Chapter 43
“Jiang Li?”
When Yu Tai mentioned the name, Shu Li showed little reaction. He merely said in an indifferent tone, “He had already made something of a name for himself when I was still at the Qingshan Sword Sect. To think he has now reached peak Golden Core.”
Yu Tai propped up her chin with one hand and lazily scratched Xia Mo beneath the chin with the other. Malice gleamed in her eyes as she teased, “Everyone says Jiang Li’s aptitude far surpasses the Shu Li of those days.”
Only after placing their names side by side did Yu Tai notice the coincidence that both contained the syllable *Li*.
Shu Li reached out and moved the teacup in front of her to one side so she would not accidentally knock it over. Then he nodded in agreement. “His aptitude is indeed better than mine.”
Yu Tai shot him a dissatisfied look. “Both of you are geniuses. One is the darling of the cultivation world, brimming with youthful vigor, while the other can only hide inside and serve tea to a woman.”
Shu Li stroked his chin, lowered his eyes in thought, and nodded once more. “Mm. He is unhappy.”
Yu Tai: “…?”
Who could understand how strange it felt to hear the word *happy* from the lips of a powerful, beautiful, tragic male lead?
“I asked Senior Sister Li. She said the inner disciples of major sects have always considered it beneath them to observe a Martial Tournament in the Middle Realm, but Jiang Li actually came this time…”
“He came to investigate the annihilation of the Chengtian Sect,” Shu Li said with certainty.
Yu Tai switched hands beneath her chin, her gaze flickering. “Then I sincerely hope they manage to find the real culprit.”
*That rotten demonic cultivator stole my kill!*
“Let’s hope so.” Shu Li lifted his teacup. Curling steam rose into the air, obscuring the fleeting, meaningful look in his gentle eyes.
…
“What do you think, Jiang Li?”
The Chengtian Sect had been preserved exactly as it was when it was annihilated, ever since the grounds were sealed off. The sheer number of white bones strewn across the floor without a trace of blood was horrifying.
But most chilling of all were their expressions. Their faces had been twisted beyond recognition by fear and agony, making one wonder what they had seen before they died.
As sect leader of the foremost sect in the Middle Realm, Jiang Wenyi accompanied the visitors from the Upper Realm.
Not far away, the black-clad young man who was crouching as though examining something looked up. His sharp, slightly upturned eyes narrowed. “I think she must use some unusual perfume to smell that good.”
The old man: “…?”
“You damned brat! What did I ask you?!”
Jiang Li rose. The tip of his high ponytail, secured by a golden crown, spun through the air as he walked toward Jiang Wenyi.
When Jiang Wenyi met the young man’s emotionless eyes, as deep and cold as a frozen pool, even he-a sect leader-felt an inexplicable trace of pressure.
“I’ll return with you later.”
Jiang Wenyi froze. “Fellow Cultivator, do you mean the Qingshan Sword Sect?”
Jiang Li nodded without expression.
A thoughtful look flashed through Jiang Wenyi’s eyes. He was well aware of what had happened between Jiang Li and his disciple Yu Tai a few days earlier.
He had originally planned to save Yu Tai for his own son.
But now, it seemed…
“A summons talisman from the sect leader?” Yu Tai opened her eyes from meditation and frowned at the pale golden talisman before her.
What did Jiang Wenyi want with her?
The moment Yu Tai entered Xuanqing Hall and caught sight of that streak of black, she understood why Jiang Wenyi had summoned her.
“This is Fellow Cultivator Jiang Li of the Zuiyin Sect. He will be staying at our sect until the Martial Tournament ends. Since you two happen to be the same age, show Fellow Cultivator Jiang around and help him become familiar with the sect.”
“Remember, you must not neglect our honored guest.”
Jiang Wenyi settled the matter with a single pronouncement, without the slightest intention of asking for Yu Tai’s opinion.
Standing to one side of Xuanqing Hall, Jiang Yibai wore a dark expression. He seemed to want to say something, but when his eyes met his father’s, he reluctantly swallowed the words.
After Yu Tai led Jiang Li out of Xuanqing Hall, the black-clad young man somehow moved soundlessly behind her. Lowering his head, he sniffed the back of her neck. His deep voice sounded beside her ear. “What perfume do you use?”
If Yu Tai had been a cat, every hair on the back of her neck would have been standing on end.
“Stay away from me,” Yu Tai said bluntly.
Logically speaking, Jiang Li was an inner disciple of the Zuiyin Sect. Since Yu Tai wanted to enter the Upper Realm, she should have patiently tried to befriend him. Yet for some reason, she had wanted nothing to do with him from the first moment she saw him.
Something about him caused Yu Tai intense discomfort.
Unfortunately, the phrase *do as you’re told* had never existed in Jiang Li’s life. Not only did he refuse to move away, but he leaned even closer and repeated the question. “What perfume do you use?”
He looked as though he would continue asking until the end of time if she refused to answer.
“I don’t use perfume.”
Confusion flashed through Jiang Li’s eyes.
If she did not use perfume, where did that pleasant scent come from?
Seeing him stop behind her as though lost in thought, Yu Tai seized the opportunity to summon her sword and leap onto it. “Entertain yourself. I don’t have time for you.”
Then she flew away.
Only after looking back and confirming that Jiang Li had not followed did Yu Tai breathe a sigh of relief.
What a nuisance. She should find an opportunity to kill him.
The System: [According to my calculations… Host has a ten percent chance of defeating him.]
Yu Tai mocked it without restraint. [Did you use the other ninety percent to investigate Jiang Li, the character who appeared out of nowhere?]
The System fell silent.
Yu Tai landed outside her cave dwelling and inspected the formation.
She had failed to catch the little thief who had tried to damage it, despite watching for the culprit these past few days. It appeared they were not especially bold.
But after hiding for several days, it was about time they showed themselves again, was it not?
As she pondered this and reached out to unlock the formation, a voice suddenly came from behind her. “You live here?”
Yu Tai’s heart lurched, and she whipped around.
The black-clad young man had somehow appeared behind her. There was no telling how long he had been standing there, staring at her without blinking.
She was a cultivator at peak Nascent Soul, yet she had not sensed the brat’s presence at all.
Yu Tai watched him warily. “Yes, I live here. Would you like to come in and sit for a while?”
“Then let’s do it.” Jiang Li nodded and lifted a foot to step inside.
Yu Tai: ?
*I suspect he just made that sound sexual.*
The System: [Be more confident. You can drop the word “suspect”!]
Moving swiftly, Yu Tai slipped into the cave dwelling and reactivated the formation. She gazed at Jiang Li, now trapped outside, and curled her lips into a smile. Her brilliant eyes curved like crescents, enough to make anyone’s heart tremble. “I lied, idiot.”
Then she turned away in an excellent mood.
But the instant she turned, a deafening boom and the sound of something shattering came from behind her.
Yu Tai turned back just in time to witness the complete destruction of the formation that had accompanied the original Yu Tai for so many years. The culprit casually withdrew his fist, strode inside, and said to her with a cold, earnest expression, “I’m not an idiot.”
Fuck. *(As in the plant.)*