From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 61 Seeing flowers in the mist

The shadowy figure faded before me, leaving only a chilling letter, like a venomous snake coiled around my heart. My hands trembled as I opened the envelope; the words that met my eyes were like needles, piercing my gaze:

"Do you want to know why your beloved Senior Brother Wen Chen is so hot and cold towards you? Do you want to know why he is so reluctant to accept your feelings? It's because he already has someone else in his heart, and you are nothing but a joke. If you want to know the truth, go and find out at Broken Heart Cliff behind Sunset Peak."

The letter fluttered to the ground, and my heart sank to the bottom. Behind Sunset Peak, at the edge of Broken Heart Cliff—wasn't that the place Senior Brother Wen Chen often went? Could it be… that everything in the letter was true?

No! I don't believe it! Senior Brother Wen Chen isn't that kind of person!

I stumbled out of the cave, the words from the letter echoing in my mind, my heart in turmoil. I desperately wanted to see Senior Brother Wen Chen, to ask him in person if all of this was true.

"Junior Sister Xiao Yao, where are you going?"

A sweet voice came from behind me. I turned around abruptly and saw Su Yao and Senior Brother Lin standing side by side, with enigmatic smiles on their faces. Su Yao's hand was affectionately linked with Senior Brother Lin's arm, and the two were very close, like a perfect couple.

Seeing this, my heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, making it difficult to breathe. Could this... be the truth described in the letter?

"I...I need to go find Senior Brother Wen Chen." I tried hard to control the turmoil in my heart, but my voice trembled slightly involuntarily.

"Oh? What a coincidence! We're also looking for Senior Brother Wen Chen." Su Yao covered her mouth and smiled, her eyes full of pride. "Senior Brother Lin and I have just learned a new sword technique, and we'd like to ask Senior Brother Wen Chen for some pointers."

As they spoke, Su Yao and Senior Brother Lin walked past me, heading towards Luoxia Peak. I stood there, stunned, watching their departing figures, my unease and doubts growing wildly like weeds.

No! I can't let my imagination run wild like this anymore! I must see it with my own eyes and hear it with my own ears before I can draw a conclusion!

I took a deep breath, forced myself to calm down, and then started walking, chasing after Luoxia Peak.

Behind Sunset Peak, at the edge of Broken Heart Cliff, Senior Brother Wen Chen, dressed in white, stood against the wind, his tall figure appearing particularly lonely in the afterglow of the setting sun. I watched him from afar, my heart filled with mixed emotions.

"Senior Brother Wen Chen..." I called softly.

He turned around, saw it was me, and a look of surprise appeared on his face, but he quickly regained his usual gentle expression. "Junior Sister Xiao Yao, what brings you here?"

Looking at his familiar smile, I felt a mix of emotions welling up inside me, a mixture of sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, and salty flavors.

"I..." A thousand words were stuck in my throat, but I didn't know how to start.

"you……"

I took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions within me, and slowly raised the envelope in my hand. "Could you explain this letter?" Senior Brother Wen Chen's smile froze. He took the letter, his gaze sweeping over the few lines of text, his brows furrowing slightly. After a moment of silence, he looked up, his eyes clear: "Xiao Yao, who gave you this letter?"

I looked at him, my heart churning like a stormy sea. He hadn't denied it outright! "You don't need to know who gave it to me. Just tell me, is what the letter says true?" My voice trembled slightly as I tried hard to hold back my tears.

"Xiao Yao, listen to me..." He seemed to want to explain, but I couldn't hear any more explanations.

"No need to say anything more!" I interrupted him abruptly, turning to leave.

"Xiao Yao!" He grabbed my wrist, his voice tinged with anxiety and helplessness, "Why won't you listen to my explanation?"

I shook off his hand, and tears finally burst forth: "Explain? What's there to explain? I saw it all with my own eyes!" My voice was filled with despair and pain.

"What did you see?" His tone held a hint of doubt.

I sneered and pointed to the shadows of the woods not far away: "Dare you say that what was hiding there just now wasn't Su Yao and Senior Brother Lin? Do you dare say that you have no romantic feelings for Su Yao at all?"

