Fantasy, starting with a treasure bowl

"Heh, I knew it..."

Seeing Lu Feng's troubled expression, Liu Lanyu shook her head repeatedly, then put down the bronze mirror in her hand, a self-deprecating sneer appearing on her lips.

"This face may be handsome, but what use is it to me, Elder...?"

"Perhaps that witch from the demonic sect was right. In this world, only blind men would be interested in someone as rough, savage, and devoid of gentleness or even femininity as me..."

Liu Lanyu remained expressionless, muttering to herself as if lost in some kind of memory.

"Heh, since that's the case, we might as well settle things sooner rather than later...!"

With another cold laugh, Liu Lanyu's gaze turned icy. She then pulled a sharp dagger from her bosom and plunged it into her own beautiful, moon-white face, as if she had made up her mind.

"Wait a minute!"

Just as Liu Lanyu was about to stab herself in the face with her knife, Lu Feng's exclamation suddenly came from the side.

"Elder Liu! Although this disciple doesn't know what has happened, please don't do anything foolish right now...!"

While earnestly admonishing Liu Lanyu, Lu Feng bowed to her, his face showing a hint of unease, as if he was quite puzzled by her self-harm.

After all, the effects of the Jade Ice Skin Pill were perfect, and Liu Lanyu's face did indeed become younger and more beautiful. Logically speaking, this should be a happy situation for everyone, and Lu Feng should also reap a lot of benefits.

However, to Lu Feng's utter bewilderment, Liu Lanyu not only suddenly reneged on her promise, but even planned to disfigure herself, a stark contrast to her behavior just moments before!

"Foolish thing? Heh, do you think even I'm foolish, kid...?"

Liu Lanyu glanced at Lu Feng beside her, her delicate brows furrowing slightly, a self-deprecating sneer playing on her lips, but she didn't lower the dagger in her hand. "That's right! This elder is indeed very foolish...!"

"Not only do I love stirring up trouble and making enemies everywhere, but every time I cause a mess, Brother Chu has to personally clean it up for me. A wild woman like me, with no redeeming qualities and only capable of causing trouble, is indeed just annoying...!"

"No! It is precisely because of my barbarity, willfulness, and trouble-making that Brother Chu was forced to leave the academy and has not returned since! And I am utterly unworthy to serve as an elder of Falling Star Academy...!"

Liu Lanyu's tone became increasingly agitated as she spoke, her face flushed red, as if she were caught in some kind of inner demon.

"Dean Chu?"

Seeing this, Lu Feng also looked puzzled, secretly wondering, "Could it be that Elder Liu's desire to become beautiful is also related to Dean Chu, who left the academy and never returned?"

After all, given Liu Lanyu's personality and temperament, she didn't even respect Xia Xihai, the vice dean.

Looking at the entire Falling Star Academy, the only person who can win Liu Lanyu's heartfelt admiration and even her respect is the current eighteenth dean of Falling Star Academy, the White-browed Martial Saint, Chu Tianhong!

"Elder Liu! I have spoken boldly at this moment, and I am unsure whether it is right or wrong. I hope you will forgive me...!"

Thinking of this, Lu Feng composed himself, then cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and said nervously, "In my opinion, Elder Liu, you are not without merits; on the contrary, you have many. As for that former demonic sect witch, she is far inferior to you..."

"What did you say?"

Upon hearing Lu Feng's words, Liu Lanyu's face also froze slightly, seemingly somewhat surprised by the former's statement.

"Elder Liu, the virtues of a sage in this world are nothing more than benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness. Although you are not a beautiful woman, you are passionate and discerning in your judgment of good and evil. This is true 'benevolence and righteousness'!"

"Furthermore, you have repeatedly fought bravely against the remnants of the Wusheng Sect and protected the safety of many disciples within the academy. You have lived up to the expectations of Dean Chu and the elders, and you have also lived up to the expectations of us younger disciples. This is true 'propriety and wisdom'!"

"Nowadays, virtues such as benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom are all present; how can one say that they have no merits whatsoever?"

At this point, Lu Feng paused, then said meaningfully, "Besides that, there's one last and most important point: trust!"

"trust?"

Liu Lanyu frowned slightly, a hint of surprise appearing in her beautiful eyes.

"good."

Seeing that the other party had calmed down a bit, Lu Feng secretly breathed a sigh of relief and immediately said, "Elder Liu, you might as well think about this: if Dean Chu really didn't like you, why did he entrust so many important matters to you in the past, and even make you the most important Scripture Hall Elder among the five major halls, instead of handing them over to Vice Dean Xia to handle?"

"In my humble opinion, Dean Chu's actions are a sign of his trust in you! As for why Dean Chu has not returned yet, there must be some unknown reasons behind it, which have nothing to do with Elder Liu himself."

"Trust, huh..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Lanyu suddenly fell silent, and at the same time, many memories came flooding back to her mind.

...

Five years ago, at Falling Star Academy, in the Morning Light Pavilion of the Scripture Hall.

"Junior Sister Liu, I may be leaving the academy for a while. From now on, I will be entrusting you with the management of the many classic texts in the scripture hall. If you encounter any difficulties, Junior Brother Xia may be able to help you..."

"There are other suspicious circumstances surrounding the massacre of the Shen family in the Western Qin Kingdom back then, and I had a close relationship with the Shen family patriarch. If you, Junior Sister Liu, are fortunate enough to encounter a surviving member of the Shen family in the future, please take them in. Do not let the Shen family's descendants be wiped out from the world...!"

"The Earth Tiger Star is a secret treasure left behind by our ancestor, and it must not fall into the hands of the remnants of the Demonic Sect! As for Junior Brother Xia, although he is exceptionally capable, he is lazy and careless by nature and cannot do without Junior Sister Liu's assistance. Everything is in your hands now...!"

Half a month ago, in the Starfall Secret Realm, Fallen Star Valley

"Heh heh, who do you think I am, you're just a lowly, insignificant nobody...!"

"Liu Lanyu, you wretched woman, not only are you weak, but your temper and manners are also exceptionally bad. No wonder Chu Tianhong didn't even notice you back then...!"

"In my opinion, Chu Tianhong did the right thing back then. Being in the same place as a scoundrel like you is definitely not a good thing..."

In her mind, Chu Tianhong and Dai Qisi's words struck Liu Lanyu's brain like two giant bells, one righteous and one evil, causing her to become somewhat dazed and absent-minded.

"Uh... Pfft!"

The next moment, Liu Lanyu's face suddenly turned pale, and then her delicate body trembled violently. She suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered to the ground, as if she had been attacked by her inner demons.

"Elder Liu!"

Seeing Liu Lanyu suddenly vomit blood and collapse to the ground, as if she had suffered a backlash from her inner demons, Lu Feng, who was standing next to her, was also startled. He immediately went over to help her up.

"Wait!"

However, before Lu Feng could make a move, an old voice suddenly came from the depths of the treasure basin, causing him to freeze in place.

"Silly boy, this woman named Liu Lanyu isn't suffering from a backlash from inner demons; she has entered a state of enlightenment, achieving oneness with nature!"

Gu Canyang spoke in a low, melancholic tone, as if he had also noticed something amiss with Liu Lanyu.