Mortal: Starting with the Seven Mysterious Sects, I proved my Dao through sacrifice.

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It was an open secret in Huangfeng Valley that Murong Fan had been "arranged a marriage" with someone, and many of his fellow disciples were teasing him about it.

"Senior Brother Murong, you're so charming! This whole affair is like the Yue Emperor choosing his concubines—I'm so envious!"

"Senior Brother Murong, don't let lust for women interfere with your cultivation!"

"He's got such a lucky streak when it comes to women!"

"This person with a divine spiritual root is truly blessed! Cultivation is fast, and luck is good too. It seems they must accumulate more good deeds in this life so they can be reborn into a better family in the next!"

"Junior Brother Murong, have you made your choice yet? If you don't like anyone, could you introduce someone to us? After all, we're fellow disciples!"

……

All sorts of nonsense are flying around – some are envious, some are jealous, some offer sincere blessings, and some have malicious intentions.

Of course, the one who felt the most pained in the crowd was Chen Qiaoqian. Listening to those teasing or sour words, she felt as if every word was a needle piercing her heart. Especially when she heard Li Huayuan mention Dong Xuan'er and say that she and Senior Brother Murong were a match made in heaven, Chen Qiaoqian's face instantly turned pale, and she tightly gripped the hem of her clothes, at a loss for what to do.

Chen Qiaoqian stood silently in a corner of the crowd, trying to hide herself, as if that would shut out the voices that hurt her. She saw Murong Fan surrounded by people, his face still showing that indifferent expression, pretending to ignore the surrounding discussions. Although this gave her a little comfort, she felt more lost and sad.

However, what comforted her was that he seemed truly unmoved, but what disappointed her was that in his heart, she was perhaps just an ordinary junior sister, not even worthy of his attention or a second glance.

"Junior Sister Qiaoqian, why are you here all alone?" A gentle voice rang in her ears, and Chen Qiaoqian suddenly came back to her senses, seeing that it was her close senior sister Lin Wei.

Seeing that her eyes were slightly red and her expression was gloomy, Lin Wei knew that she must be sad because of Murong Fan. She sighed and took her hand to a quiet place: "I know you are not feeling well. Don't take those gossips to heart. We all know what kind of person Senior Brother Murong is. He is not the kind of person who is easily influenced by external things."

Chen Qiaoqian forced a smile, her voice trembling with a barely perceptible sob: "I know... I just..." Before she could finish, tears welled up uncontrollably. The emotions that had been building up inside her for days finally found an outlet at this moment.

Lin Wei gently patted her back, softly comforting her, "Silly girl, if you like someone, just tell them! How will they know if you keep it all bottled up? What if... what if they like you too? If you like someone, you should say it openly, instead of burying your love in your heart and regretting it for the rest of your life!"

"I...I'm embarrassed...and I don't dare..." Chen Qiaoqian lowered her head, her voice barely audible. "Senior Brother Murong is so outstanding, and there are so many girls around him who are better than me. I...I'm not good enough for him." She felt like an insignificant speck of dust, while Murong Fan was a dazzling star in the sky, and there was an insurmountable distance between them.

"Whether he's good enough or not isn't up to you to decide!" Lin Wei said, somewhat exasperated. "Relationships are about mutual affection, not who's good enough for whom! How do you know there's no chance if you don't even try? Are you really willing to just watch him be taken away by someone else?"

Lin Wei's words struck Chen Qiaoqian's heart like a heavy hammer. Yes, was she really going to just silently watch him become someone else's Daoist partner, while she spent the rest of her life heartbroken in a corner?

"No! She's not reconciled!" She recalled the scene of Murong Fan risking his life to save her in the Blood Forbidden Land, his focused explanation of the formation to her, and his occasional gentle smile... Those images flashed through her mind, giving her a sliver of courage. She even hoped that when she was poisoned by the Aphrodisiac Powder, Murong Fan would have been bold enough to... She fell into endless imagination, her mind filled with girlish fantasies.

"Chen Qiaoqian, you're so mean! What are you thinking about!" Coming back to her senses, she couldn't help but slap herself.

"But... how should I say it?" Chen Qiaoqian raised her tear-filled face, her eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and expectation.

Seeing her displeasure turn into shyness, anger, and amusement, Lin Wei encouraged her, "Just say what's on your mind! Remember, sincerity is the key! Find a suitable opportunity to talk to him alone. No matter the outcome, at least you tried, and even if he rejects you, you won't have any regrets."

