Shao Yi’s expression was composed and gentle as he said softly, “Senior Sister Fu Luo, what do you mean by this?”

Fu Luo’s eyes became even more resentful. “You call me Senior Sister? When have you ever called me that? Did Yan Xia and I complain about something that makes you side with her?”

Shao Yi smiled slightly. “How did this get connected to Yan Xia again?”

“Then let me ask you—what did you do with Yan Xia this morning? And what did you promise me last night? Are you just saying sweet things to deceive me? And that princess of the Zhuyin Clan—it was one thing when you wavered between me and Yan Xia before, but now that a new one has arrived, are you going to employ the same old tricks and pursue her too?”

Xuan Yi was secretly snatching a cake from the food box before Fucang when she suddenly heard her name mentioned. She couldn’t help but freeze. The hand she had extended was flicked lightly but firmly on its back by Fucang. She let out an “ow” and looked up to glare at him angrily.

However, Fucang paid her no attention, only turning his body aside to quietly gaze at the illusion on the lake surface.

Xuan Yi finally managed to snatch the teapot and refilled her cup, taking a light sip. She said in a low voice, “Senior Brother Gu Ting looks quite angry. Aren’t you his good friend? Won’t you go advise him?”

Fucang didn’t turn his head. “Didn’t you squeeze in here and stubbornly refuse to leave precisely to watch the drama? This is exactly what you hoped for.”

This was exactly why she disliked this divine lord—he always thought the worst of her.

“Am I the one making Senior Sister Fu Luo fickle?”

“After eating so many pastries and tea from Yan Xia at the bell tower, this is your repayment?”

Xuan Yi was genuinely shocked. “How do you know?”

Fucang’s voice revealed neither joy nor anger. “You weren’t the only one Master assigned to ring the bell.”

“You were hiding in the dark spying?” Xuan Yi wrinkled her brow in disdain. “Sinister and cunning.”

He turned his head to glance at her. Unexpectedly, there was no cold anger on his face. Instead, he regarded her thoughtfully. On her jet-black fluffy hair, the adorning golden rings glinted brilliantly. Her pale, jade-porcelain cheeks and eternally calm eyes—no one ever knew what would burst forth from those eyes in the next moment, whether mockery or goodwill.

Fucang narrowed his eyes slightly. “Those four words suit you better.”

Xuan Yi smiled slightly. “How coincidental—I’ve recently changed and now prefer sinister and cunning brutes. Senior Brother Fucang, I wasn’t mistaken. We truly are a match made in heaven.”

She cast him flirtatious glances. He immediately turned his head away, ignoring her.

*

The conversation on the lake surface continued. It had now progressed to the point where Fu Luo advanced one step while Shao Yi retreated one step.

“Why won’t you speak? Why are you avoiding me? Yesterday everything was fine—why has it all changed today?!”

Fu Luo grabbed his sleeve, losing control. Her entire body was almost pressed against his.

Shao Yi let out a soft sigh, looking at her with difficulty and tender affection. His pale fingertips lightly traced across her beautiful face, lifting her chin. “Senior Sister, you’re too domineering. It really exhausts me.”

Tears filled Fu Luo’s eyes as she bit her lip. “This isn’t the first day you’ve known me. You’ve long known how domineering I am. I just don’t like watching you get close to and joke with other goddesses! Don’t you like me anymore?”

Shao Yi smiled faintly. “Senior Sister’s beauty is enchanting—I like it very much. However, Senior Sister’s domineering ways make me somewhat afraid to like you. When Senior Sister occasionally cries in front of me, I like it immensely. When you cry every day, I stop liking it. When Senior Sister occasionally gets a little jealous, I also like it. When you’re jealous every day, I grow weary of it.”

He gently wiped away the tears on her cheeks, his sweet voice full of tender consideration. “When the two of us are together, we’ve had happy times. However, the affection I give is what it is. If it can no longer satisfy you, I cannot give more. Why must Senior Sister be troubled? You have a marriage engagement with Senior Brother Gu Ting. Senior Brother Gu Ting is full of noble righteousness, upright and honorable—he is an absolutely excellent match.”

Fu Luo’s eyes were full of tears as she said miserably, “I’ve told you before—my marriage engagement with Gu Ting is beyond my control. Although I respect and esteem him, I have no romantic love for him. My… my heart has always been here! You know this! How can you bear to treat me this way?”

Wow… spoken so directly… The disciples’ piercing gazes once again converged on Gu Ting. Everyone felt that the golden crown atop his head looked somewhat green.

