Chapter 33 The Bell Rings Through Mountains and Rivers, Tracing Cause and Effect 3 (Kiss)

Seeing that the guards were really about to take Mingying away, Mingyu stopped her behind him, looking wary: "She has done nothing wrong, General Xiao, what is the reason for this?"

Mingying squeezed her hand, peeked out and said with a smile, "I can walk by myself, there's no need to trouble you two. Besides, I have something to ask General Xiao—General Xiao, how about we find a quiet place to catch up?"

Xiao Jingze looked at her with a half-smile: "Are you trying to bargain with me?"

Mingying found his words even stranger than when they first met, and her eyebrows furrowed slightly: "General Xiao, I was captured to help the old doctor, and I will be back soon. So many people here are waiting for me to deliver medicine."

Xiao Jingze pointed at the two guards and said, "You two take their places."

Mingying handed the kettle to the two men, then turned and asked, "General Xiao, where are you taking me?"

Xiao Jingze, his face cold, personally led her into his tent. Mingying looked around, then found a comfortable spot on the couch to sit down. She took a handkerchief, wiped the bloodstains from her hands, and, resting her chin on her hand, asked earnestly, "What happened to you?"

Xiao Jingze sat down casually, about to ask a question, but seeing how natural and unpretentious she was, he tapped his fingers lightly on the table: "Who are you? Explain everything and I'll let you go."

Mingying was now absolutely certain that Xiao Jingze had lost his mind. She pondered for a moment and asked, "Have you forgotten about me?"

Xiao Jingze didn't speak. Mingying glanced at him and thought he looked dazed and had a bad temper; it seemed he had forgotten everything. She softened her expression and leaned closer to ask, "How much do you remember? Do you know where this is? Do you know how you got here?"

Xiao Jingze glanced at her: "Sit still, I'm asking you a question."

Mingying felt inexplicably angry at his lazy sitting posture. She stopped sitting and stared into his eyes, saying, "The problem is with you. I should be the one asking you this."

Xiao Jingze said arrogantly, "This is my territory, you can only listen to me."

Mingying squinted at him for a long time, then smiled and said, "...I am your fiancée, you have to listen to me."

Xiao Jingze scoffed: "You think you can make me admit it with just a piece of paper? Dream on."

Mingying blinked: "You forgot, we have a very good relationship."

Xiao Jingze parted his thin lips slightly and uttered two words: "I don't believe it."

"It's true! I said I was going to burn the marriage certificate, and you secretly hid it. Since you called me by name, you must have seen it. If you don't believe me, take out the marriage certificate, and we'll burn it now."

Xiao Jingze stared at her for a while, his expression becoming less certain. He tapped his ring, about to take out the marriage certificate and hand it to her, when he saw Ming Ying watching his movements with a smile. He suddenly stopped and refused, saying, "I don't believe you now. You might be lying to me."

Mingying: It's fun.

She nodded: "Okay."

In a great mood, she sat back down and said, "Ask whatever you want."

Xiao Jingze stroked the ring on his finger. The light in the tent was dim, and his expression was not clear. He slowly said, "In order to repair your heart, I didn't hesitate to sacrifice my own soul—and therefore, I erased my memories of you as my fiancée."

Mingying pursed her lips, her feelings complicated. Was Xiao Jingze's "amnesia" still related to her? It wasn't that he had forgotten everything, but that he had simply forgotten her.

Xiao Jingze chuckled: "Tell me, what did you do to frame me? Ha, a mere mortal, would you really resort to such low-level sorcery?"

When did he become the kind of person who would be bound by a marriage contract, and when did he ever care about the "fiancée" arranged for him by the Xiao family?

Mingying lowered her head and said softly, "I'm sorry."

Xiao Jingze frowned even more, stepped forward, lifted her chin, stared into her eyes and said, "You don't need to apologize. Whatever that person did for you, it was all their own doing... they were simply outmatched. I'm only asking you, what did you do?"

Mingying's eyes were bright and clear: "I accepted your gift."

Xiao Jingze's expression was strange: "I'm giving you a gift as soon as we meet?"

