Wei Changsheng was most irritated by Ming Yi’s words. In the past, Ming Yi would consider their feelings, dividing the credit equally and often praising him, saying he could do much for the team. But since her betrayal of the city, she no longer held back, as if all their victories in competitions over the years were solely her achievement.
“She’s just a woman,” Wei Changsheng thought. “If we hadn’t been helping her all these years, what could she have accomplished on her own?”
Angered, Wei Changsheng wanted to lash out, but as soon as he raised his hand, a streak of black Yuan Power whipped around them, binding the group together and throwing them out the main door. The force was brutal, showing no mercy.
Ming Xin rolled on the ground, then stood up and shouted at the adjacent room, “Ji Bozai, what’s the meaning of this!”
Already in a foul mood from sleeping in separate rooms, Ji Bozai’s face showed not a hint of amusement when he saw them. “Get lost,” he said coldly.
“You—” Ming Xin was about to step forward in anger, but Wei Changsheng grabbed his arm.
“Have you forgotten Lord Shan’s words before we left?” he whispered.
It was certain they couldn’t defeat Ji Bozai, and confronting him here would gain them no advantage. It would be much easier to deal with him during the conference.
Suppressing his anger, Ming Xin allowed himself to be pulled away, looking back repeatedly as they left.
Ming Yi closed the door and knocked on the wall next to Ji Bozai’s room as a gesture of thanks. However, the person next door angrily kicked the wall, the sound filled with resentment.
She smirked slightly, pretending not to hear as she continued to arrange her bedding.
The Six-City Conference tested not only Yuan’s Power but also survival skills. On the very first day, there was already an attempted poisoning at the inn. Although it failed, the teams from all the major cities were on high alert.
Ji Bozai, however, seemed unconcerned. In the middle of the night, he climbed onto the roof to drink with Zheng Tiao.
In the past, Zheng Tiao would never have done such a thing. He always had cultivation to complete, and drinking would only hinder his progress. But now, for some reason, when Ji Bozai passed him the wine jar, he accepted it and took a large gulp.
The enormous moon hung in half the night sky. Ji Bozai glanced at him and chuckled, “Who’ve you fallen for?”
Zheng Tiao frowned, “No one.”
“Someone who hasn’t fallen in love wouldn’t drink Kuwei wine without flinching,” he said dismissively. “It’s rare to see you troubled by love.”
“I’m not troubled by love. I just find it annoying,” Zheng Tiao said irritably. “Women are fragile, like delicate flowers. They can barely manage their own lives. Why must they come to bother me?”
“If you truly had no interest, you wouldn’t be bothered no matter how much she tried to get your attention,” Ji Bozai patted his shoulder. “I’ve known more women than you’ve eaten meals. Don’t try to hide it from me.”
Interest? Zheng Tiao looked at the huge moon and sighed softly.
Lady Xiuyun was beautiful, with a talent for Yuan Power, and could even practice alongside him. It would be impossible for him not to be interested in such a woman. But she was too delicate; she couldn’t last three moves when sparring with him, and her legs would be covered in bruises if he wasn’t careful. The sight troubled him.
He didn’t want to marry and have children. People with attachments always struck slower. But Xiuyun wanted to; she said becoming his wife would be the happiest thing in the world.
These weren’t words he hadn’t heard before, but coming from her lips, they made Zheng Tiao particularly restless and unsure of what to do.
Downing another mouthful of wine, Zheng Tiao lowered his eyes. “It’s been a long time since Flying Flower City made it into the top three cities.”
Ji Bozai laughed, “Even longer for Mu Xing City.”
Glaring at him, Zheng Tiao said, “Mu Xing City has you now, so there’s always a chance. But Flying Flower City is different. I only have a few years of competition left.”
“I want to lead Flying Flower City into the top three before I retire. I don’t want a lifetime of cultivation to end without even achieving that.”
With such determination, he couldn’t settle for romance.
Ji Bozai understood and, sipping his wine, suddenly said, “Our goals align. We might be able to travel the same path for a while.”
Zheng Tiao was stunned. Realizing what he meant, his face darkened. “I want to do this fair and square…”
“I’m not suggesting we cheat together,” he interrupted with a grimace. “It’s just that the competition is fierce this year. There’s bound to be some underhanded tactics. When necessary, we’ll need to cooperate.”
Zheng Tiao pondered in confusion for a while before saying, “Anyway, I want to earn a top three spot fair and square.”
“Alright, alright, fair and square,” he nodded as if soothing a child, but couldn’t help laughing. “How are you even more stubborn than Ming Yi?”
Mentioning Ming Yi, Zheng Tiao remembered to ask, “How is she? Xiuyun often thinks of her and cries.”
“She’s fine,” Ji Bozai squinted at the moon. “She just has some unfinished business with Chao Yang City. Once that’s settled, she’ll be free.”
Free? Zheng Tiao shook his head. “You don’t understand her as well as I do. Ming Xian is born with a heart for the world. She will never be free.”
Ji Bozai frowned, wanting to argue but lacking confidence. He could only sigh deeply.
Zheng Tiao couldn’t help but glance at him. “Are you also drinking because you’re troubled by love?”
“There’s nothing in this world that can trouble me,” he said. “I’m just waiting for someone here.”
Waiting for someone on the roof? Zheng Tiao thought he was crazy, but soon enough, someone indeed returned from the distant street, carrying a newly bought soft iron.
Her cyan-colored dress swept across the bluestone slabs of the street. Ming Yi looked up at the moon and happened to see Ji Bozai standing on the roof.
They were far apart, but somehow she saw the smile in his eyes as if saying: You’re finally back.
Her heart skipped a beat. Ming Yi quickly lowered her head, but couldn’t resist glaring at him once more.
What was he doing on the roof in the middle of the night instead of cultivating? Pretending to be a star or something?
Ji Bozai was puzzled by her glare but couldn’t help laughing. He said to Zheng Tiao, “Look, isn’t she captivating when she’s angry?”
Zheng Tiao could only see Ming Yi’s strength and had never noticed whether she was captivating or not. Seeing Ming Yi enter the inn, he casually asked, “Why doesn’t she seem as fond of you as before?”
“That’s because you’re too unrefined to understand subtlety,” Ji Bozai took a sip of wine, placing the jar on the roof ridge. He chuckled, “She cares about me more than ever.”
The Ming Yi of the past had a touch of insincerity, but now, although she didn’t always smile at him, she would always protect him when something happened, trusting him unconditionally.
Ji Bozai found this precious, but there was one thing he was still unsatisfied with: Ming Yi was now too clear-headed and rational. Even when caught up in the moment, it was only for an instant. There was always something in her eyes that he couldn’t overcome.
No man dislikes a sensible and calm woman, but he knew all too well that such women would never be head over heels for him, never willing to go through fire and water for him.
He would need to put in more effort to truly win her heart.
chapter 160 is exactly the same with chapter 159. I just want to know if it’s just mistake or there’s a chapter missing(?)
Hi, thank you for informing us; the chapter has been updated. It’s an uploading mistake.