What He Sought Was a Kindred Spirit

"I'm her boyfriend. She was reluctant to agree because she was worried about my feelings, but now that I've given my permission, it's settled." Si Ming said in a very chauvinistic tone.

The boy glanced at Murong Qing furtively and noticed that she had only frowned and hadn't denied it, so he quickly said, "Okay, thank you both for your strong support. Our news agency is holding this beauty pageant not for any lewd purposes, but to promote the beauty of the human body and the beauty of youth, and to help everyone establish a correct aesthetic view. Outstanding appearance is certainly a basic requirement for selection, but to win the title of the most beautiful woman, talent is also essential. Being both beautiful and talented is the perfect thing we are looking for."

Fearing that Murong Qing change her mind, he quickly left behind a number plate and the rules of the beauty pageant, and then made a hasty escape.

Murong Qing didn't lose her temper, but rationally asked, "The reason?"

Si Ming explained that the Third Prince had asked him to investigate the palace, and then said, "I need you to help me create an alibi. Because we always act together at school, it can be misleading. If people see you there, they'll subconsciously assume I was there too. Of course, the Third Prince will also send someone to impersonate me."

"That makes sense," Murong Qing nodded, then suddenly changed the subject, "But if it's just about creating an alibi, all I need to do is wander around the campus on the day of the school anniversary. Why bother participating in a beauty pageant?"

"Well... wandering around everywhere would be too deliberate, it would feel like announcing my presence to everyone, which could easily arouse suspicion. Participating in a beauty pageant would not only be more natural, but would also attract attention. Besides, the person impersonating me is ultimately a fake, and letting him wander around would easily give him away. It's better to let him sit quietly in the audience."

Murong Qing said suspiciously, "I have a feeling you have ulterior motives."

Si Ming laughed, "If you become the school beauty, then I'll be her boyfriend, making all those single guys green with envy. I love seeing their jealous yet helpless expressions."

Murong Qing blushed slightly and corrected, "He's a fake boyfriend."

Si Ming teased, "In novels, it's a common trope that couples who pretend to be lovers eventually develop a real relationship as they get to know each other better."

Murong Qing wasn't the type of girl to blush and get shy when teased. She retorted, "I don't mind. As long as you dare to say it, I dare to agree. But... what are you going to do about Qingqing and Hongdou?"

A playboy might choose to play both sides, lying to please both, but Si Ming is a man of great stature, nicknamed "Son of Son of Light." He must act with integrity and face his inner desires squarely. Moreover, he has just achieved a breakthrough in his cultivation, mastering the Mercury Alloy Body and possessing the ability to liquefy. He would not be afraid even if a woodcutter chopped off his neck. He is in a state of great courage.

You are all my wings!

What's wrong with a man wanting to have a harem?

"Whoa~"

Murong Qing narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Si Ming, his handsome face revealing a murderous intent that quickly cooled Si Ming's passionate enthusiasm.

Si Ming couldn't help but sigh. As expected of a master who had cultivated the Glacier Divine Art, even without saying a word, he could achieve a chilling effect that penetrated to the bone. He immediately felt extremely tormented, like a prisoner waiting for a judge to pronounce his sentence.

"Are you sure? It's not too late to change your mind now. As long as you promise to be devoted to me, even if you lie, I will agree to it immediately," Murong Qing said slowly.

Although it sounds tempting, a man's word is his bond. Since it's all the same whether you stick your neck out or not, what kind of man lies to a woman?

"I must admit, those words were somewhat beastly, but if I were to change them, wouldn't I be even worse than a beast?" Si Ming raised his head and straightened his chest, looking directly at the other person.

After a moment of silence, Murong Qing said expressionlessly, "Then you can continue being a fake boyfriend. If you want to become a real boyfriend, wait until you become Spirit Transformation." With that, she got up and left.

Si Ming stood there stunned for a moment, then stroked his chin and pondered, "Could it be... I passed?"

Given Murong Qing's personality, he has always acted decisively and never dragged things out. He would say that anything impossible is not impossible, leaving no room for the other party to imagine. Although he has now set a prerequisite of becoming a Spirit Transformation, conversely, if there is no hope at all, why make such a request?

