Chapter 64

People looked at the speaking old man, but Shen Qingli didn't look; her gaze fell on Ji Wanxing, Master Huayuan, Liu Meng, Li Yidao, Zhan Yuefeng, and others behind him.

She immediately rose to greet him, and the Heavenly Star Old Ancestor stroked his beard and smiled.

Shen Qingli had already passed him and came before Ji Wanxing.

"Sect Leader, Master Huayuan, Master Tao..." Shen Qingli greeted each in turn.

"Junior—" Liu Meng's junior martial sister almost called out, but she caught herself, went up and pinched Shen Qingli's cheek, "You left so suddenly, we didn't even get a chance to see you off—weren't you bullied?"

"Senior Sister has advanced." Shen Qingli noticed that not only Liu Meng, but Li Yidao and Zhan Yuefeng had also advanced; they were all Mysterious Kings.

"Isn't that thanks to you?" Liu Meng spun around proudly, her lively and energetic appearance making Shen Qingli both envious and happy.

"Second Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother have also advanced."

"You can't call them that; you're not even initiated yet."

The two senior brothers spoke in unison, both politely declining Shen Qingli.

She no longer liked Pei Jianshu, and they all knew it, so naturally they wouldn't let her suffer by marrying him.

"I—"

"Silly girl, refusing now is useless; you're indeed not a disciple of my Heavenly Star Sect, nor of the Grand Origin Sect." Ji Wanxing knew Shen Qingli's thoughts were deep, and she especially valued gratitude.

Even though she had been disappointed like that before, she never became one of those people; instead, she valued affection more than others and would repay kindness.

But the Heavenly Star Sect up and down had wanted to take her in as a disciple back then, hoping to nurture this fine seedling well, not to make her do something for the sect.

Whether it was the Heavenly Star Sect or Heavenly Star Peak, it had always been that way.

The Heavenly Star lineage—imparting the Dao, raising disciples—was simply their duty.

"Heavenly Star Old Ancestor." Shen Yuan also rose personally to greet him.

Shen Qingli, as the young master of the Shen clan, her attitude naturally reflected that of the Longwater Shen clan.

"Please take the upper seat."

As Shen Yuan extended the invitation, the other members of the Longwater Shen clan also rose to their feet; the treatment was clearly different.

"Come, let's sit down first."

Shen Qingli also invited Ji Wanxing and the others to take a seat; they sat in the places of the Longwater Shen clan—our own people!

Meanwhile, Elder Liu and Liu Xiaoxiao, who had come to present the betrothal gifts, were still standing.

Elder Liu sighed, "Heavenly Star Grandmaster Uncle, this isn't a time for you to be willful."

"That's just how it is! Who told you to rush the engagement? You brought this on yourself—get out, get out, get out! Don't embarrass yourself!"

"Grandmaster Uncle—"

"Get out!"

The Heavenly Star Old Ancestor would not tolerate refusal.

He even said, "If you don't want the star phenomena to spread outward, go back and let Ji Bai think of a solution! In short, Shen Qingli absolutely cannot be married off!"

Tell him, even if she isn't the young mistress of the Changshui Shen clan, it's still not allowed. Otherwise, not only will the marriage contract and alliance backfire, but the Hunyuan Sect also won't last long.

Elder Liu frowned, completely missing the deeper meaning, only thinking that Old Ancestor Tianxing was blaming the sect leader for using juniors to maintain power, which is not a solid foundation for long-term standing.

Grandmaster Uncle.

Get lost!

Old Ancestor Tianxing's starry eyes flashed; Elder Liu felt he could barely breathe, his face grim, and he dared not and could not argue further, saying, "Yes, Grandmaster Uncle."

Having said that, he was about to have someone bring up the betrothal gift box.

"Wait a moment." Pei Jianshu spoke.

Elder Liu looked at him, and Old Ancestor Tianxing also looked at him.

"How dare a junior defy me?" Old Ancestor Tianxing demanded!

"I, the junior, dare not." Though he said he didn't dare, Pei Jianshu withstood Old Ancestor Tianxing's oppressive pressure even better than Elder Liu did, not lowering his head in the slightest, nor rising to his feet.

"This was originally meant as a gift for A Li; whether she accepts it or not, it won't change." Pei Jianshu looked at Shen Qingli, his eyes deep as such.

