Not the Brightest, Are You?

Gu Yi was usually very quiet in the sect. He was in poor health and spoke little, with a cool, dignified air that Xie Wenyun had seen many times.

But just now, the corners of his lips had lifted in a faint smile, as dazzling as spring flowers bursting into bloom. That radiant, captivating smile was irresistible, as though the whole world paled beside it.

That smile was like a clear spring flowing through Xie Wenyun's once-still heart, awakening the life and vitality that had long lain dormant. His previously calm heart stirred in an instant, rippling with emotion.

Junior Sister Ye was so beautiful...

Jiang Lingzhou was annoyed, but there was nothing he could do. After all, this was the girl he liked.

He could only glare at Xie Wenyun, who was stifling a laugh beside him. Then his eyes shifted. "Senior Sister Ye, I brought you a gift this time, too."

As he spoke, he gently turned his wrist, and a small jade pendant appeared in his hand in the blink of an eye.

The pendant was like a brilliant star, crystal clear and giving off a faint blue glow.

Gu Yi glanced indifferently at the pendant, initially having no intention of accepting his gift. But suddenly, his gaze froze.

"Is this... azure sky jade?" Startled, Gu Yi blurted it out.

Azure sky jade!

This gemstone had appeared in the system shop before, but he had not bought it because its price was too high and its uses too limited.

He had never expected to see it here today.

Azure sky jade could neither attack enemies nor offer any defensive protection. It could be said to have no practical value at all.

As a result, people often made it into exquisite accessories to give to girls they liked.

However, the piece of azure sky jade in Jiang Lingzhou's hand was different.

It was as large as an egg. A piece of azure sky jade that size was truly rare.

Gu Yi stared intently at the pendant, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Seeing Gu Yi's interest, Jiang Lingzhou hurriedly held it out before him as if presenting a treasure. "Senior Sister Ye, I knew you'd like it."

It was not that Gu Yi truly liked it, but rather that azure sky jade had another rather useless effect: concealing one's spiritual power.

It kept others from sensing the aura of one's spiritual power.

Jiang Lingzhou watched Gu Yi's expression, his eyes narrowing slightly. He had originally thought a mere Azure Sky Pendant would not sway Senior Sister Ye. He might not have much else, but he had plenty of spirit stones.

If Senior Sister Ye liked it, he would not mind emptying out his family home.

"Mm."

Gu Yi reached out to take the pendant and toyed with it in his hand, stroking it gently with his fingers and cherishing it immensely.

Xie Wenyun silently watched the two chatting and laughing beside him. A trace of disappointment actually rose in his heart, as though he had become the one who did not belong.

"Senior Sister Ye, there are still a few days until the Friendship Gathering. I'll be staying at the Tianmu Sect in the meantime. Will you be free the day after tomorrow? Shall we go out on the lake together?" Jiang Lingzhou pressed his advantage, his eyes full of anticipation.

Gu Yi had wanted to refuse, but holding that piece of azure sky jade made him feel beholden to the giver.

He hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. "All right..."

Hearing Gu Yi agree, Jiang Lingzhou immediately broke into a brilliant smile.

As excited as a child, he hurriedly sent someone to arrange the lake outing, then left in high spirits.

Xie Wenyun and Gu Yi were left standing there, the atmosphere slightly awkward.

Seeing him leave, Gu Yi sighed softly.

Today, this little tyrant had kissed him one moment and given him a gift the next.

He probably had not given up pursuing him as he had claimed.

Who knew what mischief he was brewing?

Seeing that Gu Yi still looked worried, Xie Wenyun thought he was still concerned about the "matchmaking," so he said, "Junior Sister Ye, if... someone really does have designs on you... I... I could..."

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Xie. I'm a little tired, so I'll head back to rest." With that, Gu Yi left without looking back.

Watching Gu Yi's retreating figure, Xie Wenyun slowly loosened the fingers clutching his sleeve.

From the very first time he had met Gu Yi, he had fallen for this junior sister, but he could also tell that his junior sister had no feelings for him.

If he never revealed his feelings, he would forever be just a senior brother.

"I could pretend to be your Dao Companion... Junior Sister Ye..." Xie Wenyun's voice held a hint of bitterness.

As Gu Yi walked back to his quarters, he thought over what Xie Wenyun had just said.

What concerned him most was that remark about a marriage alliance with a major sect.

Both the orthodox factions and the Demonic Cult would send people to the Illusory Demon Sect for the gathering this time. Would Lin Yuan be among those from the Qingling Sword Sect...?

The morning sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves, soft and warm.

Gu Yi narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling that comfortable warmth.

He raised a hand, gently shading his head to block the sunlight.

After returning to his quarters, Gu Yi sat in a chair, tightly clutching the piece of azure sky jade.

The jade was crystal clear and gave off a faint luster. As Gu Yi gazed at it, an inexplicable sense of reassurance rose within him.

Over the past three years, Gu Yi had heard bits and pieces of news about Lin Yuan.

After returning to the Tianqing Sword Sect, Lin Yuan had swiftly and ruthlessly dealt with those who had once framed him.

Gu Yi no longer deliberately followed Lin Yuan's affairs.

Although he occasionally heard from others that Lin Yuan was searching everywhere for someone, judging by the timeline, he should already have met the female lead.

In the original novel, Lin Yuan had gone to an Overseas Immortal Island for some unknown reason.

On the island, he had encountered the male and female leads, who were traveling together, and had also run into a ferocious beast guarding a Guardian Spirit Treasure.

The kindhearted female lead had stepped forward and saved Lin Yuan. From then on, Lin Yuan had fallen deeply in love with her.

Unfortunately, the female lead had not left her name after her good deed and had quietly departed after saving him.

Later, after enduring countless hardships, Lin Yuan had finally found the female lead, but by then, her heart already belonged to the male lead.

Faced with Lin Yuan's love, the female lead had rejected him outright.

Lin Yuan had mistakenly believed that the female lead felt nothing for him because of his impaired eyesight, and had thus descended into darkness...

"Now that his eyes are healed, maybe things are already heating up between him and the female lead!"

Muttering to himself, Gu Yi carefully put the pendant away, then dove onto the bed and flopped down on his stomach.

His feelings were somewhat complicated, a little disappointed yet also somewhat relieved.

After all, he had already decided to have nothing more to do with Lin Yuan. He would let the past stay in the past.

"Why do you care about him? You're already staying out of each other's way anyway. Let him pursue whoever he wants and look for whoever he wants."

Gu Yi lightly tapped his own head, trying to dispel these thoughts.

"Even if I really do run into him, he's never seen me. Besides, I'm a 'woman' now. He definitely won't recognize me."

But then Gu Yi remembered that Lin Yuan had fought the male lead over a woman and had ended up getting killed by him.

If he didn't fall for the female lead, would he survive...?

Hiss...

Gu Yi, oh, Gu Yi, you really don't seem all that bright!!!

You only have a few years left to live yourself, yet you're worrying about someone else...

Besides, my Life Lamp is still at the Illusory Demon Sect. I need to take this opportunity to get it back.