Chapter 155: A Beaded Curtain Conceals a World Within

Even if you were to praise this Qingyu Pavilion to the heavens, claiming it to be something rarely heard of in the mortal realm, it would still be completely useless. We still cannot enter and can only foolishly stand outside and gaze at it. I don’t know how many methods I have tried in the past, nor how many acquaintances I have begged, yet not a single one of them was able to get inside. Therefore, you should all just give up. A bizarre and mysterious place like this can only remain a legend that is forever beyond our reach.

Yin Boxuan looked at the place he had once tried every possible means just to step foot into, sighed with utter helplessness, and then spoke with a disappointed expression to the eagerly awaiting crowd.

"You naughty boy, thinking that way is quite incorrect. Just because you have no way in doesn’t mean others will be at their wits' end. I think you ought to reflect properly on your own behavior. Why is it that someone clearly knew you racked your brains to enter this Qingyu Pavilion, even going so far as to beg outsiders, yet she never revealed a single word to you? You must know that she is extremely familiar with this Qingyu Pavilion, which enjoys the reputation of an earthly paradise. Otherwise, how could she understand it so thoroughly, knowing even more about it than you, who have coveted this place for years?"

Xiao Yin stood to the side, teasing Yin Boxuan with a wicked smile. In truth, he had long since perceived that Xun Mishuan possessed an inexplicable sense of familiarity with this Qingyu Pavilion. If she were not someone who frequented the place, how could she possibly have known that recently, the inside of this place had become somewhat foul-smelling, murky, and oppressive, quite unlike its usual state?

"You little snake, do you mean to say..." Yin Boxuan trailed off, unable to finish his sentence. He turned around to look at Xun Mishuan, and inadvertently caught Leng Huaiyi's slightly awkward expression. Instantly, he understood the hidden meaning and the underlying reason behind Xiao Yin's words. No matter how cold-spoken his Senior Sister usually was, it was no wonder she could speak of this Qingyu Pavilion with such ease and familiarity. Back then, he had simply assumed she, too, admired its prestigious reputation and thus knew so much about it. Never had he imagined she was a regular visitor here who had kept it concealed from everyone for so long, causing him to foolishly beg those arrogant young masters for help, only to end up with an empty basket and nothing to show for his efforts in the end.

In truth, even Yin Boxuan himself could not explain what kind of magic this Qingyu Pavilion possessed that could drive someone who knew nothing about its interior to such a degree of obsession. It seemed that from some unknown point in time, this mysterious Qingyu Pavilion had transformed into a goal of his. He always wanted to go inside and investigate, and the more impossible it was to enter, the more unwilling Yin Boxuan became. That urge to achieve his goal grew increasingly intense, slowly morphing into a desire for conquest rather than his initial longing.

It seemed that people were always most attentive to things they could not attain. Yet, the very moment that thing was suddenly placed within your grasp, you would discover that it was not nearly as important as you had imagined, and the joy of painstakingly acquiring it was not as great as you had anticipated. You would simply gaze at it indifferently—clearly something you once dreamed of, yet at some unknown time, it had changed in essence, leaving you with only a growing sense of unfamiliarity. That longing transformed into an indescribable disappointment. Whether this object had changed or he himself had changed, he could not tell. In short, at that moment, it felt utterly dispensable, and his past efforts suddenly appeared somewhat redundant.

Right now, Yin Boxuan was experiencing this very strange sensation. The thing he had once gone mad for was now within easy reach, yet precisely at the moment of almost touching it, he suddenly felt that this item was entirely trivial to him. The intense yearning of the past vanished into thin air in that very instant. Perhaps, imperceptibly, the Qingyu Pavilion was no longer what Yin Boxuan desired the most. For he suddenly realized that no matter how wonderful this place might be, without the companionship of these people, it would remain somewhat desolate. Even if this place were merely a dusty, withered desert, as long as these people were here, it would still feel as luxurious as an earthly paradise.

"Alright, let's go inside first and talk! What is the point of standing stupidly outside like this?" Lan Wu said, unable to conceal her impatience as she stepped forward. However, she never expected that the moment she made contact with the beaded-curtain gate, an intensely powerful force would erupt from it in a split second, forcefully repelling Lan Wu, whose cultivation was quite respectable, back from whence she came. Had Xiao Yin not been quick-witted and sharp-eyed upon sensing that something was amiss, rushing forward just in time to catch her as she stumbled backward, Lan Wu would have collapsed flat onto the ground and certainly would not have been as safe and sound as she was now.

"Lian'er, do you feel any discomfort anywhere?" Xiao Yin asked anxiously, looking at the fair maiden in his arms, terrified that she might have suffered some terrible mishap from that blow. Yet the interior of this seemingly bizarre gate was indeed extraordinary; just moments before, when Xiao Yin rushed forward a few steps to catch Lan Wu, he too had nearly been injured by the remaining shockwave. Fortunately, their Snake Spirit clan was naturally agile, allowing him to evade that formidable force just in time. It was just uncertain how his Lan'er was doing now; that blow had carried considerable force, and he truly hoped it hadn't injured this reckless little girl.

"I'm fine. Although the force just now seemed extremely strong and domineering, it was merely meant to repel me and had no intention of causing me harm. I simply never imagined that this gate, which looks so beautiful and harmless, could actually keep cultivators locked outside. Now I finally understand why those people were just quietly gazing at it like we did earlier, not daring to approach casually—it was all because of this thing!" Lan Wu said, her heart still fluttering with lingering fear as she gently stroked her chest, looking up at the tense-faced Xiao Yin who was holding her tightly in his arms.