Mingying nodded: "Yes."

Xiao Jingze paused for a moment: "Anything else?"

"I also accepted the bluebird you made especially for me, and the water mirror you made to communicate with me. These are magical artifacts that mortals can use, and I always carry them with me. I just don't know why I can't bring any of them with me."

She counted on her fingers, "I even picked out new clothes for you, ate the candy you prepared, and we even had a wedding ceremony at the Immortal Temple—"

Xiao Jingze covered her mouth: "Alright, stop talking."

His brow twitched a few times. This mortal wasn't telling the truth; he couldn't let her continue.

Mingying nodded obediently, and Xiao Jingze felt that the palm of his hand was very soft and somewhat familiar.

His expression shifted unpredictably. He released his grip, and Mingying looked at him innocently. Xiao Jingze tapped his Sumeru Ring, took out his Listening Eye, and asked, "Are the things you just said true?"

Mingying almost laughed, but answered without showing any emotion, "Yes."

The Listening Eyes remained unresponsive. Xiao Jingze asked incredulously, "I like you?"

"yes."

The Eye of Truth still didn't react. Xiao Jingze thought it was probably broken and sneered, "I don't like you."

Di Tingyan suddenly opened his eyes. Mingying bit her lower lip, turned her head to look at the top of the tent, and felt that today was not so unhappy.

Xiao Jingze's face darkened, but he suddenly smiled and withdrew it: "Perhaps I did like you before, and even mended your heart, but that has nothing to do with who I am now."

Mingying said, "But this is you speaking to the Eye of Truth right now."

Xiao Jingze sat back down and waved his hand dismissively: "It's just an ordinary magic artifact, how could it possibly distinguish between truth and falsehood in people's words?"

Mingying wanted to say something more, but seeing his expression, she changed her mind and said, "Mmm."

Xiao Jingze rested his forehead on his hand, deep in thought, when he suddenly blurted out, "I don't believe it."

Mingying wanted to laugh again and said in full support, "Young Master Xiao - General Xiao's thoughts are naturally beyond the comprehension of ordinary magical artifacts."

Xiao Jingze met her gaze quietly, raising his eyebrows: "Your expression doesn't seem to suggest that."

Mingying's eyes crinkled into a smile: "So, General Xiao, what do you wish to do?"

Xiao Jingze said, "How about this, come over and kiss me and I'll believe you."

Mingying stared blankly for a moment: "What?"

Seeing her hesitant expression, Xiao Jingze snorted coldly: "I knew you were full of lies. If we were truly in love as you say, why would you hesitate?"

Mingying looked left and right: "...I'm just making preparations."

"Heh, we've never even kissed, have we?"

Xiao Jingze looked at her with a half-smile. Mingying blinked and shook her head firmly, "How could that be?"

Xiao Jingze extended his hand: "Here."

Mingying took his hand and stood up, slowly approaching him. Xiao Jingze stared at her intently. Mingying brought her face closer, stopping at a hand's width away, and lowered her eyelashes to carefully examine his face.

A beauty seen under the lamplight is even more striking than usual. Xiao Jingze's features are exceptionally handsome, with slightly upturned eyes. He has the appearance of a passionate man, yet he possesses a ruthless and ill-tempered nature. However, despite his strong personality, his lips look soft; they would be quite easy to bite.

Xiao Jingze stared at her delicate nose, his fingers twitching slightly. Their lips were very close; they only needed to lean forward a little to kiss. Seeing Mingying suddenly stop, he said smugly, "I knew you were lying to me."

Mingying smiled, knelt down on one knee, grabbed his collar and pulled him closer, then leaned down and quickly took a bite.

She bit her lip, and Xiao Jingze only felt the fragrance of plum blossoms waft towards him; it was just a fleeting kiss.

He licked the blood from the corner of his lips, his eyes dark and his voice slightly hoarse: "Is this how we always get intimate?"

Mingying raised her eyes, and Xiao Jingze pulled her into his arms, holding her waist tightly. He lowered his head and kissed her lips: "I believe you."

