Chapter 415 - 216: Affectation and Loneliness (3)

Chapter 415: Chapter 216: Affectation and Loneliness (3)

As Li Ping bustled about, the fragrance of fresh tea soon filled the private room. When a full cup was placed before Yang Wenqing, he politely lifted it and took a small sip.

Sun Chen picked up his teacup as well.

But no one spoke. Yang Wenqing enjoyed quiet moments, but he disliked—or rather, was unaccustomed to—such silence when others were present.

Sun Chen, however, was perfectly comfortable with it. His silence seemed only natural as he stared at the rim of his cup, as if studying an inscrutable Dharma Seal carved upon it.

Before long, the pot was empty.

Yang Wenqing stood and cupped his hands toward Sun Chen. "You should get some rest, Senior Brother."

Sun Chen looked up and nodded.

But as Yang Wenqing turned to leave, he heard a very quiet, "Thank you," from behind him.

Yang Wenqing didn’t break his stride. He pushed open the door to his own room and stepped inside. Lan Ying landed on his shoulder, rubbing her small head against his cheek.

’Qingqing.’

The voice was Lan Ying’s, speaking from within his Spirit Sea. ’Red Shadow says your Senior Brother has never had any friends.’

Yang Wenqing didn’t answer.

He returned to the cloud bed in his room and sat down cross-legged.

’He also said it’s not that your Senior Brother doesn’t want to make friends,’ Lan Ying continued. ’He just doesn’t know how.’

’Ever since he was little, everyone who sought him out was just trying to curry favor with his grandmaster. No one has ever come just to have a cup of tea with him.’

Lan Ying fell silent after she finished, burying her small head in the crook of Yang Wenqing’s neck.

Yang Wenqing kept his eyes closed.

A moment later, he reached out and gently stroked Lan Ying’s smooth back feathers. "His circumstances are far more privileged than most," he replied. "We’re in no position to pity him."

...

「The night passed uneventfully.」

The next morning, Yang Wenqing awoke from his meditation right on time. He rose and cast a Dust Clearing Skill on himself and the still-dozing Lan Ying before pushing open the door to his room.

In the hallway, the door to Sun Chen’s room was already open. Seeing Yang Wenqing, he gave him a slight nod. Yang Wenqing returned the nod and headed downstairs with Lan Ying.

Qin Huaiming and Gu You were already waiting in the main hall.

As usual, two cups of warm tea sat on the table. Qin Huaiming was seated in the main chair, sipping slowly. Gu You, uncharacteristically quiet, leaned against a pillar, idly turning an empty silver wine flask in his hand.

Seeing Yang Wenqing descend, Qin Huaiming’s gaze swept over his disciple’s face before he gave a nod.

Gu You shot him a sideways glance and a grin, refraining from his usual teasing for once.

A moment later, Sun Chen came downstairs as well.

Qin Huaiming glanced at him and nodded as well.

"Let’s go."

The group left the pavilion and followed the bluestone path toward the Martial Arts Arena.

Lan Ying stood on Yang Wenqing’s shoulder, her small head held high, her feathers shimmering like jewels in the morning light. Red Shadow trotted at Sun Chen’s heels, its fluffy tail occasionally brushing the hem of his robes, its faint whimpers nearly inaudible.

The Martial Arts Arena was even quieter today than it had been yesterday.

As Yang Wenqing walked to the Xuanyue Sect’s designated seats, he could feel several pairs of eyes on him.

Wu Qing looked much better than she had the day before. She met his gaze from afar and gave a slight nod in greeting. Lin Xiyun had her Myriad Phenomena Celestial Disc resting on her lap and was polishing its now-reilluminated, multicolored Crystal Stone with a soft cloth. She glanced at Yang Wenqing for an instant before her eyes fell again.

Leng Zhi was as frosty as ever. Her Sword Box lay across her lap, her gaze fixed on the fighting ring, as if everything around her was of no concern.

Meanwhile, Shi Zheng sat at the edge of the Beixuan Sect’s seating area, a broad-bladed short knife resting across his lap as he polished it.

Yang Wenqing retracted his gaze and sat down. Lan Ying flew from his shoulder and landed beside his knee. She tilted her small head, her sapphire-blue eyes fixed unblinkingly on the ring.

Time passed in silence. When the time for the duel arrived, Qin Huaiming walked to the center of the ring, stood firm, and announced in a loud, clear voice:

"Third round, first match: Yang Wenqing of Xuanyue versus Shi Zheng of the Beixuan Sect. Both combatants, enter the ring."