I found Lao Qin’s self-recommendation quite interesting, so I reserved two hours of his time with three spirit stones.

But when I was about to leave, Lao Qin told me: “You’re leaving? The time has already started counting. You’d better hurry back.”

“You’re timing this?”

“We provide paid services. Once you’ve paid, the service naturally begins.”

“Then refund me first, and I’ll pay again when I come back.”

“Our special services are non-refundable.”

I pointed at Lao Qin. “You’re a scammer, aren’t you?”

Lao Qin waved his folding fan, covering half his face, with only his fox-like, charming eyes smiling at me: “Clearly priced, no cheating young or old.”

Damn it…

I left Cuihu Terrace cursing under my breath, but still didn’t forget to instruct Lao Qin to prepare four stunning fox women for me.

I thought that, hopefully, they could enchant Xie Xuanqing at first sight. If they couldn’t, then they could bring Xie Xuanqing to see my “debaucherous” appearance…

After all, I was still a leader of the Defense Army. I still wanted to maintain my dignity. Unless necessary, I shouldn’t use my trump card.

After arranging these matters, I finally arrived at the cave in Snow Bamboo Forest.

Before entering, I replayed Xie Zhuo’s irritating face in my mind a hundred times. Only when I was sure I felt extremely annoyed by this face did I step into the cave.

Even during the daytime, the cave was somewhat dark, with an indelible dampness. Strange sounds faintly emanated from within the cave—”creak, creak”—making one’s ears slightly uncomfortable.

“Xie Xuanqing?” I called his name, finally walking to his front.

In the dim light and shadow, Xie Xuanqing sat against the stone wall. In his arms was a nearly completed snow bamboo flute. He was still drilling holes in it…

I had completely forgotten about this… How was he still…

“Jiu Xia, wait a moment. It will be done soon.”

Looking at his serious expression, my heart was about to soften, but another part of me called rationality harshly gripped my heartstrings.

No! Stay firm! You don’t want to soften!

Money has been spent! Time is ticking! Take him there quickly!

I pursed my lips, snatched the snow bamboo flute from his hands, and placed it on the ground beside him. Amid Xie Xuanqing’s slightly startled expression, I grabbed his hand and pulled him up.

“Can’t wait anymore. I’m taking you to play something fun!”

Without giving him a chance to speak, I dragged him out of the dark cave.

Xie Xuanqing didn’t resist and was dazedly pulled by me to the East Market.

However, upon reaching the crowded East Market, Xie Xuanqing’s demeanor changed. He no longer allowed me to pull him around aimlessly, but stood beside me, following step by step, his expression guarded and cold, constantly scrutinizing the immortals and demons brushing past us.

This state of his…

Suddenly, he seemed a bit like Xie Zhuo.

I was puzzled, but pressed for time, I didn’t ask him much. I directly brought him to the corridor bridge in front of Cuihu Terrace’s main entrance.

On the corridor bridge, fox demons were already lounging here and there, both male and female. Each fox demon was half-dressed, with exposed shoulders. Their loosely tied hair made even the broad daylight seem somewhat enchanting and ambiguous.

Xie Xuanqing and I stood before the corridor bridge. I glanced at Xie Xuanqing’s face.

His expression was as dark as his name, completely black.

I didn’t explain and stepped forward. Xie Xuanqing finally held me back, his fingers gripping my wrist. I could feel the painful pressure.

“What are you doing here?”

The three words “taking you to play” were on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed them back. I guarantee, if I dared say these words now, my seven spirit stones would go down the drain! No question about it.

I thought quickly: “I’m here on business.”

Xie Xuanqing frowned and turned to look at me.

I made up a story on the spot: “Aren’t I part of Kunlun’s Defense Army? We routinely come here for inspections. Today I’m here incognito, pretending to have fun, infiltrating to see if any messed-up immortals or demons are conducting any messed-up business inside.”

Xie Xuanqing didn’t even blink: “You can see from outside.” He said coldly, “They do.”

At this moment, that Xie Zhuo-like quality emerged from him again.

I cleared my throat and continued to fabricate: “Of course, there are messed-up businesses. Kunlun theoretically permits fox demons to conduct this business, but today I’m mainly here to see if they’re harboring any evil spirits or demons.”

I didn’t want to give him more time to think, so I pulled his hand in the opposite direction and dragged him inside. “Let’s go, let’s go. Come with me and take a look.”

