Chapter 760: All Encounters are Reunions Following Lengthy Separations (1/2)
The light from Xie Xie's Twin Dragon Dagger faded, and Xie Xie stared blankly at the expression of delicate indignation on Yuanen Yehui's face.
He couldn't believe that this was real. In this moment, Yuanen Yehui was so alluring to behold; it was as if she'd become a completely different person compared to her normal cold and aloof self.
Despite how cold and emotionless she always appeared, she was still a human, and thus, she was plagued by human emotions.
Looking at the dumbfounded man before her, Yuanen Yehui couldn't help but want to give him a slap to the face.
The two of them descended from the sky and landed on their respective lotus leaves.
Yuanen Yehui's cheeks were slightly flushed as she let go of him.
Only then did Xie Xie truly understand what had just happened, and he let loose an abrupt howl as he leaped high up into the air.
He then immediately recalled back to how Xu Lizhi had turned elation into tragedy by falling into the water, and he hurriedly controlled his own body as he drifted back down onto his lotus leaf as gently as a feather.
”Yuanen! Yuanen, I love you! I'll do whatever you say from now on! From this day forth, I belong to you!”
Instead of landing on his own lotus leaf, Xie Xie landed on Yuanen Yehui's leaf instead. Xu Lizhi may have been a lot fatter than him, but Xie Xie had far thicker skin than Xu Lizhi could ever hope to acquire. At this moment, Xie Xie had already thrown his arms around Yuanen Yehui and was crying out with elation.
”Hey, hey! Watch yourself! We've not even up to the final segment yet,” Tang Yinmeng said with a smile on her face.
Tang Wulin also heaved a long sigh of relief upon seeing this. Finally! After so many years of extensive effort, Xie Xie had finally obtained Yuanen's heart.
He was genuinely happy for them, and at the same time, he reflexively cast his gaze toward the distance.
Lizhi had succeeded, Xie Xie had succeeded, what about him?
In a rare display of tolerance, Yuanen Yehui didn't immediately send Xie Xie flying. Instead, she was merely putting up token resistance in his arms as she whispered, ”Put me down! If you keep embarrassing me like this, I'm going to change my mind!”
”You can't!” Xie Xie hurriedly let go of Yuanen Yehui, and his breathing was accelerating noticeably as he appraised her gorgeous features from close quarters. He had finally succeeded after so many years of painstaking effort!
Xie Xie held onto Yuanen Yehui's hand with his left hand, while drawing his own lotus leaf over using his soul power with his right hand. He then stepped onto his own lotus leaf before leading her back to his original spot.
All of his uneasiness, dejection, and anxiety had vanished, and his eyes were practically glowing. He was looking a lot like a triumphant rooster, and Yuanen Yehui was beginning to wonder whether choosing him had been the correct decision.
At this moment, there was only one woman left who hadn't made her choice.
”According to our rules, any female participants who haven't removed their veils can only make their choices at the end. Girl Number 17, would you like to choose a man?”
All of Tang Wulin's awkwardness instantly vanished in that instant. He cast his gaze toward the veiled woman around 100 meters away, and everyone else also had their eyes on her, especially those who had already deduced who she was.
Xie Xie and Yuanen Yehui had also fallen silent as they appraised Girl Number 17. They then glanced at the three women by Tang Wulin's side, and grim expressions appeared on their faces.
Why was she still unwilling to reveal herself? Wasn't she supposed to be elated by his return? Just what had happened between the two of them?
Following a brief silence, Girl Number 17 gently shook her head right before everyone's expectant eyes.
It was only a very minute shake of her head, but Tang Wulin felt as if he'd been plunged into a glacier upon seeing this.
She had shaken her head. She hadn't chosen anyone, which meant that she hadn't chosen him. She didn't even take off her veil.
This undoubtedly indicated that she had no love interests, and nor did she have any intention of finding a mate during this match-making convention.
Tang Wulin felt as if his heart had been constricted by something, making it difficult for him to breathe.
Tears welled up in his eyes as a wry smile appeared on his face.
Memories of the past began to surface in his mind.
Why? Why didn't you choose me?
……
All encounters were reunions following lengthy separations.
He was written off by everyone due to his lackl.u.s.ter aptitude, he got into a fight with his roommate on his first day of school, and he was split into the worst class, class five. Everything had been designed by fate.
He had once been lost and helpless. Regardless of how much mental fortitude he had, in the darkness, he was still only a vulnerable child.
All of a sudden, a ray of light shone down onto his life.
It was a beautiful day with only a few light clouds in the sky, and the gentle breeze carried with it the faint fragrance of flowers.
He was sweating profusely on the running track when he had a chance encounter with a girl in white. She had a set of delicate facial features, a head of long black hair, and a pair of bright black eyes. There seemed to be a unique presence about her.
”Why are you wearing metal chains?”
”To improve my physical constitution! The teachers are a bit stricter with me. You're really impressive, though.”
During mealtime, she seemed to have noticed his astonishing appetite and gave him her steamed bun.
”I can't finish this; you can have it.”
It was a simple gesture, but it immediately brought them closer together. Everything was so natural, as if she were an old friend of his.
Her name was Gu Yue. She had secrets hidden deep within her like an ancient well, yet she was also like the bright moon that lit his way as he traversed through the darkness. [Gu Yue's name literally means ”ancient moon” where 古(gu) means ancient and 月(yue) means moon, hence the reference to an ancient well and the moon is kind of like a play on words that dissects her character.]
He was a pitiful blade of Bluesilver Grass, while she was blessed by the elements. He was struggling to keep himself afloat, while she was constantly on the ascendancy, and they met again following a long separation.
……
No matter what your agenda is, I'll always love you.
Their cooperation during the Class Promotion Tournament and the mutual assistance they gave one another in the Spirit Ascension Plane had cemented their friendship.
After he'd returned with his entire body smelling like roast meat, she was able to immediately detect that he'd met another girl. When his crystallized body had plummeted from the sky, she'd caught him without any hesitation so his body wouldn't shatter.
She was cold and aloof to everyone else, but she always had a warm smile for him.
When asked whether she wanted to join the Tang Sect, her answer was no.
He was afraid, afraid that she would leave him, just like his parents and his little sister had.
”Who says I'm leaving? I'm only choosing not to join the Tang Sect; it's not like I'm leaving class zero. The organization I'm joining doesn't change where I'll be. I won't leave; I'll always be with you.”
……
During their youth, their relationship had been like a gentle nurturing stream.
On the soul bus, the sea was situated to the north, and a vast expanse of blue stretched for as far as the eyes could see as the sky fused as one with the sea on the horizon.
Beautiful scenery flashed past the window as he dozed off, and he called out his little sister's name as a silver figure flashed through his dreams. When he reopened his eyes, he was greeted by the sight of a surprised Gu Yue.
She gave him a gentle smile and handed him a glass of water that was of just the right temperature. It was only plain water, but it nurtured his heart and soul.
The sunlight shone down onto her face, giving her skin a translucent appearance. He suddenly realized that she was so beautiful.
She gently lay her head on his shoulder, and her breathing became slow and steady.