Chapter 721: Chapter 369: The Truth Revealed, Embarrassed and Flustered, Jade Beauty Enraged, Another Loss to Li Xian!
Zhao Ranran was awkwardly reserved. Although she had the kind intentions of bringing people together, speaking these words made her feel utterly embarrassed. If it wasn’t triggered by her, she would never want to be involved at all. She said, "Whatever thoughts you have in your hearts, just say them directly."
Nangong Wuyang asked in disbelief, "Miss Zhao, are you... are you saying that I should form a family with Brother Bian?" Zhao Ranran nodded and said, "If there is mutual affection, naturally you should stay together."
Bian Bianyun wiped his cold sweat and said, "Miss Zhao, you’ve been missing for a while, and upon your sudden return, you say such things - truly... truly leaving us all puzzled. Maybe there’s a misunderstanding involved..."
Zhao Ranran, considering herself sensible, tried to persuade them, "It’s normal if you find it hard to speak about it. But you must quickly decide your feelings, to avoid suffering from overthinking. You’ve lived like this for three years already; now that I’m back, I will find a way to help you improve things. Consider it compensating for a mistake."
Though young and inexperienced in matters of love, she was brought up with honor and innate aloofness, naturally making empathy difficult. Yet at this moment, she spoke with confidence, offering unsolicited advice, making mismatched relationships. Though she lacked assurance in her voice, she had grown accustomed to looking down on the human world from above, showing quite a decisive demeanor.
Nangong Wuyang and Bian Bianyun, seeing that the matter concerned them, and noticing Zhao Ranran’s confident expression, both thought, "Could it be that some meddlesome person spread random rumors that Zhao Ranran heard? This kind of baseless talk is so unfounded, spread recklessly by those rascals. If not cleared up on the spot, such rumors will only grow stronger, how can we live with that?" They recalled their past, only barely knowing each other’s names, with hardly any connection, where would there be a love affair.
Nangong Xuanming and Bian Chengfeng looked at each other, their gazes intertwined, knowing that misunderstandings lay beneath.
The several people exchanged looks and said in unison, "Miss Zhao, please come with us back to the hall for a detailed discussion."
Zhao Ranran nodded, "Very well!" Everyone stepped into the cabin and saw dozens of heroes chatting and drinking, very lively.
Nangong Xuanming led the way upstairs, entering a private room, and they sat down again to discuss. Nangong Wuyang said, "Miss Zhao, where did you hear such rumors?"
Zhao Ranran was stunned, "Rumors?" Confusion filled her mind.
Nangong Xuanming said, "Brother Chengfeng and I are completely innocent."
Nangong Wuyang immediately said, "There’s absolutely nothing like that between Brother Bian and me."
Zhao Ranran gave a light "ah," beginning to feel something was amiss, as many strange thoughts surged in her mind. She said, "How long have I been missing?"
Tai Shu Yuzhu said, "Over a month now." Zhao Ranran asked, "Only over a month?"
Nangong Xuanming curiously said, "Now it’s mid-April, so only over a month. Miss Zhao, you don’t even know this? Even if the lake is confusing, the sun still rises and sets, you should be vaguely aware at least?"
Zhao Ranran’s thoughts were racing, she asked, "What is the current state of the world?" Bian Chengfeng said strangely, "The world’s situation is like a storm. The Great Wu is on the brink of chaos, hidden currents possibly stirring, but on the surface, not much has changed."
Zhao Ranran slapped the table, anger surging up like a blaze, she knew she was most likely deceived, and asked further, "In such a case, were you not punished for a lifetime of not being able to step on land due to my disappearance?"
The people exchanged glances, each not understanding what Zhao Ranran was talking about. They answered earnestly, "Of course not. You’ve been missing for over a month, but the Jingyao Divine Bird is spiritually connected with you, knowing you are unharmed. We are still searching with all our might, and the family doesn’t know about this matter; even if messages were sent back and forth, it takes time."
Zhao Ranran felt angry inside, "Nangong Xuanming and Nangong Wuyang wouldn’t lie to me. If what they said is true, then whatever Ghost Doctor spoke was merely bluff and deception meant to trick me." Thinking of this, her hands and feet felt hot and flushed, her cheeks reddened, embarrassed beyond words, she said, "Such... such things, naturally, are all false. I was prejudiced, wrongly trusting that so-called Ghost Doctor, rashly matching couples and speaking astonishingly. Zhao Ranran, oh Zhao Ranran... you thought you did a good deed, fulfilling others’ happiness, not realizing how foolish you’ve been, losing so much face yourself. Jade Girl’s long-standing reputation, would it not be ruined by you? Who knows what they truly think of me..."
She tightly bit her silver teeth, pressed her lips firmly together, her fists clenched in shame under her sleeves, her jade toes curled. Severely embarrassed, yet she forced composure and said, "Everyone, explain the matter to me, one by one."
Bian Bianyun said, "That day, after capturing the Flower Thief on the island, we secured the prisoners. Miss Zhao and Brother Xuanming entered the lake to capture the Flower Thief. We waited for several days without seeing either you or Brother Xuanming return, momentarily hesitating, unsure of what to do. We found ourselves in an impossible situation."
"Another half-day wait, Brother Chengfeng, Brother Yuzhu, Brother Lanfeng... and the others discussed, all deeply concerned for your safety, so they dispatched Brother Yuzhu and Brother Chengfeng to enter the lake searching for your whereabouts. They took a boat into the lake, knowledgeable somewhat of the five elements and feng shui, believing they could be useful. However, a few miles into the lake, the fog was dense, without the guidance of the Jingyao Divine Bird, progress was truly impossible. That cunning group of Flower Thieves, low in ability, yet could survive here long, certainly had some means. The predicament was no child’s play."
"Out of sheer helplessness, Brother Yuzhu and Brother Chengfeng turned back, returning to the Water Altar while still deep in the lake. At that point, we were at our wits’ end, exceedingly anxious. Brother Lanfeng jokingly remarked, ’Perhaps with the old Flower Thief caught, we will take over their nest, becoming new Flower Thieves?’ We all laughed, yet could not help thinking: ’With Miss Zhao missing, venturing independently on the lake would be most perilous, a certain death. Though said in jest, it was indeed possible.’"
"Thankfully, on the fifteenth day, a loud bird call was suddenly heard. We looked up, seeing it was the Jingyao Divine Bird, and felt extremely excited. We immediately followed the Jingyao Divine Bird deeper into the lake to search for Nangong Xuanming and Miss Zhao. But only found Brother Xuanming, stranded on a deserted island, looking like a wildman."
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