Still Better to Be Blind

He Shutong's bamboo hut is hidden among the lush greenery on the northern slope of the volcano. Eastern Ying Continent has many volcanoes, and this volcano is named Snake Mountain because it is located within the territory of the Snake Clan.

However, the snake race naturally prefers shade and is not fond of volcanoes, which are suitable for cultivating Fire Element Technique Method; in fact, they have a subtle resistance to them. Therefore, on ordinary days, there are rarely any small snakes that are not afraid of the heat that would come to the edge of the volcano, even though to outsiders this volcano may be the most valuable thing the snake race has on the surface.

But therein lies the strangeness: after the snake race was eliminated from the sacred mountain, they were forced to return to this ancestral land to reproduce and thrive. But since they themselves dislike heat, why did their ancestors choose to locate their tribe near a volcano?

Ji Lingruo replied that their ancestors had chosen this place as a second-best option, or perhaps the volcano was already a famous treasure in Japan, and regardless of whether they liked it or not, it was never a bad thing to occupy it.

You Su listened to it as just an anecdote and soon arrived at the small courtyard where He Shutong and Wangshu were hiding.

The copper bells hanging in front of the corridor were stirred by the hot wind, and their tinkling sounds, carrying the smell of sulfur, brushed against You Su's brows. He looked at the green ivy vines hanging down from the corridor, their leaves turned an exceptionally vibrant green by the rising steam, much like his own wildly beating heart.

Ji Lingruo stopped, You Su turned around in confusion. The girl then gave him a push forward:

"Senior brother, you should go in by yourself. Master has come to see you a few times; I bet she wants to talk to you alone."

Touched by her words, You Su was amazed that his junior sister had become so understanding. He couldn't help but hug her and kiss her again.

Ji Lingruo feigned disdain and dodged twice, but ultimately let the boy have his way.

"Don't flatter yourself. I haven't cultivated in too long. Now that you and Senior Sister have both broken through, I'm too embarrassed to see Master... I'll wait for you outside the forest, and we can restart our cultivation! If I'm not ready, don't wake me."

With that, the girl turned and ran away.

You Su smiled gently, thinking that since she was already here, it was indeed time to restart her 'cultivation' with her junior sister, so she continued walking towards the bamboo hut.

Even at the door, You Su couldn't help but hesitate.

At this moment, his feelings were extremely complicated.

He felt a mix of elation at reuniting with his Mistress, gratitude for Mistress saving him, and, of course, a deeper sense of guilt. This guilt stemmed not only from his indecent behavior towards his Mistress in the dream, but also from his abrupt departure without saying goodbye.

Making those who care about him live in fear for half a year is undoubtedly an extremely irresponsible act. Even if you were in his shoes, You Su would probably be angry.

"Squeak--"

The bamboo door opened by itself without any wind, and a cool breeze carrying the refreshing scent of lotus blossoms rushed in.

You Su suddenly looked up, realizing that her worries were unnecessary. Even if her Mistress was angry, she would never turn her away.

Stepping through the bamboo gate and walking a few more steps, a white veil, like smoke and mist, appeared behind the beaded curtain.

He Shutong sat gracefully on a lotus platform, her light gauze robe revealing a lotus-colored lining, her exquisitely beautiful face always appearing so dignified.

Although she wasn't wearing anything revealing, just like before, the even more sheer fabric seemed to suggest that she also felt the heat near the volcano.

You Su's apple bobbed, and her gaze unconsciously swept over that breathtaking arc. The volcanic heat seemed to have frozen in that small space, staining the upper edge of her collar wet.

He quickly averted his wandering gaze, bowed, and said, "Mistress..."

He Shutong's fingertips unconsciously tightened a little, how could she not know where the boy's burning gaze had just swept over? The dogwood hidden under the gauze was faintly swollen, and the strange feeling of being kneaded in her dream seemed to have been brought into reality.

She suddenly regretted wearing this summer-cool gauze dress. In the eyes of the snake-woman, this gauze dress, which covered her whole body, had no effect on relieving the heat at all. However, it was the lightest clothes this conservative Fairy had ever worn.

Although her body, which is said to be in a state of emptiness, is not afraid of cold or heat, she is hardly a normal person in the emptiness realm.

