Chapter 121: The Heartbreak Dao?
In this world, running into the exact person you're trying to avoid is practically guaranteed. It's like some cosmic law – the more you don't want to see someone, the more likely they are to appear right behind you.
For a moment, I considered pretending I hadn't actually heard anything, but that would probably just make things worse. Turning around slowly, I came face to face with Wu Lihua. If anything, she was even more breathtaking than before.
She stood there in her purple Core Disciple robes, her long black hair caught the late afternoon light, creating an almost hypnotic effect as it shifted in the gentle breeze. Those eyes with their hints of golden light fixed on me with an intensity that would have been flattering if it wasn't so terrifying.
As for the aura rolling off her, it was... impressive, to say the least. Elemental Realm. Well, that explained why she'd stopped following me around – she must have been busy breaking through. The pressure of her qi alone made the air feel heavier, like being underwater but without the wet part.
Some part of me had hoped that after reaching the Elemental Realm, Wu Lihua would be too busy to remember the existence of a mere Outer Disciple. Apparently, cultivation realm advancement didn't cure obsession.
"Senior Sister." I bowed with exactly the right degree of respect – not too shallow to offend, not too deep to suggest familiarity. "Congratulations on your breakthrough to the Elemental Realm."
Her smile was gentle, but I knew better than to trust it. Jade beauties with that particular expression usually preceded either a marriage proposal or an assassination attempt. Sometimes both.
"You left the sect for a few weeks," Wu Lihua said, her tone carrying just a hint of reproach. "Without even saying goodbye."
I blinked at that. We'd had maybe one or two conversations where she'd watched me practice, made some vaguely suggestive comments that caused my cultivation-novel-danger sense to go into overdrive. Since when did that create a social obligation to inform her of my travel plans?