Mu Lianyi glanced at her raised hand, then at the passers - by looking in their direction. She retracted her hand irritably and said angrily, "You're just lucky."
Su Xiaoliu rolled her eyes in her heart. Come on, who started the trouble in the first place? You're just pretending to be tough!
She let out a soft laugh, looked at the sword in Mu Lianyi's hand and said, "What a fine sword..."
Hearing this, Mu Lianyi immediately flew into a rage and wished she could seal Su Xiaoliu's mouth right away. She shouted, "Who are you calling a bitch?"
"You," Su Xiaoliu replied with an innocent smile, pointing at the sword in Mu Lianyi's hand that had torn her clothes. Under Mu Lianyi's burning gaze that seemed to pierce her through, she added, "The sword is like the person, and the person is like the sword."
Chong Xiao, standing beside them, also felt it a bit odd but didn't dare to refute.
"Who are you?" Mu Lianyi glared at Su Xiaoliu and asked aggressively.
Just as Su Xiaoliu was about to answer, she suddenly heard Gu Rongxue's voice.
"Yun Ruo."
Su Xiaoliu looked up and saw Gu Rongxue in a magnificent purple robe walking towards them not far away. His long black hair cascaded down. When the gentle breeze blew, countless peach blossoms fluttered down. The petals landed on his head and long eyelashes. When he blinked slightly, the petals fluttered to the ground.
Mu Lianyi and Chong Xiao beside them were almost staring blankly. They never expected that Gu Rongxue would know Su Xiaoliu.
"What's going on?" Gu Rongxue walked up to Su Xiaoliu, frowned slightly. He had noticed these two people pestering her and making a ruckus on the road earlier. It was really ill - mannered. He smoothly smoothed his frown and turned to Mu Lianyi with a smile.
Mu Lianyi suddenly came to her senses. She looked at Gu Rongxue, then at Su Xiaoliu in disbelief and stammered, "M - Mr. Gu?"
Su Xiaoliu couldn't help but burst into laughter. Why did everyone seem to lose their wits when they saw Gu Rongxue?
Gu Rongxue gave Su Xiaoliu a helpless look and said to Mu Lianyi and the others with a distant smile, "The Pingshan Assembly is about to start soon. I'll take Yun Ruo away first."
With that, he took Su Xiaoliu's hand and walked forward without looking back.
Is she the legendary fairy Yun Ruo? And Gu Rongxue actually talked to them just now!
Mu Lianyi and Chong Xiao stood there stunned, staring blankly at the backs of the two as they left. They couldn't calm down their shocked hearts for a long time...
The next day, the sky was still cloudless. After noon, a gentle breeze blew.
Su Xiaoliu and Gu Rongxue were sitting on two chairs not far from the arena. A wooden table covered with a tiger skin was placed between them. There were some wine, fruits on the table. An empty seat behind the table was reserved for the first - place winner of the martial arts competition.
The arena was surrounded by people. The guards with long spears on the arena still stood in two motionless human walls. Drums were beating, and flags were fluttering. The alliance leader was standing not far away talking to several well - dressed men. On the arena, several graceful women were dancing the beautiful Rainbow Dance.
As Gu Rongxue had told her, Su Xiaoliu sat upright on the chair looking down.
After sitting for a short while, she felt backache and her eyes were getting blurry. On the arena, there were people playing the pipa, the flute and the zither. The women with silk scarves around their arms were dancing. They sometimes formed a circle and sometimes a line. Su Xiaoliu was almost falling asleep.
Although it was extremely boring, Su Xiaoliu still managed to stay a bit awake. She could feel the gazes from all directions. Sitting high above, she felt like a vase for people to admire. But this vase was a fake. Su Xiaoliu's heart was pounding with unease.
Su Xiaoliu lowered her head and suddenly noticed a sunken part under her feet. She looked up at Gu Rongxue, leaned over slightly and whispered, "Is there an empty space under the arena?"
