Chapter Sixty-Two: Dispelling Frost and Unraveling Doubts; Yushang's Great Awakening

"I don't know how to break the mechanisms inside, which is why I want someone knowledgeable to accompany me, is that so difficult? Leng Huaiyi has such profound cultivation that I fear this little trap won't stop him, so I've been holding onto him tightly. Is that so wrong? But I'm very curious—why are you so attentive to me? Could it be you've taken a fancy to me? If that's the case, I'm sorry to disappoint you. I have not the slightest bit of affection for men like you, who are so accustomed to cleverness. You needn't waste your efforts trying to attract my attention."

Xun Mishuang, vexed by Yushang's pressing interrogation, retaliated without mercy. Yet, unbeknownst to her, the more vehement her reaction, the more convinced Yushang became of his suspicions.

"Don't misunderstand, no matter how depraved I might be, I'd never harbor ill intentions toward a friend's wife," Yushang replied with a mischievous smile, eyeing her up and down. "Besides, you're not my type at all!" Even the dullest person could hear the teasing and disdain in his words. Who would have thought that the refined and cultured Yushang could speak so venomously?

"You... shameless!" His answer, laden with deeper meaning, left Xun Mishuang both angry and amused. She was pleased to discover that Leng Huaiyi's friends were not like those at the academy, who viewed them through the lens of convention and refused to accept their love. Not only did they know her name, but they quickly accepted her identity, proof that Leng Huaiyi had mentioned her to them—showing he couldn't let her go either. Yet she was furious at Yushang's audacity in looking down on her. While she might not be a beauty of legendary grace, she was certainly a rare and dazzling woman! For him to so blatantly declare his lack of interest—what woman wouldn't feel slighted?

"I was just joking, trying to lighten the mood. Don't take it so seriously! It's merely that I, a long-time flirt, dare not reach for a peerless beauty such as yourself," Yushang hurriedly offered a conciliatory grin, seeing her anger about to erupt. If he infuriated her now, he'd be in trouble, especially since he needed her help with a profound question—one only she, being of the same path, could answer deeply.

"Hmph, who knew that the usually cold and silent Lord Yu would resort to such vulgar flattery to please a woman! You'd better cut to the chase. Your sudden change in attitude toward me must mean you want something," Xun Mishuang turned to him with a triumphant smile. "But I truly admire your psychological tactics—first you break into your opponent's heart, making her believe you understand her and lowering her defenses. Then, through jokes, you draw closer, following with praise. When she's fooled by your sweet words, her heart is utterly breached. It's a high-level move; I might just want to consult you for a few tricks someday!" Xun Mishuang was no ordinary character; her sharp wit and keen observation were beyond most people's reach. This left Yushang with a sense of defeat—she was indeed a worthy rival.

"If I'd known you were this astute, I wouldn't have bothered drawing you into my scheme. Speaking plainly would have been much easier," Yushang laughed at himself, realizing he'd made a fool of himself. Then, transmitting his voice to the clever woman, he said, "I simply wish to ask your advice on something that's troubling me. If one knows one will never meet someone again in this lifetime, but still cannot let go, is such devotion truly worthwhile? Like all you've done for Brother Leng—you know in your heart he can't repay you, yet you continue to give willingly. How do you do it?"

Yushang could not comprehend why so many men and women in this world love someone with whom there's no hope, loving without regret. He also couldn't understand why he, who always prided himself on letting go, now found himself indecisive.

"And you? Ask your own heart—why can't you let go of someone who's been gone so long, someone who wounded you deepest and betrayed you? In truth, what others say doesn't matter; just follow your heart. Can't forget? Then don't. Can't let go? Then hold on. There are so many people in this world, but how many truly enter your heart? Cherish that person, even if she's been gone for a long time." Xun Mishuang had long seen that she and Yushang were of the same kind—lonely, willful, coldly proud, deeply passionate. Others might call them fools, but isn't it wonderful to be a happy fool? If one lived life with perfect clarity, they'd miss its true meaning. Everyone must be irrational at least once; whether they lose or gain because of it, it's worth it.

