Lu Jiu chuckled. “She’s infatuated with the ice demon, but unfortunately for her, that ice demon likes you.”
Hong Ning was taken aback, then frowned. “Young Master Lu, you misunderstand. He is my senior brother.”
Lu Jiu sighed. “Your senior brother treats you exceptionally well—how could she not be jealous?”
“That’s because…” Hong Ning found herself at a loss for words and felt inexplicably irritated. “In any case, my senior brother has already returned to Kunlun Mountain. If He Lan Xue wants to find him, she should go there. And if I’m not mistaken, isn’t she with you now? Since you know what’s on her mind, why are you still helping her?”
“What does her obsession have to do with me? A beauty made a request—I merely agreed out of courtesy.” Lu Jiu chuckled lightly before his tone suddenly shifted, laced with suggestion. “You could always ask me for a favor as well.”
It was clear he was only toying with He Lan Xue. In the end, she had gained nothing and would eventually suffer the consequences of her own choices. Love could be painful, but hatred—it destroyed everything.
Hong Ning sighed inwardly and tightened her grip around the camellia’s stem. “If I remove this flower from the vase, Jin Xiu will know. Young Master Lu, must you really force my hand? I am nothing more than a mortal—killing me will only bring divine retribution upon you. It does you no good. Besides, I’ve already admitted my fault and apologized for our past conflict. If you continue to press the matter, won’t that seem a little petty?”
Lu Jiu looked troubled. “If I let you go, how am I supposed to explain it to her?”
Hong Ning didn’t hesitate. “With your charm and skills, no woman can resist you. Are you saying she’s truly that formidable?”
She paused before adding, “You don’t have to like her, but if you truly care for her, then you shouldn’t kill me. Let’s say, hypothetically, that my senior brother does have feelings for me. If I were to die, do you think he would ever forgive He Lan Xue?”
Lu Jiu laughed. “You have a way with words.”
Hong Ning replied, “I only hope Young Master Lu will be merciful.”
Lu Jiu’s eyes flickered, but he said nothing more. Without another word, he turned and left.
Holding the camellia close to her chest, Hong Ning let out a long sigh of relief.
Once she was certain Lu Jiu had left, she immediately took the vase outside and walked around the area, making slight adjustments to the surrounding formations.
It wasn’t that she was afraid—she had simply heard Jin Xiu mention before that Lu Jiu held a considerable position in the Northern Celestial Realm. If she truly provoked him, it might bring unnecessary trouble to Jin Xiu.
It was always better to resolve things peacefully.
Bai Ling had already left—so why was He Lan Xue still so determined to deal with her?
Was it just to make sure Bai Ling never left Kunlun Mountain?
The bright moon hung outside the window as Hong Ning absently played with the pills inside the wooden box, her mind unsettled.
She had lived two lifetimes—she was no longer a naive young girl.
How could she not recognize when someone treated her differently?
To others, Bai Ling was cold and distant, difficult to approach, obsessively clean, and preferred solitude. Yet, he had let her tug at his sleeve and drag him across the mountains. On some days, he barely spoke ten sentences, and at least eight of those were forced out of him by her. Even when he grew annoyed, all he did was glare in warning. No matter what, he always made sure everything was arranged perfectly for her—including his departure this time.
Could it really be…?
Hong Ning shook her head, rejecting the thought. The day Wen Xin picked her up from the roadside, Bai Ling had already treated her differently. Feelings didn’t grow that quickly.
She was overthinking it.
Laughing at herself, she shut the medicine box and prepared to fetch water for a bath.
But the moment she stepped out, a hand suddenly reached for her waist from the side.
“Who’s there!”
Furious, Hong Ning twisted away, swiftly drawing her peachwood sword and striking out.
The blade was caught in that same hand—inch by inch, it blackened and crumbled into charred wood.
Seeing the intruder clearly, Hong Ning’s heart sank. “You again! What do you want now?”
Even as she spoke, he had already restrained her.
“I wouldn’t say I came back—I simply found you too interesting to leave just yet.”
Warm breath ghosted against her ear, his tone laced with smug amusement. “With my concealment techniques, how could you possibly detect me?”
Struggling to break free, Hong Ning clenched her eyes shut. “Aren’t you afraid of divine punishment?”
“With my father around, what is there to fear?” Lu Jiu lifted her chin. “Besides, I’m not going to kill you. The union of yin and yang is a natural path to cultivation—what’s wrong with that?”
“Shameless.” Hong Ning gritted her teeth. “If Jin Xiu finds out—”
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