Nose to nose, heart to heart. Xiao Jingze kissed her forcefully, as if he had been holding back for a long time. Mingying was a little breathless, tilted her head back, and pushed him away, saying, "You..."

Xiao Jingze ignored her, reached out and pressed down on the back of her neck, his tongue taking the opportunity to invade her teeth, a position that left no room for refusal.

The scalding heat assaulted her senses, and Mingying couldn't bear his sudden outburst any longer. She bit his tongue hard, but Xiao Jingze became even more excited, kissing her urgently and heavily, as if he wanted to crush her in his arms.

When Xiao Jingze finally relented, Mingying blushed completely, her lips parted slightly, and her eyes glistened with tears; it was clear what had happened. Xiao Jingze stared intently at her face, then picked her up again, pressed her against the couch, and continued kissing her.

Mingying felt weak all over and was pressed down on the bed, clinging to Xiao Jingze. She was being kissed so much that her head was spinning. Wait, wait a minute, no, why did Xiao Jingze accept it so quickly?

Xiao Jingze finally released her lips, his nose brushing against her cheek as he sniffed lightly, as if searching for another place to bite. Mingying was panting, about to speak, but immediately shut her mouth after uttering a single word.

Xiao Jingze chuckled softly, then nibbled on her earlobe, his voice low and husky: "Say what you want to say."

He felt a surge of emotions when he saw her; he probably hated her, yet he also seemed to like her quite a bit. He couldn't distinguish between the two emotions, but he liked biting her; the taste was familiar, and perhaps they had done something more intimate before. Besides, a part of his soul resided in her heart.

Thinking of this, he became excited again, and moved his lips down, wanting to kiss her again. Not counting that time, he had only kissed her twice.

Mingying hurriedly reached out and pressed her hand to his lips, saying weakly, "...It wasn't like this before."

Xiao Jingze moved her hand away: "What was it like before?"

“You did whatever I said before, and you stopped when I said stop. Don’t move… don’t bite me anymore, uh, put it down, put it down…”

Xiao Jingze finally released her earlobe, looked at her flushed face, and narrowed his eyes: "Lying."

Mingying moved slightly and realized that his hand was still holding her and preventing her from leaving. She said in a serious tone, "You weren't like this before. You were always very gentle."

He scoffed lightly: "I don't believe it."

Mingying opened her mouth: "Look, it's bleeding."

She tasted a metallic, rusty flavor.

Xiao Jingze stared at the tip of her tongue, his eyes darkening: "They're all mine."

Mingying pursed her lips, feeling a little numb, but there didn't seem to be any wounds. However, Xiao Jingze's lips were bitten raw, and it seemed to be covered in his blood. She said, "Then why did you believe what I said before?"

Xiao Jingze said arrogantly, "I will tell for myself."

Mingying: "..."

Seeing that he was about to bend down again, Mingying poked at the gold-threaded soft armor on his body and shifted uncomfortably: "This is pressing down on me and it hurts. I don't like this."

Xiao Jingze raised an eyebrow: "Such a delicate girl."

He got up and removed his soft armor. Mingying exhaled, wiped her lips, and quickly rolled off the bed. Her feet were still a little weak on the ground, and her hair was disheveled.

She grabbed her hair and turned to look at Xiao Jingze. Xiao Jingze was also looking at her, wearing only a thin shirt, his arms crossed and leaning against the table: "Manman, are you sure you want to go out like this?"

Mingying walked up to him: "Have you really forgotten me? How do you know my nickname?"

Xiao Jingze lowered his head and brought his face closer: "I did forget you, but since a part of my soul is in your body, kissing you a few more times will help me remember a little."

Mingying twitched the corner of her mouth: "I don't believe it."

Xiao Jingze held her waist and pulled her a little closer: "How could Manman be so heartless? She must be saying things in anger."

Seeing his head lower and lower, Mingying reached out and covered his mouth, her face serious: "You can't kiss me anymore."

Xiao Jingze kissed her palm: "It was just two kisses."

He wasn't one of those people who indulged in excessive sexual activity, but she really smelled good. The fragrance of plum blossoms wafted out from her slightly loosened collar, and he couldn't resist pulling her close, rubbing his nose against her palm: "Third time's the charm, let's do it again."

