Chapter 533: Chapter 139: You Can’t Force It

As the end of the year approaches, the weather gradually turns cold.

The people of Ba Mountain Sword Sect are preparing to set out today for Jingzhou.

On this day, it actually started to snow outside.

The snow was light, forming only a thin layer on the ground.

Yet, it is rather rare for it to snow in Yizhou.

Many disciples rushed out of their residences, looking at the snowy scene outside with astonishment, very excited.

In Ba Mountain Sword Sect, they have seen all kinds of rain, practiced cultivation by observing the rain, attained enlightenment by listening to the rain, and practiced swordsmanship in the rain, but seldom saw snowy landscapes.

"It’s snowing!"

Someone couldn’t contain themselves and shouted, rushing into the snow to wildly wield their sword, yelling out in delight.

Chen Tang is from Beiqian, where Changze County is cold and frozen, not to mention the magnificent snowy scenery of Three Thousand Snow Ridges.

He looked at the snowy scene before him without much feeling.

Beside him, the door opened, and Guo Heng came out, gazing at the snowy scene with some excitement.

But seeing Chen Tang standing beside him with a calm demeanor, he steadied his own mood, nodding lightly towards Chen Tang.

Lately, the room Chen Tang stayed in was right next to his.

Every time Senior Sister Jade Flute came to find Chen Tang, he saw it with his own eyes.

The relationship between the two seemed not to be the kind of familial one he had guessed.

Senior Sister’s treatment of this person was clearly different from others.

The sword this person gifted to Senior Sister, she carried with her every day.

When Senior Sister was with this person, although she maintained decorum, she was clearly more affectionate, smiling more.

On the day they arrived, he even saw them chasing and playing together.

Lately, the Sect Leader had noticed this and had spoken with Senior Sister about it.

It seemingly came to an inconclusive end.

Guo Heng knew he could no longer deceive himself.

However, after thinking it over, he really couldn’t figure out where he had lost.

In terms of appearance, family background, and cultivation, he surpassed this person in everything.

If he had to pick one thing he was slightly inferior in, it was that this person appeared older than him.

But what did that matter?

Did Senior Sister like older people?

As soon as this thought emerged, he felt a sense of self-reproach.

This idea was too absurd, too shallow; it was disrespectful to Senior Sister and really shouldn’t be.

Living close to Chen Tang, Guo Heng observed every day.

At night, tossing and turning, he vaguely guessed a possibility.

According to his observations, this person seemed mature and contained, with a calm demeanor.

Perhaps that quality was what Senior Sister valued?

With this realization, Guo Heng subtly began to change, trying not to show too much emotion.

"Morning."

Chen Tang saw him and greeted with a smile.

Guo Heng nodded slightly and replied, "Morning."

The people of Ba Mountain Sword Sect packed lightly and gathered at the mountain gate.

There were over a thousand in Ba Mountain Sword Sect, but only a few dozen followed Sect Leader Jian Qiuchi to the Martial Arts Assembly.

Most had cultivated inner qi, or were highly gifted with great potential.

Chen Tang wasn’t a disciple of Ba Mountain Sword Sect.

Lately, he stayed in his room cultivating and wasn’t familiar with other disciples.

Standing among them, he felt somewhat out of place.

Moreover, his close relationship with Ye Yushi might have stirred up some hostility.

During this time, a few disciples of Ba Mountain Sword Sect even came knocking for a spar.

Said it’s a spar, but it was really looking for an excuse to fight.

However, Guo Heng intervened and turned those people away.

Chen Tang said, "I still need to thank Brother Guo for the earlier incident."

He wasn’t afraid of sparring challenges, just found it troublesome; Guo Heng helping him saved him a lot of trouble.

Guo Heng said flatly, "Brother Chen needn’t thank me. Because of Senior Sister, I actually hope to see you defeated, preferably a major defeat, then I’d be happy."

"Oh?"

Chen Tang was slightly surprised.

He had already noticed Guo Heng’s interest in Ye Yushi.

However, he didn’t expect Guo Heng to be so candid.

Chen Tang asked, "Then why did Brother Guo help out?"

Guo Heng sighed softly and said, "I’ve seen your skills. Fourth Grade Awakening disciples coming to challenge you is just asking for embarrassment."

