Inner Court Residence. Zhao Wei's Courtyard.
A mature beauty with attractive features, especially her signature long, fiery red hair, gracefully walked into the residence unimpeded.
A cute, dazzling smile hung on her moist red lips as her hazel eyes glanced admiringly at the garden of chrysanthemum flowers intermixed with magnificent black roses. It was a breathtaking scene, calm and mind-relaxing. The red-haired beauty plus the flowery scenery complemented by multi-colored butterflies looked like something straight out of a painter's prized canvas.
"This fella really has some good tastes. Did he psychically know that I like purple chrysanthemums?" She murmured as zeal and enthusiasm settled in her mirthful eyes. She gently lowered her upper body and cut off a nearby chrysanthemum flower. She didn't care that her long snow-white dress would get dirty from the soil or dust. Well, that little fact was inconsequential compared to her love for purple-colored eye candies.
Yun Yao delicately handled the flower, making sure not to break its shimmering petals. She then pulled it closer to her nose and took a long exaggerated whiff. She momentarily closed her eyes, savoring the heavenly scent, as her facial expressions mellowed.
Opening her eyes, she released a soft contented smile. However, she remembered that there was a certain scent that she quite liked which elicited a flush of red spreading on her white cheeks. Shaking her head, Yun Yao forced her mind not to think about something naughty. Zhao Wei was a friend, a peculiar one to be more exact, and she wasn't supposed to think more about their friendship at this juncture. It was better to leave their complicated relationship to the natural cycle of development and the passage of time. Time was the ultimate decision-maker in the emotional department after all. There were simply a lot of matters going on in people's lives that could affect their emotions and perceptions.
"From a talented alchemist to an expert array creator...hmm?" Yun Yao suddenly noticed a small pond at the furthest corner of the courtyard. And from where she was, she could perfectly hear the constant splashes of water as small fishes jumped around.
"I guess that's new." She cutely pouted. This was her second time entering Zhao Wei's courtyard. The bastard had promised to visit her once in a while but it looked like the situation had been reversed. It was her doing the visiting instead. How hateful.
"Just because he's busy doesn't mean that he can't visit the little old me even for once. He's always saying that the grind is much more important and I always wonder what the hell is that." Yun Yao silently grumbled as she observed the small fishes, of different glowing colors, jump above as they tried to gobble up the evasive dragonflies. Of course, they remained unsuccessful with each attempt.
It was an interesting sight and it lessened the dissatisfaction inside her heart albeit a little bit. Deep inside she knew she didn't have the authority or the right to demand anything from him and that included his TIME.
"Funny. Don't I look like those little fishes? Trying to capture something nigh-impossible?" She slightly smiled as the water rippled and a short skirmish suddenly ensued inside the pond. The reason was pretty much self-explanatory as one dragonfly got captured.
"There will always be a window of opportunity for the dragonfly to get captured, whether it be through luck, favorable timing or other factors." A confident smirk sprouted on her alluring face as her gaze darkened.
***
The moment she entered his residence, she didn't realize it but he had already sensed her. He didn't have to constantly monitor his residence to know if he had trespassed his home. With multiple arrays set around his residence, nothing could escape his perception. The arrays included: Qi Sensor Array, Illusion Killing Array, Spirit Wading Array, Evil-intention Capture Array, and Heavenly Thread Camouflage Array.
The Qi Sensor Array was one of the arrays he had formulated during those two months. It could accurately sense the specific energy signatures that came from a cultivator regardless of whether they were actively using a concealment technique or shape-shifting technique. It was basically the antithesis to the Dao of Assassination.
The Illusion Killing Array was an array that could form lethal illusions capable of silently killing anyone below the True Spirit Realm. It directly attacked the mind when the opponent was lost in Illusions mirroring their deep, darkest desires. Though he didn't want to admit it, he had inadvertently begun to explore an infinitesimal percentage of Soul Laws.