Whatever Shao Yi said next, no one could hear anymore. The cloud and mist illusion was scattered by Gu Ting with a single blow. His complexion turned white, then green, then flushed red. His body also gradually began to tremble violently. Suddenly he roared, shouting sternly, “Who is it?! I don’t believe it! Who is it?! Who is so malicious?!”

Zhi Xi finally came to her senses and hurried forward to comfort him. “Junior Brother Gu Ting, calm down! We all know it’s fake! How could Fu Luo possibly do such a thing?”

While comforting him, she turned her head and urgently called out, “Senior Brother Tai Yao! Junior Brother Fucang! Quickly come support Junior Brother Gu Ting! Make him calm down!”

Tai Yao and Fucang had already come forward to hold up Gu Ting. He was already shaking so badly he couldn’t stand. His face was pale as snow, and his trembling lips only repeated, “I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it! It’s fake!”

The disciples had spent many years with him and knew of his deep and devoted love for Fu Luo. This illusion on the lake, whether true or false, was a devastating blow to him. Moreover, the Yao clan of Hua Huang were divine beings who cared so much about face and dignity.

Tai Yao could only sigh. “This is nothing more than a malicious prank. Gu Ting, why take it seriously?”

Zhi Xi said angrily, “Who has such a venomous heart to frame even a gentleman like Junior Brother Gu Ting?!”

Well, as for that… the only one who had quarreled with Gu Ting seemed to be that princess of the Zhuyin Clan, right? The disciples’ gazes intentionally or unintentionally converged on Xuan Yi. Speaking of which, this princess was indeed greatly cunning and sinister. That she could do such a thing was not at all surprising.

Facing the many questioning gazes, the little princess of the Zhuyin Clan seemed completely oblivious, her two eyes fixed on Hege Lake with an air of still wanting more.

Looking at it this way, if you said she wasn’t the one who did this, no one would believe it.

From behind suddenly came Yan Xia’s clear yet heartbreaking voice. “…Is this true? Shao Yi and Senior Sister Fu Luo?”

Oh my, Yan Xia had appeared.

Xuan Yi turned her head to look at her. This round-faced, delicate little princess was once again covered in tears, grief-stricken. She said in a low voice, “I just found out… no wonder Shao Yi… how could Senior Sister Fu Luo do this?”

Zhi Xi said urgently, “Yan Xia! This is fake! Someone deliberately played a prank! How can you believe it?”

Yan Xia slowly wiped her tears and said softly, “Last night I went to find Shao Yi, but I ran into Senior Sister Fu Luo. She even blamed me for not knowing to avoid suspicion at such a late hour… I thought she was looking for him because of something Master had assigned. I never imagined…”

Though her words were spoken lightly, they were vicious—completely at odds with the straightforward and innocent little princess of Chi Di everyone remembered. Zhi Xi couldn’t bear to listen any longer and frowned. “Yan Xia! What are you saying?!”

The Gu Ting being supported by Tai Yao and Fucang on the side suddenly moved, shaking off their hands. Amid the disciples’ cries of alarm, he walked step by step toward the stone table, his blood-red eyes staring maliciously at Xuan Yi. After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice hoarse. “Why did you do this?”

Xuan Yi’s expression was calm as she frankly met his gaze, saying softly, “Senior Brother Gu Ting, why are you certain I did this?”

“Only you would do such a thing!” For the first time, Gu Ting felt a violent emotion of hatred to the bone. He hadn’t forgotten how, because of Feilian Shenjun, she had even mocked the disciples for being dogs. “You just want to destroy everything here!”

To see the disciples become mutually distrustful, even breeding various dark and malicious thoughts behind each other’s backs—that would make her happy! This malicious princess of the Zhuyin Clan simply cannot stand order and light in the world. She shatters everything he views as beautiful right before his eyes!

“Junior Brother Gu Ting!” Zhi Xi couldn’t help but raise her voice. “There is not yet evidence indicating this was done by Princess Xuan Yi. Such words are quite biased!”

Gu Ting’s blood-red eyes fell on Zhi Xi.

“Whose side are you on?” he asked coldly. “Have you joined her side?”

Zhi Xi couldn’t help but freeze, her powdered face flushing completely red. “I only stand on the side of righteousness! Although I don’t like Princess Xuan Yi, I absolutely will not accuse her without reason! You are emotionally agitated right now and your words lack fairness. If it’s ultimately proven this matter wasn’t done by her, what then?!”

Before she finished speaking, Gu Ting violently pushed her away, saying hoarsely, “Only she would do such a thing!”

“Senior Brother Gu Ting,” Xuan Yi slowly spoke, “do you believe that among Master’s disciples, aside from me, everyone is upright and honorable, emphasizing benevolence, elegance, and propriety—all gentlemen? So you think it would only make sense if this matter were done by me, correct?”