Xie Shuci's gaze swept across the two faces, and he could actually smell a hint of a battleground.

Sikong Ye sat down at the table and chatted with Xie Shuci in a casual manner. Xie Shuci couldn't just ignore him, so he gave a perfunctory reply.

Xie An, on the other hand, held Xie Shuci's waist with one hand, and whenever Xie Shuci spoke a few more words to Sikong Ye, he would increase the pressure on his hand.

It doesn't hurt much, but it's itchy.

Sikong Ye was someone who thrived on chaos. He didn't know if he had noticed Xie An's actions. Xie Shuci's reply to him was already as perfunctory as could be, but he pretended not to notice and continued to look at Xie Shuci with a smile.

Xie Shuci covered Xie An's hand and glared at him warningly, but the latter kept his lips pursed and ignored her.

Then he looked at Sikong Ye, who was staring intently at Xie Shuci, waiting for his answer.

Xie Shuci felt that this guy was doing it on purpose, deliberately trying to cause him trouble.

"Young Master Xie, are you really not going boating with me tonight?" Sikong Ye sighed.

Xie Shuci said with a forced smile, "Brother Sikong went to the trouble of getting the token from Elder Meng, yet you don't plan to participate in the auction? Even if you don't go, I still want to go and broaden my horizons."

Sikong Ye smiled regretfully and said, "The auction is held every year, but if you miss the chance to go boating with me, I'm afraid you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

Xie Shuci: "..."

Goodness, what an amazing person!

Sikong Ye shrugged, then looked at Du Pingsheng and the other man, and asked, "Is this Mr. Du Pingsheng?"

Du Pingsheng knelt on the ground, his body stiff. "It is indeed I. May I ask if you are from the Sikong family..."

Sikong Ye did not shy away from the question and nodded, saying, "My name is Sikong Xin."

Xie Shuci looked at him with suspicion, thinking that when this person was out there swindling and doing immoral things, he probably used his younger brother Sikong Xin's name all the time.

That's really despicable!

Just as despicable as described in the book.

Xie Shuci nodded in agreement, completely forgetting that Xie An, who was sitting next to him with a menacing look, was sitting beside him.

Seeing Xie Shuci staring intently, Xie An slowly moved his hand downwards. Sensing his hand approaching a sensitive area, Xie Shuci shuddered and quickly grabbed his hand, exclaiming, "What are you doing?!"

"To bring you back to life."

Xie Shuci: "..."

What's wrong with you? Why are you being so stingy?

"Mr. Du, do your records contain anything related to the Xiaoyao Sect?" Sikong Ye asked.

Du Pingsheng looked completely innocent. "No, there are a few scenes featuring disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect, but they're not many."

Sikong Ye rested his chin on his hand, narrowed his eyes, and said, "That's strange. The Xiaoyao Sect disciple who warned you at the gate today is the third disciple of the second master of the Xiaoyao Sect's main family, who came out of the Floating Pagoda Realm. Although his purpose in coming down to the realm was not for you, the fact that he personally attacked you should not be because of something trivial."

"A disciple of the main branch of the Free and Unfettered Sect?" Xie Shuci was taken aback. No wonder that person's aura was so different from other Free and Unfettered Sect disciples he had met; it turned out he was from the Floating Pagoda Realm? So, the one chasing Xiao Xun was also from the main branch of the Free and Unfettered Sect. Had that third disciple seen Xiao Xun before? Did he know what Xiao Xun looked like? Did he... recognize Xie An today?

Xie Shuci immediately felt uneasy.

Du Pingsheng was also stunned, stammering for a long time without being able to utter a single word, "The Floating Pagoda Realm... My God!"

The pageboy exclaimed in terror, "The people in the Floating Pagoda Realm want to kill you, young master?!" (From the novel "After Transmigrating into a Book, I Picked Up the Protagonist," website: m.1)

Du Pingsheng was so flustered that he could barely speak. "I...I really didn't write anything. It was all Brother Xie who told me! I haven't slandered the Xiaoyao Sect either. Why won't they let me go?"

Sikong Ye said, "I don't know. That third disciple is notoriously ruthless. Good luck to him."

Du Pingsheng's face fell, and two streams of tears flowed down his cheeks. The Floating Pagoda Realm! That was the Floating Pagoda Realm! If it were the Free and Unfettered Sect in the cultivation world seeking revenge, he could simply avoid them. But that was the Floating Pagoda Realm! The main branch of the Free and Unfettered Sect! He could only hide for a short while; sooner or later, they would quietly eliminate him and dump his body in the wilderness!

