Chapter 208: Chapter 70: How Hard It Is to Invert the Moon in the Sky and the Moon in the Water for Junior Sister Xu
 

After briefly reporting to the Ziwei Master, Qiu Changtian left the Kunlun Heavenly Pillar on his sword and returned to the Golden Ridge Cave Abode.

The junior brothers and sisters, who had been waiting here, naturally burst into congratulations and celebrations, making the scene very lively.

Qiu Changtian responded to each of them, but suddenly noticed that someone seemed to be missing:

“Where’s Junior Brother Guan?”

“Junior Brother Guan has gone out for training,” the fourth junior brother Yan Zhitui replied.

Qiu Changtian was surprised to hear this.

Going out for training definitely didn’t mean doing a sect mission.

Guan Zhan might not be the Chief Disciple, but his cultivation resources were similar to those of an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple, many times more abundant than those of an Outer Sect Disciple. His own cultivation had certainly been sufficient; he didn’t need to covet the minor rewards of those missions.

That is to say, because I became the Chief Disciple, he felt that his own cultivation progress was lagging too far behind, so he went out to seek famous mountains and great rivers, in search of adventures that could quickly level him up, right?

Thinking this, Qiu Changtian looked at Xu Yinglian with a strange expression on his face.

If someone were to do such a thing, Guan Zhan’s character was of course not a problem, but it seemed more likely that Junior Sister Xu would do this, right?

Now that I am the great Chief Disciple of the Foundation Establishment Realm, truly the first person below the Golden Core stage, why does it seem like Junior Sister Xu has had no reaction at all?

Could it be that she doesn’t love me anymore?

Facing Qiu Changtian’s slightly puzzled gaze, Xu Yinglian just smiled faintly, without speaking.

After the junior brothers and sisters left, Xu Yinglian finally spoke and invited:

“Would Big Brother like to take a walk with me?”

“Oh,” Qiu Changtian answered without understanding why, and agreed right away.

The two left the cave abode and strolled leisurely on the mountain paths of Golden Ridge Mountain.

A few immortals cranes flew by on the side, their clear cries echoing between the valleys and clouds.

“I’ve been pondering a question recently,” Xu Yinglian suddenly said.

“Has Junior Sister encountered any problems with her cultivation?” Qiu Changtian thought an opportunity had come to increase his Synchronization Value and immediately said with a smile, “I can help Junior Sister solve them.”

“It’s about the question you talked about before, the one of the moon in the sky and the moon in the water,” Xu Yinglian said.

Qiu Changtian: !!!

He discreetly looked around but realized there were no other junior brothers or sisters present.

I need to find a way to escape…

“I have thought of an answer, would Big Brother like to hear it?” Xu Yinglian continued to ask.

“I’m listening,” Qiu Changtian replied, his face showing composure but his heart racing in panic.

“It doesn’t matter which moon, the one in the sky or the one in the water, is real or false,” Xu Yinglian extended her fair, slender finger and slowly clenched her delicate fist, “I want them all.”

Qiu Changtian: ???

Even with all his worldly experience, he was almost discomfited by his junior sister’s outrageous answer.

But he quickly recovered, composed himself, and forced a laugh:

“Why is Junior Sister so greedy? But…”

“I want to hear the pleasant lies. I also want to hear the unpleasant truths,” Xu Yinglian’s voice was soft but her tone exceptionally firm, with a persistent flame flickering in her eyes.

The kind of flame was all too familiar to Qiu Changtian; it was the intense emotion that seemed to ignite in Xu Yinglian’s pupils every time she chased after him, arduously, like a boundlessly bright and warm sun that almost made him break out in a sweat.

“As long as I can obtain the true moon, whether it’s the moon in the sky or the moon reflected in water, it will be in the palm of my hand,” Xu Yinglian turned her head, staring earnestly at Qiu Changtian, “Isn’t that right, senior brother?”

