Chapter 20: Crying

Why?

How could he!

A look of utter nonchalance toward himself!

The loose cultivators gathered at Flower Rain Pavilion likewise hadn't anticipated this scene; they all chattered in disbelief, and the words 'Sect Master Su, could it be that you've completely given up?' reached Lin Jianran's ears, causing her to finally break down.

She suddenly barred Su Chen's way, hysterical shrieking, and repeatedly shouted: 'Su Chen, you are about to lose me completely—don't you understand?'

Su Chen nodded calmly: 'Hmm, I've lost you, then what? So what should I do?'

'So, so shouldn't you be weeping loudly, begging for my forgiveness, trying to win us back? You idiot!' Lin Jianran bit her lower lip, tears welling up in her eyes.

Surrounded by countless loose cultivators staring at her, and seeing Su Chen's aloof, unconcerned attitude, Lin Jianran felt a tremendous humiliation for the first time, her self-esteem crashing to the ground, deeply sensing an unbearable disparity.

Her gaze was stubborn, cheeks puffed, she fought back the tears in her eyes, hoping to see Su Chen look pained and distressed.

What a pity——

Still nothing!

Still nothing!!

Not only that, Su Chen even laughed out loud in front of the many loose cultivators: 'Hahaha! Trying to keep you? Begging for my forgiveness? Bursting into tears? You must be living in a dream!'

'Running up to me for no reason, acting all high and mighty, spouting those contradictory words—so what do you want?'

'You just want to see me weeping loudly as I pursue you, wanting me to trail after you like a worthless dog, making bridal clothes for your brother Ye Xuan, continuing to foolishly spend my spirit stones on you, pampering your pretty face, and then saying that the only one I've ever loved is Ye Xuan—do you wish me well with him?'

These few short words struck Lin Jianran's heart directly.

Saying that made Lin Jianran's pretty face turn pale instantly, her body trembling uncontrollably.

She felt as if she had suffered a great humiliation, momentarily overwhelmed by shame, her heart filled with endless anger, staring at Su Chen both shocked and furious, wondering how such words could come from his mouth.

Coming from the mouth of a man who loved himself so much he would sacrifice his life, utterly obsessed.

Perhaps because of the immense humiliation, Lin Jianran finally couldn't hold back, and tears streamed down uncontrollably.

All the loose cultivators inside Flower Rain Pavilion silently closed their mouths in unison, their gazes toward Lin Jianran growing strangely.

Su Chen carefully examined Lin Jianran, his eyes revealing disgust and impatience: 'You're truly a piece of trash; I doubt anyone in the Eastern Wasteland could compare to you!'

'On one hand you want to take my gifts, on the other you hand them over to your little lover, really treating me as a sucker, while boasting of your purity, chastity, and nobility—only to wait for your brother Ye Xuan to come back; loving someone shouldn't be about wishing them happiness? I want you to bless me and Ye Xuan! You're utterly despicable!'

'I must have been damned to meet someone as two-faced and trashy as you! Stop barking in my presence—just seeing you makes me sick!'

Hah!

Su Chen vented his feelings; these words had been bottled up too long, and he had long wanted to lash out.

But for the mission, he had to endure humiliation, each night in the deep hours painfully wishing to end his life, and by day forcing himself to stay alert, painstakingly trying to win over Lin Jianran to no avail.

For the past three years he'd lived a life worse than a dog's, and he'd had enough.

Su Chen slowly raised his hand and struck with a palm, showing no pity as he shoved Lin Jianran to the ground, sending her flying; fortunately Qin Shengzi was quick-handed and quick-eyed, acting as a human cushion in time, otherwise Lin Jianran might have been crippled by the fall.

Su Chen!

Qin Shengzi, this sycophant, flushed with anger, pointed at Su Chen and shouted: 'Stop right there!'

'If you can't have her, you resort to slander? How could you vilify such a good girl as Lin Jianran?'

'She is such a pure, chaste, and understanding woman—how could you utter those hypocritical, shameless words? Just because she refused to engage with you, just because she has a childhood friend as a brother, you're actually jealous!'

Su Chen: '……'

Su Chen silently glanced at Qin Shengzi, the greenish strands on his head—no wonder he's basically a green-haired turtle!

And he's a top-tier sycophant.

Feeling Su Chen's pitying gaze, Qin Shengzi struggled to speak, his eyes seeming to spit fire as he glared at Su Chen to vent his dissatisfaction.

