Chapter 138: Slaughter in the Love Affair! Chief Lin! Please choose your heartbeat girl! (Ask for monthly tickets!) _1
Everyone watched as Hongling, the fairy seated atop Divine Phoenix Peak, flew into another rage.
The entire hall was dead silent!
After a long moment, none of the Elders in the hall dared to utter a single word!
It was known that this was the second time she had gone against the entire assembly for her beloved disciple, Lin Xiao, since forcibly protecting him at the last Five Branches Martial Arts Meeting.
"Chief Xiao! You... restrain yourself!"
Only after a while did Sect Leader True Master Ziyun growl, "The purpose of today's feast was to celebrate Lin Xiao's triumphant return. Regarding other matters, whatever opinions you may have, let us sit down and discuss them calmly!"
"Don't forget, there are still five Supreme Elders sitting behind the curtain. As their juniors, how can we be impolite?"
He deliberately emphasized the words "Supreme Elders."
It was an attempt to remind his junior sister not to cross the line.
"Very well! Master, you're right!"
Xiao Hongling coldly flicked her sleeve. "A moment ago... it was indeed my fault. I am willing to apologize to the Supreme Elders! But—"
Her phoenix eyes swept coldly across the hall as her tone shifted. "My disciple's marriage is not for outsiders to gossip about! As his Master, I know perfectly well which woman he holds dear in his heart!"
With that, she gritted her teeth and looked towards the handsome young man in snow-white robes at the center of the hall. Her phoenix eyes reddened slightly as she said through clenched teeth,
"Xiao'er, on that night by the hot spring at Bright Moon Cliff, who was the woman you publicly declared your affection for?"
"Come now! Today! In front of everyone, say her name!"
As she spoke these words, a group of Elders, usually aloof and unreadable, all showed expressions of curiosity.
At the entrance of the great hall, a few disciples from Dragon Head Peak, who were on guard duty, began to whisper among themselves:
"Now that Chief Xiao has said it! All the pressure is on Chief Lin!"
"Speaking of which, does Senior Brother Lin... really have someone he loves?"
"Come, come, place your bets! Let's wager on who Senior Brother Lin's most beloved woman truly is!"
"Is that even a question? It must be one of the three direct senior sisters from Divine Phoenix Peak!"
"I bet on Xiao... Never mind, my life is more important. I'll stay quiet."
"Isn't this brother thinking too small? I'll make a big bet! I bet Senior Brother Lin likes all three of his junior sisters! Plus Uncle Master Xiao!"
"Wow! This brother's thinking is on another level!"
Meanwhile, upon hearing Xiao Hongling's words, the three women present—Su Mei, Zhu Wanning, and Chu Youwei—all focused their gazes on a girl in red with an impressive figure and a high ponytail.
Yes, on that night at the hot spring celebration feast, Chief Lin had clearly stated his position!
He had long been deeply in love with his Second Junior Sister, Guo Yourong!
And now...
Under his Master's pressure, the choice he would make was quite predictable.
In the Phoenix Caw Peak's seating area, Zhu Wanning's delicate face was filled with sorrow.
Senior Brother Lin, regarding our relationship, Wanning has always... felt guilty. I knew you loved Junior Sister Yurong, yet I still shamelessly expressed my own feelings...
Therefore, whatever choice you make today, Wanning will understand!
Zhu Wanning clenched her fists, thinking to herself.
However, even though she believed she had prepared for the worst, she still desperately hoped that this man—the only one in her life she had ever been drawn to, the one to whom she had given everything, the man who, during their wedding ceremony, had said to her, "The immortal path is a sea of suffering; let us embrace for warmth"—would bravely step onto the stage in front of everyone and take her hand.
Those three months of supporting each other, unforgettable yet so brief.
She feared she would never forget them, not even when her consciousness faded away in this lifetime.
Memories surged and raged within her. Zhu Wanning closed her eyes, tears streaming down like rain.
She was a woman who valued promises immensely, and she desperately hoped the man she loved would keep his.
Beside her, her Master, Su Mei, saw her beloved disciple's expression and said with a touch of heartache, "Wanning, you never lie to your Master. If you said you and Lin Xiao have mutual affection, then it must be true! So, don't worry! That boy will definitely choose you! As for that Guo girl... Hah, men. Your Master has seen plenty in her lifetime. They are often fickle, forgetting old loves when a new one comes along. It's a common thing."
She spoke like an experienced elder, gently comforting her beloved disciple.
"Master, no, Senior Brother Lin isn't like that! He..."
