One of my fairy-like friends

"That's certainly a unique reason," Gu Hanshuang said, a slight smile playing on her lips. "However, although I feel you're perfectly worthy of me, it's unlikely we'd be a couple..."

"Is it because I'm more compassionate?"

“Because you’re rather fickle,” Gu Hanshuang said. “That’s what makes it hard for me to fall in love with you. She said I was destined to become your Daoist partner, but even the Great Dao can’t predict things, so how could she? In fact, if I hadn’t heard her say that I was destined to become your partner, there might have been a possibility between us. But now that I’ve heard it, I want to try and see if it really is destined.”

Mingyan's heart skipped a beat. "Senior Bai Ze, oh Senior Bai Ze, you kept talking about destiny with Yu Mudan and Gu Hanshuang, but these two clearly have a strong aversion to the word 'destiny'... Perhaps what was possible has now become impossible..."

"Are you angry when I say that?" Gu Hanshuang looked at Ming Yan with a half-smile.

Why are you angry?

"...Because it's clear that I'm not good enough for you, yet I'm still picking on you."

"It seems I'm rather petty in Fairy Gu's eyes," Mingyan said with a smile. "If I like you, I won't care about these things, because no one knows the outcome until the very end. And if I don't like you, I won't care about these things either, since they're irrelevant to me."

"...You really are quite special." The ambiguous smile on Gu Hanshuang's face gradually disappeared. She looked at Ming Yan with a slightly strange look in her eyes. After a brief silence, she said, "From now on... call me Hanshuang. I'm no longer the dazzling Fairy Gu. I think we should be true friends now. I wonder if you think so?"

“...I thought we were already friends?” Mingyan tilted his head.

Chapter 208 The Suspicious Jade Peony

On the other side, Bai Ze and Yu Mudan were also talking about Ming Yan.

"Didn't you look down on him before? How about now?" Bai Ze lay lazily on Yu Mudan's bed, even stretching slowly, showing no airs of an elder. However, outsiders would never see him like this.

“I have never looked down on him.” Yu Mudan shook her head. “I just don’t really like the feeling of ‘destiny’.”

Bai Ze smiled slightly, "Then let's see if you can escape the future I see. However, as I see it now, you still haven't escaped."

Bai Ze saw two futures: one where Ming Yan died and his Dao disappeared, and the other where Ming Yan survived. The former future had already been aborted. The Empress sent Feng Shiyi to Ming Yan's side, forcibly changing Ming Yan's destiny. Coupled with Ming Yan's change of mindset, this led him into the present path.

In this storyline, both Gu Hanshuang and Yu Mudan eventually became Mingyan's Daoist partners.

Bai Ze didn't tell Yu Mudan that in the future she saw, Yu Mudan and Gu Hanshuang were initially very resistant, but resistance was useless, and later, they were both softened and won over by Ming Yan.

There's no escaping it...

The future can indeed be changed, just like the two futures she saw for Mingyan, but Yu Mudan and Gu Hanshuang are not yet out of their original framework.

If you want to change things, there is only one way: don't get to know Mingyan. But that's all in the past. People can change the future because the future hasn't happened yet. As long as you achieve certain goals, you can change the future. But the past cannot be changed.

Yu Mudan pursed her cherry lips and looked to the side. "What about Master? Are you and Mingyan the same as me?"

“I can’t see my future.” Bai Ze shook his head, then smiled and said, “Even if the future is like this, I won’t resist it; on the contrary, I might accept it.”

“My thoughts are completely different from Master’s… Never mind, why did Master leave the Holy Mountain? Doesn’t the Holy Mountain need you to stay behind?” Yu Mudan shook her head. She knew that discussing this with her Master would not yield any results, so she changed the subject.

"What? Can't I slack off?" Bai Ze turned his head to look at Yu Mudan and laughed.

"It's just strange, after all, Master has never left the Holy Mountain before." Yu Mudan also sat down by the bed and shook her head.

Ever since Yu Mudan could remember, Bai Ze had always stayed on the Sacred Mountain and had never gone out once. She needed to be on the Sacred Mountain at all times to ensure that she could observe the Sacred Mountain and prevent anyone from accidentally entering it.

"Have you met Mingyan's sister?" Bai Ze asked, looking at Yu Mudan and pausing briefly.

"I've met him." Yu Mudan nodded. "Master is referring to Senior Wang Qingchu, right?"

Previously in the Holy Yuan Dynasty, she had met the most powerful Queen Mother of the West... In Yu Mudan's eyes, she was no different from the Empress; both were beings who had touched the ultimate path, and were incredibly strong.