Xie Xuanqing frowned, with a cold face, as I dragged him onto the corridor bridge.

Perhaps his aura was too intimidating, because those fox demons chatting on the bridge, upon seeing him and me approaching, involuntarily pulled their clothes tighter and assumed somewhat proper postures.

Until Lao Qin came out to greet us, a thousand-year-old fox, not at all intimidated by Xie Xuanqing’s cold face.

He smiled and approached us: “You’re here?”

Lao Qin held a folding fan, gently waving it, blowing his loose hair strands, making his face appear even more enchanting. “Jiu Xia, is this your distinguished guest?”

I turned to look at Xie Xuanqing. Compared to Lao Qin’s spring breeze-like demeanor, he was like Kunlun’s towering snow mountain—his face so deep and cold it made it hard to breathe.

I was determined to ignore it.

“Yes,” I nodded. “Let’s go inside.”

Lao Qin smiled and led the way in front, with Xie Xuanqing and me following behind.

I didn’t dare touch Xie Xuanqing now, afraid he would be cold to the touch…

Fortunately, Xie Xuanqing didn’t turn to leave. He followed silently behind me. At the corner, I could still see him gazing into the distance, not knowing what he was guarding against… just like Xie Zhuo often did…

Lao Qin led us into a room. When he slid open the wooden door, honestly, I was stunned.

Four stunning fox women were already waiting beautifully in the room. Beauty alone might not be enough to dazzle, but beauty with distinct characteristics was truly amazing!

As we entered, they all approached with warm smiles. One round-faced fox woman was particularly adorable, with chubby cheeks that made one want to pinch them. Seeing me look at her, she smiled sweetly and came to my side: “Immortal Master, don’t just stand there. Please sit down.”

The fragrance on her was like fruit, sweet and fragrant. Her soft hand gently held my wrist, her hair brushing against the back of my hand…

Ah… like a cloud…

“Sisters have prepared immortal fruit jade drinks for you. Would you like to try?” She offered me a pink jade drink.

Ah, spending money is so joyful!

I happily accepted it and was about to drink when a hand from the side blocked my mouth.

I turned to look. Xie Xuanqing, with a cold face, took the cup from in front of me. He didn’t drink it either, just placed it on the table with a “thud.”

The delicate atmosphere in the room was instantly broken by his cold, hard sound.

He glanced at me, the emotions in his expression indescribably strange… slightly displeased, somewhat frustrated, and inexplicably a bit aggrieved.

I didn’t understand why he felt wronged. I had only held hands with the fox woman a bit…

When Xie Xuanqing looked at the fox women, his emotions disappeared. He sat down in a broad, dignified posture and said: “All sit properly…”

The four adorable, soft, and beautiful fox women looked at each other, then sat down with all their charm and grace.

There was no pleasant atmosphere in the room at all. Just like when we led soldiers for inspections, one and all pursed their lips, wide-eyed, helpless, and pitiful.

Xie Xuanqing glanced at them again, emphasizing: “Sit properly…”

The fox women were startled. Some tucked in their raised legs, some pulled down their skirts, and some adjusted their collars. Like students in a master’s school, they all sat up straight.

I thought about my four spirit stones and couldn’t bear to watch anymore.

I leaned close to Xie Xuanqing’s ear: “This doesn’t seem right, does it?”

Xie Xuanqing turned to look at me, his expression even more complex than before. After struggling for a while, he managed to say: “This is not a good place.”

“I know.” My mind was racing. “Help me with something. See if these fox women have any evil energy on them. I heard they’re the four most beautiful fox women here, so maybe they’re in disguise. Help me take a good look.”

Hearing this, Xie Xuanqing’s gaze indeed returned to the fox women.

The fox woman looked at me, then at Xie Xuanqing, and finally turned to Lao Qin as if seeking help.

Lao Qin smiled without changing expression: “The Immortal Master is just joking with you. Don’t be afraid.”

After reassuring them, Lao Qin looked at me, “Jiu Xia, come with me to the third floor.”

I agreed and was about to make up some excuse to leave Xie Xuanqing when I felt my wrist tighten. Xie Xuanqing pulled me to sit beside him without explanation: “She’s not going anywhere.”

This forceful style momentarily made me think Xie Xuanqing had instantly transformed into Xie Zhuo from five hundred years later.