"You foolish girl, now you know the consequences of acting recklessly! Let's see if you ever dare to charge in there blindly again without a second thought. If it were truly that easy to enter, why would so many people wander and linger outside its doors?"

Xun Mishuan took a few steps forward and gently scolded the pale-faced Lan Wu, though her tone held not a shred of actual blame. From the very first moment she laid eyes on these young lasses, she had been captivated by their eccentric and mischievous appearances. It was only that Lan Wu acted without considering the consequences and was always so rash. Let this serve as a wake-up call for her, making this girl understand that one must thoroughly investigate matters before acting and never judge purely by appearances, lest one fall directly into a trap.

"You're one to talk! You clearly knew this gate had peculiarities, yet you didn't pull Lan'er back and instead let her charge right into it. I really have no idea what kind of malicious thoughts you harbor! If she had genuinely been injured because of this, let's see how you would compensate for it!" Xiao Yin looked with extreme displeasure at the deeply unfathomable woman before him. Ever since their very first meeting, Xiao Yin had felt that this girl was not simple. Whether through her words, actions, or expressions, she always gave off an inexplicable sense of distance, as if everything she did had been thoroughly deliberated before execution. Even the simplest words, when spoken from her lips, took on a different flavor, always carrying the lingering sense that something was hidden beneath the surface.

"It is precisely because of your excessive pampering that she has developed such a temperament. You cannot protect her for a lifetime; Lan'er must eventually learn to grow up alone, face crises by herself, and resolve them properly. If you continue to shield her like this, she will never understand the meaning of independence for the rest of her life. She needs to have her own independent thoughts and cannot constantly rely on you. Furthermore, I regard Lan'er as my own younger sister, which is why I am instructing her thus. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't even bother to care!"

Xun Mishuan retorted unceremoniously, loudly reprimanding Xiao Yin. There was nothing wrong with a man doting on his woman, but he still needed to let her learn to stand on her own two feet; that would be beneficial for both him and her.

"I'm sure Sister Shuang knew that this door would not harm anyone's life, which is why she used it as a guide to teach Sister Lan Wu that one must never be rash in all things. Although this method was slightly inappropriate, it is certainly profound enough to be etched into one's memory forever. In any case, we are all doing this for Sister Lan Wu's own good, so please stop arguing!"

Seeing the situation escalating, Meng Youyuan quickly stepped forward to dissuade the two who were on the verge of a full-blown dispute. At a time like this, they were all comrades in the same boat! How could they start bickering fiercely over such a trivial matter and allow cracks to form in their relationship? That would truly be undesirable!

"Xiao Yin, we all know you cherish Lan Wu, but who among us here would want to harm this girl? Doesn't everyone hope we can all live well? Who would wish for neither you nor her to have a moment of peace? Although you may not entirely understand this approach, you have no right to scold Mishuan for her well-intentioned efforts. You must remember that not a single one of us would harbor malicious intentions toward our own people. No matter how cruelly we might treat outsiders, we would never harm our own by even a fraction!"

Yan Xuexue patiently consoled the displeased Xiao Yin. Having spent all this time together, could it be that they still couldn't trust each other's affection?

"That's right, nothing happened to me in the end, did it? And I even learned a lesson I should have understood long ago—isn't this actually a good thing? I know both of you want the best for me, which is why you both care for me in different ways. Sister Shuang didn't pamper me in your way, Xiao Yin, but that doesn't mean she doesn't sincerely wish me well. And Xiao Yin didn't pamper me in Sister Shuang's way, but that doesn't mean his approach is wrong either. Both of you cherish me so dearly that Lan'er is well aware of it. So let this matter rest; please don't damage our harmony over this," Lan Wu said with a smile, looking at the two who were on the brink of another argument.

At that moment, a profound warmth filled Lan'er's heart. To think she had so many people caring for her! No matter what methods they used, it clearly expressed their overwhelming love for her, and this feeling was truly wonderful. Xiao Yin fussed over her because he cherished her, which was why he spoke impulsively; Xun Mishuan looked out for her, which was why she used a special method to educate her and make her understand principles of conduct she should have grasped long ago. Both were forms of profound affection, yet when brought together, they were as incompatible as water and fire—two extreme, mutually contradictory, and irreconcilable emotions. All Lan Wu could do was slowly savor this love and do her utmost to harmonize them, allowing them to gradually understand one another.

"Since Lan Wu has spoken, Xiao Yin, there is no need for you to pursue this further. Both of you only wanted the best for Lan Wu; anyone with eyes can see that. Since everyone's goal is the same, why quibble over the process?" Yu Shang, who had remained silent for a long time, finally could not help but speak up in persuasion. This little snake was truly overbearing; regardless of whether others were good or bad, or what their motives were, hurting the woman he loved was simply unforgivable, refusing to show face even to companions he had spent a long time with.

"Stinking boy, I'll give you some face and not argue with this girl further. What she wants to do is her own business, but her methods shouldn't be too extreme. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, she'll be the one to regret it for the rest of her life!" Xiao Yin glanced at Xun Mishuan beside him and said indifferently. Although he understood this girl's genuine sincerity toward Lan'er, he did not approve of her handling methods. Sometimes, those tactics not only cast her in the role of the villain but also risked harming the very person she was bent on protecting. After all, he had experienced such things himself, and he knew that bitter taste all too well.

"Alright, let's attend to the serious business first. I'm practically itching to rush inside right now. I want to see for myself whether this so-called Qingyu Pavilion lives up to its name as a place of pure tranquility to enjoy a moment of peace. However, as you all saw earlier, the consequences of barging in recklessly are severe. Exactly how should we proceed so that we can walk inside safely and unharmed?"

Noticing the awkward atmosphere, Lan Bingxian quickly broke the tension with a playful smile.