Si Ming quickly sorted out the logic within, and suddenly everything became clear. All his emotions boiled down to one sigh, "Thank you for this era."

In the 21st century, how could someone as beautiful, talented, strong-willed, and independent as Murong Qing possibly agree to a man's desire to be unfaithful?

"Spirit Transformation... It seems I'll have to focus on Internal Cultivation from now on."

Si Ming was instantly filled with energy and hope for the future. In his opinion, Murong Qing was the most difficult obstacle to overcome in order to achieve his ambition of having a harem. Others such as Hongdou, Si Huaruo, and Liu Qingqing were not so difficult... Well, conquering Qingqing was not difficult, but conquering her mother was a difficult hurdle.

However, Auntie Liu was not involved and could not make decisions for Liu Qingqing. At worst, she could elope with the man, wait until the deed was done, and then take the child back to her parents' home. Whether they acknowledged her or not, they would eventually have to.

Si Ming isn't some melodramatic, sentimental male lead; he won't waste time agonizing over things. He'll act when the time is right. He can't just let a good opportunity slip by and leave it for someone else while he goes off to sing A Du's "He Must Love You Very Much."

A surge of heat coursed through his heart. Si Ming ran quickly to the plaza outside the classroom, stretched out his arms towards the sun, and activated his Blazing Yang Battle Art to absorb solar energy. Ignoring the Anomalies looks from those around him, he shouted, "Grant me power!"

Murong Qing stood on the third-floor corridor and saw Si Ming's silly expression through the window. Her originally expressionless face couldn't help but burst into laughter, and she smiled like a plum blossom blooming in the snow, making the boys passing by stare in a daze.

Noticing the gazes of others, Murong Qing quickly tensed up again, muttering, "I was careless. He always takes advantage of others. I should set some rules for him... Maybe I should ask my master to intervene. I can't let him get too cocky."

Even though she was thinking this, her steps couldn't help but become light and unsteady, because this was the first step forward that a girl who was very clumsy in matters of the heart was trying to take in order to maintain her image of knowing everything.

"Young Master Si, you seem to be in a good mood. What happened?" Cuan Er asked.

Si Ming exclaimed in surprise, "Huh, you noticed that? You have a good eye."

"Hehe, because Young Master Si isn't very good at hiding his true feelings."

Nonsense! You have that smug look on your face, your mouth practically stretched to your ears, you're practically screaming "life winner" on your cheeks. Even if I were blind, I could tell how happy you were just by the sound of your stomping footsteps!

These thoughts remained unspoken in Cuan Er's mind. After all, he was still hoping that Si Ming would give him a large sum of money from the Vicious Qi Evil Spider's bounty. Money talks, and if you want to earn money from others, you have to fawn over them like a "husband."

"Let's forget about the little things in life and get down to business. Has the matter of finding help been resolved?"

Si Ming is going to explore the palace, Murong Qing is going to participate in a beauty pageant, Yan Jinghong is going to recover from her injuries, and Ling Huanxi is going to guard the royal tombs. Although there are just enough people, this situation is actually the most tense. There is a lack of spare capacity to deal with emergencies. If something happens and there are not enough people available, it could lead to a chain reaction and cause an avalanche.

Si Ming is now the brains of the group, so of course he needs to keep a trump card up his sleeve for any eventuality. At least, all the wise men he knows do this. The wise men who keep trump cards up their sleeves are the most dangerous.

"I've found the person. He's also a member of the Shadow Hero Guard, and coincidentally, he claims to be an old acquaintance of yours, knowing both Young Master Si and Young Master Murong."

"Oh, meeting an old friend in a foreign land, this is indeed fate." Si Ming also became interested.

Cuan Er left the room and soon brought in a young man, who was indeed someone he knew.

"Long time no see, Si Ming."

The speaker was He Qichang who was skilled in the "Demon Blade Art".

Chapter 504 What I Seek Is a Soulmate

The four most inseparable bonds in life are: studying together, fighting together, visiting prostitutes together, and sharing spoils together.