When Master mentioned Wang Qingchu, Yu Mudan's heart stirred. "Could it be that Senior Wang Qingchu can help take care of the Holy Mountain?"

"I guess so, that's why I was able to steal a moment of leisure amidst my busy schedule," Bai Ze chuckled. "I'd almost forgotten how long it's been since I last left the Holy Mountain..."

"Did Master come here because he was afraid I would fight with Gu Hanshuang?" Yu Mudan asked with a smile.

“With Mingyan here, you two can’t possibly fight.” Bai Ze shook his head. “I just came to see the two of you and take a vacation.”

Yu Mudan was somewhat amused and exasperated. "But Master really should take a rest..."

How's your relationship with Gu Hanshuang going lately?

“It’s the same as always.” Yu Mudan also lay down. She looked at the ceiling and said, “But recently Mingyan and Gu Hanshuang have been getting very close. I don’t know if he’s doing it on purpose, but he hasn’t come to see me during this time. If he wants to mediate between us, doing this seems to make me overthink. I wonder what Mingyan’s purpose is.”

"You think Mingyan is deliberately provoking you?" Bai Ze smiled and said, "He doesn't have that many tricks up his sleeve."

"Did Master underestimate him, or am I overthinking things..." Yu Mudan murmured to herself, "Who knows?"

"Don't worry, Mingyan is a very trustworthy person. He promised me he would mediate between you two, and he won't go back on his word. So, he won't help either of you," Bai Ze said with a smile. She seemed to be easing Yu Mudan's psychological pressure. Did she want to make Mingyan's efforts go to waste?

"I hope so..." Yu Mudan smiled, but her heart grew increasingly worried.

Master came here not for a vacation, but most likely to help Mingyan with something. Yu Mudan isn't that stupid.

If Mingyan is deliberately putting pressure on me, my master will most likely do the same thing as Mingyan, intentionally or unintentionally revealing that Mingyan might favor Gu Hanshuang, making me even more nervous. If that's the case, I'll be able to calm down.

She knew that her master would definitely help Mingyan, because the two had the same goal. Her master's arrival was probably at Mingyan's request. Her master couldn't possibly not know what Mingyan was thinking.

But Master's statement left Yu Mudan somewhat confused, as if she didn't know Ming Yan's thoughts... Or perhaps, Master just wanted her to calm down and not compete for anything?

But that doesn't make sense. Master has never shown favoritism to anyone before, so why would he show favoritism to Gu Hanshuang now?

Bai Ze stood up, and Yu Mudan, seeing this, also sat up.

Bai Ze gently patted Yu Mudan's shoulder, "Don't think too much."

Yu Mudan smiled and said, "I understand, Master."

"I'm going to see Han Shuang. You can decide what to do yourself." Bai Ze turned around and walked towards the door.

"Master, please take care." Yu Mudan lowered her head.

Bai Ze smiled and left Yu Mudan's room.

No one in the world understands Yu Mudan better than Bai Ze. She knows her disciple is an extremely suspicious person, so she's exceptionally skilled at guiding her to make guesses...

However, to Bai Ze's surprise, Ming Yan seemed to be quite good at this kind of thing as well...

She clearly remembered that when she first met Mingyan, he was a young man with a sincere heart... but now...

After Bai Ze left, Yu Mudan stood there, her eyes flickering, wondering what Ming Yan and her master were thinking... She grew increasingly uneasy, feeling that she couldn't let Ming Yan and Gu Hanshuang's relationship continue, but if she really tried to bring Ming Yan over, she'd probably have to sacrifice her virtue...

She really hates having to guess what other people are thinking; it's too passive...

Chapter 209 Like a Brother-in-Law

Mingyan is currently with Yue Wuxia, trying to persuade his master and senior sister to cultivate with him.

Of course, it's not easy.

Ultimately, her master still considered her an elder to Mingyan and her senior sister. Showing that pathetic side of herself in front of Mingyan was already the limit of what she could bear, and she didn't want Yue Qingying to see it too.

"Master..." Mingyan held Yue Wuxia's slender waist and said softly, "It's nothing, Senior Sister won't laugh at you. Let's just cultivate once..."

"Heh... once?" Yue Wuxia sneered. "You think I don't know what you're thinking? For you, as long as you're given the first chance, there will be a second, a third, and countless more."

Yue Wuxia had been tricked by Ming Yan countless times. Ming Yan's ability to take advantage of others was too strong, and his skin was thick as hell. She absolutely could not give him a chance, because if she did, he would never be able to resist again.

"Really, just once." Mingyan said with his eyes wide open, speaking the lie earnestly and seriously.

