How come I'm the one being conquered?

Unknowingly, Yukong found herself near Changle Heaven. Courtyard flying islands and lush gardens dotted the landscape. Gazing from a height, she could still faintly see the ancient "Jianmu" immortal ruins.

Passing through the leisurely courtyard and venturing deep into the grassy path, she discovered a cluster of ancient-style pavilion ruins, hidden amidst the tall grass, yet to be cleared.

Bathed in moonlight, these stone components reflected a gentle white light. A stone lion, also in ancient style, lay on its side in the grass, the heavens and earth its bed, deeply asleep. It seemed to be slowly sinking into a deep pool of moonlight... Yukong held her breath, afraid to disturb it.

Here also lay toppled lotus stone pillars and cloud-patterned water troughs, with almost no complete forms. It was truly a pity. From time to time, young people would propose retro trends, creating some ancient pastimes.

She mused that both she and these retro artists harbored a sense of awe towards the vastness of time, always trying to use nostalgia to prevent the past from being diluted. But ultimately, all of this would be powerless against time.

The mottled stone structures in the overgrown area seemed to breathe, and a distant voice whispered, "Don't try to understand; just feel tonight." Yukong then ceased her excessive thinking.

To enjoy such beauty alone was truly a shame. Yukong suddenly thought of Bai Jun, and her cheeks flushed. She chided herself for being too frivolous lately, wondering how she could disturb a handsome, solitary man late at night. What if someone saw them...?

Wait, a solitary, single man... perhaps that meant no one would discover her?

She glanced around. On the quiet streets, only a few scattered figures could be seen occasionally.

The moonlight stretched her shadow long. The rustling of leaves, stirred by the wind, reached her ears. Beneath the dark blue of the night sky and the hazy gray of the light mist, recalling what Fei Xiao had just said, Yukong felt a spark of courage inexplicably leap within her heart.

Why not... try to find him?

This thought grew heavier and heavier in her mind, becoming uncontrollable. Since she couldn't stop it, she decided to go find Bai Jun.

However, before that, Yukong specifically went to a convenience store to buy a bottle of wine. This way, she would have a fallback plan. Even if Bai Jun didn't want to go out and admire the moon with her, she could still invite him for a drink.

And if she remembered correctly, Jing Yuan had once specifically praised Bai Jun's excellent cocktail-making skills?

Following the route in her memory, she quickly arrived near Bai Jun's home. However, looking at the gate in the distance, which seemed both far and near, Yukong's hand, holding the wine, began to tremble slightly. She hesitated for a long time, afraid to knock.

What if he didn't open the door? What if he refused? After he refused, how could she invite him for a drink... A series of questions flooded her mind, tangling Yukong's thoughts into a messy knot. Anxiously, she paced back and forth.

"I... I think I should forget it. I'll come back another time after scheduling it..."

Just as she was about to retreat and leave, a loud noise suddenly shattered her jumbled thoughts. Looking towards the source of the sound, it came from Bai Jun's home. It was only then that she clearly saw that Bai Jun's front door was ajar, revealing the warm yellow light within.

Her first thought was that something had happened at Bai Jun's house. She rushed towards the door in a panic. For some reason, she thought she could faintly hear Tingyun's voice on the way, so she anxiously called out:

"Bai Jun? I heard a really loud noise from your place, and why is Tingyun's voice there too... What happened?"

Without considering anything else, Yukong pushed open the door with a bang. The first thing she saw was Bai Jun standing in the entryway, his face slightly flushed. Perhaps he hadn't expected Yukong to come, as he looked startled and said breathlessly, "Yu... Yukong? What are you doing here!"

"I... I..."

The words of explanation got stuck in her throat. Yukong's gaze was completely captivated by the slightly open collar of Bai Jun's shirt, especially the delicate collarbone revealing glimpses of porcelain-white skin. Her mind could only think "handsome" and nothing else.

They stared at each other for a long time. The dead silence of the space seemed to amplify their slightly rapid breaths. Yukong swallowed hard, knowing she had to say something or risk appearing like a pervert. "Um, the moon is really beautiful tonight."

"Huh?"

Under Bai Jun's confused and fearful gaze, Yukong quietly closed and locked the front door. With a slight blush, she took out the wine she was holding and said, "So, I wanted to invite you for a drink. Can we admire the moon together...?"

Thump—!

