Martial Universe: The Eyes That Determine the Fate

Chapter 31 What's your name?

At first, she didn't want to meddle in other people's business. They were just strangers who met by chance, and if they took the wrong turn, it was their business and had nothing to do with her.

But seeing that this person clearly didn't know the mountain path at all, had chosen the wrong path and insisted on walking forward, seemingly oblivious, the proud nature in his heart could not be suppressed, and he couldn't help but speak up and expose him.

Their eyes met, and the mountain forest was utterly still.

After a moment, the girl in the purple dress spoke first, her tone still cold and indifferent, asking, "Where are you going?"

Li Yi answered calmly and succinctly, "Yan City."

"To get to Yan City, go in that direction." The girl in the purple dress raised her eyes, gently lifted her jade hand, and pointed to a slightly wider mountain path on the other side. Her tone was firm and without the slightest hesitation.

Li Yi glanced in the direction she pointed, then looked down at the wrong path he was on, his gaze sharpening slightly, and he fell silent for a moment.

She watched him quietly, expecting him to either thank her or offer a brief explanation, saying that he was unfamiliar with the mountain path and had gone astray.

But none of the expected words came.

All that was heard was Li Yi uttering a single word: "Oh."

That was all; there was no further explanation.

The girl in the purple dress frowned almost imperceptibly, a strange sense of unease rising in her heart.

Her name is Ziyue. She lives in Yan City and has an extraordinary status. She is aloof and proud.

Normally, people feel awe when they see her and dare not talk to her casually. Even her peers are mostly humble and polite, and cautious. No one dares to be so indifferent and distant, just using a perfunctory "oh" to brush her off, as if they don't take her seriously at all.

"Since you know you've gone the wrong way, why don't you turn back?" Ziyue asked again, her tone turning colder.

Li Yi remained calm and replied indifferently, "Whether you turn back or move forward, it doesn't matter which path you take, as long as you eventually reach Yan City."

Zi Yue's gaze narrowed slightly as she stared at him for two breaths. A hint of disapproval flashed across her brows as she said, "You don't even know the surrounding mountain paths, you can't tell east from west, and you just wander around aimlessly. How could you possibly reach Yan City?"

"Just go with the flow and let things take their course," Li Yi said.

"By wandering aimlessly like this, you'll never reach the territory of Yan City," Zi Yue said with certainty.

"It's better than standing still and waiting helplessly."

Zi Yue was momentarily speechless at those words. Her eyes flickered slightly as she tried to refute them, but after careful consideration, she found herself unable to find any words to argue her point.

What the other party said is common sense. Instead of standing still and getting lost, it's better to move forward. There's always a chance.

She paused for a moment, suppressing the strange feeling in her heart, then changed the subject, looking directly at Li Yi, and asked, "What's your name?"

Li Yi looked up at her, and instead of answering, asked, "What's your name?"

"I was the one who asked you first." Zi Yue frowned slightly, her tone turning cold.

"I'll stand here first, first come, first served," Li Yi said.

Zi Yue frowned again, a subtle unease rising in her heart. It wasn't anger, but rather the feeling that the young man before her was too casual and indifferent, even somewhat ungrateful, lacking any sense of courtesy or humility.

After a moment of silence, she finally mustered her patience and uttered two words in a cool, clear voice: "Purple Moon."

"Li Yi," he readily gave his name.

Zi Yue silently repeated the name in her heart, a faint disappointment flashing across her brows. She knew the names of all the prodigies and young powerhouses of her generation in Yan City and the surrounding villages and towns, but she had never heard of the name "Li Yi," so he was clearly not a local celebrity.

Looking at his ordinary appearance and unremarkable demeanor, and seeing no signs of double pupils, he seemed not to be the person he was looking for.

The secret expectation in her heart quietly vanished, but because of her reserved nature, she did not show it on her face. She remained aloof and distant, glancing at Li Yi before looking away.

Just then, Li Yi suddenly spoke, his gaze falling on her: "Are you a talisman master?"

These words came out abruptly, without any warning.

Zi Yue paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, and looked at Li Yi with a more probing gaze: "How did you know?"

Talisman masters cultivate in secrecy, relying on spiritual power as their foundation and not revealing any fluctuations in their Yuan power. Ordinary cultivators have no way of discerning their identities. How could this young man, who is only at the late stage of the Earthly Yuan Realm, see through her background at a glance?

"Just a guess," Li Yi replied casually.

Zi Yue's gaze froze, and she stared at him quietly for a moment. Naturally, she didn't believe such a perfunctory explanation.

She was filled with doubt, but unwilling to press for answers, she maintained her aloof and arrogant nature, only asking in a cold tone, "So what if you're a talisman master?"

"It's nothing, just a casual question."

After Li Yi finished speaking, he said no more, turned around and walked in the correct direction that Zi Yue had pointed out, preparing to follow the mountain path.

He took two steps, then paused slightly. Without turning back, he asked, "If I keep following this road straight ahead, will I really reach Yan City?"

"Yes," Zi Yue replied succinctly and confidently.

"How much further is it?"

"We can reach the city in just two days."

Li Yi nodded, asked no more questions, and continued walking forward with a calm and composed demeanor.

Zi Yue stood still, her gaze fixed on his receding figure, unable to look away for a long time.

She should have turned around and left, returning to Yan City.

The purpose of my coming down from the mountain was to search for someone with double pupils. Now that the search has been fruitless, there is no need to get entangled with a strange young man here. I should leave now and not linger any longer.

For some reason, her feet seemed to be rooted to the spot, and she hesitated to leave. A strange sense of unease arose in her heart, and she couldn't even explain what she was waiting for.

Perhaps it was the person's attitude that was so different from her own that made her feel a little awkward.

Just as she was pondering to herself, she suddenly caught sight of Li Yi walking ahead, and the corner of her mouth seemed to twitch slightly.

"What are you laughing at?" Zi Yue asked instinctively.

Li Yi continued walking steadily without stopping, saying without turning his head, "I didn't laugh."

"I saw it clearly, your lips moved." Zi Yue persisted, her tone becoming more stubborn.

"My face is sore and cramped from walking for so long."

Upon hearing this, Zi Yue's eyebrows furrowed even more tightly, and her inner turmoil intensified.

This is hardly an explanation; it's clearly just a perfunctory excuse to brush things off.

She considered herself aloof and didn't want to get into arguments, but the other person's nonchalant attitude made her feel really uncomfortable.

She hesitated for a moment, then finally followed, her steps light and quick, catching up with Li Yi in no time. They walked side-by-side beside the mountain path, her tone even colder, saying, "Do you know how rude your words were?"