Flower-Appreciation Gathering (8)

After suffering setback after setback, Gu Xiaoyue had learned to be smarter. He had deliberately asked the gatekeeping disciples about them. Lin Mumu had a pure heart, like uncut jade untouched by the ways of the world, and was easy to approach.

Having obtained this information, Gu Xiaoyue carefully dressed himself before walking toward Lin Mumu, who was admiring flowers beside the herb garden.

"Junior Sister Lin." Keeping deliberately three paces away, Gu Xiaoyue took an embroidered box from his sleeve and said with a beaming smile, "This is Jade Beauty Paste specially made by Medicine King Valley. It can..."

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother Gu." The moment Lin Mumu saw him, displeasure showed on her face. She instinctively stepped back half a pace and said bluntly, "I have no use for these things."

Lin Mumu was indeed somewhat innocent, but she remembered all the things Shen Yuxi had mentioned in his inner voice about Gu Xiaoyue. Thus, she had become somewhat wary of him and did not wish to get too close.

Gu Xiaoyue's smile stiffened slightly, but quickly returned to normal. "Junior Sister is naturally beautiful, so of course you have no need for such external things. But this ointment is truly rare. There is no harm in accepting it, Junior Sister. Consider it a small token of my regard."

"No need. I still prefer natural beauty. Or is it—" Lin Mumu tilted her head, deliberately puffed out her cheeks, and pretended to be angry. "Do you actually think my appearance is too awful to bear looking at, Senior Brother Gu? Is that why you brought this specifically to humiliate me?"

"How could that be! Junior Sister, you misunderstand me..." Seeing this, Gu Xiaoyue hurriedly explained.

"Hmph! It had better not be!" After finding a roundabout way to make Gu Xiaoyue choke on his frustration, Lin Mumu turned her back on him and walked away. At the instant she turned around, she happily stuck out her tongue in secret.

With her looking so huffy, Gu Xiaoyue, as a man, could hardly cling shamelessly to a young lady. Left with no choice, he could only abandon this target.

Quadra Kill!

Wen Jian, on the other hand, was exceedingly easy to bait. One glance was enough to tell that he was fascinated by all kinds of spiritual plants, medicinal herbs, and healing techniques from Medicine King Valley. Gu Xiaoyue merely needed to hint at a few related topics, and Wen Jian would drift over without a second thought like a bee drawn to nectar.

He was still young, pure-hearted, and had little guile. He truly was the perfect person to draw information from.

Gu Xiaoyue prescribed the right medicine for the ailment, once again arranging a "chance encounter." He then "casually" brought up the rare spiritual plants and medicines of Medicine King Valley, or discussed certain unusual healing techniques. Wen Jian was indeed deeply captivated, and the distance between him and Gu Xiaoyue quickly closed.

Gu Xiaoyue was not stingy either, leading Wen Jian to the Scripture Pavilion. It was a busy time, and there was no one else inside. The place was so quiet that only the occasional sound of the boy opposite him turning pages could be heard.

Gu Xiaoyue's hawk-like gaze remained tightly fixed on the boy across from him, who had his head lowered as he absorbed knowledge. Pretending to speak casually, he pitched his tone just right, full of admiration and curiosity. "Junior Brother Wen is so studious that I feel ashamed of myself. In a great sect like the Profound Heaven Sect, there must be no shortage of medical classics, right?"

As he spoke, he tilted his head slightly and wore a humble smile, trying to lower Wen Jian's guard.

Before his words had even faded, the boy's previously relaxed posture abruptly straightened. A faint gleam appeared in his amber eyes. "Learning has no end. Every school has its own strengths, and each has something worth learning from."

Before Gu Xiaoyue could delve deeper, the crisp sound of a folding fan snapping open and shut suddenly reached his ears. By the time he reacted, a folding fan had already struck his shoulder with a smack, making his entire body jolt stiffly.

"Found you, found you. I was wondering how you vanished in the blink of an eye. So you were here having such a pleasant chat with Junior Brother Gu." Lin Huaixu's voice carried its usual lightness and teasing, sounding especially clear in the quiet Scripture Pavilion.

Gu Xiaoyue stiffly turned his head and met those peach blossom eyes brimming with amusement.

