Creak—!
The wooden door of Wisteria Residence slowly closed.
Ye Tian led Jin Yue'er, who in turn held Qian Renxue's hand, as they openly made their way toward Chrysanthemum Douluo's courtyard.
On the mountainside of the Central Divine Mountain, the Papal Hall stood as the most iconic structure, while the Elder Hall was situated within it without clear distinction. Elsewhere on the mountainside lay numerous courtyards where elders rested during their leisure time or housed their families.
In this area, Titled Douluo were professionalized. Small rodents sneaking in from other factions naturally dared not intrude here. Even if they gained something, they wouldn't live to relay any information.
Along the way, Ye Tian strolled leisurely yet steadily. The two girls, Jin Yue'er and Qian Renxue, walked beside him, chatting idly. Qian Renxue's mind had finally cleared, temporarily setting aside the complexities of their triangular relationship. Instead, she grew curious about why Chrysanthemum Douluo had invited Ye Tian to the feast.
Qian Renxue gazed thoughtfully at Ye Tian, catching only a glimpse of his profile near his ear. It seemed she had never truly understood him.
"Ye Tian~ How much longer? I'm starving," Jin Yue'er complained weakly, clinging to Qian Renxue.
"If your eyes aren't watching the path, has your nose stopped working too?" Ye Tian glanced back, giving her a faint, exasperated look.
"What do you mean?" Jin Yue'er frowned.
"It's the floral scent," Qian Renxue remarked with surprise, her gaze extending farther ahead. About a hundred meters away stood a vibrant courtyard bursting with colorful blooms.
"That must be Chrysanthemum Douluo's residence, right? We're almost there?!" Jin Yue'er's expression instantly brightened with delight.
"Yes, we'll arrive shortly," Ye Tian nodded slightly before reminding Jin Yue'er, "Yue'er, later you—"
"I know!" Jin Yue'er cut him off impatiently before he could finish. "Eat more and talk less~ Hmph! Since when did you become so naggy, Ye Tian? Is my voice that unpleasant?"
"Not at all..."
"Then that settles it!" Jin Yue'er pouted unhappily.
"Fine, suit yourself." Ye Tian smiled wryly, not pressing further. Her voice wasn't unpleasant—it was just that her words often missed the mark.
"Let's keep moving then." With that, Ye Tian continued forward.
Jin Yue'er stuck her tongue out at him and tugged Qian Renxue along. "Sister Xue, let's go."
"Mm!" Qian Renxue nodded. Free of her worries, she no longer needed Jin Yue'er to pull her along. Instead, she proactively quickened her pace to catch up with Ye Tian and voiced her curiosity: "Ye Tian, why did Chrysanthemum Douluo send you an invitation?"
"Because the flowers we're appreciating today were cultivated together by Elder Chrysanthemum and me," Ye Tian replied with a mysterious smile.
"You know how to garden?" Qian Renxue looked at him in astonishment.
"Not really—just the basics. Elder Chrysanthemum handles most of the tending."
"Are you sure about that?" Ye Tian's straightforward answer only made Qian Renxue more skeptical.
She wasn't very familiar with Chrysanthemum Douluo.
Even so, she had heard that Chrysanthemum Douluo was extremely fond of flowers.
For a Titled Douluo so obsessed with flowers,
if Ye Tian only had a superficial understanding of them, why would Chrysanthemum Douluo work with him and plant flowers together?
"Of course! Why would I lie to you?"
Ye Tian said with certainty.
He truly didn't know much about flowers.
After speaking,
Ye Tian glanced back, smiling at Qian Renxue. "Little Xue, you'll understand when you see those flowers later. Try not to be too surprised."
"Why?"
Jin Yue'er was puzzled.
"They're just some flowers. What's so special about them?"
"Hmm... it's complicated to explain."
Ye Tian hesitated,
"In any case, you'll naturally understand when you see them later."
"..."
Qian Renxue habitually showed a hint of reproach in her eyes.
Ye Tian was always like this.
