Chapter 62: True Colors

The biting night wind whipped across Junior Brother Bai Ming's face; his cultivation base was not high, and he felt a trace of cold.

"To think I would actually feel cold. Is the wind of Medicine Peak somewhat special, or is it because I am too weak, or perhaps both?" Junior Brother Bai Ming wrapped his arms around his chest, trying to lessen the chill on his body.

He quickened his pace slightly. "In that case, I had better get there quickly."

After a difficult climb, the Left Peak came into view.

Looking at the empty mountain peak, Junior Brother Bai Ming felt some doubt in his heart, but before he could ponder the reason, a slender shadow appeared on the mountaintop.

Junior Brother Bai Ming narrowed his eyes, trying hard to identify the person approaching. "Is that Senior Sister Tao? I have arrived."

A crisp laugh rang out.

"Junior brother is quite punctual; that much is worth praising."

Junior Brother Bai Ming was anxious to return. "Senior Sister, please come down; I am a bit cold."

"Very well, it seems you cannot wait either." Senior Sister Tao Yu flew over by riding the wind.

The young girl's figure grew larger and larger until she stood before Junior Brother Bai Ming.

Junior Brother Bai Ming was puzzled. "That note was from you, Senior Sister, right? It's just that I don't understand, why use this method?"

Ignoring Junior Brother Bai Ming's confusion, Senior Sister Tao Yu extended her small hand, and an exquisite little lock appeared in her palm.

She said calmly, "This thing is yours, isn't it?"

Looking at the little lock, Junior Brother Bai Ming could not help but recall some past events, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

Senior Sister Tao Yu huffed. "It seems so."

Junior Brother Bai Ming nodded and reached out to take it, but he saw the young girl before him raise her arm and dodge away. He looked at her with some confusion.

Senior Sister Tao Yu spoke slowly. "Having this lock means you already have a dao companion, right?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming did not speak; he did not deny it.

Senior Sister Tao Yu revealed a knowing smile. "It seems to be quite a bumpy road, then."

"However, there are some things I don't understand, Junior Brother." Senior Sister Tao Yu's smile vanished, and her expression became somewhat unreadable.

Junior Brother Bai Ming looked into Senior Sister Tao Yu's eyes; he felt that she was acting strange now. "Senior Sister, what is it?"

Senior Sister Tao Yu enunciated every word clearly. "That is, since you clearly already have a dao companion, why must you still seduce Senior Brother?"

Seduce Senior Brother?

What the hell? What is wrong with Senior Sister today?

Looking at Senior Sister Tao Yu's somewhat ghastly expression, Junior Brother Bai Ming's head was a bit chaotic. "Senior Brother Wei? I haven't!"

"Senior Sister, what is wrong with you? Why do I feel like you are acting a bit strange?"

Senior Sister Tao Yu let out a snort of laughter, her delicate body trembling slightly. "What a true white lotus you are."

Junior Brother Bai Ming was a bit afraid and took a step back. "Senior Sister, don't be like this. What exactly is wrong with Senior Brother Wei?"

Senior Sister Tao Yu stepped forward, staring intently at Junior Brother Bai Ming's terrified eyes. "Senior Brother Wei—you call him so affectionately."

"But is that something you are allowed to call him?" Senior Sister Tao Yu's expression changed, and she kicked out.

A swift strike hit his abdomen. Junior Brother Bai Ming had not expected her to suddenly kick him; unable to dodge in time, he was kicked to the ground.

His stomach churned violently, making him feel as though he were about to vomit up the medicinal liquid he had taken today.

Forcing down the medicinal liquid that was about to spill from his throat, Junior Brother Bai Ming quickly analyzed the current situation.

No matter what, I must steady her first.

Junior Brother Bai Ming lay flat on the ground. "Did Senior Brother Wei Yu upset you today, Senior Sister?"

"Oh my, to still be so calm even in this state; you are truly worthy of being the one Senior Brother has taken a fancy to." Senior Sister Tao Yu paced to in front of Junior Brother Bai Ming and bent down to look down at him.

She wore an evil grin. "You haven't figured out the current situation yet, have you?"

These familiar words were like an electric current, passing straight through Junior Brother Bai Ming's brain and awakening memories buried deep in his heart.

The face of that woman in green robes flashed through his mind.

