Chapter 126: Rumors
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Neither Qu Yiqiu nor Huo Tangsheng showed the slightest change in expression.
Clearly, Qu Youyou’s furious appearance held no threat for either of them.
“Since we’ve already entered the secret realm, I don’t have time to waste here. If the two prodigies wish to exchange pleasantries, be my guests.” Qu Yiqiu smiled faintly, lightly tapping the ground with her toes before speeding away.
Qu Youyou gave Huo Tangsheng a quick glance, then hurried after Qu Yiqiu.
A smile glimmered in Huo Tangsheng’s phoenix eyes, and the corner of his lips lifted slightly.
“This is the second time you’ve escaped from me. I wonder how you’ll evade me a third time.”
…
“Why are you following me?” Qu Yiqiu asked, one brow raised.
Qu Youyou’s face was filled with anger. She cast a sidelong glance at her, then suddenly asked with feigned concern, “What is your relationship with Huo Tangsheng of the Xuanyi Sect?”
Qu Yiqiu froze, unable to understand how her mind worked.
“Nothing…” Before she could finish, Qu Youyou interrupted her.
“Huo Tangsheng is very impressive, isn’t he? The two of you make quite a good match. With your awkward standing, it isn’t impossible for you to become the partner of the Xuanyi Sect’s personal disciple.”
“What are you…” Qu Yiqiu could not understand what madness had suddenly seized her, or why she was spouting such nonsensical words.
“Seniior Brother, you were teleported here too! Let’s form a team!” Qu Youyou interrupted her again. Pretending that she had only just noticed Chi Yushu, she ran toward him joyfully.
“Senior Brother, I saw Huo Tangsheng and Junior Sister Yiqiu being teleported here together just now. They seemed very familiar with each other.” Qu Youyou put on an innocent expression and tilted her lovely face toward Chi Yushu as she spoke.
For fuck’s sake.
When had they ever become familiar with each other?
“Junior Sister, when did you meet Huo Tangsheng? How come I never knew?” Qu Youyou wore an expression of confusion.
After three years apart, she had become an actress of the highest order.
Qu Yiqiu silently mocked her inwardly, then replied expressionlessly, “I remember you took part in the mission at Tianchen Town back then. How could you act as if you’ve lost your memory now?”
Qu Youyou’s expression stiffened slightly before she smiled.
“So that’s how it was. I thought you had only met once at the inn back then. I didn’t realize that the two of you had become so close afterward.”
Qu Yiqiu almost rolled her eyes.
Qu Youyou’s methods were becoming more and more childish.
“That’s right. Just as you saw, after that one meeting, Huo Tangsheng was never able to forget me.”
He thought about when I was going to die every single day.
Qu Yiqiu grumbled inwardly.
She and Huo Tangsheng had absolutely nothing to do with each other. What possible connection could they have?
“Junior Sister Yiqiu, does Huo Tangsheng of the Xuanyi Sect admire you?” Wu Qiu emerged from behind an unusual rock beside Chi Yushu, his face filled with astonishment.
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With him were Luo Yingying and Lin Yaoxing, whom they had not seen for many years.
Qu Yiqiu smiled.
She was just about to explain that she had been speaking sarcastically when several successive groups suddenly emerged from all directions.
“What? Huo Tangsheng of the Xuanyi Sect likes Qu Yiqiu from our sect?” Zou Peng and the others had only poked half their heads out from the moss and groundcover when they heard Wu Qiu’s words.
They froze in astonishment alongside their companions, nearly falling back into the hole.
At the same time, the bark of a massive ancient tree, too broad for four people to encircle, exploded outward. A blue saber pierced through it, revealing several disciples from the Xuanyi Sect’s Huangji Peak through the crack.
“Huo Tangsheng actually likes that woman?”
“Senior Brother Huo likes Qu Yiqiu from Little Peace Peak of the Tianyan Sect!”
“What are you talking about?”
“Huo Tangsheng likes Qu Yiqiu of the Tianyan Sect!”
“Did you hear that just now?”
