Chapter 289: Why Is She Angry When I’ve Let It Go?
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Fang Cheng Lang’s eyelashes fluttered slightly.
Quan Ye spoke without waiting for a response, “I tried talking to her, but she ignored me. Eldest Senior Brother, do you think she’s still angry about what happened before?”
Quan Ye was the type to lose his temper quickly but cool down just as fast.
When Yu Zhao had slapped him dozens of times back on the Floating Island, he had been furious and even considered killing her. But as time passed, he quickly forgot the bitterness and started recalling Yu Zhao’s better qualities.
Especially when compared to Ye Cong Xin, who had recently been overly clingy, he increasingly felt that Yu Zhao, who didn’t demand attention, was far better.
Fang Cheng Lang let out a cold laugh, barely audible, from his throat. “You repeatedly injured Yu Zhao under the pretense of sparring. Why wouldn’t she be angry?”
“But she hit me back too! And I didn’t even fight back. We’re even now, aren’t we?” Quan Ye argued confidently. “I’ve already let it go, so why is she still mad?”
“Beating you up doesn’t erase the grievances between you two.”
If making amends were that simple, Fang Cheng Lang thought, he would have already offered himself as a punching bag for Yu Zhao, letting her vent her frustrations, instead of locking himself in his room, consumed by guilt.
“That’s too much trouble,” Quan Ye muttered with frustration. “Eldest Senior Brother, you’re smarter than me. How can I get Yu Zhao to forgive me?”
Fang Cheng Lang’s lips curled into a bitter smile.
In a low voice, he said, “She won’t forgive us.”
“Never.”
Quan Ye froze, stunned.
…
“Boom!”
A deafening thunderclap echoed across the sky.
A bolt of lightning, like a writhing dragon, struck the main peak of the Five Elements Dao Sect, as though splitting the heavens in two.
Su Ming, who was walking back to Lone Moon Peak after collecting his supplies, was startled.
He glanced around, confused, suspecting that someone in the sect was undergoing a tribulation. But when he noticed the calm expressions of the other disciples, his puzzlement grew.
Unable to contain his curiosity, he grabbed a passing disciple by the arm. “Junior Brother Song, what was that thunder about? Why aren’t any of you surprised?”
The “Junior Brother Song” gave an awkward smile. “Senior Brother Su, my surname is Li.”
Su Ming didn’t feel embarrassed in the slightest. He quickly corrected himself, “I misspoke earlier. Of course, I knew your surname is Li. Junior Brother Li, tell me what’s going on.”
“Ah, well…” Junior Brother Li chuckled nervously. “Senior Brother Su, since you’ve just returned, you might not know. That wasn’t someone undergoing a tribulation. It was Sect Master Wu Sang of the Green Wood Sect refining pills on the main peak. These phenomena happen often. We’re all used to it.”
“Sect Master Wu Sang is refining pills on the main peak?” Su Ming exclaimed.
Why would Sect Master Wu Sang, a renowned alchemist, not return to the Green Wood Sect and instead choose to refine pills here, causing such a commotion?
When Su Ming pressed further, Junior Brother Li shook his head. “I don’t know the details. Maybe he struck some kind of deal with the Sect Master.”
After letting Junior Brother Li go, Su Ming stood there stroking his chin, deep in thought.
Sect Master Wu Sang was a top-tier alchemist in the cultivation world. Observing his pill-refining process would undoubtedly be a rare and valuable opportunity.
Such a chance was not something the people of Lone Moon Peak should miss.
Excited by the prospect, Su Ming clenched his fist and hurried to Cui Jue’s cave, calling out loudly at the entrance.
Cui Jue appeared quickly, his expression indifferent. “Third Senior Brother.”
Without waiting, Su Ming grabbed Cui Jue by the wrist and began pulling him down the mountain. “Sect Master Wu Sang is refining pills on the main peak! How can you stay holed up in your cave? Come with me, and I’ll deliver this great opportunity to you.”
