After coming out of the marketplace, Ye Anping and Yun Yiyi returned to Yi Shui Peak on their flying swords.
Ye Anping gazed at the thousand-chi tall stone sword sculpture standing majestically at the Central Peak of the Sword Sect, deep in thought. Xue Xinghai’s appearance and the Qi Refining Stage disciple named Yun Shulong, whom he had beheaded, were all within his plan. He had also anticipated that Yun Xi would run into Xue Xinghai prematurely.
However, Zhuang Yan’s appearance was not part of his plan.
In the game’s plot, the battle in the marketplace was a Plot Kill. Xue Xinghai would escape after severely injuring the player and then appear as a minor BOSS in the final Thousand Sword Pool event within the Sword Sect. Ye Anping had originally intended to eliminate him in the marketplace, but just as he was stalling for time waiting for Pei Lianxue and Feng Yu Die to emerge, Zhuang Yan suddenly arrived to rescue him.
Moreover, not only did Zhuang Yan save Xue Xinghai, but he also definitively declared the murder case closed. Yun Xi’s continuous interruptions, her refusal to accept the case closure, likely meant she had sensed something amiss and would continue to investigate.
However, there was an issue with Yun Jiujiu and Yun Yiyi. Yun Jiujiu probably hadn’t understood what had happened even now, so Feng Yu Die would have to help push her along. As for Yun Yiyi…
Ye Anping glanced at Yun Yiyi, who was flying on his right. He saw her secretly looking at him, and upon being discovered, she naturally averted her gaze. Having her affection level too high was also a problem.
Yun Yiyi was supposed to be a person who always maintained her rationality and calmly analyzed situations. With so many doubts surrounding the current situation, she should have continued to investigate discreetly even after Zhuang Yan forcibly closed the case.
However, looking into Yun Yiyi’s eyes now, Ye Anping could no longer see wisdom, only two hearts. It was clear that Yun Yiyi was entirely focused on him and no longer cared about the ins and outs of the Sword Pavilion murder case. He needed to find a way to shift Yun Yiyi’s focus back to the case, and Xue Xinghai also needed to be dealt with.
At this moment, catching a glimpse of Ye Anping staring at her from the corner of her eye, Yun Yiyi felt a little flustered but didn’t show it on her face. She proactively asked, “Young Master Ye, aren’t you being coerced?”
“Coerced?”
“Your junior sister…” Yun Yiyi pursed her lips and tilted her head, asking, “Yun Xi said you grew up together and were childhood sweethearts. Now that you’re engaged to me, she must be unhappy…”
Ye Anping interrupted, “My engagement to you is for the consideration of both sects. As the Young Master of the Hundred Lotus Sect, matters of romance are certainly secondary to the sect’s legacy.”
“But if you and your junior sister are in love, wouldn’t I become the villain tearing you apart? Won’t you resent me?”
“Certainly not, Eldest Miss Yun, please be at ease.”
Hearing this, Yun Yiyi smiled and winked at him, saying, “Although I haven’t known Young Master Ye for long, I pride myself on falling in love with you at first sight. If you have any requirements for your fiancée, please just say them, like… any special preferences?”
?
Was Yun Yiyi the type of person? In the game, wasn’t she quite composed and reserved?
Ye Anping was stunned for a moment and replied politely, “Eldest Miss Yun is joking. I have no special preferences.”
“Young Master Ye doesn’t need to be so shy,” Yun Yiyi smiled and tilted her head, “Just say it. I want to understand you better. Don’t look at me like this… I’ve also seen some rather strange scenes in books.”
“…”
“For example… red candles and muzzles?” Yun Yiyi blushingly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, “Mmm…”
?
Ye Anping frowned slightly, feeling perplexed. Could it be that she wasn’t Yun Yiyi, but had been possessed due to a change in the worldline?
Seeing Ye Anping frozen on the spot, Yun Yiyi suddenly realized what she had said. Her lips parted slightly, and she quickly made an excuse, “Ah… Young Master Ye, please don’t misunderstand. My analogy was a bit exaggerated, but what I actually meant is that when you’re with me, you can be bolder, and just say whatever is on your mind.”
“Oh…” Ye Anping nodded and asked, “So… Eldest Miss Yun likes red candles and muzzles?”
