Early the next morning, as Ji Bozhai was just getting up, he sensed someone standing in his room.
Half-lowering his eyes with heavy morning irritation, he raised his hand—
"Today's matches still await, best conserve your energy," Zheng Tiao voluntarily revealed himself.
Ji Bozhai lowered his hand but remained displeased: "Why are you here?"
"Heard the person in your courtyard wields Essence Power," Zheng Tiao said vaguely. "I wanted to challenge her, but Buxiu stopped me, saying you forbade it. So I came to you."
This only fueled Ji Bozhai's irritation: "I had you check on her long ago, and you claimed she had no Essence Power."
"Even experts can misjudge, and she's exceptionally good at disguising it," Zheng Tiao replied sheepishly. "Let me try again—I'll uncover the truth for you."
"No need." Ji Bozhai rose to dress, languidly adding, "I've already tested her. She's afflicted by the Sky of Eternal Regret—her meridians are completely destroyed. She might handle ordinary folk, but against any moderately skilled Fighter, she wouldn't survive."
Zheng Tiao froze, his gaze momentarily lost.
Someone so formidable... just like that, ruined?
"What's with that look?" Ji Bozhai frowned, noticing his expression as he fastened his inner robe. "Feeling sorry for her?"
"Aren't you?" Zheng Tiao sighed deeply.
The future Six Cities Tournaments would never see Ming Xian again—a loss to all Fighters. He admired her greatly; even if he could never defeat her, she remained a respected rival.
A martial artist obsessed with Combat Skills saw no issue with his words and couldn't grasp why Ji Bozhai's face darkened at them.
"Are you unwell?" he asked, puzzled.
Ji Bozhai smirked. "How could I be? I must stay in good health—otherwise, I wouldn't even have the strength to brush away the spring sentiments clinging to me."
What did that mean? Zheng Tiao didn't understand. What spring sentiments?
Ji Bozhai said no more. Once dressed, he swept out the door. Zheng Tiao followed and spotted Mingyi waiting by the entrance, now clad in even more resplendent robes.
He'd never paid this girl much mind before, finding her merely lively and sweet. But knowing her identity now, seeing her in those flowing skirts left him uneasy.
How could she be a girl?
In past duels, Ming Xian had always been heroic in full battle attire—laughing boldly or brandishing her blade. Yet here stood Mingyi, holding a magpie-patterned silk fan, golden hairpins dangling pearls, lowering her head with a demure smile so radiant it outshone the peonies on her dress.
He couldn't reconcile the two images, scratching his cheek restlessly.
To Ji Bozhai, this agitation read as longing and frustration.
With a cold laugh, he gripped Mingyi's waist and hoisted her onto the beast-drawn carriage, then turned to Zheng Tiao: "You ride a horse."
Zheng Tiao: ?
Yesterday, when it was cool and overcast, he'd specifically invited him to share the carriage. Now, under scorching sunlight, he was to ride alone?
Ji Bozhai ignored him. Boarding the carriage, he ordered Buxiu: "Don't look back. Go."
"Yes."
The abrupt start nearly toppled Mingyi sideways. Steadying herself on the cushions, she asked curiously, "How did Lord Zheng offend you?"
"You seem quite concerned about him."
"Not really." She studied him. "It's just rare to see you so unsettled. I wondered why."Losing composure? Impossible. He was always calm and collected, unshaken even if Mount Tai collapsed before him. What could possibly make him lose his composure?
With a composed smile, Ji Bozhai said, "You'd do better to wonder what fate awaits you today."
Though Da Si intended to promote her, stealing the spotlight at the welcoming banquet was no easy feat. If she were challenged to a duel, her life might be at stake.
Mingyi looked puzzled. "Wouldn’t you protect me, my lord?"
"Why should I?"
"Even if you disregard the intimacy we shared, don’t you still need me to handle matters? If I die, who will do the work?" She stomped her foot.
Ji Bozhai leisurely watched the swaying carriage curtain ahead. "If you live, I’ll need you to work. If you die—well, then you die."
"..."
Even though she had long stopped expecting anything from him, hearing such callous words to her face still wiped the smile off Mingyi’s face.
She lowered her gaze, quietly studying the patterns on her round fan.
Silence filled the carriage.
Ji Bozhai tapped the tip of his shoe and said nonchalantly, "After all, if you can’t even survive a banquet, how can you possibly handle my affairs?"
Mingyi nodded to show she understood, then turned away to rest against the carriage wall.
"...If the situation becomes truly dire, I won’t just stand by and watch," he muttered vaguely.
There was no reaction from the person beside him, as if she had already fallen asleep.
Ji Bozhai grew irritated. "Rest assured, even if I could watch you die, Zheng Tiao would step in to save you."
The beast-drawn carriage passed through a bustling morning market, and the cries of vendors on both sides flooded the interior.
"Winter melons and eggplants—"
"All kinds of goods from the six cities, care to take a look, sir?"
"Candied haws—"
Mingyi suddenly opened her eyes.
She lifted the curtain and leaned out, reaching a hand toward the candied haw stand, but the carriage had already left it far behind.
Disappointed, she withdrew her hand and sat back in sullen silence.
"Stop the carriage," Ji Bozhai called.
"My lord?"
"We left in a hurry without breakfast." He stepped out and headed toward a nearby wonton stall. "Let’s eat a bowl before we go."
Mingyi’s eyes lit up, and she immediately followed. "I’ll look around over there."
Buxiu raised a hand to stop her, but Ji Bozhai called out, "Keep an eye on the pot for me. Make sure the wontons don’t fall apart."
"Yes." As Buxiu walked away, he glanced back and saw Ming Guniang, adorned with jingling jewelry, darting like the wind toward the candied haw vendor. She bought the largest, reddest skewer and happily ran back with it.
Jingle—
The ornaments on her chimed cheerfully.
Ji Bozhai, facing away from her, allowed the corners of his lips to lift briefly before schooling his expression. He picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of wonton, remarking blandly, "Not bad."
The wonton stall, struggling with poor business, was on the verge of closing. But with this one remark from Ji Bozhai, the owner was overjoyed. After they left, he immediately commissioned a signboard: "Wontons praised by Ji Bozhai."
This move miraculously revived his business—though that was all in the future.
When the two returned to the carriage, the atmosphere had improved considerably.
Mingyi crunched on her candied haw, her eyes brimming with delight. It wasn’t that the treat was particularly delicious, but she had finally bought one herself, crossing another regret off her list.In a good mood, even the person across from her seemed more pleasant. She smiled and asked him, "Would you like to try one, my lord?"
Ji Bozhai wouldn't normally care for such things. She asked merely out of courtesy and upbringing.
Yet, to her surprise, he actually nodded and said, "Very well, I'll give it a try."
OpenNovel