Chapter 62: A Taste of Sweetness Part 1

Feng Yun’ai felt adrift. She could hear a flicker of self-loathing and resignation in the other woman’s voice, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to react.

How was one supposed to comfort another? She didn’t know.

Fortunately, Sang Chencao’s melancholy lasted only a heartbeat. Like a dying fire roaring back to life, her eyes suddenly burned with a bright, piercing light, turning eerie and unpredictable once more.

Seeing this, Feng Yun’ai finally relaxed her shoulders, though she still had no desire to touch the piece of osmanthus cake before her. She had rarely tasted such sweet pastries and harbored a feeling that she wouldn’t particularly enjoy it.

Unexpectedly, Sang Chencao gave her no room for choice. She suddenly reached out, hooking her hand around the back of Feng Yun’ai’s neck and cutting off any path of retreat. Then, without a word of explanation, she pressed the osmanthus cake toward the other woman’s lips.

If Feng Yun’ai spoke up to refuse now, she would only be giving the woman a chance to shove it into her mouth. Yet, with the pastry already pressed against her lips, she couldn’t simply remain motionless.

“Afraid I’ve poisoned it?” Sang Chencao asked.

Feng Yun’ai stared at her, remaining silent.

Sang Chencao smiled brightly. “It’s sweet. You’ve been standing all day, so have a taste. This Hero Recruitment Meet is far from over; I wouldn’t want you to run out of strength before it’s my turn to take the stage.”

The soft texture resting against her lips exuded the fragrance of a fresh-baked batch, a scent so rich it felt as though a whole bouquet of osmanthus flowers had been thrust into her face.

Feng Yun’ai had no choice but to part her lips and take a bite. It was a flavor she had never experienced during her time on Listening Goose Peak—sweet, but not cloying. It was actually… quite delicious.

“Well?” Sang Chencao pulled the cake back and took a bite herself, right over the teeth marks Feng Yun’ai had left. Immediately after, she hissed, her expression turning into one of disgust.

Evidently, she hadn’t tasted it herself before this.

Feng Yun’ai watched as her own bite marks were consumed. After a long silence, she lowered her gaze and said, “It is acceptable.”

Sang Chencao lifted a corner of the white veil again, bringing the remaining cake to Feng Yun’ai’s lips. “Then have another bite? That person told me it wouldn’t be too sweet. What a liar.”

Hearing a habitual deceiver call someone else a liar was somewhat humorous.

After staring at it for a few seconds, Feng Yun’ai didn’t lean back to avoid it this time. She leaned forward and bit down, taking the small piece of osmanthus cake into her mouth.

Sang Chencao turned her gaze back to the stage and sneered. “It seems Zhou Gui isn’t giving the independent heroes of the world much of a chance. The people sent up by the sects and alliances are getting stronger and stronger. The rogue cultivators are no match for them.”

Feng Yun’ai had noticed this as well. Half an hour ago, the situation had shifted dramatically. The difference between the previous warriors and the current ones was like the difference between clouds and mud.

Whether it was movement techniques or internal power, there was a sudden, steep cliff in quality. It had become a game of eagles catching sparrows; the newcomers could toy with their opponents and knock them off the stage in just a few moves.

The crowd had been whispering for a long time, saying that the seniors of the Hengshan Sect were being far too overbearing.

Although the rules of the Hero Recruitment Meet never explicitly forbade experts from challenging those much weaker than themselves, everyone in the martial world usually followed a tacit understanding during sect trials or grand events.

Despite the incessant grumbling from the onlookers, those on the stage showed no sign of remorse, and Zhou Gui showed no intention of intervening.

At this point, the meet had to continue. However, as the power level on the stage rose, the younger generation who had hoped to test their blades could only sigh in regret.

Sang Chencao narrowed her eyes and scanned the surroundings, murmuring darkly, “Still, this is for the best. The more anxious Zhou Gui becomes, the easier it is for us to identify who is truly on her side.”

Feng Yun’ai suddenly raised her arm, pointing toward several figures in the distance. As her fingertip traced the air, she said calmly, “Mo Wuxin of the Severing Wind Sword, Qian Teng of the Wave Breaker Spear, and following them, the Fallen Fire Hammer. While you were away, the timing of these three taking the stage was the most suspicious.”

“Xiuxiu actually remembers so many names?” Sang Chencao teased.

Feng Yun’ai shook her head. “I simply happened to hear others discussing them.”

“Mo Wuxin and Qian Teng both originated from the Three Great Sects. The remaining one is a rogue hero well-known throughout the land,” Sang Chencao said meaningfully.

“Many challengers were repelled by them. I saw Mo Wuxin showing signs of exhaustion just as someone below was about to jump up, but then Qian Teng took the stage immediately and crushed the momentum,” Feng Yun’ai recalled.

Sang Chencao sneered. “So you’re saying these people knock others off the stage with ease, and then get knocked off themselves just as easily? They never get caught in a grueling, drawn-out battle?”

Feng Yun’ai nodded slightly. “However, those three held the stage for a long time. When they were finally defeated, they appeared genuinely exhausted. It didn’t look like an act.”

Sang Chencao let out a sharp laugh. Through the thin white veil, she leaned in until she was almost touching Feng Yun’ai’s face. “My dear Xiuxiu, this is the Hero Recruitment Meet. Every famous sect in the world is gathered here. If they put on a lazy performance and let people see through the ruse, how would the Dieshan Alliance save face?”

Feng Yun’ai pursed her lips and remained silent. It made sense; Zhou Gui would naturally ensure everything appeared flawless.

Then, Sang Chencao said out of nowhere, “Rest for a bit, Xiuxiu. If you keep watching like this, your mind will go numb.”

“You!” Feng Yun’ai caught the teasing undertone in her voice.

Sang Chencao chuckled. “It’s still early. Rest when you should, lest you have no energy left when it’s my turn to go up.”

Feng Yun’ai hadn’t felt sleepy or tired initially, but she soon realized she had fallen for this woman’s tricks once again. A mysterious grogginess washed over her—a heaviness that had nothing to do with natural sleepiness.

It had to be the osmanthus cake from earlier.

Unfortunately, the moment Feng Yun’ai circulated her internal breath to purge the drug from her system, the daze only grew more intense.

“It melts into your blood and qi instantly. The more you circulate your power, the faster it travels,” Sang Chencao whispered.