“Why are you so angry, Bai Xinyue?”
Bai Zihan asked innocently.
Bai Xinyue’s fists clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms.
“Angry? So what? Should I be happy?”
Bai Xinyue asked sarcastically.
“Perhaps! That’s on you. But don’t you know that one should never show their true emotions in front of an enemy? Bai Xinyue, you can’t even learn that. How do you think you’ll ever take revenge against me?”
Bai Zihan said.
It was clear from his statement that he knew he and Bai Xinyue were enemies—even though Bai Zihan might have somewhat saved her from a dangerous situation previously.
Luo Qing, stuffed between the two, didn’t know what to do.
She thought she should try to ease the tension, but it was Bai Zihan, heir of the Bai Clan, and Bai Xinyue, heir to the Immortal Emperor—there was nothing she could do.
“Hmph! I have the Immortal Emperor’s Inheritance and am in the Spirit Severing Realm. You’re an easy opponent for me!”
Bai Xinyue said.
“Do you really think so?”
Bai Zihan asked seriously.
One could tell that between the two, Bai Xinyue would absolutely demolish Bai Zihan in a direct clash.
But Bai Zihan’s feats were nothing to scoff at—stronger cultivators than Bai Xinyue had no choice but to stand still against Bai Zihan’s schemes.
“…”
Did she think she could win?
Yes!
But obviously, only if it was a fair fight.
And who in their right mind would expect a fair fight from Bai Zihan?
Moreover, in a territory where he held significant advantage, she’d be an idiot to believe she could win through brute strength alone.
“Anyways, I came here to warn you that you better stay quiet for a few days. The Bai Clan will be facing quite a storm, and I hope there’s no need to explain why.”
Bai Zihan said.
Bai Xinyue narrowed her eyes, a bit guilty because she knew that it was due to her.
“Bai Zihan, don’t think that I’ll be grateful for this. Do you remember I am the one you used to torment?”
Her voice was calm, but sharp.
“The one whose Dao Bone your mother stole for you?”
She turned to him, her gaze icy.
“I haven’t forgotten.”
“Did I ask you to?”
Bai Zihan asked, voice low.
Silence!
For a moment, only the wind spoke.
“…Why did you really bring me back?”
She finally asked.
(Was it guilt? Regret? Or fear of me?)
She didn’t think it was any of those.
Bai Zihan looked at her carefully.
“Do I need a reason?”
“Yes!”
He paused.
Then smiled again—but this time, the smirk didn’t reach his eyes.
“Well, you’re the target of everyone in the Empire. I thought you’d make good bait to lure those bastards out and take care of them.”
Bai Xinyue stared at him, searching for something behind his words.
But those words never came.
(What did I expect?)
“Hmph! Luo Qing, let’s go! I don’t want to see this bastard’s face!”
Bai Xinyue said, stomping off.
She knew that she would get nothing but lies from Bai Zihan instead of a real answer.
Luo Qing looked between Bai Xinyue and Bai Zihan and didn’t know what to do.
“Go!”
Bai Zihan said, which made it easier for Luo Qing to follow after Bai Xinyue.
Bai Zihan looked at Bai Xinyue, then away—his smirk vanishing.
***
“Can you believe that guy?”
Bai Xinyue couldn’t help but complain.
“Young Master must be very worried about you,”
Luo Qing said softly.
“Hah? Luo Qing, do you seriously think that? There’s no need to defend that guy. All he knows is how to exert his dominance and show off.”
Bai Xinyue replied.
“Young Master has always had trouble showing his real feelings. But seeing that he came to find you after his meeting with the Clan Leader… I think he came to check on you because he was worried.”
Luo Qing said with a smile.
“…”
Luo Qing’s words almost made sense—until she remembered they were talking about Bai Zihan.
In this world, perhaps only Luo Qing would believe those things about Bai Zihan.
“Hmph! He probably just came to check whether I ran away or not. Not because he cares.”
***
In Bai Xueqing’s room
Chu Ziyan had also come to the Bai Clan. Since she was Bai Xueqing’s friend—and Bai Zihan’s fiancée—the Bai Clan had no issue, even while in a high alert state.
“That was kind of scary, wasn’t it?”
Chu Ziyan said, obviously referring to the earlier situation where almost everyone was targeting the Bai Clan.
Of course, the situation had been resolved rather easily thanks to Bai Zihan.
Bai Xueqing nodded, though she seemed deep in thought.
(Just when did Bai Zihan get so strong?)
She hadn’t fought him herself, but after seeing how he completely crushed Mo Tianji—someone considered the strongest from the Demonic Sect—there was no denying it.
