Chapter 4 - I Am Very Cute
"Aiya, aiya, little mute, for your sake, I've truly paid a huge price."
"Look at your Young Master's dead-person face. Although injuring a person's life foundation is not allowed on the Immortal Ascension Platform, I annoyed her tonight, so tomorrow I'm afraid I'll have to fully experience the sharpness of the Lu Lan sword."
"Pity me, a mere little True Disciple, how can I withstand such retaliation from her... Little mute, is there anything you want to say to me?"
As soon as Luo Hongyu left, Su Huanhuan immediately floated over again, her smile charming, looking like she was treating people cordially.
Luo He knew she had always been someone who presses an advantage when given an opportunity, an extremely thick-skinned person, completely acting as if she had forgotten that this whole affair was stirred up by her for Luo He, all on her own accord.
But what could be done about it? Luo He couldn't immediately open his mouth and scold her.
Luo He glanced at her, said nothing, only wanting to quickly return to his own small hut to sleep for a while.
The time he could fall asleep was extremely scarce; it couldn't be wasted.
However, Su Huanhuan obviously wouldn't have this perceptiveness; even if she did, one would expect she wouldn't care. So, she did not let go of Luo He, who couldn't be bothered with her, and directly blocked his path, continuing to bewitch him...
"You see, you offered her a heart full of sincerity, and what did you get in return? No one knows what you sacrificed, what you endured. Or are you someone willing to struggle in the mire?"
"Humans are not plants, who can be devoid of feelings? Even among us Demonic Sect people, such cold-blooded and heartless matters are rarely seen. You, ah, just come with me... ai, ai..."
Unfortunately, before Su Huanhuan's little mouth could finish blabbering, Luo He had already covered her face with one hand, a hint of helplessness showing in the eyes beneath his mask.
This person is truly difficult to deal with; if I had known earlier, I shouldn't have gotten involved with her back then.
Where had Su Huanhuan ever received such treatment on a normal day? In the Remnant Moon Sect, that cool, unsmiling smirk of hers had made many junior brothers and sisters who didn't know their own limits suffer bitterly.
But at this moment, she was like a child being held by the head by Luo He. Su Huanhuan was furious, and those red pupils were even more terrifyingly bloodshot.
"What are you doing? Get your hand off me!"
Luo He remained unmoved.
"I'll say it again, take it off, Luo He! I'm telling you, don't you think that just because you helped me once in the Black Copper Gate back then, you can now do this to me..."
Luo He released his hand. Looking at Su Huanhuan's annoyed appearance, there was actually a hint of a smile beneath the white fox mask.
In his heart, naturally, there couldn't exist any righteous path, demonic path... only cute people and not-cute people.
Although Su Huanhuan always maintained an outwardly enthusiastic but inwardly cold, indifferent, and unfeeling demeanor, to him, she was actually a cute person.
If only she could be a little quieter, it would be even better.
Seeing his gaze, Su Huanhuan was actually stunned. When she came back to her senses, Luo He had already entered the house and closed the door. The entire courtyard was so quiet that her breathing could be heard, seemingly a bit more rapid.
Although he wore a mask, but…
Did he just smile at her?
"Pei, pei, pei..."
That little mute, on his entire body, only that pair of captivating eyes are worth looking at; they make one's heart waver, like a pair of fox eyes.
The white fox mask on his face has never left him; could it be that he really transformed from a fox?
Hmph... so what? That's also a stupid fox.
A stupid fox that looks like it lives with clarity and an unrestrained, free spirit, but in reality, hands its own life over to an unfeeling person who doesn't cherish it at all, doesn't care about it at all.
Compared to someone like Su Huanhuan who plans everything for herself, he's simply incredibly stupid.
Smiling coolly at his room door, Su Huanhuan's figure also disappeared from the courtyard.
...
The next morning, in the Star Moon Pavilion square.
Young cultivators from various immortal realms and demonic continents, from hundreds of sects and thousands of gates, stood neatly together, gazing at the figure in the sky approaching from afar.
Following a sound as silent as a swan feather landing, a handsome middle-aged man in a purple robe stood on the high Immortal Ascension Platform.
His face was calm, in his hand he held a short staff of jade and gold scales, his aura was faint like a silken thread. He scanned the crowd below, his gaze serene, but those whose eyes he met all subconsciously straightened their backs.
He was the current Pavilion Master of Star Moon Pavilion, Lan Yu.
Star Moon Pavilion was an extremely special existence among the Five Pavilions and even in the entire world.
It was neither of the righteous path nor a demonic gate; Star Moon Pavilion, which rose to prominence relying on the True Immortal's ruins, was more like an observer of this world, never favoring one side.
And precisely because of this, demonic sect teams could appear at the Immortal Ascension Assembly hosted by Star Moon Pavilion; otherwise, the moment these demon lords appeared in righteous path territory, they would have long been beaten to a bloody pulp.
"This Immortal Ascension Trial will be hosted by this Lan. If no one has any objections, let's unveil the list now."
Pavilion Master Lan Yu was clearly not a man of many words. After casually giving a few instructions, he conjured out of thin air a list made of white jade pressed into paper, and with a casual wave of his hand, it hovered in the air.
