53 – Let"s Take Another Look
Xue Qilin left her quarters alone.
As if it was a repeat of yesterday, the courtyard was still crowded, and the number of people seemed to have increased. Supposedly, some have come late, while others didn"t perform well in their first-choice sect, and thus came to try their luck with the Merak Temple.
The la.s.s didn"t go to the hall, but crossed the courtyard and went to the gate of this small courtyard house.
Gong Tianqing said that someone is waiting for her there.
There is indeed someone there, but is she really waiting for her? Xue Qilin didn"t know.
Xue Qilin stopped in front of the girl, and the tip of her shoes entered the field of view of the other party.
“… I heard that you knelt here all night.”
In her view, the delicate and fragile body is lone and upright in the cold morning. Shui Yuner is kneeling before her eyes.
Hazy sunlight traced yellow trajectories that landed on them.
Shui Yuner looked up. Her face is a little pale, containing a fatigue impossible to conceal. But her eyes are still bright and energetic.
Perhaps because she didn"t expect to see Xue Qilin, surprise streaked past the girl"s face.
The gazes of the two met in the air.
“What a stupid method, right?” After a long time, Shui Yuner spoke. Although it wasn"t conspicuous, but she used a tone of self-deprecation.
The atmosphere is a bit oppressive.
Feeling a little uncomfortable, Xue Qilin deliberately used a frivolous tone, “Oh, you"re calling yourself stupid?”
“Do you think I"m stupid?” Shui Yuner snickered a few times, and then asked.
Crossing her arms and tilting her head, Xue Qilin pretended to be thinking. She oh-ed, and then finally gave up and spread her arms, “I"m a fool, so beats me. However, no matter whether a cat is a white or black, but as long as it catches mice, it is a good cat. “Xue Qilin wrinkled her nose, “In fact, this so-called ‘stupid method", didn"t it brought you I?”
“Who would describe themselves as a mouse? Or do you not care about other people"s opinion?”
“That depends on whose opinion it is.”
“Oh, so you came to discuss values?” Shui Yuner winked and teased mischievously.
“Do you think I"m here to debate?” Xue Qilin pointed at the tip of her nose, helpless.
“Not really. But if you were…” Shui Yuner put an index finger on her lips, tilted her head adorably, and carried on in an interrogative tone, “Isn"t the Merak Temple beyond redemption?”
“That so… I finally understand. You reeled me in just because you want someone to quarrel with, right?”
“I"m not an idiot who is looking for trouble.” When she said the word “idiot”, Xue Qilin couldn"t help but laugh.
“What are you laughing at?”
“You know…” Xue Qilin took a moment to stop smiling, and then waved her hand, saying, “The Merak Temple is full of weirdos. You would fit well.”
“That"s rude. How am I weird?” Shui Yuner puffed up her cheeks, pouted, and looked away.
“You can try other sects, so why are you kneeling here and wasting your time?”
“You"re spouting rubbish. No matter where I go, the outcome will be the same.” This change of topic was rather abrupt, but Shui Yuner reacted in an instant.
“But kneeling here will change the facts?”
“The facts cannot be changed, but people"s hearts can be swayed.” Shui Yuner added grandly, “Because of sincerity.”
“…” After a moment of silence, the la.s.s sighed.
“Do you know why? Why you were not admitted.” Afraid that the other party would misunderstand, Xue Qilin added: “I don"t mean the superficial reason.”
“I know, but I need power.”
“There is more than one way to achieve your goal, and there are many kinds of power…”
“But this is my business.” Shui Yuner smiled bitterly.
She doesn"t want to implicate others… Which is why she chose the method that can let her achieve her goal alone, and that method is called power, overwhelming power. It is not the power of unity, but pure personal strength.
IF I was strong enough…
“But if you join the Merak Temple, it will no longer be your personal matter. You should understand this reasoning!” Xue Qilin said slightly emotionally.
“… I” This time the girl was left speechless. She stared at Xue Qilin in a daze and moved her lips, yet no words came out from her mouth.
Were the words severe [1]? No, they weren"t. Because it is the truth. No matter how heavy the truth is, it"s not too heavy. People have always been bearing it.
