Zhong Baiye Actually Lost

The little girl spoke to them in a panic.

"Please, come save Ying'er! Those bad guys are back!"

Zhong Baiye and the others had yet to figure out what was happening, but as soon as they heard she needed help, they agreed without hesitation.

Lumine immediately picked the little girl up, and everyone hurried toward the Spring Fragrance Kiln.

Before long, they arrived at the entrance to the Spring Fragrance Kiln.

As soon as they reached the doorway, they heard a commotion inside.

"Who were those people who came earlier? What did they want with you?"

"Didn't I already tell you? They were customers. Besides, this is my business, not yours."

"Impossible. My boys have been keeping watch for me. How could any customers have gotten in..."

As Zhong Baiye and the others entered, they saw a burly man arguing with Ying'er.

Several companions dressed in black stood beside him.

One of them seemed to recognize Zhong Baiye and the others and immediately spoke to the burly man.

"Boss, those are the people our boys saw coming to see Miss Ying'er today."

At that, the burly man looked Zhong Baiye and his companions over.

A pretty boy, a foreigner, a rustic old man (Zhongli), and a... a pet.

The burly man seemed to have reached a conclusion and turned angrily to Ying'er.

"I knew it. How could these weirdos possibly be customers here to buy things? Stop lying to me, Ying'er. Tell me, does that pretty boy have designs on you? I'll protect you."

Ying'er sighed and explained helplessly, "They really are my customers."

The burly man refused to listen to Ying'er's explanation. He had already made up his mind.

One of the men in black beside him made a throat-slitting gesture and asked him a question.

"Boss, should we?"

The burly man smacked him on the head.

"We're respectable people. We live under the rule of law now. Why are you still trying to solve things the old way?"

Respectable people? The burly man was all muscle and wore a black cloak. No matter how Zhong Baiye and the others looked at them, they hardly seemed respectable.

After scolding his underling, the burly man suppressed his anger and addressed Zhong Baiye and the others.

"My name is Zhang Yi, and I'm a man of some standing in Liyue Harbor. You, pretty boy."

Pretty boy? Zhong Baiye and the others had no idea whom Zhang Yi meant.

Paimon stepped forward, thinking he was calling her.

Zhang Yi frowned when he saw Paimon step forward and pointed directly at Zhong Baiye.

"Not you. What are you stepping forward for, you pet? I mean that white-haired pretty boy."

Hearing them actually dare to call her a pet, Paimon immediately wanted to charge over and fight them. But one look at Zhang Yi's bulging muscles sent her slinking back.

Zhong Baiye was rather confused, but to help Ying'er... for the sake of the remaining preparations for the Rite of Parting, he stepped forward without hesitation.

And so Zhong Baiye and the burly Zhang Yi stared intently into each other's eyes for several minutes.

It was as though they were engaged in an invisible contest, neither daring to blink.

Zhong Baiye's eyes were bloodshot as he spoke to Zhang Yi in a trembling voice.

"That's enough, isn't it? Shouldn't... we get to the point? You look... like you can't... hold out much longer either."

By then, Zhang Yi's eyes were even more bloodshot than Zhong Baiye's. More importantly, his eyelids were already trembling.

But after turning to glance at Ying'er, Zhang Yi seemed to find renewed strength and spoke firmly to Zhong Baiye.

"Let's see what you're made of, pretty boy. How dare you challenge me?"

Despite his words, everyone could see that Zhang Yi's eyes were growing bloodshot. He clearly could not hold out much longer.

His underlings noticed as well and watched him with worried expressions.

Zhong Baiye had a half-adeptus physique, so even if his eyes became bloodshot, they could recover quickly.

But Zhang Yi was an ordinary man. If something went wrong with his eyes, he could easily go blind.

Besides, Ying'er was also signaling with her eyes for them to stop.

Although Zhong Baiye wanted to help Ying'er, Zhang Yi still seemed like a man who followed certain rules, and he did not want to hurt him.

So the next moment, Zhong Baiye conceded of his own accord and shut his eyes tight.

Seeing this, Zhang Yi burst out laughing, then immediately covered his own eyes with his hands.

His underlings quickly helped him find somewhere to sit and rest.

Ying'er breathed a sigh of relief at the sight. She glanced at Zhong Baiye and his companions, wanting to go over and explain what was happening.

But after looking at Zhang Yi beside her, she abandoned the idea. Going over to explain now would only anger him.

After taking a little time to recover, Zhang Yi was no longer angry. Instead, he looked at Zhong Baiye with admiration.

"Brother, you're impressive. It's been a long time since anyone could go toe-to-toe with me."

Zhang Yi glanced at Ying'er beside him, and his tone grew sharp again.

"I admire you, but Ying'er is mine. If you want to compete with me for her, you'll have to get past me first."

Ying'er hardly agreed with Zhang Yi's claim, but he had only just calmed down, and there was no need to anger him again. All she could do was shake her head helplessly at Zhong Baiye and the others.

Only then did Zhong Baiye and his companions understand what was going on.

It turned out that Zhang Yi was not some villain who had come to cause trouble. He was the influential man pursuing Ying'er whom they had heard about.

Still, calling them bad guys was not exactly wrong. After all, they were the ones who had driven away all of Ying'er's customers.

Zhong Baiye felt rather helpless now. He had just competed with Zhang Yi without knowing why, and his eyes still ached a little.

He had never expected the reason behind it all to be that Zhang Yi considered him a rival for Ying'er's affections.

"Zhang Yi, as far as Miss Ying'er is concerned, I..."

Zhong Baiye tried to explain that he was not a romantic rival, but Zhang Yi immediately cut him off angrily.

"I know. Your feelings for Miss Ying'er are just as sincere as mine, but there's no need for us to say that in front of her. If you're a real man, compete with me fair and square to win Ying'er's heart."

Whenever Zhong Baiye tried to explain, Zhang Yi immediately silenced him with a fierce glare.

It seemed Zhang Yi truly regarded him as a romantic rival and would not give him a chance to explain.

Left with no other choice, Zhong Baiye pointed at Lumine beside him.

"This is the person I like. I really don't have any feelings for Miss Ying'er."

Although Ying'er knew Zhong Baiye was trying to help her, his answer still left her feeling disappointed. It saddened her that her charms held no appeal for him.

When Lumine heard Zhong Baiye's explanation, she knew he was using her as an excuse, but she was still delighted and kept playing with her hair.