Free Web NovelThe tail end of winter had not yet passed, and the morning sun shone brightly, illuminating the Qingyuan Mountain Range with a dazzling, snow-covered brilliance.
On the second floor, in a maiden's chamber, a breathtakingly beautiful young woman, like the crowning touch to a snowy mountain vista, stood by the railing with a cool, jade-like countenance, gazing into the distance, seemingly admiring the snowy scenery.
However, upon closer inspection, one would notice a hint of bewilderment in her serene eyes.
As soon as she opened the window, she heard Li Mo bang on the table and utter those two sentences.
'He... has never been in love.....'
'He.... doesn't understand love...'
As Ying Bing recalled, her thoughts drifted back to her previous life.
It seemed that ever since her family died, she had severed all seven emotions and six desires, and seeing others troubled by love and affection, she only felt that they were needlessly bothering themselves.
Heaven and Earth are unkind, and the Dao is unfeeling.
She had always believed this, and later, reaching the Peak of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, proved her right.
Thus, as the Master of the Gui Palace, she even ordered that all Gui Palace Disciples must maintain pure minds, free from distractions, dedicating all their energy to pursuing the Dao.
Though the rules were strict, Disciples still repeatedly violated taboos.
The word 'love,' once touched, seemed to make one foolish...
Afterward, she became even more convinced.
Love makes people foolish.
So from then on, her world contained only herself, solitary and cold; at that time, she also often admired the snow alone, and although the snow was not even as cold as a breath she exhaled, she occasionally felt a little... cold?
Until after her Rebirth.
A sunny smile, long since faded by time, inexplicably intruded into her life, bringing the brilliant spring light to the snowy mountain.
To her chagrin, a System also appeared.
To her chagrin, she also inexplicably lost several times.....
Thus, one thing led to another, and gradually she became accustomed to being led by him, eating the dishes he fed her, and calling him 'Stinky Little Brother.'
She would occasionally realize with a start that she seemed to have become somewhat different from before.
But this change was not at all detestable.
Is this....
Called falling in love?
Ying Bing didn't know; the words 'love' and 'affection' were separated from her by a layer of ice in her previous life, and now they were like flowers seen through mist, indistinct.
So she changed her clothes, went downstairs, walked to Li Mo, who was sitting on the threshold of the courtyard gate contemplating life, and sat down beside him.
"What are you eating?"
"Hmm... fried dough sticks. Want some?"
So the two of them sat together on the threshold, feeling the biting wind, drinking soy milk and eating fried dough sticks, watching the sun climb up from the snowy mountain, watching the sky gradually become vibrant, and then adorned with white clouds.
Xiao Li, the love guru, also shared the same confusion.
When asked to be a mentor for others, he would speak with great eloquence, pointing out the way, and everything he said made perfect sense.
But if you asked him to put it into practice, he would also be confused.
"Still want soy milk?"
"Hmm."
Li Mo went to get another bowl. Seeing the Ice Cube sitting on the threshold with her legs hugged, he felt a bit unreal.
"I want it hotter."
"This isn't hot enough?"
Li Mo thought to himself, why is the Ice Cube so fond of such hot things today?
It's so scalding, what's the point of warming anything?
He used his true Qi to heat the soy milk, then scooped up a spoonful.
"Try it again."
"Hiss...."
Ying Bing's expressionless vermilion lips parted slightly, and she coolly took a sip of the scalding hot soy milk, then gently exhaled a puff of hot air, revealing a small, tender, moist tip of her tongue cooling itself.
"I don't think it's very hot."
"Hmm, not hot...."
Li Mo, bewildered, drank the remaining soy milk from the spoon and even smacked his lips twice.
Strange.
No sugar added, so why was there a faint, subtle sweetness...
Li Mo scratched his neck. Why did his neck always feel itchy recently?
The Ice Cube silently withdrew her gaze from his neck.
"Huh? Aren't we playing mahjong?"
Qin Yuzhi had brought out the mahjong table and stood there, caught off guard, her expression like Uncle Tat's "I don't even have a car yet."
