After The Aloof Long Aotian Became Jealous Of Me - Chapter 7

Bai Yi slept in shamelessly late.

He had slept exceptionally well the night before, mainly because making Long Aotian suffer had been so satisfying. The water mirror had vanished with a whoosh the moment Bai Yi lifted his clothes slightly. Even the mighty Immortal Lord could flee in embarrassment.

That was what he deserved for trying to spy on someone.

If Rong Zhenlü was thick-skinned enough to try again, Bai Yi was not afraid. He would frighten him away every single time.

They were both men. The first one to become embarrassed lost.

It was already afternoon.

No matter how much Bai Yi’s physical condition had improved, he was still hungry after going most of the day without eating. Only cultivators who had reached Foundation Establishment could abstain from food.

He left his room in search of a meal.

The immortal crane and Old Tree Spirit were still eating their unbearably sweet strawberry-and-fish dumplings. The two of them were chewing so slowly that they had somehow continued eating from noon until now.

Every so often, they would decide that the flavor was lacking. The immortal crane would then pluck several leaves from the Old Tree Spirit and sprinkle them into the bowl.

The smell in the air became increasingly strange.

Bai Yi grimaced at the sight.

The Old Tree Spirit noticed him and held a pink dumpling toward his mouth.

“You slept until now, so you must be hungry. Want some?”

Bai Yi pressed his red lips together again and again.

Finally unable to endure it any longer, he cautiously asked the question he had been keeping inside.

“I heard the food in the inner sect is delicious. Have either of you ever gone down there to try it?”

Before the Old Tree Spirit could answer, the immortal crane’s long beak immediately curved into a faintly disdainful sneer.

“Tch.” The immortal crane flapped one wing dismissively. “Even without tasting ordinary immortal cuisine like that, I already know it can’t be anything special. How could food made by those youngsters compare with something cooked by an ancient fossil like Old Tree?”

The Old Tree Spirit nodded in agreement.

“My cooking is quite good. When Immortal Lord Zhenlü was young, I cooked for him for a long time. Little Bai Yi, you’re truly fortunate to enjoy it.”

Bai Yi froze.

He turned toward the tightly closed doors of Zhaoye Palace and, for the first time, felt a trace of sympathy for Long Aotian.

Rong Zhenlü’s sense of taste probably had not weakened when he was young.

He had cultivated alone every day and still had to eat this stuff.

Good heavens. What kind of life had he been living?

No wonder he had stopped eating entirely after reaching Foundation Establishment.

Bai Yi genuinely feared that if he ate any more of these things, he would lose all interest in food forever.

He hurriedly bid farewell to the crane and tree spirit, took his disciple identity token, and descended the mountain to taste the inner sect’s immortal cuisine.

He knew it was delicious not because Long Aotian had ever eaten it, but because Bai Wuhen, the former sect master’s daughter, loved it.

She was an exceptionally stubborn person.

When Long Aotian was young, she brought the finest immortal cuisine from the inner sect to him every day.

She had never openly declared that she was pursuing him. She merely hoped that Rong Zhenlü would eat one meal she brought him.

Unfortunately, he never did.

During this journey into the Immortal-Prohibited Land, Long Aotian would happen upon Bai Wuhen while she was being hunted.

He would reluctantly play the hero and casually help her.

Because spiritual energy could not be used there, Bai Wuhen carried several boxes of immortal cuisine with her.

She offered them to Long Aotian, but he still refused to eat, so she could only eat them herself.

The original novel had described the food as exceptionally delicious.

Bai Yi had become hungry just reading that passage, and now he wanted to taste it personally.

He also planned to bring some back and determine whether the immortal crane and Old Tree Spirit merely possessed unusual tastes or had simply never eaten anything good.

With the assistance of the Immortal Thread Robe, Bai Yi silently descended near the inner sect at extraordinary speed.

He had barely landed on a small mountain nearby when he heard an enthusiastic discussion taking place not far away.

The speakers had lowered their voices, but their excitement remained obvious.

Bai Yi had not intended to listen.

However, he occasionally heard the words “Zhaoye Peak” among their conversation.

After a moment of thought, he stopped behind a massive tree.

A dense stream of animated conversation entered his ears.

Bai Yi’s eyes gradually widened.

These people were actually hiding in the forest and secretly discussing Rong Zhenlü and Bai Yi’s relationship.

They talked about the aloof Immortal Lord’s brilliant young underling, and how a beautiful fox spirit had caused the Immortal Lord to fall helplessly in love.

Someone even boldly mentioned something about a beloved attendant and a runaway wife…

Standing behind the tree, Bai Yi became so overwhelmed by secondhand embarrassment that his entire body tingled.

