Most Luoyun tribe people wore white robes, so finding one white pillar among a group of white pillars was actually quite difficult, but Jing Hengbo spotted him anyway, probably because that pillar was too tall, too white, too straight, and too rigid.

The palace’s great white pillar stared at her unblinkingly. Jing Hengbo wasn’t very surprised. Since Gong Yin had entered Luoyun territory, given his character, even if his heart didn’t want to come, his legs would involuntarily follow behind her. She had that confidence. She just hadn’t expected him to follow so quickly, and by such coincidence that he’d seen everything he should see. She couldn’t help but sigh that heaven really wasn’t very kind to him.

Since he’d seen it, he’d seen it. She didn’t plan to explain. Since he explained nothing to her, she naturally had to reciprocate in kind.

The great white pillar’s gaze at this moment was worth scrutinizing – deep, dark, direct, as if he wanted to see flowers bloom on her face. So her face truly smiled like flowers, raising her arm to embrace Zuoqiu Mo’s neck.

Zuoqiu Mo was still dumbfounded. She wasn’t used to others touching her and instinctively wanted to avoid it. Jing Hengbo leaned close to her ear, saying with a giggle: “We’re all women, relax. Only by cooperating well with me will you have a chance to turn the tables, OK?”

Zuoqiu Mo glanced at that pair of sisters whose faces had turned frost-white, immediately pulled out a somewhat stiff smile, and extended her arm to embrace Jing Hengbo’s waist.

Jing Hengbo smiled very happily. Hatred truly could refine steel – even an iron-like woman like Zuoqiu Mo could flirt with women for revenge.

Very good, this was exactly the kind of flexibility needed.

Zuoqiu Mo suddenly raised her eyes, shooting a fierce gaze in a certain direction. Jing Hengbo turned her head slightly and saw her and Gong Yin’s gazes clash in mid-air – one ice-cold, one hard. She seemed to see sparks flying.

Oh my, was Zuoqiu Mo particularly sensitive, or had the great god already lost control?

Zuoqiu Mo suddenly turned her gaze again, and crack – more sparks flew. Jing Hengbo looked and thought “good heavens” – Pei Shu was on horseback with one hand on his sword, his face iron-blue, looking like he was about to charge over. Jing Hengbo hurriedly gave him meaningful looks, indicating there were hidden circumstances and she’d explain later. Her eyes nearly cramped before Pei Shu finally snorted resentfully and turned his head away in an “out of sight, out of mind” manner.

Below the stage, that pair of royal sisters stood stunned for a long time. Seeing Zuoqiu Mo and Jing Hengbo’s intimate appearance, their faces grew increasingly ugly. The one who appeared slightly older thought for a moment, then hurried forward a step, curtsying respectfully and saying in a thin, delicate voice: “Not knowing of Her Majesty the Queen’s arrival, our country failed to welcome you from afar. We humbly beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness…”

As she spoke politely, Jing Hengbo neither responded nor helped her up, smiling as she studied her. This princess of no high status had ordinary looks, but her manner was gentle and submissive, with lowered brows and downcast eyes. She actually added several points of pitiful charm, indeed the type most likely to inspire sympathy – the kind who only needed to flutter her eyelashes tremblingly to gain three parts trust before even speaking. A natural suffering little wife appearance. Jing Hengbo believed she only needed to squeeze her eyes for tears to come instantly, clutch her heart for her face to turn white immediately – absolutely authentic and believable, requiring no special effects.

Her sister was tall and robust, with sharp eyes, though her brow carried a slightly gloomy air. She seemed impulsive, rash, and straightforward, yet when her gaze shifted, there were traces of deep contemplation, clearly not a simple character either.

Having traveled far and met many people, Jing Hengbo sighed inwardly just from looking at their faces. No wonder Zuoqiu Mo had to lose. Zuoqiu Mo was too proud, truly straightforward, encountering these two women who lacked neither scheming nor wisdom – one playing weak, one charging forward, one acting innocent, one acting foolish. A perfect strong alliance, natural perfect match. Even white lotus green tea bitches would bow down in defeat. What was Zuoqiu Mo compared to that?

At this moment she heard the sister saying: “…Ge Lian and Ge Shao greet Your Majesty. There’s one matter that needs reminding Your Majesty – the person beside you is actually a wom…”

Jing Hengbo laughed “ha!” cutting off her words, saying loudly: “Lotus and Peony, is it? Good names. Why not surname Bai? The name Peony is a bit vulgar. Shall I bestow a new one upon you? How about Bichi? Both meaningful and interesting, most suitable for you.”

