Chapter 31: A Candied Confession and an Unexpected Encounter

“You idiot, didn’t you say this wasn’t worth so much? Why are you still paying for it?”

At this moment, Lin Yufei, wearing the mask Lan Wu Xi had bought for her, was happily licking a candied hawthorn skewer that Lan Wu Xi had conjured from who knows where. She ate with relish.

Her delicate pink tongue lightly brushed the red hawthorn balls, making her appear much like an adorable kitten.

“Slurp~, slurp~”

“Look at you,” Lan Wu Xi chuckled softly, “your mouth is all messy. You’re a grown woman, yet you’re still so careless when you eat.”

With a helpless laugh, Lan Wu Xi reached out, gently tracing Lin Yufei’s fair and delicate cheek. He then smoothly brought his finger to his own mouth, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“You idiot! You…”

Witnessing Lan Wu Xi’s intimate gesture, a flush of crimson instantly bloomed across Lin Yufei’s cheeks. Her eyes widened, a flicker of bewilderment in their depths, as she hadn’t anticipated such a sudden, lover-like display of affection from him.

“What’s wrong with me?”

Lan Wu Xi appeared somewhat perplexed, observing Lin Yufei’s hesitant expression without understanding its cause. Perhaps, in his eyes, it was nothing more than a trivial matter.

“Don’t do that again next time,” Lin Yufei chided, turning her head away from Lan Wu Xi. “It’s embarrassing, with so many people watching.”

Despite her scolding tone, there was no real blame in her voice, a subtle hint of her endearing nature.

“Me…? Oh dear! My apologies, my apologies. I haven’t quite gotten rid of my old habits.”

Only then did Lan Wu Xi realize just how intimate his actions had been. While their friendship was undeniably strong, their relationship hadn’t yet crossed that particular threshold. Even if his feelings ran deep, how did Lin Yufei truly perceive him?

Some might advocate for bravely pursuing love, but the deeper one’s affection, the more anxieties arise.

Lan Wu Xi dared not try. He feared disappointment, dreaded the potential estrangement it might cause, and most of all, he feared losing the treasure he cherished.

Yet, time waited for no one. Yun Jingping was already rising, and events were unfolding in the very direction Lan Wu Xi most feared. If he hesitated any longer, the outcome would be self-evident.

He absolutely could not allow that to happen! Thus, upon hearing the legend of the mask, he had unhesitatingly pulled out his gold coins. He could not wait any longer; today was his best chance.

Perhaps he would fail, or the outcome might not be ideal, but he refused to let his relationship with Xiao Xue remain stagnant. He yearned to take a step further, to truly understand every facet of this charming girl—to kiss her, to touch her…

This was not borne of lechery, but rather the pivotal moment marking the sublimation of their relationship.

Lan Wu Xi had already resolved to confess. So, while uttering apologies on the surface, his heart secretly thrummed with excitement and joy.

Lin Yufei’s reaction hadn’t seemed particularly averse, which suggested their bond was far deeper than he had imagined, significantly increasing his chances of a successful confession.

Just then, the crowd began to surge en masse in one direction, making the already dense space even more congested.

“Watch out!”

Lin Yufei was nearly swallowed by the sudden, pressing human tide. Fortunately, Lan Wu Xi swiftly grabbed her arm, applying just enough force while simultaneously shielding her with spiritual energy to prevent injury.

He pulled her close, his chest expanding to block the relentless wave of the dense crowd.

In that moment, it was as if only the two of them existed. Lan Wu Xi braced himself against the throng’s relentless push, his chest a solid barrier.

Being a cultivator, with a soft exclamation, an invisible spiritual energy manifested as a shield, firmly encasing them both and preventing them from being swept apart.

“Hold me tight,” he instructed. “I’m going to release a little spiritual energy now.”

Lin Yufei, remarkably compliant, wrapped her arms around Lan Wu Xi’s waist, her body gently pressing against his. A deep flush already stained her neck.

Her fine, silky hair drifted softly over Lan Wu Xi’s shoulder, like a tender feather, stirring a flurry of emotions within him.

“Azure Cloud Step, ascend!”

Lan Wu Xi stomped forcefully on the ground. Immediately, his body felt considerably lighter as a gale of wind swirled around his calves.

Spiritual energy condensed at his heels, transforming into a potent force. Using this explosive rebound, Lan Wu Xi propelled himself and Lin Yufei straight into the sky.

Naturally, with Lan Wu Xi’s current power, he couldn’t truly achieve sustained flight. One needed to reach the Nirvana realm to genuinely soar through the skies, as only at that level could one truly break free from the shackles imposed by the Heavenly Dao.

The Spirit Emperor realm, however, allowed one to traverse beyond the nine heavens with but a thought, truly approaching the divine.

As for a Saint Emperor, their existence was the stuff of legend, capable of ranking among the very gods.

“Look over there!”

The commotion Lan Wu Xi caused was far from small. All around, eyes were drawn to the pair in the sky, revealing hints of envy and awe.

To the onlookers, these cultivators were beings they could only dream of, forever out of reach. Especially for the women who watched Lin Yufei held by Lan Wu Xi, their gazes were filled with both jealousy and admiration.

How could one not envy and admire such a perfectly matched couple?