Mingying was stunned for a moment, her eyes filled with disbelief, wondering if she hadn't heard her clearly: "What did you say?"

Xiao Jingze stared at her lips, but Ming Ying firmly refused: "You don't want me to faint in your tent, do you?"

If he does that a couple more times, she'll never wake up. Could Xiao Jingze be a spy sent by the Immortal Venerable to seduce her with his beauty?

Without saying a word, Xiao Jingze buried his head in the crook of her neck and took a deep breath.

Mingying thought he was like a puppy, and nudged him: "Comb my hair, I'm going out. Mingyu is waiting for me outside. I'll tell you about going back later."

Xiao Jingze chuckled: "Goddess, you really are a charmer everywhere you go, you can seduce people wherever you go."

Mingying warned, "That's my ancestor, watch your words."

Xiao Jingze: "..."

He reluctantly loosened her waist, removed her loose hair ribbon, and took out a comb from his storage ring to braid her hair.

Mingying turned to look at him and said, "You have to make it just like before. Don't make it a mess like last time."

Xiao Jingze lowered his eyes and hummed in agreement. After braiding her hair, he straightened her collar and stared at her face, saying, "Your face is still very red. Go out tomorrow. If you're worried about her being alone, I'll send someone to take her home right now."

Mingying touched her hair and shook her head in refusal, saying, "I know, but she'll worry if she can't see me."

Xiao Jingze withdrew his hand, watching her hurried departure with a blank expression. The candlelight flickered inside the tent, and he gave a cryptic laugh.

——

Mingyu sat not far from the main tent. Seeing that Mingying hadn't come out for quite a while, she anxiously walked over, but two soldiers stopped her. She kicked a stone as she walked back, her mind already turning General Xiao into a bloody mess. Although Mingying earnestly told her that they were old friends, General Xiao didn't look at Mingying with the eyes of an old friend; he looked more like an enemy.

The more she thought about it, the more something seemed wrong. Mingying was someone she had saved, and she had even helped Mingying's mother secure a spot. How could something happen to her here? She turned around, took a deep breath, and was about to rush over to call her when Mingying lifted the curtain and came out, waving at her.

Seeing that Mingyu had come out unharmed, Mingyu felt much relieved. It was too dark to see clearly, but when Mingying came closer, Mingyu noticed that her cheeks and ears were red. She looked at the sky with some confusion. Wasn't it snowing? Was it hot inside the tent?

Mingying touched her nose guiltily and pulled her hand forward, saying, "Don't worry, General Xiao is my... friend, he's a good person."

Mingyu disapproved and muttered to her, "This guy is a good person? You don't know, this General Xiao of the Seventh Battalion only took office not long ago, and he beat up several people on his first day. It's said that he's a good-for-nothing playboy who only got here because of General Xiao's background. He might even be General Xiao's illegitimate son. Mingying, you have to be careful and don't let him fool you."

Mingying nodded thoughtfully: "What is General Xiao's name?"

Mingyu scratched her head: "He should be called Xiao Che, we usually call him General."

"Is the current Imperial Advisor named Xiao Qingyi, and is he...?"

Without hesitation, Mingyu replied, "The Imperial Advisor is his great-aunt."

Mingying tried to figure out the generations, but couldn't. No wonder Xiao Jingze became a general so quickly; it turned out he could still live off his parents nine hundred years ago. But... she glanced at Mingyu, who asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

Mingying smiled slightly: "Mingyu, thank you for taking care of me all this time."

Mingyu blushed as well, and waved her hand, saying, "You've been thanking me the whole time, but I haven't done anything."

Looking at Mingying's face, as if sensing something, she clutched the hem of her dress and asked cautiously, "Aren't you coming back with me?"

Mingying smiled at her and said, "Well, I have something very important to do."

Mingyu gazed into her eyes, no longer believing that she had intended to drown herself. How could someone with such bright eyes and such a radiant spirit want to drown? She was a celestial being who had unintentionally fallen into the water, yet Mingyu had cunningly tried to bring her home. But such a person would surely live freely for thousands of years, like the sun and moon.

