Yan Guining was still sitting there.
When Chu Yunfei stopped before her, she instinctively tightened her grip on the hem of her clothes, the shame in her heart growing stronger.
"Senior Sister Yan, you lost."
The reminder reached her ears again, making Yan Guining stiffen.
Of course she knew she had lost.
Three days ago in the Pill Pavilion, she had personally agreed that if Chu Yunfei passed the assessment and returned to the inner sect, she would kiss him in front of everyone.
At the time, she had never imagined she would lose.
What could a cripple whose cultivation had fallen to the Body Tempering Third Layer accomplish in three days?
Never mind returning to the inner sect-even whether he could remain in the Azure Mystic Sect was in question.
Yet Chu Yunfei had not only passed the assessment, but sent four qualifying disciples flying with a single sword strike, seizing first place in the outer sect with overwhelming force.
That slap to the face had rung far too loudly.
What she had lost was a bet, but what she had thrown away was her own face.
The surrounding disciples soon noticed something was wrong and turned to look.
"Lost what?"
"Apparently Senior Sister Yan made a bet with Chu Yunfei."
"Senior Sister Yan is the sect master's personal disciple. Why would she bet with him?"
The whispers multiplied.
Yan Guining turned her face aside, refusing to look at Chu Yunfei no matter what.
"Chu Yunfei."
She bit her lower lip, lowering her voice until only the two of them could hear.
"Could you ask for something else?"
"No."
Chu Yunfei's answer was utterly decisive.
"You!"
Yan Guining abruptly raised her head.
Chu Yunfei had already leaned half a step closer and even turned his cheek toward her.
His manner all but told her outright that she had to honor her loss; welching was no skill for a personal disciple.
Yan Guining's face flushed scarlet.
When in her entire life had she ever done such a thing in public?
Had she known this day would come, she would never have let anger cloud her head and made that bet with him in the Pill Pavilion.
But it was clearly too late for regrets now.
More and more disciples were gathering around. If she dragged this out any longer, everyone in the outer sect plaza would crowd over.
Yan Guining took a deep breath.
Wasn't it just one kiss?
After kissing him, I'll find another chance to deal with him!
She abruptly stepped forward.
Her soft lips lightly touched Chu Yunfei's cheek.
Like a dragonfly skimming the water, they parted the instant they touched.
Yan Guining's mind buzzed, and her whole face burned, right down to her ears.
The next moment, she had already retreated three steps away.
"The bet is settled!"
She tossed out those words, turned, and left.
Her steps were so quick it seemed someone was chasing her to kill her, and she shot out of the crowd in the blink of an eye.
The plaza fell silent for an instant.
Then the crowd erupted.
"Wait!"
"Did Senior Sister Yan just kiss Chu Yunfei?"
"You saw right. I saw it too!"
"The sect master's personal disciple publicly kissed a newly promoted inner sect disciple? What's going on?"
"What else? She lost a bet."
"What kind of bet stakes a kiss? Can I get in on that?"
The people beside that disciple all turned to look at him.
"You think you're worthy?"
The man opened his mouth, then silently retreated into the crowd.
Chu Yunfei touched his cheek, where a faint warmth still lingered.
The corners of his mouth lifted, his mood excellent.
That bet was worth it.
On the other side of the stands, Situ Shuang'er remained in her seat.
She stared fixedly in the direction Yan Guining had left, her hands having clenched at some point.
Yan Guining had actually kissed Chu Yunfei, and in front of so many people!
An indescribable irritation lodged in her chest, refusing to subside no matter how she suppressed it.
Why?
The moment that thought surfaced, Situ Shuang'er herself froze.
Chu Yunfei had already dissolved his engagement with her.
What did whether Yan Guining wanted to kiss him have to do with her?
"It was just an absurd bet."
Situ Shuang'er spoke coldly, though it was unclear whom she was addressing.
"Pointless."
She rose and left the stands.
Only her steps were considerably faster than usual.
Chu Yunfei did not linger in the plaza and went straight to the Affairs Hall.
The Affairs Hall stood along the sect's central axis, handling all status changes, resource distributions, and mission handovers.
Inside, a middle-aged deacon was sorting through a register.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up and glanced at Chu Yunfei's outer sect disciple robes, washed nearly white.
"What is it?"
"Chu Yunfei, first place in the outer sect assessment."
Chu Yunfei placed his identity token on the table.
"Here to collect my inner sect token."
The middle-aged deacon paused.
He had just received the assessment results, so he naturally knew who had taken first place in the outer sect this year.
He lowered his head and opened the register. Sure enough, "first place" was written after Chu Yunfei's name, along with a handwritten annotation from the assessment elder.
