Chapter 20: What a Mess
Meanwhile, after leaving Chen Yin's side, Yu Xiang found a secluded spot and produced a mask out of thin air.
This mask was a task item exchanged from the system, capable of seamlessly altering her aura and appearance.
Once she donned the mask, her sweet and gentle demeanor transformed into something cold and unapproachable.
She then changed into a black fitted outfit, added a conical hat, and covered her face with a black veil. Instantly, her entire being exuded an air of mystery and allure.
Approaching the registration desk again, Yu Xiang drew curious glances from the Wanxiang Pavilion staff at her peculiar attire. However, they still greeted her politely.
"Is this esteemed cultivator here to register for the tournament as well? Please provide your name and sect."
"Yin Mengwan," she replied in a cold, detached voice. "Sect: Changli Palace."
Changli Palace? The staff member froze for a moment.
The name sounded familiar.
Years ago, a major incident in the cultivation world had involved this very sect. If he remembered correctly, Changli Palace had been wiped out… Could there still be disciples from the sect?
However, since the tournament's registration criteria weren't particularly strict, and Changli Palace was a legitimate sect despite its obscurity, he proceeded to register her.
Unbeknownst to her, a small fox concealed in the void nearby observed the entire scene.
"Changli Palace…" Luo Luo muttered to herself, "I must find an opportunity to inform Young Master."
Yu Xiang waited idly for her registration to be processed. While waiting, her gaze casually drifted toward the entrance of Wanxiang Pavilion's main hall.
Suddenly, her eyes widened.
There, a figure she knew all too well—his face full of helplessness—was being led into the hall by a stunning woman in a fiery red dress, hand in hand.
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At that moment, Chen Yin felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.
It turned out Luo Qiaoqiao was a VIP customer at Wanxiang Pavilion. As she browsed, she had a personal attendant guiding her and offering recommendations. Seemingly indifferent to the curious and judgmental gazes around her, she would occasionally pick out jewelry or outfits, holding them up with a coquettish smile to ask Chen Yin's opinion.
Chen Yin, however, was too preoccupied with thoughts of escaping to give proper answers. All he could do was fall back on the stockpile of flowery compliments he had prepared for situations like this.
"Chen Yin, what do you think of this one?"
"Beautiful, absolutely stunning," he replied absentmindedly. "This outfit is understated yet luxurious, blending vintage elegance with modern flair. It perfectly complements Sister Qiaoqiao's graceful and curvaceous figure."
But no sooner had the words left his mouth than he felt an intense, almost tangible wave of resentment directed at him.
"Hmph." Luo Qiaoqiao pouted, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. "You're just brushing me off, aren't you?"
It was only then that Chen Yin realized the outfit she was holding was men's clothing—a light gray cultivator's robe with black and gold detailing, emanating an air of gravitas and authority.
"Ah… No, not at all."
Chen Yin chuckled awkwardly. "I meant that Sister Qiaoqiao, with her heroic spirit and commanding presence, would look so dashing in this that she'd leave even women swooning."
"Don't believe me? Ask your junior sisters!"
The group of Tianluo Sect disciples behind them squealed like fangirls.
"Ah! Senior Sister should totally wear this!"
"Senior Sister, marry me! I want to be your bride!"
"What are you even saying?" Luo Qiaoqiao rolled her eyes at them with a flirtatious smile. Then she pursed her red lips and turned her gaze back to Chen Yin, a hint of girlish shyness in her eyes.
"Why don't you try it on?"
It dawned on Chen Yin that she was picking clothes for him. He froze for a moment.
In his previous life, he knew that when a girl went shopping with a guy and picked clothes for him, it was a pretty intimate gesture.
This realization made him hesitate slightly as he reached for the robe.
"What's wrong?" Luo Qiaoqiao blinked. "Don't like it?"
"…No, it's not that," Chen Yin said with an embarrassed smile. "It's just that I've never worn anything this expensive before. I'm worried about dirtying it and not being able to pay for it."
"What's there to worry about?"
Luo Qiaoqiao waved off his concerns. "I'll pay for it. Consider it a gift from me."
"If you like it, I can buy you anything you want."
….What a little rich girl.
With her saying this much, Chen Yin couldn't bring himself to refuse. Resigned, he obediently went to try on the outfit.
A few moments later, when he emerged from the fitting room, even Luo Qiaoqiao, along with the Tianluo Sect disciples, couldn't help but gasp in admiration.
Thanks to his miserly master, Chen Yin had always worn plain, inexpensive robes, meticulously cleaned and neatly pressed.
But now, dressed in a refined and stylish outfit, his entire aura seemed to have transformed.
Luo Qiaoqiao stared at him for a moment, then nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad. I really do have great taste."
—So, the whole point was to praise yourself? Chen Yin felt speechless.
But the next moment, Luo Qiaoqiao turned to the attendant and said, "No need to wrap it, just put it on my tab."
"Wait, Sister!"
Chen Yin hurriedly objected. "I appreciate your kindness, but this outfit is far too expensive—I really can't accept it."
