After the Fairy Maidens Fell to Darkness, They Captured Me to Ruthlessly 'Repay' Their Gratitude-Chapter 34 - A Natural Love for Beauty

Shengxu Sect Main Hall, Shiyun Pavilion.

Shiyun Pavilion was built on a high slope at the back of the Shengxu Sect. Though not large in scale, it exuded an air of refined elegance. A few steps were all it took to cross the beautifully crafted courtyard and enter the tranquil main hall of the pavilion.

Inside, rows of bookshelves lined the hall, filled with cultivation techniques and scriptures. Suspended from the ceiling was a massive golden spirit lamp, its light powered by expensive golden spirit stones. The lamp’s warm, golden glow bathed the hall in a classic, sophisticated ambiance.

It was evening, and the pavilion shimmered with a soft luminescence, perfectly complementing the night’s serene beauty.

“Master, Bai Zihua requests an audience.”

In the inner hall of Shiyun Pavilion, a male attendant knelt before the desk, his voice soft as he relayed the message.

On the elevated platform, the black-dressed fairy reclined gracefully on a floating dragon chair. Her long black dress cascaded down the chair like a silken waterfall suspended in mid-air.

The fairy rested her head on one hand, her delicate fingers supporting her cheek. Her other hand held a book, her half-lidded eyes reflecting a faint curiosity. Behind her, a green-robed female disciple was massaging her shoulders.

Just half an hour ago, Xu Xin had been passionately arguing with Qin Shiyan about the events of the swordsmanship class, questioning why her master had treated the new junior brother, He Ange, so unfairly.

Qin Shiyan had been somewhat surprised. What had He Ange done in a single day to win over Xu Xin so completely that she was now fervently pleading his case?

In the end, Qin Shiyan conceded. Knowing Xu Xin’s stubborn nature, she had assured her that the swordsmanship class was merely a small test for He Ange and promised to compensate him with cultivation techniques and pills in the future.

This had finally calmed Xu Xin, restoring her to her usual obedient self.

However, Xu Xin was still just an inner disciple. Her observations during the class lacked depth, and her insights were limited to her own naive perspective. Qin Shiyan had humored her, but the conversation had yielded nothing of real interest.

Now, Bai Zihua, a Core Formation stage sword cultivator and true disciple, was here to report. His insights would undoubtedly be more valuable and intriguing.

Straightening her posture slightly, Qin Shiyan nodded, signaling the attendant to let Bai Zihua in.

Moments later, a handsome man in pristine white robes entered, taking a few steps before kneeling before the black-dressed fairy.

“Greetings, Master.”

“Rise.”

“Master, as per your instructions, I observed Junior Brother He Ange during the swordsmanship class...”

“Go on,” Qin Shiyan said, her interest piqued as she leaned forward slightly.

Bai Zihua nodded, his expression growing animated as he recalled He Ange’s performance. His excitement was palpable.

“Master, Junior Brother He Ange is undoubtedly a once-in-a-century swordsmanship prodigy! His techniques differ from all mainstream righteous sword styles, yet they are not the unorthodox methods of demonic cultivators either. His swordsmanship is pure, with no unnecessary flourishes, maximizing the sword’s utility. It’s art! Pure art!”

As he spoke, Bai Zihua noticed Qin Shiyan’s slight frown and quickly lowered his head, realizing he had been overly enthusiastic.

Taking a deep breath, he summarized, “He Ange’s swordsmanship has earned my utmost admiration.”

“What’s gotten into you? I’ve never seen you this excited. You’ve never praised anyone so highly before,” Qin Shiyan remarked, raising an eyebrow. She could tell He Ange had talent, but she hadn’t expected him to impress Bai Zihua to this extent.

After all, Bai Zihua wasn’t the type to easily acknowledge others.

“Master, you are not a sword expert. You lack the detailed understanding required to fully appreciate his talent,” Bai Zihua replied earnestly.

“Oh? Is that so?” Qin Shiyan’s tone turned cold, her displeasure evident.

She had chosen He Ange as her disciple, yet Bai Zihua’s words implied that he understood He Ange better than she did. It was as if he was subtly criticizing her for not being able to grasp the intricacies of swordsmanship.

Though she wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about swordsmanship, being told so outright was still irritating.

“And how does he compare to An Luo Yi?” she asked.

“Well... Master, I must admit, I hold Junior Brother He Ange in higher regard,” Bai Zihua replied, hesitating slightly.

“Blatant nonsense,” Qin Shiyan scoffed, turning her head away. She felt Bai Zihua was exaggerating.

An Luo Yi was the most talented sword cultivator the Shengxu Sect had seen in a century. As the sect’s “Child of Destiny,” she was the envy of countless sects across the cultivation world. While He Ange had potential, he was still a disciple with a crippled spiritual vein. Praising him to such an extent seemed absurd.

At least, Qin Shiyan couldn’t see it.

She acknowledged He Ange’s potential, but Bai Zihua’s excessive admiration seemed unwarranted.

