Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 381 368: Trial of Heart Tribulation (2): Shang Miaoyan: "I Came Here Just to Find You!

A snow-white, winged horse pulled a lavishly decorated carriage, slowly descending from the clouds toward the ground.

The carriage curtains swayed slightly, revealing the faint outline of a graceful figure lounging inside.

Shang Miaoyan was dressed in a bright red silk gown that outlined her exquisite curves. Her slender, jade-like fingers were idly toying with a lock of dark hair by her ear.

Fan Ya lowered her gaze to the carriage interior, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the fabric of her sleeves.

She bit her lower lip, hesitating for a long moment before speaking softly, "Holy Daughter, please forgive me for speaking bluntly."

"That's enough."

A lazy chuckle came from behind the curtains. Shang Miaoyan casually shifted her position, and silver rings on her fair ankles chimed.

"With a personality as cautious as yours, Fan Ya, how could you possibly have the courage to speak bluntly?"

Shang Miaoyan's eyes shifted, a slight smile playing on her red lips. "It's nothing more than your superiors having you relay a message. Just say it."

At these words, the tips of Fan Ya's ears turned slightly red, and her long eyelashes trembled.

She took a deep breath and said, "Holy Daughter, the Sect Leader asked you to choose your first Medicine Cauldron since you began your Cultivation. She clearly recommended so many with Divine Physiques..."

"But I wouldn't even look at that ugly bunch."

Shang Miaoyan interrupted abruptly. With a wave of her jade-like hand, the curtain moved on its own, revealing half of a face that could topple nations. Her eyes, however, betrayed a hint of impatience.

"Their looks and bearing are average at best, and they're just spoiled goods used countless times by the Sect Elders. Are they even worthy of meeting me?"

Seeing this, Fan Ya quickly lowered her head, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead. "But yesterday's new batch of fine prospects from the Qi Cultivation stage were all clean."

"Hah."

Shang Miaoyan sneered again, her slender, pale fingers tapping lightly on the small table.

"Those dull-witted fools are even less worthy of my notice."

She suddenly broke into a smile, her beautiful eyes twinkling with curious interest. "I'd like to see for myself what other fine specimens are hiding in this Jade Field."

Fan Ya frowned and said softly, "But Your Highness, the only ones left in the Jade Field are of mediocre talent. How could they be worthy of you, Holy Daughter..."

"Are you questioning me?"

Shang Miaoyan shot Fan Ya a glance, her voice turning instantly cold. The latter's waist tensed, her legs pressed together, and she lowered her head in submission.

"...I wouldn't dare."

"Then have the carriage descend. I want to see for myself. I'll just consider it a bit of fun."

...

...

'Shang Miaoyan... Why would that woman come to a place like this?'

Pei Yuhang couldn't understand. Shang Miaoyan was the exalted Saintess; what was she doing at a basic-level site for selecting Cauldron Slaves for no apparent reason?

'Yesterday, I didn't expose my identity. That should have already changed the terrible future where I meet Shang Miaoyan and she imprisons me as her personal plaything.'

'Why? Why did she still come?!'

'No... just because she's here doesn't necessarily mean she's looking for me.'

'Shang Miaoyan doesn't even know me right now!'

After figuring this out, Pei Yuhang's mood instantly relaxed.

'As long as I don't meet her—'

'I can still change things!'

A chill shot through Pei Yuhang's heart. He quickly rose, positioning himself behind the others, and was about to leave.

However, at that moment, all the disciples in the Jade Field were standing by in place, awaiting the Saintess's arrival.

Even though Pei Yuhang deliberately tried to hide himself, he couldn't escape the perception of some of the female disciples with higher Cultivation.

"Where are you trying to go, young man~"

A soft and seductive voice suddenly sounded by Pei Yuhang's ear.

He snapped his head up to see a beautiful Female Cultivator in a crimson-purple silk dress who had, at some unknown point, blocked his path.

Her hair was coiled in an elegant chignon, and the corners of her eyes were adorned with faint floral markings in the shape of a phoenix tail. She was sizing him up and down with a scrutinizing gaze.

When her gaze landed on Pei Yuhang's face, her fingers, painted with red polish, trembled. Her casual expression froze, her full red lips parted slightly, revealing a look of disbelief.

'How could such an exquisitely handsome boy be hidden among this batch of consumables?!'

'Looking across the entire Sect, his looks and bearing are absolutely top-tier.'