This was unbelievably tacky.

Their imaginations were far too wild.

If Long Aotian heard any of this, the consequences would be disastrous.

Unfortunately, the group became increasingly enthusiastic.

They soon decided to continue their conversation over a meal at the inner sect cultivation grounds’ dining hall.

They even said that everyone in the inner sect was currently curious about Bai Yi’s appearance.

Bai Yi turned around and left without the slightest hesitation.

He no longer wanted to eat and hurried directly back to Zhaoye Peak.

Missing one meal would not matter.

Everyone was currently far too curious about him.

The moment he appeared, he would undoubtedly be surrounded and openly discussed.

What if someone said to his face, “So this is what Bai Yi looks like?” or “He isn’t anything special,” or “How could someone like him deserve to enter Zhaoye Peak?”

Bai Yi’s considerable pride would never tolerate it.

But if they praised him and even compared him favorably with Long Aotian, Rong Zhenlü’s fragile pride would probably tolerate it even less.

Then the man would make Bai Yi’s life difficult again.

Forget it.

He would not go.

He could wait until he and Long Aotian returned from the Immortal-Prohibited Land.

Thus, that evening, Bai Yi arrived outside Rong Zhenlü’s sleeping quarters with an empty stomach.

He could only be thankful that his body had become stronger.

Even after fasting for an entire day, he did not experience dizziness, blurred vision, or a growling stomach the way he would have before.

Long Aotian would not notice anything unusual.

Bai Yi did not want Rong Zhenlü to think he was troublesome the first time they formally traveled together.

He stood perfectly straight outside the door and did not dare touch anything.

He knew restrictions covered this area. Rong Zhenlü would sense the presence of anyone who approached.

Sure enough, Bai Yi had only just taken his position when a sharp streak of sword light descended.

Long Aotian had apparently been outside and was only now returning to Zhaoye Peak.

The sky was growing dark.

Cold air had condensed into frost across the man’s shoulders. His tall figure appeared distant and solitary, as though he had returned from an exceptionally cold place.

The moment the immortal crane saw him, its eyes brightened.

It chattered noisily and rushed forward to welcome him, carrying a plate of freshly cooked strawberry dumplings.

It insisted that today’s cooking time had been perfect and urged the Immortal Lord to try one.

Before the crane came within ten meters of him, a silencing talisman flew directly into its face.

Semi-transparent patterns tightly sealed its beak.

Rong Zhenlü did not even glance at it as he walked directly toward Zhaoye Palace.

The tall man possessed thin lips and a straight nose, displaying an almost indifferent beauty.

The immortal crane had long since become accustomed to the Immortal Lord’s preference for silence and his cold disposition.

Even so, it mischievously continued following him with the bowl in its wings.

Gradually, Rong Zhenlü slowed his steps.

Huh?

The immortal crane’s extraordinary senses detected that the moment the Immortal Lord entered Zhaoye Palace, his faintly cold gaze immediately softened.

At first glance, he seemed no different from usual.

However, the immortal crane keenly noticed that his body temperature had risen slightly and that a trace of color had appeared in his cold, pale skin.

Curious, it followed the Immortal Lord’s gaze.

The first thing it saw was the beautiful Little Bai Yi standing there as straight as though he were being punished.

Bai Yi bowed and approached the Immortal Lord.

He came too close.

The Immortal Lord never permitted anyone to approach this closely.

The immortal crane watched nervously.

The next moment, the Immortal Lord’s back stiffened slightly.

Only after a moment did he relax and take something out to give Bai Yi.

The immortal crane, which had only recently developed intelligence, tilted its head.

How clumsy.

The Immortal Lord’s breathing was clearly somewhat hurried, and he appeared shy and inexperienced.

Yet when offering the gift, his behavior looked awkward and unnatural.

Other than the immortal crane, no one would realize how happy he truly was.

Ah.

So there were things even the Immortal Lord could not do well.

At that moment, Bai Yi stared in disbelief at the pale-gold bracelet floating before him.

“This is for me?”

“Mm.”

Rong Zhenlü met his gaze.

After a moment, his lashes trembled beneath Bai Yi’s excessively beautiful eyes.

Ultimately, he failed to withstand them.

Bai Yi nearly thought the heavens had changed.

Why had Long Aotian suddenly transformed into a different person?

Hadn’t he still been angry yesterday?

Curiously, Bai Yi slipped the bracelet onto his wrist.

Its size was acceptable and barely fit.

The patterns were beautiful and somewhat familiar, but Bai Yi was certain that such a bracelet had never appeared in the original novel.

He had no idea where Long Aotian had obtained it.