In that instant, Du Pingsheng even figured out the best place to dispose of his body after he died.

He and his page looked at Xie Shuci with teary eyes. "Brother Xie, Brother Xie, you are also from the Floating Pagoda Realm. You have to help me! Everything I wrote down was what you told me. You can't just stand by and watch them kill me!"

Xie Shuci pursed his lips and asked, "How ruthless are they?"

Xie An is still very weak. If he has already recognized Xie An, he might cause trouble later. Xie Shuci felt that it was better to find out in advance and prepare for the worst.

Du Pingsheng asked nervously, "Yes, just how ruthless is he?"

Sikong Ye leaned back, crossed his arms, and pondered for a moment before saying, "Do you all know about Xiao Xun?"

Xie Shuci: "..."

Not only did they know, they were sitting right next to me.

"I understand!" Du Pingsheng nodded.

Sikong Ye said, "His ruthlessness is only slightly better than Xiao Xun's."

Upon hearing this, Du Pingsheng's face turned ashen. "A little better than Xiao Xun? That's still ruthless to the core?! Skinning and dismembering are nothing compared to this. I'm doomed."

Looking at Du Pingsheng's despairing expression and then at Sikong Ye's matter-of-fact demeanor, Xie Shuci felt a strange unease. She explained, "Xiao Xun isn't that bad... You haven't even met Xiao Xun, and even if you had, you wouldn't know him. Don't speak of him based on stereotypes."

Xie Shuci was a little sullen.

It seems that Xiao Xun has become an adjective in their eyes: the worst, the most ruthless, the most heartless, the most despicable, and the most shameless. Xie Shuci felt quite uncomfortable hearing this.

Chu Wenfeng gave him a half-smile.

Du Pingsheng exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Xie, you actually spoke up for him?!"

Xie Shuci was taken aback, and secretly glanced at the faces of the people around him. He stammered, "I didn't speak up for him. I was just stating the facts. We don't know him. How do we know if what others say about him is true? What if it's just hearsay?"

Chu Wenfeng scoffed, "Xie Shuci, you really are quite the clear-headed person."

Xie Shuci: "..."

You brat, I told you not to use the same things you learned from me to talk back to me!

"No, don't talk nonsense, I won't speak up for him."

To distance himself from the situation, Xie Shuci shoved Xie An's hand away and moved it slightly to the side, making it seem like he was trying to cover it up.

Since leaving Mengjia Immortal Mountain, Xie An had been almost completely obedient to Xie Shuci, coaxing and indulging him without a single complaint. But this wasn't his usual personality; he was probably already simmering with anger. Then Sikong Ye stirred things up, and now his patience was almost completely worn out.

Xie Shuci, on the other hand, moved aside as if he disliked it.

Just as Xie Shuci was about to say something more in his defense, Xie An grabbed his wrist and pulled him up from the ground.

"What are you doing?" Xie Shuci was not as strong as him and was easily lifted up.

Xie An said coldly, "Let's talk."

"No talk! No talk! There's nothing to talk about!" He had long known that Xie An was an impatient person. Recalling his series of actions that ignored and angered him today, Xie Shuci was panicking. He felt that he would be in trouble if he went out with him.

"Everyone's here, it's not appropriate for us to go out... Brother Du, Brother Du, didn't you want to know what happened at Chunsheng Mountain? I haven't finished telling you yet, come and help me!"

“Brother Xie…” Du Pingsheng made a move to get up from the ground, but Xie An glanced back with cold eyes, and Du Pingsheng immediately stopped and sat up straight. “Brother Xie, I’ll be waiting for you to come back here.”

Xie Shuci: "..."

I shouldn't have relied on you at all.

"Chu Wenfeng, Wenfeng, Xiao Wenzi..."

Chu Wenfeng ignored him completely, not even bothering to glance at him. "Serves you right."

"Guiyi, Senior Brother, help me!"

Chu Guiyi took a sip of tea and pretended not to hear.

"Sikong Ye! Didn't you want to cause trouble? You'll take full responsibility!" Xie Shuci stomped her feet in anger.

Sikong Ye looked at him innocently, "They just want to talk to you, they're not going to do anything else, why are you so nervous?"

"You..." Xie Shuci was so angry that her teeth itched. This guy was definitely doing it on purpose!

