Suddenly, a nearby green bamboo branch stirred, rustling in the wind.
Ling Xi glanced sideways and saw a bellflower hairpin darting towards his chest at extreme speed. He dodged and caught the hairpin.
This... wasn't this the bellflower hairpin he had given to that premium item?
Before he could savor his surprise, several white sashes shot out from behind the rockery, lunging at him.
The white sashes circled in the air like sentient serpents, coiling around his waist. His eyes lit up, the corners of his lips curving upwards. He tugged at the sash in his palm with unexpected force. A woman in a white skirt, whose silk was flying, gracefully spun towards him, nearly colliding with him.
"Ling Xi?" Ye Ziling's eyes flickered with a hint of confusion as she looked at the white sash he was holding. She instantly understood what was happening.
She had thought her immortal power would fail in this illusion array, but it turned out she had run into Ling Xi.
Ling Xi released Ye Ziling's wrist. She was dressed in a white gauze skirt, her skin as fair as snow, her features as exquisite and flawless as ever. It seemed her appearance was no mere coincidence.
"Let go." Seeing him gazing at her intently, Ye Ziling frowned.
Ling Xi finally noticed he was still holding her white sash and slowly released his grip.
"How did Miss Ye happen to be here?" he asked, then offered a faint smile, testing the waters, "Could it be you were waiting for me?"
"Yes." Ye Ziling did not deny it, admitting it forthrightly instead. Her eyes rippled with emotion, gazing fixedly at his eyes and brows.
Ling Xi's expression sharpened, and he looked at her with a sense of unfathomable confusion. This—this felt a little off, didn't it?
After a moment of silence between them, Ling Xi was the first to break eye contact.
He took a deep breath, his Adam's apple bobbing, suppressing the tremor in his heart.
Seeing a blush creep up his cheeks, Ye Ziling's lips curved upwards, a mischievous smile playing on them.
As expected, she somersaulted in the air, evading the Qilin lurking within the rockery.
Seeing the Qilin lunge towards him, Ling Xi's figure flickered. Stepping onto a bluestone, he leaped, dodging the attack.
He had thought that premium item wouldn't be so simple.
At this moment, both of them were on either side of the Qilin, facing each other across the distance.
Seeing her plan succeed, Ye Ziling couldn't help but lower her head and chuckle. She then said to him, "Scholar Ling, is this fun?"
Ling Xi's lips curved even more playfully. "Miss Ye has impressive skills."
He looked at the Qilin before him, a shadow passing through his eyes. He surmised this must be the so-called eye of the array.
"Ling Xi, catch!" Ye Ziling flicked her wrist, throwing the white sash, which he caught steadily.
They exchanged a knowing smile, cooperating unexpectedly, and used the momentum to bind the Qilin.
As the white sash wrapped around it, the Qilin struggled, twisting its body, and was soon wrapped up like a zongzi.
After binding the divine beast, Ling Xi took out the Hundred Beast Pouch from his bag and put the Qilin inside.
In an instant, the illusion array shattered, and they both landed on the ground, surrounded by cactuses. An endless expanse of desert and sand lay before them, clearly another illusion array.
They exchanged a look, their brows furrowing in unison.
What kind of trick was this now?
Soon, a colossal human figure appeared in the sky, its eyes glowing violet. A cold smile played on its lips, yet its entire being exuded a wild, unrestrained aura. "I've heard the Heavenly Realm's top scholar is capable of all things. I merely wish to learn from you. My apologies if I cause any offense."
"Bai Yu?" Ling Xi uttered the two words coldly, his eyes dark and unreadable. He asked with a half-smile, "Does Scholar Ling still remember this lord? It is truly an immense honor." The man's smile bloomed across the horizon, as radiant and gentle as the spring sun, yet it somehow felt inexplicably chilling.
"Immortal Lord Bai Yu, are you finding life in the Heavenly Realm too peaceful?" Ye Ziling's eyes held a smile, her entire demeanor radiating a cold aura. "If you wish to compete, we can spar with our techniques and sword skills. Why play hide-and-seek with us?"
Though her words implied defiance, she dared not personally step forward to compete. Was this a request for tutelage? It was clearly mockery!
