CHAPTER 329: CHAPTER 114: AN UNEXPECTED ’FEI’ APPEARS

Su Ziceng took far fewer wrong turns than Bi Orleans, and after experiencing the octagram-shaped campus of Kelly Women’s College, she had explored the main hall, the central hall, and the side halls of Chuyun Grand Shrine thoroughly.

After making sure she had completed the full journey, Su Ziceng didn’t know what to do for a while. The high monks of the Shrine had clearly stated that after completing the entire journey of the Grand Shrine, corresponding guidance would be received. Yet along the way, she had not encountered any person giving guidance, only finding the main hall where the incense burned brightly. The monks in the ordinary halls, in order to entertain foreign tourists, generally knew some foreign languages, and among them, those who knew Chinese were the most numerous.

Su Ziceng was about to pass through a corridor named the "West Corridor" when a faint sigh suddenly reached her ears.

It was very light, but also very clear. Su Ziceng turned her head to look around, but the tourists wandering the corridor showed no signs of sighing. She took a few more steps forward and came upon a stone statue resembling half of a Hook Jade.

The top of the Hook Jade pointed towards a small side hall to the south. An inconspicuous side hall with no strict guards, no comings and goings of monks—it didn’t look like a place that would house a treasure.

Su Ziceng looked around again and realized that all the other tourists were following signposts or the guidance of their tour guides, walking on their own. It seemed that she was the only one who had noticed the directional Hook Jade statue.

At the entrance of the side hall, there was a talisman paper attached. Su Ziceng looked around and confirmed there was indeed no one else. After hesitating for a moment, she decided to follow her heart, tore off the talisman paper, and slipped into the small side hall.

A while later, Wen Maixue also passed by this place. She knew some Japanese, which made her search for Yellow Love smoother than the communication-challenged Orleans and Su Ziceng. Wen Maixue was delighted that Pello had entrusted her with the important task of finding Yellow Love, as in her heart, a complete set of Mussen’s Blessing symbolized the status of the Munsen Family’s mistress, so if she also had the opportunity to receive a full set of Mussen’s Blessing in the future, then she would be the rightful wife of Pello.

Although Wen Maixue already owned one piece of Mussen’s Blessing, compared to Su Ziceng’s mysterious Red Love, her Green Love seemed quite plain, which is why she pleaded with Pello to gift her with Yellow Love after retrieving it.

Lost in these thoughts, Wen Maixue did not pay attention to the requirement of a peaceful state of mind as told by the monks of Chuyun Grand Shrine, so she also missed the peculiar Hook Jade statue. Wen Maixue continued along the West Corridor, thinking to herself that such precious jewels should be enshrined in the most sacred Main Hall.

Orleans followed Wen Maixue stealthily. Previously when they parted ways, no matter how shamelessly Orleans begged, Wen Maixue refused to tell him her contact details. Such behavior only intensified Orleans’ infatuation with Wen Maixue. At this moment, compared to searching for the elusive Yellow Love, pursuing the enchanting young lady seemed a better option.

One after the other, they walked past the West Corridor, with neither of them taking notice of the small side hall. In fact, aside from Su Ziceng, none of the passing tourists noticed that side hall.

Inside the side hall, Su Ziceng, of course, unaware that she was very close to Wen Maixue. Compared to other halls surrounded by trees and bright with fireworks, there was only one hall here, with a lone cherry tree standing sparsely.

But such a scene with a single room and a single tree was not at all monotonous. Su Ziceng felt that in this side hall located in the corner, the light was more abundant than anywhere else in the Shrine. The cherry tree, still in bloom as if oblivious to the season, quietly blossomed, and the finely delicate petals scattered across the ground, adorning the side hall with a natural floral carpet.

The side hall opened an arch-shaped side door, and the sunlight streamed directly through the archway, reaching all the way inside. A soft yellow light shone forth from within, and Su Ziceng took a few steps inside. Without entering the door, she caught sight of the Yellow Love that was being offered on the incense table.

"It’s the one." Su Ziceng did not move any closer; she just looked on, and merely by gazing, she could recognize it without even needing to touch it. Red Love around her neck emitted a similarly gentle light. Layers of red and yellow light enveloped Su Ziceng, and the soreness from hours of walking in the mountains eased considerably.

In fact, Su Ziceng had never truly come into contact with Yellow Love. At that deadly auction, she was unable to appreciate the beauty of Yellow Love because of jealousy.

Before that, she had merely coldly set Yellow Love on her dressing table. The closest she had ever been with Yellow Love was when her blood sprayed onto it at the moment she attempted suicide.

Yet, Su Ziceng was certain that it was Yellow Love; it was a kind of instinctual recognition.

At the center of the chain lay an eight-carat yellow diamond, and the remaining three hundred or so melee diamonds were like stars scattered beside the moon, delicately embellishing it. After ten years of Buddhist cleansing, Yellow Love’s otherworldly beauty was even more pronounced.

After another look, Su Ziceng withdrew. She had no intention of taking Yellow Love with her; her journey of exploration had now turned into a trip to visit an old friend. In such a secluded place, the beauty of Yellow Love was not to be profaned.

The Red Love on her body seemed to have been cleansed as well when it met Yellow Love, acquiring a tranquil feeling akin to the sea. Su Ziceng knew that she needed to wait, wait for Yellow Love to be ready to face the world, and then she would commence the fairest competition.

After one last glance at Chuyun Grand Shrine, as evening approached, a golden twilight rose outside the gates. Su Ziceng bowed to Chuyun Grand Shrine to thank it for allowing her to find Yellow Love once again. As she descended the mountain, she felt her steps were exceptionally light.

Wen Maixue’s face appeared somewhat gloomy in the twilight, bothered by a persistent admirer who kept following her without a clue and refused to leave. She was followed to the point of frustration.

The monks inside the temple simply refused to clarify the whereabouts of Yellow Love, it seemed finding it would require other methods. Wen Maixue could not confront them directly and could only descend the mountain first.

After nightfall, as usual, every temple at Chuyun Grand Shrine lit early pine oil lamps. Six bright lamps were lit in the side hall where Yellow Love was placed, but contrary to the daytime, the hall was not empty.

On the contrary, three people stood in the side hall, one of whom was a monk, the other standing to the side. Both were watching the other man closely. That man, dressed as a businessman, had eyes full of greed as he touched Yellow Love with his hands. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)