Chapter 253 - 231: Only a Fool Trusts Men

Si Li raised her head and looked up at the night sky.

Countless stars hung in the night sky, forming brilliant rivers of light.

They looked like scattered silver, carelessly tossed and quietly adorning the darkness.

The Milky Way glowed with a hazy light, flowing slowly from northeast to southwest. An occasional meteor streaked by, trailing a faint tail of light as it fell silently behind the distant mountains.

The entire night sky was reflected in Si Li’s eyes, but a flash of helplessness flickered within them.

She slowly opened her mouth and continued, her tone laced with self-mockery. "I once thought my master treated me like her own daughter. In reality, she just sees me as a tool."

Si Li turned her head and smiled at Wangxin.

"Although I became a Holy Son Candidate, my master knows I have no chance of competing against the others.

So, for the past few days, my master has been contacting not only other Holy Son Candidates, but even some Ascension Realm Cultivators.

She plans to sell me for a good price once I reach the Jade Realm.

On the surface, she claims it’s for my own good, but in truth, she just wants to trade me for greater benefits.

Instead of being treated like an item and sold to the highest bidder...

...why shouldn’t I choose a Cultivator to be my cultivation partner myself?"

As she spoke, Si Li laughed, her intoxicating smile carrying a natural charm. She turned and glanced at Xiao Mo, who was resting in the distance with his eyes closed.

Si Li didn’t know if Xiao Mo had heard her.

But even if he had, it didn’t really matter to her anymore.

Si Li looked away from him and back to Wangxin. "In comparison, Young Master Xiao is handsome, his Blood Qi is immense, and his talent is extraordinary. If I were to dual cultivate with him, not only would he not hold me back, but it would be of immense benefit to me.

And after these past few days, I’ve noticed that Young Master Xiao is different from other men. He even has the air of one of those Central Plains scholars. I find that I quite like it.

The more I interact with Young Master Xiao, the more I want to serve him well~"

"..."

Wangxin didn’t respond to Si Li, but simply stared at her with those clear, lucid eyes, blinking slowly.

"What is it, little sister Wangxin?" Si Li chuckled softly. "Am I not speaking the truth from my heart?"

"It is the truth," Wangxin nodded, but confusion filled her eyes. "It’s just... something feels a little strange."

"How so?" Si Li asked with a smile.

"I don’t know..."

Wangxin lowered her head.

"In your heart, you feel some resistance toward Xiao Mo.

It’s not that you dislike him specifically, but that you seem to dislike all men.

But you keep trying to convince yourself—that Xiao Mo is a good person, and that giving yourself to him is the best choice..."

"That’s right."

Si Li smiled.

"It’s just as I said before. I’ve never had a good impression of men. My own father wanted to sell me, after all.

I don’t know Xiao Mo well, so naturally, I’m wary.

As for why I’m always taking off my clothes, exposing myself, and trying to seduce him... well, it’s for the same reason.

In my view, only after I’ve given myself to him and we’ve dual cultivated will our Great Daos be connected. Only then will I be able to truly trust him in my heart.

Because with this Cultivation Technique, once we’ve dual cultivated, I’ll be able to feel whether he hates me or loves me."

"That’s not necessary," Wangxin said, shaking her head.

"What’s not necessary?" Si Li asked, still smiling.

"Even if you don’t dual cultivate with Xiao Mo, as long as you don’t harm him, he won’t harm you."

Wangxin looked sincerely into Si Li’s enchanting eyes.

"Xiao Mo might have a bad temper, but he’s a man of his word. He said he wants you to help manage the Wandao Sect in the future, so he will definitely protect you. No one will be able to harm you."

"You really trust Young Master Xiao, don’t you, little sister Wangxin..." Si Li’s lips curved, but her tone was tinged with mockery. "But that’s only because you can see into people’s hearts. Besides, little sister Wangxin, people’s hearts change. Especially a man’s heart."

"But... I can’t see into Xiao Mo’s heart..." Wangxin lowered her head, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes.

"You can’t?" Si Li looked slightly stunned.

"Mhm. I can see what’s in everyone’s heart, but his is the only one I can’t see..." Wangxin fidgeted with her hands. "Sometimes I think it would be nice if I could see what he’s thinking. Then I wouldn’t make him angry..."

Looking at this pure woman of the Buddhist School, Si Li didn’t think Wangxin was lying. "Little sister Wangxin, you can’t see what’s in his heart, yet you still stay by his side?

You have a Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart. Aren’t you afraid he might have designs on you? Aren’t you afraid he might harm you?"

"I’m not afraid," Wangxin shook her head. "Xiao Mo won’t harm me. And even if that day ever came, it would be alright, because I would just pretend not to know."

"..."

Staring at the young woman before her, Si Li’s expression was incredibly complex.

’What on earth happened between those two?’

’How could this Buddhist Saintess be so utterly devoted to Xiao Mo?’

But regardless, after voicing the thoughts in her heart, Si Li felt a great sense of relief.

It was the first time she had ever spoken about these things to anyone.

And to a Buddhist Disciple she had known for less than half a month, no less...

Si Li didn’t know why.

Perhaps it was because of Wangxin’s Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart; since she couldn’t hide her thoughts anyway, she might as well not try.

Or perhaps it was because of her eyes.

Her eyes were as clean as freshly melted snow.

Just meeting her gaze made it feel as if you could tell her anything, and she would neither repeat it nor harm you.

"If I were a man, I think I would truly fall for you," Si Li said to Wangxin with a smile.

"Oh..." Wangxin replied with a nod, then went back to placing a stone in front of the small fish’s grave. "I’m going to rest now. You should get some rest too."

"Good night."

Si Li waved.

After Wangxin walked away, Si Li remained seated by the river, gazing up at the sky.

’Tonight’s sky seems much more beautiful than any I’ve seen before.’

A long while later, Si Li finally tore her gaze from the sky and looked toward Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo was still meditating with his eyes closed, as if he were asleep.

Wangxin picked up a cloak and draped it over Xiao Mo’s shoulders, then stoked the bonfire in front of him to make it warmer.

After doing all this, Wangxin simply sat beside Xiao Mo, watching him with blinking eyes, as if she could never grow tired of the sight.

’Trust him?’

Si Li watched Xiao Mo and shook her head with a smile.

’Little sister Wangxin is certainly bold to say that.’

’Men...’

’Only a fool would trust them.’