Xie Shuci was dragged out of the room without any chance to resist. As the door closed, Xie Shuci's struggles weakened.

What a joke! Xie Shuci was confident when there were many people around, but when facing Xie An, who had transformed into Xiao Xun, alone, Xie Shuci was a bit scared.

Xie An turned his head, a cold smile playing on his lips, "Not calling anymore?"

Xie Shuci: "..."

Shouting until you're hoarse won't do any good, right?

Xie An led him to an empty room and pulled him inside.

"No way! Can't we talk about this outside? Do you know that this is trespassing?"

Xie An was too lazy to say anything more to him. He simply pushed Xie Shuci into the room, then went in himself, turned around and closed the door. He even cast a barrier to prevent being disturbed.

Upon seeing this scene, Xie Shuci was immediately reminded of all the autumn scenes he had ever seen. As Xie An slowly turned around, Xie Shuci couldn't help but swallow hard, took a few steps back, and bumped into a wooden pillar. His eyes, however, remained wary of Xie An, not daring to look away for even a moment.

"I...I'm warning you, don't do anything rash. Let's talk this out. Violence is absolutely unacceptable."

Xie An's deep gaze lingered on his face as he slowly took a step and walked towards Xie Shuci.

"Don't come any closer! Keep a safe distance!" Xie Shuci quickly stretched out her hand to block in front of herself. "Let me tell you, I... I'd rather die than submit. Forcing me won't work, you know?"

"?" Xie An looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Force what?"

"..."

Xie Shuci was stunned for a moment, looking at Xie An with suspicion, thinking to himself, wasn't he just trying to force himself on her out of embarrassment and anger?

"You...you're not angry?" Xie Shuci asked.

Xie An nodded frankly, "A little."

But judging from his appearance, he didn't seem to intend to do anything to her. Xie Shuci chuckled dryly. He had really been brainwashed by those plots and thought Xie An was here to do *that* to him.

Xie An vaguely sensed something, narrowed his eyes, and asked, "What do you think I brought you out here to do to you?"

Xie Shuci blushed. "I didn't mean that. Don't talk nonsense. Don't tarnish my innocence!"

Xie An raised his eyebrows and looked at him without saying a word.

Xie Shuci felt guilty and didn't dare to look at him. "What? Why did you bring me out?"

Xie An said, "Let's talk."

So you really want to talk? Then why are you wearing such a long face? You made me misunderstand!

Xie Shuci cursed him in his heart.

"Talk about what? Let's talk."

Xie An slowly walked in front of him. He was taller and much stronger than Xie Shuci. He looked down at Xie Shuci, casting a heavy shadow on him.

"What?" There was a pillar behind Xie Shuci, so he couldn't back up any further. He glanced at Xie An and felt that his eyes were burning. Almost the instant their eyes met, he lowered his head to avoid his scorching gaze.

Xie An pressed his long legs up, separating Xie Shuci's legs. If he lowered his body slightly, he could sit directly on Xie An's lap. Even so, the position was too strange, making it impossible for Xie Shuci to move his lower limbs.

"What do you think I'm going to do?" Xie An lowered his upper body, his burning gaze fixed on Xie Shuci's face.

Xie Shuci felt a chill run down her spine from his gaze. "It's nothing."

"You're lying." He moved closer to Xie Shuci, and the leg that was pressing against Xie Shuci's body moved up a few inches. Xie Shuci instantly tensed up and dared not move.

His face flushed red, and he tried to stand on tiptoe to create some distance, but Xie An had anticipated this and pressed his body even closer, his thigh almost pressing against Xiao Ci.

"Xie An!" Xie Shuci hurriedly pushed him, but he stood there motionless in front of him.

"Hmm?" Xie An's lips curled up involuntarily, his voice filled with pleasure.

"You..." Xie Shuci was extremely embarrassed, "Don't be a hooligan."

Xie An didn't take it seriously. "Don't you think that I brought you out here just to take advantage of you?"

Xie Shuci was speechless, his face burning red.

"Lift your head up, I won't do anything else." Xie An's lips hovered near her ear, coaxing her gently.

His breath was close to her ear, hoarse yet lingering. Xie Shuci clearly remembered that this was how he had seduced her into doing shameful things last night.

Xie Shuci held her breath and didn't listen to him.

Xie An wasn't in a hurry. "You talk to other people, ignore me, disregard me, and deliberately try to provoke me, Xie Shuci. Do you think I wouldn't be angry?"