Seeing this, Lao Qin also raised his eyebrows slightly. He smiled and looked at Xie Xuanqing for a while: “Oh dear, what should we do? The banquet upstairs has already been prepared for Jiu Xia.”

Xie Xuanqing frowned, his gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping toward Lao Qin.

Lao Qin remained composed.

I quickly reassured Xie Xuanqing: “Undercover, secret investigation! Official business, official business!”

I brushed his hand away, gripped his wrist, placed his hand on the table, and put a cup in his hand.

I patted Lao Qin, urging him to leave quickly, then turned back to explain to Xie Xuanqing: “I’ll be back soon. Help me with this first, and then we’ll leave immediately.” I gestured toward the four coquettish fox women.

But Xie Xuanqing just gripped the cup tightly, his gaze fixed on me until I slid the wooden door closed and left with Lao Qin.

At the moment we closed the door, both the fox women and Xie Xuanqing in the room were as silent as death.

I rubbed my temples as I went upstairs with Lao Qin, thinking those four spirit stones might have been wasted. What kind of demon was this Xie Xuanqing?

His heart was like cold iron!

Beside me, Lao Qin covered his lips with his fan, softly laughing at me: “Jiu Xia, do you want to drive him away?”

“What else?”

“Then why are you coaxing him?”

“When did I coax him?”

“Aren’t you coaxing him to come here, then coaxing him not to be angry? Now you’ve left with me, yet you’re still apprehensive as if you’ve done something wrong.” Lao Qin laughed at me. “If you ask me, rather than calling this a plot to drive someone away, it’s more like a plot to test his true feelings.”

I was stunned, stopped climbing the stairs, and looked at Lao Qin.

Lao Qin’s fox-like eyes were seductive and alluring, yet as clear and transparent as if seeing through all human emotions in the world.

“You still like him, don’t you?”

I kept my mouth shut, not speaking.

Of course, I liked him. Whether back then or now, I liked Xie Xuanqing tremendously. Otherwise, why would I have married him?

“I must drive him away.”

Lao Qin laughed at me: “If it were me, once I’m determined to drive someone away, I wouldn’t waste so many words.”

Lao Qin came closer to me, suddenly grabbing my wrist. At that moment, I was stunned. He raised my hand and pressed it against the wall behind me. In the confusion, my thumb vaguely touched my ear. He didn’t give me any time to react before his lips approached my ear, softly saying:

“I only need to let people see this scene, and it’s done.”

The fox’s seductive language blew warm air on my ear, immediately making my face flush red. Before I could react, Lao Qin suddenly released me. He stepped aside, avoiding a killing move that struck the stairs.

Demonic energy transformed into a sharp blade, crashed loudly onto the stairs, carving a deep pit.

I stared blankly at Lao Qin in front of me, while Lao Qin turned to look at Xie Xuanqing at the bottom of the stairs.

Xie Xuanqing’s gaze was gloomy, and he said nothing.

He was like a wolf provoked to anger, eyes fixed intently on his prey, just waiting for the next moment to strike and take a life.

I stood stiffly against the stairs, still not fully recovered from these successive shocks.

I looked at Xie Xuanqing, and the first thought that flashed through my mind was that he was angry. I had finally achieved what I wanted to do after returning five hundred years ago.

Then I rolled my eyes to look at the deep pit in front of me and thought, oh no, his anger seems greater than I imagined. I might not have been afraid before, but can I not be afraid now? He’s a man who can split space and time—could he not split me and Lao Qin?

Finally, I looked at Lao Qin. Thankfully, he was a thousand-year-old fox—how could he still smile at this moment!?

He not only smiled, but took my hand, stepped over the pit in the stairs, stood behind me, and whispered in my ear:

“If you want him to leave, you can say it now.”

He spoke against my ear, but his voice wasn’t small. As long as Xie Xuanqing wasn’t deaf, he could hear it.

So my gaze circled around and finally returned to Xie Xuanqing’s face.

This time, Xie Xuanqing also looked at me.

On the broken stairs, our eyes met. His gaze changed from cold anger to understanding, lingering on hurt feelings for a moment. Soon, all emotions were extinguished in him.

He looked at me calmly.

“If you wanted me to leave, you could have said so yesterday.”

He thought that after learning about his identity yesterday, I deliberately set up this scenario today to force him to leave…

I opened my mouth, unable to explain myself.

I had been trying to drive him away, but I hadn’t expected to achieve my goal at this most inopportune moment.

