She might have been foolish before, but she wasn't about to make the same mistake again.
Expressionless, Mingyi sat back down and curled her lips: "Lord Ji is the best person I've ever met."
It was perfunctory, insincere, even bordering on sarcasm.
Ji Bozhai raised an eyebrow but pressed on: "Better than Situ Ling?"
Mingyi wrinkled her face: "How old are you, and how old is he? Why do you keep competing with a child?"
"You only see him as a child?"
"What else should I see him as? A father?"
"...Don't be so sharp-tongued." He flicked her forehead lightly and clicked his tongue. "Women are most charming when gentle and graceful. Look at you now—covered in thorns, when before you were so inviting."
"Before wasn't 'inviting'—it was being weak and easy to bully, letting anyone toy with me." Mingyi lowered her gaze to meet his. "If I stayed like that, I'd only hold your interest for a year or two. After that, you'd have plenty of beauties to turn to, and who knows where I'd end up rotting away."
"But now, I have money, I have my own footing—I can have any man I want. Just speaking plainly to you makes you think I'm thorny. Truth is, you're uncomfortable because I'm not so easy to control or manipulate anymore."
His heart sank. Ji Bozhai straightened up: "What did you say?"
She arched an eyebrow: "I said I'm not so easy to control now—"
"The line before that."
"Just speaking plainly to you."
"Before that." Ji Bozhai narrowed his eyes, a faint anger simmering in his gaze. "Dared to say it but not to repeat it?"
Mingyi paused, momentarily confused, then—realizing what had angered him—suddenly flashed him a wicked smile. Meeting his eyes, she enunciated each word: "I said that now, I have money, I have my own footing—I can have any man I want."
"You!" His jaw tightened. "Women in the Azure Cloud Realm cannot remarry."
"Oh." Mingyi nodded. "But you and I never completed the wedding rites. How would that count as remarrying?"
"...Your household registration in Star Yearn City lists you as my concubine."
"Even simpler—just move to another city." She spread her hands. "Facing Sun men are strong and mighty, Flying Blossom men are romantic and passionate, Chasing Moon men are considerate and attentive, Azure Snow men are handsome and refined—what kind couldn't I choose?"
Her eyes brightened as she continued: "Oh right, Flying Blossom City even has an Official House—the only one in all Six Cities. Since I'm here, I might as well pay a visit."
An uncomfortable emotion swelled in his chest. Ji Bozhai had never felt like this before—so furious he actually laughed. "You'd degrade yourself just to spite me? You really can't let go, can you?"
"Misunderstanding, my lord." She pursed her lips. "**By nature's way, as long as it's voluntary, I've never believed women are the ones at a disadvantage, much less call it 'degrading.' Other women might find it shameful, but to me, it's no different from eating or sleeping."
"Besides, if I seek out another man, it's not to spite you. You and I are no longer connected. Put another way—even if I don't seek anyone else, it's not for your sake. It'd just mean I haven't met someone I like enough to bother."
Mingyi looked at him earnestly: "We're all human. If my Essence Power can match—even surpass—most men's, why shouldn't I live the rest of my life as freely as they do?"No matter who heard her words, they would find them absurd, but Ji Bozhai actually listened—and even thought she made a fair point.
If he could be promiscuous, then naturally, so could she. In terms of looks, figure, or strength, she was no less than him.
He opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words. It was like holding a handful of sand—whether he clenched his fist or loosened his grip, the sand slipped through his fingers, utterly beyond his control.
Mingyi keenly caught the flicker of panic in his eyes.
She suddenly smiled, leaning closer to him. "My lord, do you like me?"
Ji Bozhai snapped back to his senses, glaring coldly at her. "Who would like someone as reckless and lawless as you?"
"Then why are you so angry?" Her smile deepened.
Flustered, he pushed her away, gritting his teeth. "It's you who likes me. I would never—"
"Ah!" Mingyi let herself fall backward with his motion.
His heart lurched, and his hand shot out to catch her by the waist, pulling her back.
Their eyes met, Mingyi's brimming with mischief.
Ji Bozhai quickly released her, turning his head away with a cold snort. "You were the one who deliberately approached me and went out of your way to please me."
"And now that I’ve stopped, why is my lord so worked up?"
"I’m not worked up."
"Oh, really?" Mingyi nodded and stood up. "Then my lord mustn’t dwell on today’s matter and refuse to go to Sunspire City out of spite."
"I’ll go as soon as my injuries heal. Who would stoop to quarreling with you?"
Satisfied, Mingyi turned and left.
They were two people least suited for romance, because neither liked to admit defeat. Love was like handing over half your life at the outset—no wise fighter would do such a thing.
Still, Mingyi smirked.
She found Ji Bozhai’s reaction just now utterly amusing, as if he truly cared for her. What even invoking the Meng Family couldn’t achieve had been settled with just a few teasing words.
Before setting off, she left the deeds to her properties in Flying Blossom City with Xiuyun. "I’ll be back soon. Just wait for me here."
Xiuyun was reluctant. "How long will you be gone?"
Mingyi thought for a moment. "If all goes well, I’ll return in a month."
If not, she might never come back.
Empress Si Hou’s move was meant to eliminate all future threats. Mingyi had no idea what she was walking into.
Once her wounds had scabbed over, Mingyi boarded the Flying Beast Cart with Qin Shangwu.
"I’ve never been to Sunspire City before," Luo Jiaoyang said excitedly. "Is it much bigger than our Star Yearn City? Are the streets filled with superior fighters?"
Mingyi considered the question seriously. "It is quite large, but Sunspire City is built on treacherous terrain, with the main city perched on a cliff. The land isn’t suitable for farming, and the people live in hardship."
The others were surprised. Fan Yao asked, "Then how do the commoners survive?"
"Trade," Mingyi replied. "They collect heavy tributes from the lower cities every year, and most of it flows into the markets for commerce."
In other words, any city could fall from the Upper Three Cities—except Sunspire. If they lost their status, their people would suffer. That was why, even at the cost of their dignity, they had to ally with Moonchase City to maintain their position.
And the rising Star Yearn City had become a threat to their standing, one they were eager to eliminate. So before they departed, She Tianlin specially gave Mingyi a set of protective armor."You are the sun that will never set," Old She said, looking at her with hopeful eyes. "Welcome back to Sunspire City."
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