'Why didn't I notice him before? I must have been blind!'

The beautiful Female Cultivator's scrutinizing gaze gradually turned into a scorching stare.

'Even if a handsome boy like this has a poor foundation and can't help my Cultivation, just keeping him in my residence to look at would be a delight.'

She wanted to take Pei Yuhang away.

Pei Yuhang was very sensitive to this kind of nakedly suggestive gaze and knew immediately what this Female Cultivator wanted.

Just as he was pondering how to escape, Pei Yuhang's eyes suddenly saw that the carriage bearing the Saintess had already landed in the Jade Field.

'So be it!'

'Even if I'm taken away by this Female Cultivator, it's better than being taken by Shang Miaoyan!'

'At least, if she takes me... I can still find a chance to escape later!'

Pei Yuhang deliberately put on the appearance of a shy young man, looking at the beautiful Female Cultivator with a blush creeping up his ears.

He intentionally made his voice soft, a hint of bewilderment in his shifting gaze. "This Fairy..."

This innocent act made the beautiful Female Cultivator practically drool. The laugh lines at the corners of her eyes deepened, and she suddenly reached out, the cool metal of her bracer grazing Pei Yuhang's jaw.

"What a clever, good boy. Young man, you must be in some kind of trouble."

The beautiful Female Cultivator's voice was thick like honey. "It's a good thing you ran into me. I love helping people. Come, let's go chat somewhere a little more private."

"Look, your clothes are all wet... Why don't you come with me and change into something clean?"

"Mm."

Pei Yuhang looked at the beautiful Female Cultivator, who was completely captivated by him, and a flicker of coldness flashed in his eyes.

He lowered his head and followed behind the beautiful Female Cultivator, preparing to slip away from a corner of the Jade Field.

"You two over there, stop!"

"The Holy Daughter wants to take a close look at all the prospects. Not a single one is to leave!"

A cold, sharp voice came from the distance. It was Fan Xuan's voice!

Cold sweat beaded on Pei Yuhang's forehead. He looked toward the white horse's carriage and saw the tall, pretty girl suddenly lean into the carriage window, seemingly talking to the person inside.

A moment later, he saw Fan Xuan beckon to him.

"You, over there! Come here!"

'It's over.'

Pei Yuhang's heart sank. He knew he couldn't leave now.

He didn't even look back at the astonished beautiful Female Cultivator. A mere Golden Core Disciple couldn't protect him from Shang Miaoyan.

'But maybe things aren't as bad as I imagine.'

'In the past, the reason Shang Miaoyan kept me by her side was most likely because she coveted my Giant Sun Saint Body.'

'Now, my physique hasn't been exposed.'

'That means there's still a chance.'

'Perhaps... Shang Miaoyan will just take one look at me and disgustedly toss a man with "poor aptitude" like me aside?'

Pei Yuhang gave himself a pep talk and walked over to the carriage.

He could feel the eyes of all the female disciples, Cauldron Slaves, Fan Ya, and Fan Xuan focused on him—filled with curiosity, schadenfreude, confusion, and more.

But Pei Yuhang paid them no mind. He just quietly watched the parting curtain.

A familiar face appeared before him—one that still held a girl's youthful innocence, yet was already beautiful beyond measure.

At the sight of the beautiful young Saintess, still in the flower of her youth, all the men present unconsciously revealed expressions of infatuation.

At that moment, they even felt that if they could just be close to such an exquisitely beautiful and noble woman for a moment, it would be worth dying for.

Only in Pei Yuhang's clear, dark eyes did an uncontrollable fear surface.

Because it was this noble Saintess, in the prime of her youth and beauty, this girl at her most arrogant, vicious, and domineering, who had given him his most indelible, painful memories!

Shang Miaoyan looked at the strange expression in the handsome boy's eyes, stunned for a moment before she realized what it was: he was afraid of her.

'This ridiculously handsome boy.'

'When he saw me, he didn't show that ugly, infatuated look. Instead... he's afraid!'

'What a... cute expression!!'

Shang Miaoyan felt an unprecedented flutter in her heart. Her breathing grew rapid, a flush spreading across her pretty face. She couldn't wait to see more of that cute expression on this handsome boy's face.

Her thin, cherry-pink lips curled into a smile in an instant. She grabbed Pei Yuhang by the collar and pulled him in front of her.

"Little one, it seems I came here today just for you~!"