37 Peeping (1/2)
In the depths of the forest, shadows flickered, and a few human figures appeared.
The first to step forward was Young Qing, who had exhausted all her valuables in front of Fang Yuan. She wore a green dress and carried a sword at her waist. She looked even more stunning than she did the other day, but her piercing voice did much to mar her beauty.
There were other young men and women around her, and Fang Yuan recognised one of the ladies in a yellow dress.
It was more than just recognition. He was familiar with her, and they even had a marriage agreement previously!
”Sister Leiyue!”
Young Qing tugged Lin Leiyue's sleeves and said, ”That's him…he's the evil person who robbed me! You have to avenge me!”
”How dare you steal from our Junior Qing!”
Lin Leiyue gazed at Fang Yuan, stunned. The people with her had already unsheathed their swords and were surrounding Fang Yuan menacingly.
This was because Young Qing had looked them up before, and they had searched the whole Qingye County and the Four Seas Court for this 'Young Martial God Wu Ming' to no avail. Of course they were angry.
”Wait!”
Lin Leiyue suddenly held up a hand, and slowly stepped forward. She was unsure and looked at Fang Yuan with hesitation.
”You are...Brother Fang?”
”Hehe…”
Fang Yuan rubbed his nose and said, ”To think that you still remember me!”
He was also surprised to see that the young lass in his memory had gone through a complete makeover. She now had the airs of a big sister.
”Wait!”
Young Qing looked at Lin Leiyue, then at Fang Yuan. She was confused.
”Isn't Wu his surname? How did it become Fang?”
”Qing!”
Lin Leiyue wiped her brow embarrassedly and asked, ”Are you really sure that it's this person?”
”That's right, I'll recognise him even if he was reduced to ashes. Big Sister, you know him?”
Young Qing's heart began to beat faster.
After all, it was against the rules of the martial world to tail Fang Yuan in the first place.
”Fang Yuan? Fang Yuan! I remember! Isn't he the person you were once betrothed to?”
One of the onlooking young disciples, most probably one of Lin Leiyue's many admirers, glared at Fang Yuan with a look that could kill.
”So it's him!”
Immediately, Fang Yuan became aware that all the males present hated on him more than ever. He was beleaguered by many pairs of flashing eyes that seemed to will him into burning up in flames.
”Crap, did I kill their fathers or steal their wives? Is this hatred even justified?”
Fang Yuan was speechless.
In truth, Lin Leiyue was one of the most beautiful women in the Spirit Returning Sect. Coupled with her talent and gentle demeanour, as well as her high status, she was adored by many. Thus, when the admirers found out that Fang Yuan had a former rightful claim to her, they all saw it as an intense rivalry.
”Ah haha!”
Fang Yuan felt slightly awkward dealing with Miss Qing. But this was not the case with Lin Leiyue.
After all, he had watched her grow up and they had no bad blood. Therefore, there was nothing to be guilty about.
”So it's you, Sister Leiyue. It seems like you are living well in the Spirit Returning Sect. This is a cause for celebration indeed!”
”I'm sorry for what happened before!”
Lin Leiyue had turned slightly red, and she bowed apologetically.
She was unsure about her feelings towards her former fiancé.
But after this outing, she had at least understood that the world was vast and that she did not want to limit her opportunities in any way.
”Qing, Brother Fang is a friend of mine. This whole thing must be a joke. Let us drop this matter, shall we?”
Leiyue gave Qing's hand a squeeze.
After all, it would hurt their reputation if word got out about how the Four Seas Court mistreated a visitor. It was widely rumoured that the Four Seas Court was working for the Spirit Returning Sect, and to have this matter escalate might confirm these rumours. Lin Leiyue did not want that.
”Fine!”
Qing felt like crying. Her secret savings were all gone.
”But...you have to return the hairpin to me! It...it was given to me for my birthday by my grandfather!”
In fact, Qing had made it all up. It was just the most expensive piece of jewellery out of the rest.
”Oh, I'm sorry!”
Fang Yuan laughed and took out the hairpin.
”If I had offended you, Miss Qing, I hope that you won't hold it against me!”
”This is more like it!”
Qing's eyes gleamed, and she grabbed the hairpin from Fang Yuan greedily. She then thought to herself regretfully, 'If I had known that this lad was going to be this obliging, I would've asked him for more jewellery pieces...boohoo…'
The more she thought about it, the more she cursed inwardly.
”Alright, alright!”
Lin Leiyue could not help but whisper into Qing's ear.
”Really?”
Whatever she had heard must have delighted her, for Qing immediately jumped up and nodded vigorously.
”Yes yes yes!”
She then turned to Fang Yuan and said, ”Let bygones be bygones. I won't pursue the matter anymore. Brother Fang, you are welcome to rob me again. After all, someone's going to pay me back doubly...hoho!”
As the words left her, Qing immediately knew that she had made a mistake, and quickly covered her mouth.
”Who would have known that this lass would be so money-grubbing and miserly…”
The crowd had realised what was going on and did not know what to say to Qing.
”Brother Fang, are you here for the Song Zhong issue? If I remember correctly, you don't know martial arts…”
Lin Leiyue smiled demurely and changed the subject deftly as if nothing had happened.