One of my fairy-like friends

Gu Hanshuang smiled and changed the subject, "Would you like to go for a walk with me?"

"Of course," Mingyan laughed. "Is there even a question?"

"I was afraid you'd worry that Yu Mudan would misunderstand." Gu Hanshuang smiled, her smile faint, clear and calm, giving the impression of someone in a painting... truly special.

“Yu Mudan knows that I’m trying to get along with you, so what’s there to misunderstand?” Ming Yan shook his head, stood up, and said, “Let’s go for a walk.”

Gu Hanshuang nodded. She looked at the two swords beside her and put them into her dantian, instead of carrying them on her back as before.

Without her sword, Gu Hanshuang's sharp aura softened considerably, giving her a unique charm.

Chapter 222 The Strange Feeling in Gu Hanshuang's Heart

The two arrived outside, and before they had taken more than a few steps, Yu Mudan came out of her room. Upon seeing them, she approached them with a smile on her face.

"Young Master Ming, Han Shuang." Yu Mudan's tone was warm, making it seem as if she and Gu Han Shuang were very close.

Upon hearing Yu Mudan's address to her, Gu Hanshuang subconsciously frowned. "Don't call me that. We're not that close yet..."

Yu Mudan looked at Ming Yan with a somewhat innocent expression, as if to say, "See? I wanted to get along with Gu Hanshuang, but she's not cooperating at all."

Ming Yan smiled without saying a word. If Yu Mudan really wanted to get along with Gu Hanshuang, why would she need to make his appearance? She was just deliberately provoking Gu Hanshuang in this way.

Saying the right thing at the wrong time may seem like making up, but it doesn't actually work.

Seeing that Mingyan was just smiling and seemed to have no other reaction, Yu Mudan withdrew her gaze and then asked with a smile, "Where are you going?"

"Actually, Han Shuang and I wanted to take a walk together," Ming Yan said with a smile.

Mingyan's change of address elicited a glance from Gu Hanshuang, but she didn't react further.

Yu Mudan smiled and said, "I wonder if I could...?"

When Yu Mudan heard Ming Yan change his mind, she knew something was wrong. Had the two of them gotten this close? She was anxious, but there was no use in being anxious. Yu Mudan began to realize that she couldn't hesitate any longer... If she hesitated any longer and Gu Hanshuang and Ming Yan got involved, it would be too late.

"Would Fairy Yu like to come for a walk with us?" Upon hearing this, Ming Yan glanced at Gu Han Shuang beside him. Gu Han Shuang's face remained expressionless, neither objecting nor agreeing. Ming Yan then turned his gaze to Yu Mu Dan, who had her hands behind her back and a sweet smile on her face. He then smiled and said, "If Fairy Yu doesn't mind, I have no problem with that."

Mingyan's subtle gesture of turning his head to look at Gu Hanshuang was noticed by both Gu Hanshuang and Yu Mudan. Gu Hanshuang couldn't help but smile slightly, just as Mingyan respected her as she had given him her heart. This made Gu Hanshuang feel that she had not done anything wrong.

But for Yu Mudan, this is a rather dangerous signal, which proves that Ming Yan has begun to favor Gu Hanshuang in some aspects.

This puzzled Yu Mudan greatly. Why? Given Gu Hanshuang's lifeless and aloof demeanor, why would Mingyan prefer her? This was too strange. Had she done something wrong? Yu Mudan recalled the details of her interactions with Mingyan, and apart from maintaining a slight distance, she couldn't seem to have done anything wrong, right?

Despite her confusion, she had to accept this reality and change it; otherwise, she would be humiliated by Gu Hanshuang.

The three walked side by side, and Yu Mudan took the initiative to start a conversation, "Does Young Master Ming not plan to leave the world in the future?"

"As things stand, it seems unnecessary," Mingyan said with a smile. "I'll just quietly cultivate in seclusion. As for the struggle for supremacy, you can handle that."

"Shall we go?" Yu Mudan shook her head and chuckled. "The most powerful people among the younger generation are all by Young Master Ming's side. It would be too unfair for us to compete for supremacy with our current cultivation level. Besides, having reached this level, unless it's some particularly powerful inheritance, I have no intention of competing for it."

She has already reached the Taiyi realm. For the younger generation who are still in the Qi Sea realm or have just broken through to the Divine Palace realm, this is a dimensional reduction attack. The difference between Taiyi and Divine Palace is not just a small realm, but an entire major realm.

"If you ask me, it would be better to stay by Young Master Ming's side. In your free time, you can spar with others and improve your skills," Yu Mudan said with a smile, her hands behind her back. "Young Master Ming, do you remember I said I wouldn't mind being your follower..."

“I thought it was a joke,” Mingyan said with a smile.

"It was a joke, but I think staying by Young Master Ming's side might be better than participating in those power struggles outside," Yu Mudan said with a sigh.