Will I ever see you again?

Mingying smiled and said, "It definitely will."

Mingyu pursed her lips, turned and left, but after taking a few steps, she turned back and said, "You'll definitely live a long time, won't you?"

Mingying answered solemnly, "I will."

Mingyu walked through the city gate, turning back every few steps. Each time she turned back, Mingying would wave to her until the city gate closed again. Runes flowed, and a guard reminded her, "Miss Ming, General Xiao has been waiting for you for a long time."

Mingying nodded, her lips slightly pressed together. If the Imperial Advisor had seen Xiao Jingze nine hundred years in the future, then was destiny truly just destiny? What exactly is cause and effect?

——

The water prison was dark and chilling, with water droplets dripping down and flowing onto the surface of the pool, following the bodies of the people in the pool.

Shen Huai'an was half-submerged in the water, his wrists suspended by iron chains. His white clothes were torn, revealing his chest covered with whip marks. His back was as rugged as a solitary peak, his face pale and handsome, his jaw clenched, his eyes closed as he tried his best to endure the pain.

Xiao Qingyi walked in silently and stood outside the door for a while.

She had been busy with affairs a few days ago and was originally in the palace. After failing to persuade the two armies to stop their fighting, she took her leave from the princess's palace. Halfway up the observatory, she was summoned by an array. She couldn't figure out why it was summoning her, so she went to investigate with suspicion. The person was named Xiao Jingze, but he had no trace of the Xiao family's style, and there was no connection between his fate and his body. He was just a spirit body, and he was actually a thousand years old.

The variables had appeared, but for the first time, she couldn't predict the outcome. As spiritual energy flowed, the chains fell with a thud, and Xiao Qingyi said calmly, "You may leave this place today."

Shen Huai'an lay on the ground, his long, dark hair tangled around his body. He struggled to sit up, his voice slightly hoarse: "This matter has nothing to do with the Imperial Advisor. Aren't you worried about the princess's wrath if you let me go?"

Xiao Qingyi said, "The princess's thoughts are unpredictable, beyond our comprehension."

Shen Huai'an chuckled softly, "That's true."

He reached out and brushed the scars on his wrist, then stood up unsteadily, bowed respectfully to Xiao Qingyi, and said apologetically, "I don't know how things are outside, so I'll have to trouble the Imperial Preceptor to escort me."

Xiao Qingyi remained calm and used her sleeve to bring him into the camp. Shen Huai sat quietly in her sleeve, keenly sensing the abnormality in his spiritual power, and looked worried: "Grand Preceptor, it seems that your Dao heart is unstable."

Xiao Qingyi waved her sleeve, turning into a gust of wind, and lightly left behind the words: "You're overthinking it."

The old doctor saw something fall down and was about to curse when he looked closely and saw that it was his cheap disciple who had been missing for several days.

Shen Huai'an slowly stood up, supporting himself on the edge of the table. The old apothecary glared at him, his beard bristling: "What have you been up to again? Did you go see that damn princess again?! What's the use of seeing her? She just treats you like a toy! And you're still clinging to her like that? She's probably already had several gigolos while she's living a carefree life—"

Shen Huai'an retorted earnestly, "The princess is not that kind of person."

The old apothecary grabbed his ear and scolded, "Look at the state you're in now! A medical cultivator injured like this, where do you put my face!"

"She didn't do it."

The old apothecary, worn down by his timid nature, handed him the stove: "Go, go, go get to work. My old bones can't take it anymore. I finally got a disciple, but he's siding with outsiders. Poor thing..."

Shen Huai'an chuckled a few times in a muffled voice: "Master, don't worry, I will definitely carry on your mantle and prevent our century-old medical family, which consists of only two people, from declining."

The old apothecary was utterly exasperated: "You can still laugh! I saw your talent, but who knew you weren't interested in it at all, you ignorant brat! What a waste! Burn... burn what again?"

Shen Huai'an quickly added, "Burning the zither and boiling the crane."

