Chapter 11: The Villain Senior Brother Is About to Turn Dark, the Psychotic Junior Brother Pretends to Be Blind [11]

Chapter 11: The Villain Senior Brother Turns Dark, the Crazy Junior Brother Pretends to Be Blind [11]

"Then thank you, Senior Brother."

Yu Beiyan's eyes crinkled into a gentle smile, her voice growing even softer.

Bai Yan replied mildly, with an air of detachment, "This is simply my duty. No need to be polite."

"This way, Saintess."

Hearing his address, a flicker of displeasure showed in her eyes. She said softly:

"I have admired Senior Brother Bai for a long time. Please don't be so formal with me—just call me Beiyan."

As she spoke, Yu Beiyan walked over to Bai Yan's side, listening attentively as he introduced her to the Spirit Mountain Sect.

But her mind was elsewhere. It wasn't until they reached a secluded spot that she spoke in a low voice:

"Senior Brother Bai... you must know why our Divine Sword Sect came here this time."

"I... I like you, Senior Brother."

"If you feel the same way, then we could..."

Bai Yan stopped walking and turned to look at Yu Beiyan with a hint of helplessness. So this topic had to come up eventually.

He really had no interest in all this lovey-dovey stuff.

Since he knew Yu Beiyan had feelings for him, he couldn't keep dragging it out. He needed to find a reason to refuse her cleanly and without ambiguity.

Bai Yan was silent for a moment, then spoke softly under Yu Beiyan's slightly expectant gaze:

"I'm sorry, but I don't like women."

The moment Bai Yan finished speaking, the one who reacted the most wasn't Yu Beiyan, but 717, who had been lurking in silence all along.

[Host, so you actually like men? You should've said so earlier...]

Bai Yan wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he couldn't shake the feeling that 717 was quite pleased with what he said—even a little happy about it.

Bai Yan simply replied inwardly: [I just don't want her to think it's her fault, and I don't want to give her any false hope.]

If he was going to refuse, he might as well be straightforward about it.

Anyway, he didn't care about these things. This excuse was the most fitting—he couldn't just keep stringing the girl along.

Besides, he only said he didn't like women—he never said he liked men.

If he were to fall for someone, it wouldn't matter to him whether they were male or female.

But it had been so long—he'd traveled to many worlds and met countless people, yet he'd never once met anyone who made his heart skip a beat.

[Oh, alright.]

717 said no more, and Bai Yan turned his attention back to Yu Beiyan.

He thought she would have at least some reaction to hearing he didn't like women.

But Yu Beiyan just kept looking at him with those bright, smiling eyes. If anything had changed, it was that the emotion in her eyes seemed even deeper?

Bai Yan's lashes fluttered. Was he imagining things?

This Saintess knew he didn't like women, and she liked him even more?

Well, whatever. He'd already made himself clear.

As for what Yu Beiyan was thinking or planning, as long as she didn't do anything out of line, he didn't care.

"It's okay that you don't like women, Senior Brother! I just—I've just always admired you. That's my business, and it has nothing to do with you."

Yu Beiyan seemed to sense that her reaction had been a bit much, but she composed herself in an instant.

She still smiled with curved eyes, but a trace of disappointment showed through, making her look like she was putting on a brave face.

Bai Yan was silent for a moment, ultimately suppressing that strange feeling in his chest.

He said, "Let me escort you back to rest first, Saintess."

Yu Beiyan, thinking about what Bai Yan had just said, no longer minded how he addressed her and simply replied with an obedient "Okay."

Then she followed Bai Yan to the quarters arranged for her.

"Senior Brother Bai must be tired too. Why not stay and sit for a while?"

Yu Beiyan said with a light smile, "I can tell from your complexion that you haven't been resting well—you probably haven't had a good night's sleep in days."

"Please sit for a moment, and I'll brew you a calming tea."

Even with the enchanted veil hiding her true face, with that gentle, soft voice and those eyes so full of tenderness they could drown a person, no one could refuse her request.

But Bai Yan simply gave a slight bow and said calmly, "I'm sorry, but it's getting late. I need to go look after my junior brother. I won't stay."

When Yu Beiyan heard the words "junior brother," her brow furrowed slightly.

She narrowed her eyes and asked with a hint of probing, "Senior Brother Bai... cares a great deal about that junior brother?"

"My junior brother was born blind and needs my care."

Yu Beiyan lowered her gaze, concealing the strange emotion in her eyes. She said quietly:

"I see. Then you should indeed take good care of him. Senior Brother Bai is truly kind-hearted."

"Yes, so I won't stay any longer."

Bai Yan gave a slight nod. Unwilling to linger, he turned and left without giving Yu Beiyan a chance to stop him.

Only Yu Beiyan remained standing there, watching his retreating figure with an unreadable look in her eyes.

It wasn't until Bai Yan's figure completely disappeared from sight that Yu Beiyan reluctantly returned to her room and closed the door.

After a while longer, another person appeared in Yu Beiyan's room—none other than the elder from the Divine Sword Sect who had been negotiating with them.

The elder bowed respectfully and said in a low voice, "Sect Master."

Yu Beiyan's eyes turned cold as she stared at him, with none of the gentle demeanor she showed before Bai Yan. Her icy voice carried a hint of pressure:

"Shut up!"

"I've said it before—from now on, I am the Holy Maiden. If you can't remember that..."

"Holy Maiden! Please spare me, Holy Maiden!"

The man's face paled in shock, and under Yu Beiyan's oppressive aura, he hastily knelt and stammered:

"I've gathered some news about Young Master Bai."

Yu Beiyan instantly suppressed her aura and said coolly, "Speak."

"Yes."

The man hastily spilled all the information he had uncovered about Bai Yan to Yu Beiyan.

Meanwhile, Bai Yan had just returned to his residence. Maybe it was because he'd used Ye Beiyu as an excuse earlier, or maybe it was just habit. He thought about calling Ye Beiyu over, but then belatedly remembered he'd sent the guy to the back mountain.

As Bai Yan straightened up a little, a thought struck him, and he froze mid-motion.

The existence of the Divine Sword Sect was oddly suspicious, as if they'd appeared out of nowhere. Yet with their strength and status, they had no need to marry into other sects to solidify their position.

This was their first visit to the Spirit Mountain Sect, and they'd come with that exact goal—they'd even sent their Holy Maiden. It all seemed tailor-made for the protagonist.

Bai Yan thought of Ye Beiyu, still in the back mountain, and then of Yu Beiyan, who he'd rejected just today. He gave a soft tsk.

[717, keep tabs on Ye Beiyu. After all, he's the male lead. If he's ever in real danger, let me know.]

After all, if he didn't step in at such a moment, it would surely be that Holy Maiden who went to the rescue, and they'd end up bonding.

That's the last thing he wanted...

[Don't worry.]

With 717's assurance, Bai Yan settled in for a good sleep, as he hadn't rested well the last couple of days.

But just as he drifted off, a faint fragrance spread through the room, lulling him into an even deeper sleep.

And just then, the door to the room was pushed open.

A figure stepped in bathed in moonlight, gazing at the sleeping person on the bed, a slight smile curling at the corners of his lips...