Chapter 133: Resplendent Courtesy (Fifth Installment)

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[Five chapters in one night—whew! I’ll keep typing!]

Liu Yiyi gazed at Xiao Cheng, standing upright atop the Azure Python, her eyes sparkling with admiration. Women were naturally inclined to worship the strong, and as a girl, she was no exception. Besides, in her heart, this formidable man was also her cultivation partner.

That afternoon, she had actually rescued someone like him. Yet at the time, Xiao Cheng had appeared extremely weak, utterly different from the imposing figure he was now—the man who had actually trampled beneath his feet the enormous Azure Python they feared like a tiger.

Remembering what Xiao Cheng had done to her that afternoon, she suddenly felt bashful. Lowering her head to her chest, she dared not look at him.

Behind Liu Yiyi stood Liu Biru and Liu Qingqing, who looked exactly like her. Both stared at Xiao Cheng atop the Azure Python in stunned disbelief.

If the abilities Xiao Cheng had displayed earlier had merely shocked them, then seeing him press the Azure Python beneath his feet was downright terrifying.

They had just witnessed what sort of monster the Azure Python was. Even in its ordinary state, it was horrifying; after growing larger, it had become as immense as a mountain, its power far beyond anything they could comprehend.

In their eyes, their master was the strongest person in existence. Yet even their master had been no match for the Azure Python, while now the creature lay docile beneath Xiao Cheng’s feet, not daring to make the slightest move.

If he had simply killed the Azure Python, that would have been one thing. But Xiao Cheng had actually subdued such a savage demon beast.

Liu Biru recalled the way she had treated Xiao Cheng that morning, even pointing her sword at him. At the time, Xiao Cheng could probably have crushed her with a single finger. Only two hours ago, she had looked down on him as a mere mortal. How laughable that seemed now.

Liu Biru was so ashamed that she wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground. She did not dare look at Xiao Cheng.

The old woman, having seen much of the world, immediately guessed that Xiao Cheng must have subdued the beast when she saw him standing atop the Azure Python. Such things were occasionally spoken of in legends of the cultivation world. She was dazed for only a moment before regaining her composure.

Yet inwardly, she felt some regret. She had indeed looked down on Xiao Cheng earlier. It was her own arrogance that had blinded her; because she could not discern his cultivation, she had assumed he was an ordinary mortal. But there were countless people in the world whose cultivation she could not see through.

She now remembered that her sect token was still in Xiao Cheng’s possession, but she had no idea how to ask for it back. After all, he had even saved her life earlier.

Standing atop the Azure Python, Xiao Cheng looked down at the three identical “Liu Yiyis” and felt an overwhelming headache. It was as though fate were playing some absurd joke on him.

The three sisters not only looked exactly alike—their cultivation levels were identical as well. Wait…

When he had seen the woman in white that morning, had she not only been at the fifth stage of Condensation? Liu Yiyi had advanced inexplicably after receiving benefits from him, but how had the woman in white suddenly advanced three stages?

Could it be…

As the thought arose, five words appeared in Xiao Cheng’s mind: the Three-Life Lotus Body.

So that was it. They possessed the Three-Life Lotus Body, in which their fortunes and misfortunes were shared.

No wonder their cultivation levels were exactly the same. No wonder Liu Yiyi had known someone was calling her back from the mountain before she had even reached its foot.

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Xiao Cheng soon noticed that Liu Yiyi had lowered her head and was afraid to look at him. Looking closely, he saw that the girl’s face had actually turned red. So she was embarrassed.

It was rather amusing. Liu Yiyi had already become his woman, yet the two of them were not particularly familiar. They had exchanged a few words yesterday afternoon, and by noon she had somehow ended up dual-cultivating with him.

He did not even know Liu Yiyi’s exact age. He could not remember whether she had single or double eyelids. If the three sisters changed clothes, he probably would not be able to tell them apart.

The only thing he remembered clearly was that Liu Yiyi had a mole on her buttocks. After all, he had dressed her in a skirt before leaving the cave.

But he could hardly say to the three of them, “Hey, take off your skirts. I want to see which one of you has a mole on her buttocks,” just to determine which one was Liu Yiyi.

Xiao Cheng stood there in a daze for a moment, then lightly stamped his foot. The Azure Python immediately lowered him to the ground as he intended.

When the old woman saw the Azure Python lower its head, she took two wary steps backward. Then she approached Xiao Cheng again and gave him an awkward smile.

“Young hero, thank you for eliminating this great menace to our Bellflower Sect. And thank you as well for saving the lives of us master and disciples.”