His breath brushed against Xie Shuci's ear, and Xie Shuci felt as if her heart had been burned. She stammered, "I didn't."

Actually, he does.

Xie Shuci was unhappy and subconsciously used such childish methods to retaliate against Xie An, just like a bratty child seeking validation in front of someone they like.

"I'm really angry, lift your head." Xie An gently kissed his earlobe.

Xie Shuci's heart was pounding. He really wanted to call Chu Wenfeng and the others over and let them see what Xiao Xun, who acted so respectable in front of others, was really like in private. Was this even acceptable?

"You're talking nonsense. You're not angry at all. You must think I'm incredibly childish." Xie Shuci was even more ashamed to lift his head.

Xie An was silent for a moment, then said, “I’m actually very angry. I’m angry when you ignore me, I’m angry when you talk to other people, I’m even angrier when you disregard me, and I’m still angry when you deliberately try to annoy me. So haven’t I been trying to make you happy? I just want you to talk to me and not talk to them.”

"Really?" Xie Shuci was a little skeptical.

"If you don't believe me, look up," Xie An said.

Xie Shuci slowly raised her head, wanting to see the expression on Xie An's face. However, as soon as Xie Shuci raised her head, a shadow loomed over her, and without a word, Xie Shuci's lips were sealed with a kiss.

Xie Shuci: "..."

I believed your lies.

Xie An placed his hands on Xie Shuci's waist, kissed Xie Shuci's lips, and his eyes were filled with a faint smile.

Xie Shuci pushed him away in a fit of anger, but couldn't budge him at all. Instead, he was pulled into someone's arms and held even tighter.

"Hmm!"

Bastard! Scoundrel! Liar! Thug!

Unfortunately, Xie An swallowed all his voice.

Xie An released Xie Shuci after the kiss didn't last long.

Nevertheless, Xie Shuci was still exhausted and panting.

He felt something hard against his waist and turned his head away uncomfortably. "Calm down first."

Xie An's voice was low and hoarse, his breathing heavy, "No need, I'm very calm right now."

Xie Shuci hated that he could sometimes instantly understand Xie An's words. He immediately grasped Xie An's meaning, and if he weren't calm now, it would be questionable whether Xie Shuci could even stand and talk to him. Therefore, he was very calm at the moment.

"Shameless," Xie Shuci muttered under his breath.

Xie An smiled, rubbed the corner of his eye, and said, "Thank you for speaking up for me."

Xie Shuci choked up, "I didn't speak up for you, I was just telling the truth."

Xie An didn't say anything, but pulled Xie Shuci to sit down at the table and said, "Xie Shuci, let's talk."

Xie Shuci glanced at him. "What do you want to talk about?"

"You got angry when I said I'd let you go?"

Xie Shuci's eyes flickered. "No, I'd be very happy if you let me go."

Despite this, Xie Shuci's tone revealed no trace of joy.

Xie An stared at him for a moment. He originally didn't want to tell Xie Shuci about this, but he also didn't want Xie Shuci to be angry or ignore him.

"Thank you for your help. I must attend the Immortal Sect Selection in two months," Xie An said.

Xie Shuci was taken aback. Xie An had never told Xie Shuci about his affairs or his thoughts before, so he was momentarily stunned. "Why?"

Xie An lowered his gaze, "I can't tell you."

"Tell me I can go with you!"

Xie An stared at him intently, his gaze deep. "Have you forgotten? Ban Xiayin said that you would die in the Immortal Sect Selection."

Xie Shuci was startled; he had actually forgotten about this matter.

Xie An continued, "Xie Shuci, because of your appearance, everything is full of variables. I have no certainty about what will happen in the future, but I have to do one thing: go to the Immortal Sect Selection."

Xie Shuci looked at him blankly, "So you're not coming with me? You want me to leave on my own?"

"Yes." Xie An lowered his eyes. "Tomorrow, you will leave with that dog. After the Immortal Sect Selection, I will come to find you. It drank my blood, so no matter where you are, I will be able to find you."

"Is what you're about to do dangerous?" Xie Shuci asked nervously.

Xie An paused for a moment, then said, "It's not dangerous."

"Is it related to the Xiaoyao Sect?" Xie Shuci asked.

Xie An smiled and said, "It's related to the Xiaoyao Sect, and it's related to the entire Futu Realm."

Xie Shuci frowned upon hearing this. "What exactly do you want to do?"

Xie An avoided answering: "After the Immortal Sect Selection is over, I'll listen to you and go live somewhere you like." "No..." Xie Shuci shook his head, "Don't say things like that, it's unlucky."

