The Flower Jade Tower was more magnificent than Xing Shuishui had imagined.
The dome stretched high, with countless levels and staircases reaching beyond sight. As people approached, golden paint gleamed on the eaves where mythical beasts held bells in their mouths. Colorful streamers hung from above, sparkling in natural light as if they had wandered into a mysterious realm.
Xing Shuishui secretly observed that the tower’s structure was quite unique. The walls were densely packed with small boxes, looking like ant holes from afar. Female attendants with considerable cultivation levels guarded various areas.
Their guide turned back and said, “My master knows why you’ve come to the Flower Jade Tower. She specifically asked me to show you the Qitong Spirit Blade. Rest assured, our tower never deceives. If we can find a suitable bride for our young master, we will present this spirit blade with both hands!”
Most present were cultivators, including laid-back rogue cultivators and untamed great spirits.
“May I ask if your young master likes men?”
“Can men participate in the matchmaking event? I don’t mind being a concubine, as long as I can get the blade.”
“If the Qitong Spirit Blade is real, I’d cut off my dick to get it.”
The guide’s forehead veins bulged, but he maintained a blank expression: “Sorry everyone, our young master isn’t interested in men! He only likes women.”
Xue Sansi asked gently, “Could you perhaps tell us what kind of women your young master prefers? I happen to know several lovely ladies who have long admired him. We’re just wondering if they might catch his eye on the matchmaking day.”
Li Guanxing sneered from the side: “How curious, falling in love without even seeing his face.”
Xue Sansi’s peach blossom fan suddenly flew out, aiming at Li Guanxing’s neck. Though Li Guanxing dodged quickly, a thin cut appeared on his neck, and several strands of hair were severed.
He Liansheng raised his previously lowered eyes.
Xue Sansi retrieved his fan with a cold smile: “When I became the master of Lihuo Manor, Young Master Li wasn’t even born. When traveling abroad, I advise Young Master Li to watch his words. Don’t bring unnecessary trouble upon yourself.”
Having lost face, Li Guanxing’s expression soured. But Li Guanyu stopped him with a look.
Xing Shuishui was surprised – she hadn’t expected Xue Sansi’s cultivation to improve so much in a hundred years. If Sister were still here, she would surely be happy.
Xue Sansi glanced at her, his expression unreadable.
He Liansheng didn’t miss this exchange, and he coldly swept his gaze across them, inexplicably annoyed.
The atmosphere grew tense. The Flower Jade Tower attendant broke the awkward silence: “Speaking of this, our young master does have a preferred type.”
Everyone grew curious: “Does he like gentle or fierce women?”
“I feel he must prefer gentle ones. Who could resist a gentle dao companion!”
Xing Shuishui, listening to the various discussions, grew interested and chimed in: “Yes, exactly!”
Receiving He Liansheng’s cold stare, Xing Shuishui fell silent.
The Flower Jade Tower attendants came to pour tea for everyone. Li Guanyu sniffed his cup for a while before nodding to the others.
Only then did they dare to drink.
The female attendant said, “To be honest, our young master doesn’t like either gentle or fierce women. He only likes those like Xue Jiuling. That’s why the betrothal gift is the Qitong blade – our master went to great lengths to find this spirit blade.”
Xing Shuishui: “?”
She nearly spat out her tea, choking on it instead.
She clutched her throat and coughed, her face turning red.
Li Guanyu patted her back.
To avoid suspicion, she could only say, “The tea is a bit hot…”
Few paid attention to her. The scene exploded into chaos.
“Did I hear that right? Your young master likes someone like that demon woman! Absurd! Too absurd!”
“Watch what you say, Lihuo Manor’s people are here… isn’t Xue Jiuling the adopted sister of Master Xue… be careful or you’ll be eaten.”
“Weren’t they on bad terms?”
“I think they were on bad terms. But mainly… I remember Xue Jiuling already had someone she liked, called… Mu Ziyu… after Mu Ziyu disappeared, she searched for a long time but couldn’t find him.”
Mu Ziyu… that sickly person…
The one Sister liked…
Xing Shuishui found the conversation increasingly ridiculous, wishing she could deafen herself.
He Liansheng cut straight to the point: “I ask – where is your tower master? Should I personally invite her out?”
It was clear he had no interest in the matchmaking, only wanting to complete his master’s assigned task.
The female attendant’s expression soured as she alertly watched He Liansheng. Seeing this, Li Guanyu bowed: “We apologize for being abrupt with the Sect Master’s orders, but… we have some doubts that need the tower master’s explanation. If that matter truly has nothing to do with your tower master, we won’t pursue it further.”
After speaking, Li Guanyu looked at the Flower Jade Tower people.
They clearly didn’t want to cooperate.
Just then, a strong perfumed scent wafted over. Xing Shuishui frowned and looked up.
A young man descended from upstairs, dressed in fine silk and adorned with gold and silver jewelry that clinked as he walked.
