Bai Qianxue glanced at Ji Jing curiously but did not reject her proposal. “Very well then, let’s try the food there.”

Bai Qianxue did not know why. Suddenly, he did not wish to go back and face Hua Qiyue and Yun Shimo.

He was late to the party. Yun Shimo and Xuanji were there before him. Hua Qiyue had liked Yun Shimo. He would only feel upset appearing before her again.

The two of them came to Xueyue Restaurant on the opposite side and sat down. The waiter brought them the menu. “Sir and madam… oh, isn’t this City Master Bai? Ho ho, thank you for your patronage. I’ll give you a treat today!”

Bai Qianxue was no mere character. Everyone could pick him out with his silver hair, regardless of where he went.

“You’re too polite, waiter. No matter who I am, I don’t have the right to make you spend. Thank you for your offer,” Bai Qianxue said with a smile. He ordered a few dishes recommended by the waiter.

Ji Jing did not quite care what she ate. As long as she could be with this man, she would be satisfied.

The soup was served quickly. As she drank the soup, she asked softly, “Brother Bai, do you… have a fiancée?”

Most big clans liked to arrange betrothals for their children. So the matter she was most concerned about was whether Bai Qianxue had a fiancée.

If not, Ji Jing would boldly pursue him.

“No,” Bai Qianxue said quietly. Although Bai Family was a big clan, his carefree nature meant that he did not like to be at all constrained. Which was why his father had not arranged for him an engagement.

“So… does Brother Bai have a girl you fancy?” Ji Jing blinked and asked with a blush.

Bai Qianxue glanced at Ji Jing. Her eyes were very big. Although she was no ravishing beauty in the order of Hua Qiyue, she was still quite alluring. To sum it up, Ji Jing’s personality was more cheerful and vivacious than Hua Qiyue’s.

Although her natural talents and Qi Art could not match up to Hua Qiyue’s, she was adorable in her own way.

“Um… no,” Bai Qianxue answered. For some reason, as he was answering this question, Hua Qiyue’s figure flashed across his mind.

However, he knew that although he liked Hua Qiyue, he would not pursue her. Because Bai Qianxue always adhered to the rule of utmost naturalness. Hua Qiyue liked Yun Shimo and Xuanji liked Hua Qiyue. No matter what, he would not intrude into their affairs.

“Errr, so what kind of girls do you like, Brother Bai?”

Ji Jing blinked her eyes, smiling mischievously and bashfully.

Bai Qianxue glanced curiously at Ji Jing. “What’s up? Why the sudden interest in me?”

Ji Jing’s face was burning hot but she did not know what to say.

Bai Qianxue quietly took over the bowls the waiter had brought them, handing one to Ji Jing. “Feelings are a strange, wonderful thing. Very mysterious. You can’t really explain the attraction. And I don’t know what kind of girls I like either.”

His somewhat imprecise answer gave Ji Jing confidence instead. Although she was not outstanding, she believed some liked ordinary, adorable girls.

Ji Jing took the bowl with a broad grin. “Thank you, Brother Bai. Try this dish. It’s called Golden Beauty and it tastes great. It’s my favorite food in Xuanyuan City.”

Bai Qianxue watched Ji Jing pick for him a light golden piece of meat with her chopsticks. It was exceedingly tender mutton, fried with special spices. It had a unique aroma and was very popular.

“Thank you, but I don’t like… others to pick the food for me,” Bai Qianxue said somewhat embarrassedly. Ji Jing gave an equally embarrassed noise.

“I won’t make this mistake again. Don’t take it to heart, Brother Bai.”

Bai Qianxue gave a slight smile. He was as nonchalant as an immortal from heaven. He made Ji Jing’s heart ache faintly.

She lowered her head and fought back the tears welling in her eyes. She hated herself for being petty. So what if Bai Qianxue had rejected her? And yet she was about to cry…

Fortunately, Ji Jing managed to hold back her tears. She began to finish this supper with Bai Qianxue, conversing smilingly.

—————————

“What did you say? We’ve lost 10 disciples at the Great Completeness of Round Sun from the Eighth Palace?” In the main hall of the Dark Sect, bizarre lights were glittering at its uppermost part. A woman in scarlet was sitting there at the head of a red rectangular table!

“Yes, Sect Leader… recently, Yun Shimo and Hua Qiyue are hogging the limelight. Even more astoundingly, Bai Qianxue has joined their team!” the man kneeling below said cautiously.

Bai Qianxue?

The woman narrowed her eyes and a dangerous light streaked across them. She slammed the table vigorously, causing its thick wood to disintegrate instantly into smithereens, disappearing before the woman’s sight.

She was the Sect Leader of the Dark Sect—Cang Ye.

The place was too dark. One could still tell faintly that Cang Ye’s features were exquisite.

“Don’t be angry, Sect Leader! 11 of us Palace Leaders are planning a gathering. We’ll oppose Yun Shimo and Hua Qiyue together! Don’t worry, Sect Leader, our plan is perfect. We will surely capture Yun Shimo, Hua Qiyue and all their allies!” the man said tremblingly.

“Capture them all? Humph, you think it easy to deal with someone at the first level of Holy God?” Cang Ye began to snicker coldly. That smile by her lips carried the taste of cruelty.