Given the typical nature of novels, this kind of statement sounds like a flag that can't be taken back once it's set.

"Quickly say 'Pah, pah, pah,' and take back what you just said."

Xie An: "..."

"Did you hear that?" Xie Shuci urged, frowning.

Xie An: "..."

Xie Shuci glared at him, "Pah! Pah! My lord, children speak without thinking, please don't take it seriously!"

Xie An chuckled, and couldn't help but lean forward and kiss Xie Shuci's lips. "Wait for me to come back and find you."

Xie Shuci stared at him for a moment and asked, "After the Immortal Sect Election, are you really willing to abandon your identity and past and live with me?"

"Yes, really." Xie An nodded without hesitation.

In truth, Xie Shuci knew that he, Xie An, and Xiao Xun were from two different worlds and should not have any connection with each other. In the original story, Xie An would have killed him, and parting ways with Xie An was the best choice.

However, when you like someone, even if you know everything clearly, when a glimmer of hope is presented to you, you will still abandon all your anxieties and concerns and firmly grasp that hope in your palm.

What will the future hold? Who knows?

The worst outcome would be that Xie Shuci would lose his life, but so what? Life and death are too common in the cultivation world. As long as Xie Shuci can be reincarnated, what does it matter if he gambles his life once?

Xie Shuci gazed into Xie An's calm and deep eyes. Whether it was Xie An or Xiao Xun, in Xie Shuci's eyes, he was just her little blind man. As long as he liked her and was willing to be with her, there was nothing Xie Shuci couldn't accept.

Xie Shuci lowered her head, twisted her hands together, and muttered, "Is today the last day we'll be together? We won't see each other again for at least two months, right?"

Since meeting Xie An, Xie Shuci had never been separated from him, let alone for such a long time.

I should have calmed down last night and not argued with him. I wasted so much time.

"Reluctant to part with it?" Xie An chuckled softly.

"Nonsense." Xie Shuci gave him a light kick.

Just as Chu Gui had expected, Xie Shuci was exceptionally easy to coax.

Although he has a short temper, he will forgive and forget if you just soften your tone and say some nice things to him.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? I've been sulking for so long," Xie Shuci complained.

Xie Shuci started to get angry the moment he said he didn't want to leave with him.

He must be thinking, he doesn't care about your past or your background, yet you chose Sikong Ye over him?

Although Xie An did not choose Sikong Ye, Xie Shuci thought that if he didn't go with him, he would follow the original plot, which meant that he and Sikong Ye would end up together. But then this guy suddenly told him to leave. Who wouldn't be angry in that situation?

Xie Shuci felt that her emotions had changed too quickly throughout the day, and she was about to lose her composure.

Xie An replied, "I said, it's only a temporary arrangement for you to leave."

"Who can understand what this means? I thought you wanted to break up with me. You're such a scumbag who eats and throws away his food."

"I brought you out here to explain things to you," Xie An said.

"But you don't seem like you want to talk to me. I thought you..."

Xie Shuci raised an eyebrow. "Did you think I would force you?"

"..."

Xie Shuci blushed, "Oh dear, that's how it's written in books."

Xie An looked at him calmly and asked, "Would you like to try? If you'd like, I can..."

Xie Shuci shook his head violently, "I don't want to! I can't!"

Xie An nodded regretfully.

Thinking that she would be parting ways with Xie An tomorrow, Xie Shuci stayed in the room with him for half an hour, and everything seemed to have returned to what it was before.

Fearing that it would arouse suspicion from the others, Xie Shuci suggested going back to find them.

Xie An nodded and said, "You go first, I'll be there shortly."

Xie Shuci asked suspiciously, "What are you going to do?"

Xie An glanced down at the ground without changing his expression. "Calm down."

Xie Shuci glanced down at him, her ears burning. "Oh, then hurry up and come over here."

"Um."

Xie Shuci left the room, turning back every three steps, and closed the door.

As soon as he left, Xie An immediately clutched his chest and groaned, wiping away the blood that had spilled from his mouth.

"Why lie to him?" A strange male voice suddenly rang out from the void.

Xie An seemed not to hear, staring in the direction Xie Shuci had left, his gaze lingering for a long time.

Why did you lie to Xie Shuci?

Because he is bad.

He wanted Xie Shuci to remember him for the rest of her life, to never be able to let him go, and to never be able to like anyone else.