Chapter 58: The Eve of the Meet Part 2

It wasn’t as if Sang Chencao were inviting her to “take” the flower; it felt more like she was trying to force the blossom…

Force it into her very heart, to occupy her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Feng Yun’ai felt a strange sense of panic, as if she were being plundered and coerced.

It wasn’t fear. She simply didn’t know how to respond. Feng Rong had never taught her this.

Both of them were top-tier martial artists. No matter how much the people inside the room lowered their voices, the two outside could hear them clearly.

The blushing woman inside said, “You have no idea what I saw when I first moved in!”

“What?” the other asked.

“They… they’re a couple! They seemed to be doing that in the room. I was so afraid someone else would stumble upon them that I purposely kicked two roof tiles to make a noise.”

“So you were the one who broke the tiles? I was wondering why there were so many stray cats in this courtyard.”

“But when they came back recently, they didn’t seem as close as before. I thought they’d had a falling out and reached the end of their rope. I was actually quite melancholy about it for a while. Looking at them now, I suppose they’re still together.”

“Why were you melancholy?”

“I don’t even know.”

Feng Yun’ai could no longer sit still. She stood up immediately and walked toward the house. As she turned, she couldn’t help but raise a hand to rub her lips, wondering if they were stained with flower juice.

Sang Chencao followed her. Once the door was closed, she said softly, “It seems others were on the verge of becoming suspicious.”

“So what?” Feng Yun’ai’s ears felt hot. She wasn’t entirely ignorant of the ways of the world. She decided to change the subject. “On the day of the Hero Recruitment Meet, you will go up to pluck the blossom. I will not.”

Sang Chencao chuckled softly. “Then don’t blame me if I don’t pluck it gracefully enough and embarrass Feng Rong.”

At this point, such things…

Feng Yun’ai was no longer afraid. She lowered her eyes and remained silent, though her heart pounded. She was worried that something would go wrong on the day of the meet.

The quieter it was on the eve of the tournament, the more she worried.

Cloud City was bright and clear. It happened to be the season when flowers were in full bloom; the scent of blossoms filled the air, and the greenery was lush.

On the day of the Hero Recruitment Meet, the great bell of the Dieshan Alliance tolled, its sound echoing through the clouds.

Martial artists and heroes who had been staying outside the city responded to the call. Naturally, in addition to the warriors who would step onto the Sword Trial Stage, many more had come simply to watch.

The once-empty Cloud City was instantly packed to the brim. For a moment, it seemed as if the city had returned to its former prosperity.

As the major sects gathered at the Dieshan Alliance, many couldn’t help but sigh. The world had changed so much; Feng Rong was gone, and the Hantian Alliance was no more.

The Dieshan Alliance had ceased its city patrols and removed the guards from the city walls. People streamed through the wide bronze gates, many walking in groups wearing identical uniforms, clearly belonging to the same sects.

There was no need to water the Golden-Wanderer Eternal Flower today. Feng Yun’ai sat in the courtyard, her mind unable to find peace.

The door was pushed open. There was no one else in the courtyard, so Sang Chencao let out a cold laugh. “The Chuanyun Sect, Guanfeng Gate, and Hengshan Sect arrived early,” she said leisurely. “Their Sect Leaders are currently in the Council Hall drinking tea with Zhou Gui. The man in black behind Zhou Gui still hasn’t shown his face. It seems he truly can’t handle the light of day.”

Feng Yun’ai had expected as much. Wary of the tables and cups that might contain hidden Earthstone, she stood and asked, “What about the Thousand Machinations Sect?”

Sang Chencao raised an eyebrow dismissively. “Chen Jinsai is already in the alliance, sitting right beside Zhou Gui. No one else has entered or left the Council Hall for days, and the tables haven’t been changed. They certainly are bold.”

Feng Yun’ai felt a weight in her heart. She touched her face. “When shall we remove our disguises?”

“No rush. Wait until the meet officially begins.” Sang Chencao leaned in to inspect her. She pressed her index finger against Feng Yun’ai’s lip and tilted her chin up slightly, smiling. “Why? Is our Xiuxiu feeling suffocated?”

Feng Yun’ai wasn’t exactly uncomfortable; she had grown used to the disguise over the past few days. However, she felt uneasy when things weren’t prepared in advance.

Sang Chencao’s finger traced upward, her thumb resting on the corner of Feng Yun’ai’s eye. she pressed down lightly, staring into those eyes that were currently a deep, artificial black. “Is there any of the eye-coloring drops left?”

“Some.” Feng Yun’ai looked away, unwilling to meet her gaze, fearing it would only further disturb her heart.

Sang Chencao gave a nonchalant hum. After a long pause, she said, “If I remember correctly, when you applied the drops yesterday, your eyes were so sore you could hardly bear it. When you turned your back, were you secretly wiping away tears?”

Feng Yun’ai had turned her back, but not to wipe away tears. She simply didn’t want anyone to see her in such a pathetic state.

“If you use them twice more today, I suspect you really will go blind,” Sang Chencao said flatly, a hint of pity in her eyes. “Such beautiful eyes… it would be a shame if they went dark. If Feng Rong were alive, would she be willing to let her successor become a blind girl?”

Feng Yun’ai pursed her lips and said nothing. She had also wondered—if she could no longer see, would Feng Rong be utterly disappointed in her?

If she went blind, her swordsmanship would likely never improve again. How could she pass on Feng Rong’s Lonely Heart Sword Technique to the next generation? Everything would end with her.

Even now, with her vision slightly obscured, she felt incredibly uncomfortable. If she truly fell into total darkness, how would she cope?

“How about this?” Sang Chencao said, her voice coaxing. “Don’t show your face today. I’ll go up on the Sword Trial Stage alone.”

Feng Yun’ai said calmly, “I will wear a veiled hat and hide in the shadows. If things take a turn for the worse, I will have to show myself.”

“Even if people discover your grey eyes?” Sang Chencao pressed, leaning closer.

“Even if I must go blind,” Feng Yun’ai said, her gaze as still as stagnant water.

Sang Chencao let out a sharp laugh, though she didn’t try to stop her. She merely spoke in a slow, drawn-out tone. “Being blind might be for the best. You’d have to believe whatever I say. But still… I would find it a pity.”

“Why?” Feng Yun’ai asked, looking up.

“Because I love the way your eyes look when you’re angry at me,” Sang Chencao said bluntly.