Do you really think you can get me with just a banana?

Guan Shanyu understood that when Yu Kunliang set out on his journey home, he would need to be mentally prepared to face the fact that his own sect might be the murderer who killed the disciples of hundreds of immortal families. Morally speaking, he should uphold justice and kill his relatives for the sake of justice; but emotionally, that was the place where he was raised and cultivated after all.

This feeling must be very complicated. He wanted to clear the sect of all grievances and prove that everything was a misunderstanding, but he was also afraid that the result would not be satisfactory, and he would eventually discover that the sect was responsible for the deaths of his fellow disciples.

Although nothing has been settled yet, the uncertainty of the future is enough to make people anxious.

Seeing this, Guan Shanyu stared at Yu Kun for a long time, then stood up and gently waved to Su Benzhi, indicating that they should exchange seats. Su Benzhi didn't understand why, but when Guan Shanyu pointed at Yu Kunliang next to him, he understood that he had something to ask Yu Kunliang, so he nodded, stood up and exchanged seats with Guan Shanyu.

Yu Kunliang was leaning against the windowsill in a daze, watching the water swirl under the boat, his mood was very complicated. He caught a glimpse of Guan Shanyu sitting next to him, and replied listlessly: "Thank you, Master Yang, for the cake, but I really don't have an appetite. Sorry, Shanyu."

Guan Shanyu smiled softly and shook his head in understanding: "If you can't eat, then don't force yourself. By the way, what are you looking at?"

Yu Kunliang replied numbly, "Look at the water plants."

Guan Shanyu glanced down at the swaying water plants in the water, and Yu Kunliang continued, "I feel like these water plants. On the surface, I have roots, but in reality, I am drifting with the current, with no clear path ahead."

Guan Shanyu looked at Yu Kunliang and saw that his eyes were droopy and his spirit was listless. He was basically depressed. After thinking for a while, he asked, "Brother Kunliang, how many years have you been in Yunjichan?"

"Seven years." Yu Kunliang replied softly.

Guan Shanyu said "Oh" and said, "I always thought that all the monks in Yunjichan were monks, but I didn't expect there were some who practiced with their hair."

Yu Kunliang forced a wry smile and said, "Our founder was a monk, so in the beginning we only accepted disciples who chanted Buddhist scriptures, but now we are more open-minded and accept both lay disciples and outer disciples."

Guan Shanyu nodded and continued, "I originally thought that all the disciples of Yunjichan were strict and serious, but after getting to know you, I found that you are actually quite easygoing in private."

Yu Kunliang's smile was filled with relief upon hearing this. "Within the sect, the rules are strict, so we naturally have to maintain a solemn attitude. But once we leave the mountain gate, without any constraints, we naturally become more casual."

Guan Shanyu said, "I see," and continued, "When I was doing the trial at Wuzijian before, I met several of you Yunjichan. You looked so serious, I thought you had a grudge against us at Tianxuan Mountain."

Yan Ruchen, who had been concentrating on studying the map, turned his head to glance at Guan Shanyu after hearing this. However, Guan Shanyu didn't notice and continued to accompany Yu Kunliang to look at the lake with a look of melancholy. Yu Kunliang heard Guan Shanyu's description and explained, "No, we don't usually make enemies with others. It's just that the sect has rules. We must pay attention to our manners and not talk and laugh casually to disturb them."

Guan Shanyu moved closer and asked, "But Tianxuan and Zixiao Spiritual Realm don't have such rules. There are quite a few disciples who laugh all day long. The educational differences between the sects are so great. Does Yun Jichan really not care at all? Is it for us..."

"Shan Yu wants to ask about Song Ziye and the others?"

Before Guan Shanyu could finish his question, he was interrupted by Yan Ruchen.

It was not known when he raised his head and heard this topic, but when Guan Shanyu looked over, Yan Ruchen was already looking at him with a pair of deep black eyes over Yu Kunliang.

"Song Ziye? Who is this? What do you want to ask?" Yu Kunliang was sandwiched between Yan Ruchen and Guan Shanyu, feeling a little confused.

Yan Ruchen still had a gentle expression on his face and replied, "Shanyu wants to ask, did Yun Jichan have any conflicts with Tianxuan and Zixiao?"

Damn...

He asked so tactfully, but Yan Ruchen actually heard it?

Guan Shanyu swallowed his saliva, ignoring Yu Kunliang's bewildered reply, "It's not a festival, what's the festival?" Seeing that Yan Ruchen had already pointed out his purpose, he explained nervously, "Ruchen, I just... I just feel that there might be some hidden story behind the matter between Senior Brother Song and... that person, so I thought..."

"Want to help them find out?" Yan Ruchen answered for him.

Guan Shanyu lowered his head, feeling somewhat guilty. Yu Kunliang, watching from the side, was bewildered. He turned to look at Su Benzhi and the others, mouthing "What's going on?" Su Benzhi, who was enjoying his cakes nearby, didn't pay any attention to their conversation at all. He mouthed back, bewildered, "Huh?"

Yu Kunliang rolled his eyes.

Guan Shanyu didn't notice their little interaction, just staring at Yan Ruchen with a puzzled look. To avoid the gossip of other sect disciples, he simply stood up, walked through the crowd, and squeezed in to sit next to Yan Ruchen. Seeing this person suddenly approaching him, Yan Ruchen instinctively wanted to move back a step, but before he could act, he heard this person cautiously ask:

"Do you really believe that the two of them would do something like that?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Ruchen looked up, a trace of displeasure crossing his face. He then noticed the anxious look on Guan Shanyu's face, which surprised him. He asked, "The Council of Elders has already issued its instructions and announced their marriage to the world. What's the point of discussing whether to believe or not at this point?"