"Why are you two eating?"
"Do you want some too?"
".....I'm not hungry, actually."
Qin Yuzhi had slept for several millennia, but now she stubbornly felt full. Was it due to her stubbornness?
Or because she wanted to play mahjong so badly?
Oh, right.
Could the 'Love Battle' (the name Qin Yuzhi gave it) that Li Mo mentioned have already begun...?
Thinking of this, she warned:
"You two aren't playing a love game, are you?"
"What's a love game?"
Ying Bing tilted her head. She had never played one.
"A beginner?" Qin Yuzhi narrowed her eyes, revealing a hint of wickedness.
Well, you'll have to pay tuition for that.
"Seems like we're still missing someone?"
Xiao Li finally remembered that there was still someone in the Autumn Water Pavilion; that fierce woman who had chugged several bottles should still be in a deep sleep.....
So he pushed open his beautiful Master's door and saw an unidentified body lying unceremoniously on the bed, stretching its arms and legs, snoring.
"Master!"
The quilt was pulled back.
"Hmm?"
Shang Wu drowsily opened her eyes, with a hint of Killing Intent mixed with her languor.
You'd better have a good reason for looking for me, or something might happen to you.
"Mahjong, three short of one."
"What audacity, to dare ask me to play mahjong! I'm the Qingyuan Sect's top mahjong player, who almost plucked a Vermilion Bird clean to use as a one-bamboo tile!"
Shang Wu instantly became spirited, walking with a confident stride. It had been so long since she had played cards.
She had once even suggested to the Sect Master that a mahjong tournament be held annually in the Qingyuan Sect.
Unfortunately, it was rejected by a unanimous vote.
Thus.
The first Mahjong God Tournament of the Autumn Water Pavilion officially began!
Here, they were peacefully playing mahjong.
On the other side, on the mountain path leading to the Main Peak Hall, Elder Zeng of Hengyun Sword City and the Hengyun Three Heroes were filled with sorrow, still carrying the scent of a hangover.
They would sigh every two steps as they ascended the mountain.
Amidst their sighs, they reached the Main Peak Hall.
"Old Zeng? You are....."
Elder Han He happened to be on his way to the Main Peak Hall as well. He and Elder Zeng were old acquaintances; many years ago, they had even worked together to forge weapons, and they occasionally exchanged forging techniques.
It was just that Elder Zeng had better bone structure and a higher Realm, so he was now a Forging Grandmaster.
"Alas! I'm not here for you this time."
Elder Zeng sighed heavily again.
"Then what is it?"
"It's about Li Mo. Let's talk after we see Brother Shangguan!"
Li Mo?
Elder Han He was stunned. He had just passed the Autumn Water Pavilion and seen that kid playing mahjong there.
Truly, he came back from Lanke Mountain without even saying a word.....
The two entered the Main Hall.
Upon seeing Shangguan Wencang, Elder Zeng's first words were:
"Brother Shangguan, my condolences."
"??"
Shangguan Wencang puffed on his dry tobacco, completely bewildered. freewēbnoveℓ.com
"Your Sect's Li Mo perished in the Yunmeng Underground Palace. I saw it with my own eyes."
"How is that possible???"
Elder Han He leaned back slightly.
Isn't that kid perfectly fine playing mahjong over there?
But both of them instantly became serious, as Elder Zeng was of the Outer Scenery Realm, with excellent eyesight.
"Absolutely no mistake. I even brought back his remains."
Elder Zeng pulled out that hair and sorrowfully recounted the events, describing them in vivid detail.
Elder Han He's head was buzzing.
Then who was that person playing mahjong in the Autumn Water Pavilion?
He suddenly shivered.
From Elder Zeng's tone, it was clear that the Yunmeng Underground Palace was a strange place, so had he just...?
Seen a ghost!
........
PS: Happy National ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) Day, esteemed readers! Woohoo, seven-day holiday.
This struggling author hasn't had a holiday in a long time T-T
