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Chapter 310: Unnecessary [Start of Book 4]

In the distance, a small boat approached the shore. A young man in a long robe stood at the bow, looking refined as he played a gentle melody on his flute.

The flute’s melody was clear and elegant, tugging at the heartstrings.

Under the osmanthus tree by the river, a shy girl in a peach-pink dress noticed the young man staring at her.

Immediately, she lowered her gaze shyly. Then, slowly, she looked up again, appearing worried that the young man might not approach her.

Beneath a night sky filled with sparkling stars, the osmanthus flowers overhead swayed in the breeze.

The young man's boat soon reached the shore, and with a gentle step, he landed on the bank.

As he approached, his features became clearer, making him appear even more handsome.

The girl's eyes sparkled like stars. As she watched the young man approach, her gaze was filled with both anticipation and nervousness.

She heard the young man's footsteps approaching, and they did not disappoint her. With a few quick strides, he stood before her and gently asked, "Miss, did you come here alone?"

"I got separated from my friends near the bridge," the girl murmured softly.

"Would you like to accompany me for a while?" the young man asked politely.

"Mhmm..." the girl lowered her head and answered softly.

Seeing this, the young man smiled and reached up to pick a small twig of osmanthus flowers from the tree above. The tree was especially lush and fragrant, with flowers as white as moonlight.

The girl lowered her head even further, her neck flushing red, making her look like a shy quail.

Just as the young man was about to place the twig of osmanthus flower in the girl's hair, his gaze shifted past her shoulder to a more graceful figure standing under the nearby woods.

That figure wore a jade-white long dress, cinched at the waist, accentuating her slender figure and full chest. Her skin appeared so clear and fair that it seemed almost transparent.

At that moment, her black hair and dress fluttered in the breeze.

She looked so beautiful that she seemed almost unreal.

In comparison to the white-clad beauty, the gentle and cute girl in front of him suddenly seemed ordinary.

As the young man caught sight of the girl in white, he fell into a momentary daze, leaving the girl with her head lowered wondering why he hadn't yet placed the flower in her hair.

Just then, the white-clad beauty suddenly waved at the young man, instantly captivating his soul.

"Miss, I just remembered something I need to take care of at home. I can't stay with you right now. Please forgive me, and I promise I'll accompany you next time!"

The young man suddenly apologized, then lifted his trousers and hurriedly ran towards the beauty under the moonlight, taking long strides to cover the distance quickly.

"Ah?" The girl was stunned by his sudden change. She turned to see the young man impatiently running with the flower twig towards a distant beauty dressed in white.

"..." The girl's delicate features twisted in frustration, and her small chest heaved with anger. After a moment, she finally muttered, "What a jerk!"

Even though the boy had chosen someone else and she felt abandoned, she had to admit that the beauty was indeed alluring and extremely attractive. Even she herself couldn't help but steal a few more glances.

She saw the young man holding the flower twig, eagerly approaching the white-clad beauty and saying something to her. The beauty nodded lightly in response.

Then the beauty turned her head, with her back facing the girl so that the young man could place the osmanthus twig behind her ear.

As the beauty turned her head, her eyes suddenly met the girl's. Despite the distance, her eyes were incredibly bright, allowing the girl to clearly see her gaze. The eyes of the white-clad beauty held no pride, but were filled with a comforting warmth.

Her eyes seemed to be saying, “Look... this is the man you liked.”

Wait! The girl's eyebrows suddenly furrowed.

As the white-clad beauty turned her head in the other direction, the girl should have been looking at the back of her head.

How am I looking at her eyes?

A chill ran down the girl's spine. Could this white-clad beauty really have two faces?!

"Ah..." The girl gasped in terror. She wanted to scream, but before she could, something out of the ordinary occurred.

As the young man placed the flower twig behind the white-clad beauty's ear, he heard her ask softly, "Am I beautiful?"

"The flower is beautiful, but you are even more so. Together, you are the epitome of beauty," the young man replied without hesitation.

"You didn't even look before saying that. You're just speaking with a silver tongue, so you must be lying," the white-clad beauty said softly.

"Then lift your face and let me see clearly," the young man said with a smile.

Without hesitation, the white-clad beauty lifted her face.

She still had beautiful features and a lovely face shape, but her skin had taken on a porcelain-like texture, marred by black cracks, resembling broken porcelain.

"Am I beautiful?" she asked, her cracked lips parting to reveal not a tongue but a horrifying, blood-filled void.

"Ahhhhhh..." The young man's eyes widened in shock as he instinctively felt the urge to scream and flee.

