Tianyin sighed and said, âSenior Sister Yiruo, sometimes you canât indulge Senior Brother Ding too much. Just consider how decisive and determined you are in your daily life. Everyone is in awe when Li Yiruoâthe Sword Fairy of Sea is mentioned. Over the past three years, countless heroes have affection for you, but you have chosen to wait intently for Senior Brother Ding. Unexpectedly, Senior Brother Ding has always been with Sect Leader Li Lan since he came back.â
âYou donât understand, silly Sister Tianyin. You donât know about Brother Haoâs character, so you hold this view.â Li Yiruo smiled and added, âNo matter what happens, I will always choose to believe him. And I know he wonât let me down.â
Tianyin was stunned and said nothing after a sigh.
Li Yiruoâs thoughts involuntarily flew back to six years ago. On a sunny day by the Sword-cleansing Pond, she, who was as proud as a swan, met the young man in ragged clothes. She still remembered the bitter reproach as it was the first time a man had made her feel guiltyâŚ
Such an awe-inspiring and righteous young man would never break his promise.
Just then, Tianyin suddenly widened her eyes as if she had seen something incredible. Li Yiruo followed her eyes and looked back, noticing that Ding Hao had already stood not far behind them and looked at them with shame.
âBrother Hao!â Li Yiruo was surprised.
âSenior Brother DingâŚâ Tianyin was a little worried if what she had said just now had been overheard by Ding Hao.
Ding Hao looked ashamed and did not know what to say.
He felt guilty for both Li Yiruo and Tianyin deep in his heart. He opened his mouth and was about to say something. However, Li Yiruo had already guessed Ding Haoâs thoughts in advance, so she changed the topic first and said, âBrother Hao, can you explore the Great Abyss again? Senior Brother TianyiâŚâ
Ding Hao nodded and said, âDonât worry. Iâll go to the Back Mountain later. Even if I have to search the entire abyss, I have to find some clues about Junior Brother Tianyi.â
However, he didnât mention that he had already been to the bottom of the Great Abyss, but he didnât find any trace of Fang Tianyi.
For one thing, he was concerned that Tianyin couldnât stand this shock.
For another, it was indeed a little bizarre. Not to mention Fang Tianyiâs trace, over ten million tons of household waste that the Swordsmanship-seeking Sect had thrown down into the Great Abyss over the years had also mysteriously disappeared. Perhaps it had something to do with the six Ancient Stone Gates. But now Ding Hao did not want to make a judgment before he figured out the truth.
Moreover, deep in Ding Haoâs heart, he had been firmly convinced that Fang Tianyi was still alive.
âThank you, Senior Brother Ding.â But Tianyin didnât know as much as Ding Hao, so she was overjoyed at once after hearing Ding Haoâs response.
In the Swordsmanship-seeking Sect disciplesâ eyes, Ding Hao was almost a deity because there was nothing he couldnât do. Since he promised, in Tianyinâs opinion, he would definitely be able to find Fang Tianyi back.
âJunior Sister Tianyin, youâre too polite. As your Senior Brother, I wasnât considerate enough. Iâm ashamed that I didnât take good care of you for Junior Brother Tianyi,â Ding Hao said apologetically.
âSenior Brother Ding is connected with the safety of the sect. Tianyin does not dare to bother you.â Tianyin was already very fulfilled in her heart.
Ding Hao could not help but think more highly of this girl. Not to mention other things, Fang Tianyi had been missing for three years, and it was very likely that he was already dead. However, she remained unaltered and still waited for him. This deep love was enough to move the heaven and the earth as many girls could not stick to it at all.
Ding Hao was considering how to help Tianyin, but Tianyin already said goodbye to them.
Obviously, this considerate girl wanted to give Li Yiruo and Ding Hao this rare chance to be alone. She still put others first even at this time.
Seeing Tianyin disappear into the distance, Li Yiruo sighed and said, âIt has been tough for Tianyin in the past three years. She has been passionately devoted to Senior Brother Tianyi. She almost comes here every day at this time to overlook the mountains in the distance, praying for the missing Senior Brother Tianyi. Qingtan and I donât know how to persuade her⌠Is this the price one needs to pay for loving a person?â
Ding Hao was at a loss for words.
âYiruo, IâŚâ Ding Hao wanted to say something.
The girl standing in front of him was flawless just like a fairy descending from heaven. Her bright eyes showed a trace of fear, and then she gently pressed Ding Haoâs lips and raised her head slightly. The golden sunlight passing through the mountains in the distance fell on the peerlessly delicate face. She said with infatuation, âDonât say it, Brother Hao. Donât say too much. Just tell me, do you still love me?â
Ding Hao only felt that there was enchanting luster shining in front of him.
He struggled with the concept of monogamy which he developed in his previous life for a moment. However, he suddenly felt that his heart beat violently. Finally, he gently held the girl, who was as frightened as a lost deer, in his arms.
Ding Haoâs voice was tender but firm.
He could not betray his true feelings.
No one could keep indifferent when facing such a beautiful and infatuated girl.
