Jade Voice Broadcast

Bai Heng sat up abruptly, his gaze hesitantly rereading the message Wuxia Feiguang had sent.

After confirming that he had not been seeing things or misread it, he draped on an outer robe and inspected himself in the mirror in the inner room.

The young man in the mirror was tall and slender. His ink-black hair was tied into a neat high ponytail with a dark teal ribbon, while his black-and-gold eyes and spirited features carried an easygoing air.

Bai Heng planted his hands on his hips, gave his reflection a satisfied look, and left the room.

Pushing open the door, he crossed the courtyard and entered the firelit kitchen of the estate. After tying on an apron, he skillfully stir-fried three small dishes, plated them, and packed them into a food box.

He then returned to the courtyard, found the osmanthus tree, dug into the soil, and retrieved the clear wine Master Jingliu had hidden there.

With everything prepared, Bai Heng carried the wine in one hand and the food box in the other. Finding a suitable spot, he leaped onto the roof in a single bound.

But the moment he steadied himself atop the tiles, a chill ran through his limbs and his feet went weak.

Looking at the beauty perched alone on the eaves with her sword, cold and pure as the moon, Bai Heng mourned his luck—bad enough to make even a Mara-Struck weep—as he prepared to make a quick escape.

Yet just as he turned around, that cold, ethereal voice sounded beside his ear.

"Come back."

Although it felt as if his heart had been wrapped in icy marrow, Bai Heng turned around with perfect composure, a natural smile on his face without a single apparent flaw.

"Master Jingliu, the moon is beautiful tonight. Are you admiring it too? In that case, I won't disturb you."

With that, he tensed his legs, ready to jump off the eaves.

"What is that jar of wine about?" Jingliu crossed her slender legs and parted her lips.

"Ahahaha, what wine?" Even at death's door, Bai Heng still wanted to struggle.

"I watched you dig it out of the courtyard with my own eyes."

The instant those words fell, Bai Heng executed a flawless flash-slide-kneel combo.

"Master Jingliu, I was wrong. The year-end holidays are coming up, and the Alchemy Commission isn't on duty these next few days. Could we fight another day?"

"Yes."

"Hm?" Bai Heng looked up, not expecting Master Jingliu to be so agreeable today.

"But before that, I need you to explain why you were carrying a food box onto the roof in the middle of the night. Were you waiting for your lover?" Jingliu's gaze fell on Bai Heng, and there was a faint teasing note in her voice.

"Uh..." Bai Heng paused before deciding to tell the truth. "I did arrange to meet someone here, but we are merely close friends who share our hearts with each other, not what you think, Master Jingliu."

"Oh? Then I was the one disturbing you?" Jingliu said with feigned indifference.

"It's no matter, Master Jingliu. She and I can meet another day. The night has grown late, so you should rest early. I'll be going now."

Bai Heng was dead set on making a run for it. This time, he truly was ready to leave.

But then Jingliu took out a piece of jade and lightly rubbed it with her slender fingers.

The next instant, a voice Bai Heng knew all too well rang in his ears.

Master Jingliu is so adorable. I really want to bury my face in her long hair and take in her scent deeply.

After the jade finished playing the recording, Jingliu's expression remained unchanged, though her tone rose slightly.

"I found it amusing at the time, so I saved it with a recording jade."

It was like an arrow of light from The Hunt blasting into the star sea, like thunder crashing with the weight of ten thousand tons.

Bai Heng felt as though thousands upon thousands of Shi Rou Behemoths were rampaging through his heart.

He turned around blankly, suddenly feeling that the wind on the roof was far too loud tonight.

"Master Jingliu, ahahaha, so you know Wuxia Feiguang... ahahaha..." Bai Heng's voice began to tremble as he offered himself meaningless reassurance.

Ignoring his pale and feeble struggle, Jingliu rose to her feet. Her fair hands rested against the Zhilí Sword at her waist, and her long hair, somewhere between pale blue and ash white, stirred without wind. Frosty mist churned around that peerless figure.

Wearing cloud-patterned boots, she stepped lightly forward. The Zhilí Sword, its blade gleaming with a blood-red light, reflected her otherworldly face.

"Didn't you say we weren't fighting today?" Bai Heng asked, cold sweat beading on his brow.

"I did. But unfortunately, your master is an arrogant and obstinate person who knows neither courtesy nor reason." Jingliu tilted her head, her lovely face white as snow.

Jing Yuan, who had been sleeping soundly, was abruptly jolted awake by the tremendous commotion from the roof.

He immediately took the formation blade Sparkle Dream Body from the wall and rushed out the door.

But when he clearly saw the flashing blades and swords of the two people fighting wildly atop the roof, he let out a breath of relief.

Jing Yuan had long grown accustomed to those two fighting at the drop of a hat.

Forget the rooftop—even if they ended up fighting on the bed one day, he would not find it strange.

"Forget it, forget it. The weather is dry. Better go back inside and sleep."

After several exchanges, you realized that you and Master Jingliu were now evenly matched, perhaps with her holding a slight edge. After about the time it took to burn one incense stick, Jingliu sheathed her sword and glanced at the clear wine and food box that had been deliberately avoided during the fight.

Perhaps she was in a good mood tonight, or perhaps your progress had left her somewhat dazed. She merely said flatly, "We'll leave it at that tonight."

You understood what she meant and smoothly picked up the jar of clear wine with a smile. "Master Jingliu, with moonlight like this, would you share a drink with me?"

When she did not move, you decided to be bold for once. Stepping forward, you took her hand directly. "Please keep me company, Master Jingliu. All right?"

She gave you a cold look, but did not resist, allowing you to lead her to sit down. You opened the wine jar one-handed and took out wine cups and the still-warm dishes from the food box. At first, you still found it difficult to accept that the online friend you had known for seven years was actually Master Jingliu. The thought that you had been thirsting after Master Jingliu for seven whole years made you feel unbearably embarrassed. But on second thought, wasn't this a double dose of happiness?

That night, you spoke with Master Jingliu about many things, including all the embarrassing incidents and misunderstandings from the past years, and you questioned her over her claim that she was "very ugly." Jingliu's only response was to turn her head away coldly.

Throughout it all, you held Master Jingliu's hand. She seemed to tacitly permit it and did not pull away even when it was inconvenient. Her hand was cold, yet despite being a sword wielder, it did not bear a trace of calluses. Held lightly, it was exceptionally smooth and delicate. This made you want to play with it, but just as you were about to push your luck, Master Jingliu lifted her cloud-patterned boot and kicked you off the roof.