Her delicate, pretty face was flushed, utterly radiant. Her slender jade hands covered her mouth. Her bright eyes were filled with shock and surprise, her pale neck deeply flushed; she simply stared fixedly at Ji Changkong, momentarily lost as to where she even was.

"Sister Bai, you didn't expect it to be me, did you?" Ji Changkong chuckled triumphantly, mischievously shifting his appearance once more, his voice husky as he teased.

If he hadn't said anything, it might have been fine, but this mocking display instantly sparked a flicker of annoyed ire in Bai Qingya, and she said hatefully, "You wretched boy, daring to trick even me!" As she spoke, Bai Qingya delivered several solid blows to Ji Changkong’s chest, each one harder than the last.

Struck on the chest by those fair, jade-like hands, Ji Changkong let out a strange, chuckling sound. "Sister Bai, you should really put some strength into it! That doesn't hurt a bit—no force at all!"

"You scoundrel!" Bai Qingya became thoroughly exasperated, gritting her teeth as she struck him fiercely a few more times.

"Ouch!" Ji Changkong feigned pain, grimacing as he let out a light cry.

Bai Qingya instantly stopped, glaring at him with annoyance. "You ask for more force, then you’re afraid of the pain—honestly!"

Looking at her pretty face, a mixture of annoyance and joy, Ji Changkong suddenly felt that making this trip to Tianshui City had been an extremely correct decision. With a couple of hearty laughs, Ji Changkong suddenly stepped forward!

The two were already standing extremely close, and as he pressed forward, the distance between them snapped shut. Bai Qingya’s eyes flashed, but her expression suddenly became flustered, tinged with shame and anger. Seeing his solid, broad chest about to collide with her full, high peaks, she hastily took a step back, her face crimson as she cursed, "You little brat. You're powerful now, you only know how to bully your sister! Hmph!"

A strange feeling flooded his heart. Ji Changkong looked at the deeply flushed Bai Qingya with a smug smile, saying playfully, "How would I dare? Heh heh, it’s wonderful to see you here, Sister Bai!"

Her heart softened sweetly. Bai Qingya pursed her lips and gave a slight smile, pretending to be casual as she asked, looking down, "Wonderful for what? Aren't those two girls from the He family and the Star Stone Sect running to Xuanyuan Valley every day? Hmph, as if I don't know. And that Nie Ruolan—isn't she over at Xuanyuan Valley too?"

"Eh!" Ji Changkong exclaimed in surprise. "Sister Bai, how are you so clear on the situation at Xuanyuan Valley when you're out of town? Heh heh, have you been secretly observing me through some channel all this time? Haha. I’m truly honored that Sister Bai thinks of your little brother so much!"

"Pah! Who’s thinking of you? Shameless brat!" Seeing that she had let something slip, Bai Qingya's face turned even redder. She tilted her head up and snorted, "You stinking boy, were you deliberately trying to humiliate me in front of those people just now? And you even said... you said you only like someone a little older—how shameless!"

Only like someone a little older? Bai Qingya suddenly recalled something and panicked slightly. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed, and she thought to herself, I seem to be a bit older than him. What does he mean by that?

"Just kidding, just kidding around. Don't be angry, Sister Bai," Ji Changkong said with a nervous laugh.

Just kidding? What exactly did this brat mean? Bai Qingya’s brow furrowed even tighter, the corner of her mouth lifted, and more thoughts swirled in her heart.

"Ahem! Ahem!" Just then, a violent fit of coughing echoed from a distance outside. Murong Yan’s voice drifted in, "Miss Bai, I have something I need to discuss with you."

Bai Qingya, caught up in her swirling thoughts, instantly changed expression and grew flustered. She quickly signaled Ji Changkong with her eyes, urging him to be quiet immediately. If Murong Yan discovered them alone in this room, who knew what vile thoughts the man might conjure up.

"Murong Zi, I am currently discussing matters with Miss Bai. Say whatever you need to say later; don't disturb other people's peace," Ji Changkong coldly snorted, seemingly ignoring Bai Qingya’s signal, and called out loudly.

Outside the door, when Murong Yan heard Ji Changkong’s rough, husky voice suddenly issue from Bai Qingya’s room, he felt as if struck by heavenly thunder. His face immediately changed, his eyes filled with inconceivable shock and rage.

He was the most outstanding youth of the Murong family’s third generation, one of the three great genius Heaven Masters in the Shuiyun Kingdom. He possessed looks, status, and was hopelessly devoted to Bai Qingya. He had repeatedly tried to enter Bai Qingya’s private chamber without success, yet he never imagined that a coarse fellow, older and ugly, would manage to enter her room on their very first meeting. This was too much of a shock for Murong Yan.

"Island Master Ding, is that really you?" Murong Yan took a deep breath, his face grim as he sought confirmation.

The door to the chamber was pushed open, revealing Ji Changkong’s disguised, aged face. He glanced sideways at the ashen-faced Murong Yan with a smirk, chuckling, "Murong boy, don't be tactless. Come here, let the old man show you a face. What of it? Can’t I come in?"

