Mechanism

Xiao Yi Xian sensed the change in the temperature around her and grew a little curious. After carefully feeling it out, she realized the warmth was coming from the person in front of her.

She knew very well that, with his cultivation, he had absolutely no fear of the chill in the cave.

Then there was only one explanation for why he was doing this: he had noticed her earlier movement, even though this fellow did not seem to have looked back.

Xiao Yi Xian followed behind him, staring blankly at Xiao Bai's back, finding it a little unbelievable as she silently thought:

Who would've thought this bastard had such a gentle side too? If only he didn't talk so infuriatingly and act so domineeringly!

At that thought, Xiao Yi Xian tentatively stretched out her small hand to tug at the robe on Xiao Bai's back. She had wanted to do this for a long time, but had never dared.

The only bit of light was in Xiao Bai's hand, and his body blocked most of it, leaving the area around her pitch-black and making her a little afraid.

The feel of the fabric reached her palm. She lightly clutched it in her hand, and seeing that Xiao Bai had no reaction, she sighed in relief inwardly. With the bastard's robe in her hand, she let go of the unease in her heart and no longer felt so scared.

Xiao Bai, walking ahead, had long since known about Xiao Yi Xian's little movements behind him. He ignored them. If she wanted to tug at it, then let her.

Judging by her expression, she was probably a little scared, which left Xiao Bai somewhat speechless.

Earlier she had seemed so bold, daring to enter the cave alone. Now that he was still right in front of her, this girl had become a little timid again.

Who knew if, before entering the cave earlier, she had fed herself a great deal of motivational talk just to dare go in.

However, after Xiao Bai walked another dozen meters or so, he turned around and looked at Xiao Yi Xian with a faint, deep gaze, his expression cold and stern.

Xiao Yi Xian was startled by his expression and stammered, "W-what are you doing?"

"Let go!" Xiao Bai's eyes indicated the hand she had tugging his robe, his voice low.

Hearing Xiao Bai's calm tone, Xiao Yi Xian obediently let go of the hand clutching his robe, then muttered with a bit of dissatisfaction and grievance:

"Stingy. I only tugged it a little. What are you getting mad for?"

Black lines nearly covered Xiao Bai's forehead at her words. She had pulled the robe behind him into a fluttering cloak, making him feel as if his steps kept jerking to a halt.

The ground inside the cave was uneven, and he did not dare use force either, otherwise this girl would definitely trip and fall.

Sighing inwardly, Xiao Bai extended a hand toward her.

Xiao Yi Xian immediately stepped back, hid both hands behind her, and looked at him warily.

"What are you doing? Men and women shouldn't touch so casually. I'm not holding hands!"

Although he had already carried her, that had been out of necessity. Now she could walk on her own. Even if she did not tug at him, it was fine; at most, she would feel a little uneasy.

Want her to take the initiative and let him hold her hand? No way! Did a young girl's modesty mean nothing?

Xiao Bai let out a cold laugh, then spat out two words through gritted teeth in an icy voice.

"Your sleeve!"

Xiao Yi Xian froze. Sleeve? What sleeve?

Then she reacted. This fellow was telling her to tug on his sleeve. In an instant, a blush rose on her face, and she felt a little embarrassed. It seemed she had been overthinking things just now.

She walked forward two steps somewhat timidly. Looking at the wide black sleeve robe edged with gold before her, Xiao Yi Xian silently reached out her small hand and gently took hold of it, then carefully glanced at Xiao Bai.

Seeing this, Xiao Bai said nothing. He turned and continued walking forward, holding the torch in one hand while keeping the other behind his back.

Xiao Yi Xian followed step by step behind him, her eyes fixed on his tall back, no one knew what she was thinking.

After they walked for another dozen minutes or so, Xiao Yi Xian saw Xiao Bai suddenly stop and hurriedly stopped as well. But after waiting a while, she still did not see him turn around, and she felt a little puzzled.

She poked out her little head and looked ahead from beside him, only to see a large door emitting a faint yellow glow in front of them. So they had arrived.

Xiao Bai walked up to the large door and looked the stone door up and down. His Soul Strength probed it briefly. This stone door was very thick, and although an Earth Element Mechanism Art had been arranged on it, that could not stop him, Xiao Bai.

"Looking at the yellow glow on this stone door, it's obvious an Earth Element Mechanism Art has been set up. I can help you, you know! I only need you to share a little of what's inside with me. How about it?"

A slightly playful voice came from beside him. Xiao Bai turned his head to look and saw that this girl no longer had that faint wariness she'd shown outside. She had become a little livelier.

"You understand mechanism arts?" Xiao Bai asked calmly.

"Ahem, I've only read some books on mechanism arts, that's all. I wouldn't call myself proficient. I can only say I know a little, just a little!"

Xiao Yi Xian cleared her throat and waved her small hand slightly. Though she said she only knew a little, there was not the slightest modesty on her face. In her heart, she chanted excitedly:

Bastard, hurry up and beg this girl. As long as you open your mouth, this girl will open this door for you!

Looking at her proud expression, Xiao Bai felt a little like laughing. The thought of teasing her arose in his heart, and he deliberately frowned. "How much do you want?"

Hearing his words, Xiao Yi Xian was overjoyed, but she did not show it on her face. With a serious little expression, she carefully raised one jade-like finger.

"One gold coin?" Xiao Bai pretended to be surprised, then said decisively, "No problem. Open the door."

Xiao Yi Xian was almost angered to death. It was half, you bastard! Who cares about your one gold coin!

"Half...!" She raised her jade-like finger right in front of Xiao Bai's eyes and said through gritted teeth.

Looking at her aggrieved yet adorable expression, a hint of laughter flashed through Xiao Bai's eyes.

"Too much!"

"Then thirty percent?"

Seeing that Xiao Bai was still shaking his head, Xiao Yi Xian refused to give up and continued, "Twenty percent. I can't go any lower!"

"No. Just one gold coin!"

"Then open it yourself, you bastard!" Xiao Yi Xian stormed off to the side and crouched down, ignoring Xiao Bai. But from the corner of her eye, she kept watching him, waiting for him to come beg her. If he said a few nice words to her, she would open it for him.

Actually, before that earlier scene had happened, she had not held out any hope for the things in the cave at all. She had only wanted to keep her life and her innocence.

But after what had happened inside the cave, she knew that although he seemed cold on the surface, he was actually not bad. She could not help testing him a little—only to find that this guy was a complete miser who simply refused to give in.

Go be stingy to death, you bastard! Would it kill you to say something nice?! Seeing that Xiao Bai did not care at all that she had stormed off to sulk, Xiao Yi Xian grumbled inwardly.

Xiao Bai paid no attention to Xiao Yi Xian sulking off to the side. He continued sizing up the great door, wondering whether he should just break it open directly.

After thinking it over, he shook his head. Better forget it. Who knew whether destroying the great door would cause the cave to collapse?

His Soul Strength scanned the entire great door directly. Following the mechanisms inside, Xiao Bai slowly searched for the switch that opened the Stone Gate.

Before long, Xiao Bai became familiar with the mechanism pattern inside and finally found the place to activate it.

Beside the Stone Gate, not far behind Xiao Yi Xian, the switch was right there.

Xiao Yi Xian, who had been secretly watching him the whole time, saw Xiao Bai walking toward her, and joy rose in her heart.

I knew this guy had no way to do it. Now he's coming to beg me, right? Hmph...! You hateful bastard, if you don't say something nice to make this girl happy, this girl absolutely won't go! Xiao Yi Xian thought with a faintly smug, spoiled expression.