Jun Moxie could not comprehend this in the slightest. In his view, Miao Xiaomiao appearing at that time would have served no practical purpose other than causing trouble and increasing her own danger.

"Do you think I didn't want to come out? But I still owed you one thing. If I hadn't shown up then, I might not have had another chance..."

Miao Xiaomiao turned around, gazing with a slightly lost expression at the sparsely scattered wilderness shrouded in thick mist, letting out a soft sigh.

"Owed you one thing?"

Jun Moxie raised an eyebrow.

This was not affectation on the young master's part; he genuinely had no idea what this Miss Miao owed him.

"I mentioned before that if you won today's contest, I would show you my true face. You might have taken it as a joke, but I was serious." Miao Xiaomiao's voice was remarkably soft, yet carried an almost dreamlike quality.

But hearing these words sent a shockwave through Jun Moxie's heart!

"If I had come out at that moment, even if we both ended up dying, I would have kept my promise. Before dying, I would absolutely let you see what I look like."

Miao Xiaomiao's voice was faint, as if deliberately suppressing some deep emotion. "If that were the case, even if no savior arrived, even if we both perished, I would still hope... that if there is a next life, you would remember what I looked like..."

"If there is a next life, let us never miss each other again!"

Miao Xiaomiao’s delicate frame trembled slightly. She suddenly turned, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, looking directly at Jun Moxie.

If there is a next life, let us never miss each other again!

Jun Moxie suddenly felt a violent tremor run through his spirit!

Looking again at Miao Xiaomiao’s persistent gaze, he suddenly felt his heart slowly, inch by inch, softening. At this moment, a melody seemed to softly echo in his ears, the tune of a past life: I feel I should meet you in a different way; even if we cannot be together in this life, I am willing to wait... to cling to you in the next; you will pour new affection upon me... I will silently pray to Heaven and Creation to be meticulous with you; not to let your appearance change, whether in a distant village or a noisy metropolis... I would recognize you at a single glance... This profound affection, reaching the extreme of sincerity, how could he possibly bear it!

At this instant, Jun Moxie's heart grew heavy, as if filled with lead, oppressive to the point of suffocation...

Jun Moxie looked up to the sky, slowly exhaling the pent-up emotion. He felt his throat dry and rough, his heart a confusing jumble. Facing Miao Xiaomiao’s deeply affectionate and unwavering eyes, facing this woman who had unhesitatingly leaped out to share life or death with him in the most perilous moment, facing this true feeling that prayed for a missed chance in the next life despite facing certain death...

Jun Moxie was truly in utter disarray!

"But your veil... I cannot lift it."

Jun Moxie turned away, bitterness coloring his words. "Your true face... I cannot look upon it either..."

"You, who previously boasted of being a peerless genius, the greatest under heaven, why are you being so self-deprecating now? Do you truly look down on yourself so much, Great Genius Mo?"

Hearing the hesitant words of the woman he cared for, Miao Xiaomiao laughed with a wistful sorrow. In the night, she resembled a melancholy sprite, the night breeze gently lifting the hem of her skirts.

Amidst the fluttering fabric in the darkness, Miao Xiaomiao subtly shifted her steps, as if treading on moonlight, approaching him step by step. Until there was virtually no distance between her and Jun Moxie, their bodies almost pressed tightly together, both able to feel the warmth of the other's breath...

"Look at me! Look at me!"

Miao Xiaomiao's gaze flickered with an ineffable, burning intensity.

Jun Moxie passively leaned back slightly, making an effort to increase the distance between them just a little, before lifting his head to look into the bright eyes so close to him.

"You say you cannot lift my veil, cannot see my true face... but do you know?"

A trace of bitterness flashed in Miao Xiaomiao's eyes. "You have already lifted the veil from my heart. My true face, no one else can see but you..."

Jun Moxie was instantly silenced, his heart suddenly feeling sharp and astringent. "We women of the Illusory Mansion, for our entire lives, can only lift our veil for one person."

Miao Xiaomiao's tone suddenly became fervent, laced with a reckless finality. "Mo Junye, unveil me!"

Jun Moxie trembled slightly.

Jun Moxie could face thousands of enemies without changing color; even when he was weak, at the Heavenly Profound or Divine Profound stages, facing the Three Great Sacred Grounds, he remained composed, decisive in slaughter, capable of killing millions without his heart wavering or his hand faltering!

But now, facing just these clear eyes and this light, seemingly fragile veil that a mere gust of wind could sweep away, he was at a loss!

For the first time, his gaze showed an intent to evade.

He dared not, truly dared not. Before him lay not only a debt of affection, but a debt of conscience! Jun Moxie had come here for the Seven-Colored Sacred Fruit; his purpose was fundamentally impure. Moreover, his current appearance was not his true self.

To truly accept Miao Xiaomiao's profound affection now would be tantamount to emotional deception!

Jun Moxie had always acted seeking a clear conscience; could he truly have one now?

Or perhaps one day, because of the Seven-Colored Sacred Tree, he would have to stand against the Illusory Mansion—how would Miao Xiaomiao situate herself then?