Realizing he might have overstepped, Bai Zihua added awkwardly, “Master, you know I’ve always been... unconventional. I have a natural appreciation for beauty but have never been drawn to the swordsmanship of women. To meet a junior brother like He Ange, with his striking presence and exceptional talent, is truly an honor.”

By the end of his explanation, Bai Zihua’s face had turned slightly red. He lowered his head, using his sleeve to partially cover his face. Despite being a man, his demeanor carried a hint of feminine shyness.

Qin Shiyan’s expression darkened.

Bai Zihua’s reaction reminded her of something she had almost forgotten: while he was a handsome man, he was also... not straight. Over the years, he had kept this aspect of himself discreet, and Qin Shiyan, as his master, had nearly forgotten about it.

When she had first accepted him as a disciple, she had mistaken him for a woman due to his delicate features. It was only later that she learned he was a man—and one with a penchant for cross-dressing.

No wonder he was so effusive in his praise of He Ange. Clearly, he was smitten.

“Zihua, you are the senior disciple of my sect. I advise you to restrain yourself,” Qin Shiyan said coldly, her tone laced with disdain.

Bai Zihua coughed awkwardly, straightening his posture. “Master, rest assured. As Junior Brother He Ange’s senior, I will maintain proper boundaries and never act inappropriately.”

“You’ve actually thought about it, haven’t you?”

“Master, you misunderstand. I would never do such a thing,” Bai Zihua replied, his tone as serious and self-righteous as He Ange’s when he claimed he wasn’t interested in An Luo Yi.

“You...”

Qin Shiyan was at a loss for words.

She had hoped Bai Zihua would provide valuable insights—perhaps identifying He Ange’s sword style or uncovering clues about his background. Instead, he had fixated on He Ange himself.

In just one week, He Ange had managed to charm two of Qin Shiyan’s disciples. It was almost reminiscent of his knack for attracting wealthy patrons in the black market.

“Utterly useless...” Qin Shiyan muttered, sighing as she looked at Bai Zihua’s adoring expression. She couldn’t help but feel a bit concerned for He Ange.

Still, she decided to let it go.

No matter how effeminate Bai Zihua was, he was still a man. The chances of anything happening between him and He Ange were slim.

Probably. Hopefully. Maybe.

“One last warning: don’t get any ideas about your junior brother. If you scare him off, you’ll lose your place in my sect.”

“Understood, Master,” Bai Zihua replied.

…

The Next Morning.

He Ange woke up in An Luo Yi’s bed. Being a lazy person, he had slept in until the sun was high in the sky. By the time he woke up, the silver-haired fairy was nowhere to be seen.

She had likely gotten up early to practice swordsmanship.

Though they had shared a bed, nothing had happened. At most, it was a platonic arrangement.

An Luo Yi had been in high spirits last night, likely due to her birthday. Though she hadn’t been drinking, her mood had been as carefree as if she had. She had pulled He Ange into bed with her, mumbling something about how if Xia Ranyue could share a bed with him, why couldn’t she?

He Ange had been delighted. For someone like him, a “crippled” cultivator, having someone like An Luo Yi care about him even in her dreams was the greatest comfort in his otherwise unlucky life.

Unfortunately, as a demonic cultivator, he could only admire her from afar. To pursue her would be impossible unless he could somehow turn from the demonic path to the righteous—or unless she fell from grace.

But that was a distant fantasy.

After getting dressed and washing up, He Ange prepared to leave Luo Xue Peak.

It was already lunchtime. Unlike the true disciples who had servants deliver meals to them, He Ange had to go to the sect’s cafeteria for his meals.

Not that he minded. The cafeteria food was cheap and filling.

On his way to the cafeteria, he ran into Xu Xin. She rushed over excitedly, telling him how she had convinced their master to treat him better.

Judging by her tone, Qin Shiyan had likely been too exasperated to argue and had placated her with empty promises.

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The thought made He Ange chuckle.

He thanked Xu Xin sincerely, promising to treat her to another meal soon.

However, Xu Xin couldn’t join him for lunch today. She had been assigned a special task by Qin Shiyan and had already eaten breakfast before heading down the mountain.

Arriving at the cafeteria, He Ange decided to eat alone.

But as he entered the bustling hall, his eyes landed on a familiar figure.

The girl was dressed in a cherry-pink dress, her twin braids draped over her shoulders. She seemed to change her hairstyle daily—single ponytails, double ponytails, even short buns. Today’s look gave her a cute, girl-next-door vibe.

She wasn’t alone. Surrounded by a group of female disciples, she was clearly the center of attention. These girls were all well-dressed and carried themselves with confidence, indicating their status as prominent inner disciples.

Around them, several male disciples lingered, creating a lively atmosphere filled with youthful energy.

However...

The girl at the center of it all seemed uninterested in the conversation around her. Resting her chin on her hand, she ate her meal with an air of elegance and detachment.

He Ange didn’t linger on her for long.

He ordered a simple bowl of vegetarian noodles and found a quiet corner away from the crowd to eat in peace.

But before long, a steaming plate of braised chicken leg was placed on his table.

“A big guy like you, eating just plain noodles?” the girl said, using her chopsticks to place the chicken leg into his bowl.