Chen Qiaoqian took a deep breath and nodded. Yes, she couldn't go on like this. Rather than being heartbroken alone here, she should be brave this time, even if she was rejected, at least she could give herself an explanation for her feelings. She wiped away her tears, and her eyes gradually hardened. She had made up her mind; she was going to find Murong Fan and confess her feelings to him!

That night, Chen Qiaoqian tossed and turned, unable to sleep a wink. She mentally rehearsed what she was going to say to Murong Fan, imagining countless possible scenarios and his potential reactions. There was anticipation, nervousness, and a touch of fear.

As dawn approached, she finally mustered the courage to make her decision. She changed into her favorite light blue dress and carefully groomed herself in front of the bronze mirror. Looking at her slightly shy yet courageous face in the mirror, she felt incredibly beautiful. She hoped that Murong Fan would like her makeup today. She took a deep breath and walked towards Murong Fan's cave.

At this moment, Murong Fan had just finished his morning cultivation and was meditating in the courtyard. The morning sunlight shone on him, giving him a golden halo, making him appear even more otherworldly. Chen Qiaoqian watched him from afar, her heart pounding, and her steps hesitant. But thinking of Lin Wei's encouragement and her own determination from the previous night, she gritted her teeth and walked over step by step.

"Senior Brother Murong." She walked up to Murong Fan and called out softly, her voice trembling slightly with nervousness.

Murong Fan slowly opened his eyes, and seeing that it was Chen Qiaoqian, he was slightly surprised and asked, "Junior Sister Qiaoqian? Is something the matter?"

Looking into his clear eyes, Chen Qiaoqian mustered all her courage and said with flushed cheeks, "Senior Brother Murong, I...I have something I want to say to you."

Seeing her unusual expression, her flushed cheeks, and a mixture of shyness and determination in her eyes, Murong Fan stopped his practice, stood up, and said gently, "Junior Sister, please speak."

Chen Qiaoqian's heart pounded even faster under his gaze, as if it would leap out of her throat. She took a deep breath, steadied her breathing, and gripped her skirt tightly with both hands, trembling uncontrollably. Her thumbnail dug deeply into her index finger, almost drawing blood. The surrounding air seemed to freeze, as if only the pounding of her own heart could be heard.

"Senior Brother Murong," she raised her head, looking directly at Murong Fan. Although there was still a hint of evasion in her eyes, her tone was much gentler than before. "These days, I've heard all the rumors about you in the valley..."

Upon hearing this, Murong Fan frowned almost imperceptibly, but quickly regained his composure and said calmly, "Junior Sister, there's no need to pay attention to those idle gossips."

"I'm not paying attention to gossip," Chen Qiaoqian hurriedly interrupted him, her voice rising a few decibels with a hint of urgency, "I...I wanted to tell you, I..." The words caught in her throat, as if weighed a ton, and she couldn't bring herself to say them. Her cheeks flushed crimson, and her eyes began to glaze over.

Murong Fan watched her quietly, without urging her, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry and patience.

The pine trees in the courtyard swayed gently in the morning breeze, rustling softly, as if cheering her on. Chen Qiaoqian closed her eyes, Lin Wei's words flashing through her mind, recalling her "friendship" with Murong Fan in the Bloodstained Forbidden Land, the moments they discussed the Dao together, and Murong Fan's decisiveness in killing the scheming Lu Yunfeng instead of saving her. She suddenly opened her eyes, as if using all her strength, and finally uttered those words:

"Senior Brother Murong, I like you!" These eight words seemed to have exhausted all her strength. After speaking, she seemed to collapse, her body swaying slightly. She dared not look into Murong Fan's eyes again, and quickly lowered her head. Her long eyelashes concealed the panic and unease in her eyes, and she felt her cheeks burning hot.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

Murong Fan was clearly stunned upon hearing this. He looked at Chen Qiaoqian, who was bowing her head and trembling slightly, like a little girl who had done something wrong. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, which then turned into a complex and unreadable expression. He remained silent for a moment, and only the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves and the increasingly loud heartbeat of Chen Qiaoqian filled the courtyard.