Gu Rongxue looked at her in confusion, pursed his lips and shook his head gently, saying, "Everything was arranged by Protector Wang and Protector Chang. I'm not quite sure either."
Su Xiaoliu nodded thoughtfully and sat back straight.
Gu Rongxue looked at her and smiled gently. His long eyelashes fluttered as he sat up straight.
After a while, the dance of the dancers on the arena ended. They packed up and left the arena one after another. Then, the alliance leader in a cyan robe stepped onto the arena.
"The treasure to be unveiled at this Pingshan Assembly must be well - known to all of you," the alliance leader looked around, and his loud voice echoed around the arena.
Everyone fell silent and stared at the alliance leader on the arena quietly. At the same time, they tightened their betting slips, secretly hoping that the treasure to be displayed was the one they had bet on.
The alliance leader stood with his hands behind his back, smiling. He said, "The treasure will be displayed by the first - place winner of the martial arts competition." After a moment, under everyone's focused gaze, he added, "Please ask Young Master Zhong of the Heavenly Grace Cult to bring out the Golden Jade Tree."
There was an uproar among the crowd below. Some were happy, while others were sad. The happy ones hugged each other or laughed out loud to the sky. The sad ones even wanted to draw their swords and commit suicide, or rolled on the ground...
The first - place winner was actually Zhong Fengyue! It was both expected and unexpected.
Su Xiaoliu looked at Gu Rongxue in surprise. Gu Rongxue felt her gaze and gave her a gentle smile to calm her fluctuating heart.
The silver bells jingled. A white figure passed by her. Under the white gauze hat, a slightly pointed chin was revealed. The rosy diamond - shaped lips under the chin curled up slightly. An immaculate white robe fluttered with his steps. He gently held a golden basin in his hand. A small green tree was winding and growing in the basin. There was a round red fruit hanging on the small tree. As he walked by, a faint fragrance wafted in the air...
Although she couldn't see his face clearly, Su Xiaoliu felt that the smile was very familiar. When he passed by her, she felt that he seemed to glance at her. Her gaze fell on the golden basin in his hand...
Is this the Golden Jade Tree?
Su Xiaoliu almost fell off the chair.
Wasn't the Golden Jade Tree supposed to be made entirely of gold, jade or other treasures? Why, except for the golden basin, there was nothing precious about it at all? And was the Golden Jade Tree really just an ordinary tree? You've got to be kidding...
"Is this what the Golden Jade Tree looks like? Is this even a treasure?" Someone below had started to complain angrily and stood up to refute loudly.
"Alliance leader, you can't fool us like this. If this can be called a treasure, the two old locust trees in my yard can be regarded as priceless treasures!" Then someone started to stir up trouble.
Gradually, everyone joined in the commotion.
"That's right! That's right!"
...
Su Xiaoliu was a bit nervous. She had never seen such a chaotic scene before. Her first reaction was to look at Gu Rongxue. Gu Rongxue had already stood up. His beautiful eyebrows were slightly knitted, and his eyes were full of worry.
Zhong Fengyue beside them had sat down. He placed the Golden Jade Tree on the table and took out the Heavenly Grace Sword. His long, fair fingers gently stroked the sword body. He said casually, "The Golden Jade Tree is a plant, and the Heavenly Grace Sword is made of iron..."
Hearing his voice, everyone suddenly fell silent and looked at him.
What was he talking about?
Su Xiaoliu frowned and looked at Zhong Fengyue in confusion.
Under the white gauze hat, the rosy diamond - shaped lips suddenly curled into a soul - stirring smile. He said softly, "The basin of the Golden Jade Tree is made of gold, while the scabbard of the Heavenly Grace Sword is only made of silver..." Under everyone's watchful eyes, he slowly placed the Heavenly Grace Sword beside the Golden Jade Tree, let out a soft laugh and added, "The so - called treasure is just a vain name. Why should we care about it?"
After he finished speaking, there was complete silence below.