Bai Yi pulled up his sleeve to examine it more carefully.

Immediately, the cuff of the Immortal Thread Robe automatically slid down and covered the bracelet again.

Helplessly, Bai Yi used his fingers to push the sleeve aside.

The fabric was unbelievably smooth. It slipped from beneath his fingertips and once again covered the bracelet.

Bai Yi became determined to defeat the sleeve.

He repeatedly pulled it back, causing the golden bracelet to shift continuously around his wrist.

The pale skin beneath it gradually turned pink from the friction, resembling a seductive flower blooming in the snow.

Bai Yi was extraordinarily fair.

Every line of his body possessed an intense sensuality that inevitably led the imagination astray.

He continued adjusting and examining the bracelet with pure, innocent concentration.

He failed to notice that the cold Immortal Lord standing opposite him was nearly losing the composure he had struggled to regain.

The Immortal-Prohibited Land lay far from the central region of the cultivation world, at its westernmost edge.

It had once been an ancient battlefield.

The environment was exceptionally harsh, making it difficult for cultivators to survive there for extended periods.

A kind of dark energy filled the region.

Neither spiritual energy nor magical treasures could be used within it.

Cultivators who entered could rely only upon the strength of their physical bodies.

Bai Yi knew that the place was harsh, yet he still wanted to come because the dark energy could temper and refine the body.

One did not even need to actively train.

Merely remaining within the region would gradually strengthen one’s flesh.

Bai Yi possessed no spiritual roots and was completely incapable of cultivation.

If he followed Long Aotian and remained here for several days, his physical body would undoubtedly improve.

This was the only method available for him to become stronger.

In the future, even if he left Long Aotian and lived independently within the cultivation world, he would possess greater security.

Thus, no matter how unwilling Bai Yi was to endure hardship, he still held his nose and followed Rong Zhenlü here for the sake of enjoying a better life of leisure later.

However, Bai Yi lacked confidence.

The terrain within the Immortal-Prohibited Land constantly twisted and regenerated.

It followed no pattern whatsoever.

Even though Long Aotian had spent more than half a year training here when he was young, the region would undoubtedly appear completely unfamiliar now.

Bai Yi had read this portion of the original novel.

However, because the two of them had arrived a day late, the environment before them was entirely different from what Long Aotian had encountered upon entering in the book.

Bai Yi’s feet touched the ground.

Pale mist surrounded them and smelled slightly irritating.

He looked toward the canyon and the twisted, strange forest ahead.

The scenery was entirely different from the desert described in the novel, yet it also appeared faintly familiar.

For a moment, Bai Yi had no idea what they should do next.

Fortunately, the person beside him was the undefeated Long Aotian.

Rong Zhenlü’s private personality might be twisted, but whenever the plot advanced and serious matters needed to be handled, no one ever needed to worry about him.

From the corner of his eye, Bai Yi looked at the tall figure beside him.

His slightly rapid heartbeat gradually calmed.

Then he suddenly heard something.

“Help…”

A faint, indistinct voice traveled from the distance and entered Bai Yi’s ears.

At last, he understood why this place seemed familiar.

Wasn’t this where Bai Wuhen had been ambushed and nearly killed?

In the book, Long Aotian truly had encountered her on the second day.

A life was at stake.

Bai Yi immediately became anxious.

From the corner of his eye, he looked toward Long Aotian, whose face remained completely indifferent, and repeatedly urged him inside his mind.

Go!

Hurry up and save the beauty!

In the original novel, Long Aotian had been exceptionally cold toward his fellow disciples.

Even after hearing Bai Wuhen calling for help, he had shown no intention of assisting her.

Only after she suffered severe injuries and detonated her lifebound sword did objects belonging to her attackers fly toward him.

Long Aotian recognized the enemy and finally went over to kill them, helping Bai Wuhen in the process.

The foolish girl believed he had gone there specifically to save her.

She was deeply moved and even shared her immortal cuisine with him.

When Bai Yi read this section, he had despised Long Aotian’s behavior.

He hoped Rong Zhenlü would save her quickly rather than wait until she was seriously injured.

However, as an underling, Bai Yi had no authority to order him around.

He looked toward the direction of the cry with a worried expression and rapidly organized his words.

He was about to pretend not to understand the situation and ask whether someone was calling for help when Rong Zhenlü suddenly glanced at his face.

Immediately afterward, the indifference on Rong Zhenlü’s expression vanished.

Concern replaced it as he looked in the same direction.

His bearing was dignified, refined, and upright. His robes fluttered around him, making him appear every inch the exemplary senior disciple of an immortal sect.

“Someone is under attack.”

“Let’s go and see.”