How come I'm the one being conquered?

Chapter 5: A Tribute to the Legendary Cat Whisperer, Tingyun

As the sun dipped westward, the shadows of buildings and people stretched long, engulfing the shops lining the street. Merchants began to fold up their parasols one by one, letting out long, drawn-out yawns.

The sky transitioned from bright clarity to a fiery, resplendent sunset. The twilight, where the sun had burned itself out, was replaced by deeper, leaden clouds. Yet, even before nightfall, Chang Le Tian remained a bustling, vibrant spectacle. Visitors came and went, and Xianzhou ships arrived like clouds descending into the market, showing no less prosperity than they did during the day.

It was a picturesque scene, but Tingyun had no heart to appreciate it. In her eyes, there was something far more captivating.

Watching the progression of emotions on Bai Jun's face—from surprise, to terror, to hesitation, and finally to a resigned acceptance of his fate—Tingyun couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. To witness such a rich spectrum of feelings on his usually placid, expressionless face brought her immense joy, causing her fluffy fox ears to twitch with her delight.

Despite how endearing it was, Tingyun felt a slight twinge of dissatisfaction that Bai Jun always looked at her with such wary vigilance, as if facing a terrifying beast, even when she was happy.

This young lady just returned with the merchant group. I timed it perfectly, rushing here without even a moment's rest, to wait for you on your usual route home.

Of course, these words couldn't be spoken aloud. At the very least, she had to maintain the pretense of a chance encounter.

"I trust you've been well, benefactor," Tingyun said, standing by the railing and opening her folding fan with a smile.

Bai Jun knew he couldn't evade her, so he resigned himself and waved a hand. "Miss Tingyun, likewise. I didn't expect you to return with the Minghuo Merchant Group so soon."

"Oh? From what benefactor implies, are you perhaps displeased that I've returned too quickly...?"

"How could I be? I'm delighted! I imagine this trip must have gone smoothly thanks to Miss Tingyun's sharp wit and eloquent persuasion."

Bai Jun didn't harbor any prejudice against Tingyun. It was likely due to his time spent in Yaoqing that he now felt a peculiar fear towards Foxkin women.

Tingyun smiled sweetly, closing her folding fan slightly. Her earlier displeasure vanished. "I concede defeat to benefactor's silver tongue, but..."

"But?"

"Well, given our acquaintance, and considering you're addressing me as 'Miss,' aren't you being a bit too formal?" Tingyun furrowed her delicate brows, her tone tinged with slight frustration.

"Alright, as long as you don't call me 'benefactor,' I'll let you call me anything." As soon as Bai Jun finished speaking, he realized the loophole in his words and quickly added, "Of course, the address must be within the bounds of common sense."

Unlike the "Qing Yan" he found so pleasing, hearing Tingyun softly call him "benefactor" always gave him a ticklish, almost uncomfortable feeling, as if someone were gently stroking his chin with a feather.

"That won't do. Benefactor is benefactor. I can never forget the kindness you showed me in Yaoqing. Foxkin always uphold their integrity. If I were to disregard such a debt, then I wouldn't be worthy of being a Envoy for the Tianbo Division's merchant group," Tingyun said, her folding fan partially concealing her face. She hid her smile, her gentle features revealing a rare trace of determination.

They exchanged glances for a moment, which ended with Bai Jun's defeat.

He sighed helplessly, long accustomed to this outcome. "Fine, whatever you say."

Tingyun's smile grew brighter. Her eyes, as clear and flowing as water, curved into crescents. Even her exquisite, beautiful fox tail swayed behind her, mirroring her mood. For her, nothing was more delightful than occasionally seeing Bai Jun flustered by her.

Bai Jun was like a proud, yet independent, little fox. If she only teased him occasionally with a cat toy, he would eventually grow tired of it. Therefore, the catnip needed after each teasing session was crucial. If she could also coax him gently, following his temperament, he would shed his cold exterior and reveal a soft, passionate heart.

In other words, it was time for the catnip to be used.

"Benefactor, I brought you some gifts from this merchant expedition..."

Before Tingyun could finish, Bai Jun raised his hand to stop her. "Stop! It's always like this. I have no more space in my house for gifts, and I've emphasized this many times before. So, I absolutely won't accept them this time!"

He turned his head away, refusing to look at Tingyun, his stance quite resolute.

