Chapter 23: Caution Keeps the Ship Sailing

Morning in the Mist

Morning came, thick fog cloaking the cave’s exterior.

Gu Chi leaned against the stone wall, watching Feng Xizhi carefully slip into white silk stockings.

Her cheeks flushed slightly.

She was changing into a qipao, so she’d shed her undergarments.

Now she wore a soft white lace-trimmed camisole.

He watched as she rolled the stockings to her waist, covering the lace-edged undergarments.

When she’d changed earlier, he’d closed his eyes.

Now, as she dressed, she urged him to look.

She relished the shame of his gaze.

He observed as she donned a white qipao with gold-threaded magnolia patterns.

The mature style clashed intriguingly with her youthful frame.

She slipped into jade-colored high heels with golden straps, winding around her silk-clad legs.

Finished, she took out a mirror, braiding her hair.

After a while, he saw her lopsided twin buns and laughed.

“You really know how to do that hairstyle?”

“You think you can do better?”

She puffed her cheeks.

He stepped over, undoing her hair ties, crafting two neat buns.

She studied the mirror, tilting her head left, then right, eyes wide with wonder.

“How do you know how?”

“Do you disguise as a woman out there?”

Staring at his fair, striking face, she nodded.

“You’d probably look good as one.”

He sneered, too lazy to argue.

He’d learned because Pei Ningxue, ever the spoiled miss, begged him to.

The Heavenly Action Secret Realm would end at noon.

He stepped outside, the cave shrouded in fog.

Perfect weather for a robbery.

Under a tree, he pondered donning the Qingmian mask for extra coin.

Light footsteps followed.

Feng Xizhi had added a sheer snow-white shawl over her qipao, ethereal.

Her heels sank into the muddy ground as she approached.

“What’re you planning?”

“Might rob someone.”

He answered frankly.

“Can I come?”

Her eyes sparkled with hope.

“Your figure and aura—everyone would know it’s you.”

He tapped her head.

She clutched it, pouting.

“Hitting my head stops my growth.”

“You’re not growing anyway.”

“Hmph, I halted my body’s aging.”

“Why?”

“Don’t want to be a boring adult.”

She answered softly.

He didn’t press, but he didn’t don the mask either.

Instead, he wandered the foggy forest.

She trailed like a puppy, hopping along, occasionally distracted by wildflowers.

She’d tug his hand to look.

Each pretty flower he picked.

Collecting a bunch, he wove a flower crown.

Meant for her head, it was too big, so he draped it around her neck.

She looked at the petals.

“A dog collar?”

“Call it that if you want.”

He replied casually.

“Where’re you going after the realm?”

“Rest a few days, then hunt for herbs.”

“What herbs? I could help.”

His thoughts stirred.

He needed a supreme-tier Ice Heart Fruit to cool his Demon Dragon Gu’s heat.

It would keep him sane after breaking into Nascent Soul.

Such a rare herb was nearly impossible to find, even at Lingyun Pavilion.

But owing Feng Xizhi a favor meant repaying it later.

His heartless nature could let him take advantage, but his conscience would nag.

His new name fit—Gu Chi, always hesitating, looking left and right.

Seeing his silence, she quietly took his hand.

The intimate gesture might sway his decision.

“Ice Heart Fruit.”

He spoke slowly.

“Five hundred years or older.”

“Okay, I’ll use the sect’s network to search for it.”

“Thanks.”

A rare word from him.

“We’re friends, right?”

She squinted, smiling.

“No.”

“Huh? Ashamed to be my friend?”

She tilted her head.

“My friends are few.”

“Many beg to befriend me, fawning, and I ignore them.”

“If I recall, your dear friend Fang Xiyu was recently kidnapped by a villain.”

“Humiliated, spanked on order.”

“Who was that villain? Hard to guess…”

She wasn’t ashamed, just smiled.

“Mostly jealousy, sure.”

“But I can convince myself it’s for her good.”

“For her good?”

“It’s a Moon Wheel Sect secret, tied to her cultivation method.”

