Following Guan Fusha, Taohua arrived at the little pavilion in the middle of the lake and saw a man in blue sitting inside.
He held a scroll in his left hand and a white game piece in his right. There was an exquisitely carved jade game board on the stone table, but the seat opposite him was completely empty.
Standing on the shore and looking from afar, Taohua couldn’t see clearly what book he was holding. She assumed it was a game record and said to Guan Fusha,
“Protector Guan, the Sect Master seems to be studying game manuals. If we just walk up and bother him like this, won’t he be annoyed?”
Guan Fusha’s lips curved in a gentle smile.
“You misunderstand, miss. What my master is holding is not a game manual, but The Art of War.”
“The Art of War?”
Taohua stared in disbelief.
So… did that mean Dongfang Wen was reading and playing at the same time?
“Yes.”
Guan Fusha was long since used to her master’s eccentric habits and didn’t find it strange at all.
“This is his routine. Every morning he comes to this lakeside pavilion to drink tea, read, and play a game against himself.”
“Is the Sect Master waiting for you to play with him? Am I getting in the way?”
Taohua asked nervously.
After all, whether she could enter the Night God Sect depended entirely on Dongfang Wen. If she pissed off the big boss right at the start, her plan to cling to a nice, thick thigh would go straight down the drain.
“No.”
Guan Fusha looked at Taohua’s tense expression and found her genuinely adorable.
“When my master plays, he doesn’t like anyone disturbing him, so he only plays against himself.”
Taohua had just started to relax when she suddenly thought of something and tensed up again.
“Then if we go over now, will we be disturbing him? Should we wait until he finishes his game first—”
Questions tumbled out one after another from those cherry-red lips. Guan Fusha didn’t find her nagging in the least; on the contrary, she found her ridiculously cute, especially that little face tinged pink with nervousness, like a just-ripened peach.
Hmm… come to think of it, it was probably because her master’s reputation outside was too terrible. People said he killed without batting an eye, that he was vicious and ruthless… no wonder the poor girl was this scared.
Wanting to help ease Taohua’s nerves, Guan Fusha “kindly” decided to lend a hand.
She suddenly slipped an arm around Taohua’s slender waist. Taohua was still worrying about what Dongfang Wen’s impression of her would be and didn’t react at all. In an instant, the two of them were pressed close together, so near they could feel each other’s breath.
Even though this was the second time Guan Fusha had held her like this, seeing that monstrously beautiful face at such close range again, Taohua’s heart still sped up shamefully. She couldn’t tear her gaze away, staring at her as if her soul had been stolen.
Guan Fusha’s lips hooked up into a bewitching smile, and Taohua’s poor little heart skipped a few beats.
Guan Fusha gave a light leap and jumped into the lake. Her toes skimmed over the water’s surface, yet her delicate embroidered shoes didn’t get the slightest bit wet.
Only when the ground suddenly dropped away beneath her feet did Taohua realize that Guan Fusha had once again grabbed her to show off and take her flying. She almost screamed in fright. Instinct kicked in and she clung tightly to Guan Fusha’s waist, not daring to let go.
She really hadn’t expected to be tricked by Guan Fusha a second time. Taohua was a little angry. She tilted her head up slightly, intending to get a good, long look at that demonic, peerless face and build up some resistance.
Just then, Guan Fusha turned her head.
Those soft pink lips brushed right across Taohua’s cheek.
A tingling jolt like an electric shock rushed through Guan Fusha’s whole body. She froze for a heartbeat. Only when the cool touch of lake water reached her toes did she come back to herself. A few light steps later, she landed on the stone steps leading up to the pavilion.
Taohua didn’t notice anything odd about her. Her own face had gone ghastly pale from fright. She pressed a hand over her wildly thumping heart, convinced this had just been another of Guan Fusha’s pranks.
Looking at Taohua’s state, Guan Fusha actually felt a flicker of guilt.
“Miss Taohua, are you all right?”
“I-I’m fine…”
Taohua was still badly shaken, feeling like her poor heart was about to be scared right out of her chest by Guan Fusha. She was furious but too scared to say anything.
The warmth lingering in her palm suddenly reminded Guan Fusha of that accidental brush of lips on the lake. Her heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly let go of Taohua’s waist, a bit flustered.
Lost in her own thoughts, Taohua didn’t notice the change in her expression. She only felt her waist suddenly lose support. Already off-balance, she nearly fell to the ground. After stumbling a few steps, her back knocked against one of the vermilion pillars, and she finally managed to steady herself.