The old doctor glanced at him and said, "Aren't you going out? Several generals have been replaced already, and you, a military doctor, are still hesitating here."

Shen Huai'an's hand holding the medicine cauldron tightened: "Then General Fu is also..."

The old apothecary gave a cold laugh: "Dead!"

Shen Huai'an asked in a low voice, "How did you die?"

"The Northern army cleaved him in two from head to toe. What are you even thinking about? Even if a god came, he couldn't piece him back together!"

Shen Huai'an stepped out of the tent, looked around blankly, and realized that he was still holding the medicine cauldron.

He lowered his head and smiled bitterly, put it back in the kitchen, chanted an incantation to start a fire, but the Regeneration Pill couldn't save their lives, so he refined a new one.

The medicine furnace rose into the air. Shen Huai'an found a corner to sit down, and while waiting, he took out the shattered concentric mirror and carefully repaired it. Unfortunately, the mirror was completely destroyed and could never be put back together. The princess still hated him after all.

He sighed, his eyes filled with sorrow, and then glanced at the general's tent in the distance. He found the princess's temperament increasingly difficult to understand. She had clearly been like that many years ago... Now the princess was determined to start a war. If there was no way to break the deadlock, the Eastern Continent army would surely suffer heavy casualties.

He willingly became a blade in the princess's hand, but the blade wounded both himself and others. He became a disciple of the old medicine master and traveled through military camps, but even with his utmost efforts, he could not save everyone. When did things become so difficult, leaving him in a dilemma?

Shen Huai'an retrieved the Heart-to-Heart Mirror, put down the floating medicine furnace, and carried it to visit the newly arrived General Xiao.

——

Mingying sat upright at the table and yawned: "We should get down to business."

Xiao Jingze leaned lazily against the couch, resting his forehead on his hand: "Go to sleep if you're sleepy."

Mingying shook her head: "I'm very energetic. The Immortal Venerable is still in my heart. We need to get out of here quickly."

Xiao Jingze composed himself, straightened up, and asked, "What happened?"

"A huge hole appeared in my heart, and she crawled in."

Xiao Jingze's face was grim. He had been at the entrance to the Mountain and River Bell, yet here he was, in such a state. That person, aside from using his own heart to mend it, was truly useless. His eyes were dark and unfathomable: "How are you?"

Mingying rubbed her eyes: "I'm fine. My consciousness in my heart sea is still alive. The Immortal Venerable was bored after being locked up in the Xuanji Palace for nine hundred years, so she came over to chat with me. She said that the matter of the spiritual vein was not her doing, but was an inevitable trend. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth will dissipate, and she wants me to give her my heart sea."

Xiao Jingze rubbed the ring on his finger: "I've tried it, the spiritual power to vibrate the Mountain and River Bell can't take me back."

Mingying looked surprised: "Why is this happening? I suddenly sank to the bottom of the water and woke up here."

Xiao Jingze suddenly thought of something: "Where's your heart?"

Mingying touched her chest: "It's still there, but it's beating very slowly."

Xiao Jingze remained silent for a moment. He had awoke by the river, and the Myriad Manifestations Returning to Nothingness could no longer take form, while the Thousand Mechanisms Guide was now like an ordinary object. Presumably, due to the laws of heaven and earth, dragon-related items were unique and could not be replicated, and they had not been in his possession nine hundred years ago. However, without an item of the same origin as the Mountain and River Bell, he was also unable to enter the sea of ​​his heart constructed by it.

He realized he had lost his memory, and the place was unusually rich in spiritual energy, with shouts of battle echoing from all directions. He knew something was amiss, so he tossed the golden ring around a couple of times, pondered for a moment, and then tried to draw a formation to summon people.

The Imperial Advisor arrived on the wind; her hair was not yet white, and she was dignified and solemn. She raised her hand to test his strength. Xiao Jingze raised an eyebrow in surprise, then looked at the distant firelight. After a moment's thought, he understood. He had come to the time of the Nine Provinces' chaos because of the Mountain and River Bell. The Xiao family's mold had been etched nine hundred years ago. The Imperial Advisor had existed in the Xiao family for nine hundred years; it was no wonder that the Xiao family had become stagnant.

