(MC POV)
Seeing Yuri's blushing face, I could not help smiling.
She was what you would call the perfect woman, but I felt that it would seem we were moving too fast if I suddenly started showing interest in her, so I just decided to make it seem like an unofficial date.
Look, I died a virgin in both lives, and she is the first woman that has ever drawn my interest, and some might say she is older than me, but living two lives made me a bit older than my actual age, but my emotions, on the other hand, did not really change much, sadly.
As we crossed through the sect gates and entered the Pink petals sect, I heard Yuri let out a gasp of admiration. Looking at the sect that was filled with beautiful sakura trees and flowers, it gave one the impression that they had entered some kind of painting.
"Hello, elder Zen." An elder greeted us as she wore light pink robes, and even though she looked middle-aged, I knew she was up to a hundred. "We are sorry for having you walk all the way here, and I am not trying to make excuses, but due to the exchange festival, we are a bit understaffed."
"It's fine, I noticed that the sect was a bit empty," I said, looking around.
"Yes, they all went to the village at the foot of the mountain to make sure that the delegates from other sects have a pleasant stay." She then looked at Yuri. "Am sorry elder Zen, but who is she?"
"I'm sorry, my name is Yuri, and I am master Zen's disciple," Yuri answered with a bow.
"Oh, that was a relief," The elder said, placing a hand on her chest.
"I'm sorry, what?" I could not help being curious as to why she reacted like that.
"I thought she was your lover," The elder said with a smile.
"..."
What does her being my lover have anything to do with such a reaction?
I was about to ask her what she meant by such a statement when...
"Master Zen!"
A woman who I could only call perfect rushed towards us on a flying sword, as her white robes fluttered in the wind, giving her a fairy-like appearance. For some reason, I felt that I recognized the voice.
"Mayene! What did I say about using flying swords in the sect!?" The elder reprimanded the lady when she got down from her flying sword. As her gaze never left me for one second, I could not help feeling a bit uncomfortable by her gaze.
I even felt the hand I was holding Yuri with tighten a bit.
"Am sorry elder Zen for witnessing such behavior from our sect's dao child. She is a fan of you; her name is Mayene." The elder introduced us.
I looked at the Mayene girl and nodded to her, to which she replied with a smile and a graceful nod. I noticed how her gaze lingered on me and Yuri's intertwined hands and narrowed.
It can't be that she has a crush on me, right? And is jealous?.
Anyways, a dao child of a sect is different from other disciples in the sect. They are usually the ones that would either take the seat of sect master or an elder when the sect master or elder passes away.
Every elder is in charge of something in a sect; I, on the other hand, am more like a figurehead. I only hold the position of elder but don't really have a job, so I am the one that mostly goes around completing missions for the sect.
"Let's go, the others are waiting." The elder, who is called elder Dao by the way, leads us to the meeting hall of the sect, which serves as both the meeting hall and the visitation hall for guests that come to seek an audience with the sect.
"So, master Zen, I was wondering if you would participate in the exchange festival today," Mayene asked as she came closer to me. She had the same sparkle in her eyes as Chuyan, which was a bit surprising since I thought that sparkle was because of Chuyan's divine affinity.
"No, actually."
Aside from announcing the new disciples of their sect, the exchange festival was also a stage for sects to demonstrate their power and might to other sects. Another thing that the sect hosting the exchange festival gets is a lot of gifts from other sects.
Another thing I might add is that only two sects can host exchange festivals in a year, so in order to get to have their own festival in the year, they have to apply for it first, and the disciples you want to show must be more than or equal to five.
"Oh, that's sad. I thought master Zen would participate since he was not around during his own sect's exchange festival," She said disappointed.
"Yes, I went to Tang city for some business."
"You also went to Tang city for the auction, right?" She asked, looking at me again with those shining eyes.
"Uh, yes?" I replied a little unsure at what she was getting at.
"Then that means you would have seen big sister Shangguan!"
"Mayene! That is enough!" Elder Dao said as she looked at the girl, who hung her head low, avoiding eye contact.
"Sorry about her; she talks a lot when she gets too excited about something... We are here."
Looking into the meeting hall, I could not help staring at it, since it was painted entirely violet. After entering, the first thing that greeted us was a gate that slowly opened, revealing a hall, and at the end of it was a chair, and sitting on top was the sect master of the pink petals sect as she stood up with an intoxicating laugh.
"Good to see you, master Zen," She greeted looking at me before looking at Yuri beside me.
"Thank you for having me, Sect master Nuwa, and she is my disciple." I cleared the confusion when I saw the other elders that were seated around looking at me and Yuri's interlocked hands.
Okay, I won't lie; I am trying to make them think that I am calling Yuri my disciple but might be having some secret rendezvous with her. I suddenly have a bad feeling when I feel their gaze on me.
"Please take a seat," She said, gesturing to the seat beside her.
I walked over to her side and sat down as Yuri sat behind me after a disciple brought in a chair for her.
"Since we are low on time, I wanted to get straight to the point, and I'm sure you might also be wondering why we called, hmm?" Starting the conversation, she picked up her teacup and took a sip.
"Yes, sect master is right. I hope there is no problem. I said with a laugh, making the other people in the room laugh along.
"Ah, there is indeed a problem, but it is something that can be fixed with an approval from you," She said looking a bit serious. Okay, too serious.
"Ah... Uh, what could that be? ... "
I was a little nervous as I looked around at the serious faces of the elders. What have I done wrong?
"Well, you see, the thing is, my daughter Shanggaun..."
"Shangguan!! I have come to settle our debt!"
A booming voice rocked the whole hall as I looked outside... Oh, right, the door is closed...
Boom*
Ah, never mind, someone broke through it.
"What is the meaning of this!?" The sect master screamed as she looked at the young man that had broken through the door.
Looking at the young man in front of me, I realized that he looked oddly familiar... What is happening today? why am I suddenly feeling like I suddenly know all these people?
"So this is the man she left me for," He said looking at... Wait for me? Is he looking at me?
I know I am the only guy here, including him... Wait, what did he say? Who left whom for whom?
"Hao Ren! I told you that I am already engaged to him; why can't you leave me alone!?" Looking at the other side of the sect master, that was when I noticed that there was a woman sitting there who looked a little bit like Mayene...
Wait, did she say ENGAGED!? Engaged to whom!? It can't be me, right?
"Is it me?" I could not help asking
"Are you mocking me!? I challenge you to a duel!" He yelled, taking out what I assume to be a sword.
Me and my big mouth.