"Benefactor always says the same thing. I anticipated this, so I sent someone to deliver them to your doorstep. They should have arrived by now," Tingyun replied, still maintaining her gentle, smiling demeanor. She walked gracefully to Bai Jun's side.

"Besides, benefactor, you don't need to worry. I only brought one or two gifts this time, they won't take up much space. And if benefactor finds them troublesome or useless, you can always take them to a pawn shop and sell them. I can just buy them back later with a little money, can't I?"

As if picturing the scene, Tingyun feigned a wronged expression, lowering her eyes and gently tapping Bai Jun's shoulder with her fan.

Bai Jun scratched his cheek, looking troubled. That wasn't his intention at all. Regardless of their usefulness, the gifts were a token of her thoughtfulness, and he actually quite liked them.

It was just that the gifts Tingyun gave him were too precious, leaving him unsure of how to reciprocate.

Her clear, jade-green eyes seemed to discern Bai Jun's thoughts every time. Before he could speak, the exquisitely carved folding fan, made of white jade, was placed against his lips. "Alright, benefactor, you don't need to worry. If we're truly comparing the preciousness of gifts, I don't have anything that can compare to the fan benefactor gave me."

This was not a flattering lie. To guard against the dangers of their travels, merchants traveling between worlds usually carried weapons for self-defense.

But Tingyun was an exception. Initially, she hadn't planned to equip herself with a weapon. However, during the incident in Yaoqing, she had fortunately been saved by Bai Jun's intervention. Otherwise, she would have already become a soul claimed by the claws of the Liuren. It was this event that made her resolve to carry a weapon.

But she struggled with what kind to choose. Swords, spears, sabers, halberds—these were all too rigid and powerful, not quite fitting her soft and elegant style.

If she were to use hidden weapons like throwing darts or silver needles, it would make her seem sinister and vicious, which was unbecoming.

Just as she was at a loss, Bai Jun gave her a finely carved folding fan. In his words at the time, "Miss Tingyun, as an envoy, carrying a weapon personally would harm our friendship and be unfavorable for business. But if it were a fan, it would exude elegance and grace, showing true character, and be worth using."

From then on, this fan, with the faint inscription of "Liujing" at its end, had accompanied her everywhere.

Speaking of which, this folding fan had solved countless problems for her. If she were to truly tally it all up, the debt of gratitude she owed Bai Jun was likely something she could never repay in this lifetime.

But it didn't matter. If she couldn't repay it, so be it. At worst, she could offer herself to him.

"It's nothing precious. I just bought it from a young apprentice," Bai Jun said, startled, and quickly denied it, pinching his chin.

"Oh? Is that so?" Tingyun held the folding fan to her lips, staring intently at Bai Jun as if trying to glean something from his face.

"Yes," Bai Jun replied, even putting his hands on his hips with a righteous air.

He's clearly lying. The exquisite craftsmanship is something even Master Gongshu couldn't replicate. How could it possibly come from a mere apprentice?

Of course, Tingyun had her own ways of responding to Bai Jun's clumsy attempts at deception. "What I value is the sentiment behind it, but sentiment, you know, can't be bought."

"Gulp..." Bai Jun immediately deflated like a pufferfish, awkwardly averting his gaze.

The residual sunset hues, like burning fire, reflected on his fair face. The warm, yellow tones made the atmosphere between them even more intimate.

Perhaps others might find Bai Jun's personality inscrutable, but for Miss Tingyun, who had mastered the art of "cat handling," it was much simpler.

After spending enough time together, one would discover that Bai Jun was the type of person who would stubbornly refuse if you tried to express your feelings indirectly. But if you were straightforward, he would blush and look away.

Noticing his awkward demeanor, Tingyun's smiling gaze never left his face, soon eliciting a dissatisfied grumble from Bai Jun:

"Why do you keep staring at me?"

"Mmm, because I'm a sucker for good looks, and my benefactor is so handsome, I naturally have to look more." Tingyun nodded as if it were obvious. Then, as if remembering something, she leaned mischievously towards Bai Jun, "If my benefactor minds, I can learn from him and start from your legs and look upwards each time."

"N-no..." His weak spot hit, Bai Jun stiffened all over, stammering as he averted his gaze.

Though he said no, his cold expression and nervous demeanor seemed particularly out of place, inadvertently revealing a hint of something.

Hmph, insignificant Bai Jun, you're still interested in me, aren't you!