A bright light flashed in Li Yiruoâs eyes. She stood on tiptoe, raised her head, closed her eyes, and kissed Ding Haoâs lips gently. Then she quickly turned around and left.
After a few steps, Li Yiruo turned around and said to Ding Hao with a bright smile, âBrother Hao, I donât care about Sister Li Lan and Instructor Ximen. Iâll be waiting for you all the time.â
Then this fairy-like beautiful girl stepped forward briskly and vanished into the distance in the snow forest.
Between Ding Haoâs lips and teeth, there remained a faint fragrance. It was as if he could still feel the cool and wonderful touch.
âAm I really too passive in love?
âI am not even as active and passionate as a girl.â
Ding Hao asked himself inly.
Then he thought of Ximen Qianxue and Xie Jieyu.
Ximen Qianxue was still as tender and calm as before. When they met yesterday, the way she looked at him was as soft as water. At one time, this instructor, a mature lady, had also plucked up the courage to say, âI will wait for you forever.â Xie Jieyu, the Holy Maiden of the Immortal Phoenix Palace now, had paid a huge price in order to help him.
âIn this era when men are used to polygamy, should I really keep all these beautiful girls by my side?â Ding Hao thought
Ding Hao, who was incomparably domineering and strong in the face of any fierce enemy, was indecisive and irresolute in love.
It was not until sunset that Ding Hao left the cedar forest.
He came to the Magical Herb Pharmacy in the sect.
At night, it was very tranquil here.
As one of the hubs of the entire Swordsmanship-seeking Sect, the Magical Herb Pharmacy was a place of nature. Most of the buildings were made of bamboo and wood. With a small bridge and a house, people could drink wine here beside the river. This place was enveloped by a large boundary formation, so it had a pleasant climate as ice and snow would never appear here. The plants were green here all year round, and a light fragrance of herbs filled the air.
Ding Hao came to the Divine Herb Garden.
The pale yellow mysterious crystal lamp glowed circles of yellow lamplight, illuminating the herb garden that every force in the Northern Region was crazy about. Under a divine tree in the middle of the herb garden, a tender girl in a purple gauze dress was swinging on a swing chair made of green vines slowly.
Ding Hao knew that he could never part with this girl who had once been his teacher after experiencing what had happened in the Sage Battlefield.
Ding Haoâs shadow, which was outlined by the light, was very long and entered the womanâs sight.
Her body trembled slightly, but she didnât look back.
Ding Hao walked over and gently sat on the other side of the swing. He naturally held the waist of the delicate woman in purple without saying anything.
âInstructor Qianxue, Iâm back,â Ding Hao said softly.
âHmm.â Ximen Qianxue turned sideways and leaned her head on Ding Haoâs shoulder.
In the dim light, the silence was better than words at this moment.
Ding Hao said nothing more.
Ximen Qianxue was also very quiet.
The minutes were ticking away.
For the whole night, they hugged each other silently and sat on the swing. Neither of them spoke, but the tranquility and comfort were engraved in their hearts.
Until the next morning, when the dawn broke, Ding Hao slowly stood up.
âI will go and see Shuangâer,â he said apologetically.
An enchanting and gentle smile crept over Ximen Qianxueâs face. She nodded and handed a light purple jade bottle to Ding Hao. It contained top-grade elixirs which were made with the magical herbs and precious medicine in the Divine Herb Garden according to Ding Haoâs elixir recipe by her. Any one of them was enough to make countless martial masters crazy about it.
Now the Northern Region was in chaos and Snow Province was in danger, so these elixirs would be very useful for Ding Hao in some key moments.
Ding Hao took the jade bottle, thinking for a while and then setting the little butterflyâPrimeval Fairy Butterfly free.
âWooshâŚâ The little butterfly flapped its wings happily. In this place, it felt a sense of intimacy and pleasure that it hadnât felt for a long time. The aura between heaven and earth was almost the same as that in the Archean Period, and the smell of the magical herbs and precious medicine here made it thrilled.
âThis isâŚâ Ximen Qianxue, who was calm all the time, was surprised now.
She hadnât seen the little butterfly yesterday. Although she recognized that it was a Primeval Fairy Butterfly, she couldnât believe it.
As an alchemist, she clearly knew the value of the Primeval Fairy Butterfly. One of them was enough for the Swordsmanship-seeking Sectâs Divine Herb Garden to nurture some really amazing magic herbs.
âLittle butterfly, stay here from now on.â Ding Hao was asking the king of the fairy butterflies.
Currently, the tide of energy on the continent had not fully returned to its original state yet. It was extremely unfavorable for the little butterfly to stay in an unsuitable environment for a long time. Obviously, it was clearly more suitable for it to stay here.
âWooshâŚâ The little butterfly flapped its wings happily and flew around Ximen Qianxue intimately.
âLittle thing, you really have no position. You abandon your old master so soon.â Ding Hao joked with a smile. He was relieved as it seemed that this proud fairy butterfly did not reject Ximen Qianxue.
Ximen Qianxue was also quite excited.
This helped her to achieve her ultimate dream as an alchemist.
Ding Hao gently embraced Ximen Qianxue again and then walked away.