Chapter 135

As expected, as swordsmen of the "Flame Wheel Eight Leaves," they even considered the same things.

After a moment of escaping reality, Lingsha hurriedly shook her head in denial. "No, no... I never said I liked Bai Jun, did I...!"

"Sister Lingsha is lying, isn't she? Her face is so red. And Sister Lingsha liking Bai Jun... liking that guy Bai Jun, even I can understand, even if he's younger than Sister Lingsha, even if Sister Lingsha is older than me... Yeah, I can understand, after all, we're very close sisters."

Unexpectedly, Yunli turned the tables and advised Lingsha, who stammered a little.

The two share the same preferences.

It could even be said that Lingsha and Yunli were both powerless against Bai Jun's type, evidenced by their flushed cheeks.

This is an undeniable fact. Even setting aside Bai Jun's appearance and personality, it would be strange if he weren't popular given his strength as a member of "Hundred Refinements Master," not to mention his gentle and kind nature and outstanding appearance.

"But, Yunli, you're not an adult yet! Is it really okay to talk about feelings so suddenly?!"

"I know, but even though I'm not an adult yet, I won't give up, no matter if my opponent is Sister Lingsha or anyone else!"

Yunli's eyes were sincere, and her heart was pure. Looking at her younger sister, Lingsha felt happy but also a little sad. She closed her eyes for the moment.

Sure enough, there was something I had to tell her.

By the time I noticed it, it was too late; I had almost been crushed by a certain fact. The real enemy was actually someone else entirely—

"That... Yunli?"

"Hmm, what's wrong, Sister Lingsha?"

"Bai Jun, he's already married... someone beat him to it, huh?"

"Oh, I see. I knew he was going to... wait... get married?!"

Hearing Yunli's loudest wail of the day, Lingsha sighed and thought to herself, "Just as I thought," before covering those slender, pointed ears with her fingers.

Chapter 168 Married men seem to have more charm

Bai Jun walked alone on the northwest street of Starcruiser Sea Hub, heading towards the Qiongshi Bird Skewer stall.

Nearby are decorative brick and wood structures, a commercial street built of solid processed stone that resembles a small castle, and up in the distance, various clothing stores with bright colors, operated by famous commercial factions in Luofu, and luxurious shops catering to Outworlders line the avenue.

On the neatly paved stone road, many people of the same trade came and went, their bodies swaying with the crowd of people formed by the Xianzhou native and Foxkin. Bai Jun recalled his Remembrance up to today, frowning with distress. At the same time, the cause and effect of his current position on Northwest Street appeared on his expression.

"I really didn't expect that the Heavenly General who came to question us would be the old man. Come to think of it, the other flagship closest to the Luofu flagship is the Zhuming. The old man is in good health and happens to have some connections with Jing Yuan, so it's normal for the Marshal to send him... It's just that that fool Yunli came along too."

Thinking of the black-haired girl who had caused him to come and buy Qiongshi Bird Skewer, Bai Jun couldn't help but sigh and rub his forehead.

The ill-fated relationship between Bai Jun and Yunli can be traced back to the time when he was rescued by Huai Yan and brought back to Zhuming. At that time, he asked Huai Yan, his savior, to become his apprentice.

If you were to look back at yourself when you first stepped onto the starting line, most people would feel embarrassed and astonished by your own ignorance. They would think, "Why did I say those things back then?" or "How could I have thought that way?" It would make you want to beat your chest in regret, and in some cases, it would even be painful to think about.

Bai Jun's decision to become Huai Yan's apprentice was not actually out of a desire to improve his blacksmithing skills, nor was it out of genuine passion for blacksmithing. It was entirely out of personal motives: to find a way to make a living and to integrate into the unfamiliar environment he was in after transmigrating.

In order to no longer be threatened by enemies and unknown forces, and for his long-cherished wish to live a peaceful life... at the same time, this can be considered Bai Jun's cunning, even ugly, wishful thinking.

But for Huai Yan, who has dedicated his life to forging and has taught countless others his skills, wouldn't that be a form of deception and harm?

However, after hesitating for a day or two, Huai Yan finally agreed to Bai Jun's request. He believed that Bai Jun was asking him to teach him his skills out of pure goodwill, and without any doubt, he taught him everything he knew without reservation. But Bai Jun did not tell the truth and deceived him.

Huai Yan had countless disciples under Zhuming's tutelage, the most famous being the "Flame Wheel Eight Leaves." When they heard that Huai Yan had taken on another personal disciple, and one who was Short-lived species, they were all extremely surprised. From then on, Bai Jun could always vaguely sense their distance from him in Zhuming's life.

