Senior Brother

Qi Bei smiled, but the cold light flickering in his narrowed black eyes was anything but warm.

That was right. He was no longer infatuated with Princess Mingyue, but no matter how one looked at it, Princess Mingyue was nominally still his fiancée.

He could not tolerate some inexplicable man sticking his nose in.

So what if he was a disciple of Tongtian Mountain? Stealing another man's wife was even more hateful than killing his parents!

"Qi Bei, rest assured. Although the Five Great Holy Lands stand high above the world, they aren't allowed to interfere in worldly affairs. That brat had better know his place. If he dares cause trouble, our Nord Family isn't made of clay, either," Huai'an told Qi Bei.

"Let's hope so." Qi Bei smiled faintly. He had a feeling that the engagement ceremony this time would not be so peaceful.

Imperial Palace, Sleeping Moon Palace.

The multicolored magic lights embellished Sleeping Moon Palace with extraordinary splendor. For a princess's engagement, the tedious preparations were even more extensive than those for the groom.

At that moment, Princess Mingyue was soaking naked in a flower-petal-strewn bathing pool. Her long, beautiful hair spread across the water like silk, while the warm steam made her snow-white skin look even more tender and smooth, like a peeled lychee that made one want to bite into it.

An engagement was a major event in a maiden's life.

Although Princess Mingyue had always acted indifferent, how could she not feel disappointed inside?

She scooped up a handful of water with her jade-white hand and stared blankly at the beautiful petals floating on its surface. For some inexplicable reason, she thought of Qi Bei's cold gaze from the western outskirts of the imperial city, a gaze that seemed capable of piercing the soul.

He really had changed. She could no longer find even the slightest trace of infatuation with her in him. In the past, when had his gaze ever been so sharp? When had his waist ever been so straight?

"Qi Bei, what right do you have to look down on me... No matter how high your achievements are, how could they compare with me, a disciple of Tongtian Mountain?" Princess Mingyue clenched her jade hand. The water in her palm turned into multicolored steam, and even the flower petals dissolved into it and evaporated.

At that moment, Princess Mingyue saw her own pretty face reflected in the water. The puffed-up expression on it felt somewhat unfamiliar to her.

"I was too hung up on it. His world and mine were destined to be different—merely two straight lines that intersected temporarily, then grew farther and farther apart after crossing." Princess Mingyue shook her head lightly with a smile, casting that thread of resentment from her heart aside.

But how could the road of life be a straight line without any twists or turns? Perhaps the road would wind through hidden scenery, and the two lines might overlap once more at some time and place?

"Princess, Young Master Fentian is waiting outside. He says he wishes to see you." A maid's voice suddenly came from beyond the bathing room.

Princess Mingyue furrowed her delicate brows. It was already deep into the night; it was far too inappropriate for this senior brother to come running over now. In truth, from the way this senior brother had looked at her the first time he saw her, she had known that he had fallen for her at first sight. His undisguised adoration showed through every word, and he had gone to great lengths to stop her from becoming engaged to Qi Bei.

There was no denying that Senior Brother Fentian was handsome, hardly inferior to Qi Bei. Moreover, he was young yet already a King Grade Mage; his extraordinary talent needed no further explanation.

At this thought, Princess Mingyue suddenly froze. It seemed that only now had she realized that, in her eyes, Qi Bei was exceptionally handsome. She had never felt that way before.

"Have him wait a little." Princess Mingyue shook her head slightly and spoke in a flat voice.

Although Princess Mingyue was displeased that Senior Brother Fentian had come visiting at this hour, she could not bring herself to slight him. After all, they were both direct disciples of Katie, and Fentian had entered Tongtian Mountain's gates as a child.

Fentian wore a simply styled purple mage robe. It was not ornate, yet it naturally displayed an air of nobility. With swordlike brows and star-bright eyes, he wore a reserved smile that held immense appeal for women.

Most of the palace maids were secretly watching him—not only because of his looks and bearing, but even more because of his noble status as a disciple of Tongtian Mountain.

Tongtian Mountain was a paradise for mages. In the eyes of the world, the noble mages there would all do anything to enter Tongtian Mountain. It was said that advanced magic spells, which mages outside could not afford even if they bankrupted their families, were commonplace there. It was said that Tongtian Mountain even possessed Saint Magic Spells, and that it still retained a Divine Magic Spell passed down from the Divine Realm.

After a while, Princess Mingyue emerged in graceful steps, fully dressed.

Fentian looked over. His Adam's apple bobbed once, and his eyes were filled with astonishment.

Princess Mingyue wore a snow-white palace dress adorned with tassels. She approached with graceful steps, like a fairy walking out of holy light.

"Senior Brother, what brings you here so late? You know that tomorrow is my engagement ceremony, and there are many trivial matters to prepare for." Princess Mingyue spoke indifferently, her intention to see him off unmistakable.

Fentian, however, seemed not to understand at all. He smiled warmly. "Junior Sister, I came to persuade you to think it over again. You're a disciple of Tongtian Mountain. There's no need to sacrifice yourself for worldly politics."

"Senior Brother, thank you for your kindness, but I've already made my decision. If you came only to say this, then please return." Princess Mingyue spoke, feeling somewhat displeased inside.

"Junior Sister, you told me during the day that you weren't willing to become engaged to Qi Bei, didn't you?" Fentian asked.

"Yes, but..."

"Exactly. Oh, right—I came because there's something I wanted to give you. Since it's my first time meeting you, I ought to have a meeting gift." As Fentian spoke, he took out an exquisite blue jade box and gently waved it. The jade box floated over to Princess Mingyue's side.

Star Jade! The jade box itself had actually been carved from incomparably precious Star Jade.

Star Jade was excavated from meteorites after stars beyond the heavens fell. It contained wondrous energy; carrying even a small piece could nourish the body and make one immune to all poisons. A piece of Star Jade this large was beyond measure in value.

"This contains the reward I received for placing third in Tongtian Mountain's disciple competition five years ago—a piece of King Grade Soft Armor. It can offset half the attacks of King Grade Mages and King Grade Warriors or below," Fentian said with undisguised pride. There was one thing he had not mentioned: he had worn this soft armor close to his body for several years. If Princess Mingyue wore it against her skin now, would that not give the two of them an indirect intimate connection?

"Senior Brother, this is far too valuable. I can't accept it. Please take it back." Princess Mingyue waved her hand, pushing the jade box through the air back in front of Fentian. She was an exceedingly clever woman; how could she fail to guess what he was thinking?

"Junior Sister, this is a meeting gift, a token of my heartfelt intentions as your senior brother. You must accept it. It's getting late, so I won't disturb you." Fentian placed the jade box on a nearby chair, then turned and left.

Princess Mingyue watched Fentian's departing figure with indifferent eyes. Suddenly, she spoke as if to herself, "Follow him."

"Yes." A drifting voice reached Princess Mingyue's ear.

In Princess Mingyue's view, although this senior brother possessed extraordinary talent, he was psychologically immature. Perhaps, as a disciple of Tongtian Mountain, he had always been surrounded by praise and had never suffered any setbacks. Compared with Qi Bei, he...

Princess Mingyue furrowed her delicate brows. Why had she started comparing him to Qi Bei?