes as they reflected the image of the bewitching red flower before her. She could not help reaching out to brush the slender petals twice, sighing in admiration.

"So beautiful."

"It really is beautiful."

Ye Qiu smiled softly and extended the Lovesick Heartbreak Red floating in his hand toward Xiao Wu.

"Give it a try~ Don't force yourself if you can't pick it. It won't be your fault—I have other things I can give you."

"No, I can definitely pick it!"

Xiao Wu pursed her lips, glanced at Ye Qiu, and bit her lower lip. A sweetness rose in her throat, and she spat out a mouthful of blood onto the petals.

The flower was no ordinary plant; it chose its master.

When picking Lovesick Heartbreak Red, one's thoughts had to be filled entirely with the person they loved. If there was even the slightest trace of divided affection, then even if one coughed blood to death, they would never be able to pick the flower.

The stone beneath it, where Lovesick Heartbreak Red had taken root, was called Black Absolute. If the flower was forcibly removed, the immortal herb would lose all its medicinal power.

However, once it had been safely picked, as long as the flower remained by its owner's side, it would never wither.

Watching Xiao Wu's blood spatter across the petals, Ye Qiu could not help feeling nervous.

The moment Xiao Wu's blood touched Lovesick Heartbreak Red, all she could think of was Ye Qiu spanking her, bullying her, accompanying her on walks, cultivating with her, and ruling the world by her side.

She thought only that she never wanted to leave Ye Qiu. The blood-red flower swayed twice.

Under Ye Qiu's pleasantly surprised gaze, it fell into Xiao Wu's palm.

A heartfelt smile bloomed on Xiao Wu's face. Like a child who had scored full marks and was eagerly seeking praise, she beamed and cried happily, "Ye Qiu! I—I picked it! I picked it!"

"I saw."

Ye Qiu gently embraced Xiao Wu as she bounced toward him, trying to squeeze into his arms. The Lovesick Heartbreak Red in her hand was as beautiful and stunning as she was.

Ye Qiu raised a hand and rubbed her little head. Xiao Wu gently shook her head, thoroughly enjoying his touch.

"Now that you've picked it, eat it."

Wishing everyone a happy life!