Yue Wuxia continued to sneer. Even if Ming Yan said something, as long as it was related to that topic, it could be regarded as nonsense and absolutely could not be believed.

Seeing that his master remained unmoved, Mingyan sighed. Yue Wuxia, who was sitting sideways on Mingyan's lap with his arm around his slender waist, rubbed his face against his master's. "Master, just give it a try..."

"Get lost..." Yue Wuxia remained unmoved. She had to be tough on this kind of thing and absolutely could not be soft-hearted, because if she was soft-hearted even once, she would have no way of controlling herself to refuse Ming Yan when he came to beg her again.

Ultimately, it wasn't so much that they didn't trust Mingyan, but rather that they didn't trust themselves.

If she agreed, and Mingyan came to ask her for help again, she would always think, "I've already agreed before, so agreeing again won't hurt..."

Therefore, only by rejecting him directly and without any room for negotiation the first time can Mingyan's hopes be dashed.

Seeing his master's lack of cooperation, Mingyan felt somewhat helpless. He couldn't very well force his master, could he? Even if his master disagreed, Mingyan wouldn't do it. He sighed softly, "Alright, then I'll go find Aunt Ning and Feixuan..."

As he spoke, Mingyan hugged his master and placed her beside him, then released his hands and stood up.

"Would Ning Mengru agree?" Yue Wuxia was not in a hurry when she saw this. She said with a smile, "Even if Ning Mengru had no shame, she would not agree to such a thing."

Ultimately, she is still the Queen Mother of the West; if she truly agrees to this, she will really abandon all dignity.

Seeing that his master wasn't fooled, Mingyan couldn't help but sigh. However, he still thought it would be better to work on Aunt Ning's mindset first, since Aunt Ning was easier to persuade than his master. Once Aunt Ning agreed, his master would probably have no choice but to agree as well.

So Mingyan didn't say much. After leaving Yue Wuxia's room, he went straight to Ning Mengru's residence.

During his time at the Huang family, Mingyan felt just like he was at home...

Mingyan considered himself a member of the Huang family to some extent, and the Huang family obviously thought so too.

Even though Fei Yan, Ni Chang, and the fairy sister are all willing, Master is still stubborn... This won't do, we have to make Master anxious.

As Mingyan arrived near Aunt Ning's residence, he saw Huang Qingfei walking side by side with Huang Junyi, chatting and laughing. Upon seeing this, Mingyan went over to them.

"Sister, Auntie."

The two naturally noticed Ming Yan as well. Upon hearing this, Huang Qingfei laughed and said, "You call me 'Auntie' but also call me 'Sister.' Don't you find that strange?"

It's a bit strange, but I'm used to it by now...

"Oh yeah... Logically speaking, only Qingfei should be calling me 'sister,' so it makes you seem like my brother-in-law~" Huang Junyi chuckled, her eyes full of ambiguity.

...Didn't you tell me to call you "sister"? I'd rather call you "fairy"...

When Huang Qingfei heard Huang Junyi's words, her smile remained faint, and she did not feel embarrassed or ashamed because of Huang Junyi's joke. "Is it Second Sister who made Yan'er call you sister? I think, if we're talking about brother-in-law, it should be Second Sister who wants Yan'er to be your brother-in-law."

Huang Junyi chuckled, "Mingyan, did you hear that? Do you want to be my brother-in-law?"

...These two sisters don't care about anything else when they joke around...But then again, is it really okay for the aunt to make these kinds of jokes?

"I wouldn't dare offend my aunt," Mingyan shook his head and smiled helplessly.

"How do you know it's offensive?" Huang Junyi's smile held a hint of meaning, while Huang Qingfei remained unmoved after hearing this.

Mingyan was a little confused about what the fairy sister meant. Was she trying to imply something by making these kinds of jokes repeatedly? And his aunt didn't react at all to these words...

"Are you here to see Sister Mengru?" Huang Qingfei asked with a light laugh.

"Hmm...but it's nothing important." Mingyan nodded.

"Then why don't you come for a walk with me?" Huang Qingfei offered, and Ming Yan naturally didn't refuse. Huang Junyi, standing nearby, waved her hand dismissively, "Then I won't disturb you two any longer. I'll be going now..."

After saying that, she disappeared in a few steps, leaving Mingyan completely confused. Why was his aunt talking to him while the fairy sister was leaving?

Huang Qingfei chuckled and shook her head, walking side by side with Ming Yan. "You seem to be going to see Gu Hanshuang quite often lately?"

"Yes." Mingyan nodded and said, "There are some personal matters that need to be taken care of."