When Tang San recounted the tale of the Yearning Heartbroken Red and its poignant backstory, all the girls' eyes welled up with tears. Even Liu Erlong was moved to tears, which made Yu Xiaogang, standing beside her, visibly uncomfortable.
Tang San turned to Zhu Zhuqing and said, "Zhuqing, if you're confident about obtaining the Heartbroken Red, you can give it a try. But remember one thing: when you drip your essence and blood onto it, your heart must be entirely devoted to that person. Any hint of hesitation or divided feelings will render it useless."
"Ugh, if it were me, I definitely wouldn't be able to pull it off," Xiao Tianyang muttered to himself, watching from the sidelines with a hint of amusement.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded solemnly and stepped forward, standing before the Yearning Heartbroken Red. Her gaze fell upon the peony-shaped herb, its snow-white petals and roots entwined with a boulder.
A flicker of obsession shone in her eyes as she bit her lip and spat out a mouthful of blood, which landed on the Heartbroken Red.
At that moment, as everyone stared intently at the flower, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly lifted her head and looked directly at Xiao Tianyang!
"Hey, it's about to fall!" Yu Xiaogang exclaimed, his voice tinged with surprise.
In truth, over the past few days, everyone had gradually come to understand the complicated relationship between Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai. However, Yu Xiaogang also noticed that Zhu Zhuqing seemed to harbor different feelings toward Xiao Tianyang.
It was precisely because of this tangled web of emotions that neither Yu Xiaogang nor Liu Erlong held much hope for Zhu Zhuqing's success.
But to everyone's surprise, the outcome was not what they had expected...
After a moment of stunned silence, Liu Erlong shot a fierce glare at Xiao Tianyang, her eyes blazing with intensity as if she wanted to devour him whole.
Xiao Tianyang felt a chill run down his spine, sensing that something was amiss. It was as though he had been marked by some ferocious beast.
However, just as everyone anticipated the flower to fall, the Yearning Heartbroken Red remained calm and steady, showing no signs of detachment.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes dimmed with disappointment, and she whispered to herself, 'It seems I still haven't fully let go...'
"Zhuqing, don't be disheartened. That brat must have prepared another herb for you," Liu Erlong said, stepping forward to comfort Zhu Zhuqing while placing a supportive hand on her shoulder.
At the same time, she shot another glare at Xiao Tianyang. "Why are you still standing there? Take it out already! Do I need to remind you?"
Xiao Tianyang smirked and pulled out a violet-like herb. "Xiaosan, come over here."
Tang San had no choice but to explain, "Actually, this herb was prepared by Brother Tianyang for Zhuqing. It's called the Netherworld Violet. It's an ominous flower brought by messengers from the underworld. But in reality, it's not as sinister as it sounds. It's just that it absorbs the moon's yin energy year-round, which can cause discomfort to those who come into contact with it. If you absorb it, Zhuqing, your martial soul might undergo a transformation and reach new heights."
Zhu Zhuqing accepted the Netherworld Violet with both hands, her eyes red as she looked at Xiao Tianyang. "Thank you..."
This time, Xiao Tianyang simply smiled and nodded, refraining from his usual teasing. After all, he understood that Zhu Zhuqing's personality was different from Ning Rongrong's, and he needed to handle her with care.
"Alright, now it's time to decide who gets this Yearning Heartbroken Red," Xiao Tianyang said, turning to Saber and Xiao Wu with a smile. "Which one of you will go first?"
"Xiao Wu, you go ahead. I'm not in a hurry," Saber said gently, pushing Xiao Wu forward with an encouraging smile.
"But..." Xiao Wu hesitated, feeling it was unfair to Saber.
"Don't worry. If you want it, there's still..." Xiao Tianyang pulled out another Lovesickness Heartbroken Red.
"Brother Tianyang, why is there another one? When did it grow?!" Tang San was utterly dumbfounded.
"Is it that hard to believe? It only took two days," Xiao Tianyang replied nonchalantly.
Tang San opened his mouth to speak but found himself at a loss for words. He could only shake his head with a bitter smile.
This immortal herb, which was supposed to be incredibly rare, seemed almost worthless in Xiao Tianyang's hands. How could he produce such a treasure in just two days?
If Xiao Tianyang were to fully unleash his potential, who could possibly stand against him?
"Great! In that case, Saber, let's go together," Xiao Wu said excitedly, pulling Saber along as they approached the two Lovesickness Heartbroken Reds.
In the end, there were no surprises. Both Xiao Wu and Saber spat out a drop of blood, which landed on the flowers, causing them to detach effortlessly. Xiao Tianyang understood the reason behind this success.
While Zhu Zhuqing might have feelings for him, she was still bound by her family's expectations and couldn't fully let go. On the other hand, Saber and Xiao Wu had no such reservations.
Saber was alone in the world, and her only burden was her unwavering loyalty.
As for Xiao Wu, she had grown up with Tang San since childhood, and their bond was unshakable. Even though she carried a secret in her heart, her love for Tang San was undeniable.
However, when it came to using the two Yearning Heartbroken Red, the two girls handled them differently.
Xiao Wu smiled at Tang San and said, "Brother, this flower is destined for me. I want to keep it with me forever."
Tang San hesitated for a moment before replying, "But if you don't consume it, its effects won't be realized..."
"If it really doesn't work, let her take the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid instead," Xiao Tianyang suggested, pulling out another herb. Though it was slightly inferior to the Yearning Heartbroken Red, it was still a valuable treasure.
"Hehe, Brother Tianyang, you're the best!" Xiao Wu exclaimed, jumping back to Tang San's side. "Brother, the problem's solved now. I don't have to eat this flower, right?"
"Alright then," Tang San conceded with a wry smile.
After all, the effects of the Yearning Heartbroken Red far surpassed those of the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid. But given the circumstances, it was the best solution. As the saying goes, 'If you obtain it, it's your fortune; if you lose it, it's your fate.'
Meanwhile, Saber turned to Xiao Tianyang and said softly, "I want to eat it."
She didn't speak loudly, as if she were discussing something private with him. The reason was clear: when she had spat out a drop of blood, her heart had been entirely focused on Xiao Tianyang.
"I understand what you mean. You want to improve your strength, catch up to me, and stand shoulder to shoulder with me," Xiao Tianyang said, gently ruffling Saber's hair. "Don't worry, I know what you're thinking."
Saber smiled, her charm utterly captivating. When Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong saw this scene, they couldn't help but sigh.
'What a wonderful girl. Why is she so taken with that brat?' Liu Erlong muttered, shaking her head in resignation.
"Being able to find him from thousands of miles away speaks volumes about Saber's feelings for him. Even if others have their own thoughts..." Yu Xiaogang glanced at Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, who were already deep in meditation, and smiled wryly.
"Do you think Saber knows what Rongrong and Zhuqing are thinking?" Liu Erlong asked in a low voice.
"Even you and I can see it. They spend all day together—how could she not know?" Yu Xiaogang replied, turning to Liu Erlong. "We can't interfere in this matter. Otherwise, it'll only become more complicated. Do you understand?"
"I know. I've already warned that brat," Liu Erlong said, her tone tinged with frustration. "But the more I see this, the more I find him insufferable—even worse than you were back then!"
Yu Xiaogang: "..."
Why did he always end up being dragged into these comparisons? Hadn't their misunderstandings been resolved long ago?
"Well, it seems Tianyang understands women far better than I do. His way of handling things is truly unpredictable..." Yu Xiaogang sighed helplessly.
…
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