"Would you obediently become a follower?" Gu Hanshuang asked, tilting her head to look at Gu Hanshuang. She said calmly, "Would you let Mingyan wait for you to betray him?"

"I don't like hearing that. I'm not one to break my word," Yu Mudan said, raising an eyebrow and turning to look at Gu Hanshuang.

"Hmph, is that so?" Gu Hanshuang snorted lightly.

“Gu Hanshuang, I don’t want to argue with you.” Yu Mudan’s tone became more serious. “I don’t want to embarrass Young Master Ming.”

This last sentence finally silenced Gu Hanshuang. She withdrew her gaze and transmitted her voice to Ming Yan, "I'm sorry... I got a little carried away..."

"It's alright, I never expected you two to make up so quickly anyway," Ming Yan comforted him via telepathy. "You don't need to take it to heart."

"..." Gu Hanshuang felt a strange, indescribable feeling. Was it just her imagination? Ming Yan seemed genuinely biased, and the object of his favoritism was her...

She had previously said that if Yu Mudan was willing to reconcile, she would cooperate, but seeing Yu Mudan's hypocritical attitude always disgusted her...

However, she knew Yu Mudan was hypocritical, but did Mingyan know that? If Mingyan truly believed that Yu Mudan was willing to reconcile with her and that it wasn't just an act, wouldn't he misunderstand her?

But now it seems he either saw through Yu Mudan or was more biased towards himself, hence his great tolerance towards her...

She was too lazy to figure it out. Since Mingyan was good to her, she couldn't let him have a headache, so she didn't continue.

Seeing that Gu Hanshuang had calmed down, Yu Mudan did not continue to make a fuss about what had just happened, because doing so might offend Mingyan.

However, because of what had just happened, the three of them stopped talking about that topic and instead chatted about other random things.

After Yu Mudan and Gu Hanshuang returned, Mingyan was about to leave when he heard Bai Ze's voice transmission to him. Upon hearing this, Mingyan went to Bai Ze's place.

"Senior Bai Ze." Ming Yan bowed to Bai Ze.

"No need for formalities. You don't need to bow to me. How many times do I have to say it?" Bai Ze chuckled.

Ming Yan straightened up and chuckled, "Senior Bai Ze, did you seek me out for matters concerning Fairy Gu and Han Shuang?"

"Hehe, it seems your relationship with Han Shuang has become quite good?" Bai Ze couldn't help but smile knowingly upon hearing this form of address.

"I guess so..." Mingyan nodded and smiled.

Chapter 223 Jade Peony's Attack

"I guess so?" Bai Ze smiled. "That's a rather vague way of putting it."

"Let me put it another way... I've become friends with Han Shuang, but the friendship is rather ambiguous," Ming Yan said with a smile.

"Hehe." Bai Ze was dressed in white, with sky blue edges. She was mature, elegant, and dignified, with a touch of intellect and mystery. She was somewhat similar to Ning Mengru, but there were differences in the details. Ning Mengru was the mature and gentle type who seemed approachable, but Bai Ze actually gave off a feeling that she could only be admired from afar.

She chuckled softly. "Do you genuinely want to be friends with her, or are you just using her?"

“Use?” Mingyan paused for a moment. “I don’t deny that I have the idea of ​​using my relationship with Han Shuang to put pressure on Yu Mudan, but it’s not just that. I still genuinely consider Han Shuang a friend. The two are not mutually exclusive.”

"So you really want to be friends with her?"

“Why not?” Mingyan smiled and said, “Now that I have a reason to be friends with her, and no reason not to be friends with her, I will naturally choose the former.”

Bai Ze laughed and said, "Do you know your future with them? Do you resist this so-called destiny?"

"Senior Bai Ze, are you referring to your previous prediction that Yu Mudan and Gu Hanshuang would become my Daoist partners?" Ming Yan asked.

"I suppose so. What's your take on this feeling of 'destiny'?" Bai Ze nodded slightly and continued to ask.

"As for my opinion... I don't dislike it, nor can I say I like it. I don't resist it, but I don't particularly expect it either," Mingyan said. "I don't really believe in destiny, but if things develop naturally, just like the so-called 'prophecy,' I won't resist it."

“Both Peony and Frost are actually somewhat resistant to this so-called ‘destiny’.” Bai Ze lowered his head. “Frost may have changed a bit in recent days, but Peony is definitely still the same as before. My ‘prophecy’ has brought you together, but to some extent, it has also hindered the development of your relationship. If it weren’t for this ‘prophecy,’ you might have already achieved your goal.”

Mingyan smiled and said, "That kind of thing doesn't really matter. It's just a matter of time. As long as the goal is achieved, that's all that matters."

Bai Ze nodded gently and smiled, "There's something else I've always wanted to tell you... Do you remember when I said I saw two versions of your future?"

“Hmm…” Mingyan remembered that it was one life and one death, two futures.

“You have already avoided that dead future,” Bai Ze said with a smile. “I hope you no longer have any concerns.”