She didn’t think she’d lose to Mo Tianji, but Bai Zihan didn’t just beat him—he obliterated him.
“In the end, we didn’t get the Inheritance, but I did find something valuable.”
Chu Ziyan said regretfully.
“Bai Xinyue, was it? Hey, Bai Xueqing, can you tell me what happened between her and my husband?”
Chu Ziyan asked.
“It’s a clan secret.”
Bai Xueqing declined.
“Oh come on! I’m your younger brother’s soon-to-be wife. I’m not an outsider!”
Chu Ziyan continued to pester.
Eventually, Bai Xueqing gave up. Thinking about it, the truth was already halfway out.
With how much attention Bai Xinyue was drawing, people would know soon anyway.
Besides, she figured it was better for Chu Ziyan to know—and perhaps be a bit wary of Bai Zihan too.
Bai Xueqing explained what had happened, not trying to shift her mother’s blame onto Bai Zihan, but stating that since he didn’t help Bai Xinyue, the girl likely held a grudge against him—maybe even more than toward his mother, who had orchestrated the whole thing.
Chu Ziyan listened carefully and finally understood why things were so awkward between the Bai Clan and Bai Xinyue—and why she’d been exiled in the first place.
“But why would Bai Zihan bring Bai Xinyue back? Doesn’t he know she wants revenge on him?”
Chu Ziyan asked, puzzled.
“Who knows what he’s planning.”
Chu Ziyan blinked at Bai Xueqing’s cryptic tone.
“What do you mean, who knows what he’s planning? You make it sound like my future husband’s some kind of scheming villain.”
Bai Xueqing gave her a long, dry look.
“…Ziyan’er!”
“What?”
“You do know who you’re marrying, right?”
Chu Ziyan rolled her eyes.
“Yes, yes. Bai Zihan—schemer, manipulator, cold-blooded Trickster, blah blah. But he’s my cold-blooded genius now.”
Bai Xueqing chuckled at that.
“Just don’t get too comfortable.”
Chu Ziyan raised an eyebrow.
“Why?”
There was a mischievous glint in Bai Xueqing’s eyes.
“Well… let’s just say, back then, Bai Xinyue used to stick to Bai Zihan like glue. She followed him around constantly.”
Chu Ziyan blinked.
“Wait, what?”
“I’m serious. It was to the point where people started saying she might have liked him. Even after he started acting like an ass, she didn’t leave him alone.”
Chu Ziyan’s jaw dropped slightly.
“She liked him?! Even while he was treating her like crap?”
Bai Xueqing tilted her head, a teasing smirk playing at her lips.
“I mean… she wouldn’t admit it. She probably didn’t even realize it herself. But you should’ve seen her. Every time he looked even remotely hurt, she’d run over and worry like a mother hen. He’d yell at her and she’d still show up the next day to bring him soup or something.”
“…”
“She used to make lotus soup. Said it helped with injuries.”
Chu Ziyan stared at her, stunned.
“What the hell?”
When did her fiancé’s fated enemy suddenly become her rival?
Well, that was all in the past and Bai Xueqing was just teasing Chu Ziyan because usually it be her who tease her.
“I know, right?” Bai Xueqing laughed. “I used to think she was either too kind… or into pain.”
“Okay, okay—what happened then?”
“Well, everything went to hell, obviously,” Bai Xueqing shrugged. “She stopped smiling, he got crueler, and eventually, the Dao Bone thing happened.”
“But…” Chu Ziyan looked unsettled now. “Are you saying she still—?”
“I’m not saying anything,” Bai Xueqing said with a sly grin. “I’m just saying you’re Bai Zihan’s fiancée… and she’s back now… and looking very pretty, and very angry.”
“…You think she’s going to come after me?”
Bai Xueqing sipped her tea casually.
“I don’t think anything. But if I were you, I’d sleep with one eye open.”
“Oi!”
Bai Xueqing laughed, leaning back on her cushion.
Chu Ziyan crossed her arms, frowning.
“I’m gonna go stab him.”
“That’s the spirit!”
Bai Xueqing said cheerfully.
Then, more seriously, she added, “Ziyan’er, just be careful. I’m not joking when I say things between those two run… deep. I’m not saying they’re in love or anything like that—but whatever it is between them, it’s messy. And people get hurt when they get too close to something messy.”
Chu Ziyan didn’t respond right away.
She just sat there, fingers tapping lightly on her knee, her playful expression replaced by quiet thoughtfulness.
“Tch! Men.”