Chapter 21: When the Lights Go Out, Everyone's the Same
At night, the competitors could stay in the villa to rest.
When Xiang'er returned to her room, her expression was a little off. No matter how Chen Yin tried to ask her about it, she would just brush him off with a casual, "I'm tired and want to rest," before retreating to her room.
Chen Yin knew she was still sulking.
Back in his own room, Chen Yin listened to Luo Luo recounting the events of the day, his thoughts deepening.
"Changli Palace… Yin Mengwan…"
He had no impression of this sect. It was clearly not a prominent one, nor did he know what had happened to it.
Still, since Xiang'er chose this sect and name, it wasn't likely something she made up on a whim.
He mentally noted this information, resolving to investigate it thoroughly when the opportunity arose.
"For now, the most pressing matter is tomorrow's preliminary round of the Heavenly Beauty Summit," he muttered to Luo Luo.
After giving her a few instructions, Luo Luo nodded and vanished into the void.
Chen Yin hesitated for a moment before stepping out into the night.
Under the moonlight, he walked to Xiang'er's door and knocked lightly.
"Xiang'er, are you asleep?"
"...Yes."
"Then I'm coming in."
"I said I'm asleep! Why are you coming in, you annoying senior brother?!"
"Exactly because you're asleep, Senior Brother is here for a nightly raid!"
After a moment, the door creaked open. Xiang'er stood there, wearing a thin white silk nightgown, her head lowered.
"What do you want?" She tried to sound cold, but Chen Yin could still detect the hint of grievance in her tone.
"Tomorrow is your first match in the tournament," he said gently. "I was worried you couldn't sleep, so I came to warm your bed."
"No way! Senior Brother will just make my blanket smell bad!"
"...Don't slander me like that! I bathe every day!"
Chen Yin looked around and then asked, "Want to go for a walk? It's proven to be great for easing nerves before big tests."
Xiang'er blinked, tempted, but turned her head slightly.
"I don't need your concern."
"You're my dearest junior sister. If I don't care about you, who else should I care about?"
"There are plenty of prettier girls out there. I can't compare to them, so why care about me?"
"Maybe Xiang'er is just lucky to have met a senior brother with such keen taste," Chen Yin replied with a chuckle. "Since we were kids, I've always been set on making Xiang'er my wife."
Xiang'er's breath quickened, and under the moonlight, her cheeks turned a rosy hue.
"I… I told you, I don't want to be your wife!"
"Well, in that case, Senior Brother might just have to resort to force."
"Hmph! You're awful, shameless, a rogue!"
"Ah! That's the spirit! Xiang'er, keep scolding me!"
Frustrated, Xiang'er stomped her foot and walked off on her own. Chen Yin, smiling knowingly, followed behind her.
The night was cool as water, and their two shadows stretched across the long corridor, connecting one end to the other.
Xiang'er walked with her hands behind her back, stepping on the shadows cast by the corridor pillars, lost in thought.
Chen Yin, uncharacteristically, didn't tease her further. He simply walked beside her in silence.
"...Why does Senior Brother always care so much about Xiang'er? I can take care of myself, you know," she said, her voice soft.
"Really?"
"Of course! Xiang'er isn't a child anymore." She pouted.
Chen Yin shook his head. "I don't believe you."
"Unless you let me touch your head to prove it."
"No! Way!"
She stomped on his foot in mock anger, but Chen Yin just grinned and stayed quiet.
"But I can't help worrying about Xiang'er," he said finally.
"Why?"
"Because you're silly," Chen Yin said earnestly.
Xiang'er puffed her cheeks indignantly. "I'm not silly!"
"If Xiang'er weren't silly, she wouldn't keep so many things bottled up inside, refusing to tell Senior Brother and trying to deal with everything alone."
Xiang'er's steps faltered. She lowered her gaze to the cobblestone path.
"If Xiang'er weren't silly, she'd know that Senior Brother's sole purpose is to take care of his junior sister."
He spoke calmly, "If you don't tell me anything, it's either because you really dislike me and don't trust me, or because you're a hopelessly silly girl."
Xiang'er turned her back to him, biting her lip to suppress any sound.
"But that's the fate of being a senior brother."
Chen Yin sighed softly. "Junior sisters can act spoiled, throw tantrums, and be unreasonable with their senior brothers."
"But since I'm the senior brother, no matter how much my little junior sister fusses or sulks, I have to coax her."
To cherish her. To treat her like a treasure.
Never letting her feel even the slightest bit wronged.
"After all, we only have one precious little junior sister in our family," Chen Yin said with a helpless smile.
Xiang'er opened her mouth slightly but quickly covered it with her hands.
—She almost couldn't hold it in.
Almost spilled everything she wanted to say to him.
Almost threw away the system and her tasks to remain his little junior sister forever.
But in the end, she held it all back.