“You idiot, you’ve caused quite a scene,” Lin Yufei whispered, her voice laced with embarrassment. “Everyone’s staring at us. It’s so mortifying.”

Lin Yufei was already feeling self-conscious. She was typically thin-skinned, and Lan Wu Xi’s grand public display made her quite abashed.

Yet, knowing he did it all for her, Lin Yufei could only silently cling to his waist, mumbling softly.

“It’s fine, look, isn’t there another couple over there?”

Lan Wu Xi, however, took a more open-minded view. Indeed, ordinary cultivators would typically seek a more discreet method in such a situation.

Sure enough, not far ahead, another couple had likewise shot into the air. They even turned back to glance at Lan Wu Xi and Lin Yufei, offering a polite nod of goodwill.

Lan Wu Xi returned a smile, unwilling to appear impolite.

At that moment, several more figures appeared in the sky a short distance away. It seemed this temple fair was not lacking in powerful cultivators.

Lan Wu Xi even sensed an extremely dangerous aura, indicating a master who had at least stepped into the Golden Core realm.

‘There are hidden dragons and crouching tigers everywhere,’ Lan Wu Xi mused internally. ‘When will I possess the strength to protect my girl?’

With a sigh, Lan Wu Xi lightly pushed off the empty air again, landing softly on a rooftop. He then proceeded, step by step, along the eaves towards the dense heart of the teeming crowd.

The most spectacular performance of the temple fair was about to begin, which explained why so many people were flocking there.

“Girl.”

“Hm?”

“Nothing, I just wanted to call your name.”

“Are you alright? I feel like you’ve been distracted lately, you idiot. Is it because of your aunt and uncle’s situation?”

“Of course not. It’s probably because the Core Disciple Assembly is about to start, and I’m a bit nervous about not performing well.”

“It’s fine! I believe you’ll definitely do great, you idiot. I’ll be there to cheer you on!”

“But I don’t think anyone can attend as a spectator, except for the participants’ relatives.”

Lan Wu Xi smiled, then playfully flicked Lin Yufei’s nose. She swat his hand away with a pout, her lips forming an adorable scowl.

“Then can’t I just say I’m your elder sister?”

“Come on, at your age, who would believe that? Saying you’re my younger sister might be more convincing.”

“Hmph~, I don’t care, I’m going to be your elder sister!”

“Oh~? I wonder who it was that used to follow me around every day as a child, calling me ‘Big Brother’ with every other word.”

“Who was that? I don’t remember! Maybe it was little Ju from next door. Yes, it must have been her!”

Someone lied without a blush, their small eyes darting left and right, betraying their inner guilt.

“Girl~”

“What is it now?”

“Take this.”

Lan Wu Xi touched his ring, retrieved an exquisite token, and handed it to the bewildered Lin Yufei, softly instructing her.

“Keep this safe. You can use it to enter Xuan Feng Fu when the time comes. You absolutely mustn’t lose it!”

“Of course! You absolutely must fight well then, and don’t you dare lose! Even if you can’t get first place, at least aim for the top ten, right?”

“Top ten? That’s quite a challenge~”

Lan Wu Xi gave a wry smile. To reach the top ten, one typically needed to be around the advanced stage of the Profound Wheel realm.

With his current strength, it was certainly possible, but success remained uncertain, as luck could often play a crucial role.

If he were unlucky enough to encounter an unexpected powerhouse, he would have no choice but to concede defeat.

“You have to believe in yourself, for your aunt and uncle, and also for…”

The last words were too faint for Lan Wu Xi to catch, but he saw Lin Yufei’s face deepen in a rosy blush, her voice a mere whisper.

Illuminated by the rooftop lanterns, her cheeks seemed like two small, ripe apples.

“Really? Then I suppose I’ll have to perform exceptionally well.”

With that, Lan Wu Xi and Lin Yufei arrived at the performance venue. It was already overflowing with spectators, the area packed to the brim, a testament to the dance troupe’s extraordinary reputation.

“You idiot.”

“What is it?”

“Isn’t that Young Master Yun?”

“Young Master Yun? Which Yun? Wait, huh?!”

Hearing the voice he least wanted to hear in such a romantic setting, Lan Wu Xi’s mood was predictably bitter, as though he had been forced to swallow a mouthful of dirt.

“It’s really them! How are they here too?”

It turned out that Yun Jingping and his companions had also arrived at the temple fair at some unknown point. They were even positioned in the very front row of the audience, likely relying solely on perseverance rather than spiritual power.

Truly befitting a protagonist, their methods always diverged from others’. At Yun Jingping’s side was a woman Lan Wu Xi had never seen before—another peerless beauty.

In Lan Wu Xi’s estimation, she was, in all likelihood, yet another member of that fellow Yun Jingping’s harem…

“You idiot, should we go say hello?”

“No need, right? Wouldn’t that be a bit awkward? What if we disturb them?”

‘Isn’t that obvious nonsense?’ Lan Wu Xi thought. ‘Going to greet the protagonist? Wouldn’t that be like a lamb walking into a tiger’s den, willingly stepping into a trap? I certainly don’t have the time to push Lin Yufei into that abyss of a territory. Absolutely not! Never!’