Huang'er's comprehension and talent far exceeded Jiang Chen's imagination.
The speed at which she refined the Golden Cicada bloodline was so fast that even Jiang Chen was left wide-eyed after watching.
It was worth noting that Jiang Chen himself had spent a considerable amount of time refining the Golden Cicada bloodline. Yet Huang'er had managed to finish the job in just a few hours. Moreover, after observing carefully, Jiang Chen found that her degree of fusion was no worse at all.
"Miss Huang'er, I'm not the prying sort, but I really can't help but wonder—what corner of the Spirit Abyss Continent could produce such extraordinary talent as yours?"
These words from Jiang Chen were no idle flattery. He genuinely felt puzzled, even astounded.
Huang'er's bearing, her temperament, her gifts—not even the first-tier sects of the Upper Eight Domains could cultivate someone like her, let alone a mere genius from the Myriad Phenomena Domain.
Jiang Chen had met his share of first-tier sect disciples.
Cao Jin, for instance. Or Gong Qi.
Gong Qi was still young, so set him aside. Cao Jin's bearing was certainly decent—he wasn't flighty like those Myriad Phenomena geniuses. But when it came to reading a person's aura, Jiang Chen felt the gap between Cao Jin and Huang'er was enormous. It was the same kind of chasm that separated a Myriad Phenomena genius like Wang Han from Cao Jin. Several tiers apart.
Huang'er's expression paused briefly at his words, and a flicker of barely perceptible sorrow passed through her bright eyes. It vanished in an instant, but Jiang Chen caught it.
His heart stirred. A twinge of regret followed—perhaps his question had been too forward, putting her in a difficult position.
After spending so much time together, Jiang Chen had come to greatly appreciate Huang'er's character and personality. Their duets on the qin and xiao had even given him a vague sense of a kindred spirit—a feeling he had never shared with any other woman.
In recent days, Jiang Chen had nearly forgotten about Huang'er's background, forgotten her disguised appearance. He had reached a state where both self and other seemed to fade away.
Then Huang'er let out a soft sigh.
"Young Master Jiang, there is something Huang'er has been meaning to apologize for. Because of a foolish notion at the very beginning, I kept this hidden from you all this time…"
Huang'er raised her luminous eyes, brimming with sincerity, and made a wiping gesture before her face.
In an instant, a face of breathtaking, picture-perfect beauty materialized before Jiang Chen.
For one heartbeat, Jiang Chen was struck speechless.
Countless words for describing beauty flashed through his mind, yet in that moment, every single one seemed so barren, so dull.
Jiang Chen truly felt the inadequacy of language. No words in the world, he felt, could capture the sheer astonishment sweeping through him.
What power of creation could produce such a flawless, otherworldly spirit?
Skin like congealed jade, breath like a hidden orchid, a beauty wreathed in mist like a peony—every inch a living painting.
Even if the celebrated beauties of the Myriad Heavens from his previous life were to descend into the mortal realm, they would feel humbled by comparison.
"Young Master Jiang, when Elder Shun brought me to seek treatment, I was thinking like a naive young girl. I was afraid of running into some lecher, so I deliberately altered my appearance. I never expected you to be such a candid gentleman—that makes me the one who fell short. Please forgive me."
Jiang Chen snapped out of his daze and let out a soft laugh. "Truly unexpected. Truly. Miss Huang'er, with such a peerless appearance, it's perfectly understandable to keep it concealed. Otherwise, you'd attract far too much attention wherever you went."
Huang'er had heard countless compliments since she grew into her beauty, but never had one felt as gratifying as this.
Praise from someone you dislike is a form of torment.
Praise from someone you hold dear is genuine joy.
Jiang Chen was a man of easy poise. Though slightly stunned, he quickly regained his composure, and the atmosphere gradually returned to normal.
"Young Master Jiang, it wasn't that Huang'er deliberately chose not to tell you. My background and origins involve too many entanglements. Revealing them could actually bring you harm."
If anyone else had said this, it would likely have been a polite brush-off. But Jiang Chen knew that Huang'er was not the kind of person to offer empty excuses.
Those eyes of hers—clear as a mountain spring—were filled with sincerity. That kind of purity and transparency could never contain a lie.
In all his lives, past and present, Jiang Chen had never seen eyes so clear and clean.
He nodded without pressing further and smiled with good humor. "Miss Huang'er, I was merely speaking from the heart just now. I wasn't trying to probe into your background."
"Mm, Huang'er understands." A faint smile graced her lips.
"Ha ha, it's about time. We should get going." Jiang Chen stood up, a meaningful smile appearing in his eyes. "I'd wager our friends are about caught up by now."
"Oh?" Huang'er blinked in surprise, then laughed softly. "I thought you hadn't noticed. So you knew all along?"
Jiang Chen nodded with a smile. "Their little trick was subtle, but it can't fool me. Though given the circumstances at the time, there was no way I could have stopped them from placing the mark."
"Mm, I was just examining this mark. It's rather troublesome. I'm afraid it will take three days of sustained effort to wear it down." Huang'er's delicate brows furrowed slightly.