At first, Bai Jun simply thought they were concerned about his Short-lived species nature. However, looking back from today's perspective, and combining the fragmented information he gleaned from Flamecourt Lord and his fellow disciples, he could roughly understand why that incident had occurred...

It was probably Huai Yan Yingxing Yan's previous Short-lived species disciple. As Huai Yan's most beloved and talented disciple, his defection broke Huai Yan's heart. The poor old man was so grief-stricken that he stayed at home for five days, causing his already frail body to become even thinner.

Because of the painful lessons of the past, the senior brothers and sisters of "Flame Wheel Eight Leaves" and other disciples were initially somewhat resistant to, or even repulsed by, the arrival of Bai Jun, the Short-lived species. They were worried that this Short-lived species would hurt the heart of the old man Huai Yan again, so they always kept a proper distance from him with suspicion.

However, there is one exception among them.

That's Yunli.

Bai Jun's arrival undoubtedly took away her shameful title of "youngest in seniority." Although this title was just a term of endearment from her senior brothers and sisters who had no ill intentions towards Yunli and simply thought she was cute, it still made Yunli, who longed for independence and hoped to grow up, feel dissatisfied.

So after Bai Jun took on the title of "youngest in seniority" for her by calling her "the newest kid," Yunli, unlike her other senior brothers and sisters, initially had a very high level of affection for Bai Jun. Always referring to herself as the senior sister, she would run to Bai Jun to show off her forged works and display her impressive swordsmanship.

Like a little raccoon showing off a fish it just caught from the river, she has an adorable face that is not intimidating at all, but she always acts like a senior sister, as if she is wagging her Tail and pointing fingers at Bai Jun.

Although she always tried to take care of Bai Jun within her means, this care was insignificant compared to her harassment.

Bai Jun's unease and guilt towards Huai Yan tormented his heart, making him completely indifferent to Yunli's harassment. As if to vent his emotions and repay Huai Yan's kindness in teaching him, he turned all this pain into motivation. During that period, Bai Jun frantically studied skills and greedily pursued stronger power in order to leap to a higher realm.

During this time, he unexpectedly discovered that he possessed extraordinary talent, a talent that others longed for but never had. With the help of this talent, his abilities in forging, swordsmanship, and even knife skills improved by leaps and bounds.

He had never tasted defeat in swordsmanship and was always on the path of victory. Soon, his progress amazed all his senior brothers and sisters. Even though they still harbored resentment towards Bai Jun, they had to admit that this new junior brother was a talent whose abilities far surpassed Yingxing's. He could be called a true genius.

Before he knew it, Bai Jun's forging skills had reached the level of a master craftsman that countless people dreamed of. His talent and hard work were recognized by his fellow apprentices, and even the usually strict Huai Yan would occasionally cast a look of satisfaction and pride at him.

But among them, there is one exception.

It was still Yunli.

Faced with the harsh reality that her junior brother, who was about the same height as her two years ago but far less skilled, had now become someone she could only look up to in terms of both achievements and height, Yunli inevitably felt ashamed and resentful of herself.

Not wanting to be left far behind by her junior brother, and also as if to prove her status as a senior sister, Yunli challenged Bai Jun despite her shame. However, whether in forging or swordsmanship, Yunli was no match for Bai Jun, and the gap between them continued to widen at a visible rate.

Three years later, Bai Jun won the title of "Hundred Refinements Master" in one fell swoop, bringing a huge shock to the entire Xianzhou, starting with Zhuming. From that day on, Yunli never challenged Bai Jun in any way again.

Then one day, for reasons unknown, Yunli challenged Bai Jun again, claiming it was the last time.

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, never underestimate a young girl's potential! Bai Jun, you better remember this: one day I will defeat you! When that day comes, I will make you shout 'Senior Sister Yunli' three hundred times in front of the entire Zhuming!"

"Alright, alright, I'll wait no matter how long it takes. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters. When the time comes, don't even mention calling me Senior Sister Yunli three hundred times, I'll do anything you want."

"Really?! You said it yourself, so you can't go back on your word!"

Years later, when faced with Yunli rushing to his door, Bai Jun quickly recalled that distant afternoon when he casually agreed to Yunli's challenge request, making him want to slap his past self a few times and scold himself for creating trouble for himself.

"Ugh, this is a real headache. I should never have agreed to her request back then. Now I'm getting my comeuppance."

Not long after, a long sigh was heard. Bai Jun, who had been pondering his troubles, stretched out a big yawn and weaved through the waves of people. Bai Jun stopped thinking about those things and, with the owner's cheerful greeting, came to the Qiongshi Bird Skewer stall. Bai Jun held up two fingers.

"Two Qiongshi Bird Skewer, one with less sugar coating and the other with more."

"Alright, sir, please wait a moment!"