Seeing Shui Yuner"s vacant expression, Xue Qilin sighed, and then turned and left. She had to leave. She feared that she would cave in and make a promise to the other party.
She took a few steps, and then suddenly stopped and said, “The heart of the Merak Temple"s Fifth Elder is not easily melted. Continue kneeling and see for yourself if your sincerity can move her.”
Shui Yuner didn"t answer, but she also didn"t move.
“Why were you absent-minded all day?” At dinner, Xia Xue suddenly asked, breaking the silence. She seldom shows concern for Xue Qilin, though there was no trace of concern in her tone.
Xue Qilin was taken aback, and Xia Xue frowned, “Why are you in a daze again? You seem to s.p.a.ce out a lot more lately. You should see a doctor.”
The la.s.s put down her rice bowl and smiled mischievously, “You rarely concerned about me!”
“You"re such an eyesore, you know that?” With that, Xia Xue picked up a piece of vegetable with her chopsticks.
“Hey hey hey, tsundere much?”
“Do you think I"m the Temple Master?” Xia Xue glanced at the la.s.s and sneered.
“Aren"t you afraid that I"ll tell on you to Little Seven?”
“I"m not afraid, but you are.”
Xue Qilin was at a loss for words. Am I the only one in the Merak Temple who fears Qi Qiqi?
“So, are you still troubled with Shui Yuner?” Xia Xue asked casually, as if she has asked “what are we going to eat for dinned”.
“Is it that obvious?”
“I have rather good eyes.”
Xue Qilin froze, and then sighed, “Yes, I am.”
“I don"t understand what else there is to ponder. You can"t help her.”
“…”
Xia Xue scoffed impatiently, and then asked Gong Tianqing, “Is she still kneeling outside?”
“Yes, yes she is. I advised her several times, but …” Gong Tianqing revealed an awkward expression.
“Drive her away.” Xia Xue ordered heartlessly. Clearly, she isn"t an indecisive person.
Gong Tianqing cast Xue Qilin an inquisitive look, asking for her opinion.
However, Xue Qilin was silent.
“Qing"er, hurry up.” Xia Xue urged impatiently, and Gong Tianqing followed suit helplessly.
After Gong Tianqing left, Xue Qilin and Xia Xue didn"t talk. The former thought who knows what, while the latter ate with a sour face.
Time trickled away, and Gong Tianqing returned soon.
“Have you driven her away?” Xia Xue put down the bowl and chopsticks and asked.
“… she refuses to leave.”
“She refuses, and so you can"t drive her away?” Xia Xue sneered.
For all intents and purposes Gong Tianqing is a Heaven Realm expert. She can"t drive away an ordinary girl, who"d believe that?
“…I” Gong Tianqing hesitated, and her eyes flashed with unwillingness.
“Really, why are you both like this? Don"t you know that you"re just deceiving yourselves with this wavering att.i.tude? Things are clear-cut. We can"t realize her wish for her, so how can we admit her?” Xia Xue"s eyes widened, looking very angry. She criticized the both of them.
“You guys are unreasonable!” She snorted, “I"ll go myself.”
With that, she stood up.
“… Wait!” Xue Qilin who has been silent all along finally spoke up, “Let"s take another look.”
“Take another look? That"s a waste of time. Besides, my opinion won"t change.”
“… I can take her as a disciple, right?”
“You…” Xue Qilin uttered involuntarily. Se was so angry that she was rendered speechless.
“She should know better, but she"s still kneeling outside, so…”
“So you want to take her as a disciple?” Xia Xue smiled angrily, snorted, and sat down.
“Lets take another look…” Xue Qilin stared at the ceiling in a daze, her eyes shimmering with an ineffable expression.
In fact, there was already no room for deliberation, but she didn"t have the heart to close the door on the other party.
She still remembers how her niece had pestered her to teach her magic. She did everything she could, and even went on a hunger strike for three days.
… It"s very similar, that stubborn pestering of Shui Yuner is very similar.
She resembles Xue Qilin herself as well as her niece.
[1] – severe and heavy are translated from the same character 重