“There’s a bit of truth in that,” Qiu Changtian felt cold sweat about to break out on his back, “Oh, that’s right, I haven’t done today’s breathing and Qi refinement exercises yet. Junior sister, please allow me to take my leave first.”

He turned around in a flurry and walked away, while Xu Yinglian gracefully turned around, quietly watching his retreating figure.

It was only after Qiu Changtian disappeared around the bend of the mountain path that she took a step back, barely propping herself against the rock wall, feeling her legs go weak.

The “I want it all” that she had just declared had nearly drained all her courage—considering in this world, conventional femininity still embodied traditional reserve, and while cultivators were less bound by propriety, their thought patterns were no exception.

Her “direct attack” on Qiu Changtian just now would have been seen as utterly outrageous in the eyes of society; even Xu Yinglian herself, reflecting on it now, felt extremely embarrassed and bashful.

But…

It was an answer she had decided she must voice after careful consideration.

Whether it was out of competitiveness and self-esteem, or due to an intense palpitation she herself could not fully understand, a desire to express something to her senior brother, Xu Yinglian felt she could no longer remain silent on this topic and let it drag on.

Of course, her senior brother’s hasty retreat also brought her great encouragement and a sense of joy.

Anyway, senior brother, I’ve won this time!

While Junior Sister Xu was secretly thrilled, Qiu Changtian fled all the way back to his cave abode, his mind full of doubts and uncertainty.

No way, could she have discovered my true identity?

She wants the moon in the sky and the moon in the water, doesn’t that mean she wants both Qiu Changtian and Chen Guanshui?

Damn it, when did I slip up? It must have been that damn mirror giving it away!

“I don’t think she meant that,” the Kunlun Mirror said weakly, “Junior Sister Xu… probably just meant that no matter whether you like her or not, she won’t force it, only patiently fulfill the role of a Daoist companion in the future.”

“I agree with Yao Yao’s view,” the Green Duckweed Sword chimed in.

“How come you both understand so much?” Qiu Changtian asked skeptically.

“The moon in the sky represents your true feelings; the moon in the water represents your disguised goodwill,” the Green Duckweed Sword explained confidently, “As long as she’s got you, whether you’re merely being superficially nice or truly in love with her, you won’t be able to escape her grasp, after all, you can’t really look for another Daoist companion.”

“That’s not right,” the Kunlun Mirror objected, “I think it means this: No matter whether you like her or not now, she’s confident that she’ll make you fall in love with her in the end.”

“No, that’s not it,” Qiu Changtian also objected, “Is there a possibility that actually, Junior Sister Xu didn’t have any hidden intentions? Just like when I initially asked her about the moon in the sky and the moon in the water, I hadn’t thought about the real answer either.”

“Could it be that she just couldn’t think of a response, so she purposely blurted something out, just to prove that my question didn’t stump her?”

Kunlun Mirror: ……

Green Duckweed Sword: ……

This guess might not be impossible, but even a fool could see that Junior Sister Xu must have some feelings for you, right?

“Of course I know she’s interested in me; after all, my personal charm is so immense!” Qiu Changtian said angrily, “But that’s not the point… I’m not Qiu Changtian right now! It’s not like I can win Junior Sister Xu’s true heart while wearing this mask of Qiu Changtian, can I? What if she discovers my real identity after I take off the mask, won’t she chase me to the ends of the earth?”

“You’re right, actually…” the Kunlun Mirror felt incredibly relieved, this guy finally understood that wearing a mask to deceive a girl’s feelings was wrong.

Just as it was about to praise him and give its own opinion, it heard the Green Duckweed Sword add,

“You just need not to get discovered, right? When you get the pieces of the Heaven-Mending Stone, just throw away Qiu Changtian’s mask. Xu Yinglian doesn’t know the connection between Chen Guanshui and Qiu Changtian, so how could she chase after your true identity?”

“You do have a point,” Qiu Changtian pondered, “Hmm, Ah Jing? Did you have something to say just now?”

“…No, nothing.”