Fairy, you call this repaying a debt of gratitude?

Chapter 112 Dependence?

Seeing Shen Wei staring at her intently, Chu Yaoxi felt a sense of triumph, believing she had won another round.

She walked slowly to the dressing table, looked up at the person in the mirror, examined them carefully for a moment, and unconsciously smiled slightly.

Although she doesn't like such luxurious and complicated clothes, it's not bad to wear them occasionally.

After a brief moment of self-admiration, Chu Yaoxi turned around, her gaze settling on Shen Wei not far away, and asked casually, "How was it?"

"Barely a good match for me."

"Heh, I knew you couldn't say anything nice." Chu Yaoxi sneered.

Shen Wei raised an eyebrow, finding it somewhat amusing.

"Since you already know, why ask? Do you perhaps have some peculiar quirk?"

"You just want to hear more answers like that, don't you?"

"Stop talking nonsense!" Chu Yaoxi glared at him fiercely, her tone turning cold. "I've decided, after we go to the banquet later, you're not allowed to say a word the entire time. Just stand quietly to the side like a decorative vase!"

Shen Wei wasn't annoyed; he just looked at her with a slight smile: "Actually, we can agree on many things. For example, I think you should talk less. Once you start talking, you lose that gentle, guestly air."

Chu Yaoxi's gaze turned even colder.

"There's no need to wait for the banquet. From this moment on, you are not allowed to utter another word."

"."

""

Shen Wei wisely shut up.

Seeing that he had completely quieted down, Chu Yaoxi gave a soft snort before taking a step closer to him.

"Before you leave, let me teach you some etiquette so that you don't embarrass the Jade Balance Sect."

"Yaoxi, I can hardly believe that I will see you instructing others on etiquette one day." The speaker's voice was gentle. The two looked in the direction of the voice and saw a woman in a red robe walking in gracefully.

She is Chu Yaoxi's mother, Chu Qianqiu, the sect leader of the Yuheng Sect.

"Don't you usually hate all this formality? Why are you so different today?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she carefully examined her daughter's figure and sincerely praised her.

"This outfit suits you very well today."

After saying that, she walked over and gently straightened her daughter's clothes and tidied her hair.

Shen Wei stood quietly to the side, carefully observing the mother and daughter.

Hmm—it seems that Chu Yaoxi, dressed in a formal gown, does resemble her mother in some ways.

"I didn't suddenly change my personality. I was just afraid that he wouldn't know the rules and would make a fool of himself, disgracing the Jade Balance Sect."

"While I myself don't care about these formalities, since the sect has sent the two of us to the banquet, we can't let the sect be disgraced, can we?"

"Hmm—that makes sense." Chu Qianqiu smiled and nodded slightly.

"However, you don't need to bother with matters of etiquette and manners; I will personally teach you."

In fact, Shen Wei has quite a lot to say about these royal family etiquette rules.

He was only ten years old at the time, but he often accompanied his mother to various banquets. Although he was just a child, people were always tolerant and would not criticize him too much. However, he still learned a lot from what he saw and heard.

"Yes—that's excellent. That's how you should greet people."

Chu Qianqiu raised her hand to guide him, gently adjusting Shen Wei's posture and the angle of his bow, patiently demonstrating and giving him pointers.

However, she soon realized that her help was unnecessary.

Because Shen Wei's bowing posture was very proper and showed a gentlemanly demeanor, she couldn't help but praise him.

Chu Yaoxi, on the other hand, looked rather pitiful.

Her body, which was light and graceful when she swung her sword, was now extremely stiff. The elegant and gentle return gesture was made awkward and clumsy, which was really difficult for the usually easygoing woman.

"Mother, I suddenly understand. We cultivators should be free and unrestrained. If we are bound by these worldly rules and regulations, it is probably not a good thing for our cultivation."

Hearing her words, Chu Qianqiu sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation.

Shen Wei, meanwhile, looked at her with a slight smile.

But Chu Yaoxi still rolled her eyes at her.

"I think you should consult with Young Master Shen more on matters of etiquette."

Even after becoming a disciple of the Jade Balance Sect, Chu Qianqiu remained just as polite to her.

"Hmm—I heard from Aunt Ye that before you recognized her, you were a lone cultivator wandering the martial world alone. How do you know these things?"

Chu Yaoxi looked at him with some suspicion.

Faced with her question, Shen Wei lowered his head, straightened his cuffs, and casually replied, "I don't know. Perhaps I was born a noble young master, but was reincarnated in the wrong place."

Chu Yaoxi narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly. Naturally, she couldn't believe Shen Wei's obviously fabricated words, but she didn't ask any further questions.

But she became increasingly curious about this man whose past was shrouded in mystery.

"Alright, it's getting late, you should hurry up and set off."

Chu Qianqiu began urging the two of them on, and finally gave Chu Yaoxi some instructions.

"I think if you have any questions at the time, you can ask Young Master Shen for advice."

Although Chu Yaoxi was slightly dissatisfied, she wasn't the type to stubbornly insist on her point.

She knew that Shen Wei was better than her, so she wouldn't deny it and would naturally ask him for advice. She was the same way in swordsmanship, never ashamed to ask others for help.

"Okay—I know."

After the three finished preparing, they slowly walked towards the mountain gate, passing by the sect's main hall.

At this moment, disciples gathered inside and outside the main hall, and many cultivators came and went.

The appearance of the sect leader and the young master of the sect in everyone's sight inevitably drew everyone's attention.

Two female disciples were whispering to each other.

"This is the first time I've seen the young master dressed so formally today; it's a completely different style from his usual attire."

"I suppose he's going to represent my clan at that late spring gathering in the capital."

"Oh, by the way, who is that man next to the young master? I've never seen him in the sect before, yet he stands beside the young master without being inferior in any way."

"You don't know? That was the only disciple accepted after Yunyue Peak reopened, and also the personal disciple of the new peak master."

"Ah, just as mysterious as the new peak master."

"Who can argue with that?"

Such rumors were rampant and clearly reached Shen Wei's ears.

He thought to himself, "As one of the five great immortal sects, is the quality of the disciples of Yuheng Sect really this bad? Instead of making good use of their time to cultivate, what are they gossiping about?"

He turned to look at Chu Yaoxi beside him, whose face remained expressionless, as if she was already used to such whispers and discussions.

Chu Qianqiu escorted the two to the mountain gate and then left alone.

The two flew towards the capital on their swords, watching the verdant mountain scenery recede into the distance. Chu Yaoxi couldn't help but look at Shen Wei, who was flying alongside her on his sword. He still had that indifferent look on his face.

She turned her gaze back to the approaching capital city, thinking to herself that this banquet was far more complex than it appeared.

She remembered her mother's words.

"Please bring Shen Wei with you to this banquet."

"Why are you calling him?"

"He's a reliable person. Many times, you should try to rely on others instead of having to shoulder everything alone."

Her mother said to her meaningfully.

Dependent on others?

No, at any time, you can only rely on yourself. It is quite foolish to place your expectations and hopes on others.

Except for that one time—

But that was the only time.

-