“Sect Leader, our First Palace Leader is at the medium level of Holy God. It’s enough to deal with Yun Shimo! And Hua Qiyue is at that level too. It’ll be more than easy for the other Palace Leaders to deal with her. You don’t need to worry, Sect Leader.”

The man replied softly, his voice sounding full of confidence!

Cang Ye thought for a while and realized that she might have overreacted.

As for who Hua Qiyue really was, she had tried to probe. This Hua Qiyue had summoned a formation with 10 demon corpses. The propulsive prowess of this woman was terrifying, but she recalled that there were two in the Dark Sect at the medium level of Holy God, and another five at the first level. She did not really need to fear Hua Qiyue and her team.

“Did you check out Bai Qianxue’s background?” Suddenly, Cang Ye remembered this man and had to ask coldly.

“Sect Leader, Bai Qianxue’s Qi Art is at the medium level of Holy God. But we are 100% certain that we can wipe them all out!”

The man’s voice sounded a little old. Cang Ye assented, then stood up lazily. “I’ll leave these minor matters in you fellows’ hands. I don’t wish to hear any news on Hua Qiyue the next time… By the way, capture Yun Shimo alive.”

Cang Ye said in a whisper. The man started. The Sect Leader had always be exceedingly cold. Why did he hear a special despondency in her voice this time?

“Yes, madam!”

——————————

By the time Hua Qiyue brought Tianci back to the inn, it was already midnight.

Tianci had pestered Xuanji to pick for him some wild fruits. In the end, Xuanji really took him out of the city. Naturally, Hua Qiyue had to accompany them along.

Xuanji picked so many fruits for Tianci. The night was gentle. Strange birds chirped in the forest as evil beasts roamed. It did not matter, however. After all, both Hua Qiyue and Xuanji were Qi Art experts too powerful to fear such evil beasts.

Tianci was truly delighted. He ate a bellyful of wild fruit. Actually, the wild fruit was called Tianling Fruit. It contained a vast amount of anima energy.

This fruit could only be found deep in the mountains.

Tianci was excited for most of the night. He finally agreed to leave the mountains and return to Xuanyuan City.

The moment he returned to his room, Tianci jumped immediately into the bathtub prepared for him by the waiter. He gave himself a casual soak, then threw himself on the bed and slept.

Hua Qiyue was about to shut the window a little more when she saw a man in black on the tree beyond the window.

The man had an inky head of hair which was flowing elegantly in the breeze.

He had determined features, profound dark eyes as well as tightly pursed lips, with furious scorching flames darting out from his eyes.

It was the first time Hua Qiyue saw such a Yun Shimo—in a towering rage.

His entire handsome face tensed tightly. In his eyes were disappointment and helplessness, with a tinge of expectancy.

Hua Qiyue glanced at the sleeping Tianci and could only climb out of the window and soar out. Her robe fluttered. When she landed by Yun Shimo’s side, her posture was so elegant and lovely that she resembled a dancing fairy.

“Are you angry?” Hua Qiyue raised her brows. Her voice was extremely gentle.

“An unmarried woman returning at midnight with a man. It is a slur on public decency.” Yun Shimo had managed to forcibly suppress his fury. He said this coolly to Hua Qiyue, his face expressionless.

Hua Qiyue started to titter. “Yun Shimo, you’re the one who asked me to ignore your past. You told me not to mind vulgar conventions. Now you say this. What an irony!”

Hua Qiyue’s smile made Yun Shimo’s face turn even grimmer.

“Woman, you’ve made me angry!”

Yun Shimo said this and stretched out his huge hand. Suddenly, he caught hold of the back of Hua Qiyue’s head and planted a smoldering kiss down with his lips.

Hua Qiyue’s mind was in a complete blank. She felt herself drifting in the clouds. How long ago had she been so intimate with Yun Shimo? She could not remember herself. This man must have been quite frustrated today.

She was out with Xuanji for such a long time. As a man, he was obviously going to get furious. If not, it meant that his heart did not feel for her.

That scorching sensation started to permeate throughout her body. Hua Qiyue shut her eyes, silently enjoying his plunder. That faint medicinal scent permeated within her mouth. It was a familiar yet tender feeling.

After a long time, Yun Shimo finally released her, gently caressing her hair bun. Both of them were panting rather heavily.

Yun Shimo gently grasped her tender hand. “Qiyue, today I went to the master. He said that we… might not have the good fortune to enjoy each other’s company. We might have to wait another two years.”

Hua Qiyue froze. She turned back and looked into Yun Shimo’s profound, inky eyes.

Regardless of whether she felt anything for Xuanji, Yun Shimo had already occupied a part of her heart.

“You believe that?”

“I don’t. So we will get married on the eighth day of the coming month,” Yun Shimo said quietly.

Hua Qiyue widened her eyes in astonishment. It was the 18th day of the second month today—very close to the eighth.

“But… ”

“No buts. Our elders aren’t with us, but it doesn’t matter. After all, we can perform our marriage rites again in the Changjing Kingdom. That will do, won’t it?” Yun Shimo smiled lightly, clasping Hua Qiyue tightly in his arms.

“Agree at once, Hua Qiyue!”

He was like a child eagerly awaiting a promise. He stared excitedly at her, and his fury had indiscernibly gone. After all, this woman had him in her heart. It would not do to get more upset with her. And Xuanji could not snatch her away.