How Am I Supposed to Live Like This?

"Brother Ye, what's really going on with your wife?"

On the way, Wu Xiaokai glanced at the backs of the two women ahead and asked in a low voice.

Ye Qiu shook his head. "You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"

What had happened earlier had been frightening.

She had gone after people with a blade, chased them all the way to a Super Mentor's training ground, killed his disciple, chopped off his head, and beaten up the Super Mentor for good measure.

Anyone else would have been guilty of a monstrous crime, wouldn't they?

She hadn't just ignored the Academy Laws... no, she had acted as though the Academy itself meant nothing!

At the very least, she should have been expelled. Without a powerful backer, she would have been torn limb from limb and beaten to death on the spot!

But the Grand Law Enforcer had actually... let it go?

From his attitude, it had even looked as if he were trying to curry favor with Lu Li.

Was he afraid she would leave the Academy?

Even so, he couldn't go that far!

What had happened to the Grand Law Enforcer's dignity?

Was there no justice anymore?

Were there no laws?

"Isn't she your wife? You don't know?" Wu Xiaokai looked at Ye Qiu. "Brother, we've been through life and death together. You're still hiding this from me?"

Ye Qiu sighed. "Believe me or don't, but I really don't know her that well."

He had spent some time with her when they were five and become engaged to her. Then Lu Li had disappeared.

The next he had heard of her, she was already a Core Disciple at Nanzhou Academy.

How was he supposed to know what had happened in between?

Wu Xiaokai remained skeptical. When they reached the foot of Green Moon Mountain, he was just about to head up when Nan Qingyue turned toward him.

Wu Xiaokai smiled. "Brother Ye and I are brothers."

Nan Qingyue said, "Get lost!"

Wu Xiaokai wiped the smile off his face and snapped to attention. "Right away!"

Ye Qiu: "..."

Wu Xiaokai blinked at Ye Qiu, then turned and left. No way was he saying another damn word.

These women were both terrifying!

One of them could beat him to death, and nobody would stop her.

Ye Qiu silently climbed Mountain Peak, went straight to the stove, and cooked two simple dishes.

The three of them sat at the Stone Table and ate with their heads down.

The atmosphere was harmonious.

Nobody said much.

It was as though nothing had happened earlier.

But Ye Qiu understood something else now. He had grown much stronger, yet Lu Li seemed to have grown even stronger than he had!

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Ye Qiu washed the dishes, and Lu Li came over to help.

Just then, an old man approached from the foot of the mountain. Nan Qingyue stood and glanced at him, then turned back to Lu Li. "It must be that old man, the Academy Head, coming to talk to me again... I'll go deal with him."

Lu Li said, "Sorry for the trouble, Teacher."

Nan Qingyue went down the mountain and left with the old man. She knew the routine well; this was hardly the first time the Academy Head had summoned her for a talk.

If a whole month went by without the Academy Head calling her in, she would almost feel strange.

After all, she always got to eat plenty of good food at his place.

Only Lu Li and Ye Qiu remained on the mountain.

They washed the dishes in silence.

Soon, the dishes were clean.

Lu Li asked, "Do you have any requests concerning the Ye Family?"

Ye Qiu glanced at her. "I can handle it myself."

Lu Li shook her head. "You're still weak."

Ye Qiu was speechless. Woman, you're too arrogant!

Lu Li said, "It would be easier if I handled it."

"Stay out of men's business!" Ye Qiu turned and entered the thatched hut. Lu Li followed him inside. He dropped onto the bed and closed his eyes. "I'm going to rest."

Lu Li nodded, took off her bloodstained outer dress, and gently lay down beside Ye Qiu.

Ye Qiu opened his eyes and rolled away in a flash. "What are you doing?"

Lu Li said calmly, "Resting."

Ye Qiu said, "This is my room!"

Lu Li said, "And you're mine!"

Ye Qiu: "..."

Lu Li said softly, "Besides, when we were little, you were quite used to holding me while you slept, weren't you?"

Ye Qiu's face darkened. They had been five years old!

Back then, he had made Lu Li cry. Afraid his mother would scold him, he had told her stories and coaxed her gently to sleep.

But how old were they now?

With her outer dress off, Lu Li's fair arms were bare, her pale skin smooth as polished jade.

Her thin underclothes barely seemed able to contain her perfect figure, making her curves look all the more striking.

The glimpses they offered sent heat flaring through Ye Qiu no matter how hard he tried to restrain himself.

"Woman, you really are playing with fire!" Ye Qiu glared at Lu Li and spoke through gritted teeth.

Lu Li stepped forward, bringing her distinctive scent with her. She stopped in front of Ye Qiu and met his gaze without fear. "And then?"

As she spoke, she moved closer in challenge. At that distance, he could clearly feel her softness pressed against his chest.

Ye Qiu...

I'm a normal person. A normal man, at that!

An urge rose in Ye Qiu, but before he could act on it, Lu Li leaned forward slightly and touched her red lips to his.

Ye Qiu: "..."

Whoosh—

He retreated several steps in a row, but the instant he came to a stop, Lu Li was still before him, still standing exactly as she had been.

He couldn't get away.

A powerful aura surged from him along with his Qi and Blood, but Lu Li's aura was stronger.

Her Sword Qi crushed his!

Crushed it to pieces!

Ye Qiu: "..."

So whenever I want to kiss her from now on, she gets to be the boss?

How am I supposed to live like this?

You try putting up with it!

Fuming, he turned, pushed open the door, and swept off Mountain Peak like the wind.

Behind him, Lu Li fell silent, then smiled faintly. She did not follow.

Her teacher had said pursuing a man was like fishing: she had to take it step by step and be patient.

She had to tease him a little at a time...

No fish could resist the hook forever.

With a slight flick of her slender, jade-white fingers, a fresh white dress settled over her, hiding her perfect figure.

Then she walked out of the room. Nan Qingyue came up the mountain, her face full of curiosity. "What happened to him? Why did he run off so fast? His face was as red as an apple..."

Lu Li smiled softly. "Was he blushing?"

She remembered telling him back then, "I'm a girl. Could you please stop doing that?"

But he had shamelessly crawled under her covers anyway, warmed his hands against her belly, and declared with outrageous confidence, "My mother's already sold you to me. From now on, you're this young master's woman!"

Back then, her face had gone very, very red.

"Hmph!" A rare hint of playfulness surfaced on the cool woman's face, lending her a charm that could captivate anyone.

Then she looked at Nan Qingyue. "Teacher, thanks for the effort."

Nan Qingyue waved a hand. "It was nothing. He only lectured me a little... Oh, right. The selection in Central Province starts in five months at most. What are you thinking?"

Lu Li said, "I'm a Special Recruit, so of course I'm going... and I'm taking Ye Qiu with me."

Nan Qingyue asked, "Can his cultivation catch up in time?"

Lu Li smiled. "He's strong!"

Really strong!

He's improving so quickly!

If my constitution weren't so unusual, it would be almost impossible to improve faster than Ye Qiu!

After a pause, she added, "Even if he doesn't catch up, he can still go!"

Nan Qingyue thought for a moment, then nodded. "You have my support!"

"Teacher, I'm going out for a while." The woman's face was lovely, her white dress flawless. Yet as she descended Mountain Peak, an inexplicable chill seemed to come over her...