Ji Tongzhou responded indifferently yet politely, "Senior Sister Su flatters me. It was merely a fortunate coincidence."
Su Wan studied him thoughtfully. A fortunate coincidence? If one could obtain the Profound Splendor Fire through mere coincidence, countless fire-attributed Spirit Root cultivators in the world would be laughing in their dreams. People's personalities differ, which also determines the nature of their Spirit Roots. For instance, water-attributed Spirit Root users tend to be meticulous, while wood-attributed ones are often lively and outgoing. Yet personalities vary endlessly—even among those with the same Spirit Root attribute, there are countless differences.
Fire-attributed Spirit Root users are typically as intense as flames, and the Profound Splendor Fire is the ultimate manifestation of such temperament. This is precisely why it is both praised and criticized. This prince was definitely not as indifferent as he appeared on the surface—which made him all the more dangerous.
If she wasn't mistaken, the way he looked at Li Fei was fundamentally different from how he regarded others. Moreover, despite the fact that they were clearly longtime friends, the atmosphere between them was unusually tense. Su Wan glanced back at Lei Xiuyuan. Though Junior Brother Lei was usually quiet, today he seemed particularly different.
Wanting to help Li Fei out of this awkward silence and also eager to witness the legendary Profound Splendor Fire, she smiled and said, "Though I may be your senior in rank, my cultivation is far inferior to yours, Junior Brother Ji. If you don't mind, would you be willing to spar and offer me some guidance?"
Her words were exceedingly polite—asking for guidance while framing it as a friendly exchange. Ji Tongzhou couldn't refuse and stepped forward with a cupped-hand salute. "You honor me too much. Then I shall be presumptuous. Senior Sister Su, please enlighten me."
He walked out of the pavilion and stood silently in the center of the courtyard. Raising a hand, a layer of Floating Fire enveloped his body. Though everyone recognized this basic Immortal Technique, the flames surrounding him were pitch-black, an unsettling sight. After refining her Mystical Treasure, Li Fei's sensitivity to spiritual energy had sharpened considerably. There was something deeply ominous, almost frenzied, about that Black Fire, stirring a faint dread in her heart.
Su Wan praised, "Impressive!"
She had yet to break through her third Bottleneck and could only attack with fire lotuses and fire dragons. Her once bright and fierce flames now seemed pale and feeble before the silent Black Fire. Undaunted, she condensed a fire lotus in her palm and flicked it lightly toward Ji Tongzhou.
Ji Tongzhou didn't evade. Instead, he reached out and caught it effortlessly. The crimson, blood-like lotus spun in his palm, revolving over a dozen times before suddenly turning black. Su Wan's expression shifted. When he flicked the blackened lotus back at her, she didn't dare touch it and hastily dodged. The lotus flew toward the ancestral hall—if it struck, the entire building would likely be destroyed in an instant!
In the next moment, a wall of dark flames abruptly rose before the hall. The lotus collided with the wall and merged into it without even a single tongue of fire escaping. Su Wan immediately realized the vast gap between them—this wasn't a match she could contend in. She wisely conceded, clasping her hands with a smile. "Junior Brother Ji's skill is extraordinary. I admit defeat."
Just as Ji Tongzhou was about to speak, a soft, amused voice rang out from atop the ancestral hall's wall: "Why stop? I was just getting into it!"Everyone was startled. With their current cultivation levels, they were highly sensitive to spiritual energy fluctuations, yet none had noticed the girl who suddenly appeared on the wall. Li Fei looked up and saw a woman enveloped in green mist sitting atop the ancestral hall's wall. The mist swirled like a living thing, sometimes thick, sometimes thin. Even at this close distance, Li Fei couldn't sense the slightest trace of spiritual energy from her.
"Ge Lin!" Li Fei exclaimed in delighted surprise. She had really come! But what was with that green mist?
As the swirling mist thinned, it revealed a charming, delicate face—it was indeed Baili Gelin. Her eyes crinkled with laughter as she chattered excitedly, "You recognized me right away! I was trying to give you all a scare! Li Fei! Lei Xiuyuan! Ji Tongzhou! Huh? And this is... the Junzhu? Who's this...?"
Still talking, she nimbly leaped down from the wall and darted over to the group. Up close, it became clear that the green substance around her wasn't mist at all, but a swarm of extremely tiny monstrous creatures. Lan Ya Junzhu immediately paled and took two quick steps back. Ji Tongzhou steadied her. "Don't be afraid. It's just the Ocean Sect's Demon Manipulation technique."
Baili Gelin's arrival instantly shattered the tense atmosphere, replacing it with boisterous noise. She talked, laughed, and gestured animatedly: "These little monsters are my pets. They can block spiritual energy—perfect for hiding! Isn't it fun? Ji Tongzhou, why did you bring the Junzhu? Wait—don't tell me you and the Junzhu are like Li Fei and Lei Xiuyuan, cultivation partners now? Oh, and who's this girl?"
Ji Tongzhou frowned. "What exactly are you asking? Speak one sentence at a time!"
Baili Gelin glared at him. "So fierce! Fine, I'll ask first—why did you bring the Junzhu?" She then flashed Lan Ya Junzhu a smile as a greeting.
Lan Ya turned her head away in displeasure. How dare this woman address His Highness with such disrespect!
Ji Tongzhou sounded impatient. "Is there a problem with that? More importantly, where have you been this past year without a single word?"
Ignoring his question completely, Baili Gelin turned as Li Fei spoke up. "Ge Lin, why did you disappear for a whole year? Do you know how worried Chang Yue has been? If you hadn't shown up today, we were planning to go search for you in the Eastern Sea."