The floor suddenly vibrated for some reason. However, Bai Jun, standing opposite her, had a stiff expression and made no movement, causing Yukong's expression to grow colder. Her gaze passed over his body towards the living room. "Bai Jun, is there anyone else at your place?"

"N-no, no, how could there be anyone?"

Bai Jun shifted to the left, subtly blocking Yukong's cold gaze again, and tried to brush it off with a laugh. "The moon is indeed beautiful tonight. Let me change my clothes, and we can go find a pavilion to admire it together!"

"No, I definitely heard a noise from the living room just now..."

Yukong shook her head, a hint of determination in her gentle brows. Saying it was for his safety, she walked towards the living room, disregarding his protests.

Chapter 45: This Place is Full

There were no thugs as she had imagined. Bai Jun's living room was clean and bright, with light-colored wooden floors and a simple sofa. In front of the sofa was a glass coffee table, immaculately clean, with only an open book and a small plate of unfinished dessert on it.

Looking further to the side was the bedroom, which seemed to contain nothing but bookshelves, a desk, and a bed.

Everything appeared orderly and calm, as if nothing had happened. Yukong frowned, wondering if she had imagined it.

It shouldn't be. She wasn't so dull that she couldn't distinguish sounds within the house, and she could still smell a strangely familiar fragrance from the living room...

"Haha, it's quite cold outside. Let's just admire the moon at home. Yukong, didn't you want to drink? Come sit down quickly, I'll mix it for you right away!"

Bai Jun's timely appearance interrupted Yukong's thoughts. He quickly grabbed Yukong's wrist and gently pushed the blushing her onto the sofa, then rushed to the kitchen cabinets and brought out a pile of bottles and jars for making cocktails.

Watching Bai Jun busy himself, Yukong couldn't say anything more and obediently sat on the sofa, quietly watching him take a well-presented cocktail from the refrigerator.

"This one was mixed yesterday and has been in the fridge. Drink this first." Bai Jun guiltily pushed a cocktail, its colors a blend of red and blue under the warm yellow light, towards Yukong. He explained to her astonished eyes:

"This is 'Vast Sea Boundless.' It's made with yogurt, whiskey, refined lemon juice, cloudberry, and vodka. It symbolizes a soft, passionate heart beneath a cold, monotonous exterior. It's not too strong, please enjoy."

"That's amazing... Were you a bartender before, Bai Jun?" This drink indeed captured Yukong's attention. Her expression was surprised as she carefully picked up the cocktail as if it were a treasure.

"Not really. It's just that my boss at Yaoqing back then really liked drinking, so I was forced to learn."

"Yaoqing? You lived in Yaoqing before?"

"Just a temporary stay, just a temporary stay..." Bai Jun quietly swallowed, placating Yukong in front of him while subtly glancing towards his bedroom. Although he didn't know where Tingyun was hiding, he hoped she could hold on a little longer, or something terrible would happen if she was discovered!

"I didn't expect your past to be so colorful." Yukong took a small sip. The sweet yet slightly spicy liquid slid down her throat, and she nodded in satisfaction. "It's delicious..."

"If it's delicious, drink more. There's plenty tonight." Bai Jun said, his hands not stopping.

Clang—

A single ice cube dropped into the small cocktail glass, still emitting a faint cool aura from its recent removal from the ice tray. Its perfect, glass-like transparency proved its quality was no less than any other.

He picked up the liquor Yukong had brought. The label indicated an alcohol content around 56 proof. Though he didn't know what that meant, he could use it as a strong spirit.

The exquisite ice cube lay quietly at the bottom of the cocktail glass, content in its peaceful existence. But in the next second, a silvery liquid poured down from above, enjoying a touch of coolness beneath the heat.

Drops of clear liquid followed, sparse but exceptionally potent. This high-quality whiskey couldn't be added in excess, otherwise, even with its fiery intensity, it would be overshadowed by spirits of equal strength.

The cocktail shaker was gently covered, and slender, long fingers gripped its top and bottom, beginning a light shake. Unlike the flashy, vigorous movements of ordinary bartenders, he merely swirled it a few times before quickly pouring it into the highball glass filled with ice.

He steadied the highball glass with one hand, while the other picked up the orange juice and poured it in. The transparent liquid's color gradually deepened, stopping when it was about a quarter full.