The cultivators below the platform looked up, their eyes fervently gazing at the one hundred names on that list.
"Senior Brother... is this that legendary..."
"Correct, this is the Jade Ní Ranking."
A junior disciple from a small sect tugged at his senior brother's sleeve and asked quietly, while that senior brother, looking at the names on it, also had countless flickers of fervor in his eyes.
The Jade Ní Ranking also originated from Star Moon Pavilion; those on the list were all young cultivators under five hundred years old and below the Nascent Soul cultivation stage.
Be it the righteous path, demonic gates, or unaffiliated itinerant cultivators, all could get on the list and replace someone by challenging those already on it.
If it were only this, then for those heaven's favored ones, this list would merely be an annoying thing for seeking empty fame or attracting an endless stream of challengers.
But it just so happened that the top ten heaven's favored ones on the Jade Ní Ranking were qualified to ascend the Immortal Ascension Platform individually during the Immortal Ascension Assembly and listen to the private teachings of an enlightened Immortal meant for them alone, which gave the truly powerful young talents a reason to fight for a spot on the ranking.
That young junior disciple swept a glance over it, his expression slightly odd.
"Senior Brother, don't they all say that Young Master Luo of Tianchen Sword Sect is the strongest of the younger generation in the world... Why is she only ranked tenth on the list?"
"Well..."
The senior brother glanced at his own somewhat naive and sweet junior brother and patiently explained:
"This tenth position... that Young Master Luo seized it at the age of fourteen with the strength of the Spirit Manifestation stage."
"Ten, fourteen years old?!”
"Yes, ah. Since then, she has never challenged those ahead of her again, while the top nine have changed again and again, even the name in the top position has changed several times..."
"But only Young Master Luo's tenth position has never changed."
"This..."
So it turns out that fairy is happy to stay there, ah...
"The Immortal Ascension Trial begins. Those who intend to seize a spot on the ranking, step onto the platform."
Following Lan Yu's announcement, the numerous young cultivators, who had long been restless, immediately burst into a clamor.
A man dressed in black, with a gold-faced Qilin embroidered on his chest, had a surge of spiritual energy under his feet, drew himself up, and landed steadily on the Immortal Ascension Platform.
"Senior Brother, who is that?"
"Chen Ping of Nine Elephant Gate, should be at the bottom of the ranking... I wonder who he intends to challenge?"
"Nine Elephant Gate disciple Chen Ping, seventy-eighth on the Jade Ní Ranking. This time, I come onto the platform to challenge the tenth place, Luo Hongyu of Tianchen Sword Sect."
After Chen Ping clasped his hands in salute towards Lan Yu, who was seated in the immortal residence high above, he then looked towards Luo Hongyu, who was not far away, standing out like a crane among chickens.
"Young Master Luo, please give me your guidance."
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd, which had been slightly noisy just a moment ago, immediately quieted down.
After who knows how many years, someone challenging Luo Hongyu has appeared?
And it's someone from the bottom of the ranking?
What backing does he have?
After a brief silence, fervent discussions erupted again.
Everyone cast their gazes towards that fairy in plain clothes seated in a corner. They saw her raise her eyes for a glance, then wave her hand, appearing rather uninterested.
"He, go up."
He, carrying his sword, walked lightly onto the platform.
"Young Master Luo, the person this humble one is challenging is you. Why send your servant up to deal with me perfunctorily?"
"If you defeat him, the tenth place is yours."
A peculiar look flashed across Chen Ping's face. He knew of Luo He; he was that incredibly mysterious attendant by Luo Hongyu's side.
Although this Luo He was not on the ranking, and rarely made a move in front of others... but to be able to always stay by Luo Hongyu's side, one would expect he wouldn't be an ordinary person.
But he, Chen Ping, today, had also come prepared...
Thinking of the cold sensation on his chest at this moment, a trace of fervor flashed in Chen Ping's eyes.
He knew he was asking the tiger for its skin, but if he were to be a seventy-eighth for his entire life... he was even more unwilling.
So he looked up at Lan Yu, cupped his hands, and said in a clear voice:
"Pavilion Master Lan Yu, I wonder if this counts?"
"It counts."
"Good!"
Chen Ping grinned at Luo He.
"Fellow Daoist, please give me your guidance."
“......”
Seeing Luo He did not respond, Chen Ping understood in his heart.
The world says this Luo He is congenitally foolish and mute; it is truly not false.
And Luo He on the platform also remained unmoved, a hint of contemplation flashing in his eyes.
So that's how it is. Luo Hongyu came to his courtyard last night and said those words, so this was the meaning. Did she sense it in advance, and that's why she told me to look out for myself?
That's really somewhat...
Underestimated her.
Gathering his thoughts, Luo He also did not intend to return the courtesy, directly drawing his sword and pointing it at Chen Ping.
"Senior Brother, who is that black-robed person wearing a mask on the platform? He looks..."
"Eh, eh, don't you go asking about this one's background..."
The senior brother helplessly covered his junior brother's mouth, fearing that this inexperienced little mouth of his would cause some heaven-toppling disaster.
"That is likely Young Master Luo's heart's pain; you mustn't mention it again in the future.”