Ge Lian and Ge Shao blinked. The latter’s face flashed with anger, then she smiled: “Thank Your Majesty for your kind intention, but names are bestowed by parents and elders, we dare not lightly…” Fearing Jing Hengbo would say more absurd things, she quickly said: “But Your Majesty, the wom… beside you…”

“Women really are troublesome!” Jing Hengbo chuckled, again cutting off her words. “I’m feeling a bit tired.” She turned her head and threw a flirtatious glance at Zuoqiu Mo. “Future husband, give me a hand?”

Zuoqiu Mo’s mouth twitched as she supported Jing Hengbo’s arm. Jing Hengbo smiled: “Thank you both for coming to welcome us here, you’ve worked hard. Now please lead the way ahead. I’ll go directly to your palace to pay respects to the Luoyun Great King, and also inform him that I’ve taken another talent from his country as royal husband.”

Ge Lian and Ge Shao became greatly anxious, no longer caring about etiquette. They hurried forward a step to block Jing Hengbo, saying in low, rapid voices: “Your Majesty, Zuoqiu Mo is a woman, she’s deceiving the sovereign…”

“Your Majesty, I’ll tell you a secret today – I like women. I’m bisexual, I swing both ways.” Jing Hengbo leaned over, smiling as she whispered rapidly, cutting off her words for the third time. Before Ge Lian could even utter her shocked “Huh?”, Jing Hengbo had already lecherously reached out to pinch her chin. “Little thing, so smooth and slippery, quite pitiful. You keep blocking me repeatedly – could it be you’ve taken a fancy to me and want to recommend yourself for my bed? Though a bit ugly, judging by this appearance you’d be quite good at pleasing. How about I also grant you the title of concubine to specially serve my new royal husband?”

Ge Lian was stunned. Looking up, she saw in Jing Hengbo’s eyes three parts mockery and three parts coldness – it didn’t seem entirely like a joke. She shivered with a chill, only now sensing the queen’s hostility. She felt even more that if she didn’t know her place, this legendary tyrannical female ruler who acted licentiously, specialized in harming royalty, and was never kind to nobles, might really take her and gift her to Zuoqiu Mo as a concubine. As a princess of humble birth, the Great King might not necessarily fight the queen for her sake…

Thinking this, the chill grew even fiercer. She hurriedly said: “Being able to guide Your Majesty is our honor. Your Majesty please, Royal Husband please.” Pulling the gloomy-faced Ge Shao aside, they finally retreated.

Jing Hengbo smiled as she watched them hurriedly retreat. Beside her, Zuoqiu Mo, who had been tense all over, suddenly exhaled a long breath and said wistfully: “In this past half year, this moment has been the most satisfying.”

“You should understand something now,” Jing Hengbo said matter-of-factly. “The best outcome of fighting head-on is mutual destruction. Killing with soft knives is the kingly way. Having absolute power and being able to kill however you want – that’s the heavenly way!”

Zuoqiu Mo fell silent, her eyes focused, thinking seriously. After a long while, she whispered sincerely by her ear: “I’m taught.”

Probably truly feeling very instructed, she actually became diligent and actively supported Jing Hengbo, one hand on her arm, one hand around her waist, accompanying her down from the arena. The arena had been repeatedly impacted, with several large holes in the platform. Zuoqiu Mo whispered: “Earlier, that pair of sisters were far away on the palace walls and didn’t see clearly that you were following me all along. I think you’d better not reveal yourself now, lest they see through you.” Saying this, she bent down, scooped her hands under Jing Hengbo’s knees, preparing to give her a princess carry to leap over the large holes.

Jing Hengbo’s “Ah?” – her first reaction wasn’t shock, but “Have we crossed the line, have we crossed the line, have we crossed the line?” Her gaze instinctively glanced toward where the great white pillar had been earlier.

Before her gaze could reach there, she suddenly felt a white shadow flash, cold air hitting her face. She heard Zuoqiu Mo’s sharp shout: “Who…” followed by a muffled “bang.” She felt a tremor beside her, then was pulled by someone and crashed into an embrace.

Below, continuous cries of astonishment arose. She lay against that familiar chest and sighed, murmuring: “Snake spirit!”

Someone above her head gave a slight hum, then said: “You’ve experienced quite a lot – how can you still trust others so lightly? Just entering Luoyun territory, you insist on meddling in others’ affairs. How can you let someone with such violent temperament get close to you?”

Jing Hengbo sighed again, while sighing and coldly laughing: “Even someone like you who’s betrayed me countless times and often goes missing – such an unreliable character – I haven’t turned against you. Why can’t I get close to Young Master Zuoqiu, who has upright character and hit it off with me at first sight? Besides, whom I let get close to me is none of your damn business? Mr. Gong, haven’t you always wished you could draw national boundaries with me? Now I’ve seen the light and stopped clinging to you. You should feel relieved. Stop reluctantly following me, OK?”

