Fairy, Don't Be Afraid, I Am Blind

He Kongyue raised an eyebrow and said angrily, "Once I go into seclusion, I don’t know how long it will take. Breaking through from the Condensed Water Realm to the Feather Transformation Realm will also take a while. Adding it all up means a long time without seeing you, doesn’t it? Do you think I’m deliberately saying this to trick you into coming here?"

"I didn’t mean that... Mr. He, it’s truly admirable that you’ve reached the threshold of the Feather Transformation Realm at such a young age. It’s really something to celebrate."

You Su, having already come, naturally couldn’t leave and had no choice but to change the topic, raising his hand to congratulate.

If He Kongyue can break through in the next two years, she will successfully break the record for the youngest to reach the Feather Transformation Realm, a record held by Fairy Wangshu.

However, she didn’t seem particularly happy about it. Instead, she exclaimed:

"Mr. You, did you also break through?"

"It was just luck. The reason I haven’t replied to your messages these past days is that I’ve been in seclusion for a breakthrough."

He Kongyue looked surprised, "Your progress is truly astonishing. When we first met, you had just reached the Spirit Platform Upper Realm. Achieving the Condensed Water Realm at eighteen, such talent means you’ll definitely stand out on the next Celestial Pride List!"

You Su wasn’t too excited either; this sort of fame not earned through hard work always made him feel a sense of shame, unable to comfortably accept others’ praises.

"It’s all just luck. In the path of cultivation, speed doesn’t matter much; what truly matters is who reaches the end."

"At such a young age, Mr. You possesses such understanding. The future is promising."

You Su didn’t want to be entangled in this topic any longer. Seeing Mr. He accept his ’gift’ safely was enough for him.

"Is the place where Mr. He is going into seclusion safe?"

"Naturally, it’s safe. Why do you ask, Mr. You?"

You Su shook his head with a smile, "It’s nothing. By the way, didn’t you insist I come to the He Family last time? What for?"

Upon hearing this, He Kongyue was first taken aback, then her expression turned serious:

"I asked you to come because I have some questions for you."

"Questions?" You Su was puzzled, "Ask away, Mr. He."

He Kongyue pursed her thin lips, then took out a scroll from behind her, which was none other than "The Return of the Condor Heroes" sold by Ji Lingruo to the Celestial Heart Book Pavilion.

"Recently, a book has been popular in Henggao City and the surrounding cities, titled ’The Return of the Condor Heroes.’ Mr. You, have you read it?"

You Su was startled, a sense of foreboding suddenly arising within him.

"I’ve heard a little about it."

"The book is brilliantly written, with twists and turns in the plot, making it highly engaging. But the name of the female protagonist is too much of a coincidence; she’s also called He Shutong. That name isn’t common. Do you think the author chose it by coincidence or deliberately?"

For some reason, You Su felt that He Kongyue had guessed something.

He wanted to brush it off, but that would be a futile cover-up.

"It was deliberate."

"Oh?" He Kongyue’s eyes sparkled, "How so?"

"Because I am the author of the book."

He Kongyue was somewhat taken aback, seemingly surprised by You Su’s candid confession.

Could it be that the protagonist’s name really has no other meaning?

"Mr. You, you are ’Master’s Junior Sister, the Best in the World’?"

You Su coughed softly a few times and nodded in recognition.

"So writing is your source of income?"

"That’s right. I don’t have many skills, so I can only make up stories to entertain and make a living."

He Kongyue asked again, "Are all these books your work?"

"I narrate them, and my junior sister writes and edits them."

He Kongyue noticed You Su looking a bit awkward. Seeing him glance at some folded page corners, her face turned redder, and she hastily smoothed them out.

These were marks she left for in-depth study; she couldn’t let You Su discover them.

"You’re indeed knowledgeable..."

You Su raised an eyebrow, sensing something in her words, "It’s just that I have a vivid imagination."

"Then why did you use that woman’s name for the book’s female lead?" He Kongyue sat up straight and asked the question she most wanted to ask.

"Because... the name sounds nice."

"Nice?"

Indeed, He Shutong was a nice name, but He Kongyue didn’t believe it was such a simple reason:

"Is that all?"

You Su pondered for a moment, "Also because the impression she left on me perfectly fits the image of the female protagonist in the book. Cold as ice at first glance, but as the relationship deepens, one realizes she’s as gentle as water."

"Are you insane?" He Kongyue couldn’t help but ask.

You Su raised an eyebrow and countered, "What’s wrong?"

"How is she anything like what you described? She’s much worse than you imagine!"

You Su helplessly shook his head, "Mr. He, you’re too rigid. If you had a chance to really get to know her, you’d find it’s not like that."

He Kongyue looked at You Su with some anger, as if seeing a fool, "You’re over-romanticizing her! She’s nothing like your fantasy!"

With her chest heaving, He Kongyue spoke with frustration.

"Then let me ask you, what is the origin of the male protagonist’s name?"

You Su found Mr. He’s inquisition a bit odd, "Tu, meaning nothingness, fits the male protagonist’s background in the book. What exactly is Mr. He trying to ask? Please speak frankly."

Seeing You Su being so straightforward, He Kongyue eased some of her concerns.

She didn’t know why she became so sensitive... seeing that name affected her so.

Was she worried that You Su would have unrealistic fantasies about that ice-cold woman?

Or was she jealous that he might like her most disliked sister instead of herself...?

"What... is your attitude towards her?"

He Kongyue knew she shouldn’t ask such a question, but she couldn’t suppress her curiosity and urgently wanted to know the answer.

"Attitude?"

"I mean... the eagerness you have to find her, is it really just to repay a debt of gratitude? Do you... like her?"

Upon hearing this, You Su’s breath caught for a moment. He was now quite certain that He Kongyue had discovered something, understood the true meaning of Guan Tu.

This was the first time anyone had questioned his attitude towards Master.

You Su instinctively wanted to avoid the question, feeling it was a secret never meant for the public.

His attitude towards Master was definitely beyond that of a usual master-disciple relationship.

So all those efforts and goodwill were not merely out of filial piety.

But when did this filial piety begin to deteriorate?

Does it really make sense to continue covering it up?

What is there to be ashamed of admitting?

Looking at He Kongyue, You Su finally made up his mind:

"I like her."