His face turned pale instantly, and a hurt look flashed in his eyes: "Xiao Yao, you've misunderstood. Su Yao and I are just..."

"Misunderstanding? I'd rather believe it's a misunderstanding!" I choked up, unable to control my emotions any longer, and turned to run away.

"Xiao Yao!" He tried to catch up, but tripped over something and stumbled a few steps.

I ran quite a distance before daring to look back. Senior Brother Wen Chen was still standing there, his figure appearing exceptionally lonely in the setting sun, and my heart ached as if it were being torn apart.

"Ugh……"

A soft sigh came from behind me. I turned around and saw an old man in a gray robe standing behind me, his kind face showing a hint of worry.

“Elder Mo…” I recognized him as Elder Mo, the guardian of the Heart Demon Realm.

"Child, is there some misunderstanding between you and Wen Chen?" Elder Mo's voice was gentle yet powerful, as if it could soothe the unease in people's hearts.

I lowered my head and told him what had happened. After listening to my story, Elder Mo sighed deeply: "Child, you are too trusting. Think carefully, what kind of people are Su Yao and Senior Brother Lin? Can you trust what they say?"

I was stunned. Yes, Su Yao had always been jealous of my talent, and Senior Brother Lin was infatuated with Su Yao. Could their words really be trusted?

"Child, go back and think it over carefully. Some things, even if you see them, may not be the truth." Elder Mo patted my shoulder and turned to leave.

I stood there, Elder Mo's words echoing in my mind. Had I truly misunderstood Senior Brother Wen Chen?

"Junior Sister Xiao Yao, are you alright?" Su Yao and Senior Brother Lin appeared behind me at some point, their faces showing feigned concern.

I stared at them coldly, a sudden wave of disgust rising within me. Su Yao noticed my gaze, a flicker of panic crossing her eyes, but she quickly masked it, taking Lin Shixiong's arm and saying softly, "Senior Brother Lin, let's go, let's not disturb Junior Sister Xiao Yao."

They turned and left, but I clearly saw that the moment Senior Brother Lin turned away, a sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth...

As the last rays of the setting sun faded and night fell, my heart remained heavy, as if shrouded in dark clouds. Elder Mo's words echoed in my ears, and the hypocritical faces of Su Yao and Senior Brother Lin repeatedly flashed before my eyes. Had I truly wronged Senior Brother Wen Chen?

I wandered aimlessly and unknowingly arrived at Master Huixin's bamboo hut. The master was meditating in the courtyard. When she saw me, she smiled kindly and said, "Yao'er, what's wrong? You seem to be preoccupied."

I hesitated for a moment before telling the nun what had happened that day and the doubts in my heart. The nun listened quietly to me, then sighed softly: "Yao'er, you are still too young and easily deceived by appearances."

"Master, have I really misunderstood Senior Brother Wen Chen? But that letter..." I couldn't help but explain.

"The contents of the letter may be true, but have you ever thought about why this letter ended up in your hands? And why it happened at this particular time?" the nun asked rhetorically.

I was stunned. Yes, I had never thought of any of this. The contents of the letter were so private, how could someone just throw it away like that? And the fact that it appeared right when my relationship with Senior Brother Wen Chen was at its closest was just too much of a coincidence.

"Human hearts are unpredictable. Some people say one thing to your face and another behind your back. You must keep your eyes open and not be deceived by appearances," the nun said earnestly.

I nodded, but felt even more confused. The nun's words made me reflect on my behavior, but when I thought about the contents of the letter and the image of Senior Brother Wen Chen and Su Yao together, my heart ached as if it were being stabbed with needles.

"You don't need to worry too much; time will tell. Just remember to stay true to yourself no matter what happens, and don't let hatred blind you."

As I left the bamboo hut, the night grew deeper. My heart was still filled with contradictions and struggles. The nun's words gave me hope, but the past was like a thorn, deeply embedded in my heart, difficult to remove.

"Junior Sister Xiao Yao." A deep voice suddenly came from behind.

