VIP Volume Chapter 049 The Iron Triangle

Regarding Ye Xiaoxuan’s decision to return to Grand Immortal Lake, Wen Xiaoyu was utterly unwilling! Others might not know, but she had personally experienced the uncanny strangeness of Grand Immortal Lake and was well aware of the dangers lurking within. Naturally, she did not want her boyfriend to venture there again.

Jiaran saw her worry, gently took her hand and shook her head, whispering, “You can’t persuade him. Xiaosan’s temperament is just like this. He seems indifferent to everything most of the time, but when it comes to something he deems important, he becomes serious to a frightening degree.”

Wen Xiaoyu bit her lip, gazing at Ye Xiaoxuan’s tightly furrowed brows, then smiled softly, “But isn’t that rather adorable?”

Jiaran smiled as well, holding Wen Xiaoyu’s hand. “Sister, now I know you truly like him! Others look down on him, calling him a good-for-nothing, neither scholarly nor martial, but you’ve seen the lovable side of him. That proves your feelings are sincere. However…”

Jiaran’s hesitation startled Wen Xiaoyu, who nervously lowered her head and asked, “However what? Jiaran, just say it—does Xiaoxuan have a girlfriend in the village?”

Jiaran forced a smile and shook her head. “No, it’s not that. The main thing is, you’re a pampered city girl, and this place is remote and poor, with harsh conditions. How could you get used to living here? Your home isn’t here.”

Wen Xiaoyu gazed at Ye Xiaoxuan and spoke with deep affection, “Wherever his home is, that’s where mine will be.” Jiaran stared at her, murmuring, “It’s only been a week—can feelings compare to eighteen years?”

Wen Xiaoyu seemed not to catch the implication in Jiaran’s words, resting her chin in her hands and watching Ye Xiaoxuan in the distance. “It’s hard to explain that feeling—like a bond destined from a previous life. Though it’s only been one night, it feels as if I’ve found the person I’ve searched for ten thousand years! Can eighteen years compare to ten thousand?”

Jiaran’s gaze dimmed; she stared blankly at Ye Xiaoxuan, her heart filled with sorrow, yet she could not shed a single tear.

Hao Six-Fingers smoked, curiously asking Ye Xiaoxuan, “Xiaoxuan, even if you want to go back, you’ll need a boat, right? Who would dare set out at this hour?”

That was indeed a problem. Not to mention that this season forbids boats from leaving at night in the villages around Grand Immortal Lake—even if allowed, after such a major incident, no one would dare venture out for at least ten days or half a month.

Ye Xiaoxuan turned with a mysterious air, gazing at the lake below. “Let me try. If that fellow isn’t around, next time I see it, I’ll give it a beating!”

Everyone looked at each other, unsure who he was talking about. He bent his fingers and placed them in his mouth, letting out a sharp whistle. This was Ye Xiaoxuan’s pride—being a little rascal, whistling was an essential skill.

Ye Xiaoxuan’s remarkable talent was that, no matter which finger he used, he could always whistle loudly, his sound unrivaled. Single-finger, double-finger, all sorts of whistles—no one in Scholar Township was as proficient as he. Even if you stuffed a fist in his mouth, he could whistle just as loud.

After the whistle faded, the surroundings returned to silence, with only the occasional breeze rustling the leaves overhead. Ye Xiaoxuan muttered, “Alright, you’re finished! You’re dead meat! If I see you, I’ll rip off your shell and use it as a bench!”

Ye Dajun asked in bewilderment, “Xiaosan, who are you cursing?”

Hao Six-Fingers scratched his head and stared at Ye Xiaoxuan. “I’ve noticed, since Xiaoxuan came back, he’s changed a bit from before.”

Ye Dajun nodded, “Not just a bit—a lot. But I can’t say exactly how.”

Hao Six-Fingers acted as if he understood, “I know! He’s unpredictable, and his words are all over the place!”

Ye Dajun stroked his chin, pretending to ponder. “That does sound about right…though I haven’t fully grasped it yet…”

Ye Xiaoxuan suddenly kicked out, cursing, “Hao Six-Fingers, I’ll mouth your wife! You’re calling me crazy!”

Ye Dajun finally caught on, exclaiming, “Oh, so that’s what you meant!”

Everyone else: “…”

After their playful banter, everyone stood up. Wen Xiaoyu clung to Ye Xiaoxuan’s arm, saying, “Xiaoxuan, since you’ve decided, I’ll respect your choice. But I’m going with you!”

“I’m going too!” Ye Dajun grabbed Hao Six-Fingers by the collar and said to Ye Xiaoxuan, “Big brother’s with you, and Six-Fingers too—don’t forget we’re the Iron Triangle!”

Hao Six-Fingers pulled a wry face, “The Iron Triangle isn’t about that, you know. We don’t need to stick together for everything. Besides, my old man needs looking after…”

Old Cucumber stood up as well. “Since you three are going, might as well take me too! I’m older, and I know more about Grand Immortal Lake than you youngsters. Having me along would be useful.”

Jiaran was still a bit gloomy, though she didn’t show it. She frowned and said, “You haven’t even found a boat yet—why rush to sign up?”

Hao Six-Fingers quickly agreed, “Exactly! Let’s think it over. If you find a boat, call me then… Wait, what is that?!”

Hao Six-Fingers stared in terror behind Ye Xiaoxuan, as if he’d seen a ghost. The others turned to look and were so frightened they screamed and bolted.

Wen Xiaoyu ran over excitedly, calling out, “Don’t panic! It’s our friend—his name is Little Green!” Ye Xiaoxuan grinned and scolded it, “Smart of you to show up! I thought you’d run off!”

Seeing the two play affectionately with Little Green, the others gradually calmed down and gathered around. Ye Dajun’s eyes nearly popped out as he stared at Little Green, “I’ve never seen such a huge turtle in my life!”

Old Cucumber was equally astonished, “Nor have I! If you sold this thing, it’d fetch a pretty penny!”

“Don’t you dare sell him!” Wen Xiaoyu clenched her tiny fist at Old Cucumber. “Little Green is our friend! If you betray a friend, I won’t let you off!”

Jiaran looked at Little Green and Ye Xiaoxuan with a complex expression, asking, “Did you and Xiaoyu come back riding on him?”

Ye Xiaoxuan nodded, and Wen Xiaoyu eagerly answered, “Yes! It was so much fun. Little Green is very gentle—riding him is even steadier than being on a boat!”

Jiaran’s eyes reddened with melancholy, “How romantic…” Ye Xiaoxuan felt a pang in his heart, unable to comfort her in front of everyone. He sighed softly and said, “This is my boat, so you don’t need to come with me. With Little Green, there’s no danger.”

All the strange happenings around Grand Immortal Lake were caused by Little Green’s mother—the giant turtle. Thus, Little Green became Ye Xiaoxuan’s talisman, more reliable than any dragon-marked armor.