“She’s naive, obedient.”

“If she achieves the Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart without joy or sorrow, Eastern Domain gains an eighth-realm master.”

“But my friend Fang Xiyu dies.”

He frowned, puzzled.

She didn’t elaborate, saying lightly.

“A person without emotions—what’s the difference from death?”

He looked at her.

“Thinking you know what’s best for someone is arrogance.”

“So what?”

She put her hands on her hips, proud.

“I don’t care.”

“I’m good to my friends my way.”

“You’re shameless.”

He pinched her cheek.

“Same to you.”

She hugged his arm, rubbing her cheek against him.

“I love being around you.”

“Why?”

“You’re bad.”

“I can show my dark side freely.”

He was pleased.

Pei Ningxue always called him soft-hearted, not ruthless enough.

When he argued, she’d list past examples, leaving him speechless.

His dream was to be a pure villain—cold, decisive, merciless.

Parting in the Realm

The realm was nearing its end.

Feng Xizhi let go of his hand.

“We can’t be this close outside.”

“You’re thinking of me?”

No need to ask why.

Her intimacy in public would spark rumors, bringing him trouble.

She just smiled.

“Not really.”

“Outside, I’m the Fire Phoenix holy daughter.”

“Can’t act like a puppy obeying you—so embarrassing.”

He shrugged.

“You really won’t come to Fire Phoenix Sect for the three thousand stones?”

“Not till I hide that recording stone somewhere safe.”

“And arrange that if I don’t return, it gets released.”

Her face darkened.

“Should I praise your caution or curse you as a beast?”

“Caution keeps the ship sailing.”

He bent down, smiling.

“Know the face, not the heart.”

“You’ve shown me your worst side.”

“Can you get worse?”

“If I didn’t fear you had men waiting outside, I might’ve stripped and devoured you already.”

He’d entertained the thought—not for her youthful allure, but to test if his system rewarded dual cultivation.

But it was just a thought.

She met his smile, laughing.

“You’re clever.”

“You really have men waiting?”

“Yup.”

She looked at him playfully.

“I told the Void Refining seventh elder to fetch me.”

“You’re not afraid I’d ravish and kill you here, no evidence?”

“You’ve no reason to kill me—why complicate things?”

“If you did something, I wouldn’t resist.”

“Central Continent’s second prince won’t marry a defiled woman.”

“I’d be disengaged, my reputation ruined.”

“And you’d be hunted to death.”

“You planned a lot.”

“Know the face, not the heart.”

She echoed his words.

“If you hadn’t saved me from that demonic cultivator, making me feel guilty, my plan was to trick you into removing your mask.”

“Then have the seventh elder seize you.”

His smile stiffened.

“Boasting your cunning?”

A chill hit her.

She realized she’d said too much.

Revealing her dark side might displease him.

Just moments ago, she’d called them friends.

Her eyes met his, seeing his anger.

“I… I was wrong…”

Her pride vanished.

She turned, bent over, hugging a tree.

Her qipao-clad hips lifted, legs pressed together.

She raised her skirt to her waist, looking back.

“Punish me…”

“And… I only called the Void Refining elder as a precaution.”

“Not to capture you.”

“If you’re exposed, you’d reveal I ordered Fang Xiyu’s kidnapping.”

“I’d be done for.”

“I was just… scared to meet you.”

“Felt uneasy, so I prepared…”

Her tears flowed, sincerity dripping.

But he didn’t believe a word.

He stepped closer, untying the chain around her slender neck.

Infused with spiritual energy, it became a whip.

She shut her eyes, tears streaming, utterly wronged.

She whimpered, pleading, but said nothing.

Ten lashes later, he retied the chain.

She couldn’t stand, clinging to the tree, sobbing.

He glanced at her.

“We’re even.”

“It hurts…”

Her tone held no hate, only grievance.

She tugged his sleeve.

“Put some salve on…”

“None.”

He shook his head.

He wouldn’t tell her a Void Refining elder couldn’t stop him.

If he did, she’d dig a bigger trap next time.