Chapter 5

The tips of their swords pointed at each other, the air thick with the smell of gunpowder.

[Fight! Hurry up and fight!]

Ye Zhenzhen watched from the sidelines, eager for the spectacle to grow. Her little fists waved nonstop; she wished the story's original male lead and second male lead would start fighting at once. She even took care to keep the volume of this thought low. As long as she spoke quietly in her head, no one would hear it.

But a boy barely into his teens stood no chance against a young man who was already grown. Besides, Shen Xingyan was at the Golden Core Late Stage and about to break through to Nascent Soul, while Ye Qingchuan had only just reached Foundation Establishment. Their cultivation levels were worlds apart.

Sensing that things were going badly, Ye Qingyao hurried between them to make peace. "Please, stop! This is all a misunderstanding. I'm Ye Qingyao of the Cloudsky Sect, and this is my junior disciple-brother, Ye Qingchuan. May I ask who you are?"

"Shen Xingyan of the Kongtong School." Shen Xingyan cupped his hands in greeting, sword in hand.

"So you're Immortal Venerable Shen's son. A misunderstanding—this was all a misunderstanding." Ye Qingyao had naturally heard of Shen Xingyan. She signaled for Ye Qingchuan to put away his sword, then loosened the Beast-Binding Rope herself and freed the Xingxing.

The Xingxing finally woke. It opened its eyes blearily and scratched its head like a fool. "Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?" The creature had no idea that people had just been pointing at its head, which had nearly parted ways with its body.

"Wretched beast, look at the trouble you've caused! What are you standing there for? Go fetch her shoe."

Shen Xingyan ordered the Xingxing to retrieve the baby shoe from the treetop. He even humbled himself enough to slip Ye Zhenzhen's rabbit shoe onto her foot personally, explaining as he did, "I was careless just now and let this wretched beast get away with its prank. It nearly hurt you. I'll be sure to discipline it strictly from now on."

Just like that, he brushed off a scheme as a mere prank.

Ye Zhenzhen didn't want to listen to him, much less have him so close. His nostrils filled her entire field of vision, and her little legs kicked in disgust.

[You stinking scumbag, stop pointing your nostrils at me! They're too big, too deep, and too scary!]

[Why are you touching my shoe? My foot's dirty now QAQ]

"Pfft." Ye Qingchuan was still a child, after all. He looked at Shen Xingyan's nostrils too, then lost his composure and laughed, two adorable dimples appearing on his cheeks.

Shen Xingyan covered his nose, wearing an expression that seemed to say, What is wrong with you Cloudsky Sect people? Why do you all love staring at other people's noses?

Until now, he had always thought his midface was full and his nose bridge tall and straight—a majestic "king among noses." He had never imagined it would one day become a child's laughingstock.

There had to be something wrong with the child's eyes or his taste.

Still, a scumbag was a scumbag. Shen Xingyan had nearly been exposed, yet he hadn't forgotten his main objective. He nodded to Ye Qingyao. "Junior Sister Ye, your understanding and sense of justice are truly admirable. If I may be so bold, you're as elegant and beautiful as your name, flawless as white jade."

He delivered that corny flirtation without a flicker of embarrassment. His skin was thicker than a city wall.

"You flatter me, Senior Brother Shen." Ye Qingyao smiled politely. "As they say, a fight can be the start of a friendship. I'm glad we cleared up the misunderstanding, and I should thank you for stepping in to help us."

Beside her, Ye Qingchuan shot Shen Xingyan a sidelong glance, his whole demeanor gloomy.

Shen Xingyan paid no mind to the boy's palpable hostility. From his glittering Heaven-and-Earth Ring, he took out a jade tablet set in gold, bright enough to blind someone, and respectfully offered it to Ye Qingyao. "Junior Sister Ye, this is a Communication Jade Tablet I had specially made. If you ever need me—or you're bored and want someone to chat with to pass the time—I'd be delighted to keep you company."

"Senior Sister, don't accept anything from him." Ye Qingchuan rushed forward and gripped Ye Qingyao's wrist tightly, urging her not to take the tablet.

In

the cultivation

world, Communication Jade Tablets were customarily exchanged between friends and family, or among fellow disciples. Giving one to someone of the opposite sex whom you had only met once carried implications that set the imagination running.

Ye Qingyao pulled her wrist free, a little annoyed. She had meant to decline anyway. But before she could say a word, Shen Xingyan pressed the tablet into her hand. "It's only a jade tablet. There's no need to stand on ceremony, Junior Sister Ye. The Kongtong School and Cloudsky Sect have always been branches of the same tree. We ought to stay in closer touch."

[Heavens! That scumbag's tricks run deep, and his skin is thicker than a city wall.]

[Who wants to stay in closer touch with you? So you can make her your Furnace? Torment her body and soul? Wipe out her entire sect?]

Ye Zhenzhen railed on inside her head. If she were Senior Sister, she would smash the tablet into his face and shout, "Take your lousy trinket and get lost!"

"Thank you for your kind gesture, Senior Brother Shen. I'll accept it for now." Ye Qingyao held the Communication Jade Tablet he had forced into her hand, looking helpless. Ye Qingchuan was so angry his face turned green.

"Don't call me Senior Brother Shen. That sounds so distant. You can call me Senior Brother Xingyan."

"Senior Brother Xingyan?"

"Junior Sister Qingyao." Shen Xingyan gazed at her with his big, lovestruck puppy eyes, his voice faintly suggestive.

Ye Qingyao lowered her head, her cheeks flushing red.

Ye Qingchuan: ...

Ye Zhenzhen: ...

Ye Zhenzhen: [That scumbag's tricks run deep. I'm going back to the countryside.]

Chapter 5

As Ye Qingchuan watched Shen Xingyan leave, the gloom on his face suddenly cleared, as though he had changed faces in an instant.

"Senior Sister, that scare must have worn you out. Let me hold Junior Sister for a while." He eagerly held out both hands. His eyes shone with an innocent little boy's smile, and two dimples appeared at the corners of his mouth.

The little devil changed faces so quickly it made one's hair stand on end.

Ye Zhenzhen felt an inexplicable flutter of panic. She wanted to say [No!], but the look he gave her seemed to carry a threat and a warning. She didn't even dare think recklessly.

After what had just happened, the delicate Ye Qingyao really was feeling weak, so she handed Ye Zhenzhen over to him. "Junior Brother, the weather's nice today. You can take Junior Sister out to get some sun. She's still so little, so hold her carefully. Don't let her bump into anything."