Slapping the Face

Qi Bei seemed to have fallen into a strange state, completely unaware of what was happening to him.

It wasn't until sunset that he suddenly jolted awake. A whole day had passed just like that.

Qi Bei scratched his head. When he tried to recall, his mind was blank. It felt as though he had merely closed his eyes, and the day was gone.

"Mother, I'm leaving. I'll visit you again next time," Qi Bei said softly to the portrait on the tombstone. He felt an even deeper connection to his mother in the picture, as if his soul had accompanied this body all along, continuing its bloodline.

Qi Bei walked out of the cemetery, the afterglow of the setting sun stretching his shadow long.

The western suburbs of the imperial capital had a beautiful environment, with green mountains, clear waters, birds singing, and flowers fragrant.

At sunset, many noble youths were out enjoying the scenery together. Qi Bei's solitary figure stood out starkly.

"Fifth Young Master."

"Fifth Young Master, hello."

Several young noblemen and women from prominent families greeted Qi Bei one after another. After all, in the noble circles of the imperial capital, not many people didn't know Qi Bei.

Qi Bei nodded faintly in response, ignoring the invitations from some of the young nobles. He had no desire to return to his former decadent aristocratic life.

His previous soul was muddled and lost, but now he had dreams and aspirations. These would be the foundation for his standing in this world.

"Qi Bei, over here!" Just then, Qi Bei heard a clear and pleasant call.

Qi Bei looked over and saw a group of noble youths and maidens, dressed in magnificent clothes, surrounding Princess Mingyue and the Feng sisters, Feng Ruoyun and Feng Ruoyu, by a small river not far away. The voice came from Feng Ruoyu, who was excitedly waving at him.

Qi Bei had initially intended to just wave and leave, but he saw Princess Mingyue's delicate brows furrow slightly, clearly not wanting to see him.

Qi Bei suddenly changed his mind. He smiled slightly and walked towards them.

"Little girl, being impudent again? Yesterday you called me 'good brother,' and today you're just calling me by my name?" Qi Bei came up to Feng Ruoyu and flicked her nose.

"Hmph, you're annoying." Feng Ruoyu pushed Qi Bei's hand away and stomped her little foot playfully.

The intimacy between the two made the indifference in Princess Mingyue's eyes deepen, while Feng Ruoyun felt a flicker of unease.

"Sister-in-law, you look beautiful today," Qi Bei said with a smile to Feng Ruoyun.

"Thank you." Feng Ruoyun calmly accepted Qi Bei's address and compliment in front of everyone, causing the expressions of some young nobles who still held a sliver of hope to turn grim.

In the upper echelons of the Golden Leaf Dynasty, Feng Ruoyun's fame was no less than Princess Mingyue's. It was rumored that Feng Ruoyun was one of the behind-the-scenes strategists for the Feng Family's containment of the Goths in the south.

Naturally, she had many admirers.

At this moment, Qi Bei's gaze met Princess Mingyue's, carrying a subtle hint of aggression. Princess Mingyue, however, remained indifferent throughout, as if looking at a stranger.

However, a flicker of surprise flashed through Princess Mingyue's mind.

Previously, Qi Bei's gaze towards her was filled with infatuation, love, and an undisguised, repulsive lust.

But now, Qi Bei's gaze was clear and transparent. Only one thing was the same: it still made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"Mingyue, it's been a while," Qi Bei said with a wide, clean smile, which indeed drew admiring glances from some of the other noble young ladies.

"Yes, I still owe you a thank you," Princess Mingyue replied indifferently, clearly being perfunctory. If Qi Bei had returned from the Undead Mountain Range, she, whose life he had saved, should have thanked him immediately. If they hadn't met by chance here, she probably wouldn't have had any intention of seeking him out.

"We're practically two halves of a whole, sharing joys and sorrows. Why bother with such pleasantries?" Qi Bei smiled and took two steps forward, standing only a step away from Princess Mingyue. He could even smell the faint, orchid-like fragrance emanating from her.

Princess Mingyue's delicate brows furrowed, but she didn't step back. Her beautiful eyes simply stared at Qi Bei.

"Woof..." Just then, Xiao Bai, the little dog darting around nearby, suddenly let out an angry bark. A faint bolt of lightning shot towards Qi Bei.

Qi Bei's sword-like eyebrows rose. He took a step forward, his body brushing past Princess Mingyue's delicate form as he moved behind her, dodging the lightning. At the same time, his large hand brazenly wrapped around her slender waist, instantly making their posture intimate.

Princess Mingyue was a mage. At such close range, she couldn't keep up with Qi Bei's movements at all. Although she had defensive magical items on her, Qi Bei was merely holding her waist, which didn't count as an attack.

"Let go!" Princess Mingyue hissed. The anger gathering in her beautiful eyes made her usually serene demeanor turn sharp.

Qi Bei knew when to stop. He immediately let go and took a step back, feeling a tinge of regret. The Dragon Seal on his palm hadn't reacted, meaning Princess Mingyue wasn't a pure Yin Body. However, her soft waist was something he wouldn't forget.

At this moment, the unicorn cub, resembling a small dog, fiercely pounced out. Qi Bei glared at the unicorn cub.

For some reason, the unicorn cub slammed on the brakes and, somewhat fearfully, leaped into Princess Mingyue's arms, whimpering.

Princess Mingyue was astonished. Unicorns were seventh-tier magical beasts. Although Xiao Bai was still in its infancy, it wouldn't be afraid even when facing adult magical beasts of the fourth or fifth tier. How could it be so scared by just a glare from Qi Bei? He must have done something in secret.

"A scion of the renowned Nord Family is no better than a common thug. What a thousand-year-old family, all for show." Just then, a handsome young man dressed in a light blue water-elemental magic robe walked out, looking at Qi Bei mockingly.

Qi Bei glanced at the young man. From the style of his magic robe and the guild emblem embroidered on it, he could confirm that this young man was from the Saint Ana Alliance.

Qi Bei chuckled and asked, "May I know the esteemed mage's surname?"

"I am..."

"Slap!"

As the young man was about to proudly introduce his noble identity, Qi Bei, with lightning speed, slapped him across the face the moment he opened his mouth.

Five bloody finger marks immediately appeared on the young man's fair and tender handsome face. Coupled with his stunned expression, it was truly striking.

"After thinking about it, I have no interest in knowing who you are. You insulted our Nord Family, and giving you just one slap is letting you off easy. Next time you act arrogant, don't forget whose territory you're standing on." Qi Bei said calmly and turned to leave.

The young man recovered and his handsome face turned beet red. Rage was gradually eroding his reason. He raised his magic staff, and dense water-elemental magic energy began to gather in the air.

"Your Highness, think carefully. His elder brother, who is also my brother-in-law, known as Nord Menghu, has a temper a hundred times worse than his. He's known to cripple people's limbs on a whim," said Feng Ruoyu, the little girl, her large lake-green eyes wide, as if offering a kind warning.

The magic spell the young man was chanting faltered. He could no longer continue. He had heard of Nord Menghu's reputation. He was one of the three commanders of the famous Black Armored Army. It was said that the newly crowned king of the Moyu Kingdom in the Saint Ana Alliance had his left leg crippled by him.

"Qi Bei, you'd better apologize." Just when everyone thought the matter was over, Princess Mingyue suddenly spoke.