"You despicable little... old... old man!" Bai Qingya was both ashamed and furious. She intended to call him a wretched boy, but remembering the delicate situation in Tianshui City, she quickly changed her words, silently thinking, What on earth are you trying to do, you little scamp? Why must you antagonize Murong Yan like this?

"You!?" Murong Yan felt like spitting blood. He could never have imagined that the person in Bai Qingya’s room was truly Ji Changkong. For years, due to his family background and his own power, he had never been slighted by any beautiful lady, yet Bai Qingya, who had constantly rejected him, was now willingly sharing a room with an ugly man she had just met. This situation struck his proud self-esteem like a heavy hammer, causing him sharp inner pain.

"Ah!" Chu Shanxin cried out, as if passing by coincidentally. She covered her mouth, staring at the scene in disbelief, her eyes full of confusion and doubt. Bai Qingya looked so aloof just moments ago, how could she turn around and let this man in? Isn’t that just... too much?

Bai Qingya's face was so red it looked ready to bleed. Just by looking at the expressions of Murong Yan and Chu Shanxin, she knew what vile thoughts were brewing in their minds. She cursed Ji Changkong hundreds of times internally, yet in front of these two, she remained silent, not uttering a single word of rebuke against him.

Her attitude, naturally, was taken by Murong Yan and Chu Shanxin as shameful admission, which made Murong Yan even more agitated.

"Good! Good! Good!" Murong Yan’s face was ashen as he looked at Bai Qingya and nodded hatefully. "Tell me, what aspect of me is... is inferior to this old lecher? You’ve only met him once, and yet... and yet you shamelessly let him into your chamber! Bai Qingya, I finally see you clearly! You are simply... simply a..."

"That is none of your business!" Bai Qingya interrupted Murong Yan’s impending harsh words with a cold tone, her face. "Who I like is my affair! I simply like someone older. What does it concern you?"

At these words, Murong Yan felt severely struck. He couldn't believe Bai Qingya would say such a thing. He froze for a moment, then Murong Yan said, "Bai Qingya, are you... are you coveting the Tiger Shark Jade Pearl in his hand? Is it because of the Tiger Shark Jade Pearl that you’re acting this way? For the sake of such an object, you are willing... willing to..."

"Silence!" Bai Qingya scoffed coldly, glancing at Ji Changkong, who wore a mocking smile. She inwardly cursed Ji Changkong for utterly ruining her today, but aloud she said, "I simply like this kind of rugged, real man. I have absolutely no interest in those pampered pretty boys who rely on family background!"

"Fine! Fine! I must have been blind!" Murong Yan let out a bitter laugh, turning and walking away unsteadily. Judging by his appearance, it seemed unlikely he would ever forget today's devastating blow; it was hard to say whether this would affect his state of mind and halt his progress on the path of the Heaven Master.

Perhaps the coordinated effort between Ji Changkong and Bai Qingya today would completely crush the future head of the Murong family's third generation.

"Miss Chu, did you enjoy the show?" After Murong Yan left, Ji Changkong looked at Chu Shanxin with a stern expression and huffed.

"Ah?" Chu Shanxin was somewhat awkward. She quickly said, "Um... I won't disturb you two." With that, Chu Shanxin, her expression strange and filled with doubt, followed Murong Yan out.

What exactly happened? Was it truly because of the Tiger Shark Jade Pearl? Bai Qingya was the daughter of Bai Canghai; she wasn't someone inexperienced. Would she really accept such an ugly man for a mere Tiger Shark Jade Pearl? Was that possible? Could it be that this ugly man possessed some special charm, a charm so strong that even Bai Qingya could so easily drop her guard? Chu Shanxin's mind was in chaos; she couldn't figure out a single answer.

Bang!

The door was suddenly slammed shut by Bai Qingya. Hands on her hips, she glared fiercely at Ji Changkong. Bai Qingya finally erupted: "You brat! What are you trying to achieve? While I despise Murong Yan, are you aware of the massive repercussions your reckless behavior could cause? Murong Yan—although this man always presents himself as polite and refined—he is someone who never lets an insult slide. He will definitely seek revenge against you!"

Chuckling dismissively, Ji Changkong shook his head, his lips curled with scorn. "Revenge on me? Heh heh, does he even qualify to take revenge on me now?"

When he first met Murong Yan years ago, Murong Yan could easily have dealt with him. After all these years, he was no longer someone anyone could casually manipulate. He truly didn't take a mere Murong Yan seriously.

"He might not, but he has the Murong family behind him!" Bai Qingya was annoyed, feeling that Ji Changkong had become somewhat arrogant.

"The Murong family and I are already enemies; even without Murong Yan, a conflict was inevitable," Ji Changkong pouted. "Therefore, I struck first, completely destroying the Murong family's third-generation head!"

Bai Qingya froze, suddenly realizing that the Ji Changkong before her was no longer the innocent youth she once knew...

"Don't worry, the Murong family is nothing significant. If I get a chance to suppress them, I certainly won't pass it up," Ji Changkong paused, then smiled again. "Moreover, since Murong Yan has designs on Sister Bai, I naturally need to eradicate that possibility immediately, making him give up completely! So that he never harbors such thoughts again!"

...First chapter delivered. More to follow. Please vote with monthly tickets!