Cui Jue, who spent most of his time immersed in alchemy, rarely left his cave except for brief respites. Su Ming couldn’t understand how Cui Jue could remain indifferent and was more impatient on his behalf.
To Su Ming’s surprise, Cui Jue yanked his hand free and stopped in his tracks. “Third Senior Brother, I’ve said this before. Since I detoxified myself, I will never refine pills again.”
“What nonsense are you spouting, Old Fourth? You’re an alchemist. How can you possibly give up alchemy?” Su Ming exclaimed, his eyes wide.
Cui Jue had indeed said something similar before, but Su Ming had dismissed it as a fleeting remark. After all, hadn’t he himself once sworn never to borrow spirit stones from Yu Zhao again? Yet, he hadn’t hesitated to do so later.
Some words were meant to be taken lightly.
“Yu Zhao is gone. Without her, being an alchemist means nothing to me,” Cui Jue said coldly.
“You gave up alchemy for Yu Zhao?”
Su Ming suddenly understood, but after a moment of reflection, he frowned.
What did Yu Zhao’s departure have to do with Cui Jue’s decision to quit alchemy? Back when she was still here, Cui Jue hadn’t gone out of his way to prepare pills for her. On the contrary, he had made plenty of restorative pills for Junior Sister Ye Cong Xin.
If anyone deserved him giving up alchemy for their sake, it should have been Junior Sister Ye.
As this thought crossed Su Ming’s mind, he accidentally voiced it aloud.
Cui Jue’s expression darkened instantly.
Trying to contain his anger, Cui Jue hissed, “Alchemy is my passion. But only Yu Zhao is worthy of consuming the pills I refine. No one else deserves them!”
“But you made pills for Junior Sister Ye,” Su Ming muttered under his breath.
Cui Jue’s face flushed with fury as he turned on his heel and stormed back into his cave.
Still unwilling to give up, Su Ming called after him, “Old Fourth! Think this through! With your talent, it’s only a matter of time before you become a top-tier alchemist! If you quit now, it’ll be hard to start again later.”
The only response was the heavy sound of the door slamming shut.
Standing before the closed door, Su Ming sighed deeply.
Cui Jue’s presence on Lone Moon Peak was usually low-key, but Su Ming had always envied him. Cui Jue’s unparalleled talent in alchemy rivaled even that of the Green Wood Sect’s alchemists. Both the Sect Master and the elders praised him highly.
The pills he refined were always in high demand, and he was undoubtedly the wealthiest among his peers.
Su Ming simply couldn’t understand why Cui Jue would throw all that away because of Yu Zhao.
“Yu Zhao… You left, so why did you leave Lone Moon Peak in such turmoil?”
Thinking about the recent chaos, Su Ming found himself missing the peaceful days when Yu Zhao was still around. Back then, everyone had been like family, with no arguments or conflicts.
He couldn’t help but feel a twinge of resentment toward her.
She had spoiled them, and now she was gone, leaving a mess behind. It was so unfair.
Resolving to confront her the next time they met, Su Ming vowed to have a serious talk with her.
The Eldest Senior Brother was under confinement. The Second Senior Brother was bedridden. The Fourth Senior Brother had given up alchemy. The Fifth Senior Brother was enduring hardship at Green Hill Mountain. Even Su Ming himself had been caught up in the trouble.
They had all atoned in their own ways.
Surely, it was time for Yu Zhao to let go of her anger, wasn’t it?
If she still wouldn’t relent, then perhaps he’d approach Junior Sister Ye for help. As fellow women, maybe she could persuade Yu Zhao.
As for their master, Su Ming wasn’t worried. Last time, he had sensed a softening in their master’s attitude. With some effort, they might secure his approval too.
Everything was ready, Su Ming thought—all they needed now was the right wind to blow their way.
But Su Ming never considered whether that wind was willing to come.