Chen Qiaoqian waited for a long time, but received no response from Murong Fan. Her heart sank deeper and deeper, and the courage she had just mustered deflated like a punctured balloon. She thought, "As expected, I was rejected again. Of course, how could I possibly be worthy of someone like Senior Brother Murong?" Just as she was about to turn and run away, Murong Fan's gentle voice rang out again, carrying a barely perceptible sigh: "Junior Sister Qiaoqian, you…"

"Why are you doing this to yourself?" His voice was soft, yet it was like a stone thrown into Chen Qiaoqian's heart, stirring up ripples. She suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with tears, but she still stubbornly looked at him, trying to find even the slightest answer on his face.

Murong Fan looked at her reddened eyes and tightly clenched lips, and a pang of pity rose in his heart. "Junior Sister Qiaoqian, we are fellow disciples, and I have always regarded you as my own sister."

"My own sister?" Chen Qiaoqian murmured, repeating the word, feeling a chill rise from the depths of her heart and instantly spread throughout her body. The color drained from her face, and the light in her eyes dimmed instantly. "So...so in your heart, Senior Brother, I'm just your sister..."

"Junior Sister is intelligent, kind-hearted, and beautiful. She will surely find a good match in the future." Murong Fan avoided her gaze and looked at the distant mountains. His voice was calm and unwavering. "However, I am devoted to the Dao and have no interest in matters of love and romance. I'm afraid I will disappoint Junior Sister's good intentions. Moreover, as you have seen, there has been constant turmoil in the valley recently. I don't want to delay you because of this, and I don't want you to be involved in these troubles."

Murong Fan's words pierced Chen Qiaoqian's heart like a sharp blade. She knew Murong Fan was telling the truth; he had always been steadfast in his Daoist convictions and unmoved by external things. But knowing was one thing, accepting it was another. The excruciating pain made it almost impossible for her to breathe.

"No need to say anything... I understand." Chen Qiaoqian's voice was thick with nasal tone, and every word seemed to be squeezed out of her throat. "Just pretend I was talking nonsense!" After saying that, she could no longer hold back and prepared to turn around and run away. Tears rolled down her cheeks like beads from a broken string, leaving a trail of wet marks on the stone pavement in the early morning.

Seeing her so heartbroken, and remembering how she had almost been framed by Senior Brother Lu, Murong Fan worried that she might not be able to bear it, so he pulled her into his arms and comforted her, "Junior Sister, don't cry." His voice carried a hint of panic, and he gently patted her back. Although his movements were a little stiff, they were filled with a clumsy tenderness.

Caught off guard, Chen Qiaoqian was suddenly embraced by him, her body instantly stiffening. All her cries caught in her throat, leaving only soft sobs. She could clearly feel the warmth of his chest and his strong heartbeat, yet the distance between them felt like an insurmountable gap.

She wanted to push him away, yet she craved this moment of warmth, letting her tears soak the front of his shirt. Murong Fan held her for a while, and seeing her sobs gradually subside, he gently released her, taking a clean handkerchief from his storage bag and handing it to her: "Wipe your tears."

Chen Qiaoqian took the handkerchief and wiped her face haphazardly, her eyes still staring blankly at the ground, unable to meet his gaze. Seeing her distraught state, Murong Fan felt even more pity for her. He sighed and said nothing more.

She knew Murong Fan was speaking from the heart; he wasn't making excuses. He truly valued the Great Dao above all else. She looked up at him, her eyes blurry with tears, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Then...then can we still be like before? Discussing the Dao together, together..." "Of course we can," Murong Fan answered without hesitation, his eyes clear and open. "You will always be my junior sister, and I will always be your senior brother. Whenever you need me, I will still do my best to help you, just like before."

Clutching her handkerchief, she turned and staggered towards her cave. Each step felt like walking on knives; the pain in her chest made it almost impossible for her to stand. The sunlight was still bright, shining on her, but it couldn't dispel the chill in her heart.

Murong Fan watched her hastily departing figure, sighed softly, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He wasn't heartless; he could feel Chen Qiaoqian's deep affection. However, from the moment he stepped into the world of cultivation, his path was destined to be one of solitude for much of the time. He recalled his master Hong Fu's teachings: "Your future Daoist partner should also be a woman who possesses great wisdom and perseverance, someone who can walk alongside him and explore the mysteries of immortality together."

He withdrew his gaze, sat cross-legged again, and tried to calm his mind to continue his cultivation. However, Chen Qiaoqian's tearful eyes and her desperate "I understand" lingered in his mind.

The pine trees outside the cave still stood tall and straight, and the morning breeze still blew, but his heart could no longer be as calm and undisturbed as before. Perhaps deep in his heart, he had also felt youthful love for Qiaoqian, but he only wished to bury this love in his heart.