"Though you didn't answer me directly, perhaps I already know my heart. Maybe I'll never meet her again in this life, but I'm grateful to have our memories. No matter who wronged whom in the end, at least those precious memories didn't betray us. I shouldn't selfishly abandon them, and if she were still alive, she wouldn't either," Yushang seemed to have reached an epiphany, sighing in relief and smiling.

"But don't you hate her? Her betrayal broke your heart, made you a laughingstock, made you unable to love again," Xun Mishuang asked softly, afraid to stir up his pain. They had both endured much, knowing how tormenting such feelings could be.

"And you—have you ever hated Brother Leng for his cruelty? Everyone knows it's hard not to hate someone who wounded you so deeply, but what can you do? When you try to take revenge, you realize your love for him far outweighs your hate." To claim there's no hate would be false—otherwise Yushang wouldn't have been so enraged as to kill her in a moment of weakness. Yet after the hatred passes, all that remains is deep love and reluctance. Some may ask if he feels guilt—indeed, loving deeply is a form of self-punishment, for it brings harsher, deeper pain than any other kind.

Xun Mishuang merely smiled and led the group forward. After walking for some time, they finally arrived at the edge of a verdant lake. Upon its surface bloomed countless crystal-clear white lotuses, their purity reminiscent of Xun Mishuang herself—untainted by mud, whiter than snow, lofty and unattainable, and bearing the same poignant solitude. They basked in their own beauty, indifferent to worldly prejudices, waiting only for the right one to bloom their most glorious pose. Some might call their cold pride aloof and untouchable, but in truth, they need care most; their pure hearts crave color.

Aside from the striking lotuses, the lake also held a modest wooden hut. Careful observation revealed a tightly woven barrier surrounding it—a less cultivated person would be obliterated upon touching it. Though the hut looked ordinary, it exuded a certain spiritual serenity, making one feel at ease. To live here, accompanied by the lake's lotuses, green trees, and distant hills, might not be a bad thing at all.

"Could this be the entrance to the treasure vault? But isn't it too conspicuous? Surely everyone can see the layers of barriers—won't that attract even more greedy people to investigate?" Yu Xiaoran whispered, fearing to alert anyone lurking nearby.

"Have you never heard that the most dangerous place is the safest? Perhaps they placed the entrance here to lessen suspicion. It looks like a hermit's home, but is actually a secret passage. Am I right, Sister Shuang?" Yan Xuesu said softly, though she seemed less concerned with the place itself and more interested in Xun Mishuang's reaction to the address. She truly wished to befriend this remarkable woman, for she was astonishing.

"You are both mistaken. This is merely my dwelling," Xun Mishuang, for the first time, showed her playful side to the group, earning many appreciative glances. She rather liked the way she was addressed, or she wouldn't have revealed such innocence. Sometimes fate between people is wondrous—some interact for a lifetime with little affection, while others, after only a few meetings and words, become unforgettable.

"Weren't we supposed to find the entrance to the treasure vault? Why have we ended up at your boudoir, little girl?" Xiaoyin asked in confusion, wondering if she was playing with them and not truly guiding them.

"Don't be impatient; you'll understand soon enough," Xun Mishuang replied mysteriously, her gaze never leaving Leng Huaiyi, as if seeking some answer from him.

"You—you really moved here?" Leng Huaiyi said, astonished. Seeing the hut, his heart was stirred—it was once his ideal home.

"Yes, I really moved here. Back then, just for an offhand remark from a certain someone, I spent sleepless days planting white lotuses in the lake, then ceaselessly built this hut. When it was finally finished, I wanted to surprise him, but he surprised me instead by disappearing. He was gone for years; I waited and waited, but he never returned, so I moved into the hut for comfort," Xun Mishuang's tone was full of grievance, indicating her years had not been easy. If she could choose, she'd rather be the one leaving, so she wouldn't have to linger in the academy, haunted by memories.

"I'm sorry." He owed her that—though nothing could make up for the pain he'd caused, he needed to apologize in person, words he'd owed her for years.

"I won't accept your apology. I want you to feel sorry for me for a lifetime, never able to forget me!" Xun Mishuang declared, willful, her eyes already red.