"What? What?"
Ouyang Ye doubted her own hearing, asking again in disbelief, "What did you just say?"
"I said since you like it so much, you can take it."
As he spoke, Gu Qingfeng had already walked over to the left wall, drinking his wine while gazing at the series of bizarre murals.
After receiving this confirmation, Ouyang Ye was utterly dumbfounded, standing there in extreme astonishment, her mind a complete blank.
She could never have imagined that this fellow before her would say such a thing. Even after asking twice, she still couldn't believe it.
This was the Cloud-Color Sword, something that could cause a sensation across the Great Northwest Frontier! Its value was unimaginable, and yet this fellow...
...actually said she could take it if she liked it.
Was there such a good thing in this world?
Was he a fool?
Or did he not know the value of the Cloud-Color Sword?
No!
He couldn't possibly not know.
This fellow had entered the central Cave Dwelling through a single mural and understood the structure of the dwelling like the back of his hand. With such extensive knowledge, how could he not know the value of the Cloud-Color Sword?
Since he knew, why would he give it to her?
Why?
This was the answer Ouyang Ye most wanted to know at this moment. Gazing at Gu Qingfeng's back, she asked, "The Cave Dwelling's Eye was...
...opened by you...
You...
You...
Why are you giving it to me?
This is...
...the Cloud-Color Sword...
You..." Perhaps because she was too shocked or found it too hard to believe, the little girl's words came out fragmented and stammering.
"Why?
No reason. Didn't you say you really liked it?
Since you like it so much, just take it. Besides, I've never liked using swords. Having it would be useless to me anyway."
Gu Qingfeng didn't turn around, still admiring the murals as he replied offhandedly.
But his words, entering Ouyang Ye's ears, instantly gave the little girl a very bewildered feeling.
She truly was bewildered.
Bewildered to the point of not knowing what to do.
Take it if she liked it?
What kind of reason was that?
And what did he mean by 'not liking swords, so it's useless'?
This was the Cloud-Color Sword!
It had nothing to do with liking or not liking swords!
Even if you didn't like it, you could trade it for a spirit treasure you did like!
When she asked again, Gu Qingfeng's response was noticeably impatient. "Alright, just take it if I'm giving it to you. Why so much nonsense?"
"You and I...
...are only meeting for the first time. We didn't know each other before. Are you really planning to...
...give it to me?"
What was happening now completely exceeded Ouyang Ye's understanding. She had never encountered such a huge stroke of good fortune before. First, she couldn't believe it, and second, she was somewhat suspicious. After all, the situation was too strange. Even though she really wanted that Cloud-Color Sword, she still needed to clarify things first.
"Can't I give it to you just because we didn't know each other?"
Gu Qingfeng turned to look at her, chuckling lightly. "We didn't know each other before, but now we do, don't we?
Besides, you're so pretty. Can't I have fallen for you at first sight?"
"You...
I..." Ouyang Ye's delicate, beautiful face instantly flushed with shyness, making her even more flustered. She even dared not meet Gu Qingfeng's teasing gaze.
"Alright, take it."
Gu Qingfeng paid her no more mind and continued admiring the paintings on the wall.
Ouyang Ye looked at Gu Qingfeng, then at the Cloud-Color Sword floating within the Cave Dwelling's Eye. After taking several deep breaths, she cautiously walked over. But when she reached the edge of the Cave Dwelling's Eye, she suddenly stopped and didn't immediately reach for it, because she had just realized a very serious problem.
Could this be a scheme?
A scheme she hadn't detected?
Could it be that this fellow had spotted danger and wanted her to test it first?
Ouyang Ye released her divine sense, probing the area several times. She was quite certain there were no hidden mechanisms or formations here.
Yet she still didn't dare stretch out her hand to take that Cloud-Color Sword.
Her heart was still filled with doubt.
Afraid of being framed.
It wasn't that Ouyang Ye was overly suspicious; it was just that in the ancient Cave Dwellings of the present era, incidents of teammates framing and killing each other were far too common. Not to mention two strangers who didn't know each other—even fellow disciples would scheme against each other for treasures within a dwelling.
Calm down!
Must stay calm!
Damn it, is this a scheme or not?
Ouyang Ye truly didn't know. It didn't feel like a scheme, but that was just a feeling. For the sake of her own life, she had to be cautious and really didn't dare act rashly.
Wait!
The murals!
Were these murals somehow connected to the Cave Dwelling's Eye?
She couldn't understand these murals, but this fellow probably could. Had he seen something amiss?
So he was deliberately framing her?
Yes!
That must be it!
She didn't know him at all; there was no way he would just give her the Cloud-Color Sword!
The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Looking at the series of murals on the surrounding walls, Ouyang Ye suddenly felt her scalp go numb. She couldn't help but take two steps back, feeling very fortunate inside—fortunate she hadn't acted. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable!
"What's the matter? Didn't you like it?
Why aren't you taking it?"
"You!"
Ouyang Ye cautiously observed her surroundings, eyeing Gu Qingfeng warily. "You... you wouldn't have some scheme, would you?
Did you spot danger and deliberately say you're giving me the Cloud-Color Sword? Are you trying to frame your grandaunt?"
Hearing this.
Gu Qingfeng chuckled wryly, squinting his eyes as he looked Ouyang Ye up and down. He laughed helplessly, "I say, little sister, you're not very old, but you sure have a lot of suspicions. Why would I frame you for no reason?
What do you even have that's worth me framing you for?"
"Then why did you start looking at those murals as soon as you came in? Do these murals hold some profound mystery?
Speak!
Is it some kind of trap?"
"Trap my ass!
These murals hold no profound mystery. They're just a type of Nine Palaces mirror image derived from the Cave Dwelling's structural evolution."
"I don't believe a word of your nonsense!
Your grandaunt can't see any profound mystery. How would I know if what you're saying is true? Besides, we're not familiar at all. Why would you give me the Cloud-Color Sword for no reason? A scheme!
It must be some scheme!
You must be trying to frame me!"
"Didn't I tell you? You're so pretty, I fell for you at first sight!"
"Pah!"
Ouyang Ye glared at him contemptuously. "Don't feed your grandaunt that 'love at first sight' nonsense. Your grandaunt isn't a three-year-old child. The world I've seen is more than you've ever dreamed of..." Seeing Ouyang Ye there, endlessly and wildly speculating, Gu Qingfeng really couldn't be bothered to listen anymore. He sighed helplessly, "Alright, since you think it's a trap, then don't take it. My wine isn't plentiful anyway. I might as well take this sword to trade for some fine wine."
Seeing Gu Qingfeng just drinking wine without moving, Ouyang Ye felt even more certain of her guess. This fellow was definitely putting on an act, deliberately luring her. "I don't want it...
You take it. Come on then!"
Gu Qingfeng drained the fine wine from his gourd, then walked over. Reaching out, he directly scooped up the Cloud-Color Sword floating within the Cave Dwelling's Eye.