Soon, two Qiongshi Bird Skewer were served. Bai Jun specifically asked the owner for two pieces of paper to wrap the bottom of the skewers beforehand, so that the melting sugar coating wouldn't get his fingers dirty.

Bai Jun paid the bill, took a Qiongshi Bird Skewer in each hand, and turned back to East Street in the Starcruiser Sea Hub.

Following the crowd along the chaotic East Street, Bai Jun quickly found Lingsha and Yunli standing on the side of the avenue in front of the coffee shop.

Suddenly, he noticed that the two people's expressions were off. Yunli looked like she had suffered an unbearable blow; all the color had faded from her body, and she squatted listlessly by the roadside like a walking corpse, so gloomy that it was unbearable to look at her. As for Lingsha, she held her cheek in distress, not knowing how to comfort her.

"Uh, what happened...? Did something unpleasant happen?"

"Ah, A-Bai, you're here... How am I supposed to explain this to you... Anyway, this is all your fault..."

Seeing Lingsha guiltily turn away from his delicate face, a line of cold sweat silently trickling down her cheeks, as if she had accidentally done something wrong, her crimson eyes avoiding his gaze, Bai Jun was startled and subconsciously had a bad feeling.

"... Yunli? What's wrong with you?"

Just as Yunli was looking dejected and miserable, Bai Jun hesitated and asked a question in front of her.

Hearing Bai Jun's concern, Yunli still refused to look up. She simply asked, "Bai Jun... is there something you're hiding from me...? Have you forgotten your promise to me?"

"... Isn't an agreement simply a promise to accept your next challenge at any time?"

Yunli, who could only be called "Little Fox" in front of Bai Jun, slightly raised her head, her hair just covering her eyes. An indescribable dark aura surrounded her, waiting for Bai Jun's answer. This silent pressure made Bai Jun a little nervous.

Just as Bai Jun was feeling tense under unknown pressure, the girl gently parted her lips and said, "--Give me your hand."

"Wh-what--"

"Show me your left hand!"

Upon hearing these words, Yunli stood up and swiftly grabbed Bai Jun's left hand with an unyielding tone. Although he didn't know what the girl meant, Bai Jun subconsciously hid his left hand, which was holding the Qiongshi Bird Skewer, behind his back. This subconscious action further confirmed Yunli's thoughts.

"No? What do you mean no? Give me your hand right now, I need to confirm something, okay?!"

Forcibly snatching Bai Jun's left hand, and witnessing the ring quietly placed on his ring finger— Yunli seemed to suffer an extraordinary and intense shock once again. Her whole body stiffened, her pupils lost focus due to the enormous impact, and her face turned deathly pale.

"You... you really got married, to a woman I don't know?"

With her mind blank, Yunli parted her lips slightly and asked in a low voice, almost a murmur of confusion.

"You mean the ring? I am indeed married, but I might not be able to disclose my spouse's identity..."

Bai Jun did not deny it, truthfully confirming the heartbreaking reality for the girl. He then calmly explained the whole story. However, halfway through his explanation, the girl suddenly moved closer to Bai Jun, and when she looked up, her golden eyes were filled with tears.

She looked like a child who had lost her favorite toy, as if she might cry and hug Bai Jun at any moment.

"You liar! You promised you'd wait for me your whole life!"

The moment those words rang out on the bustling street, the nearby crowd fell into complete silence. Even Lingsha's expression changed, and she stared intently at Bai Jun with an incredibly dangerous gaze, as if silently questioning, "You'd rather say such things to a minor than to me?"

"Huh? Wait a minute... when did I say something so misleading!?"

"You clearly said before, 'Okay, okay, I'll wait no matter how long it takes, as long as you're happy. You can make me do whatever you want then.' Are you going back on your word now?!"

Bai Jun, who had been unjustly wronged, immediately launched a counterattack. Yunli, on the other hand, directly quoted Bai Jun's original words, but deleted some of the content according to her own wishes, and arbitrarily distorted the cause and effect.

She came up with a whole bunch of reasons.

But to be honest, she was just envious of the hateful fact that the woman could have Bai Jun all to herself and marry him. That's right, Yunli was jealous of that unknown woman.

Bai Jun noticed that Yunli's expression changed rapidly due to anger and jealousy, and quickly clarified this point:

"What I clearly said was, 'Okay, okay, I'll wait no matter how long it takes, as long as you're happy. I'll do anything you want, even if it means calling you Senior Sister Yunli three hundred times.' Please, Senior Sister Yunli, don't change that without my permission!"

"You... you actually called me 'Senior Sister' for that woman?! You never used to be like this, and now you're even willing to sever ties with me for her sake... Bai Jun, you... you've definitely been bewitched by that woman!"