Without a word, she turned and hugged him tightly, her eyes red.
"Senior Brother, I…" Her voice quivered with a hint of tears.
Chen Yin shook his head gently. "I won't pressure you."
"Like I said before, whenever you're ready to talk, I'll always be here to listen."
Xiang'er nodded softly and rested her head against his chest.
Chen Yin said nothing, holding her slender waist gently.
After a while, Xiang'er blushed and whispered, "Senior Brother… don't do anything bad, okay?"
"Ahem. Totally normal reaction," Chen Yin replied shamelessly, his expression unchanged.
Xiang'er shyly raised her head, her eyes shimmering as they flitted about.
"The mood is so nice right now… Senior Brother, don't do anything to ruin it, okay?"
"Well then, what is the right thing to do in this mood?"
"Hmm… Senior Brother, close your eyes."
"Close them? It's not the first time we're doing this, and it's already pitch black—"
"Just close them!" Xiang'er's tone carried a trace of playful scolding.
Chen Yin, helpless, closed his eyes.
Xiang'er stared at his calm face for a moment, lost in thought.
Then she softly closed her own eyes, rose on tiptoe, and pressed her lips to his.
—Closing one's eyes was like turning off the lights for the world.
In the dark, we are free.
Free to do the things we love. Free to love the people we adore.
Because when we open our eyes again and turn the lights back on, the busy world resumes as though nothing had happened in the dark.
<+>
The next morning, the Wan Yun Mountain was lively with decorations and bustling with excitement.
The square in front of the martial stage was packed with contestants and spectators alike.
In the middle row, enthusiastic voices could be heard:
"Hey! Ladies and gentlemen, place your bets! Don't miss the chance!"
"Hey there, young man, care to make a wager?"
Chen Yin, still lost in thoughts of the softness of Xiang'er's lips last night, was suddenly pulled aside by an eager vendor.
Seeing the vendor's enthusiastic expression, Chen Yin hesitated and asked, "What kind of bets are you taking?"
"On match outcomes, of course!" the young man said cheerfully. "Looks like it's your first time playing, huh?"
"Look, we have odds on every match, big or small. If you're just here for fun, you can bet on your acquaintances. If you're feeling ambitious, I can recommend some hot contenders for the championship."
Hearing the mention of championship favorites, Chen Yin perked up. "Tell me more."
"Well, the top favorites for the championship? No doubt about it, it's Frost Moon Sword Immortal Shen Shuanglian of the Misty Spirit Sect and Fairy Luo Qiaoqiao of the Tianluo Sect."
The vendor went on enthusiastically, "These two… in terms of beauty, they're absolutely stunning, words fail to do them justice.
"And in terms of skill? They're the top disciples of their prestigious sects, immensely talented, and both have reached the Unrestricted Realm."
"Unrestricted! In most sects, that's a level reserved for junior elders. Many cultivators never reach that stage in their lifetimes, but these two achieved it while still so young."
"These two are practically guaranteed to meet in the finals. The only question is, who will triumph in their dazzling duel?"
Chen Yin thought back to the confrontation between the two in the forest that day and couldn't help but cough lightly.
"Indeed… their odds must be quite stable, right?"
"Not much profit to be made," the vendor admitted. "But they're solid bets, and people love adding a little excitement."
"Which contestant would you like to bet on? Got any friends or family competing?"
Scanning the roster casually, Chen Yin saw Xiang'er's opponent—just an ordinary female cultivator. The odds between them were nearly even, indicating little attention from bettors.
He placed two bets on Xiang'er without much thought. His eyes, however, inadvertently caught another name.
Changli Palace. Yin Mengwan.
Her opponent seemed to be a moderately famous female cultivator in the world of immortal cultivation.
Because Changli Palace was largely unheard of, the odds were astonishingly skewed—12 to 1.
Such exaggerated odds were typically reserved for favorites like Shen Shuanglian and Luo Qiaoqiao.
"Have you decided?" the vendor asked eagerly.
"Yes."
Chen Yin pointed at the line. "This one."
"Oh, taking a bold gamble, are you? But that Zhang Qing from Xuanyun Sect is the second senior sister of her sect, quite skilled. As for this Yin Mengwan from some Changli Palace… never heard of her."
"Who knows? She could be a hidden expert from the mountains," Chen Yin said with a faint smile.
"All in. Bet everything on Yin Mengwan to win."
"What audacity! I'll mark it down for you!"
After placing his bet, Chen Yin walked a good distance before taking a deep breath.
—12 to 1.
If Xiang'er really was hiding something, this could turn into an incredible windfall.
After spending 200 spirit stones yesterday, he was nearly broke.
Xiang'er, my goddess of fortune. In his mind, Chen Yin frantically kissed an imaginary portrait of her.
Senior Brother's road to riches depends on you!
<+>
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