Chapter 20
The two of them looked very familiar with each other. Thinking back to how Jiang Li had called out Ye Qingruo’s name the moment she opened her mouth earlier, Xia Zhidi remembered something.
It was said that during the Lower Three Sects’ new disciple competition, the single-spiritual-root disciple from Qingxi Sect who had won was expelled from the sect because she was unwilling to go to Tianjian Sect. Right there on the spot, she entered Yao Sect instead. That disciple was Jiang Li, wasn’t it?
Not long after, word spread that Jiang Li’s spiritual root was damaged, and that she, like him, was a useless single-spiritual-root cultivator who had been unable to reach Foundation Establishment for a long time.
Or rather, he was a little luckier than Jiang Li, because his spiritual root was complete.
Rumor said that Ye Qingruo had been very angry at the time and directly expelled that disciple from the sect. Even when Jiang Li tried to ease the relationship before leaving, Ye Qingruo had ignored her.
So why did he feel like the two of them had a pretty good relationship?
Unable to persuade Ye Qingruo, Jiang Li listlessly sat back down where she had been.
Seeing this, Xiao Hu gossiped, “Jiang Li, do you want to be alone with Ye Qingruo? Why does that Xia Zhidi seem like he’s known Ye Qingruo for a long time?”
At that time, Xiao Hu had gone to find Senior Phoenix and had not stayed by Jiang Li’s side the whole time, so she had missed the matter of Ye Qingruo and the male lead breaking off their engagement. She also did not know that Xia Zhidi had once been Ye Qingruo’s fiancé.
Jiang Li closed her eyes and transmitted an explanation. “The two of them had a marriage agreement before. Xia Zhidi was Ye Qingruo’s fiancé, but not anymore. The engagement has already been broken off.”
“So that’s how it is. I understand.”
“What do you understand?”
Xiao Hu’s tone was certain. “You’re jealous. You’re afraid their old feelings will rekindle. Jiang Li, you’re no good. If you don’t work harder, your little wife will become someone else’s.”
Jiang Li: “…”
“Theirs was an arranged engagement. Where would old feelings come from? Also, Ye Qingruo is not my little wife.”
Xiao Hu clicked her tongue twice. “She isn’t now, but she will be later. Otherwise, she can’t possibly go her whole life without curing the gu, right? Senior Phoenix said your love gu flares up worse each time. In my opinion, no matter how strong Ye Qingruo’s willpower is, she won’t be able to hold on for many more times.”
Jiang Li shook her head. “Even if, in the future, we do that… to cure the gu, it would only be because the situation forced us. There would be no emotional foundation. Ye Qingruo and I can’t possibly be together.”
The white moonlight was someone with a short life. It was still uncertain whether she could even make it back alive this time. Those things were too far away.
Besides, although Jiang Li had no experience in love, she could still distinguish her own feelings. She had no such thoughts toward Ye Qingruo.
There was no heartbeat or desire, and she had never thought about romantic affairs either.
Right now, Jiang Li only wanted to become stronger and live safely for a long, long time.
Xiao Hu was greatly puzzled. “Didn’t you previously mean that human cultivators only dual cultivate with Dao companions? If Ye Qingruo comes to you to cure the gu, and you two still don’t plan to be together, then why are you both being so stubborn over and over again? Just solve it early.”
Good heavens. They had taken up every possible argument.
Each one of them said one thing and meant another. Not free and easy at all.
Jiang Li froze slightly. That was actually true!
Since it had nothing to do with feelings and was only to cure the gu, then of course the sooner, the better.
At this moment, Xiao Hu added fuel to the fire. “And last time, Ye Qingruo was the one who asked you to help her. Maybe you’re the only one acting all reserved.”
Jiang Li said uncertainly, “At that time, her mind wasn’t clear. What she said and did may not have been her true intention.”
Although she said that, her heart was full of confusion.
What if Ye Qingruo simply wanted to cure the gu sooner? What if Jiang Li really was the one making things complicated?
Xiao Hu judged with conviction, “I think Ye Qingruo just wants to cure the gu quickly. You’re worrying too much. Try taking the initiative next time. She definitely won’t blame you.”