"If Third Grade challenged and you won, it’s an unworthy victory, truly unnecessary."

Pausing, Guo Heng added, "Moreover, ordinary Third Grade Martial Artists aren’t necessarily capable of beating you."

"Haha!"

Chen Tang laughed aloud.

This person is indeed interesting.

Just then, Sect Leader Jian Qiuchi and Ye Yushi arrived late.

With everyone gathered, Jian Qiuchi gave a call, and the disciples mounted their horses and headed towards the nearest port.

They planned to take a boat down the river to enter Jingzhou.

Guo Heng noticed Ye Yushi’s pale face, seemingly weighed down with concerns, so he rode over to Ye Yushi with some worry and asked, "Senior Sister, you don’t look well recently, have you not been resting?"

"I’m fine."

Ye Yushi shook her head.

Guo Heng suddenly recalled something, feeling enlightened, and said, "Senior Sister needn’t worry. At this Martial Arts Assembly, heroes will gather, and with the seniors in charge, Night Rain Sword will surely be returned."

"Moreover, I have already sent a challenge to He Shiyao, inviting him for a duel at the Martial Arts Assembly."

"Though he’s the top of the Earth Ranking, only by truly crossing swords will we know who’s superior."

Ye Yushi joined Ba Mountain Sword Sect the earliest, is considered the Senior Sister to everyone.

But losing the Night Rain Sword this time sparked some criticism within the Ba Mountain Sword Sect.

Guo Heng thought she was worried about this matter.

"I will retrieve Night Rain Sword myself."

Ye Yushi said, then spurred her horse forward, leaving Guo Heng behind, and came to Chen Tang’s side, saying softly, "Brother Chen, come over here."

The two rode side by side, slightly falling behind the group.

Guo Heng watched Ye Yushi’s departing figure with a sudden sense of helplessness, unable to suppress a bitter smile.

"Senior Brother Guo is so pitiful."

Within the crowd, Lin Ling’Er saw Guo Heng’s lost and despondent expression and showed a hint of pity.

"Who doesn’t think so."

Luo Qi said, "I heard that on the day they arrived, Senior Sister pursued him with a sword, and Senior Brother Guo saw it."

"He mistook that person for offending Senior Sister and drew his sword to help, but it turned out they were just playing around, and he ended up feeling embarrassed, his hands were trembling when he came back and couldn’t hold his sword steady."

Lin Ling’Er sighed lightly and said glumly, "Senior Brother Guo only has eyes for Senior Sister Jade Flute but can’t see others’ goodness."

Luo Qi mumbled, "Some people are just the same."

"What did you say?"

Lin Ling’Er raised her eyebrow.

"Nothing, nothing." Luo Qi’s gaze was evasive.

Lin Ling’Er huffed and urged her horse to Guo Heng’s side, concerned, "Senior Brother Guo, are you alright?"

Guo Heng remained absent-minded as if he hadn’t heard.

Lin Ling’Er pursed her lips, finally gathering courage, and said looking at Guo Heng, "Senior Brother Guo, actually, actually I..."

"What can be done? Some things just can’t be forced."

Guo Heng shook his head with a light sigh and left on his own.

Lin Ling’Er watched Guo Heng pass by her, seemingly without seeing her, feeling an ache rising in her heart.

Those words from Guo Heng were clearly lamenting himself.

But she heard them as a form of self-pity, feeling profoundly lost.

"Junior Sister Lin, Junior Sister Lin..."

Calls sounded from her side, causing Lin Ling’Er to feel even more annoyed.

"What do you want?"

Lin Ling’Er turned to face the pursuing Luo Qi, frowning as she asked.

Luo Qi said solemnly, "Junior Sister Ye, forgive my bluntness, but you and Senior Brother Guo aren’t quite suitable, after all, there’s quite an age gap."

Lin Ling’Er was overwhelmed and laughed, asking, "According to you, since we’re of similar age, are we more suitable then?"

"Junior Sister Lin, you’ve finally come to your senses!"

Luo Qi was overjoyed.

"How absurd, Senior Brother Guo said it, some things can’t be forced!"

Lin Ling’Er scolded, urging her horse away.