The Beautiful Pariah Thought He Could Be Loved - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Xin Qishu Disappeared (Shou’s Highlight Moment)

The light before the wooden door was dim. Lüqing stood there, cold and composed, the weak light casting an ethereal glow over his already fair skin. His long, narrow eyes were pools of ice.

He gathered spiritual energy and struck his own chest. Only after his face turned ashen did he reach out and push open the door. “Xin—”

The room showed no signs of recent occupancy.

“Where is he?!”

…

Elder Han sat on a redwood chair, stroking his beard. “You’re saying… Xin Qishu has disappeared?”

To the side, Cheng Fei frowned. “Is he really nowhere to be found? Could he have sensed something and… returned to the Demon Abyss?”

Lüqing couldn’t hide his anxiety. Using Xin Qishu as a starting point wasn’t the only way, but it was the most efficient. “Is the plan still proceeding?”

Beyond the collective interests of the cultivation world, he was also considering his own. Duan Shi of the Mo Sect had risen like a shooting star, and He Lüqing felt a flicker of a threat.

It wasn’t that he lacked grace or wanted to squabble with a newcomer over fame; he didn’t even know Duan Shi and held no prejudice against him. Lüqing simply feared that those invested in Duan Shi’s success would push him down to make room. If his reputation remained stellar, opportunities would seek him out; if it tarnished, his chances to rise again would be few and far between.

Since childhood, he’d had an impulse to prove himself. After becoming famous, that impulse hadn’t faded; it was merely buried deep under external pressure. In a way, Xin Qishu’s forced marriage had actually played into his hands. He resented Xin Qishu, partly because he felt the boy had trapped him, causing him to miss out on greater opportunities.

This plan was another chance… Lüqing trusted the Fayu Pavilion; he wasn’t afraid of truly being abandoned. The moment he imagined the day he would be widely praised for his sacrifice, the excitement in his blood wouldn’t settle.

Yet, his pity for Xin Qishu flickered in his heart. He wasn’t truly made of stone; after spending so much time together, it was impossible to remain unmoved. Moreover, Xin Qishu was hardly a stranger.

Cheng Fei’s eyes flickered with hesitation.

Elder Han pondered for a long time before saying slowly, “Proceed according to the original plan.”

…

On the day of the Hundred Flowers Festival, the sun shone brilliantly over the Yunzi River, and the wind was intoxicating with the scent of blooms.

During the festival, many great families sent meticulously tended flowers, creating a riot of color. A small martial arts tournament would be held, with the heads of the local families acting as judges. Cultivators who placed well earned the right to select a rare flower.

Winning a flower for a lover was the festival’s tradition.

This year, the heroes and romantic gestures remained, but after the flowers were gifted, the crowd did not disperse. Their eyes were fixed on the family representatives stepping onto the stage.

Lüqing hid his face behind a tall, leafy potted plant. Xin Qishu had been missing for days; he had checked the Demon Abyss, but they seemed to be looking for him too. After much thought, he concluded that Xin Qishu would likely show up at today’s festival.

Yang Li stood with his head bowed beside Elder Han, his expression unreadable, his ponytail draped softly against his neck.

Lüqing taking a disciple had been an accident. Though his cultivation was among the best in the world, he had no intention of teaching; he knew his own temperament still had a long way to go, and he didn’t want to hinder anyone.

Lüqing had been asked by the Sect Leader to teach a general knowledge class at the academy, and that was where Yang Li caught his eye.

Yang Li was originally under Elder Han’s tutelage. His talent was average, but he was exceptionally diligent. Every time He Lüqing looked down to check the students’ reactions, the first thing he saw were Yang Li’s bright, dark eyes.

Once, after class, Elder Han invited He Lüqing for a gathering. When he arrived, Yang Li was there too. After a brief chat, he realized Yang Li wanted to transfer to his tutelage and had asked Elder Han to mediate.

What truly moved He Lüqing was Yang Li kneeling on both knees, shouting with pure ambition: “This disciple wants to learn the best swordsmanship in the world and become a famous hero!”

His words hit a chord with He Lüqing’s own youthful ideals. Yang Li had driven, but he wasn’t reckless—he knew to approach Elder Han first. Lüqing accepted him.

Yang Li was incredibly hardworking, using sweat to surpass many who were more gifted. After he returned from his travels, He Lüqing intended for him to officially enter the Path of Heartlessness. To him, Yang Li was perfectly suited for it.

Yang Li’s father had disappeared when he was young, and his mother had entrusted him to the Fayu Pavilion before meeting a tragic end on Mount Lizhi. He had no parents, no lovers, and no close friends.

But Yang Li had refused him, kneeling on the floor just as he had on the day he was accepted. The sound of his head hitting the floor echoed through the empty hall. The palace doors were wide open, the chirping of birds drifted in, and the harsh sunlight hit the polished dark tiles. The fabric at his knees was slightly stained with blood.

He Lüqing sat silently on his high chair, the polished floor reflecting Yang Li’s unwavering gaze.

“Whom can you not let go of?”

He Lüqing’s voice rang out like a ghost, striking at Yang Li’s soul.

Yang Li whispered a few words. On the high platform, He Lüqing’s expression became inscrutable.

The hall returned to silence, only to be broken by a shout. An outer disciple ran in to report: “Xin Qishu of the Blood Capacity Palace has taken over a hundred people hostage at the foot of the mountain! He says if the Senior Brother doesn’t marry him, he will slaughter them all the day after tomorrow at noon!”