——————————————————————————————

After leaving Bai Ze's place, Ming Yan remained silent for a while.

My senior sister had previously dreamt of her own death, and that my sister had also withered away in front of her grave... There was no need to reach such a future.

He had only taken two steps when Yu Mudan reappeared in front of Mingyan.

"Jade Fairy." Ming Yan smiled as Jade Peony blocked his way, but he didn't rush to leave.

“Young Master Ming, may I speak with you privately? Gu Hanshuang was here just now, and there were some things I couldn’t say.” Yu Mudan’s attitude was serious at this moment, and Ming Yan did not refuse when he saw this, and nodded with a smile.

The two left the courtyard and went outside, finding a relatively secluded spot to stop.

"Young Master Ming and Gu Hanshuang seem to have a very good relationship." Yu Mudan stopped and said, her expression still somewhat serious, without her usual signature smile.

"It's so good that it makes me a little jealous."

Mingyan was somewhat surprised. "Really?"

"Of course, Young Master Ming has even started calling her by her first name, and she hasn't objected at all... Over the years, only Master has called her by her name without her resisting..." Yu Mudan lowered her head and said, "Is there something I'm doing that I'm not as good as Gu Hanshuang? I always feel that Young Master Ming isn't as frank with me as Gu Hanshuang is..."

There was a hint of resentment in Yu Mudan's words, like that of a neglected concubine...

"Of course not." Mingyan, understanding perfectly, quickly replied, "Fairy Jade, you've misunderstood..."

"Then why is that? Does it mean that in Young Master Ming's heart, in your heart Ming Yan's heart, I, Yu Mudan, am harder to get along with than Gu Hanshuang? Do you think I am deep-thinking, or hypocritical? Or is it because I am not worthy of being liked?" Yu Mudan's expression dimmed, her resentment turning into pity.

"Fairy Jade...please don't be like this..." Mingyan hesitated for a moment before saying, "I have indeed become quite close to Han Shuang, but it's not that I'm intentionally keeping my distance from Fairy Jade. It's just that I don't know how to get along with you..."

"You keep calling me 'Jade Fairy,' but every time I feel there's a huge distance between us... You say you're not deliberately keeping your distance, that you don't know how to get along with me..." Yu Mudan seemed to become more and more agitated as she spoke. She stared directly at Ming Yan, getting closer and closer until they were almost touching. Ming Yan could even feel the fragrant breath from Yu Mudan's breath on his face. "It's clear that you're wary of me. How can we be friends like this?"

"Jade Fairy..."

"Jade Fairy, Jade Fairy, Jade Fairy... To Gu Hanshuang, you are Hanshuang; to me, you are Jade Fairy..." Yu Mudan distanced herself again, her eyes dimming. "Let it be... I originally thought we could become true friends, but now it seems I was just overthinking it..."

“Peony…” Mingyan reached out and grasped Yu Mudan’s hand. Yu Mudan’s body trembled slightly, and her hand twisted unconsciously, as if she was not used to it. However, she quickly controlled this instinctive reaction and let Mingyan hold her hand.

“That’s not what I meant…sigh…” Mingyan sighed. “I admit, I was indeed a little wary of you…but I genuinely wanted to be your friend and resolve the relationship between you and Han Shuang…”

Yu Mudan remained silent, but she turned her head and looked down at Mingyan's hand, which she was holding. After a long while, she said softly, "No one of the opposite sex has ever held my hand before. You are the first..."

Upon hearing this, Mingyan quickly released Yu Mudan. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you... I acted rashly just now..."

"It's nothing..." Yu Mudan withdrew her hand, stared at it for a while, and said, "I understand your thoughts. After all, it's really tiring to be with someone like me who has so many thoughts. It's better to be with someone as straightforward as Gu Hanshuang, right?"

Chapter 224 Both of them are acting

Ming Yan remained silent, tacitly agreeing with Yu Mudan's words. Seeing this, Yu Mudan couldn't help but laugh self-deprecatingly, "Now, I've truly outsmarted myself... I've made everyone distrust me..."

Mingyan sighed, "Fairy Yu, you're overthinking it. I just have some concerns, not that I don't trust you."

"Is that so?" Yu Mudan smiled, but there was a hint of helplessness in her smile. "I know that the impression I left on you before may not have been very good. After all, although it was supposed to be a cooperation, I did have some intention of taking advantage of you. But now, do you still think that I thought that way?"

Mingyan shook his head. "I don't think so..."

"If you're willing to give me a little more trust..." Yu Mudan pursed her cherry lips and lowered her head. "I'm sorry, I lost my composure just now... Please don't take offense, Young Master Ming..."

“Just call me by my name,” Mingyan said. “Since you’ve said it yourself, we’re being too polite with each other. Let’s at least change how we address each other.”

"What's the point of just changing the name?" Yu Mudan murmured softly, seemingly talking to herself, but what level of cultivation did Ming Yan possess? How could he not hear such self-talk?