“…”
Qu Yiqiu was rendered speechless by the people who suddenly appeared. She hurriedly shook her head.
“Senior Brother Wu, I was only joking. Don’t take it seriously!”
Yet rumors spread faster than she had imagined.
In merely a day, the story that Huo Tangsheng admired Qu Yiqiu of the Tianyan Sect had spread to every corner of the Feiling Secret Realm, becoming a source of gossip and amusement whenever everyone stopped to rest during their exploration.
Qu Yiqiu still had not realized how important the matter was.
Qu Youyou, however, had no intention of letting it end there. She continued talking to herself.
“No wonder I heard Huo Tangsheng blaming Junior Sister Yiqiu for breaking her promise back then. It seems Huo Tangsheng really does like her…”
The rumor began to gain momentum.
By now, Qu Yiqiu was so furious that she could only laugh.
How had her relationship with Huo Tangsheng become such a thing in Qu Youyou’s mouth?
Wu Qiu and Luo Yingying exchanged glances, only half-believing Qu Youyou’s words.
Chi Yushu remained silent the entire time.
He lowered his eyes slightly.
“Junior Sister, don’t say anything more. Let’s go.”
Qu Youyou paused for a moment, concealing the emotions in her eyes before smiling brightly.
“All right, Senior Brother. Let’s hurry and complete the mission!”
After several people had left, Luo Yingying passed by Qu Yiqiu and lowered her voice.
“Junior Sister, it’s perfectly normal for Huo Tangsheng to admire you, but you must never trust him. That man is extremely calculating. You would never be his match!”
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From Luo Yingying’s perspective as an outsider, Qu Yiqiu truly was so beautiful that she seemed unlike any mortal woman. It was entirely normal for male cultivators to admire her appearance.
Qu Yiqiu looked at her with equal parts amusement and speechlessness.
How had Luo Yingying believed Qu Youyou’s words so readily?
Zou Peng and the others crawled out from beneath the moss and groundcover. After hesitating for a moment, they walked toward Qu Yiqiu.
“Junior Sister Yiqiu, the situation in the secret realm is unclear. If we travel together as a team, the journey will be much safer. I wonder whether I might have the honor of inviting you to join us?”
Qu Yiqiu turned her head toward him, her gaze sweeping rapidly over the people behind him.
“I’m sorry, Senior Brother Zou. I already have a team.”
Zou Peng lowered his head in slight disappointment.
“I see. I was too late.”
Qu Yiqiu nodded. Unwilling to continue being stared at like a monkey, she leaped away from the area.
The disciple to Zou Peng’s right stepped forward and asked in a low voice, “Senior Brother, why did you want to bring her along? Didn’t you hear what Senior Brother Wu said just now? Her relationship with Huo Tangsheng is rather questionable.”
A strange glint flashed through Zou Peng’s eyes. He reprimanded the disciple in a low voice.
“Don’t speak nonsense. Huo Tangsheng merely admires her appearance. What questionable relationship is there? Besides, I have my reasons for inviting her into the team. If you doubt my decision, you may form your own team and leave!”
Three years had passed.
The major peaks of the Tianyan Sect had gradually undergone some changes.
Qianming Peak, where Zou Peng belonged, had slowly begun to distinguish itself. It had received generous rewards and extensive cultivation resources from the sect on several occasions, and its strength now faintly rivaled that of Wanqing Peak, where Qi Yongfeng belonged.
Qu Yiqiu paid little attention to the affairs among the various peaks of the sect. After leaving Zou Peng and the others, she went alone to a swamp.
“Little Yan, what do you mean when you say this secret realm has an artifact spirit?”
She concealed herself deep within the swamp and silently communicated with Little Yan.
“Master, don’t you find it strange? So many people were teleported to your vicinity, yet not one of them noticed.”
Qu Yiqiu was stunned.
She had not thought too deeply about it just now, but Little Yan’s analysis did make sense.
“But what does that have to do with an artifact spirit? Could an artifact spirit conceal everyone’s aura as well?”