But… it made sense. The goal Xie Zhuo and I had was meant to be achieved at the moment when it hurt the most.

This timing was the best.

After being hurt like this by me, Xie Xuanqing would leave without looking back, right? From now on, Xiaxia and Xie Xuanqing would have no more stories together.

So I suppressed all the emotions in my heart, closed my eyes, and replayed the scene of Xie Zhuo arguing with me last night ten thousand times. Finally, I opened my eyes, stared at Xie Xuanqing, and spoke:

“Just go. I’m afraid of you.”

He seemed pierced by a sharp blade.

He looked at me on the stairs. Though he hadn’t taken a step back, I felt the consciousness in his eyes had become somewhat distant.

He lowered his eyes, only finally saying one sentence: “You don’t need to disrespect yourself like this.”

He turned and left.

I stared at where he had left for a long time without regaining my senses.

Until Lao Qin, behind me, released me. He smiled: “See, I didn’t let your spirit stones go to waste, did I?”

I looked at Lao Qin, not knowing whether to praise or scold him…

After a long while, I finally said: “Can I still enjoy the service of those fox women?”

Lao Qin still smiled: “The time isn’t up yet, Immortal Master can certainly do as she pleases. But my children sell their arts, not their bodies.”

He walked down the stairs, turned around, and raised his hand to support me. With my soul in disarray, I didn’t think much and directly placed my hand on his palm.

Lao Qin squeezed gently: “One thing I didn’t expect this time was that General Jiu Xia’s body is so soft to hold…”

“You…”

Just as I began to speak, a gust of wind suddenly swept past in front of me. Lao Qin, like a residual shadow, directly swept past my eyes, then “boom” crashed into the wall.

His impact against the wall made the broken wood on the stairs fly up.

Black-clothed Xie Zhuo held his neck, pinning him against the wall.

Lao Qin’s stunning face turned blue from the choking.

I gasped, finally reacting. I took a few steps down the stairs to grab Xie Zhuo’s hand: “What are you doing?” I scolded him.

His eyes carried killing intent, glaring at me just as fiercely: “What are YOU doing?”

Lao Qin’s face had turned purple from suffocation, but in his agony, he still managed to say: “What… is… happening…”

He probably never imagined that the person who had just left dejectedly would return in different clothes and suddenly pin him against the wall…

I had no time to deal with Lao Qin, only desperately pulling at Xie Zhuo’s hand: “Let him go first!”

Xie Zhuo didn’t speak anymore. He stared at me with gloomy eyes, as if wanting to pin me against the wall as well.

But he said he wouldn’t hit me, and indeed, he wasn’t hitting me now.

Seeing Lao Qin’s face almost choked to death, I felt angry. After all, he was helping me—even if one disposes of the donkey after using the mill, that’s not how to do it! I grew angry, gathered strength in my palm, and used my cultivation technique to pull Xie Zhuo’s hand.

“I said, let go!” I shouted in anger, using all my strength to pull his hand.

My cultivation technique was no match for Xie Zhuo’s. If at this moment he wanted to stubbornly oppose me, I would be done for, possibly even suffering internal injuries.

Fortunately, he didn’t.

He let go…

I pulled his hand, panting.

Lao Qin slid down the wall to sit on the ground. He covered his throat, almost too weak even to cough.

From the surrounding rooms, fox women and guests poked their heads out, quietly watching the commotion through the cracks.

Among them were many who knew me. If word of Xie Zhuo and me at Cuihu Terrace spread, it might reach Xiaxia’s ears, and how would we explain then?

I pulled Xie Zhuo’s hand: “Let’s go first.” While there weren’t too many spectators yet, we could deny everything later…

Xie Zhuo didn’t move. His gaze swept around, clearly realizing what kind of place this was.

He wouldn’t move, so I gritted my teeth, used my cultivation technique, broke through Cuihu Terrace’s window, and directly took Xie Zhuo away on the wind.

Back to Snow Bamboo Forest, landing in the courtyard, I pointed at Xie Zhuo and started scolding:

“What were you doing making such a scene today! I told you to watch Xiaxia today and not let her leave! What are you doing here? I told you yesterday, you do your part, and I’ll do mine…”

Xie Zhuo pulled me over in one motion, pushing me against the wall made of snow bamboo in the courtyard. Between my lips and teeth, a coolness—I felt…

He kissed me…

It was his indescribable anger, unspeakable anxiety. And… his uncontrollable concern.