The hall fell into complete silence.
Mendong looked at Bujiang, then at Shaoyang Zhenren, and couldn’t help but speak: “Our sect master hasn’t changed much, has he? On Gufeng Mountain, our sect master’s youth-preserving techniques are the most exquisite. Even the aunties at the foot of the mountain say that our sect master’s face has remained handsome day after day for ten years – where’s the change?”
He spoke with childish innocence, but a guess crossed Zanxing’s mind. Sure enough, before she could think further, she heard Bujiang’s light laughter, as she said: “His face hasn’t changed, but his clothing and attire have changed quite a bit. I remember you used to love wearing plain azure robes, always ethereal and otherworldly. How come you now love to wear these vulgar colors?” Her expression was languid, her voice suddenly dropping low with a hint of teasing, “It wouldn’t be for this palace, would it?”
Zanxing: “…”
Well, Bujiang’s list of past lovers might need another name added to it.
“What does this mean?” Mendong asked in confusion: “The sect master changed his clothing for Her Highness the Demon Empress?”
“Ahem.” Tian Fangfang pressed her fist to her lips and coughed lightly twice, reminding in a low voice, “Junior brother, stop talking.”
“What?” Bujiang looked at Shaoyang Zhenren with feigned surprise, “You didn’t tell your sect disciples that you and this palace once had an old romance?”
“Bujiang.” Shaoyang Zhenren raised his eyes, his voice carrying a hint of warning.
Bujiang snorted lightly, her smile provocative.
Over there, Putao’s expression changed abruptly. She already harbored many prejudices against the demon clan, and hearing Bujiang’s flirtatious words toward Shaoyang earlier had already filled her with disdain. Now hearing this, her heart was greatly shaken, recalling an old matter. She immediately looked up at Shaoyang Zhenren and asked: “Could it be that when Zhenren broke off the engagement with my sect master’s aunt, it was for her?”
Regarding the matter of the voided marriage contract between Rongshuang of Xiangling Sect and Shaoyang of Taiyan Sect, the cultivation world had various theories at the time, and the answer remains a mystery to this day. Others only knew that the marriage annulment was proposed by Shaoyang Zhenren, so many speculated that Shaoyang Zhenren broke the engagement because he had someone else in his heart. That “someone else” had been tacitly assumed by everyone over the years to be the long-disappeared Qinghua Xianzi. After all, besides Qinghua Xianzi, no one had seen Shaoyang Zhenren particularly close to any other woman. Now in Yaoming Palace, learning of Bujiang and Shaoyang’s old romance, everyone suddenly realized they had been guessing the wrong person all these years.
Putao felt somewhat indignant for Rongshuang. Rongshuang’s temperament, cultivation, and status – which aspect wasn’t good? She was also born into a famous orthodox sect, yet her marriage contract was stolen by a demoness from the demon realm.
Bujiang glanced at Putao, seeming to perceive her inner indignation, and laughed lightly: “Isn’t that natural? This palace is so beautiful – it’s their good fortune that those men could have a romance with this palace. It’s only natural that they can’t forget this palace. As for whom they want to break engagements with, or with whom they want to sever ties, what does that have to do with this palace? It’s not like this palace made them do it.”
“Her Highness the Demon Empress is truly confident.” Putao suppressed her anger and said with a cold laugh: “Do you think all men will be enchanted by you and unable to forget you?”
“I don’t know about others.” Bujiang raised an eyebrow, “But the one before my eyes certainly cannot forget this palace.” Having said this, she moved her finger, and from Shaoyang Zhenren’s waist, a small silver lock came rolling out with a “ding-a-ling.”
That lock looked familiar – silver and warm. Zanxing recognized it at a glance. Wasn’t this the Loving Hearts Unity Lock that Silver Lady had sold to her at the night market that day?
Shaoyang Zhenren also had one?
Seeing the lock, Bujiang’s gaze became even more mocking. She smiled and said, “After all these years, you still keep this lock by your side. Zhenren is more devoted than this palace imagined.”
Zanxing: “…”
Putao’s face had already turned iron-blue with anger, while the other Taiyan Sect disciples in the hall showed embarrassed expressions. Anyone who stumbled upon such a romantic affair of their usually aloof sect master would find it impossible to remain indifferent.
Moreover, Shaoyang Zhenren appeared to be the one who was abandoned.
Immediately, the disciples’ gazes toward Shaoyang Zhenren carried a hint of sympathy.
“Back then, this palace said I didn’t like sects being dull, like thin soup and bland water. I didn’t expect that over the years, Zhenren would also change his clothing to suit my preferences. However, the past is past. Zhenren need not remain brooding about it – it would be better to move on sooner.”
Her words truly sounded like those of an irresponsible playboy who, knowing there was absolutely no possibility, still came to tease ambiguously.
Shaoyang Zhenren picked up the silver lock from the ground and put it away. As if he hadn’t heard Bujiang’s teasing words, he only spoke calmly: “I came today for the matter of the Ruins of the Golden Gate.”
“I know, for the key.” Bujiang smiled nonchalantly: “Xiao Shuang.”
Xiao Shuang walked over from the side, holding a square wooden box in her hands, bending down to present it to Bujiang.
Bujiang reached out and opened the box before her.
“This is…” Nie Xinghong was stunned.
Inside this wooden box was a full box of silver keys. The keys were small and delicate, stacked layer upon layer, nearly dazzling the eyes.
Gu Baiying’s expression moved slightly as he looked deeply at Zanxing.
Zanxing: “…”
She was not unfamiliar with these keys at all. When Silver Lady had sold her the Loving Hearts Unity Lock, she had given her a key, saying to lock the lock and keep the key safe – if she wanted to break the romantic bond in the future, she could open the lock. This key was the key to the Loving Hearts Unity Lock.
This full box that Bujiang had – could they all be keys to the Loving Hearts Unity Locks she had given out in the past?
Buy ten get one free, buy fifty get ten free – how many hundreds had she bought, and to how many people had she given them?
Bujiang paid no attention to others’ gazes. She reached into the box and scooped out a full handful of keys, then let the keys slip through her fingers bit by bit. She said: “Among these, only one is the key to open the Ruins of the Golden Gate. Now that you’ve come to beg this palace, you naturally need to show the proper attitude.”
Nie Xinghong chose his words carefully: “Weren’t those ninety-nine pages of supplies already delivered to Your Highness?”
“They’re all just external possessions.” Bujiang said lazily, “Now with floods raging and the cultivation world barely able to protect itself, this palace, as a member of the demon clan, is doing the good deed of saving all living beings. Moreover, putting aside past grievances to extend a helping hand to you, what great concessions have been made, what great wrongs have been endured? How could a few spirit herbs and pills be enough compensation?”
“Your Highness might as well speak directly.” Putao said coldly: “All this guessing back and forth – no one knows what Your Highness is thinking.”
Bujiang smiled without speaking.
However, Shaoyang Zhenren, hearing this, showed some movement in his expression. He raised his eyes to look at the beautiful woman on the high seat. Bujiang also looked at him with a smile, her eyes seeming to hold deep meaning.
After a moment, Shaoyang Zhenren spoke: “I would like to speak with Your Highness privately.”
Bujiang nodded: “That’s acceptable.”