Yan Xiao felt that Ji Bozhai was acting very strange.
He seemed like a completely different person, treating Mingyi with unparalleled kindness. Apart from training, his entire day revolved around Mingyi. He didn’t even glance at the Flower Full Tower, let alone the Dancing Girls who actively approached him.
But Yan Xiao had seen this act before. Last year, when Ji Bozhai had his sights set on a noblewoman, he had behaved the same way—suddenly appearing reformed, wholeheartedly brewing tea and discussing paintings with her. Back then, he had fooled everyone, even Yan Xiao had thought he might finally settle down.
However, when that noblewoman’s family arranged a marriage for her with someone else, she tearfully ran to Ji Bozhai, begging him to take her away. Yet Ji Bozhai merely sat on the Flower Full Tower’s balcony, swirling his wine cup with a smile as he asked, “Leave? And go where? You’re about to celebrate a joyous occasion, miss. Shouldn’t you return home and embroider your wedding gown?”
The noblewoman froze, trembling as she asked, “How can you bear to see me marry someone else?”
Ji Bozhai flicked open his fan and laughed. “Miss, our connection was merely a fleeting meeting of souls, a shared appreciation for art. Did you think there was anything more?”
Yan Xiao remembered that noblewoman because she had been different from the others. While most women flocked to Ji Bozhai at first sight, she had initially dismissed him, considering him lowborn and uncultured.
At the time, she had publicly rejected a toast from Ji Bozhai, and from then on, he had fixated on her. Countless gifts, invitations to banquets, occasional thoughtful gestures—then, in a grand public display, he treated her with special attention. Slowly, her resolve softened, and she began to look forward to their meetings.
At their closest, they rode together in carriages, indifferent to onlookers, chasing the stars under the envious and jealous gazes of Star Yearn City’s other young ladies. Back then, Yan Xiao had thought that if this noblewoman were to marry someone else, Ji Bozhai might resort to some underhanded tactics to win her back.
But no. When news of her engagement reached him, Ji Bozhai didn’t even bat an eyelash.
When Yan Xiao questioned him about it, he simply said, “I’m not ready to settle down yet. How could I bear to hold her back?”
What a hypocrite. When he was toying with her emotions and giving her hope, he hadn’t worried about holding her back, had he?
From then on, Yan Xiao understood that Ji Bozhai treated emotions as playthings. He would never settle down for anyone.
Yet Yan Xiao never imagined that one day, these same tactics would be used on Mingyi.
For some reason, Yan Xiao felt Mingyi was different from other women. If Ji Bozhai played these games with her, he might not come out unscathed. But Yan Xiao had no intention of warning him. He wanted to see if this untouchable playboy, who had never known defeat in matters of the heart, might one day find himself heartbroken and desolate.
He was rather looking forward to it.
Packing up his medicine chest, Yan Xiao said to Mingyi, “His injuries aren’t too severe—just some superficial wounds. There’s no need to worry too much, miss.”
Ji Bozhai shot him a cold glare, clearly displeased, but then turned and rested his head on Mingyi’s lap, putting on a brave face. “Yes, it’s nothing serious. Don’t worry.”
Yan Xiao had no idea where he’d learned such an affected act. He wanted to call him out, but Ming Guniang seemed to fall for it completely, her delicate brows furrowing as she said, “Superficial wounds still hurt. You can’t just ignore them.”
With that, she stood. “Rest well. I’ll go check on something and come back later to take you home.”
“Alright.” Ji Bozhai clutched his injured side, forcing a weak smile.
Mingyi left the room with a cold expression.
“What is she going to check on?” Yan Xiao wondered aloud.Bai Ying, standing at the door, said softly, "The young lady just went to take a look at Tan Zhongyue's Divine Tool, and suddenly it stopped working. Now that she's finished examining your injuries, she might be heading over to see Tan Zhongyue himself."
Yan Xiao: "..."
Bai Ying wasn't wrong. The moment Mingyi stepped outside, she strode straight toward Tan Zhongyue in the training grounds.
Without his Divine Tool, Tan Zhongyue was no match for Luo Jiaoyang. However, Luo Jiaoyang held back out of respect for Gong Wang behind him, never striking too hard. After a long fight, Tan Zhongyue was still standing, though clutching his chest and grimacing in pain.
Luo Jiaoyang raised his hand heavily, and Fan Yao shouted from the side, "Jiaoyang, calm down!"
Reluctantly, the strike landed lightly.
Mingyi watched from the sidelines for a while before smiling and saying, "How much longer is this going to take? Shall I take over?"
Luo Jiaoyang gave her a surprised look but withdrew his hand. However, the scoundrel opposite him had no sense of honor and took advantage of his retreat to land a blow.
"Pfft—" Luo Jiaoyang spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered back two steps.
"Hahaha!" Tan Zhongyue opposite him laughed triumphantly. "So much for being so formidable. I suppose Lord Ji should replace me in the team now, shouldn't he?"
Mingyi steadied Luo Jiaoyang and helped him sit down nearby before smiling. "I'm actually the weakest in our team. If you can defeat me, you're naturally welcome to join."
Tan Zhongyue bristled at the sight of her. "What exactly did you do to my Divine Tool earlier? It's completely useless now!"
"Win against me, and I'll fix it for you," Mingyi said gracefully, raising her hand and writing out a Challenge Certificate word by word.
Tan Zhongyue stiffened. Training bouts in the arena usually didn't involve Challenge Certificates—what was she planning?
But then he reconsidered. She was just a decorative woman. Even with a Challenge Certificate, could she possibly kill him?
She could.
Mingyi raised her hand and summoned the Nether Domain. For the first ten moves, she dodged his attacks, appearing utterly fragile. Tan Zhongyue let his guard down, thinking she was nothing special.
Then, after the tenth move, white Essence Power began to seep from Mingyi's fingertips.
Before Luo Jiaoyang and the others could even register her technique, Tan Zhongyue was suddenly struck with devastating force. His entire Shield shattered like glass, and he was sent flying into the Nether Domain Wall before crashing heavily to the ground, face buried in the sand, motionless.
The other Tan family members who had come to watch stood frozen in shock. It took them a moment to react before they rushed forward, shouting as they tried to help him up.
Mingyi withdrew her Essence Power and sighed softly. "As a mere woman, how could I possibly know how to control my strength? If anyone blames me for this momentary lapse, there's nothing I can do about it."
Luo Jiaoyang burst into laughter, slapping the wooden weapon rack beside him. "That was satisfying!"
That bastard had taken advantage of his restraint earlier, targeting low blows. He'd wanted to beat him down like that too, but he couldn't—it would implicate his father back in the village.
Mingyi was different. With Muxing present, none of them could lay a finger on her father.
"That last move was incredible," Chu He said, following her eagerly. "How did you unleash so much power without damaging your Meridians? Every time I burst with Essence Power, my Meridians ache terribly."
"Just coat your Meridians with a layer of Essence Power first," Mingyi replied frankly. "But it takes time. If I hadn't dodged his attacks during those first ten moves, I'd be the one lying on the ground now."Chu He frowned, thinking this method was too tricky. Who could possibly fill their Meridians with Essence Power? It consumed too much and wasted time. If they encountered someone stronger, wouldn't they be doomed?
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