This much was enough. Setting down the orange juice, Bai Jun picked up a straw and stirred the liquid gently. His other hand, at some unknown point, had picked up a small glass of grenadine syrup, which he slowly slid down the side of the glass.

The straw continued to stir, and the pale orange cocktail gradually mixed with the deep red. Before the first part had fully blended into the cocktail, he quickly raised his hand. "Finally, adding this. Sea Breeze. Complete."

Half a slice of orange was skewered diagonally into the rim of the glass, and at the same time, a bright red cherry, speared on a toothpick, settled on the surface of the drink. The combination of orange and red was a feast for the eyes, making it look less like a drink and more like a collectible item worthy of display.

Bai Jun brushed aside a stray strand of hair from his forehead and wiped his fingers with a towel. He gently pushed the drink over. "Please, enjoy."

"No wonder Jing Yuan always praises your drinks. It seems he wasn't lying about this." Yukong took the Sea Breeze, her voice filled with genuine admiration.

"I'm not very sensitive to alcohol. It just tastes spicy to me, I don't get what you mean by 'delicious.' But I'm glad you like it." Bai Jun shrugged and smiled helplessly.

"Of course, I like it..." Yukong murmured softly, perhaps influenced by the alcohol.

"What did you say?"

"N-nothing." A blush instantly spread across Yukong's fair cheeks. Then, to Bai Jun's surprise, she tilted her head back and downed the entire Sea Breeze in one go, exclaiming loudly like a middle-aged man, "Ha! Delicious."

"Uh, this should be pretty strong. Drink it slower."

Bai Jun looked down at the bottle of liquor again. Although he had originally intended to get Yukong drunk quickly to get rid of her, if she continued drinking at this rate, she would likely collapse right here.

"It's fine, I don't get drunk easily."

Yukong shook her head, her speech still clear and coherent. This put Bai Jun slightly at ease, and he continued to mix drinks for her.

After three more drinks, Yukong's eyes finally became a little hazy, and a faint smile appeared on her lips. "By the way, Bai Jun, are you very hot? Why is your face so red, and you're sweating so much..."

"I'm not sweating, you're drunk." Seeing that she was drunk, Bai Jun put away the cocktail shaker. He couldn't let her drink any more, or it would be more troublesome if she actually passed out.

"No, you're sweating. I'm not drunk. Keep making me drinks, I want to drink more!" Yukong unhappily grabbed Bai Jun's arm and suddenly exerted force, pulling him onto her long and shapely lap. Her expression was a little smug. "See? You're drunk too."

"No, you really can't drink anymore, or else—"

The occasional childish playfulness displayed by the usually mature and composed beauty momentarily stunned Bai Jun. But he quickly realized he couldn't let this continue. Just as he was about to get up from her lap, Yukong's slightly tipsy, pretty face suddenly leaned in, and she let out a warm breath into his ear, "Are you disgusted with me?"

Bai Jun's pupils constricted. He thought to himself, Did I fall into a fox den tonight? One after another?

"So cute..."

Fueled by the alcohol, Yukong abandoned her usual composure, as if returning to her youth. Her clumsy movements became increasingly bold.

Knock, knock, knock!

At that moment, the door shook violently. Simultaneously, the voice from outside clearly penetrated Yukong's mind, which was already a bit muddled by the alcohol.

"Hello, hello, Qing Yan, open the door quickly! I've come to drink with you!"

The flippant and cheerful male voice instantly dispelled Yukong's drunkenness. She looked at the door in a panic, then down at her intimate pose with Bai Jun. A faint mist appeared in her gentle, peaceful eyes, as if she were about to cry from distress.

If Jing Yuan saw her like this, her sense of shame would surely die on the spot.

"I, I, I, don't tell him I'm here!" Yukong's gaze darted around the room, searching for a place to hide. She quickly locked onto Bai Jun's bedroom, or rather, under the bed.

"Don't go!"

Bai Jun's face turned green with fright. He tried to grab Yukong, but he clearly underestimated her speed. A gust of green wind swept past, and Yukong was already in his bedroom.

Then she bent down...

"Stop, Tingyun, why is it you!"

"Shh! Listen to my explanation, Lord Yukong!"

Two screams of varying intensity echoed from Bai Jun's bedroom.

ps: It's full in here now.jgp

Chapter 46: The Personal Bodyguard of a Universal Idol (4k)

"So slow, Qing Yan! Are you trying to freeze me to death so you can inherit the General's position?"