That way, wouldn’t Xiao Hu be able to see a scene she should not look at?
Just thinking about it was exciting!
Xiao Hu was thrilled inwardly. Jiang Li, Jiang Li, you have to strive hard!
Hearing this, Jiang Li wavered.
She opened her eyes and looked toward Ye Qingruo. Was that really the case?
At this moment, Ye Qingruo, whose back was facing them, suddenly frowned slightly, as if she sensed a pair of eyes fixed closely on her from behind.
Without showing anything, she opened her divine sense and looked behind her.
She met a focused gaze.
The owner of that gaze looked intent, with an unknown kind of probing in her eyes. Her clear and deep eyes were like autumn waters as she stared at a certain back.
Ye Qingruo knew that Jiang Li was looking at her.
She carefully examined Jiang Li’s expression, her thoughts gradually deepening.
Before she last came out of seclusion, she had not even known that Jiang Li existed.
She remembered her father’s plot against Jiang Li. She remembered being affected by the gu. She remembered the cold pond a few days ago. She remembered that dream, so real it felt as if she had glimpsed a past life.
In the dream, Jiang Li had ultimately died because of her.
She had only left behind one sentence: “Young Sect Master, it is good that you are all right.”
Ye Qingruo thought of what Jiang Li had said just now. She did not want Ye Qingruo and Xia Zhidi to travel together?
She thought of a certain possibility, and a trace of complexity flashed swiftly through her heart.
Just then, Jiang Li seemed to have figured something out. She let out a light breath and withdrew her gaze.
Ye Qingruo slowly came back to herself, her emotions unable to settle for a long time.
The first light of dawn appeared.
Ye Qingruo turned around and was just about to say they should continue setting out when she sensed movement in the air.
In the blink of an eye, three black-clothed foreign cultivators appeared ahead. She immediately released her divine sense to determine their cultivation levels.
Two at early Golden Core and one at early Foundation Establishment. Not good.
Ye Qingruo turned back and said in a low voice, “You two leave first. I will stop them.”
The Golden Core cultivator in the lead sneered and signaled for the other two to separately block Jiang Li and Xia Zhidi’s paths. “You were the ones who killed my younger brother, weren’t you? None of you should even think of leaving.”
Ye Qingruo immediately understood. The younger brother this foreign cultivator spoke of should be one of the two Foundation Establishment cultivators she had killed yesterday.
The Savage Forest had cultivation restrictions. Not only did it limit those above Golden Core from entering, but it also prevented communication jade talismans from being activated with spiritual power. Then it had to be the storage pouch!
At that time, Ye Qingruo had only just put away their storage pouches when she heard Jiang Li’s voice, so she had not confirmed the things inside in time.
It seemed there might have been something inside that could track their location. She had been careless.
Seeing that only Ye Qingruo was at early Golden Core, while the remaining two were both at early Qi Refining, the three foreign cultivators boldly pressed closer.
The foreign cultivator in the lead made the first move and began fighting with Ye Qingruo.
Xia Zhidi said nervously, “Jiang Li, let’s each deal with one and look for a chance to escape.”
He could not see the cultivation levels of those two people, which meant both of them were above the Qi Refining stage. At the very least, they were at Foundation Establishment. They might even be at Golden Core.
He and Jiang Li were both at early Qi Refining. If they stayed, they would only hold Ye Qingruo back. Only by looking for a chance to flee could Ye Qingruo have no worries behind her.
By coincidence, Xia Zhidi chose the one at early Foundation Establishment and barely managed to entangle him in battle.
Jiang Li was not too worried. The male lead would not die in the trial, and Ye Qingruo’s death tribulation was not caused by foreign cultivators.
She directly flew up on her sword and began dodging in midair.
Over there, Ye Qingruo and her opponent were evenly matched. Here, Xia Zhidi was struggling to hold on and clearly had no chance to get away.
Jiang Li thought of her Heavenly Thunder Talismans, and the urge to test them in actual combat began to stir.
After thinking briefly, she turned and flew into the distance.
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