Seeing that Bai Jun was going to argue with her, Yunli's puffed-up cheeks showed even more dissatisfaction; she was simply unhappy that Bai Jun would marry another woman.

"So what do you want me to call you?!" Bai Jun couldn't help but blurt out his complaint.

"You think I'll let you off the hook like this? No way! Even if you're married, I'll never let you go!"

Yunli finally let her jealousy explode, and with determination, she shouted, "So what if you become another woman's husband? Anyway, there are no restrictions on marital relationships on the Immortal Xianzhou. My feelings for you will never change. No, I... I love you even when you're another woman's husband--!!!"

With her face flushed red, Yunli shouted, and in a fit of anger, she actually said such immoral things to the person she admired.

Faced with this unexpected act of subservience... or perhaps it was a fit of pique, Bai Jun never expected Yunli to say such a thing to him. He stood there stunned, as if struck by lightning. Like an older brother about to explode with anger, he turned to Lingsha, intending for her to reprimand Yunli as her older sister, but to his surprise—

"Heh heh, a married man... he certainly has a certain charm~"

Lingsha had no intention of reprimanding Yunli at all. On the contrary, she seemed to agree with Yunli's words. Her slightly flushed cheeks, the corners of her mouth that couldn't help but turn up, and her gradually hazy red eyes seemed to be shining as if she had opened the door to a new world.

These two are completely beyond saving.

Bai Jun remained silent, his entire being like a piece of wood that had been burned to ashes, dead with eyes turned to ash.

PS:

The side story is already 4,000 words long, and I personally think it will take another 5,000 words or so. However, with the start of the school season approaching, the author, who has encountered various troubles, has had to postpone the creation of the group. But don't worry, I will send a separate chapter to announce it when the group is created.

Lastly, by the way, please vote with your monthly tickets!

Chapter 169 Fake wine really does cause a lot of harm.

Then, it got evening.

One by one, the streetlights began to illuminate, their glow gradually adorning this once bustling and noisy place.

In a corner north of Exalting Sanctum, beside the bustling main street, a large open space stands out from the surrounding buildings, as if deliberately isolated from the other buildings. A tall and large mansion, much taller than the surrounding buildings, sits here.

The mansion, composed of several overlapping high-rise towers, resembles a mountain of swords. Its exterior, with its red, white, and gold color scheme, gives it both a golden and luxurious feel, and a flawless and unconventional beauty.

This is the Shence Mansion, where General of Divine Strategy Shence lived and worked, and which served as a residence for receiving foreign guests. It was now bathed in the crimson hues of dusk.

Bai Jun was exhausted after spending the entire afternoon strolling through the bustling streets of Starcruiser Sea Hub with the temperamental young lady and her scheming senior sister. He felt completely drained and longed to return home to rest. However, Jing Yuan suddenly told him, "Come to the Shence Mansion for dinner tonight. Elder Yan instructed us to." Bai Jun had no choice but to take the two of them to the Shence Mansion.

"You guys are finally back! If you hadn't come back sooner, the food on the table would have gotten cold."

"Please take your seats, everyone. Elder Yan has been nagging you all for quite some time now. It seems that without you, Elder Yan can't even enjoy his dinner properly."

Led by the Cloud Knights, we entered the gate, passed through the Shence Mansion's office hall, and went up the spacious and bright stairs to the second-floor restaurant. As soon as we entered, we saw Huai Yan and Jing Yuan sitting side by side in the main seats facing south, and they looked at each other and began to speak.

The mansion's main dining room was set with several rectangular tables, on which were laid out salad platters made of Luofu's specialty herbs, nuts, and fruits; Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, a stew of various delicacies from the mountains and the sea; and other exquisite dishes that were a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate. The food and wine served were all delicious, especially the refreshing fruit wine and the herb-roasted chicken, which were simply superb.

Good evening, Elder General Huai Yan, General Jing Yuan.

"Oh, don't be so formal, Dan Zhu. Tonight is just a simple home-cooked meal. Just sit down, have a good meal, and chat for a while. There's no need to act like you're dealing with strangers. After all, I've watched you grow up."

Unlike the carefree Yunli and the practiced Bai Jun, Lingsha bowed slightly, her gentle voice conveying natural respect, as if it were an instinctive gesture of courtesy towards the two heavenly generals. Huai Yan immediately shook his head, interrupting Lingsha's actions. At this moment, Jing Yuan also explained from the side:

"What Elder Yan said is true, Miss Lingsha. Tonight's dinner has no other purpose than to welcome Elder Yan and wash away his dust. Tasting local specialties is the best way to experience the customs and culture of Luofu. Being too reserved will prevent us from enjoying the fun."