Jing Yuan, who had been standing foolishly outside the door, catching the cold wind for a long time, finally got to open the door. The moment he saw Bai Jun, disheveled and flustered, Jing Yuan's confusion vanished, replaced by a knowing smile that only men understood.

"Oh~ No wonder I thought I heard a woman's voice from inside just now. After all, boys in their prime like to secretly watch overly mature DVDs. It's okay, as someone who's been through it, I can understand?"

"What DVDs? I don't know what you're talking about... Besides, I'm tired. I'm not receiving guests."

Sensing his peculiar gaze, Bai Jun curled his lip in disgust and made to close the door without hesitation. But Jing Yuan, suffering from a craving for alcohol, was not about to give up. His boot precisely wedged itself into the door crack, and while Bai Jun hesitated, he slipped inside with the liquor he was holding.

"Oh, Qing Yan, you already had the drinks prepared, didn't you? I even bought a bottle specifically."

Casually hanging his clothes on the hanger, Jing Yuan swaggered into the living room and plopped down on the sofa. Fortunately, his attention wasn't diverted to the bedroom but remained fixed on the cocktail shaker on the living room table.

"What are you still standing at the door for? Come in quickly."

Putting down the liquor in his hand, Jing Yuan looked curiously at Bai Jun, who was still standing at the door, and patted the empty space beside him, signaling him to come in quickly.

"This is my home, who exactly is the guest here? Could you please have a little self-awareness?" Looking at this drunkard who always staged the "guest acting like the host" drama, Bai Jun sighed. He first glanced casually at the bedroom, then helplessly closed the door.

"As they say, the guest is king. Qing Yan, you should be more patient with your guests, shouldn't you?" Jing Yuan shrugged, appearing unconcerned.

"It's the host who dictates, not the guest. Don't twist the facts."

Impatiently interrupting Jing Yuan's serious nonsense, Bai Jun took out a new glass from the cabinet and, in the same way, mixed Jing Yuan a very strong cocktail. However, before handing it to him, he sternly warned him:

"Let me be clear, you're leaving after you finish this tonight. Don't always linger at my place."

"Alright, alright~ I'll listen to you, I'll listen to you. I'll head back to Shence Mansion to deal with the case files after I finish this."

Jing Yuan could naturally tell that Bai Jun wasn't just saying that out of anger, so he readily agreed. Hearing this, Bai Jun handed him the prepared cocktail.

"Ahhh~ delicious. Qing Yan, your bartending skills are getting more refined. So virtuous and reliable, I wonder which lucky girl will end up with you."

Jing Yuan tilted his head back, sending the strong liquor down his throat, and let out a satisfied sigh. He looked like a middle-aged office worker who'd gone to a bar for a cold draft beer after work... though it seemed that was indeed the case.

After downing the drink, Jing Yuan noticed Bai Jun's distracted state. Although he was still wiping the glass in his hand, his gaze seemed to be directed towards the bedroom—could he really be tired today?

Jing Yuan stroked his chin, thinking to himself.

Meanwhile, under the bed in the bedroom—Yukong and Tingyun, who had coincidentally hidden together, were now pressed closely against each other with flushed faces. The confined, dark space was so small they could feel each other's breath and hear each other's heartbeats. They exchanged a glance before hastily looking away, both appearing guilty.

Although Yukong's face still held its usual gentle and composed expression, her hidden blue tail had already twisted into a knot. She couldn't quite articulate whether she felt disappointed or relieved about the relationship between Tingyun and Bai Jun; rather, she was in a very strange state.

"Tingyun, you... are fine. It's good." Yukong was glad that Tingyun and Bai Jun's relationship had progressed to this point. Entrusting Tingyun to Bai Jun was indeed the most reliable choice. However, she also felt a sense of loss, as her presence might affect their relationship.

"Lady Yukong, please let me explain!"

As for Tingyun, her fox tail was also a tangled mess. Being caught by the senior she respected and adored the most was embarrassing enough, but now they were pressed so intimately together! The last time she had been this close to Lady Yukong was when she was just a little fox.

"You, you don't need to explain. Perhaps I came at the wrong time."

Looking at the once little fox who had now grown into a graceful young lady, Yukong, feeling a pang of loss, gently covered Tingyun's mouth and looked away dejectedly. "After the General leaves, I, an outsider, will also depart. You can continue here with Bai Jun."