Baili Gelin grinned. "Ah, that's a long story. I'll explain later. Why are you all here first? I thought my sister and Ye Ye would be the earliest! How unusual. Oh, and your sudden letter saying you and Lei Xiuyuan became cultivation partners gave me such a shock! Hey, Lei Xiuyuan over there! What kind of dumb luck did you stumble into? Also, who is that girl? Introduce her already!"
Ji Tongzhou, overwhelmed by her chatter, flicked his sleeve and walked straight into the pavilion. Su Wan nearly burst out laughing—she had finally met the legendary flamboyant female disciple of the Ocean Sect! Baili Gelin's personality was exactly to her taste, just as she had imagined!
Su Wan immediately launched into animated conversation with Baili Gelin. The combined noise of their voices became too much even for Li Fei, who couldn't get a word in edgewise despite having many questions for her friend.
Noticing that Lei Xiuyuan had snatched one of her tiny monsters and was examining it with amusement, Baili Gelin hurriedly warned, "Don't kill it! You're gripping it too hard! I worked hard to raise these!"As she spoke, she quickly withdrew her spell. The little monsters instantly turned into a piece of talisman paper, which she tucked into her sleeve. Lei Xiuyuan glanced at her, his gaze lingering for a moment on the newly appeared chain around her neck—a Nine-Headed Bird pendant, its design ancient and mysterious, starkly different from her usual style.
Baili Gelin subtly tucked the pendant into her collar and looked up at the sky. Dusk was approaching. She stretched lazily and declared loudly, "I'm exhausted from rushing here all the way. Let’s find an inn to rest! Looks like Sis and Ye Ye are definitely going to be late this time. They’ll have to treat us to dinner later."
It was rare for them to be late. Back at the academy, no matter what the six of them did together, Ye Ye and Baili Changyue were always the first to arrive.
Without Ye Ye around to mediate and keep Baili Gelin in check, her nonstop chattering with Su Wan along the way nearly drove everyone mad. Finally arriving at the only inn in town, she quieted down for a moment, gazing up at the long red lanterns hanging from the eaves. She chuckled softly, "Seven years... We stayed here right after passing the Second Selection back then."
Ji Tongzhou went ahead to book a room and headed upstairs. The noise had given him a headache, and he needed some peace...
Noticing that Lan Ya hadn’t gone with him, Baili Gelin whispered, "They’re not cultivation partners? Then why did he bring the princess along? She sticks out like a sore thumb."
No one answered her question. Sensing the odd tension among the group, Baili Gelin thought for a moment and quickly changed the subject. "Well, tonight I’ll share a room with Sister Su. Li Fei, since you and Lei Xiuyuan are already cultivation partners, you two can take a room together!"
Seeing her drag Su Wan away, Li Fei hurriedly stopped her. "Wait, I have something to tell you."
Baili Gelin had no intention of staying. She had already pulled Su Wan into the guest room and shut the door behind them. Her cheerful voice drifted from inside, "I’m more interested in Sister Su today! Li Fei, you can chat with your dear Xiu Yuan!"
She was utterly slippery. Frowning, Li Fei stood there for a long moment before finally entering her own room.
Ji Tongzhou had just let down the bed curtains and was about to change and rest when there came a soft knock at his door. He paused before slowly opening it. A delicate, elegant fragrance wafted in with the breeze. Princess Lan Ya stood before him in full formal attire, clearly dressed with care—her bangs were pulled back, revealing her fair, smooth forehead. The sight suddenly made his heart skip a beat.
He was reminded of Jiang Li Fei in the illusion.
"Your Highness," she said softly, doing her best to conceal her shyness as she curtsied gracefully. "Might Lan Ya have the honor of sharing tea and admiring the moon with you?"
Ji Tongzhou’s gaze darkened as he stared at her in silence. Unable to bear his ambiguous expression, Lan Ya lowered her head, her neck flushing red.
"Your Highness?" she pressed quietly when he still didn’t respond.
Ji Tongzhou suddenly let out a long sigh. Leaning against the doorframe, he reached out and flicked the hair ornament dangling at her forehead, sending the pearl trembling.
"...Don’t wear your hair like this next time," he said coolly.
Lan Ya was stunned. What did he mean? Was there something wrong with her appearance? This was the proper courtly style of Yue Kingdom!Ji Tongzhou didn't look at her. His gaze was fixed on some unknown point in the distance, and his voice sounded distant as well: "What you want, I can't give you now. But if it's just pleasure you seek, then come in."
Lan Ya's face instantly turned deathly pale. She had never suffered such humiliation before, and even if the one delivering this humiliation was the esteemed Prince Ying, she couldn't bear it. Trembling, she said, "Your Highness, Lan Ya is no lowly woman. I only seek sincerity in return for sincerity. If you have no such intentions, so be it, but why must you humiliate me?"
Ji Tongzhou replied indifferently, "My apologies. So in the future, don't say such sweet words anymore. I don't care to hear them."
Sweet words? What did he mean? Lan Ya was momentarily stunned. She had said countless sweet words to him—how could she possibly recall them all in this moment? Since childhood, she had grown accustomed to speaking all manner of compliant and pleasing words to him, never once defying him. But what did he truly want? Why had he never genuinely smiled at her? She had no idea what this prince truly desired in his heart.
"Have you ever seen the look in a woman's eyes when she truly loves someone?" Ji Tongzhou lifted her chin and stared down at her.
He had seen that look before—the kind that could steal one's soul, the kind of breathtaking, all-consuming focus that poured forth one's entire being. He had glimpsed that gaze in his dreams, only to wake and see the same person directing that same gaze at someone else.
Once you've seen it, you understand. This is what true love looks like—this kind of devotion.
"Go now."
Ji Tongzhou gently pushed her away and closed the door.
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