Luo Qiaoqiao snorted softly. "I said wear it, so you'll wear it."
"The man I like has to look dashing."
As her words fell, a stunned silence swept through the Wanxiang Pavilion.
Chen Yin noticed the Tianluo Sect disciples gasping behind their hands and felt the tangible hostility radiating from the male cultivators' gazes.
—I'm doomed, he thought to himself.
Luo Qiaoqiao, completely oblivious, took Chen Yin's hand and led him forward.
"Come on, let's find you a better weapon."
"No, no, I'm good. My current weapon suits me just fine."
Chen Yin awkwardly tried to explain when suddenly a cold voice interrupted:
"How much for that outfit?"
Everyone turned to see a woman in all black, her face obscured by a veil and a wide-brimmed hat, walking slowly through the crowd. She pointed at the outfit Chen Yin was wearing and asked the shopkeeper.
Her actions left the onlookers dumbfounded.
Did she not know who Luo Qiaoqiao was—the famous Luo Shang Fairy? How dare she make such a remark in her presence?
Sure enough, Luo Qiaoqiao's face darkened, her gaze locking onto the black-clad woman.
"This outfit is already mine," she said icily.
"It hasn't been paid for yet, so it's not officially sold, is it?" The black-clad woman's tone was calm, as if she didn't regard Luo Qiaoqiao as a threat. "If I offer a higher price, wouldn't it be reasonable for the shopkeeper to sell it to me?"
The shopkeeper, caught off guard by someone daring to challenge Luo Qiaoqiao, hesitated, unsure of the woman's background and too nervous to speak.
"Oh?"
Luo Qiaoqiao laughed in anger, her smile charming but her gaze cold. "I'm curious—how much higher can you go?"
"This outfit is priced at 200 spirit stones. I'll pay ten times that."
Luo Qiaoqiao's expression didn't change. "A hundred times. Twenty thousand spirit stones."
"Forty thousand," the black-clad woman countered without hesitation.
The escalating bids left both Chen Yin and the shopkeeper dumbfounded.
—Who is this woman? And why is she suddenly competing with Luo Qiaoqiao?
At that moment, Luo Luo's voice rang in Chen Yin's mind:
"Young Master, that's your little junior sister."
Chen Yin's eyes widened in shock.
Damn!
Realization struck him instantly, and cold sweat soaked his back.
This was bad.
With Xiang'er's famously jealous nature, seeing him interact so closely with Luo Qiaoqiao—let alone have her buy clothes for him—was something she absolutely couldn't tolerate.
He could already imagine Xiang'er's expression behind the veil, her eyes red with suppressed anger and hurt.
Worse, he couldn't expose Xiang'er's identity here, as doing so would put her in real danger.
Seeing the confrontation between the two escalate, Chen Yin sighed inwardly and whispered something to the shopkeeper.
Relieved to have a way out, the shopkeeper quickly announced, "Ladies, please don't argue anymore!"
"This outfit was just purchased at the original price by this young gentleman. It's already on the books—there's no need to compete further."
Both Yu Xiang and Luo Qiaoqiao turned to look at him in surprise. Luo Qiaoqiao, though somewhat reluctant, realized Chen Yin was trying to help her save face. She lowered her voice and said:
"Then… I'll buy your next gift."
Yu Xiang, however, stared at Chen Yin intently without saying a word.
Chen Yin hastily bowed to Luo Qiaoqiao. "Sister Qiaoqiao, I think we should leave it at this for today. My junior sister is waiting for me—I can't keep her waiting too long."
Luo Qiaoqiao looked a bit disappointed but reluctantly let go of his hand. "Then… after the tournament, you have to spend time with me."
"Uh… we'll see," Chen Yin said nervously, sweat forming on his brow.
—Xiang'er was still watching—he couldn't afford to speak too warmly.
Hearing this, Yu Xiang snorted softly and turned to leave, her figure vanishing quickly from the main hall. Chen Yin, feeling the weight of everyone's stares, hurried after her, practically fleeing Wanxiang Pavilion.
He chased her for some distance before finally calling out breathlessly, "Miss!"
Yu Xiang stopped in her tracks but didn't turn around. Her voice was cold:
"What do you want?"
"Thank you for stepping in back there," Chen Yin said politely, cupping his hands in respect. "If not for you, I wouldn't have known how to get out of that situation."
"May I have the honor of knowing your name?"
"What for?"
Yu Xiang's voice carried a hint of mockery and suppressed grievance. "Are you so eager to charm even a veiled stranger?"
"Are all men this fickle?"
"You misunderstand, Miss."
Chen Yin chuckled lightly. "I already have someone I care for. I have no other intentions."
"My sweet and gentle junior sister is still waiting for me to return."
Yu Xiang's body trembled slightly, but she kept her voice calm.
"If your heart belongs to her, then cherish her well."
"My name… is not worth knowing."
With that, she turned gracefully and disappeared in an instant.
Chen Yin watched her leave and sighed deeply, a look of regret crossing his face.
—What kind of karmic retribution is this?
—And my 200 spirit stones—my entire savings—gone! Wuwuwu!
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