Refuse to trample on the pride of heaven

Yan Qingshu and Liu Jiqian, who returned to Wenxian Sect with Lu Wensheng, naturally saw Jin Jianxian, who had been transformed. There was obvious admiration and emotion in their eyes.

Yan Qingshu crossed her arms, a relieved smile on her lips, and sighed softly, "That's great." Everyone seemed to be moving in a better direction, each finding their own trajectory and light.

Her eyes swept over the calm Jin Jianxian, then looked at Lu Wensheng beside her, and an indescribable sense of satisfaction arose spontaneously.

Walking with Lu Wensheng, witnessing and participating in these changes, all the running around and planning became extremely worthwhile when seeing the old friend's brand new look.

Everyone no longer has to repeat the tragedy of the past, and everyone can have and pursue their own hopeful life.

As for Jin Jianxian, his most essential sincerity has not changed, and it even appears more pure because of his inner strength.

Only sometimes, that sincerity would be accompanied by a bit of blunt honesty that would catch people off guard.

He looked at Lu Wensheng with clear and focused eyes, and his tone was sincere without any impurities: "Junior Brother Lu, I like you, and this feeling will never change." He said it frankly, as if stating a truth as bright as the sun and the moon - after all, who would not like and admire someone as bright, strong and gentle as Junior Brother Lu?

As soon as these words came out, Lu Wensheng was startled almost reflexively. The extremely embarrassing confession scene in his long-forgotten memory instantly resurfaced and began to attack his nerves. He was so scared that his heart skipped a beat and he almost performed a tactical backward move on the spot.

Fortunately, Jin Jianxian's next words were timely and clear, instantly calming his panic.

"But," Jin Jianxian tilted his head slightly, as if carefully considering his words, trying to express his feelings more accurately, "this 'delight' is not the admiration between a man and a woman."

His eyes were open, with a clarity that came from an analysis. "I've thought about it carefully. Perhaps my initial confusion was because you, Junior Brother Lu, provided crucial recognition and guidance when I was most lost. The gratitude for being enlightened and saved was so strong that I couldn't distinguish it at the moment."

He paused, then continued seriously, “Of course there’s admiration, it’s the admiration and yearning for your character, cultivation, and personality. I hope that one day I can become someone as strong and reliable as you.

But that's all.

It's more like following a beacon, admiring a role model, rather than a love that wants to be exclusive - I can tell the difference very clearly now." His tone was calm and firm, and it was obvious that he had completely sorted out his thoughts.

Yan Qingshu on the side was observing this scene with great interest, and her eyes were particularly sharp as she glanced at Liu Jiqian.

The other person still had that perfect gentle smile on his face, and there was no fluctuation in his aura, as if he didn't care at all.

But Yan Qingshu, relying on the "radar" she had developed from reading countless storybooks, always felt that if Jin Jianxian had been a few seconds slower in making the crucial clarification, a certain seemingly nonchalant guy would probably have spoken gently and politely, asserting his sovereignty in an invisible way - for example, by naturally standing closer, or handing over a glass of water, drawing a line between them with details.

Liu Jiqian seemed to sense Yan Qingshu's probing gaze. His long, thick eyelashes trembled slightly. He turned his head to look at her with just the right amount of doubt in his eyes. His voice was as gentle as water: "What's wrong?"

With his bright and cheerful appearance, he had no idea that in Yan Qingshu's mental theater, he had been labeled as a "territorial guardian with a strong possessiveness."

If he knew that Yan Qingshu imagined him like that, he would definitely ask her helplessly to read less overly dramatic Shura Field stories.

In fact, Liu Jiqian had no grudge at all towards Jin Jianxian's undisguised admiration and love for Lu Wensheng. Instead, he thought it was the most normal thing.

Lu Wensheng is the bright moon above the nine heavens, and wherever its bright light reaches, it naturally attracts people's attention.

What's more, Jin Jianxian's gaze was so clean and pure, filled with only pure gratitude, admiration and appreciation among fellow travelers.

Lu Wensheng deserves all the beautiful attention and admiration in the world. Liu Jiqian will not feel jealous because of this, but will only feel proud and proud that his lover is so dazzling.

In his opinion, only those who have no confidence in themselves and are uncertain about their lover's feelings will feel uneasy and threatened by the legitimate pursuit or appreciation of others - coincidentally, for Liu Jiqian, "genius" is just the lowest threshold to meet him.

His inherent pride and absolute trust in Lu Wensheng's feelings made him rock-solid and calm.

He simply didn't believe that there was anyone in the world with a face more beautiful than his. (That's not the point.)

Liu Jiqian's safe return should have been a happy event worth celebrating, but the atmosphere above the jade mirror was not entirely one of welcome and relief. Instead, there was an indescribable, subtle and dark undercurrent.

The fact that he was abducted by the demons was no secret and had already spread within a certain range.

Now that people are back, the whispers and criticisms in some dark corners have emerged like hyenas smelling blood in the anonymous areas or private channels of the Jade Mirror, and are becoming more and more intense.

There are always some people with dirty minds who use their most despicable imagination to speculate about others.

They ignored the facts and maliciously spread disgusting rumors. The core of the rumors was nothing more than making a fuss about Liu Jiqian's stunning appearance. They confidently speculated: "With his looks, how could he be intact after falling into the hands of the vicious demons for so long? I'm afraid he has been defiled long ago, and I don't know how many humiliations he has experienced that he cannot bear to look back on..." Their words were extremely vulgar and derogatory, as if they had seen it with their own eyes.

Looking back in this context, the fact that this magical instrument capable of communicating across thousands of miles was named "Jade Mirror" does indeed have a subtle and chilling irony.

A mirror should reflect the truth, clearly and brightly, but the prejudice, jealousy and malice in people's hearts can distort a precious mirror into a magic mirror, reflecting only the filthiness and ugliness in one's own heart.

A jade mirror is like water; it can carry a boat or overturn it; it can convey information or spread poison.

There were also some people with strange intentions who, under the banner of "concern" and "sympathy", clamored on various occasions (especially on the jade mirror) to go and "visit" and "comfort" Liu Jiqian.

Although they seemed well-intentioned on the surface, their words and expressions had already nailed Liu Jiqian to the pillar of shame as a "victim" and a "defiled person", as if he was no longer perfect and was shrouded in an unclean aura that required pity and "acceptance" from these "kind-hearted people".

Mixed in with this were even some more unbearable delusions - they might be subconsciously expecting Liu Jiqian to fall from the altar and be tainted with filth because of this incident, and never again be the unattainable, pure and flawless immortal in the clouds.

In this way, they seemed to have an opportunity and began to weave absurd daydreams in their minds: imagining themselves as the "savior" who "does not despise" his past and "tolerates" his "imperfections", so that they can get close to and even possess this beauty who was once out of reach.