nucmednet Chapter 382 Matters within the Chamber of Commerce
Chapter 382 Matters within the Chamber of Commerce
This situation left Xiaoxiao utterly speechless and filled with a sense of helplessness. Faced with her senior sister's behavior of escaping reality and avoiding the pain of breakthrough, Xiaoxiao made no attempt to hide her disdain. After all, to resolutely give up the opportunity to break through her cultivation level just because of such a trivial amount of pain was truly incomprehensible!
Just as she arrived, her third senior sister suddenly told her some news: Senior Brother Xu Nian and Senior Sister Wu Qinghuan had also been here earlier. It was a pity they arrived too late and missed the chance to meet them; otherwise, they might have been able to chat freely for a while.
Since everyone arrived in Yangcheng, Xu Nian and Wu Qinghuan have spent most of their time in the small house.
They hardly ever go out.
I saw him a few times during the last celebration.
But later on, they started staying home like before.
I'm not coming out.
I never expected to come out this time, and I almost ran into him.
Xiao Xiao still has many questions about cultivation that she wants to ask Xu Nian.
Unfortunately, I didn't meet him.
What puzzled her was...
Senior brothers and sisters are already so powerful, what kind of people could possibly be able to get them to come?
Although I don't know these two very well.
But after all, we've already spent so much time together.
Xiao Xiao pondered to herself that she knew a little about the two of them. Leaving aside other aspects, just looking at their personalities, they both shared a striking aversion to trouble. Whenever something could be simplified, they would unhesitatingly choose the easiest method. She recalled the days when the Sword Sect was still struggling to escape poverty. To help their third senior sister overcome a natural disaster, all the disciples of Little Green Mountain worked together to take on various commissions, venturing out to complete tasks and accumulate precious spirit stones. However, times had changed. Now, the Sword Sect had long since escaped poverty and lived a stable and prosperous life.
In such a comfortable environment, it was truly unbelievable that those two people, who were usually lazy, would volunteer to go out on a mission! Xiao Xiao was full of doubts and couldn't help but ask, "What exactly made you willing to step out of your comfort zone?" The third senior sister frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then said softly, "Well, it's actually because of some special circumstances, but I can't reveal too many details. Please don't ask any more questions about it."
Although her curiosity was burning like a cat's scratch, and she knew from her third senior sister's reply that this matter likely involved some confidential information and shouldn't be inquired about further, she obediently nodded and replied, "Oh, in that case, I won't pry any further. I hope this mission goes smoothly and that you all return safely."
"Sigh, what a pity! I didn't get to see Senior Brother Xu Nian and Senior Sister Wu Qinghuan." Xiao Xiao sighed softly, the two familiar figures involuntarily appearing in her mind. At the same time, Fu Qiuyu, who was standing next to her, also had the same two figures in her mind.
Interestingly, although they are the same two people, their images differ considerably in the minds of the senior and junior sisters. In Xiao Xiao's deepest memory, Senior Brother Xu Nian is tall and imposing, like an unshakeable mountain; his strength is so great that it defies the heavens, as if he can easily control all things in the world. Senior Sister Wu Qinghuan, on the other hand, is beautiful and elegant, exuding a captivating charm in every gesture.
In comparison, the two people in Fu Qiuyu's mind seemed much more ordinary. For some reason, Junior Brother Xu Nian was even shorter than when he left, looking like a child who hadn't grown up. Perhaps it was because he had suffered another indescribable blow to his spirit that his body had changed so drastically. As for Senior Sister Wu Qinghuan, in Fu Qiuyu's eyes, she was just an ordinary little girl.
As they were each lost in their memories and worries about the two men, suddenly, a small, adorable fox peeked out from the doorway, curiously observing everything inside. Its bright eyes darted around, as if it had discovered something interesting, and then it darted into the room in a flash…
"Hey, what are you guys talking about?" Fu Qiuyu asked casually, looking up curiously. However, the moment her gaze fell on Xiaoxiao, it was as if she had been struck by lightning. A thought flashed through her mind, causing her to swallow the words that were already on the tip of her tongue.
Fu Qiuyu's gaze swept quickly over Xiaoxiao, then unconsciously drifted towards the person Xiaoxiao was very close to. At that moment, she thought to herself: Although the two of them were usually inseparable, this situation… well, it was rather awkward! Some things were probably inappropriate for her to say; moreover, even whether she should be here at this moment seemed questionable. Thinking this, Fu Qiuyu felt as if she had become an outsider in the room, and a sense of unease washed over her.
Just then, Liu Meng walked in with light steps. With her arrival, the atmosphere in the room seemed to be magically transformed. The previously harmonious atmosphere vanished instantly, replaced by a suffocating silence and oppression. The other two people in the room were Xiao Xiao, expressionless and icy, and the other, with tightly closed lips, remained silent, as if afraid of accidentally saying something that would cause a huge uproar.
Fu Qiuyu stood there, her mouth slightly open, unsure of what to say. The complicated situation made her feel that remaining silent was perhaps the wisest choice. After all, whatever she said seemed inappropriate; she had a feeling that whatever she said would be wrong.
Just then, light footsteps sounded, and Liu Meng walked in with her hands behind her back, like a cheerful little bird. Upon seeing Xiao Xiao, she said with a beaming smile, "Xiao Xiao, so you're here! I was so worried after you went out, I looked everywhere for you for ages! I never expected to find you here in the Chamber of Commerce, now I can finally relax!" With that, Liu Meng naturally sat down next to Xiao Xiao.