He had thought she was a soft-hearted person, and that she would surely repay those who treated her well tenfold or a hundredfold, so she would certainly agree.

But he hadn't expected that her family and fellow disciples would not take her word as the deciding factor.

Yet he didn't feel upset; instead, he felt pleased.

"Congratulations, you have found true family, and also gained true fellow disciples whom you can trust completely and rely on with your back."

Pei Jianshu already understood why he had "lost," and he was wholly convinced.

These words, and his attitude, instead surprised Shen Qingli quite a bit.

But——

"No need."

"One does not receive reward without merit; I have no relation with Brother Pei Dao."

Shen Qingli refused Pei Jianshu's gift, even though she knew he sincerely intended to give it.

"Just consider it my apology for the harm I caused you in the past." Pei Jianshu frankly said.

The guests all thought he was remarkably magnanimous! Who would give such precious heavenly treasures as a betrothal gift as an apology? The key is that even those of the Azure Cloud Realm don't stop him!

This is also the doubt of Shen Yuan and Old Ancestor Tianxing: if it were a betrothal gift, they could understand, but Shen Qingli is a priceless treasure, worthy of any betrothal gift.

But it's not a betrothal gift being sent down, yet still being sent?

"Feelings between men and women should be mutual; previously it was only my one-sided affection, and you haven't done anything wrong."

Shen Qingli's more candid remark turned everyone's praise for Pei Jianshu into astonishment at her.

This, this inside, there is a very deep secret!

"Since our hearts have already been moved and entwined, why refuse?"

As a great elder of the Hunyuan Sect, Gu Chuan spoke again.

That's exactly why there's no longer any possibility.

If she had never liked Pei Jianshu, then given his behavior at the time, he was actually the one in the entire Biyu Sect who treated her best, and he had never humiliated or beaten her.

But she had truly liked him before, and even during many days of torment caused by Zhao Yue, it was that lingering fondness for him that got her through.

Life on Saint Maiden Peak was too harsh; even though Pei Jianshu was indifferent to her affection, he was already the only sweetness she could obtain in the Biyu Sect.

"I still remember when Zhao Yue first hit me, you handed me a handkerchief and applied medicine for me; I still keep that handkerchief." Shen Qingli took out the yellowed handkerchief.

"You're not like others who only take from me; you treat me equally, just as you do with others. We never had any grudge, and there will be no feelings between us in the future. If we've missed it, we've missed it—let it dissipate like smoke and clouds."

After saying that and burning the handkerchief, Shen Qingli had expected to feel some sentiment, but she didn't; she remained quite calm.

Those days of hiding and fleeing, humbly begging to survive, had long since completely worn away the former youth's affection.

As it turned out, death truly settles everything once and for all.

What was once sought but not obtained, what was once unforgettable, what was once painfully pursued—none of these are obsessions anymore.

Pei Jianshu, who seemed to sense something, felt a jolt of pain in his mind and spirit; he fixed his gaze on Shen Qingli and said, "What's past is past; let it scatter."

"As long as you have no objections." Shen Qingli did not wish her return to bring trouble to the Shen family.

Pei Jianshu nodded and rose, yet he brought forth a dragon egg, sending a ball of mystic power to Shen Qingli's side, saying, "Regardless of other matters, I once wronged you; I'm sorry."

"Hiss—" The little white snake cautiously yet obsequiously licked Shen Qingli's wrist, "Take it! Take it! It's already brought to your mouth!" It really couldn't hold back, drool streaming…

Shen Qingli, helpless, nevertheless reached out and took it, saying, "Fine, I accept your apology; from now on we owe each other nothing."

"Hahaha! Then let's just leave it at that, shall we?" Old Ancestor Tianxing hurriedly said, "A Li, then hurry up and pay your respects as my disciple!"

Old Ancestor Tianxing, who had originally rushed over to take on disciples, could no longer sit still; he was already waving at Shen Qingli, urging her to quickly pay her respects as his disciple.

Shen Qingli felt embarrassed, saying, "Senior Ancestor, I'm truly sorry, but I already have a master."

Old Ancestor Tianxing stared, and Ji Wanxing was also dumbfounded, asking, "Where did you get a master from?"

As soon as that question was spoken, a splendid light actually began to float behind Shen Qingli!

Immediately after—

"God Sovereign!"

Everyone suddenly rose to pay their respects!