Tingyun's smile widened. Seizing the moment, she produced two tickets and gently waved them in the air, "Benefactor, the Minghuo Merchant Group happened to have a few extra tickets, and they're about to expire if not used. Won't you accompany me to the Star Raft Sea hub tonight?"

"No..."

"Come on, benefactor, it's super hard for me to travel. I heard the streetball finals are tonight, and the Foxkin team is competing against the Xianzhou team for the championship. Just accompany me to relax, won't you?" Tingyun's slender fingers poked Bai Jun's cheek, her touch gentle but with a hint of playful reproach, forcefully cutting off his refusal with her actions.

This wasn't an invitation; from the very beginning, Tingyun hadn't left Bai Jun any room to maneuver. She intended to pull him completely into her rhythm with a series of actions!

"If we get tired of watching, we can go to the raft dock to see some acrobatics, and then listen to some Foxkin drumming and Xianzhou ballads. How about that?"

"Th-that does sound pretty good..."

Bai Jun's voice showed a hint of wavering. Tingyun felt a surge of joy. Despite being surprised by how smoothly things were progressing, she quickly composed herself and pressed her advantage.

With a citrus-scented breeze, her soft, warm body pressed against him without any pretense. Bai Jun immediately felt his arm sink into two soft cotton balls, while a meticulously groomed, fluffy fox tail also quietly coiled around his waist, "Right, right? If we get sleepy, we can go to the Yichen Inn. I have a membership there~"

"Really!?" Bai Jun's throat bobbed, and he looked at Tingyun with a bit of anticipation, "D-do I just need to accompany you to relax...?"

Tingyun pursed her lips and smiled, making a solemn vow, "Yes, I promise! You just need to accompany me to relax. I'll definitely book two rooms at the inn, not just one~"

Gazing at the calm yet continuous affection in Tingyun's eyes, Bai Jun's gaze trembled, his lips parting slightly, "That does sound really nice..."

"Yes, yes, so say yes, hurry up and say yes?"

Tingyun, like a sorceress luring someone into an endless abyss, kept whispering seductively in Bai Jun's ear. Facing such an assault, she believed Bai Jun had no reason to refuse.

However, in the next second...

Bai Jun's expression shifted instantly. His previous hesitation vanished, replaced by a rock-solid resolve, "But I refuse!"

"Wh-what!?" Tingyun exclaimed in disbelief.

"One of the things I, Bai Jun, love most in this life is saying NO to those self-important guys!"

Bai Jun expressionlessly pushed away Tingyun's soft face that was pressed against him with his hand, also batting away the large tail wrapped around his waist. His movements were fluid and unhesitating. He turned and prepared to flee.

The turn of events far exceeded her expectations, causing Tingyun to freeze for several seconds. But thinking of the rare and perfect opportunity right before her, she realized that if she let Bai Jun slip through her fingers, it would be difficult to find such a chance again.

Tingyun steeled herself and put on a delicate and soft, aggrieved expression. A hint of moisture seemed to gather in her bright eyes. She gently tugged at Bai Jun's collar, preventing him from escaping, "No, benefactor, just agree to me this once, just once~"

On the surface, this seemed like a desperate struggle with a series of poor moves. However, based on Tingyun's understanding of Bai Jun, a little coyness towards his tough exterior and soft heart would yield unexpectedly high results.

This was a blatant conspiracy, a stratagem within a stratagem!

As expected, Bai Jun's previous assertiveness disappeared. He frowned slightly, rubbing his lips with his thumb, seemingly deep in thought.

Tingyun swallowed lightly, her eyes filled with anticipation as she watched Bai Jun hesitate. Just as she was about to try and win him over again, Bai Jun's eyes suddenly widened. He pointed behind Tingyun and shouted in surprise, "They won! It's the Foxkin champions!"

"Huh? Really!"

Tingyun, who always believed Bai Jun's words completely, turned around in surprise, wanting to witness the victory of the team she had supported for so many years. But then she thought, the streetball game hadn't even started yet, how could there be a winner?

Besides, although the Foxkin possessed keen senses and incredible agility, their physical prowess generally lagged significantly behind long-lived races like the Xianzhou people. Only a minority of the Foxkin were strong and brave, and unfortunately, the Foxkin on Luofu were among those with poorer physical condition. For so many years, the Foxkin team had never defeated the Xianzhou team, so how could they win just like that?

Realizing she had been tricked, Tingyun pouted and turned back in embarrassment, only to find that Bai Jun, who had been standing beside her, had vanished without a trace.