I turned around and saw a man dressed in black standing behind me. He was tall and handsome, but his narrow eyes had a cold, sinister quality that sent chills down my spine.

"Who are you...?" I don't remember knowing this person.

"My name is Xuanfeng. I have long admired your reputation, Junior Sister. Meeting you today, I can confirm that it is indeed well-deserved." As he spoke, a wicked smile appeared on his lips.

Alarm bells rang in my mind. This person's aura was unfamiliar, and his words suggested he knew me intimately; he was definitely not a good person. I took a step back without showing any emotion and said coldly, "You've mistaken me for someone else. I don't know you."

“Junior sister, why are you in such a hurry to deny it? I know you have a lot of suffering in your heart, and I also know who is causing you so much pain.” Xuanfeng said, walking towards me step by step, his eyes flashing with a strange light. “I can help you, let you take revenge and get everything you want.”

A chill ran down my spine, and I asked warily, "Who are you? What do you want?"

"I'm here to help you. I know Wen Chen's secret, I know why he deceived you, and I know how to help you resolve your inner conflict." Xuan Feng's voice was like a viper's hiss, carrying a seductive power. "If you're willing, I can tell you everything and help you uncover his true colors!"

Looking at this enigmatic man before me, a sudden impulse surged within me: perhaps he really did know something…

Xuanfeng's words were like a flash of lightning in the darkness, illuminating all the hatred and resentment in my heart. Revenge, to get everything I wanted... these thoughts, like vines, quickly entwined my heart, making it hard for me to breathe.

I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug deep into my palms, bringing sharp pain. Reason told me that I should stay away from this mysterious Xuanfeng, but the secret he spoke of about Wen Chen was like a magnet, drawing me in and making it impossible for me to resist.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked, suppressing the tremor in my voice.

Seeing that I was softening, Xuanfeng's smile grew even more enigmatic. He took out a black talisman from his pocket and handed it to me: "As long as you stick this talisman on Wen Chen, I can let you see all the truths you want to know."

I stared at the talisman emanating an eerie aura, my mind racing with alarm. This thing clearly wasn't from the righteous path; if I used it, would it harm Wen Chen?

"Don't worry, this talisman will only temporarily knock him unconscious; it won't cause him any real harm." Xuanfeng seemed to see through my concerns and said seductively, "Don't you want to know what he's hiding from you? Don't you want to know why he betrayed your true feelings?"

"I..." I bit my lip, struggling internally. The nun's teachings, Wen Chen's past gentleness, the resolute words in that letter... all these images intertwined in my mind, making it difficult for me to make a decision.

"Xiao Yao, you only have one chance. Once you miss it, it'll be gone forever." Xuan Feng pressed closer, his voice like a devil's whisper, "Are you willing to be kept in the dark by him and live a lifetime of pain and deception?"

"No, I'm not reconciled!" I suddenly raised my head, my eyes flashing with determination. I want to see, Wen Chen, just how many things are you still hiding from me!

I took the talisman from Xuanfeng's hand; its icy touch instantly brought me to my senses. But I had no way out. I had decided to gamble—gamble with my love, gamble with my future!

“I will help you,” I said, looking at Xuanfeng, enunciating each word clearly, “but I hope you remember your promise, otherwise…”

"Otherwise what?" Xuanfeng raised an eyebrow, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes.

“Otherwise, I will make you pay the price.” I looked him straight in the eye, my tone icy, as if I were a completely different person.

Xuanfeng looked at me and suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter filled with evil and mockery.

"Interesting, very interesting..." He shook his head with a laugh, "I'm getting more and more excited to see what you'll do next..."

I gripped the talisman tightly in my hand, turned, and disappeared into the night without looking back. I knew that from the moment I took that step, I had embarked on a path of no return. But I couldn't care less anymore; I just wanted to know the truth, even if the truth would cause me unbearable pain…

The night wind blew, the shadows of the trees swayed, and my figure gradually disappeared into the depths of darkness, leaving only one sentence echoing in the wind:

"Wen Chen, you just wait..."