Chapter Sixty-Six: Moral Decay and the Whisper of Broken Sleeves

As dusk approached, we arrived at a flower house called Beauty Pavilion. Zilian lifted his head to glance at the building before us, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips, seeming to be in rather good spirits.

"Xiaoyu," he called out to me.

"Yes, Master?" I replied, puzzled, raising my head to look at him. At this moment, there was no trace of annoyance on his face. Instead, his eyes held a hint of joy and anticipation as he gazed at the golden plaque above the pavilion, smiling gently.

"Come, let's go inside," he said, sweeping his long sleeves and stepping into the flower house.

"Alright!" I responded gloomily, following closely behind him.

Zilian had clearly visited flower houses before—and judging from his cheerful demeanor now, it was likely not just once or twice, but perhaps dozens of times. I sighed inwardly. Back at the inn, I had only asked him a question out of mere curiosity, never expecting him to react so angrily, glaring at me with an expression that screamed, "I have never done such a thing; you have insulted your master." Then, he punished me by ordering me to copy the Celestial Cultivation Record one hundred times.

One hundred times! Even if I worked through the night without rest, I might not finish.

"Three thousand years have passed, and you still haven't died!" A teasing male voice drifted from within the building.

Startled, I wondered who could be so reckless as to speak so carelessly to Zilian. Looking up, I saw the bold speaker—a man dressed in a pink peach blossom robe, holding a peach blossom fan. He strolled out from the house, swinging his folding fan lightly, peach blossom eyes slightly raised as he circled around Zilian, his red lips parting in constant exclamations, openly scrutinizing Zilian.

"If the Peach Blossom Immortal hasn’t died, why would I be willing to die?" Zilian lifted his eyes to him, replying coolly.

With that, he seized my hand, sidestepped the peach blossom man, and strode into the Beauty Pavilion.

"Zilian Immortal, that's quite an ambiguous statement. What do you mean, 'If this immortal doesn’t die, Zilian Immortal won’t die?' Do you wish to become a pair of fugitive lovers with me?" The peach blossom robed man followed us inside, quickly catching up to Zilian with raised brows and fluttering peach blossom eyes, his smile brimming with charm.

Fugitive lovers? My heart jolted in alarm. Could it be that the Peach Blossom Immortal actually harbored feelings for Zilian? And what about Zilian? I glanced up, fixing my eyes on him.

Could he truly be a genuine devotee of the cut sleeve? If so, should I hurry to return to my female form, so I might pull him back from the edge?

"I have no fondness for those who are neither male nor female," Zilian suddenly remarked coldly.

"Oh dear, then this immortal will be heartbroken," the Peach Blossom Immortal lamented dramatically, shielding his face with his peach blossom fan, feigning grief, his gaze full of coquettish reproach as he looked at Zilian.

"Master, could this person possibly become my future mistress?" I whispered to Zilian, my heart leaping to my throat.

Though both the Peach Blossom Immortal and Zilian were men, the trend of same-sex love was rampant in the Six Realms these days. If they truly shared mutual affection, it was entirely possible they might end up together.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Zilian turned to glare at me, his face once again bearing the expression of "You have insulted your master."

"You will copy the Celestial Cultivation Record two hundred times," he said sternly.

As his face darkened and he looked ready to explode, I couldn't help but laugh.

"Yes, Master," I replied cheerfully, nodding. If Zilian had no romantic feelings for the Peach Blossom Immortal, then copying the Celestial Cultivation Record two hundred times would be a pleasure.