The fact that he said "Mistress is so beautiful" before he fell unconscious means that he is no longer blind, so I should have changed into more appropriate clothes when he came.

But then she thought again, even wearing a fur coat next to this volcano, it would probably be the same. He did such a thing in his dream, how could he possibly resist glancing at him? She couldn't exactly gouge out his eyes, could she?

Fortunately... he really only glanced at it. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know how to criticize him...

"You can see now?" The fairy's voice was calm, neither happy nor sad.

You Su's heart skipped a beat. The fact that his Mistress asked such a question meant that she must have noticed his gaze just now, but she didn't intend to pursue it.

He cursed himself inwardly and quickly lowered his head even further.

"Reporting to Mistress, my left eye has regained its sight."

He Shutong raised her eyebrows slightly. In that instant of confirming the answer, her happiness for You Su still outweighed everything else.

"This is a fortunate thing. Your initial goal in cultivation was to have a pair of eyes that could see, and now you have fulfilled half of that wish. From now on, you will be able to see all the beautiful scenery in the world. If your master knew, he would surely be happy for you."

"Thank you, Mistress."

You Su bowed respectfully, but after finishing the ceremony, he suddenly knelt on the wooden board with a thud, his eyes brimming with True Intention remorse.

"I owe my current position entirely to my Mistress's protection, but I have failed Mistress in her efforts. I faked my death and left without permission, damaging the sect's reputation and implicating my Mistress's wife and senior sister! Now, my Mistress has to cross the North Sea to extricate me, and my senior sister is still unconscious. I truly..."

"Despair."

A drop of fragrant sweat splattered onto the wooden board in front of You Su, He Shutong had arrived there without her noticing.

You Su dared not look up, but his gaze was fixed on the bare toes beneath the fairy's skirt.

Those jade-like feet lightly touched the wooden board, their toes tinged with a coral-like pink, resembling two graceful white lotus flowers.

He stared in a daze, feeling that this was indeed a beautiful sight in the world!

Seeing the young man bowing his head and not getting up, He Shutong felt even more sorry for him. She took his slender hand and gently pulled him up.

"I know you must have your reasons for doing this. We're all family, there's no need for such talk."

You Su looked up in a daze, gazing at the gentle fairy who always treated him with such tolerance. Perhaps it was the rising heat, but as he got closer, the fragrance emanating from this aloof Fairy seemed to become warm as well.

The combined psychological and physiological stimulation stirred up a restless desire in You Su's heart. He only regretted that this was not a dream. If it were a dream, he would definitely rush into his Mistress's arms without hesitation, hold her tightly, and feel her warmth.

"Mistress... I'm so sorry..."

Before she could finish speaking, He Shutong touched his lips with her jade-like finger, stopping the boy from continuing to apologize.

He Shutong withdrew her jade-like finger without making a sound, but she was filled with regret. She was in a daze for a moment, as if she were still in a dream, and she had actually made such an intimate gesture towards You Su in reality, which was really inappropriate.

"I know you feel sorry for Lotus Peak, but without you, Lotus Peak would have no meaning. Even amidst storms, it's enough that you're alive."

He Shutong smiled slightly, "If you were in the shoes of your senior or junior sisters, we would have done the same."

After she finished speaking, she turned gracefully and returned to the lotus platform with light, lotus-like steps, leaving behind only a graceful silhouette and a fragrant breeze.

"You may sit on the ground," she said.

You Su was extremely ashamed, but still did as instructed.

"Mistress, is Senior Sister still not awake?"

"Her sudden enlightenment this time is extraordinary." He Shutong pursed her thin lips, hesitated for a moment, and continued, "I'm afraid she's about to break through to the Void Glimpse Realm."

Upon hearing this, You Su's eyes widened, and she almost sat up in shock.

But he also knew very well that the fact that his Mistress said this despite her hesitation meant that the matter was most likely true.

"Throughout history, you probably won't find anyone so young at the Void Glimpse Realm. If I hadn't been limiting her, perhaps she could have broken through to this realm much earlier." He Shutong gently shook her head. "I've already told you about your senior sister's original form. As an essence of heaven and earth, it's not surprising that she possesses such extraordinary abilities. It's just that your senior sister doesn't crave cultivation. Initially, she cultivated only to receive my praise. But now she's actively embracing power, perhaps... it's because of you."

