Liu Cheng couldn't sleep that night. Well, he was a high-leveled cultivator already so he didn't necessarily have to sleep but he still tried to maintain a normal sleeping schedule. After all, it would still be beneficial to a cultivator to rest regularly.
The next morning, he stood up with his heart beating hurriedly. He had felt attracted to Hong Bao the moment he first saw her in the capital and he had thought every now and then of her after that. Meeting her again in the forest had felt like a stroke of luck to him. Now, after several years of accompanying each other, it seemed like they would finally become closer.
He stood up and took all of his robes out of the spatial pendant he was wearing. Hong Bao had seen him every day for the last five years so it probably wouldn't make any difference but he wanted to look nice for such an important occasion.
He selected the best robe and put the others back inside. With great care, he washed up, donned his robe and made his hair. He even went the extra mile and searched for an old bronze mirror to take a look at himself. He normally wasn't particular about appearances so he couldn't really tell if it was alright, though.
"She shouldn't mind even if it isn't good. Junior Martial Sister Hong Bao isn't that superficial."
He had no idea that it was actually his face that had attracted Hong Bao and had made her join the Chun Feng Sect. If he knew … well, it was better if he didn't.
Liu Cheng took a deep breath. It was way too much time until noon. What should he do until then? He sat down on his bed and tried to meditate but his thoughts were in an uproar. No, he wouldn't be able to concentrate until he had met her. Maybe he should already go to the town? Knowing Hong Bao she might be there earlier, too.
In the end, he shook his head. Maybe Hong Bao wanted to prepare something. He couldn't disturb her before the appointed time. Actually, it probably wasn't right to have her confess to him first. As a man, shouldn't he take the first step? What was so difficult about that?
Mn … Liu Cheng suddenly stood up, squared his shoulders and lifted his chin. Right. As a man, he should take the first step. Hong Bao had already started to initiate everything. He could only do some preparations of his own and then say the words before she could do so.
Yes, that was a good idea. He felt like Hong Bao would like it. He could already imagine how her eyes would sparkle when he confessed his feelings first. She was the type of woman to take these things especially serious.
He hurriedly left his room and flew into the town. In a happy mood, he strolled through the streets and looked around for a present. He certainly couldn't show up empty-handed! Finally, he noticed a pretty hairpin. It was only wooden but some flowers were engraved on it. It seemed playful and girlish as if it had been tailor-made for Hong Bao.
Liu Cheng smiled at the vendor and bought the hairpin, not even thinking about the price he paid. He put his gift into his spatial pendant and slowly made his way over to the Phoenix Inn. By now, it was nearly noon.
He looked up at the front of the inn. As far as he knew, this was the best establishment in the town. Since the Chun Feng Sect was nearby, he had heard a lot about it. It was established by a local family and had been operated for three generations already. Whenever there was a bis festivity in one of the wealthier families of the town they would almost always go there.
The Chun Feng Sect disciples didn't really have a reason to take a room in an inn here since the sect grounds were nearby but those with a bit of background still liked to go to town every now and then and would at least eat in the inn.
As far as they had told him, there were only a few rooms in the inn to give the customers a more exclusive feeling. Other people could still eat there and there was music to enjoy in the evening, though. It should be pretty lively inside by then.
Liu Cheng gulped and took another deep breath. He couldn't make a pig's ear out of this. He straightened out his robes and strode into the inn, directly going up to the boss.
"Someone asked me to meet here at noon."
"You're from Chun Feng Sect, right?" The boss hurriedly made sure that there wouldn't be a misunderstanding. He smiled brightly at Liu Cheng's nod and motioned to the staircase to the upper floor. "Please. The guest is inside the room."
Liu Cheng followed the boss until the door and waited for him to knock. He didn't really pay attention to him, though. All of his thoughts were with Hong Bao. He touched the pendant around his neck and breathed deeply once more. Now that he was so close to her he felt unsure of how to proceed.
There was a murmured assent that Liu Cheng didn't notice because of his chaotic thoughts. The boss dutifully opened the door for him and smiled. He couldn't help but think that he would also be nervous if he was faced with such an important-looking person. Who knew what they would be discussing? He closed the door behind Liu Cheng and went back down. He really hoped that that guest would be satisfied with his service and come by more often. He had already spent a large sum of money, after all.
Liu Chen stepped into the room. He couldn't see Hong Bao though. Instead, there was a beautifully painted folding screen in front of him. He could vaguely make out some light sounds from behind it. Ah, that Phoenix Inn really was something different. The room looked incredibly elegant. Hong Bao really had done a lot. He couldn't disappoint her.
Liu Cheng took the hairpin out of his spatial pendant and stepped closer to the folding screen. "I can already guess what you want to tell me. But there is something I have to tell you beforehand. Actually, I have wanted to tell you this for a long time already." He made a slight pause and closed his eyes. "I love you", he said and stepped around the folding screen.
The person on the other side unhurriedly sipped the tea in his hand before looking up at the petrified Liu Cheng. "I'm sorry but I don't swing that way."