Chapter 350: Chapter 349: Reuniting with Luo Xiaowen
Hearing the voice, Shen Haoran and the others stopped in their tracks and looked back. When they saw the person standing behind them, they all froze on the spot.
At the mouth of the corridor not far away, a woman stood. Her beauty was truly breathtaking.
If Xianxian’s beauty was the kind that made you want to protect her, and Murong Wanqing’s was playful and cute, then the woman before them possessed a mature, elegant charm.
"Sister Xiaowen!"
A moment later, Murong Wanqing’s face lit up with elation. She cried out in delight, then bounded over like an excited rabbit and threw her arms around the woman.
The woman who had appeared was none other than Luo Xiaowen, the heiress of the Luo Family, and one of Murong Wanqing’s closest childhood friends from the Imperial City.
However, Luo Xiaowen had no reaction to Murong Wanqing clinging to her. Her large, starlit eyes were welling with tears as she stared, transfixed, at the young man in black martial attire not far down the corridor.
"Sister Xiaowen, what’s wrong?" Noticing that Luo Xiaowen wasn’t responding, Murong Wanqing looked up. Seeing her friend’s expression, she asked in confusion.
But Luo Xiaowen didn’t answer Murong Wanqing. Her gaze remained fixed ahead as she slowly walked forward until she stood before Shen Haoran.
"Long time no see, Sister Xiaowen," Shen Haoran said softly, a grin spreading across his face as he looked at her.
"Is it really you?" Luo Xiaowen asked, her voice trembling as she gazed at Shen Haoran’s smiling face.
At her words, Shen Haoran shrugged and spread his hands. "Don’t tell me you think I’m a fake, Sister Xiaowen," he said teasingly. "Why don’t you see for yourself..."
But before Shen Haoran could finish, Luo Xiaowen threw her arms around him.
"You rotten kid! I can’t believe you’re still alive! You had me so worried!" Luo Xiaowen could no longer hold back. Tears streamed down her face. She was certain now—this was Shen Haoran, the smart-mouthed "little brother" she knew!
Seeing this, everyone in the corridor was stunned by Luo Xiaowen’s actions. They all couldn’t help but gulp. ’What in the world is going on? How does this kid have such incredible luck with women wherever he goes!’
Murong Wanqing, standing to the side, was utterly gobsmacked. ’I grew up with Xiaowen. For as long as I’ve known her, she’s always been cold as ice toward men. All those young masters in the Imperial City are head over heels for her, but has she ever given any of them the time of day? She’ll barely exchange more than a few words with even that personage from the Emperor’s Palace. And now? Now she’s hugging a man, and from the looks of it, he’s even a little reluctant!’
"Ahem... Sister Xiaowen, decorum, a little decorum!" Shen Haoran coughed pointedly.
Hearing him, Luo Xiaowen startled. Her face instantly flushed red as she quickly released Shen Haoran. Not knowing what to do with her hands, she looked down and began nervously fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.
Seeing Luo Xiaowen’s bashful, maidenly demeanor, Murong Wanqing felt like her entire worldview was crumbling. ’Is this really the same ice queen I’ve always known?’
Looking at the shy Luo Xiaowen, Shen Haoran couldn’t help but feel a stir in his heart. He recalled their first meeting in Celestial Martial City and everything that had happened since. After their expedition to the Spirit Emperor’s Tomb, Luo Xiaowen had believed him to be buried deep underground. In a fit of grief and rage, she had wiped out the Yang Family in his name. Shen Haoran had only learned of this later, and he’d been deeply moved at the time.
Shen Haoran stepped forward and said, "Thank you, Sister Xiaowen."
"So, what’s the deal with you two?" Murong Wanqing asked, looking between Luo Xiaowen and Shen Haoran.
Only then did Luo Xiaowen seem to remember Murong Wanqing was there. The thought that her childhood friend had witnessed her recent behavior made her blush all over again, and she became too bashful to speak.
Shen Haoran, on the other hand, was completely unfazed, his thick skin showing. He just shrugged and said nonchalantly, "It’s nothing. Just a reunion between old friends. Things got a little emotional!"
"Old friends? You and Sister Xiaowen already knew each other?" Murong Wanqing pressed, staring at Shen Haoran.
"That’s a question for her," Shen Haoran said, deflecting to Luo Xiaowen.
Murong Wanqing turned to Luo Xiaowen, her eyes gleaming with a hunger for gossip. Seeing this, Luo Xiaowen cleared her throat and said, "Ahem, I’ll explain everything in a bit. Come on, let’s go to my rooms first."
"You’d better explain everything clearly later, or you’ll see what I do to you!" Murong Wanqing threatened, shaking a small fist at Shen Haoran and Luo Xiaowen. In response, they both just rolled their eyes at her.
Afterward, Luo Xiaowen led Shen Haoran and the others toward the top floor of the Celestial Martial Auction House.
...
Once they reached Luo Xiaowen’s room, under Murong Wanqing’s relentless questioning, Luo Xiaowen recounted the story of how she met Shen Haoran, at last satisfying her friend’s curiosity.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK...
Just as they were all chatting pleasantly, a knock came from the door.
"Third Sister, are you in there?" a soft, effeminate voice called from outside the door.
At the sound of this voice, the smile vanished from Luo Xiaowen’s pretty face, instantly replaced by a cold mask. The very air in the room seemed to freeze. She was like a completely different person from the one who had been laughing and joking just moments before. The abrupt change surprised Shen Haoran, but Murong Wanqing simply nodded. ’Now, *this* is the Luo Xiaowen I know.’
"I have guests. It’s not a good time," Luo Xiaowen said coolly toward the door.
However, the words had barely left her mouth when the door was kicked open with tremendous force. Splintered wood exploded inward, turning into a shower of sharp projectiles aimed straight at Shen Haoran and the others!
Seeing this, Shen Haoran snorted. ’Their target is clear. They’re aiming for me!’ The Fire Spirit Black Obsidian churned within him, and a Fire Curtain materialized in front of the group, instantly incinerating the wooden projectiles.