"Tu..." Bai Yu looked at Ye Ziling, about to utter her immortal name. Seeing the smile on her face instantly transform into a potent killing intent, he guessed her concerns at a glance. He then said with a smile, "Miss Ziling, there's no need to be so angered. I will keep your secret for you. We shall meet at the Peach Banquet."
With that, the phantom in the sky instantly vanished.
Ling Xi's eyes narrowed, an inexplicable emotion stirring in his heart, but he quickly concealed it. He glanced indifferently at Ye Ziling beside him, his eyes contracting, and asked, "What secret?"
Why would she, a disciple of the Jiuling Palace, know Bai Yu?
He had known her for so long before addressing her as Miss Ye, yet Bai Yu had called her by her name from the outset?
And Miss Ziling?
[System: Lord Ling, see? They won a round against you the moment they appeared, saying one more word than you!]
[Ling Xi: Beast, whose side are you on?]
[System: Ahem, apologies, Lord Ling... I was so captivated by the male god's appearance that I forgot myself.]
[Ling Xi: If you don't want to be shut down, shut up.]
[System: ...]
Ye Ziling looked at his unusual expression and found it somewhat amusing. She raised an eyebrow and teased, "Can a secret be called a secret if it's made public?"
It seemed Bai Yu wasn't ignorant of her identity in the Heavenly Realm, but she was curious how he could read her thoughts.
If Bai Yu had dared to say another word just now, a palm hidden in her sleeve would have pierced his primordial spirit.
"If Miss Ye can share secrets with a stranger, can't you share them with me?"
Ling Xi's eyes deepened, tinged with a hint of displeasure, but he could only sneer from the sidelines.
Ye Ziling met his gaze for a moment, seeing a wave of inexplicable resentment rising between his brows. She circled him, observing him, her eyes narrowing.
Wasn't this man always composed and rational? Why had he become so moody, as if a switch had been flipped?
Ling Xi tightened his grip on the bellflower hairpin. He had intended to return it to her, but since she didn't trust him, it seemed best not to.
Seeing Ye Ziling remain silent, Ling Xi's lips curved into an arc, using it to divert her. "This desert is quite large. Let's search separately."
With that, he turned sharply, his smile vanishing instantly.
Ye Ziling watched his retreating back, her lips twitching involuntarily.
Why had this man suddenly become so tsundere? Wasn't his skin thick before? Why was he starting to maintain a persona?
She herself felt that she had gained a much better impression of him recently. At least he would share hardships with her in times of crisis. Now, why was he just leaving like that?
The desert was full of dangers, and two people could handle it better. Him leaving was like solving everything. She didn't know what had gotten into him.
She shook her head, composed herself, and turned to scan her surroundings.
However, the desert not only lacked an oasis but also any beasts. If this continued, they would die of thirst before even finding the eye of the array.
Could it be that Bai Yu deliberately didn't use beasts as the eye of the array, intending to wear them down until they died?
Ye Ziling couldn't help but look up at the scorching sun hanging high in the sky and the empty desert, her brows furrowed.
Had he really left? Just walked away as if nothing happened?
What if he encountered a beast like the Thousand Mountain Snow Dragon again, and with no one to collect his corpse, wouldn't he be buried in the desert?
Strange, why was he so uncharacteristically acting today?
Wasn't he always pestering her and staying by her side?
Ye Ziling stood frozen for a moment before realizing the bellflower hairpin was still in Ling Xi's hand.
Disaster.
Her Ten Thousand Transformations Hairpin was not with her. If she encountered any monsters, she would be in trouble without a weapon.
How unlucky. She should have used her old silver hairpin. If she hadn't liked bellflowers herself, she wouldn't have impulsively changed her hairpin.
Ye Ziling wandered through the desert for a while, her legs aching. Worse, her mouth was desperately dry, so she found a shady spot to rest.
She propped her face with her hand and found her mind in disarray. She looked around the desert but still didn't see the figure she expected.
Could something have happened to him?
Soon, she patted away the thoughts in her mind, seemingly realizing her own abnormality. Why were her emotions fluctuating with his, causing her more headaches than matters in the palace?
Is that—an oasis?
Ye Ziling stood up. Suddenly, a tiny green dot appeared in the distance. The corners of her mouth curved upwards, revealing a faint smile. She then leaped forward.