“No, I…”
Yun Yiyi internally screamed: Yun Yiyi, Yun Yiyi! Why did you say that just now?! It’s one thing to imagine oneself playing those games with Ye Anping, but why did you have to voice it aloud?! Why are you suddenly acting foolish?! What if Ye Anping really dislikes such things, and you end up being hated by him?!
Ye Anping pouted and shook his head, “Just kidding, Eldest Miss Yun. With your noble status, how could you possibly like such strange things?”
“Yes, of course I don’t like them,” Yun Yiyi replied with a composed expression. “However, if Young Master Ye likes them, I wouldn’t mind trying. It’s also important for fiancés to accommodate each other.”
“I don’t like them either.”
“What a pity…”
?
Ye Anping’s eyes narrowed: “Hmm?”
“…Nothing.”
Yun Yiyi turned her head back to face forward expressionlessly, but her heart cried out again:
—Yun Yiyi!! Keep your cool!! You can’t lose your reason just because he’s too handsome! Where is your usual composure? You can slowly guide him after the wedding ceremony, why are you saying this now?! What if Young Master Ye finds you disgusting and refuses to marry into your family? The duck is cooked, and it’s about to fly away!
“…”
Ye Anping was a little speechless. Looking at Yun Yiyi’s gentle yet cold expression now, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—this must be what they call a pretty face? In the game, players’ impressions of Yun Yiyi were mostly “noble lady,” “gentle and refined,” “talented woman.” Even her fanfiction often revolved around themes like “a bankrupt noble daughter selling herself to pay off debts.”
Who would have thought that beneath such a brilliant exterior was a person like this.
“Hoo—” Ye Anping sighed and returned to the main topic, asking, “Eldest Miss Yun, do you find anything amiss with today’s Sword Pavilion case?”
Yun Yiyi paused, then turned her head and asked, “What issues do you think there are, Young Master Ye? Elder Zhuang has credited the success of solving the case to us. Moreover, if there were any problems, Elder Zhuang could find out with a soul-searching technique, and we wouldn’t have to worry about it afterward.”
“That is true, but…” Ye Anping hesitated for a moment and said, “Eldest Miss Yun, this might sound offensive, please don’t blame me.”
“Please speak your mind.”
“I don’t trust that Elder Zhuang.”
Yun Yiyi frowned slightly. Seeing Ye Anping’s serious expression, she hesitated before asking, “Hmm? Do you have any basis for what you’re saying?”
“I feel that Elder Zhuang’s timing in arriving was too coincidental.”
“Coincidental?”
“Yes, as far as I know, Elder Zhuang has been in seclusion for the past hundred years, rarely interfering in sect affairs. He often even misses elder meetings. Yet, he rushed here today. If it were any other elder, I wouldn’t think much of it, but Elder Zhuang’s actions are indeed too conspicuous.”
Hearing this, Yun Yiyi also frowned for a moment, resting her chin in her hand in thought. Before Ye Anping mentioned it, she hadn’t realized the problem. Indeed, Zhuang Yan was the most reclusive among the Sword Sect elders. Most of the Sword Sect elders had taken sides, either supporting her, Yun Jiujiu, or Yun Xi. Only Zhuang Yan seemed indifferent to everything, as if solely focused on cultivation. And such a person rushed here immediately after the incident today.
Yun Yiyi hesitated for a moment and asked with a frown, “Young Master Ye, these accusations are not trivial matters, are they?”
“Yes, that is why I hesitated just now, wondering whether to share this thought with Eldest Miss Yun. These words are indeed offensive to the Sword Sect, but…”
Ye Anping turned his head to look into Yun Yiyi’s eyes and smiled, saying, “As the saying goes, plain truths are unpleasant to hear. I will be assisting you, the Young Sect Master, in managing the Sword Sect in the future, so I decided to tell you this advice.”
Is he trying to be my lapdog?
Yun Yiyi hesitated for a moment and said, “If Elder Zhuang is problematic, then we cannot directly tell the other elders. We must present evidence first.”
“Yes, so what does Eldest Miss Yun plan to do?”
“…The current clues are all on Xue Xinghai,” Yun Yiyi murmured, then slowly stopped her flying sword. “Young Master Ye, could you accompany me to see Xue Xinghai again?”
“Yes, I will naturally accompany you. However, it would be best to find a Nascent Soul Stage elder to accompany us.”
“Mm.”
With that, the two changed the direction of their flying swords and headed towards the Central Peak.
…
