Because You're Not Good-Looking

At fifteen, after a year of in-depth exchanges with Sister Bai Heng, you had figured out all of Master Jingliu's preferences and prepared yourself to deceive your master and defy your ancestors. If you succeeded, Jing Yuan would call you Master's Husband next year. If you failed, Jing Yuan would be tending your grave next year.

Your swordsmanship had not been neglected during this time either. Aside from condensing sword intent, you had even managed to control sixteen flying swords at once. This was something even Master Jingliu had not accomplished back then. Yet Master Jingliu did not praise you for it, because the lifespan of a short-life species could not compare to that of a long-life species. You did not have centuries like her to accumulate experience.

The Dual Cultivation Sword Arts had also progressed noticeably. You could now barely unite your two swords and wield eighty percent of its power. During this process, you discovered that Master Jingliu did not seem to mind accidental physical contact very much.

As the days passed, you realized that you had grown taller than Master Jingliu. But knowing that the lifespan of a short-life species was as fleeting as fireworks, you prepared to find an opportunity to confess. Before that, however, Wuxia Feiguang brought up something related one day.

Wuxia Feiguang: "Do you have someone you like?"

Bai Heng: "?? How did you know?? Don't tell me you came to Sword Champion Manor to spy on me??"

Wuxia Feiguang: "No. I guessed."

Bai Heng: "Then your guess was pretty accurate. Oh, right, I remember you're a girl, aren't you? How about we meet up after I confess? I'm at Sword Champion Manor on the Xianzhou 'Luofu.'"

Wuxia Feiguang: "No need. I'm very ugly."

Bai Heng: "It's okay, I'm not good-looking either."

Wuxia Feiguang: "Then I want to go even less."

Bai Heng: "???"

The night was cool and thin as water. Jingliu looked over the messages between the two of them, then lifted a white porcelain cup with her delicate fingers and drained the clear wine inside.

"Not good-looking..." She suddenly let out a soft laugh and gazed toward the moonlight at the horizon.

But when she thought of that boy from several years ago, the one who had clung to her leg and carelessly declared that he wanted to be her Childhood Fiancé, about to steal away her best friend, she truly felt an indescribable melancholy.

At year's end, during the Lantern Festival on the Xianzhou "Luofu," every realm was decorated with lanterns and colorful ornaments, brimming with lively festive cheer. Bai Heng intended to confess today and had prepared some gifts.

During the first half of the Lantern Festival night, you followed the Five Kasas of the Cloud through Xuanye Avenue on the "Luofu," sampling all kinds of snacks, solving lantern riddles, and setting floating lanterns adrift.

In the latter half of the night, you stood atop a city tower and looked into the distance. When fireworks rose over the city walls, you seized the chance to take Jingliu's small hand and said, "Master Jingliu, I like you..."

Faced with this sudden confession, she stood there in a daze but did not pull her hand away. Just as you thought you had succeeded, Jingliu drew the Zhilí Sword.

The next day, after fighting from one end of the city walls to the other last night, you were covered in injuries and lay in the Alchemy Commission for an entire day. You had never expected the price of deceiving your master and defying your ancestors to be this high, but you did not give up.

That night, you shared the matter with the online friend you had never met.

Bai Heng: "My confession was rejected."

Wuxia Feiguang: "Oh, just as expected."

Bai Heng: "You don't even know who I confessed to. How is that just as expected?"

Wuxia Feiguang: "Because you're not good-looking."

Bai Heng: "..."

Wuxia Feiguang: "Tell me, then. Who did you confess to?"

Bai Heng: "My master..."

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Wuxia Feiguang: "That's normal. A disciple being with his master goes against all propriety."

Bai Heng: "But ever since I moved into Sword Champion Manor, I've strictly held myself to the standards of a Childhood Fiancé."

Wuxia Feiguang: "...Fine."

Bai Heng: "Hey, why don't you give me some advice? I'm not planning to give up yet."

Wuxia Feiguang: "From what I know, for a woman like the Sword Champion, unless you defeat her, you'll never be able to move her."

Only after speaking with his online friend did you realize that Sister Bai Heng had not been joking when she said to defeat her, carry her home, and consummate the marriage.

At sixteen, you confessed to Master Jingliu once a month. But the price was that Jingliu would fight you without mercy that day, leaving you to spend several days in the Alchemy Commission nearly every month. Before long, the alchemists there had become quite familiar with you.

However, as you grew older, your reputation as a youthful genius and your striking appearance brought you quite a few admirers. Still, you had little interest in them. It truly proved that saying: one should not meet someone too dazzling in one's youth.

At seventeen, perhaps driven by this encouragement, you went from barely enduring a few dozen moves under Master Jingliu's sword to being able to wound her now. You firmly believed that, given another five years, you would probably be able to defeat this undefeated legend of the Cloud Knights.

At eighteen, you finally reached the age to join the Cloud Knights. Yingxing specially forged a five-foot sword for you, which you named "Soulsever."

As one of the rare short-life species among the Cloud Knights, you followed Master Jingliu to the front lines and exterminated the undying abominations of Abundance in the star sea. Perhaps because your heart harbored hatred for the abominations of Abundance, while slaughtering them, you set foot upon the Path of The Hunt and became a Pathstrider of The Hunt.

During a clash with the wingweavers, abominations of Abundance, Jingliu was injured by a creation of Calamity-Bringer Shuhu. Bai Heng deliberately gave you the chance to apply medicine to her wounds.

Inside the tent, candlelight reflected Jingliu's graceful silhouette.

Bai Heng gently tore open the bloodstained fabric on Jingliu's back, revealing her snow-white fragrant shoulder and neck. He carefully applied the Alchemy Commission's wound medicine to Jingliu's injuries.

Jingliu merely lowered her head in silence.

After a long while, she suddenly parted her lips and said:

"Creations of Calamity-Bringer Shuhu have been appearing frequently within the Luofu lately. We must remain vigilant and prevent those abominations from causing trouble on the Xianzhou."

"Understood, Master Jingliu," Bai Heng replied casually.

He was still diligently applying the Alchemy Commission's potent medicine.

Silence fell again, until Jingliu pressed her thin lips together and spoke once more:

"Aren't you going to do something?"

Bai Heng froze. "Hm?"

Jingliu drew in a slight breath and said:

"For example, taking advantage of my injury to defeat me. Maybe then I could agree to you?"

Hearing this, Bai Heng spoke with righteous solemnity:

"Master Jingliu, do I look like the kind of person who would... Draw your sword."

A rare faint smile appeared on Jingliu's face. "No extensions. You failed to seize your chance."