Although everyone present was a cultivator, they were all young. The moment they heard gossip about a female cultivator, their inner gossips burst into flame, and they eagerly pressed for details. Li Zhenghe pretended to be angry. Zhang Tai said, "Senior Brother Zhenghe, why are you covering for a shameless woman like that?"
As he spoke, Zhang Tai stood up and raised his voice. "It's that Jiang Xiao from Cold Star Peak, the one who charges around like a whirlwind and doesn't act like a female cultivator at all. She's pestered Senior Brother Zhenghe several times. After he politely turned her down, she started writing love poems and even said she'd get them published at our poetry gathering. I only remember a few lines: 'My heart is like the pine and cypress; what is your love like? We were both young once—let us not waste these good years.' So sour my teeth nearly fell out. If Fairy Qianqian had written them, they might have passed, but that madwoman? She's got no right..."
"Zhang Tai, shut your foul mouth!" With a crack like thunder, Jiang Xiao stormed into the pavilion like a gale.
"So it really is true."
"With a temper like a bull, who could put up with her? And she still somehow managed to write a couple of crooked verses."
"Seeing her in person is even worse than hearing about her!"
Everyone mercilessly mocked Jiang Xiao, using what they thought was an effective way to support their fellow cultivator Li Zhenghe. Li Zhenghe watched Jiang Xiao and slowly rose to his feet. "Jiang Xiao, there can never be anything between us. I'm grateful for your affection, but I simply don't feel that way about you."
"Li Zhenghe, have you no shame? When did Jiang Xiao ever write you anything?