The person above her head said matter-of-factly: “I also didn’t want to care about you, but your brain has never worked well. Though I want to ignore you, I really can’t.”

Jing Hengbo laughed angrily, really wanting to bite him, and also wanting to kick apart the ice cane he used to support his body, kicking this stubborn duck into the pit-filled arena.

Thinking this, her gaze lowered and she discovered Zuoqiu Mo had actually disappeared. Where had she gone from this huge arena? Could the great god have killed her in the blink of an eye?

“Where’s Zuoqiu Mo?”

Gong Yin still used that bland, cold tone that could anger people to death: “Irrelevant personnel, unknown.”

Jing Hengbo suddenly felt something strange under her feet – a bit cold. Looking down, good heavens, she was standing on what had been that large hole earlier, which had somehow frozen into a thick layer of ice for Gong Yin to stand on steadily while holding her. Under that thick ice, there seemed to maybe possibly perhaps be a pair of dark eyes blinking upward…

“Holy shit…” Jing Hengbo murmured. “Under our feet, that wouldn’t be Zuoqiu Mo, would it?”

Gong Yin didn’t answer, his expression saying “It’s normal to casually seal up stray cats and dogs, don’t make a fuss.”

Jing Hengbo suddenly had the urge to vomit blood.

This guy’s possessiveness had always been this abnormal!

Striking to knock Zuoqiu Mo down the hole, instantly freezing it, then holding her and standing on the ice pressing down hard – was this to show off or to anger Zuoqiu Mo to death?

Really… made one want to grind teeth…

She suddenly stood on tiptoe, grabbed his neck, and fiercely bit his earlobe, saying resentfully: “Gong Yin… is admitting jealousy really that difficult?”

She used her arm to block this action, hiding these words by his ear so only he could hear.

He shuddered violently.

At this moment he could only feel the faint fragrance and warmth from her lips and teeth, feel her soft red lips brushing against the hair by his temples, feel her warm softness pressing against his arm, feel a hot current shooting down from his earlobe like chaotic arrows piercing his whole body, unable to control his body’s trembling, feeling her dissatisfaction, unwillingness, melancholy, slight anger in her tone… and also faint coquettishness and shallow helplessness…

The action might be soul-stirring, but this tone made even his soul seem to tremble. For a moment he wanted to hold her tighter, wanted deeper intimate contact, wanted to release all that suppression like underground magma shooting fiercely skyward.

At this moment his heart was both bitter and joyful – bitter about his own failure, yet joyful about meeting her. If not for her uniqueness, her resilience, her strength beneath her seemingly casual exterior, how could there still be today’s brilliant and charming her, who despite losing him again and again still smiled unchanged in her original intention?

Meeting her, meeting a truly tolerant and brave woman – all the suffering in his life was probably to exchange for this one stroke of luck.

Suddenly his heart softened, telling himself: “Be honest once, try starting from one honest moment…”

His throat felt somewhat constricted. He was a bit greedy for the temperature of her lips and teeth, thinking on one hand about saying something to make her angry enough to bite him again, on the other hand thinking about following her wishes to make her happy once. Just as he was conflicted and hesitating, suddenly there was a “crack” sound under his feet. He swept aside holding Jing Hengbo, immediately followed by a crashing sound of ice shattering and flying. Zuoqiu Mo leaped out from the hole.

The spectators below exclaimed loudly, wondering how there could be ice in early summer. Most people hadn’t figured out how that white-clothed person had appeared, how Zuoqiu Mo had disappeared then emerged from the hole again. Many thought it was Zuoqiu Mo’s trick to please the queen and were cheering and applauding.

Zuoqiu Mo’s face was livid. After emerging, she drew her sword without a word. Seeing Jing Hengbo and Gong Yin’s posture, she couldn’t help but be stunned. Then she strode over, first bowing to Jing Hengbo before saying: “May I ask Your Majesty, who is this person…”

“My neighbor…”

“Her royal husband.”

Both voices came out simultaneously. Zuoqiu Mo looked left and right, slowly widening her eyes.

Jing Hengbo nearly bit her tongue, struggling free of Gong Yin’s embrace and staring into his eyes – Have some shame! Brain malfunction?

Gong Yin looked at her unblinkingly, his gaze showing not a trace of guilt or unease. Jing Hengbo looked for a long while and gave up.

What kind of creature was an iceberg?

Cold enough to freeze people to death, thick enough to be impossible to pierce.

“Ex-husband,” she blinked, explaining to Zuoqiu Mo.

“The only one,” the great god Gong immediately added his annotation, never backing down once he spoke.