This young master rested his hand on the railing, his mutton-fat jade ring tapping against it, his eyes showing unease: “It’s not that my mother doesn’t want to meet you. She’s just caught a cold these past few days and isn’t well enough to receive guests.”
The young man glanced at He Liansheng, obviously somewhat afraid: “If, if you want to find her… please come on the matchmaking day.”
Is this the young master?
She hadn’t seen him in her previous life! Xing Shuishui felt the whole situation becoming increasingly chaotic and strange.
A cultivator asked: “Are you the young master seeking marriage?”
The young man stammered: “Yes… that’s me… I’m Hua Wushan, my mother wants to find me a bride…”
He was clearly timid and fearful.
A spirit laughed: “You little guy don’t have much cultivation, it’s not very safe guarding such a big treasure tower. In my opinion, you should find a bride who can protect you. How about… I become your bride?”
Seeing the spirit’s ugly face, Hua Wushan hid behind an elderly man, trembling: “Ug… ugly monster… I… I don’t want you.”
The spirit’s eyes looked ready to devour someone.
The elderly man protected him from behind. Xing Shuishui observed this elder – his cultivation level was completely unreadable. This small Flower Jade Tower was full of hidden talents, from Luo Yuhua to “Qitong,” and now someone whose cultivation couldn’t be detected.
The elder’s voice was hoarse: “I advise everyone to be honest. The Flower Jade Tower is called the world’s most mysterious tower thanks to the forty-nine formations of the Eight Trigrams set by the founding tower master. If anyone starts fighting inside and accidentally triggers these formations, no one will escape unharmed.”
Xue Sansi said: “Since the tower master understands our meaning, please bring out the Qitong Spirit Blade for everyone to see. It will help ease everyone’s concerns.
After all, we came with sincere intentions to participate in the matchmaking.”
The elder performed a technique, and a short blade appeared before everyone. The blade was crystal clear like jade, with red and white patterns like beautiful bloodstone. Someone tried to grab it, but flames erupted from the blade.
The familiar aura made Xue Sansi’s expression change.
“Lihuo…”
Xing Shuishui was also surprised. Though it looked and felt like Qitong, the real Qitong was in her possession! She wouldn’t mistake a blade she’d used for over a hundred years. The system would respond if called.
But where did this fake blade get Lihuo’s power from?
It didn’t seem like an ordinary counterfeit either.
Many questions clouded Xing Shuishui’s mind as she looked up to observe Hua Wushan hiding behind the elder.
The young man’s face was pale, clearly terrified by them.
For some reason, she disliked him at first sight – a kind of aversion from her sixth sense.
Though they’d never met before, the young man suddenly pointed at her and said: “No need for matchmaking. I… I want her as my bride!”
The tower instantly fell silent.
Everyone focused on Xing Shuishui. She was stunned for a while.
The spirit spoke harshly: “You’re saying you’ve fallen for – a mortal?”
At the same time, a sect cultivator took a deep breath, pointing out something more important: “This… seems to be… He Liansheng’s dao companion…”
“Is it… that He Liansheng from Lingshan?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
Most gazes focused on the red string connecting their wrists, with varying expressions. He Liansheng wanted to gouge out all their eyes.
The youth impatiently said: “She’s not my dao companion. If you can’t see straight, I can help dig out your eyes.”
Xing Shuishui also denied the relationship: “This is just the effect of a technique.”
She looked at Hua Wushan and said: “I’m sorry to disappoint young tower master, but if I marry, it will only be to someone I love.”
Hua Wushan grew anxious: “Miss, though my mother arranged this matchmaking event, I too will only marry someone I love! When I saw you from upstairs just now, your grace truly amazed me – love at first sight.”
He added: “Feelings can be cultivated!”
Xing Shuishui: “…”
She hadn’t even moved or spoken earlier. What grace was he talking about?
She didn’t believe in love at first sight – what was this person plotting? Right now she was just an ordinary mortal! She’d been very low-key.
Just as Xing Shuishui was about to refuse, He Liansheng pulled her, nearly making her fall into his embrace.
He Liansheng’s fingers pressed into her shoulder, creating a ticklish sensation.
Xing Shuishui’s eyelashes trembled.
The youth spoke coldly: “You want her as your bride? What daydream are you living in? If you have nothing better to do, go find a place to die. Claiming love at first sight whenever you see someone – full of holes.”
He Liansheng drew his Taoyuan sword, a gentle breeze making his clothes flutter, his killing intent clear.
“I don’t care what your motives are. Stop with these nonsensical games. Now I want you to call Hua Yue out. Not sick before, not sick after, but suddenly sick now?”
Hua Wushan was scared to tears: “My… my mother will see you! You’ll naturally see her on the matchmaking day!”
He gathered his courage: “Besides, you said she’s not your dao companion, so what does it matter to you if I want to marry her? What other motives could I have? I don’t understand what you’re saying. Is it, is it necessary to be so fierce?”
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