The wind turned gentle, and the night rain also became shy.
He turned around and looked at Zanxing in front of him, his gaze filled with disbelief: “What did you say?”
Zanxing sighed: “My little Martial Uncle, how are you so easily fooled? Not to mention any doubts you might have about my character, you even have a huge misunderstanding of my taste. Look around this hall, then look at their attire. Do you really think I would like that?”
Seemingly shaken by Zanxing’s use of “my”, Gu Baiying’s face turned slightly red, and he whispered, “Don’t call me that.”
Zanxing: “….”
He furrowed his attractive brows in confusion: “But they said…”
“Of course, they were lying to you.” Zanxing said without thinking: “Otherwise, think about it. Have they ever told you how to serve me? Have they practiced dual cultivation with me? They definitely wouldn’t dare to make up such things.”
Gu Baiying cleared his throat: “What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Isn’t this an explanation for you?” Zanxing said: “I remember that the sect of the Gufeng Mountain does not allow dual cultivation, and even in Heishi City, they dare not break the rules. If my reputation is suddenly tarnished like this, I naturally need to explain.”
Gu Baiying relaxed slightly, but his tone remained displeased. He asked, “Then why did they lie to me?”
“I don’t know, maybe they just wanted to vent their anger.”
“Vent their anger?”
“Now everyone in Heishi City knows about the unclear relationship between you and that Pu Tao fairy from the Xiang Ling Sect. During the Yue Mountain expedition, the Demon Extermination Army used this matter to humiliate me, saying I’m like a toad lusting after swan meat. I’m going to be the next ruler of Heishi City, so how can I be subject to such blatant humiliation? They naturally took their anger out on you.”
Gu Baiying stared at her as if he had seen a ghost.
“I haven’t!” He emphasized again, “I have nothing to do with her. I’ve hardly even seen her in person!”
“You see, now you know what it feels like to be slandered.” Zanxing shrugged, “I have nothing to do with them either, they just help me decorate this hall from time to time.”
Gu Baiying gave her a glance. “But the man with the rope said you usually play games with him using ropes.” His expression showed some displeasure, and his gaze was quite accusing.
“Oh brother, it’s just a skipping rope!” Zanxing cried out. “The General’s rope can be big or small. It was the first time I saw such a big skipping rope, so I just tried it out. It turns out that has caused a scandal. But…” She looked at Gu Baiying suspiciously. “What did you think we were playing?”
Gu Baiying’s face turned a bit red, and he avoided her gaze. “Nothing!”
“I didn’t expect you to be like this, Gu Baiying!” She shouted loudly, seemingly eager to stir up trouble.
Gu Baiying, unable to tolerate it any longer, turned around to cover Zanxing’s mouth. “Stop talking!”
Zanxing didn’t expect him to turn suddenly. She stumbled backward and nearly fell. Gu Baiying’s gaze sharpened, and he instinctively pulled her back. His back hit the pillar behind him, and he couldn’t help but let out a muffled groan.
The wind lifted his hairband and rustled the girl’s skirt. Zanxing looked up and saw the smooth chin of the young man.
The crisp sound of a bell mixed with the heartbeat, vibrant and full of life. Outside, the night rain made the candlelight hazy and enchanting.
He slightly lowered his head and spoke in a hushed voice, “…Yang Zanxing.”
“Shh—”
He immediately fell silent, only watching the person who had crashed into his embrace.
On a moonless, starless night, the cold wind lifted the gauze curtains of the great hall. Amid the misty haze, Zanxing spoke, “Gu Baiying, did you hear any sounds?”
The pattering rain shattered the sweet dreams. The young man’s clear, beautiful eyes focused on her. “What?”
“My bell also rang.”
He was taken aback.
The woman extended a finger and pointed at her chest.
“It’s here.”
*
The rain finally stopped by morning.
The residual rainwater rolled off the branches, splashing into the puddles on the ground and sprinkling droplets onto the glowing bones beside the cave, like the crystal tears of the dead.
Men Dong sat at the entrance of the cave, watching ants move around the doorway.
Meng Ying was drinking tea at the table. Seeing this, she looked into the distance where the sky had lightened, and dawn had broken. Heishi City, washed clean by the rain, appeared pristine and desolate in the daylight.
“Has Martial Uncle not returned yet?” Mu Cengxiao asked.
Men Dong shook his head, nearly straining his eyes, and said, “He was away all night.” He sighed with a worried expression, “It seems he’s decided to become the eighth concubine of the Chaos Hall.”
“Why do you say that?” Mu Cengxiao asked in confusion.
“He hasn’t come back all night, and with a lone man and woman together, what good could come of it? It’s pitiful that our young Martial Uncle has fallen to the point of competing with the monsters and demons of Heishi City for affection. It would be better if he were with that Pu Tao from the Xiang Ling Sect,” Men Dong said, pounding his chest and stamping his feet in frustration.
Tian Fangfang, who had been stretching, became displeased upon hearing this. “Junior Brother, you’re mistaken. How can that female disciple from the Xiang Ling Sect be better than our Martial Sister?”
“She might have many shortcomings, but at least she doesn’t have seven concubines,” Men Dong said. “In Yang Zanxing’s palace, there are quite a few people, and you’ve seen them—each with their own distinct appearance, and they’re all so enthusiastic. You know our Martial Uncle’s temperament. He doesn’t know how to please others. He doesn’t understand how to make a girl happy or speak sweet words. Now, relying only on his looks and body to win Zanxing’s favor, how long before she gets tired and bored? Won’t he end up being neglected and mistreated daily?”
Zanxing and Gu Baiying had just arrived and overheard this. Gu Baiying’s face was expressionless as he kicked Men Dong. “I’m impressed you’ve thought so far ahead for me.”
“Martial Uncle?” Men Dong scrambled up from the ground, “You’re back?”
Zanxing looked at the people in the cave, puzzled. “Senior Sister, you’re up so early?”
“Not just early,” Men Dong murmured. “We waited for you until midnight last night. Who knew you’d only come back this morning?” His scrutinizing gaze swept over Zanxing and Gu Baiying, and finally, he rubbed his chin. “Did you two practice dual cultivation last night?”
Zanxing: “…”
Gu Baiying angrily said: “Shut up!”
Tian Fangfang walked over, pulling Zanxing inside while saying, “Junior Sister, don’t listen to Men Dong’s nonsense. Children speak without restraint. We actually planned to wait for you at the Chaos Hall, but the rain was too heavy. Xiao Shuang said you might be back too late, so we went back first, leaving Martial Uncle alone in the hall.” He turned his back to the others and whispered to Zanxing, “So, Junior Sister, did anything happen last night?”
Zanxing, feeling helpless, turned and sat down at the table, explaining seriously, “Nothing happened last night. I talked with Gu Baiying for half the night. It was too late, so I let him rest in my hall. He slept in the outer hall, and I slept in the inner hall. Nothing—nothing happened.”