Tilting his head, Lin Huaixu suddenly lowered his voice. His warm breath brushed Gu Xiaoyue's ear. "Though my Ninth Junior Brother is sweet and adorable, you can't abduct him this openly, can you? Two lone men together—what a bad influence that would be, don't you think?"

The moment he appeared, this man acted extraordinarily familiar, casually joining their conversation as though they had been old friends who had known one another for years and could speak about anything, without the slightest trace of unfamiliarity.

"Junior Brother Lin, you jest!" Junior Brother? This brat... A surge of anger rose in Gu Xiaoyue's heart, and his face flushed red. He subconsciously stepped back half a pace. A vicious glint flashed through his eyes, but he concealed it well.

Yet Lin Huaixu had no intention of letting him off easily. He stretched out an arm and hooked it around Gu Xiaoyue's shoulders like an iron pincer, turning him smoothly so that the two of them had their backs to Wen Jian. Then, the folding fan in his hand swiftly rose beside Gu Xiaoyue's face, forming an invisible barrier that firmly trapped him within his arm.

Before Gu Xiaoyue could question him, Lin Huaixu waggled his brows and deliberately put on a mysterious expression as he whispered, "Tell me honestly. Have you taken a fancy to my Junior Brother?"

!!!

Gu Xiaoyue's pupils constricted sharply, his face full of astonishment.

Yet Lin Huaixu seemed not to notice his reaction and continued teasing, "Don't be shy. If you like him, just say it openly. You could even try pursuing him. Then we'd become family twice over—"

Who likes your Junior Brother?! Who the hell wants to become family twice over with you?! Pah! We never even got close! Have you already decided that Yueyao is your sister-in-law? What an arrogantly overbearing Profound Heaven Sect! Gu Xiaoyue's fury surged like a tide, but he had no way to vent it. He could only curse inwardly.

Lin Huaixu's barbed mockery beneath a velvet surface made Gu Xiaoyue so furious that smoke practically poured from all seven orifices. Yet every word the other man said was framed as a joke. Gu Xiaoyue could not find a single fault to seize upon, much less lash out.

In just a few short sentences, the direction of conversation Gu Xiaoyue had painstakingly designed was completely led astray, never to be brought back.

After this exchange, Gu Xiaoyue not only gained nothing, but also carelessly revealed quite a bit of information about Medicine King Valley under the other man's intentional or unintentional guidance.

Though they were all trivial matters, they were enough to make him furious. His carefully managed plan had been so easily disrupted, and he had even fallen into the inferior position. How could that not leave him seething?

Penta Kill!!

Gu Xiaoyue left in a rush not long afterward, his face filled with indignation.

"I can hear you." Wen Jian did not even lift his head, his gaze still locked onto the medical text in his hands. He paid no attention at all to Gu Xiaoyue's departing figure and merely uttered those words flatly.

"Oh dear, oh dear..." Lin Huaixu hurriedly raised his folding fan to cover half his face, his eyes darting away with obvious guilt.

Wen Jian finally looked up. His gaze was sharp as he stared directly at Lin Huaixu. "Fifth Senior Brother, do you take me for an idiot?"

Lin Huaixu blinked, trying to muddle through. "Do I?"

"You just thought I would be fooled." Wen Jian struck straight at the heart of it, obvious dissatisfaction in his tone, like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on.

Lin Huaixu hurriedly defended himself, his face piled with ingratiating smiles. "I didn't, I didn't do that. Wasn't I just worried about you? Our Little Nine is so pure and adorable. I was afraid you'd be deceived and suffer for it."

"Hmph, it had better be so." Wen Jian gave a soft snort, reluctantly accepting Lin Huaixu's explanation before returning his attention to the medical book.

Days quietly passed amid such open and covert struggles and fruitless efforts. Before the Flower-Appreciation Gathering, the time passed on the surface in fairly calm waters.

At last, the Flower-Appreciation Gathering officially opened its curtains.

The sky was slightly overcast that day, but not oppressive. Disciples from various sects traveled in groups of three or five, or in pairs, proceeding in orderly fashion toward the main venue under the guidance of Medicine King Valley disciples.

The disciples of the Profound Heaven Sect were still led by Gu Xiaoyue. Before long, an exquisitely crafted stone gate appeared ahead of them.