Xiao Cheng smiled faintly. Earlier, the old woman had spoken harshly to him and threatened him with her life to force him to leave. Now she was smiling broadly as she thanked him. The change had come so quickly that he found it difficult to adjust.

Still, he would not hold a grudge against her. The cultivation world was, after all, a place where the strong preyed upon the weak. Her previous attitude toward him had been perfectly understandable. He was not petty, and besides, had she not later tried to help him? It simply had not worked.

“Heh, there’s no need to thank me.”

Xiao Cheng naturally knew what the old woman wanted to say next. Not wishing to make things difficult for her, he immediately took out the jade token and held it out to her.

“I happened to come across this by chance. It should be returned to its rightful owner.”

The item was useless to him. He had read the Heart Sutra engraved upon it several times and had already memorized it. He might as well do them a favor; it would also make it easier to take Liu Yiyi away later.

The old woman stared at the token before her, then tremblingly reached out and accepted it. This was the token the Bellflower Sect had sought for five hundred years. At long last, they had found it.

Holding the token, she felt as though she were dreaming. She had prepared a great many words of gratitude, yet none of them were needed. Xiao Cheng had handed it over so naturally and casually, as though he did not value it at all.

“Young hero, you have recovered our sect’s sacred relic. I have nothing with which to repay you. Please accept my deepest respect.”

As she spoke, the old woman bent down and solemnly bowed to Xiao Cheng.

Xiao Cheng slipped aside to avoid her. The old woman was already in her eighties or nineties. Though he knew he deserved her bow for recovering the token, accepting it would have made him uncomfortable. After all, his own family had an elderly grandmother just as kind and benevolent.

“I couldn’t accept such a gesture! I merely happened to find it. It was nothing.”

When he finished speaking, Xiao Cheng went over to Liu Yiyi. She stood with her head lowered and her shoulders drawn in, her face full of embarrassment, not daring to look at him.

Xiao Cheng found this astonishing. Yesterday, Liu Yiyi had kept bringing up dual cultivation as though it were something fun. Why was she suddenly so shy today? Could embarrassment be an instinct?

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“What’s wrong?” Xiao Cheng asked gently.

Earlier, while he and the Azure Python had fought desperately for their lives, Liu Yiyi had repeatedly shouted anxiously from the riverbank. He had heard most of it. Her cries had come from concern for him, from genuine kindness, and Xiao Cheng was a man who knew how to appreciate such things.

That was why he was behaving with such unusual patience and gentleness.

“Ah—nothing…” Liu Yiyi let out a sweet, drawn-out whine, turning her face away coyly as she secretly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.

She had been the one most worried about Xiao Cheng’s safety. After watching him struggle through one peril after another before finally subduing the Azure Python, she had been frantic with concern. Now that Xiao Cheng was safe and sound, she instead felt deeply wronged, though she could not put that feeling into words.

When a girl acted coquettishly toward a man, it usually meant she regarded him as someone she could rely on. She believed that if she acted spoiled, he would pamper her. It was simply a woman’s nature.

This was the first time Xiao Cheng had ever been treated so coquettishly by a girl. He smiled and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, don’t ask. I was just really worried about you, that’s all!”

As she spoke, Liu Yiyi turned her head away again.

“How about we take a picture with the Azure Python?” Xiao Cheng suggested playfully.

“Oh? All right!”

Liu Yiyi immediately became interested. She was an innocent girl, and her moods came and went quickly.

The two of them went over beside the Azure Python. Liu Yiyi handed the tablet to Liu Qingqing and taught her how to take the picture.

Strangely enough, although they had known each other for less than a day and had exchanged only a few words, they had already become quite familiar. It was as though they had spent a very long time together before.

Just after the picture was taken, the old woman came over and forced a smile.

“Would you be willing to visit the Bellflower Sect, young hero? I’ll have Biru prepare a little wine and a simple meal to express our gratitude.”

Hearing her master’s words, Liu Yiyi looked at Xiao Cheng with hopeful eyes.

Xiao Cheng smiled faintly. Even if the old woman had not invited him, he had wanted to visit the sect. There was also something concerning Liu Yiyi that he needed to discuss with the old woman, though not just yet.

At present, he had to treat the Azure Python’s wounds. The creature was now his spirit beast, after all, and its injuries had been inflicted by his own hand. He knew that if it did not recover soon, its future development might be affected.

“Yes, I’ll come—but a little later. I’ll pay you a visit in two hours. There’s something I need to take care of first.”

To be continued.