âSo youâre certainly helping the Heavenly Snow Holy Domain, arenât you?â
Ji Yourong looked at Yang Zhen with a smirk, nonchalantly.
Yang Zhen hesitated, then retorted, âWhy are you so sure?â
Elder Mei, with a shocked expression, examined Ji Yourong and Yang Zhen, then queried, âYourong, whatâs going on?â
Ji Yourong didnât immediately answer Elder Meiâs question, but instead countered, âHow do you think of him, Elder Mei?â
Hearing this strange question, Little Fattyâs eyes ballooned out, and everyone else also gazed at Elder Mei curiously, apparently wondering how Elder Mei would assess Yang Zhen.
Elder Mei knitted her brows, uncertain what game Ji Yourong was playing, but she still replied, âYoung Master Yang is undoubtedly a prodigy. He is generous and carefree, a rare upright person. Yetâ¦why are you asking this?â
Yang Zhen wore a puzzled face, not knowing how heâd become a prodigy, so generous and carefree that he turned red from embarrassment. Only then did he realize, he couldnât blush.
It finally dawned on Yang Zhen. Elder Meiâs high praise wasnât because his charm had conquered this famously stubborn elder, but because he had helped GuanGuan break her bottleneck, successfully solving the difficulties of Dingyuan Pill making. That was what earned him the tag of âgenerosityâ.
This cunning old woman, he almost fell for her ruse.
At the same time, Yang Zhen understood why Ji Yourong spoke this way. This big-eyed girl had a mischievous mind; she was digging a hole for Elder Mei.
As for why she had dug this hole, Yang Zhen speculated that Ji Yourong might reveal his identity.
This girl was crafty, exceedingly crafty. While Yang Zhen was still pondering how to reveal his identity to give the Heavenly Spring Sacred Land a piece of his mind, Ji Yourong had already arranged it. It seemed he needed to treat her to a meal sometime to express his gratitude.
Yang Zhen lightly coughed, posing with a courteous demeanor, slightly nodding at Elder Meiâso polite that anyone would think he was a gentleman.
Seeing Yang Zhenâs performance, Elder Mei, too, was well-satisfied, smiling and nodding in acknowledgment, her expression full of regret for any wasted talent.
âBecause heâs Yang Zhen!â
When Ji Yourongâs statement came out, Elder Meiâs face froze, and Little Fatty almost choked.
âYangâ¦Yangâ¦Yang Zhen?â
Little Fatty stared at Yang Zhen in surprise, then turned to Young Master Tian, pointing at Yang Zhen, he said, âSee, Old Tian, I told you he was Yang Zhen. You didnât believe me!â
Young Master Tian frowned in silence. Damn it, when did you say this?
Even if it was said, wasnât it something like Yang Zhen definitely isnât Yang Zhen, or how could Yang Zhen be so good looking, even slightly more handsome than you?
Still in a daze, Elder Mei turned to Ji Yourong with surprise clearly written on her face and her complexion darkening, âWhat did you say?â
âI said, he is Yang Zhen!â Ji Yourong asserted, smiling.
Everyone: ââ¦â
Elder Meiâs face was a picture. Especially with a crowd of Heavenly Snow Holy Domain disciples behind her, their faces were a sight to behold.
It was not surprising though. Everyone knew that Elder Mei was the first to refuse Yang Zhenâs entry to the Heavenly Snow Holy Domain, and she was the most adamant. No one could sway her stubbornness.
Now, she was praising Yang Zhen to the high heavens in front of everyone, especially in front of those distinguished from the Heavenly Snow Holy Domain.
The humiliation was palpable, almost too much for Elder Mei to bear.
âHeâ¦he is Yang Zhen? How could this beâ¦? How could Yang Zhen possibly possess such superior alchemy skills?â
âI had heard that this Yang Zhen is not only exceptionally talented in cultivation, but heâs also an Artifact Refining Master. Now heâs turned out to be an Alchemy Grandmaster too. Is there anything he canât do?â
âThis⦠what are we going to do? Who wouldâve thought Yang Kaixin is really Yang Zhen. But Yang Zhen doesnât seem to be the troublemaker as alleged in the rumors, at least he helped Little Miss Guan, you could even say heâs done a great favor for the Heavenly Snow Holy Domain.â
Heâs done a great favor for the Heavenly Snow Holy Domain!