It was the same with the self-made weapons he had promised earlier.
But there was still no sign of them even now.
"Alright then, Ye Tian, hurry up and knock. I'm starving."
Jin Yue'er stopped asking and urged him instead.
"Right away."
Having just dealt with Qian Renxue and the others, Ye Tian had already reached the courtyard gate.
He didn't knock,
but instead skillfully raised his hand
and pulled on the pale yellow slender chain hanging before the door.
Ding—ling ling!
A golden bell under the eaves inside the courtyard emitted a crisp sound.
Around the bell
were clusters of slender iron pieces shaped like petals. As the bell shook, these iron pieces actually stood up around it.
At first glance, it looked like a golden chrysanthemum!
Trembling in the gentle breeze.
"Haha... Old Ghost, my distinguished guest has finally arrived."
In the front courtyard,
a sharp, hoarse voice sounded.
But there was no response.
Chrysanthemum Douluo quickly came to the courtyard gate but couldn't help raising an eyebrow.
It seemed the visitor wasn't just his friend across generations;
there were two unfamiliar auras, one of which carried a somewhat familiar sacred quality.
"Chrysanthemum, what's wrong?"
An extremely hoarse voice asked, filled with confusion.
Chrysanthemum Douluo shook his head.
"Nothing, it seems there's more than one distinguished guest."
"Oh?"
The ghostly figure under the black robe looked curiously toward the gate.
Before the words faded,
Chrysanthemum Douluo reached out and opened the courtyard gate.
Ye Tian, along with Qian Renxue and the other girl, slowly appeared before him.
"Elder Chrysanthemum, I hope I'm not late?"
Ye Tian asked with a smile.
Qian Renxue and Jin Yue'er both focused their gaze on Chrysanthemum Douluo,
their eyelids twitching involuntarily.
For a moment,
they couldn't quite tell
whether this lightly made-up Titled Douluo before them was male or female.
"Of course not."
Chrysanthemum Douluo shook his head, smiling at Ye Tian in response.
But his eyes intentionally or unintentionally fell on Qian Renxue,
filled with contemplation.
He couldn't understand why this young mistress would come with Ye Tian.
"That's good."
Ye Tian nodded slightly, glanced at Qian Renxue and the others, and explained:
"Sorry, Elder Chrysanthemum."
"These two are my good friends. They insisted on coming with me to the banquet..."
Ye Tian didn't use the excuse Jin Yue'er had prepared.
That would have been unnecessary.
"Is that so..."
Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes held surprise,
never expecting that Ye Tian, as the Holy Maiden's disciple, could have such a good relationship with this young mistress.
Could it be that the young lady had hidden her identity?
Chrysanthemum Douluo narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, and decided to give Ye Tian a warning.
Given Ye Tian's intelligence, he would surely understand something from the respectful attitude they would soon display.
"Elder Chrysanthemum, forgive our uninvited visit. We hope we haven't disturbed you."
Qian Renxue looked at Chrysanthemum Douluo, nodding slightly as a greeting.
"You flatter me, my lady."
Chrysanthemum Douluo bowed gracefully and replied respectfully,
"For someone as noble as you to grace my humble abode is undoubtedly a great honor for this subordinate."
As he finished speaking,
Chrysanthemum Douluo stepped aside and gestured,
"My lady, please—"
"There's no need for such formality, Elder. We're merely accompanying Ye Tian to see the flowers."
Before Qian Renxue could finish,
Jin Yue'er eagerly added, "And to mooch a meal!"
"Yue'er!"
Qian Renxue shot Jin Yue'er a glare,
While Ye Tian wore a faint, resigned smile—he had expected as much.
"But I'm really hungry~"
Jin Yue'er clutched her stomach, muttering meekly with downcast eyes.
"Haha~ No trouble at all, no trouble."
Chrysanthemum Douluo let out a light chuckle.
He glanced at Ye Tian, whose expression remained unchanged, and felt a stir of doubt and surprise.
Could it be...
That Ye Tian already knew the young lady's true identity?
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