## Chapter 74: An Unforeseen Opportunity
The marketplace streets were crowded at night, with rogue cultivators drinking in taverns. Ye Anping walked at a slightly slower pace, making sure Si Xuanji’s short legs could keep up. They strolled for a while before arriving at a pavilion on a tall building, where few people were present.
Being the highest point in the marketplace, the entire area was visible from this vantage point outside the lattice. The ancient charm of the place glowed under the night sky.
Si Xuanji gazed at the horizon with her Yin-Yang eyes, then turned to Ye Anping, who sat beside her. A mix of satisfaction and gentleness filled her eyes. “Young Master Ye, the scenery here is quite nice.”
Ye Anping felt tired after strolling with Si Xuanji for nearly half an hour and didn’t want to waste more time. He cut to the chase. “Miss Xuanji, you must have more than just wanting me to accompany you around the marketplace, right?”
Si Xuanji, sensing his impatience, asked with a hint of complaint, “Does Young Master Ye think I have other intentions?”
“My intuition says so.”
Si Xuanji shook her head, thinking that young people were truly impatient. Not wanting to reveal her identity, she said, “Then I shall be direct. There are two matters I wish to inform Young Master Ye about.”
“Mhm… Please proceed, Miss Xuanji.”
“The first matter concerns the cultivation method and heart technique you practice.”
Just then, A’ying, perched on her shoulder, squawked, “Yang energy is too strong!! Yang energy is too strong!!”
Naturally, A’ying received a sharp glance from Si Xuanji and immediately shut its beak, lowering its head to preen its feathers.
Si Xuanji’s gentle gaze returned to Ye Anping. “Young Master Ye, I don’t know who taught you your cultivation method. The Si Yang Sect’s techniques and the Nine Yuan Heart Method are indeed compatible, but both are extremely yang in nature. Furthermore, you are a male, and with the three yang energies converging, your technique should be balanced with yin and yang.”
Ye Anping recalled this issue. “Elder Wang also told me about this before. Miss Xuanji need not worry.”
Si Xuanji tilted her head slightly. “Did Elder Wang mention a solution?”
A’ying piped up again, “Marry a wife, take a concubine!! Marry a wife, take a concubine!!”
Si Xuanji gritted her teeth slightly, but maintaining her newly established gentle image in front of Ye Anping, she merely glanced at A’ying again.
Ye Anping looked at the parrot beside him with some exasperation and nodded. “He did…”
“Then why haven’t I seen you prepare yourself?”
“Miss Xuanji, when I previously advanced from Qi Cultivation level three to five, I also encountered excessive yang energy. However, with Qi Cultivation, I should be able to dissipate it. At least until Foundation Establishment…”
Si Xuanji shook her head, refuting his statement. She then narrowed her Yin-Yang eyes and interrupted sternly, “Young Master Ye, if it happens again, your meridians will be shattered.”
If anyone else had said this, Ye Anping wouldn’t have paid much heed. But coming from Si Xuanji, he had to consider it seriously. He furrowed his brow. “Really?”
“When would I, this humble woman, deceive Young Master Ye without reason?” Si Xuanji shrugged slightly and pondered for a moment. “The second matter is related to this.”
“…Please tell me.”
“Young Master Ye, you haven’t found a cultivation partner yet, have you?”
Ye Anping paused for a moment, feeling as if he had been tricked, but he still nodded, signaling her to continue.
“…Mm.”
“Coincidentally, my elder sister is also unmarried and is around your age…”
Could ‘elder sister’ refer to Xiao Yunluo? Ye Anping’s brow twitched slightly. “May I ask who your elder sister is?”
“You met her today, Xiao Yunluo.” Si Xuanji smiled with pursed lips. “Little Parrot told me you two have a good relationship, which is why I wanted to meet you, Young Master Ye.”
Ye Anping took a deep breath and cupped his hands. “Miss Xuanji, what you mean is…”
Si Xuanji took out a jade pendant from her sleeve and handed it to Ye Anping. “If you agree, take this jade pendant and find her… She will understand.”
Does this mean she’s betrothing Xiao Yunluo to me?
“Hiss—”
This move completely caught Ye Anping off guard. He knew he was now filling in for Feng Yudie in Si Xuanji’s storyline, but in the game, Si Xuanji had “entrusted” Xiao Yunluo to Feng Yudie. How did it become a “betrothal” for him? Was it because he was male?
He had originally planned to accept Si Xuanji’s entrustment, obtain the opportunity that belonged to Feng Yudie, and then pass it on. But now, how could he pass on a betrothal? Get married on the first day, divorced on the second, take the opportunity, and run away?
“…”
Seeing his silence, Si Xuanji appeared slightly puzzled. She wondered if he didn’t want to become cultivation partners with Xiao Yunluo, but why did he do what he did at noon today? Looking at Ye Anping’s youthful face, she found him more attractive the more she looked.
“Of course, becoming cultivation partners cannot be rushed. So, if your situation is truly urgent, Young Master Ye, you can come to Moon Spring Peak at the Xuan Xing Sect to find me. I would be happy to temporarily suppress this three-yang energy for you. Just mention ‘Xuanji,’ and the disciples guarding the mountain will lead you to me.”
“?” Ye Anping’s eyebrows twisted. “Huh?”
“I quite like Young Master Ye. It’s as if we’ve known each other for a long time, or perhaps it’s love at first sight.” Si Xuanji chuckled. “However, due to certain circumstances, please forgive me for not being able to become cultivation partners with you. It’s a slight regret.”
So, you want to hook up with me for free… Ye Anping wanted to say something but stopped himself.
Then, Si Xuanji placed the jade pendant in his hand, stood up, and cupped her hands in a bow. “It’s getting late. Young Master Ye, please rest early. I shall take my leave now.”
With that, Si Xuanji leaped out of the lattice, summoned her flying sword, stepped onto it, and flew towards the main peak of the Xuan Xing Sect.
After watching Si Xuanji leave, Ye Anping remained stunned for a long time before looking down at the jade pendant in his hand. The white jade pendant was shaped like half of a Yin-Yang fish. In the game, when Si Xuanji entrusted Xiao Yunluo to Feng Yudie, she also gave her this half of the jade pendant, which matched the other half on Xiao Yunluo, and a high-quality spirit sword.
Originally, he had intended to obtain that spirit sword, as it would have been excellent for either him or his junior sister to use. However, it seemed that because the recipient was not Feng Yudie, Si Xuanji did not grant him this opportunity. Instead, she gave him an opportunity to “seek her out at the Xuan Xing Sect for help at any time.”
This opportunity, while seemingly small, was anything but. After all, Si Xuanji was a Void Returning cultivator. In the Zhou Xing Tian Yu, it was roughly equivalent to “if she’s willing to sleep with you, consider it your honor.” No wonder Si Xuanji had disguised herself as an Inner disciple at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage to meet him earlier.
And then there was the issue of “excessive yang energy.” He strongly suspected that Si Xuanji had exaggerated the problem just now, intending to scare him. But he had no choice but to believe her. If he didn’t, he might just die. Moreover, he had already experienced the sensation of “excessive yang energy” last time. It was like having a high fever, and it might indeed endanger his lifespan.
“Hoo—” Ye Anping exhaled softly, put the jade pendant into his storage bag, and after some thought, made up his mind. “It seems this matter cannot be delayed any further. It’s still too early for the matter of cultivation partners. Tomorrow, I’ll talk to my junior sister. If she doesn’t agree, I suppose I’ll have to go to her. Tsk, changing my cultivation method will have to wait until after Core Formation…”