Junior Brother Bai Ming's expression was ugly; he finally understood his current predicament.

Back when Senior Sister Tao Yu had spoken that sentence, he had felt a faint inkling, but he had not dared to believe that the kind-hearted Senior Sister Tao could actually be like this.

Could this truly be Senior Sister Tao's real self? Why is it like this?

Senior Sister Tao's laughter and joy from the past were still vivid in his mind, yet the young girl before him had eyes full of mockery. The two figures seemed unable to overlap.

Yet… the person before Junior Brother Bai Ming was truly, genuinely Senior Sister Tao Yu, that kind-hearted senior sister.

Bang— The photograph of his memories shattered, and Senior Sister Tao Yu's mocking voice reached his ears.

Senior Sister Tao Yu grabbed Junior Brother Bai Ming by the collar. "Hey, don't play dumb with me, Junior Brother."

Junior Brother Bai Ming felt a bit suffocated. "So, Senior Sister likes Senior Brother Wei Yu?"

Senior Sister Tao Yu smiled and gently released her hand, her eyes filled with frantic love. "That's right, I like Senior Brother the most, most, most, most, most of all."

How terrifying.

But fortunately, it is not me she likes.

Senior Brother Wei, I am sorry.

His Adam's apple bobbed as Junior Brother Bai Ming swallowed a mouthful of fearful saliva. "Senior Sister, please rest assured; I will certainly not interfere with you both. In my opinion, Senior Sister and Senior Brother Wei Yu are a match made in heaven."

Senior Sister Tao Yu's eyes lit up, somewhat excited. "Really? Junior Brother, is that what you think?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming nodded sincerely. "Mm, every word is true."

"I knew it; Senior Brother and I are the best match." Senior Sister Tao Yu rested her cheeks in her hands, a morbid curve appearing at the corners of her mouth.

I never expected Senior Sister Tao's true colors to be like this.

But fortunately, I managed to muddle through it.

He let out a sigh of relief in his chest. Junior Brother Bai Ming inched away from Senior Sister Tao Yu, and he asked uncertainly, "Senior Sister, may I leave now?"

Seeing Senior Sister Tao Yu nod slightly, Junior Brother Bai Ming scrambled up from the ground without looking back.

He had no intention of taking that lock anymore.

This place was not suitable for staying long; if he continued to stay, something would go wrong!

But before he could get up, a wave of spiritual power pressed down, and he fell back onto the ground.

Senior Sister Tao Yu restrained her smile. "I haven't allowed you to leave yet, Junior Brother."

Junior Brother Bai Ming felt uneasy. "Senior Sister, please rest assured, it is impossible for me to speak of tonight's events. I swear, I have not seen Senior Sister tonight."

"Hehe, Junior Brother, in your eyes, am I that easy to fool?" Senior Sister Tao Yu laughed softly, her voice gentle.

This pleasant voice sounded like a death warrant in Junior Brother Bai Ming's ears.

"Senior Sister is joking; how would I dare to fool you?" Junior Brother Bai Ming forced a smile onto his face.

Ignoring him, Senior Sister Tao Yu walked over leisurely and looked down at Junior Brother Bai Ming's face on the ground.

Her tone was unreadable. "You are truly quite delicate; it is such a pity that the wounds on your face are too obvious. Senior Brother will discover them."

"However, the previous matters cannot just be let go like that. Who told you to insist on approaching Senior Brother?" Senior Sister Tao Yu raised her leg and stepped on Junior Brother Bai Ming's face.

Her fair, dainty little foot ground continuously against his face; Junior Brother Bai Ming felt as if his head were about to be crushed into the ground.

Damp soil stuck to his face, and a few teardrops streaked from the corners of his eyes, flowing into the earthen ground beneath him.

Why?

Why must it be like this?

The powerful spiritual energy pressed Junior Brother Bai Ming so that he could not move; no matter how he resisted, he could never break free from the restraint.

He could only allow the young girl above him to trample and insult him as she pleased.

Just a few hours ago, Tao Yu was still that patient, gentle, and considerate senior sister who explained knowledge about medicinal herbs.

Yet now, her expression was mocking, and she was wantonly trampling on his dignity.

How he wished this were a dream, that he would wake up and it would be over, and then he could curse to himself about what nonsense he had been imagining.

But this godforsaken reality is real.