Some of the coldness faded from the middle-aged deacon's face.
"One moment."
He took an emerald-green jade token and two neatly folded sets of robes from the shelves behind him.
The words "inner sect" were engraved on the front of the jade token, while the back bore Chu Yunfei's name and disciple number.
The two sets of inner sect disciple robes were white with green patterns, their fabric much finer than that of outer sect uniforms, with pale blue cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs.
"One inner sect token, two sets of standard robes."
"With this token, you may freely enter and leave the inner sect cultivation areas and collect fifty low-grade spirit stones each month."
The middle-aged deacon paused, then added a reminder. "There are still several vacant courtyards in the inner sect. You've stayed there before, so you should know the rules. Just choose one yourself."
"Thank you."
Chu Yunfei put away the token and robes, then turned to leave.
When he walked out of the Affairs Hall, the setting sun was already resting against the mountaintop.
Several outer sect disciples approached from ahead.
Seeing Chu Yunfei, they first froze, then promptly stepped to either side of the path.
"Senior Brother Chu."
One of them bowed respectfully.
Chu Yunfei nodded and walked between them.
Only a few days ago, when he had walked this mountain path, he had been met with mockery and scornful looks.
Now he had not even changed his clothes, yet the way people addressed him had changed first.
The world of martial cultivation was simply that pragmatic.
When you were weak, someone would find even your breathing an eyesore.
When you were strong, others would naturally clear a path for you.
Behind him, the disciples lowered their voices.
"That's him. He sent four qualifying disciples flying with one sword strike and took first place in the outer sect outright."
"I heard he was only at the Body Tempering Third Layer a few days ago."
"Breaking through several cultivation levels in a few days-that's what you call a genius."
"Enough. Stop talking, or he might hear you."
Chu Yunfei did not look back.
He had not moved into an inner sect courtyard yet, so he returned to his old residence on the rear mountain first.
By the time he arrived, the sky had gone completely dark.
The courtyard gate swung open.
Chu Yunfei suddenly stopped.
A figure in white sat beside the stone table in the courtyard.
Her white robes surpassed snow, a green sash encircled her waist, and her black hair fell to her waist.
It was none other than Situ Shuang'er.
She sat upright on a stone stool, her expression cold as though covered in frost. There was no telling how long she had been waiting.
Hearing the gate open, she raised her head.
"You're finally back."
Chu Yunfei leaned against the doorway, looking at her with a hint of a smile.
"A rare visitor."
"What brings you here so late?"
Situ Shuang'er stood, her tone cold.
"I came to warn you."
"Our engagement has already been dissolved. Don't pester me again, and don't think taking first place in the outer sect and returning to the inner sect will change anything."
Chu Yunfei raised his eyebrows.
"I'm pestering you?"
"Aren't you the one who came to my courtyard in the middle of the night specifically to wait for me?"
Situ Shuang'er's expression stiffened.
"I only came to make things clear."
"Is that so?"
Chu Yunfei took a step forward.
Less than two feet remained between them.
He looked down at Situ Shuang'er and suddenly smiled.
"Shuang'er."
"Are you sure you didn't come after me because seeing Senior Sister Yan kiss me upset you?"
Situ Shuang'er's expression immediately changed.
"Nonsense!"
"Why would I be upset?"
"Let whoever you like kiss you. What does it have to do with me?"
She spoke very quickly, her voice several notches higher than usual.
The smile on Chu Yunfei's face deepened.
His gaze made irritation rise in Situ Shuang'er's heart.
"What are you smiling at?"
"Nothing."
Chu Yunfei shrugged.
"I just think you look quite pretty when you're angry."
"Chu Yunfei!"
The spiritual power within Situ Shuang'er fell into disarray, and she nearly struck him on the spot.
But Chu Yunfei had already waved his hand.
"All right, I'll remember what you said."
"It's getting late. Hurry back."
"An unmarried girl spending the night in a man's courtyard-if word got out, it wouldn't sound good."
Situ Shuang'er felt her chest tighten.
She had clearly come to warn Chu Yunfei, so how had it turned into her pestering him?
Yet she had no way to refute those words.
"Don't flatter yourself!"
She shot Chu Yunfei a fierce glare, then turned and left.
Her steps were hurried and quick, sending fallen leaves swirling all over the courtyard.
Bang!
The courtyard gate slammed shut.
Chu Yunfei stood where he was, looking at the wooden gate that was still swaying slightly, a hint of amusement appearing on his face.
She was the one who had proposed breaking off the engagement, and she was the one who had drawn the line.
Now she was also the first to lose her composure and come knocking of her own accord.
Her mouth disclaimed any connection, clean as a whistle.
Her feet, though, were honest enough.