“Divorced!” Jing Hengbo’s face twitched as she gritted her teeth.

“Still angry,” the great god Gong seemed apologetically “explained” to Zuoqiu Mo.

And that was that.

There was no need to say anything more. When a man takes an absolutely possessive stance and attributes all your rejecting behaviors to “she’s angry, being proud, acting coquettish,” everyone else easily accepts this explanation.

Zuoqiu Mo silently stepped back.

But she didn’t explain to Gong Yin that she was a woman. She had her pride too. Having lost to Gong Yin’s move and being overwhelmed by his presence already made her feel humiliated and insulted – naturally she wouldn’t want to actively explain further.

Let him misunderstand. This kind of cold, icy character didn’t deserve the wise and beautiful Her Majesty the Queen anyway.

Before leaving the stage, she said: “Your Majesty is beautiful and inevitably attracts rogue harassment. But if needed, please command at any time. Though Mo’s martial arts are limited, even if I risk this life, I won’t allow scoundrels to touch even a hair of yours.”

Jing Hengbo was greatly delighted and nodded repeatedly. She noticed Zuoqiu Mo’s gait, voice, and expression had deliberately become more masculine.

The “scoundrel” looked at her blandly, mentally considering opportunities to turn this kid into dust.

“What exactly are you planning?” Jing Hengbo glared at him, not wanting excessive contact with him.

Gong Yin curved his lips slightly and didn’t answer her, suddenly reaching out to feel her wrist pulse.

Jing Hengbo was very wary of him now and hurriedly withdrew her hand. Gong Yin caught empty air, looked up at her once, his gaze examining, making Jing Hengbo feel guilty.

Gong Yin had originally just wanted to confirm whether her Bright Moon mental technique was still there, but the nervous unease flashing in Jing Hengbo’s eyes made him pause.

Transferring the Bright Moon mental technique to him might make her unwilling to let him know and blame him, but it shouldn’t make her this nervous. What else was this woman hiding from him?

He suddenly felt this feeling of being concealed from was very unpleasant.

Then he remembered he had always treated Jing Hengbo this way?

Thinking this, his heart softened again. Seeing a strand of hair by her temple slightly messy, he couldn’t help wanting to reach out and arrange it neatly.

But Jing Hengbo suddenly smiled: “If you won’t admit anything, then why keep clinging? Might as well be a bachelor and make a clean break – we’ll each have peace and quiet.”

Saying this, she turned around, presenting a graceful and resolute back to Gong Yin. While smiling at the two royal sisters: “Then please, you two lead the way to the palace.” While extending her hand to summon Zuoqiu Mo, intimately supporting Zuoqiu Mo as they gracefully descended the stage. She didn’t forget to smile charmingly and wave goodbye to Gong Yin: “Sayonara!”

Gong Yin stood silently on the stage, watching those two intimately linked figures walking away together, thinking of some things he’d heard about Luoyun tribe on the road. A trace of gloom passed through his eyes.

This trace of gloom fell into Ge Lian and Ge Shao’s eyes. Ge Lian thought for a moment and gave Ge Shao a meaningful look.

Ge Shao understood, deliberately lagging a few steps behind quietly. A moment later, she appeared before Gong Yin, who was about to leave.

Gong Yin looked at her blandly, his gaze unsurprised.

His hostility toward Zuoqiu Mo just now was obvious to anyone not blind. The Ge sisters and Zuoqiu Mo inevitably couldn’t coexist. Going to the palace now, there would definitely be conspiracies and evil struggles. With Zuoqiu Mo having the queen’s backing, the Ge sisters felt pressured – how could they give up this opportunity?

After a few exchanges, Ge Shao broke into a satisfied smile.

A quarter hour later.

Jing Hengbo discovered Gong Yin riding a fine horse in the welcoming procession.

That person rode alongside her without looking sideways, solemn and dignified, staring straight ahead.

Jing Hengbo held her forehead, really wanting to curse – what happened to the promised aloofness and distance? She turned her face away resentfully to look at the street scenery.

Don’t pay attention to him, don’t pay attention to him! This snake spirit who chases around randomly and clings relentlessly!

But suddenly she saw him slightly rein in his horse, moving a bit closer. Still not looking sideways, he said quietly: “Mm, I admit it.”

“What?” Jing Hengbo had intended not to respond, but because she really didn’t understand, she asked instinctively.

Gong Yin suddenly turned his head and smiled slightly at her.

Jing Hengbo suddenly felt that the originally descending dusk had suddenly become bright and brilliant, with magnificent scenery forcing itself before her eyes.

She had a moment of dizziness.

This world’s most exquisite beauty.

Then she heard him say, light and soft yet extremely solemn: “I admit it. I’m jealous.”