The Flame Hall's Distress Signal

"Indeed. Let's treat it as a chance to gain experience."

Bao Yuanwu escorted Ran Zirou out through the Mountain Gate.

Once they reached a place where no one was around, Ran Zirou wrapped her arms around Bao Yuanwu's waist and began to sob softly.

"Thank you. If you hadn't protected me, they would've surrounded and attacked me."

Her skin was smooth, her body soft as though she had no bones, and her sobs were enticing to the marrow.

But Bao Yuanwu's expression was a little strange.

He held both hands high, not daring to touch Ran Zirou at all.

Ran Zirou cried for a long while without hearing Bao Yuanwu comfort her. Puzzled, she looked up.

Her eyes were misty with tears, and her delicate face was like a flower drenched by rain, stirring the urge to cherish her.

Yet Bao Yuanwu did not dare move. His handsome face flushed, his eyes full of tenderness.

"Zirou, do you have feelings for me?"

Ran Zirou hadn't expected Bao Yuanwu to ask that. Her eyes flickered, and she threw herself into his arms again. "I do. Of course I like you."

The gesture hid the insincerity on her face perfectly.

How could she possibly like him?

In her previous life, she had met so many of Heaven's Chosen.

Which of them hadn't been outstanding enough to win the admiration of countless women?

Bao Yuanwu's aptitude was merely average, far inferior even to Ji Zheng's.

She had thought that even if she couldn't get Ji Zheng, she could at least use Bao Yuanwu for her first time. It would make it easier to find men for Dual Cultivation later, drawing on their yang to replenish her yin.

Impatience flashed in her eyes, but she pressed herself harder against Bao Yuanwu.

Why was this man dragging his feet? Could it be that he couldn't do it?

Bao Yuanwu drew a deep breath, suppressing the surging heat in his chest.

It took every ounce of restraint he had to finally pull Ran Zirou out of his arms.

He looked earnestly into her eyes. "Would you be my Dao Companion?"

Ran Zirou's lovely eyes shifted. Uneasy, she tried to struggle free. "Let go of me..."

But Bao Yuanwu was strong. She couldn't break free at all; he held her shoulders firmly, leaving her unable to move.

Bao Yuanwu's voice was a little hoarse. "Zirou, you were so close to me just now. You held my hand and hugged me. This really isn't right... I don't want to take advantage of you, so would you be my Dao Companion? If you're willing, I'll come to your home and formally ask for your hand."

Ran Zirou was stunned.

She stared blankly at Bao Yuanwu, only one thought in her mind.

Was he out of his mind?

How dared he propose such a thing!

Who did Bao Yuanwu think he was? Was he worthy of her?

In her previous life, this man had humbly begged her to spare him another glance. How had he become so bold now?

After saying all that, Bao Yuanwu looked at her expectantly.

He had only ever buried himself in cultivation. This was the first time he had fallen for someone and wanted to marry her.

His junior sister's thoughts had mocked him so thoroughly and even said Ran Zirou was after his cultivation and resources.

But he no longer cared about any of that. He only wanted to know how Ran Zirou truly felt.

If her feelings for him were sincere, he would do everything that followed gladly.

[Wow! He proposed! She definitely won't agree. She's still thinking about Sang Xinghui. He's the man she likes most, born with a Dual Cultivation Spirit Body, and an absolute beast at Dual Cultivation. But Sang Xinghui has a moral line he won't cross. He'd never touch a married woman.]

Li Zi's thoughts appeared at just the right moment.

Seeing things take a turn for the worse, the Fifth Elder, who had been about to step in and interrupt, stopped.

Bao Yuanwu had been brimming with anticipation, love surging in his heart, but those thoughts broke the spell.

He looked again at the pretty girl before him, shook his head slightly, and hurried to collect himself. But he couldn't bring the tenderness back into his eyes.

Li Zi was sitting on a tree branch, holding up a leafy twig to hide herself.

It didn't conceal her very well, but she held it up with great seriousness.

Bao Yuanwu glanced toward Li Zi and nearly laughed aloud.

He frowned and hurried to recover his earlier composure.

Ran Zirou noticed nothing amiss. She said gently, "Senior Brother Bao, I know you're a good man, but I'm simply not worthy of you. I only have a Mixed Spiritual Root with poor aptitude, and my cultivation isn't high. I'm not fit to be your Dao Companion..."

As she spoke, Ran Zirou covered her face and began to cry.

Seeing her so lacking in confidence made Bao Yuanwu's heart ache.

But he still held on to a shred of reason. "Is it because there's someone else in your heart, Zirou?"

Ran Zirou raised her eyes and asked in return, "We've known each other for so long. Have you ever seen me involved with another man? Is that the sort of fickle woman I am in your eyes, Senior Brother Bao?"

Bao Yuanwu hurried to wipe away her tears, apologizing again and again.

Li Zi thought, [Yes, you have! On the day of the Sect's Disciple Selection, she even threw herself into Eldest Senior Brother's arms.]

His hand paused mid-wipe, and his expression stiffened.

The Flame Hall's Distress Signal

Ran Zirou lowered her gaze, making sure Bao Yuanwu could see her jade-white neck, so delicate it seemed a hand could encircle it.

"Senior Brother Bao, I like you too, but I know I'm not worthy of you. If I became your Dao Companion, I'd only drag you down. You deserve a better girl."

Bao Yuanwu was not moved by those tender words.

He only looked at her and asked quietly, "Do you know my Eldest Senior Brother?"

Ran Zirou trembled slightly and looked up in disbelief. "Are you suspecting something between me and your Eldest Senior Brother?"

Bao Yuanwu scrambled to explain. "No, I was only asking..."

The system clicked its tongue in admiration. [She really knows how to handle men. She was the one on the back foot, being questioned, but one sentence turned everything around. See? Now your Second Senior Brother is the one explaining himself.]

Li Zi marveled. [Second Senior Brother's wrapped around her little finger. Second Senior Brother, maybe you should just cut your losses. You're no match for her.]

Bao Yuanwu took a deep breath and dropped the subject. "Forget it. I'll escort you down the mountain first."

Rankings

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Transmigration into a Book

Female Side-Character Novel

Xianxia Novel

Cannon Fodder