Jun Moxie asked himself if he was capable of accepting this feeling!

But... Miao Xiaomiao's tenacity and her capacity to love boldly and hate fiercely truly exceeded his expectations!

"Lift it!"

Miao Xiaomiao bit her lip, her gaze locked onto Jun Moxie without the slightest sign of retreat, instead taking another step forward!

Jun Moxie involuntarily stepped back one pace.

"You won't lift it, will you?"

A fierce determination flashed in Miao Xiaomiao's eyes. "Very well! Since you refuse to unveil me, I shall do it myself! Mo Junye, you must remember, after I, Miao Xiaomiao, reached adulthood, you are the very first man to see my true face! For this lifetime and the next—I am determined to follow you! Living, I am yours; dead, I am your ghost!"

Jun Moxie was tongue-tied, his expression panicked. Just as he was about to stop her, he saw Miao Xiaomiao's left hand shoot out with lightning speed. Swish—the light veil floated down. The tip of the veil rested in Miao Xiaomiao's hand.

Though Miao Xiaomiao's face appeared calm, her left hand gripping the veil had knuckles white from the force.

Jun Moxie felt a wave of dizziness wash over him and could not help but squeeze his eyes shut.

Because what appeared before him was an exquisitely beautiful face of such overwhelming loveliness!

In the dim night, eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes as clear as autumn water, a slightly upturned nose, long eyelashes, skin like white jade, small, ruby-red lips, and a pointed little chin...

If Mei Xueyan’s beauty was noble, dignified, and grand; if Guan Qinghan’s was cold, transcendent, and unattainable; if Dugu Xiaoyi’s was elfin, graceful, clever, and cute—then Miao Xiaomiao was exquisite! Exquisite to the point of flawless perfection!

One could believe that even the most perfection-seeking artist would never find a single flaw on this face! This face was absolute perfection! The combination of features was exactly right. Miao Xiaomiao’s face slowly began to flush, as if suddenly adorned with rouge. Her eyes grew hazy, filled with an ineffable shyness that suggested her body and soul already belonged to him. Her long lashes fluttered rapidly. After a moment, she whispered softly, "Idiot... Have you seen enough? How much longer do you intend to stare..."

"I... I didn't see anything!"

Jun Moxie hurriedly closed his eyes, shaking his head repeatedly. "I didn't see a thing! Really, I didn't see it!"

"But you have seen it! You know you saw it."

At this point, Miao Xiaomiao could no longer maintain her maidenly reserve. Both annoyed and amused, and shy, she stamped her foot slightly and chided, "Mo Junye, you can’t renege! Even if you try to deny it, you saw me today, and for this lifetime, I’m sticking to you! In life, I’m Mo family, in death, I’m Mo family ghost!"

Jun Moxie groaned in his throat, sounding as if he might cry. "I, I'm going to be beaten to death. I will absolutely be beaten to death. I'm done for, I am truly finished..."

"Who dares!"

Miao Xiaomiao let out a commanding shout. "Whoever dares hit you, I’ll hit them!"

After speaking, she smiled shyly, sneaking a glance at Jun Moxie's face. "Jun, don't worry. Grandpa and Father dote on me the most. If I hadn't given my heart to anyone, they might marry me off for family interests... But if I already have... if I already have... they are highly likely to agree to us being together. Besides, you are the future pillar of the Illusory Mansion; I believe Grandpa and Father would be happy to see us together..."

"What are you talking about? My worry isn't about your Grandpa or your Father..." Jun Moxie grimaced, nearly weeping. "I'm worried about my mother..." The words left his mouth before he recalled that the person he needed to worry about least was likely his mother...

Dongfang Wenxin wished nothing more than for Jun Moxie to marry several more wives—she would certainly welcome and even encourage such matters. The ones who truly needed worrying about were Mei Xueyan and Guan Qinghan...

As that thought took root, instantly conjuring an image of glacial coldness and queenly dominance, Jun Moxie felt as if he had been caught in the act of adultery. A chill instantly ran down his spine, making him shiver uncontrollably.

"Give me some time, alright?"

Jun Moxie sighed softly, his voice gentle.

"Of course." Miao Xiaomiao now felt a burning heat on her cheeks. She lowered her head, afraid to look at Jun Moxie, her delicate neck drooping. Her voice dropped to a nearly inaudible whisper. "Jun... As long as it's you... I will wait for you..." Jun Moxie sighed deeply in his heart, suddenly feeling a sharp, aching tenderness there...

The night wind was intoxicating, gently blowing.

The two stood facing each other like that, yet both kept their heads bowed, saying nothing.

At this moment, Jun Moxie was utterly tormented by conflicting thoughts, while Miao Xiaomiao felt shy joy, as if she had accomplished something monumental, feeling a sense of relaxation that made her whole body weak... almost possessing a subtle feeling of impending collapse. (To be continued, for future developments, please log onto Qidian.com for more chapters, support the author, and support genuine reading!)