But the white-clad beauty seized him by the neck, pulling him back, and whispered in his ear, "Tell me, am I beautiful?"

...

"The scenery in Shaonan Town is truly breathtaking," Chu Liang said with a smile. "I didn't expect the town to be so bustling."

“Shaonan may be a small town, but it’s close to Osmanthus River, which connects to major transportation routes. Naturally, it’s lively and prosperous,” Jiang Yuebai replied with a gentle smile.

As they strolled through the bustling streets, their presence brought a brief hush to every corner they passed. People paused, unable to resist stopping and staring.

The well-dressed young man was handsome and graceful, with a smile that felt as refreshing as a spring breeze, giving off a friendly and approachable vibe.

The girl was even more stunning, as if she was a goddess.

Jiang Yuebai wore a crisp white sleeved dress, her tall figure perfectly complementing Chu Liang's beside her. As they walked down the lively street, she looked like a deity who had descended to the mortal world.

The two walked side by side, like a perfect match made in heaven, a sight not commonly seen on the streets.

"Hey?" Chu Liang glanced at the sugar painting[1] stall and asked, "Senior Sister Jiang, would you like one? It's my treat."

"I'm not a child," Jiang Yuebai said, looking away briefly before turning back. "But if you want one, I'll get one too."

"Sure," Chu Liang said with a smile.

He had noticed her glancing at the stall several times, which was why he had asked if she wanted to try it.

This girl... Chu Liang thought.

The two approached the stall, where an elderly man skillfully crafted intricate sugar paintings. His grandson was right beside him. The stall showcased an array of finished pieces—dragons, phoenixes, qilins, and spirit plants—each one remarkably lifelike.

As Jiang Yuebai approached, the young boy stared at her in a daze, clearly having never seen such a beautiful young lady before.

"Old man, we'll take two sugar paintings."

"What painting would you two like?" the old man asked warmly, gesturing to a menu of designs. "Anything on this list is available."

Chu Liang glanced at the menu and suddenly asked, "Can I make it myself?"

Hearing this, the old man froze momentarily. Then, with a smile, he said, "Young noble, I can't let you do that. We've practiced this craft for many years. If you do it yourself, it would ruin the painting. The one rule that has passed down through the generations is to not waste sugar..."

"I'll pay extra."

Chu Liang didn't hesitate and slapped down a tael of silver, instantly showcasing the wealth of the richest man in Mount Shu.

Of course, a tael of silver meant nothing to cultivators.

As the silver landed on the table, the spoon was promptly handed to him.

The old man was straightforward as well.

Chu Liang took the spoon and scooped up the syrup. As he gently twirled his wrist, he spread the perfect amount of syrup smoothly in one fluid motion.

In no time, the syrup cooled and a lifelike sugar painting was completed.

He held up the sugar painting, revealing an image of a beautiful woman with flowing sleeves that looked incredibly lifelike. At first glance, it was clear that this sugar painting depicted Jiang Yuebai.

"Oh my, young master, this skill is something I could never catch up to in my lifetime. It's magical!" the old man exclaimed.

He wasn't exaggerating. The divine control and physical dexterity of a fourth-realm cultivator were incomparable to years of practice by an ordinary person. What would take years for him to master, Chu Liang could grasp in just a few glances.

"Heh, not bad," Jiang Yuebai said with a smile. As soon as she took the sugar painting, she turned and walked away.

Chu Liang thanked the old man and followed her.

The young boy was left in a daze. The old man looked down and said, "See that? If you learn how to make sugar paintings well, you too can find such a beautiful wife."

"Huh?" The young boy's mouth dropped open in shock.

Just then, two more distinguished-looking young men walked past the stall.

One had a straight posture, sharp eyebrows, and bright eyes. Dressed in a white robe, he looked both handsome and otherworldly.

The other wore black, with deep-set eyes, giving off a colder demeanor. For some unknown reason, he often flicked at the air in front of his left eye as he walked.

These two were, of course, Xu Ziyang and Ling Ao, the remaining two of Mount Shu's top four disciples.

Watching the two figures ahead, Xu Ziyang asked in a deep voice, "Why do you always make me lag behind by a few steps with you?"

"Because if I lag behind by myself, it looks like I don't fit in," Ling Ao answered coldly.

Xu Ziyang was puzzled. "Then why do you have to intentionally lag behind at all?"

"Don't you feel it?" Ling Ao said, looking at Xu Ziyang. "Whenever you walk beside them, you get this strange feeling about yourself."

"What feeling?" Xu Ziyang asked.

Ling Ao coldly spat out a few words, "Like you are unnecessary."

1. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_painting for more info. ☜