After those words and Su Chen's forceful shove, the now disoriented Lin Jianran pushed Qin Shengzi aside and slowly straightened herself.

She wept with tears like pear blossoms in rain, a sight that evoked pity, like a delicate white lotus needing protection.

She stared at Su Chen, wanting to speak but holding back, filled with disbelief, incomprehension, shame-indignation, chill, and utter disappointment.

Then;

She spoke in a slightly hoarse tone, expression stubborn, using the last bit of her confidence: 'Su Chen, dare you ask yourself honestly—do you truly intend to abandon me, unwilling to see me?'

'If you truly don't want to, then why are you here, why did you bring the Nine-turn Golden Pill I need? And why do you look at me with such complex eyes?'

'And why are you suddenly jealous, worrying about me in everything?'

'Why won't you speak?'

'Speak up! Say you really don't love me at all—not even a trace—do you dare?'

Lin Jianran fired off several death‑like interrogations, confident she could toy with Su Chen's ridiculous dignity.

But she never expected what came next.

Before Su Chen could speak, a figure appeared not far off whose presence dimmed all the surrounding female cultivators; the woman had white hair and blood-red eyes, and upon appearing she caused everyone nearby to gasp in cold shock, her eyes showing deep apprehension, even fear.

Immediately after;

A clear, pleasant voice rang from her lips, each word shattering Lin Jianran's last stubbornness: 'A Chen came here naturally because we have an appointment!'

Swish swish swish!

Swish—

Everyone's gaze followed the sound.

Only to see Liu Liyan clad in a light pale white gown, her white hair and blood‑red eyes giving an otherworldly aura, lotus steps lightly moving as she walked slowly toward Su Chen; her heavenly features, exquisite beauty adorned with two shallow dimples, wherever she stood, just a glance from her was enough.

The world loses its luster in her presence!

Just that face which makes countless male cultivators lose their souls and dream of her would make Lin Jianran feel ashamed of her own appearance.

This is also why Lin Jianran has, for three years, targeted, excluded, despised, hated, and envied Liu Liyan: whenever Liu Liyan appears, Lin Jianran's confidence in her own charm and collapses into a joke, giving rise to feelings of inferiority and jealousy.

'Are Liu Liyan's blood‑red eyes a curse?'

'What curse? To me she looks gorgeous.'

"In the north there is a beauty, peerless and standing alone!"

"This is the first time I've seen her. She seems not to have left the Purple Yang Sect for years, attending clan and sect banquets, right? Just a few years ago, merely seeing her from afar was enough to astonish one into thinking she was a celestial being; who would have thought that after she fully blossomed, she would be this overwhelmingly beautiful, capable of toppling nations and cities."

"However, she is a person deeply afflicted by a curse; no matter how beautiful, one needs the fate to enjoy it. Young Sect Master Su, aren't you afraid of catching the curse by getting so close to her?"

"Brother, your perspective is too narrow; haven't you heard the saying, 'To die beneath peony flowers, even as a ghost one is flirtatious'?"

"……"

"These are exactly those arguments!"

"These are exactly those words of praise!"

"Lin Jianran cannot stand these the most; what she despises most is a woman whose family background, talent, cultivation, and appearance completely outshine her own."

"Her face was dark as could be, filled with resentment; she took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, and then spoke to Su Chen: 'Aren't you afraid of being entangled by the curse, causing the Heavenly Mystery Dao Sect to have no heirs?'"

"She now dares to call you A Chen, doesn't she?"

"Such an ambiguous form of address—is it allowed by you? Getting entangled with her like this, aren't you afraid… of dying?"

"Why don't you dare to look me in the eye? Why don't you dare to answer me? Fine, fine, fine! Su Chen, you insist on pushing me like this, don't you? Just wait, I'll make you regret it deeply; I will certainly make you regret everything you've done today!"

"Having said that,"

"Lin Jianran, holding in a burst of anger, suddenly turned and walked up to Qin Shengzi."

"She deliberately put on an indifferent expression, and Lin Jianran, in order to provoke Su Chen, rushed forward and embraced Qin Shengzi's bony waist, then, looking at the other's somewhat pale, cracked lips, she suppressed her nausea and kissed them……"

"Exactly!"

"This is how Lin Jianran provokes and takes revenge, making Su Chen regret it deeply."

"Mwah—"