Upon hearing this, You Su remained silent for a long time, recalling the crystal-clear white Fairy on the mountaintop. Her appearance had truly changed her so much.

He seems to have made his senior sister more human, but being human is so hard, he doesn't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing for her, or if she will regret becoming human.

Seeing his silence, He Shutong continued, "I'm not saying this to blame you. She used to cultivate to get my praise, and now she cultivates to gain power to protect others. Having aspirations has never been a burden for her, but a good thing. I even wonder if my previous discipline suppressed her nature, and you've come to liberate her."

You Su, naturally too ashamed to accept such praise, said with embarrassment, "As long as Senior Sister is happy, I will support whatever she does. But to break through to the Void Realm, isn't it necessary to find Destiny Item? Why is Senior Sister in seclusion now?"

"I'm surprised too, but your senior sister is extraordinary. Perhaps she doesn't need Destiny Item at all, or perhaps she has already found Destiny Item." This is He Shutong wasn't sure if she was breaking through to the Void Realm. "But you can rest assured, she's just in seclusion, and her body is completely unharmed."

Upon hearing this You Su nodded slightly, feeling somewhat relieved.

"I know you have many questions. Go ahead and ask. After you've asked them all, I'll ask you all the questions I need to ask." He Shutong sat up straighter, unusually showing You Su a serious, interrogative demeanor.

You Su's Adam's apple bobbed, and he asked, "How did Mistress know I was in the Northern Ao Continent?"

This is indeed the issue he cares about most.

He himself had imagined many possibilities, including prophecy and the ability of the Lotus Immortal Seed to locate, but these were all obviously impossible.

He even had a bold guess that his Mistress had deduced this from his initial intense interest in Ganlong Venerable and Bei Ao in his dream... but his Mistress's subsequent behavior made him basically conclude that this possibility was zero.

The most likely reason is that Hua Jing, First Seat told his Mistress. She made two preparations: one was to have Sister Yaoyao inform them, and the other was to have his Mistress protect them in advance.

But He Shutong's answer took You Su by surprise.

"It was the Saintess of Jade Ring Pool who told me."

The Saintess? But wasn't the Saintess Yu Die already dead?

The Saintess of Jade Ring Pool reflects the life state of the soil hidden at the bottom of the pool, and is also the continuation of the life of the Hidden Water within. But the soil hidden is dead, and the Hidden Water has also given up possessing Miss Xue Ruo. Therefore, Yu Die is naturally the last Saintess. Where can Jade Ring Pool find Saintess?

"Mistress, who is the current Saintess of Jade Ring Pool?"

He Shutong narrowed her clear eyes slightly, and her voice brightened a few degrees:

"You don't believe me?"

"Of course not!" You Su quickly denied. "It's just that I went to Jade Ring Pool and thought the Saintess would disappear forever."

He Shutong paused for a moment before replying, "I understand everything about Jade Ring Pool. The Saintess are Yu Meng and Yu Long, both of whom are the current Saintess of Jade Ring Pool."

You Su was even more astonished upon hearing this, never expecting that the twin maids who had wanted her to take them away had suddenly become the most esteemed Saintess of Jade Ring Pool.

But how could they know where they were?

Suddenly You Su thought of something, and the image of that tender white Xiao Yu flashed into her mind.

The tremendous changes in Yu Meng and Yu Long must have been orchestrated by someone behind the scenes. The only one in the Jade Ring Pool with such abilities is that fish!

The Little White Fish is a spirit born from the Jade Ring Pool. It even knows that it is the true god. It was also the fish that returned the memories of the Hidden Water to the Hidden Water who was reborn as the Saintess of the past. To this day, it is shrouded in mystery. For it, it may not be impossible to know its own whereabouts.

"After your senior sister and I were besieged at Lotus Peak, we have been hiding in the secret realm provided by Jade Ring Pool," He Shutong added. "The boat I took to Beiao was lent to me by Jade Ring Pool; they wanted me to come and rescue you."

Jade Ring Pool is surrounded by water, so it's not surprising that such a celestial boat could be built there.