Guan Shanyu was stunned and said, "But, if they don't really love each other, and are forced to be a couple like this, can you bear to see it? Besides, you and Si... aren't you in love with each other? Then what if..."

"Shanyu, why do you know that they are not truly in love? How can you be sure that Hongyin definitely likes me?" Yan Ruchen's face finally became a little cold, and he spoke expressionlessly.

The two men spoke in low voices, and Yu Kunliang, who was sitting next to them, did not hear clearly. However, seeing that they seemed to have unfriendly expressions and the atmosphere was not right, he guessed that they were arguing about something, so he ignored them and continued to lie on the windowsill, feeling sad.

When asked by Yan Ruchen, Guan Shanyu's attitude became firmer and he replied, "Of course, she likes you very much."

Yan Ruchen tilted his head and asked, "How can you be sure?"

Guan Shanyu recalled and answered honestly, "Her behavior is very obvious. She is very happy every time she sees you. She is obviously an articulate girl, but she becomes speechless when she sees you. She obviously has a lot of things, but she never shares them with others. But when she met you, she is willing to give you all the good things. She is obviously a law-abiding person, but she would give up her principles for you. She is obviously a very timid person, but she would fight for you in the Elder Council. There are so many people in the sect, but she only sees you. If this is not love, what is it?"

Yan Ruchen looked at him quietly, unmoved by his words. After a moment's silence, he slowly said, "Senior Brother Song, he is a man worthy of trust. Even if Hongyin had feelings for me before, he would definitely fall in love with Senior Brother Song in the future."

Guan Shanyu felt somewhat helpless and sighed, "Things like liking something are beyond one's control, and they can't just change. There's no way to make her like whoever she wants."

Yan Ruchen stared at him, seemingly genuinely puzzled, and asked, "Why not?"

Guan Shanyu answered seriously: "Because love is a consciousness that is free to sink. There is no way to control it. We can only let it develop freely and fall freely."

A breeze blew outside the window, lifting a strand of Guan Shanyu's hair. He casually tucked it behind his ear, sat side by side with Yan Ruchen, and looked at him levelly.

Yan Ruchen sat opposite him, watching Guan Shanyu looking at him seriously, as if he didn't realize what he had just said at all. He just wanted to seriously confirm the intentions of another person who had nothing to do with him.

In the crowded cabin, Su Yi and the others were still chatting and laughing, but at the stern, there seemed to be an unknown thing spreading.

The seventeen-year-old boy had never heard such blunt words. It was like a kitten had been thrown in through an open window. He had clearly driven it away because he didn't like it, but the kitten didn't realize what was happening and came over to gently lick the palm of his hand.

Yan Ruchen was stunned for a moment, then turned his head slightly away. When he turned back, his expression was filled with a subtle complex emotion. He slowly asked, "So, you like Song Ziye?"

"what?!"

Guan Shanyu exclaimed "Oh shit!" and stood up from his seat, staring at Yan Ruchen in confusion. Several disciples behind him were frightened by him and turned around to look at him in confusion.

Yan Ruchen said, "You said it yourself. You're clearly a very timid person, but you'll fight for him in the Elders' Council. If you don't like Song Ziye, then why would you bother to prove it for them? Or do you like Si Hongyin?"

Guan Shanyu pinched his philtrum fiercely, feeling like banging his head against the wall. He held his forehead and sat down again, saying, "I don't like anyone. Don't get me wrong, I'm just bored."

Damn it, I've been talking for so long, but you didn't listen to a word I said.

After saying this, Guan Shanyu didn't plan to say anything more. He didn't know what Yan Ruchen's train of thought was. He had actually led him astray by going around in circles. If he continued, when Guan Shanyu returned to the sect, his own reputation might be ruined.

So he turned his back to Yan Ruchen, closed his eyes and leaned against the windowsill, pretending to be dead. The other disciples saw Guan Shanyu leaning there motionless, thinking he was catching up on his sleep, and turned back to their own work, not paying any more attention to this little episode.

Yan Ruchen stood behind him, watching him curl up in a ball in despair. He stared at him for a moment, then looked down at his hands without saying anything.

The boatman at the bow hummed a melodious folk song, which penetrated the morning mist between the mountains and echoed in the valley. Occasionally, a few birds chirped from the forest, intertwining with the boatman's singing. No one seemed to remember the conversation at the stern.

The boat shuttled between the mountains. As the boat continued to move forward, the peaks seemed to be moving slowly. The sunlight filtered through the clouds and sprinkled on the water in patches, reflecting the shadows of the mountains. It was so beautiful that it seemed out of this world.

After traveling for three or four hours, we finally arrived at our destination along the waterway.

Originally, the disciples, thinking Guyu was still unconscious, planned to send him to Yulin Terrace for treatment. However, considering they had already been out for five days, and worried that the black-robed man would return and cause trouble, they decided to send everyone to Zixiao or Tianxuan for rest. After that, the Elders' Council would take charge of Yun Jichan's case.

"But the way back will pass through Yuchen Palace first, why don't you go to our side first?"

Seeing how they arranged it, Su Yi asked with some confusion.

The other disciples looked back at each other, understanding each other tacitly.

The Yuchen Palace was a government-supported institution, and most of the hard-working sects didn't look down on them. Consequently, the disciples, influenced by the elders' attitudes, subconsciously excluded the Yuchen Palace. However, when Su Yi asked this question, the disciples didn't know how to respond.

Everyone looked at each other, Su Yi's face became more and more confused, and asked: "Why don't you go to our side? We at Yuchen Palace can also take the lead in handling it."