Hu Xiaotian had actually heard her footsteps long before, but in front of Hong Beimo, he remained calm and composed. A powerful opponent could force you to grow stronger in every respect, including your mental fortitude.
In the past, Hu Xiaotian had experienced the inscrutability of someone who concealed everything, like a divine dragon whose head appeared while its tail remained unseen. Today, Hong Beimo had taught him that frankness could be another realm of inscrutability altogether. Perhaps Hong Beimo truly had never regarded him as an opponent before, believing that killing him would be as easy as drowning an ant. What had happened at Heavenly Dragon Temple must have made him reassess Hu Xiaotian's strength. The next time he tried to deal with him, he would certainly not underestimate him so badly. At that thought, Hu Xiaotian's mood grew heavy.
He slowly turned around and saw Baobao, dressed in black warrior's clothing, walking up the steps. When she encountered Hong Beimo, she bowed respectfully to him.
Hu Xiaotian's gaze never left Baobao. After some time apart, the girl had become even more beautiful. In particular, her figure in those warrior's clothes, with its enticing curves, was utterly captivating. Remembering how they had met and come to know each other in the Imperial Palace, he could not help smiling knowingly.
Only after passing Hong Beimo did Baobao raise her clear, beautiful eyes toward the top of the steps. Her gaze met Hu Xiaotian's ardent eyes and clung to them across the distance, as though two invisible threads bound them tightly together.
Under Hu Xiaotian's scorching gaze, Baobao's pretty face flushed involuntarily, and her steps grew hesitant and slow.
Hu Xiaotian smiled. "Tired? Shall I come down and carry you up?"
Baobao shook her head, then quickly picked up her pace