Although You Su felt that this answer was beyond her expectations, it was still reasonable.

Little did he know that the thin layer of sweat on He Shutong's snow-white neck, who was not good at lying, was not only due to the heat and weakness, but also due to nervousness.

It's true they wanted to borrow the boat, and it's true they wanted to save You Su, but the source of the information wasn't the Saintess or the Little White Fish, but rather the dream she herself had woven.

"I see. It seems I owe Jade Ring Pool a great favor this time..." You Su again. "I will forever remember Mistress's life-saving grace!"

He Shutong did not respond, but instead asked, "Any more questions?"

You Su pursed his lips, then suddenly looked up and asked seriously, "How much damage did Mistress suffer in her battle with that Venerable Heng Lian?"

He was almost certain that his master's Mistress was in very bad shape.

The heat of Japan, especially near a volcano, explains why the snake women dressed so lightly. However, after You Su broke through to the Transformation Realm, he didn't actually feel that hot, and Void Glimpse Venerable's physique was even more impervious to heat and cold. Yet, his Mistress would sweat profusely like his junior sister, who was at the Condensing Water Realm, which was definitely not normal.

"That was his clone; I was not injured," He Shutong replied calmly.

"Now that Mistress is in Japan, how can she refine her Destiny Item?" You Su pressed on.

"Your Destiny Item has stabilized and no longer needs to be solidified with the Jade Ring Pool. All that remains is quiet cultivation."

"But could it be that this great battle had no impact on Mistress at all?"

"No," He Shutong replied fluently.

You Su was taken aback, then felt a slight anger at his Mistress for keeping it from him, but his anger was directed at himself for forcing his Mistress to take action:

"Mistress can't fool Su'er. With your Void Realm body, how could you feel it's hot here?"

He Shutong subconsciously wanted to refute that she didn't feel hot here, but she guessed that now that the boy had regained his sight, he probably saw all the sweat she was sweating.

Looking at it this way, it seems that the boy should have regained his sight later.

You Su probably didn't know that after he finally regained his sight, the women he cherished all wished he were blind again.

After pondering for a long time, He Shutong finally sighed and said helplessly:

"My Destiny Item wasn't damaged, so it's not a big deal. My cultivation level has dropped, but the Lotus Root Heart is still intact. I just need to stabilize my Destiny Item and replenish my Mystic Qi. Fortunately, this Snake Mountain is an active volcano that has been largely undeveloped, containing countless fire essences. Apart from being a bit hot, the concentration of Mystic Qi is comparable to that of a Feng Shui treasure land. Once my cultivation level returns to its original state, it will naturally no longer be so hot for me."

You Su felt that his Mistress spoke lightly. If she could make even Void Glimpse Venerable feel hot, how much of a drop in cultivation level must she have experienced? Naturally, he wouldn't easily believe what his Mistress said.

"Can..."

"Alright, it's my turn to ask you now." He Shutong didn't let You Su voice her question. Instead, she put on a stern face and adopted a strict teacher demeanor that she rarely showed in front of You Su.

You Su was intimidated by his Mistress's imposing manner, and knew that Mistress was still hiding something from him. However, getting her to confess would not be so easy. Continuing to press her would only provoke Mistress resistance, so he had no choice but to plan ahead.

"Please ask, Mistress."

"The Heng Lian First Seat is targeting you; do you know why?"

Upon hearing this, You Su shook her head, "Perhaps it's related to my background; these eyes were probably covered by them too."

He Shutong pondered for a moment, seemingly realizing the extraordinary destiny bestowed upon this disciple, and sighed:

"I have no intention of prying into your secret, but if you don't tell me, it will be difficult for me to help you."

"Su'er didn't intentionally hide it from Mistress! She was simply afraid that if Mistress found out... she would be afraid to accept me as her disciple..."

He Shutong was slightly taken aback, and a strange feeling stirred within her.

Why is he always so cautious when facing himself?

Thinking back, it was probably my past indifference that made him too afraid of losing who he is now...

Perhaps it was too hot, or perhaps she wanted to close the distance. She pulled her long sleeves up to her elbows, revealing a pair of slender, fair arms.

She raised her delicate hand and beckoned to the bowing boy:

"Come closer and speak."

A little bit of water, hehe.