Volume 3 - Chapter 400: The Celestial Grace of the Purple Osmanthus (Part 3)
Seeing the sword attendant glance suspiciously at Li Hao, Su Wanqing quickly spoke up on his behalf.
“He’s with us.”
Su Muqing’s face darkened slightly, frowning. “Wanqing, what are you doing?”
“This Sword Pool Gathering is for young geniuses, isn’t it?” Su Wanqing replied with a cheeky smile. “Haotian’s talent certainly qualifies him. Let him come in and have some fun.”
Su Muqing shot Li Hao a sharp look but didn’t object. Since her sister had already spoken on his behalf, she couldn’t outright oppose her.
The four of them entered the mountain and were immediately greeted by streaks of light soaring through the air—cultivators riding their swords in all directions. Sword God Peak was bustling with activity, already hosting a sizable crowd.
They flew straight to the summit. The peak was vast and expansive, dominated by a towering Sword Stele carved with three distinct sword marks.
Behind the stele, waterfalls cascaded down from a lofty mountain, converging into a pool before the monument, churning up waves of glistening foam.
Around the Sword Pool, many figures were seated in various places, all clad in resplendent robes and adorned with celestial treasures—the proud scions of major clans.
“Look, that’s the Celestial Cassia,” Su Wanqing said, pointing for Li Hao to see.
Li Hao followed her gaze and saw, beside the Sword Stele’s waterfall, a patch of horizontal branches growing out from the rocky cliff. Three main limbs extended from it.
The lowest bore silver branches blooming with silvery Celestial Cassia flowers, exuding a delicate fragrance.
Above that were golden Cassia blossoms. Their leaves shimmered with divine radiance, cloaked in a veil of celestial glow—majestic and elegant.
At the very top was a short branch dyed in shades of violet. It radiated the ethereal glow of dawn’s first light. Upon it bloomed six violet buds, encircled by flowing purple radiance that seemed to echo the Dao itself. A peculiar, transcendent aroma wafted from it.
“It really looks like the Immortal Aura Purple Osmanthus is about to bloom,” Su Wanxue said, her eyes lighting up.
Su Muqing’s gaze held both delight and a certainty that she would obtain it.
Just then, a wave of chatter rippled through the crowd.
Dozens of gazes turned at once toward the newcomers. As soon as Su Muqing, Su Wanqing, and the others appeared, they became the focal point of the entire gathering.
On Gusu Imperial Star, the Four Phoenixes of the Su Clan were famous. Many young elites present brightened at the sight of them, and some looked on with veiled admiration.
“The Su Clan is here—Celestial Cassia for Celestial Maidens. A perfect match.”
“I may not be able to claim the Purple Osmanthus, but I’ll pluck at least one of the Golden Blossoms!”
“I wonder what the test will be this time?”
Voices whispered back and forth as people came forward to greet Su Muqing and her group. Naturally, many eyes drifted toward Li Hao, filled with curiosity and doubt.
To be walking so closely with the Su Clan’s Four Phoenixes—unless he was a direct descendant, like one of their brothers or cousins—how could this unfamiliar boy be standing among them?
“Who is that guy, walking so close with Su Muqing?”
“Could he be that guy who tried courting Su Muqing years ago?”
“You mean the one from the painting exhibition?”
“No way… after all these years, did he actually succeed? What about the Imperial Scion of the Lin Clan—”
“Shh! You dare say he got cuckolded? Be careful, you might lose your head.”
The murmurs grew, and many glanced between Li Hao and Su Muqing with increasingly strange expressions.
Naturally, these whispers reached their ears as well. Su Muqing’s face grew cold, her brows furrowed, her eyes turning icy.
Su Wanxue looked slightly speechless. She hadn’t expected the rumors to spread this wildly and glanced at Su Muqing with some concern.
“The gossip’s gone rampant. Wanxue, shouldn’t you clarify things with your... you know who?” someone teased.
Su Muqing shook her head slightly. “It’s all nonsense, not worth mentioning. He won’t believe it.”
Su Wanxue thought that was fair and said no more.
“Su Muqing?”
A surprised voice called out. A woman in blue robes, her black hair fluttering behind her, walked over—it was Lin Jinrou. Several Lin Clan elites followed behind her.
Their gazes immediately locked onto Li Hao, examining him top to bottom.
The incident from a few years ago had stirred considerable discussion. Since it concerned Su Muqing, it had quickly spread, though no one took it seriously. After all, no one believed any man could rival the Lin Clan’s Imperial Scion. As long as Su Muqing wasn’t blind, she wouldn’t spare a second glance at such a person.
And yet, here he was—walking right beside her today. That was a surprise.
“Haotian the Painter.”
Lin Jinrou also recognized Li Hao. Her expression turned faintly aggrieved as she said in a low voice, “I sent you several letters over the past few years, Haotian Painter. Did you not receive them? Or were you just too afraid to offer me some guidance?”
Li Hao blinked, suddenly recalling the letters that had been delivered to his courtyard… which he had used as firewood.
“Ah… I had things to attend to. I couldn’t get away,” he coughed awkwardly.
Lin Jinrou glanced at Su Muqing and, remembering the scene from the art exhibition, her expression turned wry. “Haotian Painter, are you really trying to court Muqing?”
The surrounding onlookers perked up, ears twitching.
Su Muqing’s face darkened, but before she could lash out and silence him to avoid further embarrassment, Li Hao had already spoken:
“No.”
The youth shook his head.
“No?” Lin Jinrou was stunned.
So were Su Wanqing and Su Wanxue. All these years of devoted waiting, and now he says he wasn’t pursuing her?
Su Muqing also froze, her intended outburst catching in her throat. She looked at Li Hao in surprise.
“Then why are you—”
Before she could finish, a cheerful voice rang out:
“Wanqing! Haotian Painter! Muqing!”
They turned to see Jiang Huanhuan skipping toward them in a pink celestial dress, full of joy.
Su Wanqing, being especially close with Jiang Huanhuan, waved her over with visible delight.
“Haotian Painter, you came too?” Jiang Huanhuan beamed with genuine surprise.
She had expected the others to attend, but seeing Li Hao here caught her off guard—in a good way.
Li Hao also remembered her and gave a polite nod in return.
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