The stone gate had been carved from an entire block of spirit stone, its texture delicate and warm. Strange runes covered both sides, emitting a faint glow that was soft yet bright, making them especially eye-catching in the morning light.

Gu Xiaoyue slowly stopped beside the stone gate, turned around, and addressed the Profound Heaven Sect disciples with precisely measured enthusiasm. "Honored guests, beyond this gate lies the main venue of this Flower-Appreciation Gathering. Please enter with me."

With that, he shifted slightly aside and made an inviting gesture.

The crowd followed Gu Xiaoyue through the stone gate. In an instant, the view before them opened wide. A boundless sea of flowers burst unexpectedly into sight, blossoms of every color gently swaying in the breeze like splendid rosy clouds spilled down from the horizon into the mortal world, each vying for beauty and refusing to yield to another.

The entire sea of flowers resembled a flowing, dazzling ocean, beautiful enough to seize one's soul.

The moment Lin Mumu saw such a picturesque sight, she could not help crying out in delighted surprise. "Wow, it's so beautiful!"

Her eyes immediately lit up. The slight displeasure she had felt upon seeing Gu Xiaoyue earlier was now like a wisp of smoke, blown by the breeze of this flower sea straight beyond the nine heavens.

At the very center of the flower sea stood a raised platform. It had been built from white jade-like stone, its body carved with exquisite floral patterns, the lines smooth and lifelike.

Fine stone tables and stools had been arranged around the platform. They too were crafted with remarkable ingenuity, their surfaces bearing naturally formed patterns like drifting clouds, rolling mist, mountains, and rivers, displaying both nature's uncanny craftsmanship and the artisans' superb skill.

By then, quite a few cultivators from other sects were already seated there. Some chatted freely, while others raised cups and laughed. Their cheerful voices echoed through the flower sea like crisp musical notes.

Gu Yinchen, the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, stood beside the seat of honor atop the platform. He wore a plain robe, simple yet elegant. Only the exquisite ornament hanging from his waist added a touch of understated luxury.

The smile on his face was somewhat stiff, while his eyes remained as fierce as ever. Perhaps he had completely given up struggling and simply left his eldest disciple, Gu Xiaoyue, to entertain the guests.

True Person Yu Qing sat in the guest seat beside the seat of honor. His expression was calm, his gaze tranquil, steady and reserved.

Faced with the Valley Master's warm greetings and the eager or polite conversation of the other guests, he responded now and then. His words were concise without losing propriety, neither servile nor overbearing, measured to perfection.

He had none of the aloof pride that made others feel unable to approach him, nor was he overly warm or intimate. He always maintained the solemnity and restraint expected of the head of a great sect.

Seeing the disciples arrive, he tilted his head slightly, swept his gentle gaze over them, and gave a light nod.

After a round of warm pleasantries, everyone took their seats.

At that moment, a young woman slowly stepped out from the crowd. She wore a pale violet gown, its skirts like clouds glowing at the horizon as they gently swayed with her steps. Her features were lovely and her bearing gentle. She walked gracefully to Gu Yinchen's side, as light as a butterfly dancing through the air.

Gu Yinchen finally revealed a smile that came from the bottom of his heart. Full of paternal affection, he introduced her to everyone. "This is my daughter, Gu Yueyao." His words could not conceal a father's pride.

Gu Yueyao dipped into a slight curtsy, her posture elegant beyond measure, and saluted everyone present. Her red lips parted gently. "Welcome, everyone, who have come from afar. Medicine King Valley is honored by your presence. I hope you may all enjoy yourselves today and fully appreciate the beauty of these flourishing flowers."

Upon hearing this, the guests immediately offered lavish praise.

"I have long heard that Miss Yueyao possesses both talent and beauty. Now that I see her today, her reputation truly does not exaggerate."

"Yes, yes. Miss Yueyao's elegance makes all the flowers in this garden pale in comparison."

A white-haired but vigorous old man nodded in praise. "Valley Master Gu has taught her well. Miss Yueyao has not only inherited Medicine King Valley's superb medical arts, but her humble and gentle temperament is even rarer. She will surely achieve great things in the future."

Facing the tide of polite praise from the crowd, Gu Yueyao's expression remained calm. A faint smile rested on her lips, neither impolite nor lacking in appropriately measured distance.