Upon hearing this, Elder Mei heaved a deep sigh and said, âLet it be, since you are Yang Zhen, I have nothing else to say. Hearing is insubstantial, seeing is believing. I apologize for my previous attitude.â
Seeing Ji Yourongâs surprised expression, Elder Mei snorted and said, âWhat, though I may be stubborn, I am not completely ignorant. Did you really think I would expel him?â
A trace of a smile flashed across Ji Yourongâs face as she offered a subdued salute, âYour disciple wouldnât dare.â
Humph!â Elder Mei cast a glance at Ji Yourong, âI can ignore Yang Zhen, but you as disciple of the Heavenly Snow Holy Domain, deceived everyone. Do you know your mistake?â
âI know my mistake!â Ji Yourong hurriedly admitted her fault, her attitude good enough to not give Elder Mei any room for complaint.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
After sizing up Yang Zhen, Elder Mei shook her head and said, âReally, a young man turned hero. Besides, no matter your origin, for you to have made such a reputation, is no small feat. Have you decided to confront that Ghost Pill Master?â
Yang Zhen took a deep breath, turned to look at Ji Yourong. Even though his identity had been revealed, Yang Zhen didnât want to be entirely passive. With a half-hearted smile, he looked at Ji Yourong, waiting for her to continue with their plan.
Ji Yourong glared at Yang Zhen and said, âYang Zhen, stop pretending. You think nobody can see through you, let alone me?â
Her face was full of melancholy, as if she had taken a significant risk to vindicate Yang Zhenâs name. No doubt this ice doll was in difficulty, clearly aware Yang Kaixin was Yang Zhen, but having to keep it to herself.
Actually, if Ji Yourong had disclosed the truth about Yang Zhen the instant she saw him, Yang Zhen wouldnât have minded at all.
Yang Zhen raised an eyebrow, asking in surprise, âWhat have you figured out?â
A smile flashed across Ji Yourongâs face as she looked at GuanGuan and said, âIt looks like you were helping GuanGuan overcome her difficulties, but if Iâm not guessing wrong, you probably gained from GuanGuanâs pill refining process, perhaps more than she did?â
âHow did you know?â Yang Zhen was astounded, looking at Ji Yourong in disbelief.
âDonât you have a count of your own conduct?â Ji Yourong gave Yang Zhen a glare that left the disciples of Heavenly Snow Holy Domain beside her wide-eyed in amazement.
GuanGuan was also gazing at Ji Yourong in disbelief, clearly, she had never seen this flirtatious side of Ji Yourong before. It was entirely different from her usual ice-cold persona.
Elder Mei was also looking at Yang Zhen perplexedly, marveling, âSo thatâs how it is! No wonder I always felt something was off. By his past conducts, why would he help little Miss Guan for no reason?â
Yang Zhen pursed his lips, âElder, I must criticize you on this point, how could you be so quick to believe this ice dollâs side of the story? As for Miss GuanGuan, her accomplishments in pill refining are beyond compare in my eyes. When I saw her sitting on the ground with her brows furrowed in distress, I helped her out of pure righteousness, not for some personal gain.â
Ji Yourong pursed her lips, glanced at the agape GuanGuan, and said resentfully, âI believe you as much as I believe in ghosts!â
After speaking, Ji Yourong couldnât help herself and burst out laughing, âWhere did you come from for even your general comments to sound so amusing?â
Yang Zhen listened and grimaced. Women, they were all total jerks.
At this point, GuanGuan strode forward and said to Yang Zhen through gritted teeth, âYang Zhen, that Ghost Pill Master⦠please leave!â
âWhy?â Yang Zhen was taken aback and asked, âWhat happened to the Ghost Pill Master?â
Just then, a hysterical shriek suddenly came from nearby. Everyone subconsciously turned to look in that direction, only to see a mussy cat dashing towards them. The cat came to a halt in front Yang Zhen, meowed, clambered onto his shoulder, blinked its eyes, and tried acting cute.
Yang Zhen slapped the cat on the head, saying, âEnough, stop pretending.â
âGreat grass! Yang Zhen widened his eyes, took in the curious expressions around him, and said, âWas my cover blown? Do I have to fight? I might have a few matters to attend toâ¦â