Chapter Forty-Eight: The Scholar's Bewitching Appearance

I stared for a moment, somewhat entranced, and suddenly recalled the words of old Master Yuanxu. Those whose features are overly bewitching and enchanting are often entangled with the world of demons and spirits. If what he said was true, then this scholar standing before me—Putai—would he not be one of those demons himself?

That’s impossible. I absolutely refuse to believe it.

“What… what are you looking at?” Putai suddenly asked.

“Huh?” I snapped back to my senses and looked at him in confusion. His gaze was clear and luminous, sparkling as if water might spill from his eyes at any moment; the beauty was so overwhelming it nearly took my breath away.

“What are you looking at?” he stammered, his voice halting.

Slowly, I saw a flush creep over the tips of his ears. Bathed in sunlight, his pink ears appeared almost transparent, the fine red veins beneath the skin visible to my eyes.

“I’m looking at you,” I replied honestly, only to see the color in his face deepen, turning so red it was nearly the hue of liver, as if blood might drip from it.

“Oh.” He answered languidly, turning his head aside.

Watching his hesitant, faltering manner, I asked, “This isn’t a street or a marketplace—why did you come here?”

“Um... I—I had something urgent to attend to,” he replied.

“Something urgent?” I stepped closer, peering into his face, and noticed his eyes darting away, unwilling to meet mine.

“Are you afraid of me?” I frowned, slightly displeased.

“No.” He bit his thin lips, lifted his head, and met my gaze, though not as naturally as before. His face was flushed, and his bewitching features seemed to bloom with a beauty as intoxicating as a poppy, impossible to look away from.

Ahem, ahem, ahem… This scholar’s looks are truly otherworldly. I cleared my throat a few times, trying to appear casual, and turned my face elsewhere. Perhaps it wasn’t he who was afraid of me, but rather I who was afraid of him. With such a countenance, who could dare meet his gaze for long?

“Do you know if there’s a river around here?”

“A river?” He seemed surprised by my question and asked, a hint of concern in his voice, “Miss Yuge, have you been away from the water too long? Are you feeling unwell?”

Seeing how worried he was, I smiled and shook my head. “No, it’s not that. My master is thirsty. I came here to fetch water for him.”

“Your master? You’ve already become the disciple of Immortal Lord Zilian?” Putai’s face showed some surprise.

“That’s right.” I nodded, unable to contain my joy, and wanted to share the good news with him. “Putai, you have no idea how many people and demons went to Lingyun Mountain to seek apprenticeship that day.”

He shook his head with a smile, his face alluring as ever.

“Ahem…” I glanced at him, then quickly looked away and continued, “That day, so many people and demons crowded outside the Ziwei Palace that there was barely any space left. Luckily, fortune smiled on me, and a granduncle chose me at first glance, hehe…”

“Granduncle?” he echoed, frowning slightly.

“Yes! That old man is quite something, with a long white beard that reaches all the way to his knees, but he refuses to cut it.”

“Is that so?” Putai smiled, but a strange look flickered in his eyes. He said nothing more, only added, “If you head west, you’ll soon find a small mountain gully. The water there is clear and sweet—perfect for your master. You should fetch water there. I have something urgent to attend to and must take my leave.”

“Thank you,” I said, and after expressing my gratitude, we parted ways.