Spirit Wading Array could protect against discarnate souls and ghosts. It didn't contribute much to the complex array system he had set up as there were barely any ghosts in the Broken Moon Sect. Evil-intention Capture Array could perceive killing intent directed toward him inside its range. Heavenly Thread Camouflage Array could seamlessly hide the complexities of the multiple arrays from perception. Unless one had a powerful True Spiritual Sense that was extremely sensitive to all sorts of oddities, then the Heavenly Thread Camouflage Array would always hide everything that the array master didn't want others to know.
Zhao Wei knew he was going overboard or rather overkill with his array setup but who cares? Knowing he could make various arrays and flawlessly integrate them without showing any incompatibility, filled him with a vague sense of pride and accomplishment. It showed he was improving, he was getting better at his craft day by day. Those five arrays were only a small glimpse of his two months of training.
Rising from the futon, Zhao Wei lazily stretched his muscles before his calm gaze penetrated through the walls and landed on the sensual woman idling in his courtyard.
"She's truly a troublesome woman. Has she finally decided to exact her revenge?" A short chuckle escaped his lips as a lazy smile formed.
"Let's hear what she has to say first before she starts throwing a tantrum." He ran his fingers through his untamed hair before deciding to head outside.
***
"Hey." Zhao Wei smiled at her as he stood beside her.
"Hey." She returned the greeting but didn't turn her gaze away from the pond, her delicate arms crossed under her heavy bosom.
She feigned being in a severe bad mood.
There was a brief awkward silence before Zhao Wei decided to break it.
"How have you been doing, Yun Yao?" Zhao Wei positively asked with a one-sided smile playing on his lips.
"Bad, I guess, since a certain someone thought I was of little importance to the point of easily breaking their promises," Yun Yao coldly replied.
"I-I am sorry. I will make it up to you." Zhao Wei struggled to apologize, his jaws clenching in resistance.
He didn't need to be sorry about his negligence but since Yun Yao was no longer a stranger but a friend, he subconsciously felt that he had to make up for it. Just once won't hurt.
She was a pretty nice woman, especially towards him, and Zhao Wei didn't know how to feel about that.
"You promise? I hope you aren't trying to blind me with your fake promises... again." Yun Yao arched her brows and finally directed a frown look at him.
His spell-binding handsome features made her face soften slightly but just because he was over-the-top handsome didn't mean that she was going to give him an easy time.
"I promise it will make you happy. It will be a special present for you," Zhao Wei said honestly in a mysterious tone.
Yun Yao as much as she wanted to brood, for the love of her, she just couldn't stay completely dissatisfied with Zhao Wei and that was the problem. She was curious about the present Zhao Wei had in store for her.
It was going to be her first time receiving a present from his stingy hands.
"Show me your resolve then, Mister Mysterious," She deadpanned with an easygoing smile.
'His mandatory clan mission will be up soon. It wouldn't hurt to spend the remaining days before he goes by annoying the hell out of him, fufu.'
Zhao Wei remained oblivious to her thoughts. As for the mandatory clan mission that every Inner Disciple was supposed to take after every two months, he didn't give it much precedence over his self-improvement. In fact, he had forgotten about it—pushed down to some dark places at the back of his mind.
"Be patient, lady," Zhao Wei wiggled his index finger at her before pointing at the garden of flowers.
"Can you please go and stand amidst the chrysanthemums?"
Yun Yao stood still for a moment, her mind running with several thoughts about Zhao Wei's intentions. And when she saw him brandish a remarkable, sleek painting brush, Yun Yao's eyes widened in realization as she got the answers.
Immediately, she gracefully moved toward the garden.
"Is this place alright?"
"Stand there for a moment, Yun Yao. Don't move." Zhao Wei stretched his palm out as mischief grew in his eyes. He then hurriedly disappeared into his house before he returned with his full painting kit plus drawing resources.
Yun Yao curiously observed his every movement. Zhao Wei was just charming and cute, hehe.
As for the word "cute" which he clearly didn't like being addressed as such, Yun Yao preferred it even more over other sweet words.
Taking a seat on a comfortable wooden stool, Zhao Wei arranged everything very well before he began to paint a masterpiece of a present for Yun Yao.
***
Enjoy!