However, unlike usual, Xiao Xiao's face showed no trace of composure; instead, it was filled with indifference. She sat there quietly, without uttering a word, as if everything around her had nothing to do with her. Despite this, Liu Meng remained unconcerned, continuing to talk on and on.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Liu Meng turned her gaze to Fu Qiuyu beside her and asked with a smile, "Hey, senior sister, what interesting things were you two talking about here just now? Tell me about it!" Hearing this question, Fu Qiuyu felt a headache coming on. She hesitated for a moment, then replied somewhat helplessly, "Nothing... nothing special."
Liu Meng scratched her head, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
The expression on his face was very strange.
His expression was also somewhat strange.
"Huh? Really? I think I heard someone say that my senior brother and sister went out just now? And that poison... What did they go to do?" The person who spoke frowned, looking puzzled. He scratched his head and blinked his big, watery eyes, which kept darting around, as if trying to find the answer from the expressions and reactions of the people around him.
Just then, before Fu Qiuyu could even open her mouth to respond, Xiao Xiao, who had been standing silently to the side, suddenly couldn't contain herself and blurted out, "Oh dear, you're so slow to realize things! Those senior brothers and sisters are naturally out training! They're very ambitious, focused on improving their strength and cultivation, unlike some people who just laze around in bed all day, unwilling to do anything. Even if their cultivation has reached a bottleneck, they're still too lazy to find a way to break through." After saying this, Xiao Xiao deliberately glanced at the person she was subtly mocking beside her out of the corner of her eye, her eyes filled with disdain and contempt.
Liu Meng, whose name was mentioned, blinked, looking completely innocent. She raised her hand and gently touched her head, asking in a sweet voice, "Who is it?" Her innocent and naive appearance made it seem as if she truly had no idea who Xiao Xiao was referring to.
When Xiaoxiao witnessed this scene, she was completely stunned. Her eyes widened like saucers, and her mouth gaped open in a huge "O" shape, unable to close for a long time. She couldn't help but exclaim in her heart, "My God! How can this guy do that? He can still be so calm and nonchalant, pretending to be completely clueless!"
What's even more unbelievable is that this guy's ability to feign ignorance is unparalleled, simply masterful, and indistinguishable from the real thing. His bewildered and ignorant appearance makes it seem as if he truly knows nothing about what Xiaoxiao is talking about, and has absolutely no idea who the person she's referring to is.
At this moment, Xiao Xiao was inwardly groaning, thinking to herself, "What I just said was so obvious, practically pointing directly at Liu Meng! But this girl is acting like nothing happened, pretending she didn't understand anything. Now, I'm completely at a loss for what to do next." Xiao Xiao stood there, her brows furrowed, racking her brains for a solution.
"Sigh, how can there be such an unambitious person in the world! Every time I hear about their deeds, it makes me furious. They are truly despicable!" Liu Meng muttered indignantly, clenching her small, pink fists tightly and swinging them forcefully in the air several times. Looking at her, it was as if the person who infuriated her was standing right in front of her; her face was flushed red, and her chest heaved with excitement.
Seeing this, Xiao Xiao's eyes widened in astonishment. Good heavens, this is truly something else! She's actually berating someone, and judging by the manner, it seems the target of her criticism is herself? Xiao Xiao couldn't help but mutter to herself: "You're something else, Liu Meng. You can even do this kind of self-criticism." But then again, with such a fearless and headstrong personality, she'll probably achieve something great no matter what she does.
Thinking of this, the raging anger in Xiaoxiao's heart seemed to be extinguished by a sudden downpour, and her resentment towards Liu Meng miraculously lessened considerably. After all, upon closer reflection, it wasn't really anything earth-shattering! It was nothing more than those grand promises her senior sister had made to her with unwavering conviction, such as vowing to work hard and cultivate diligently day and night. But who could have predicted that these solemn promises would be so easily punctured and thrown to the winds, like fragile bubbles? One broken promise after another, over time, naturally accumulated, causing a growing sense of disappointment and resentment in Xiaoxiao's heart. However, at this moment, as Xiaoxiao gazed at Liu Meng's face, filled with regret and self-reproach, a ripple stirred deep within her heart. Looking at Liu Meng's pitiful appearance, she thought that perhaps she should be more magnanimous and give her another chance. Maybe after this lesson, Liu Meng would learn from her mistakes, repent, and ultimately fulfill the vows she made back then!
This made her feel extremely awkward and uncomfortable. You see, whether human or fox, they should theoretically possess a certain degree of ambition! What kind of person would she be if she just lay around in the room all day, listless and lazy? Just then, she suddenly heard Xiao Xiao softly ask, "Senior Sister, are you feeling hungry?" Although her tone wasn't exactly friendly or warm, compared to her previous complete indifference, the fact that she was now taking the initiative to greet and chat was a significant change. At least it proved one thing: she was finally beginning to show interest in communicating with Liu Meng. Upon hearing Xiaoxiao's question, Liu Meng immediately grinned, revealing a dazzling smile. She nodded enthusiastically and replied, "Mhm!" She seemed completely unconcerned about Xiaoxiao's earlier unfriendly tone, her heart overflowing with joy at Xiaoxiao's initiative in striking up a conversation. She was happily responding to Xiaoxiao's concern and greeting.