Mingyi had seen the way Xiuyun looked at Zheng Tiao—her eyes sparkling with admiration and warmth, completely different from how Ji Bozhai looked at her.
She didn’t know how many ways there were to gaze at someone you loved, but the way this man looked at her felt off. He was too calm. Though his eyes were pleasant and his gaze gentle, there was something missing.
“How could you think that?” Hearing her words, he lowered his eyes, his expression aggrieved. “After all this time, you still don’t understand what kind of person I am?”
It was precisely because she had some understanding that she dared not trust him lightly.
Mingyi forced a smile and turned back to sorting her clothes. “This isn’t exactly a place of absolute peace, my lord. You should focus on more pressing matters. These trivial things aren’t worth dwelling on.”
Wanting to reconcile with her—how had that become a trivial matter?
Ji Bozhai exhaled deeply, casually straightening the pile of bedsheets and quilts beside her before stepping out of the room.
Mingyi didn’t look up, methodically smoothing out the mountain of clothes before her.
Then she sat down, staring blankly out the window.
If he wanted only her… How could he possibly want only her? Setting aside all the temptations of the world, just his boundless energy alone was more than she could handle.
Yet, in the days that followed, Ji Bozhai truly seemed like a changed man. In Azure Snow City, many sought to curry favor with him, including several beauties that even Mingyi found striking—but he didn’t spare them a second glance. He left early for training, and on his way back to the courtyard in the evenings, he would drag her out to eat street-side wontons.
They couldn’t manage all the children they had taken in, but Ji Bozhai didn’t hire young maids—only elderly women in their fifties and sixties. And he didn’t keep the older children around to serve him, instead assigning them all to Mingyi.
As Luo Jiaoyang put it, “Why is all the chicken soup we’ve been eating lately made with roosters?”
Mingyi watched coldly, thinking he might just be putting on an act for now. But before she knew it, it was already October, and Ji Bozhai remained wholly devoted to his training, untouched by any distractions.
This had its benefits—their team’s coordination improved rapidly. If their ragtag group had been at fifty percent strength before, Mingyi now felt they were at ninety. At the very least, defeating Sunspire City’s team wouldn’t be difficult.
As the year-end Six Cities Tournament approached, every city grew tense. Da Si of Muxing City urgently summoned them back.
The day before their return, Ji Bozhai made a point of waking Mingyi up early.
Shivering from the cold, she let him wrap her in a thick tiger-fur cloak and carry her up to the rooftop.
The roof was high, and from this vantage point, everything—houses, flowers, trees—was blanketed in white. The early-rising traders of Azure Snow City lit torches at their doorsteps, and one by one, red flames flickered to life across the landscape, casting a striking contrast against the pristine snow.
Mingyi jolted awake and couldn’t help but gasp in awe.
Ji Bozhai chuckled. “Back in Star Yearn City, you won’t see scenery like this. Since you always wake up late, you should take a look before we leave.”
How unexpectedly considerate.
Sniffling and pulling the cloak tighter, Mingyi glanced down at the courtyard. The six children they had taken in were already up, busily sweeping away the snow."There will be places for them on the Flying Beast Cart." Ji Bozhai glanced at her. "I know what you're thinking. Once we return to Star Yearn City, I'll leave their arrangements to you."
Her eyes brightened slightly as Mingyi modestly lowered her gaze. "In that case, I thank you, my lord."
"Have you ever thought about saving more people?" he suddenly asked.
Mingyi smiled bitterly. "What difference would it make? The customs of the Azure Cloud Realm have been entrenched for over a century. How could a mere woman like me hope to change them?"
"If you wish it, you can." He brushed snow from his shoulder, then lifted her as they descended from the rooftop. His dark eyes gazed ahead. "Anything you desire, I will bring to you."
Mingyi stared blankly at his profile.
Who could remain unmoved by someone so strikingly handsome, wealthy, generous, and seemingly willing to grant her every wish? It was truly difficult—after all, the heart is made of flesh.
Yet the moment her heart skipped a beat, she forcibly suppressed it.
When superior fighters spar, victory often depends on who moves first—the one who acts reveals weaknesses that can be exploited. Matters of the heart were likely no different from combat skills; whoever gave their all first would be at the other's mercy.
Both she and Ji Bozhai understood this principle, which was why she didn't believe he truly cared for her as much as he appeared to.
And yet... he seemed genuinely concerned about her.
As they prepared to return to Star Yearn City, while others loaded the carriages, he stood conversing with Qin Shangwu. Without turning his head, still engaged in discussion with his mentor, he instinctively raised a hand to shield the doorframe when he noticed her stepping onto the carriage stool—preventing her from bumping her head.
When her forehead met his palm, Mingyi clearly heard the uncontrollable pounding in her chest.
Thump-thump, thump-thump—
Taking a deep breath, she settled into the carriage and fanned herself.
After securing the children, Luo Jiaoyang turned and noticed her state. "We haven't even left Azure Snow territory yet. Why are you so flushed?"
"It's nothing," Mingyi evaded. "Just excited about returning."
"That's true. It's been nearly half a year since we left Star Yearn City." Luo Jiaoyang sighed, then smiled. "But going back is good. I'll follow your and Bo Zhai's example—carrying all my gold on me from now on!"
Mingyi chuckled, then turned to see Ji Bozhai entering the carriage, his dark eyes meeting hers directly.
Feigning composure, she averted her gaze, sipping tea as she watched the swirling clouds outside the window recede.
"The Azure Snow's Da Si was straightforward—he didn't make Bo Zhai sign any contracts." Qin Shangwu sighed in relief as he sat down. "Our Minister Superior is inherently suspicious. If he found out, there'd be trouble."
"Don't worry, Master. We're all comrades here—no one would betray him," Chu He said cheerfully. "This journey has brought us closer to Bo Zhai. From now on, we rise and fall together."
"If that's your attitude, then this trip wasn't in vain." Qin Shangwu nodded, then turned to Mingyi. After a thoughtful pause, he said, "I don't know when your identity might reach Star Yearn, but for now, it remains unknown there. I hope you'll participate in the Six Cities Tournament alongside Bo Zhai."
He gritted his teeth before adding, "Upon success, I can petition Da Si for a reward of one thousand taels of gold."Mingyi had been lounging lazily to the side, but upon hearing the amount, he immediately straightened up, his eyes wide open. "The Six Cities Tournament is a serious matter, how can we use money... How much did you say?"
"One thousand taels. Gold." Qin Shangwu held up a single finger.
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