She knew clearly that most of these words were merely social formalities. In an occasion like this, everyone was simply following the conventions of social exchange and flattering one another.

She dipped slightly again and replied softly, "You all praise me too highly. Yueyao is merely an ordinary woman, and there are still many shortcomings in the medical arts I have learned. I hope the seniors and fellow cultivators will offer me much guidance."

After the compliments, amid everyone's eager anticipation, Gu Yinchen straightened. His posture was upright, his plain robe fluttering lightly in the breeze. His gaze was sharp and penetrating, carrying the imposing dignity of a Valley Master without needing anger.

Then Gu Yinchen gathered his qi in his dantian, concentrating all his vigor and spirit into one point. With a voice full of force, ringing like a great bell, he announced, "Today, the Flower-Appreciation Gathering of Medicine King Valley officially opens! May all our guests speak freely of friendship here and return with abundant rewards!"

His voice echoed through the air, instantly igniting the lively atmosphere.

First came the portion where guests could freely admire the flowers. Beside every seat stood a Medicine King Valley disciple in proper order. They wore uniform robes, their blue-violet sleeves embroidered with delicate herb patterns that displayed Medicine King Valley's unique emblem.

If guests were in high spirits and wished to stroll through the flower sea, Medicine King Valley disciples would respectfully lead the way, guiding them among the blossoms. Those who preferred to enjoy their leisure could remain seated at ease, savoring the fine food and wine carefully prepared by Medicine King Valley. There was nothing wrong with that either.

Some guests were immersed in tasting the spiritual fruits and fine wine prepared by Medicine King Valley. Occasionally, they spoke quietly with companions at their sides, sharing recent amusing tales from the cultivation world.

Another group of guests, under the guidance of Medicine King Valley disciples, devoted themselves fully to admiring the spiritual flowers in the sea of blooms. This flower sea was even more expansive than it appeared from afar, and the valley disciples had meticulously tended it. Different varieties of flowers had been cleverly planted in separate spirit fields, arranged into specific shapes that brimmed with vitality.

These carefully designed patterns intertwined with one another in orderly layers, pleasing to the eye.

True Person Yu Qing remained seated firmly where he was, his posture unmoving as a mountain. Chu Shihan and Shen Yuxi likewise did not move at all, calmly drinking tea and eating pastries.

Lin Huaixu had not forgotten his proper business. He still had to keep an eye on his Second Senior Brother, so naturally, wherever his Second Senior Brother was, he would be there too. He put on the air of an expert as well, though his mouth did not rest as he chatted with nearby cultivators.

Over the past two days, Wen Jian had seen more than enough flowers in Medicine King Valley. Those vibrant, colorful blossoms were certainly beautiful, but for someone obsessed with medical arts and pharmacology, discussing matters with Medicine King Valley's medical cultivators was the true pleasure.

At that moment, he was seated with several medical cultivators from Medicine King Valley, fervently discussing the properties of various medicinal ingredients and methods of pill refinement.

"If a small amount of Crimson Spirit Grass is added during pill refinement, it will certainly increase the purity of a pill's spiritual energy," said a medical cultivator from Medicine King Valley.

Wen Jian shook his head. "That may be true, but Crimson Spirit Grass has an excessively fierce nature. With the slightest carelessness, it will cause the pill furnace to explode."

"Could Shattered Heavenly Star be used to balance its medicinal properties?" another Medicine King Valley disciple asked.

"But..."

Everyone spoke in turn, each voicing their own views as their discussion of pill refinement grew ever deeper.

Lin Mumu, however, was full of interest. Her heart was pure to begin with, and she had no resistance at all to such a riotously blooming sight. Seeing that she wished to go, Ye Jingxuan took the initiative to offer to accompany her.

The two walked along the paths winding through the flower sea, maintaining a neither-too-close-nor-too-distant distance from the Medicine King Valley disciple guiding them.

Compared with outsiders, Lin Mumu and Ye Jingxuan were clearly far more familiar with one another. Whenever they encountered flowers or plants she did not recognize, she naturally preferred asking her Junior Brother. As a top student, Ye Jingxuan was difficult to stump unless it was an especially rare treasure.

After making the rounds, Lin Mumu had gained much as well.