Under the brilliant sun, Yang Li turned around, his face as pale as if he had been submerged in ice water for five days.

…

Back to the Present

Cheng Fei stood with a solemn expression, his voice infused with powerful spiritual energy. “I believe everyone has heard the rumors. The Glazed Lamp of our Cheng family was stolen through the cooperation of Xin Qishu of the Blood Capacity Palace and He Lüqing, formerly of the Fayu Pavilion.”

Elder Han and He Lüqing’s disciple, Yang Li, sat nearby in silence, offering no rebuttal.

As soon as he spoke, the crowd below erupted. If it was a suspicion before, it was now a nail in the coffin.

“Whoa, He Lüqing was really involved?” In the Mo Sect section, the studious youth spoke up in surprise.

The handsome young man sitting in front of him asked, “Did you not find Xin Qishu that day?” This young man had a white cloth three fingers wide covering his eyes, yet he exuded an aura of nobility. His pale pink lips moved slightly.

“No, we only encountered a youth returning to visit relatives,” the Senior Brother replied.

Duan Shi asked, “Senior Brother, how old is Xin Qishu this year?”

“Hiss… around three hundred, I think. Still a… youth.” The Senior Brother shuddered. “That boy couldn’t have been Xin Qishu, could he?”

The top-knot youth exploded. “It’s all your fault, babbling about nonsense. You led us all astray!”

“Babbling about what?” Duan Shi asked with interest, his finger tapping rhythmically on the table edge.

“Senior Brother went up and asked if the person wanted to be friends with you…”

The Senior Brother defended himself. “I was truly looking out for you! That boy was fair and tender, with a hint of charm in his refinement. One look and I knew he was your type!” He patted his chest. “I’d bet my life that boy is a romantic. If you followed him, Junior Brother, you wouldn’t suffer!”

“…My type?” Duan Shi’s brow twitched.

“Don’t pretend. I noticed long ago that you’re especially gentle with people who look like that. To us, you’re like a set of clothes.” The Senior Brother wiggled his body in a rather eyesore-inducing manner.

The top-knot youth pulled away in disgust. “Clothes?”

“You take them off whenever you want.”

Duan Shi suddenly raised his hand to stop him.

“Is that the one?” Duan Shi whispered.

The three turned their gaze. On the high platform, a haughty youth had appeared out of nowhere, dressed in bright yellow clothes that made him stand out. The boy had fair skin and a sweet smile, and in his hands, he held a radiant, deep blue, lotus-shaped bowl.

Cheng Fei stood nearby, hands on his hips, cursing. “You thief! You actually dared to show your face! Return the stolen goods immediately!”

The youth sat on a chair, ignoring him, his dimples incredibly alluring. He yanked a rope, and a fox-demon tied to the other end twitched its furry ears, whimpering piteously.

Yang Li’s eyes lit up instantly as he looked up at him.

Lüqing’s eyes widened. How? Wasn’t the Glazed Lamp being kept by the Cheng family? How did Xin Qishu get it out? The Cheng family’s security for the lamp was supposed to be airtight.

Xin Qishu’s pale red lips moved. “You can eat whatever you want, but you can’t say whatever you want.”

He tried to infuse his voice with spiritual energy to match Cheng Fei’s earlier display, but his weak cultivation couldn’t sustain it, making his voice fluctuate in volume. This try-hard attitude gave him a unique youthful vibrance.

“First, take a look. Is this your Glazed Lamp?” Xin Qishu flashed the lamp in his palm before Cheng Fei’s eyes. Cheng Fei, though panicking internally, nodded steadily.

“The Mo Sect discovered that on the night the lamp was stolen, someone said they saw me near the Cheng residence,” Xin Qishu said with a smile, looking toward Duan Shi and the others. “And apparently, I looked ‘suspicious,’ so you suspected me of stealing it.”

The three Mo Sect brothers felt ashamed; Duan Shi curled his lips and waved a pale yellow flower at him.

Xin Qishu recognized Duan Shi as the “Junior Brother” the Senior Brother had mentioned. His face immediately dropped its smile, and he shot the man a glare.

Duan Shi chuckled and asked, “When you accepted the Cheng family’s request, did you personally go to the place where the lamp was kept?” Duan Shi usually didn’t bother with chores; it was the three brothers who did the work. Because Xin Qishu’s whereabouts were unknown, the Senior Brother had dared to ask Duan Shi to use his “eyes.”

“We went. The lamp was indeed gone.”

“Did you use a magical treasure to scan the area?”

The Senior Brother fell silent.

“The lamp might not have been ‘stolen’ at all…” Duan Shi sighed softly. “Next time, let’s not take these kinds of jobs.”

“That person wasn’t me, but…” Xin Qishu gave the fox-demon a light kick. “This demon has the ability to shapeshift. He first turned into a guard to lead others away and take the lamp, then turned into me to flee.”

The fox-demon whimpered.

“Talk is cheap! The lamp is in your hands—how do we know you didn’t steal it?”

Xin Qishu looked up, his red eyes full of disdain for the crowd below. “You can search his memories. I know the Fayu Pavilion has a treasure called the Mirror of the Sinful Sea. Just a drop of blood, and that mirror can display every worldly tie a person has. How many people they’ve killed, whom they love—everything becomes crystal clear.”