Guan Fusha moved as if to catch her, but she was a beat too slow; Taohua was already leaning against the pillar. She drew her hand back a little ruefully, but her face wore the same easy smile as always.
“Come. I’ll take you to meet the Sect Master.”
Taohua didn’t see that fleeting look on her face. The moment she heard they were going to see the Sect Master, she forgot all about the ache in her back and hurried after her.
“Master.”
Guan Fusha stepped into the pavilion and respectfully clasped her hands toward Dongfang Wen, her smile as bright as ever.
“Your disciple has brought someone to see you.”
Dongfang Wen had already noticed the two of them; he had simply chosen not to speak.
His looks couldn’t be called handsome, but they were certainly decent enough. Then again, compared to Guan Fusha’s beauty, most people were only “decent enough.” Those who could be called truly attractive were very rare.
Among his long, ink-black hair were a few visible strands of silver. He hadn’t tied it up, just let it fall loosely over his shoulders, stirred gently by the breeze, like some martial arts master straight out of a movie—robes fluttering even though no wind was blowing.
He acted as if he hadn’t heard Guan Fusha at all, his attention still on the scroll in his hand. He picked up a black piece with his right hand and, without once lifting his gaze from the page, dropped it onto the board.
Taohua didn’t know how to play, so she had no idea if that move was good or bad. She only thought that anyone who could leisurely read and play at the same time, acting that cool and that oblivious to the world, had to be seriously impressive. Her nerves tightened again, and her respect for him shot up to the heavens.
Dongfang Wen, Sect Master of the Night God Sect!
The insanely badass boss of Guan Fusha, that goddess-level department head!
He was basically a god-tier existence!
If she could really join the Night God Sect, she might even get a chance to grab onto Dongfang Wen’s extra-thick thigh and learn a move or two. Then she could go open her own little mountain stronghold somewhere, play the villain, and never have to worry about food or clothes again!
Oh my god, had she accidentally stumbled onto a path to getting rich?
Guan Fusha was long used to her master’s cold indifference. Her smile didn’t falter in the slightest as she spoke again.
“Master, your disciple has brought someone to see you.”
This time, Dongfang Wen finally reacted.
His gaze lifted from the scroll and swept over Taohua, who stood behind Guan Fusha. Then it withdrew again, and he asked in a flat voice,
“And then?”
Just that brief instant of eye contact made Taohua’s worship of him deepen even further.
Even his gaze was that cool. At this rate, this Dongfang Sect Master was going to go up and stand shoulder to shoulder with the sun someday!
Guan Fusha stepped slightly to the side, revealing Taohua behind her, and began introducing her.
“This is Miss Taohua. Two days ago, I saw her injured in front of Ruyi Hall and brought her back to the sect to recuperate. I happened to learn that she wishes to join the Night God Sect, so I’ve brought her to meet you today to ask what you think, Master.”
Dongfang Wen’s hand paused for a fraction of a second, then the piece fell onto the board with pinpoint accuracy, making a crisp sound.
He set the scroll down and rose to his feet, hands clasped behind his back. His gaze traveled up and down Taohua once, and with that single look he knew she was not martial arts material.
“A mediocre talent. Not worth teaching.”
His words were like a sudden thunderclap, plunging Taohua’s vision—and her future—into darkness.
She hadn’t even had a chance to show off yet, and the god of acting cool already despised her!
Her dream of getting rich had only just begun!
Following his gaze, Guan Fusha looked at Taohua and laughed softly.
“Carving a completely worthless piece of rotten wood into a statue known to all—Master doesn’t find that kind of thing interesting?”
Dongfang Wen thought for a moment before answering.
“No.”
Taohua could swear on Guan Fusha’s… figure that, in that split second, she really did see Guan Fusha’s smile freeze.
She honestly hadn’t expected the god of acting cool to be such a straightforward guy. He wouldn’t even give his own disciple any face!
After answering Guan Fusha’s question, Dongfang Wen sat back down on the stool and immersed himself once more in reading and playing against himself, utterly absorbed and clearly enjoying his own company.
Even after being smacked down by her own master, Guan Fusha didn’t get angry. She just sat gracefully in the seat opposite him, picked up a black piece, and dropped it on the board.
Dongfang Wen raised his head. His expression didn’t change, but Guan Fusha could see the faint flash of displeasure in his eyes.
She remained unbothered, her smile as bright as ever.
“The sect’s affairs are heavy, Master. It’s about time your disciple found someone to share the burden.”