Zhu Wanning lowered her head, murmuring softly, "He values loyalty and affection greatly."
"Oh, well then, isn't that even better? Rest assured, my dear girl."
Su Mei walked over and gently laid her beloved disciple's head on her warm, ample bosom, smiling tenderly.
On the other side, in stark contrast to Zhu Wanning's dejection, Guo Yourong's stunningly beautiful face bloomed with a shy yet joyful smile.
Although she, too, had always felt that her Eldest Senior Brother declaring his love for her was somewhat abrupt.
But!
Fourteen years of being together day and night, the countless times she had secretly cared for him, gave her the confidence that Eldest Senior Brother at least... had feelings for her!
Eldest Senior Brother, will you... choose Yurong again? If we can have a future together, Yurong will definitely try her best to learn from Third Junior Sister and become a gentle and considerate girl!
Guo Yourong's cheeks flushed, her heart racing.
She was afraid, yet she eagerly awaited the choice of her Eldest Senior Brother, handsome as a deity, who stood in the center of the hall.
She didn't notice at all that her Third Junior Sister, Chu Youwei, standing nearby, was already in tears. The young woman's jade-like hands were clasped together, holding her zither, as her lonely figure moved towards the hall's exit.
Eldest Senior Brother, Youwei's admiration for you since childhood... today, it finally has a conclusion...
Today, whether it's Senior Sister Zhu or Senior Sister Yurong, it won't be Weiwei's turn anyway...
Actually... Weiwei guessed this outcome long ago. From childhood... whether it was Senior Sister Yurong or Junior Sister Yingying, they always received more of your favor. Eldest Senior Brother, you would joke and play around with them, but in front of Weiwei, you were always so reserved.
Even... when you pretended to be a villain, you were never willing to touch Weiwei's body...
Sigh, perhaps Weiwei's personality is too dull, making Eldest Senior Brother dislike me... All the kindness you've shown Weiwei since we were young, perhaps it was only because I bore the title of your junior sister.
As her thoughts churned, the ache in her heart intensified, and her tears flowed more freely.
She finally reached the entrance of the great hall.
Well, since I'm already here, why not see it through to the end? To put a period on more than a decade of unrequited love? Just consider it... a blessing for Senior Sister Yurong.
Chu Youwei told herself, raising a hand to wipe away her tears, and chose to stay.
Seeing the atmosphere in the hall descend into chaos, True Master Ziyun, the Sect Leader, hurriedly cleared his throat. "AHEM, AHEM, AHEM."
"Alright, Martial Nephew Lin," he said. "What your Master said makes sense. Since you already have a woman you admire, we, as your elders, naturally shouldn't force your hand."
He then glanced at Su Mei beside him and added, "Furthermore, you were previously trapped with Zhu Wanning in the Sword Tomb for three months, just the two of you. Today is a good opportunity, in front of all the elders, to give a response, so as not to tarnish Martial Nephew Zhu's reputation."
Just as he finished speaking, the sharp-featured Chairman of Red Cloud Peak, Chisong, chimed in from the side:
"Come on, Martial Nephew Lin! A gentleman is open and forthright, with nothing he cannot tell others! Between Martial Nephew Zhu and this Martial Nephew Guo, whom do you prefer? Make your choice quickly and give her a rightful status!"
Seeing another Chairman speak out, some of the Elders couldn't sit still any longer and voiced their agreement.
At this point, all eyes in the hall fell upon the exceptionally handsome Chief of Divine Phoenix Peak, who looked like a Fallen Immortal.
He was seen with his head bowed deeply, his sword-like brows furrowed, thin lips pressed together, and beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
It seemed he was making an incredibly difficult decision!
"I choose..."
Under the gaze of the entire hall, Lin Xiao raised his head. His captivating, handsome eyes narrowed slightly, looking directly at the peerless beauty seated in the Divine Phoenix Peak Chief's seat!
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Seeing him just stare at his own Master without speaking, the entire hall was astonished.
At the same time, some audacious whispers began to circulate.
"Heavens, Xiao'er, he isn't going to—"
Xiao Hongling froze at first, then, a moment later, realized something!
Her stunningly beautiful face flushed crimson, and her elegant legs, clad in dark silk, shifted nervously, finding no place to rest!
Just as everyone's curiosity was piqued and their hearts were in their throats—
The Chief of Divine Phoenix Peak, the Sword Dao prodigy who had just won the title of Martial Champion of the Five Branches, bit his lip and said, word by word:
"Reporting to all Sect Leaders, True Masters, and Elders, the person Lin Xiao truly loves is—"