Chapter 124: How Can One Remain Aloof

Before I could even leave the Green Phoenix Palace, I ran into Zi Lian on the path. He had somehow acquired a few shimmering celestial plants and was squatting by the lotus pond, carefully washing them.

"Master, it’s a disaster!"

I cried out, shook off my chubby hands, and hurried over to him. I squatted down right beside him and tilted my head to meet his gaze.

To be honest, in all the time I had been at Lingyun Mountain, this was the first time I had looked him directly in the eye. His dark, deep pupils held a flicker of confusion, alongside a hint of displeasure.

He lowered his gaze, remained silent for a moment, then turned his head away and asked softly, "What is such a disaster? Making a racket here early in the morning."

"Master, Master," I said, clutching his sleeves tightly and speaking urgently, "I went to the kitchen behind the palace early this morning to fetch your breakfast, and then..."

Before I could finish, Zi Lian turned his head back, looking at me with a puzzled expression. "If you went to the kitchen to fetch my breakfast, why did I wait so long at the Azure Cloud Pavilion without you bringing it to me?"

"That... this..."

I avoided his eyes and retreated slightly, whispering, "When I was bringing your breakfast back, I ran into Senior Sister Fengshi Liuying on the way. Then, I accidentally spilled the vegetable porridge intended for you onto her. I felt so guilty that I ran back to the kitchen to apologize to her. But Senior Sister Liuying didn't seem to appreciate it; she kept thinking that I had done it on purpose, with some ulterior motive."

Silence followed. After a long moment, Zi Lian tossed the celestial plants into the center of the lotus pond. In an instant, they began to take root and sprout, waiting only to bloom.

"And then?" Zi Lian asked.

"And then, I wasn't willing to be misunderstood by her like that, so when she turned to head toward the Luofu Palace, I secretly followed her all the way there."

"You followed her?"

Zi Lian seemed displeased, raising his eyes to look at me.

"That's right!" I nodded at him with a smile.

In my heart, I felt that since he was my master, there was no reason to hide such trivial things from him; it was better to be honest.

"You had best stay away from her."

With that, he stood up and flicked his sleeves.

"Why should I stay away from her?"

Hearing Zi Lian say this, a wave of inexplicable displeasure rose within me. If anyone else on Lingyun Mountain had said this to me, I could understand it, for they were not Zi Lian—not the person who had rescued me from the side of this lotus pond a thousand years ago.

But why? Why would even he say this to me? Could it be that he, like everyone else, viewed Fengshi Liuying in the same way?

I didn't understand. If he were truly so cold and indifferent, why would he have saved me all those centuries ago?

He seemed to perceive my inner turmoil. He looked toward the lotus pond and sighed. "Xiaoyu."

He called my name softly, sounding somewhat helpless. "You haven't been at this sect for long, so there are some things you do not yet understand. Have you heard the other disciples mention Fengshi Liuying's master, Fengqiao Yexue?"

"I have."

Hearing him bring up Fengqiao Yexue, I nodded earnestly.

Zi Lian said, "Although it has been over three thousand years since the incident with your Second Martial Uncle, Fengqiao Yexue, everything concerning him remains a taboo on Lingyun Mountain. I know you sympathize with Fengshi Liuying's situation, but no matter how much you pity her, you must remember not to get into disputes with other disciples on her account."

"But, Master..."

"No more 'buts'."

Zi Lian turned and began to walk toward the Azure Cloud Pavilion. "In the future, if she is bullied, it is enough for you to help her from the shadows. You do not need to seek out those people yourself to demand justice for her."

"But, Lan Duo'er only went to trouble her today because of me! I cannot just stand by and watch her be bullied like that."

I shouted at his retreating purple silhouette.

He did not stop, nor did he offer another word. He simply continued walking, as if the person who had just been speaking to me by the lotus pond was not him at all.