"Huh? Where did he go..."

After a brief moment of confusion, Tingyun belatedly realized he had escaped.

Hardened! My clenched little fists have hardened!

Tingyun gritted her teeth in frustration, but in the end, she could only sigh softly, saying nothing.

Perhaps she had been too hasty, likely scaring Bai Jun away?

Oh well, she had gained a lot, and it would definitely be useful next time...

Even as she said this, she couldn't help but pout aggrievedly, stroking her newly bought hairpin. She recalled her meticulously done makeup, which hadn't received a single compliment, and Tingyun dejectedly lowered her eyes, which were adorned with crimson eyeshadow.

Really, he probably didn't even notice my changes in the end, did he?

However, a voice that seemed to come from nowhere suddenly reached her ears.

"That hairpin is quite nice, it suits you."

Hearing the gentle yet slightly embarrassed voice carried by the wind, Tingyun was stunned at first. Her rosy lips curled up involuntarily, a faint blush appeared on her fair face, and her soft fox ears shyly drooped, "Oh my, you're always like this, but then..."

A woman adorns herself for the one who pleases her. Even though she knew Bai Jun was long gone, she still smiled charmingly, closing the intricately carved folding fan in her hand, and murmured in a voice only she could hear:

"I just like benefactors like you."

ps: New author, new book, please collect, please recommend, please vote monthly. Your support is my greatest motivation~

Chapter 6: Classical Mechanics Solves the Frenzy Problem

High up in Changletian, Bai Jun leaned against the railing, propping his cheek with his left hand. He watched Tingyun below, who hadn't noticed his absence, and a smile returned to her face. Only then did he slowly relax.

"Sigh, honestly, I should have just made her angry. Then she probably wouldn't have bothered me again next time,"

Bai Jun pouted helplessly, his body instinctively reaching for the saber at his waist. It was a habit he'd picked up at some point; the cold touch of the hilt helped him calm down quickly. But as he felt around, he realized it was gone.

"Wait a minute..."

It was only then that he remembered he'd forgotten to take his saber from his locker when he'd skipped out, er, finished work.

With an annoyed "tsk," Bai Jun temporarily put aside the thought of going back and turned towards the public office.

Under the governance of General Jing Yuan of Shence, the Luofu's public order was considered top-notch compared to other ships in the Xianzhou Alliance, at least compared to Yaoqing. It wasn't that ideal state of "lost items are returned, doors are left unlocked at night," but at least the martial spirit wasn't as overly abundant as Yaoqing's. The people lived and worked in peace, and the populace wasn't so fierce that they'd constantly pop out to ask for sparring practice or engage in death matches like those perverts.

Walking the streets of the Luofu, most of the pedestrians were unarmed civilians who had no need to carry weapons.

Bai Jun wasn't the type of kid who liked carrying a saber just to look cool. Perhaps he was once, but those thoughts of wielding a sword to right wrongs, often accompanied by a rosy halo, would slowly fade and disappear with the passage of time and the changes of reality. Those sentiments had long since vanished under the blows of reality and the pressures of age.

The only reason he carried that saber was simply because it was a gift from a friend, and he couldn't bear to neglect that sentiment.

The sky began to dim hazily, and lights flickered all around the celestial realm.

The wind gently caressed his face, and from the green belts made of marble slabs lining the road, one could faintly smell the fresh scent of earth and grass shoots.

Strolling lazily on his way to the public office, Bai Jun absurdly had the thought, "If I rested during the day and worked the night shift, wouldn't that be nice?" But he quickly dismissed this idea.

Am I going crazy? To think that working is a good thing?

He shook his head vigorously, casting the thought from his mind, and Bai Jun silently quickened his pace. Before long, he saw the public office, which he both loved and hated.

He pushed open the door with practiced ease and saw the Pine Smoke Steward on tiptoe, reaching for a book on the bookshelf in the foyer. Catching sight of Bai Jun out of the corner of his eye, the steward's eyes widened in surprise, "Huh? Qing Yan, why are you back?"

"Came back to get something," Bai Jun walked forward, using his height advantage to help the steward reach the book he couldn't quite grasp from the top shelf.

"Thanks, but I thought you were coming back to keep me company on night duty," the Pine Smoke Steward said gratefully, taking the book Bai Jun handed him.

"It's not even night yet, why are you talking in your sleep?" Bai Jun retorted with a darkened expression.