"It hurts so much."
Ye Yunxi clutched her backside beneath her skirt. It had happened again. Why did she always land squarely on her butt?
"Miss, are you all right?"
"How could I be? My butt hurts so much." Ye Yunxi complained, then lifted her eyes toward the culprit in the forest.
Her long, waterfall-black hair fell smoothly down her back, with a few wisps brushing her cheeks. Her skin was as fair as snow, and her figure was graceful.
Hu Liena?
Why was she here at this point in time?
Besides Hu Liena, there was also Yue Guan beside her, his face carrying an almost demonic air.
Why were those two together?
Could Bibi Dong have sent them on some kind of mission?
"You..."
Hu Liena's words caught in her throat. Her gaze fixed on Ye Yunxi's face, and her heart began to race uncontrollably.
The woman before her was simply sitting on the ground, clutching her backside, her face tinged with a hint of coquettish complaint.
But those limpid, peach-blossom eyes and the allure she radiated by nature—without deliberately using Soul Power, her innate charm surged like a tide, far more captivating than the charm unleashed by her Demon Fox Martial Soul.
Yue Guan, standing beside her, also narrowed his eyes slightly, a flicker of astonishment passing through them.
As a Titled Douluo who had lived for nearly a century, he had seen countless beauties. Yet never had anyone, on looks alone, made even someone as experienced as him feel his heart stir.
Just who was this woman? The records of Spirit Hall seemed never to mention a Soul Master born with such bewitching charm.
Ye Yunxi got to her feet and brushed the dust from her clothes.
There was no point complaining. Those two couldn't pay her compensation anyway.
"Miss, what's your name?"
Hu Liena stammered, managing to get a few words out only after a long pause.
"My name? Ye Yunxi."
Ye Yunxi smiled, pursed her lips, and shot Hu Liena a flirtatious glance.
Hu Liena's cheeks immediately flushed. Shyly, she turned her head aside, not daring to look Ye Yunxi in the eye.
Her natural allure was even stronger than the charm unleashed by Hu Liena's Demon Fox Martial Soul.
Hu Liena had thought she was already one of the best among control-type Soul Masters. But this encounter left her utterly astonished.
Just one glance from the woman before her was enough to make Hu Liena lose her composure.
"Um, um, my name is Hu Liena. I'm really sorry I bumped into you just now." Hu Liena explained shyly.
"And this person beside me is Yue Guan, Elder Yue."
"Hu Liena."
Ye Yunxi smiled, lightly touched down with her toes, and stepped over beside Hu Liena, pulling her into her arms with one hand.
"Why are you so shy?"
"I... I don't know." Hu Liena covered her burning cheeks.
She didn't know why she was acting this way, either. She simply couldn't resist it.
"There's nothing embarrassing about being shy around a girl. Besides, why are you here in the middle of the night?" Ye Yunxi leaned close to Hu Liena's ear and whispered, "Tell me. Maybe we can get a little closer."
"I..." Hu Liena wanted to answer, but she was on a mission and couldn't reveal it.
Seeing how lively and alluring this woman was, Yue Guan couldn't help but feel astonished.
If only I could be this alluring, Yue Guan thought with a sigh.
Some people were born with it. Others could never achieve it, no matter how hard they tried.
"Ahem. Miss, please don't tease her any further."
Yue Guan spoke up to put a stop to it. Hu Liena was no match for Ye Yunxi at all. Just one glance from Ye Yunxi was enough to leave Hu Liena flustered.
Hearing Yue Guan's voice, Ye Yunxi chuckled and released Hu Liena's waist.
She took the opportunity to gently pinch Hu Liena's flushed cheek, her voice carrying a hint of playfulness:
"Fine. You're so innocent that teasing you isn't much fun."
Hu Liena abruptly took two steps back, her chest rising and falling slightly. Her face was red enough to drip blood, and her gaze remained fixed on Ye Yunxi, unable to look away.
What did she mean, calling Hu Liena innocent? It was Ye Yunxi's charm—Hu Liena simply couldn't resist it.
Yue Guan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, yet couldn't help studying Ye Yunxi, the astonishment still lingering in his eyes.
This woman's allure was etched into her very bones. Even standing there, she made one's heart and mind sway.
Just then, a mechanical system voice suddenly rang out in Ye Yunxi's mind, its tone tinged with amusement.
[ Ding! Fun side quest triggered: A Beguiling Smile Before the Chrysanthemum, A Remark That Stuns the Immortals ]
[Quest requirements: Get Yue Guan to say one sincere compliment about your looks. You must not use Soul Power pressure; rely solely on your natural charm.]
[Quest reward: +1 level of Soul Power (Level 61 Soul Emperor), plus one "Fox Shadow Amulet" (can withstand one full-power strike from a Soul Douluo).]
A flicker of amusement passed through Ye Yunxi's eyes. The system certainly knew how to pick its moments—even this old monster, Yue Guan, wasn't spared.
She slowly turned around, her gaze settling on Yue Guan. Her peach-blossom eyes curved, and the allure in their corners and at her brows rippled out like spring water.
She didn't deliberately release any Soul Power. Her natural grace alone was like an invisible hook, stirring a faint itch in the heart.
"Hello, Yue Guan."
Ye Yunxi's voice was soft and sweet. She blinked her limpid, peach-blossom eyes.
"You've lived for so long. Have you ever seen a woman as beautiful as me?"
Yue Guan's whole body stiffened. He instinctively wanted to disagree, but when he met those shimmering peach-blossom eyes, the words at the tip of his tongue took a different turn.
What was this girl trying to do?
He had cultivated for so long and seen countless beauties, yet this woman before him was alluring without being vulgar, pure without being cold. He couldn't find a single thing to contradict.
After a moment's hesitation, Yue Guan cleared his throat. His tone was awkward, but his words came out perfectly clear:
"Miss, your beauty is truly rare in this world, far surpassing that of every woman I've ever seen."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Yue Guan wished he could bite off his own tongue.
He was a Titled Douluo! How could he say something so flattering to a junior?
Hu Liena's eyes widened as she stared at Yue Guan in disbelief. Since when did he praise people like that?
[ Ding! Quest successfully completed! Rewards have been issued! ]
[ Soul Power increased to Level 61 Soul Emperor! "Fox Shadow Amulet" has been stored in the system space! ]
A warm current surged through her entire body.
Ye Yunxi's Soul Power steadily rose by one level.
She winked at Yue Guan. "Thanks for the compliment."
Then she didn't linger. Lightly touching down with her toes, she darted toward the depths of the forest, leaving behind only a graceful silhouette.
"Elder Yue, she..."
Hu Liena came back to her senses and looked toward the direction Ye Yunxi had vanished in, her heart still pounding.
Yue Guan gazed at the retreating figure. After a long pause, he finally spoke:
"This woman was born with an alluring charm, so her Martial Soul must be extraordinary. I just don't know when the Heaven Dou Empire produced such a remarkable woman. In any case, let's finish what we came here to do first. We can't delay the mission His Holiness the Pope assigned us."
Hu Liena nodded, but her gaze remained fixed on the direction Ye Yunxi had left. In her heart, she quietly wondered:
Will we meet again? I really want to see her again.