Mingying asked, "So, would the Imperial Preceptor of our time remember that she saw you nine hundred years ago? Or is this an illusion created by the Mountain and River Bell, and we haven't actually traveled to nine hundred years ago?"

She never actually spoke to the Imperial Advisor; every time they met, it was when she fainted. She didn't know if the Imperial Advisor had known her before she was born.

Xiao Jingze's eyes were complicated, and he twitched the corner of his mouth: "We'll have to wait until we leave this place to verify this. But even if it is true, the Imperial Advisor won't do anything; she will only act according to the so-called Mandate of Heaven."

Mingying glanced at his expression: "Isn't there anyone in the Xiao family you like? The Imperial Advisor is a good person too, she has saved me many times. Even now, she doesn't get angry that you, nine hundred years from now, are coming to sponge off her parents."

Xiao Jingze scoffed lightly: "That's because you are the goddess chosen by Heaven, and I am the solution chosen by Heaven."

Mingying, resting her chin on her hand, continued to guess: "What about Old Master Xiao? Young Master Feng said that Old Master Xiao treated you very well."

“When did Feng Yi tell you these things? Although my grandfather treats me well, it's only because I'm the only one the Xiao family can use. These people value family honor more than anything else. If I had a few more talented brothers and sisters, my grandfather would rush to the palace overnight to beg the Emperor to replace me as the heir.”

This was the first time Mingying had seen him not object to talking about the Xiao family with her, so she asked curiously, "And what about your mother?"

Xiao Jingze leaned back, staring at the ring on his hand, and said, "My mother didn't like the Xiao family's style when she was alive, and she didn't want to be buried in the Xiao family's ancestral tomb after she died. In her words, the Xiao family was just a group of lifeless puppets."

Mingying speculated, "Is that why you're unwilling to get married? Because you don't want your fiancée to become a puppet of the Xiao family as well."

Xiao Jingze shifted his posture and chuckled softly, "No, that's not it, I just..."

He suddenly stopped, and Mingying leaned closer to ask, "Just what?"

Xiao Jingze's gaze flickered slightly as he stared at her for a moment. Mingying quickly sat up straight: "You don't have to say it if you don't want to."

Don't look so strange in your eyes.

Xiao Jingze slowly spoke, "I forgot."

Mingying pursed her lips: "Will it be painful if your soul is a little missing? Actually, it's okay if you don't remember, there's nothing important that you need to remember."

Xiao Jingze's lips curled slightly: "I feel a little uncomfortable, but a kiss will make me feel better."

Mingying felt he was talking nonsense, but she had no evidence.

Xiao Jingze stared into her eyes, his gaze unfathomable: "Help me, Goddess?"

The goddess covered his lips: "General Xiao, I am just an ordinary cook, you have mistaken me for someone else."

Xiao Jingze chuckled, rubbing his forehead. "You don't like it? Then why did you kiss me back then, hmm?"

Mingying didn't say anything. She was a little angry and a little confused at the time, so she calmly replied, "It's just a bite, nothing serious."

Seeing Xiao Jingze frown and about to speak, she changed the subject: "Why did you become a general as soon as you arrived?"

She knew Xiao Jingze must be quite skilled, but she had never seen him use a longsword. Could Xiao Jingze use a longsword?

Xiao Jingze grasped her wrist: "General Xiao has only just entered the Nascent Soul stage. As long as you also cross the threshold of the Golden Core stage, you can also become a junior general."

Mingying responded with an "oh," indicating that nine hundred years ago, everyone judged people by their cultivation level, and she, as a mortal, could only observe.

"Didn't you bring your gold ring?"

Mingying looked at Xiao Jingze's empty waist. It was the first time she had seen him so quiet, and she felt a little unaccustomed to it.

Xiao Jingze took them out of his storage ring and casually placed them in her hand: "Here, you can play with them. Many of them are useless here."

Mingying fiddled with his gold rings: "Do they have names?"

Xiao Jingze tapped the golden ring in her palm with his fingertip: "These twelve golden rings are the magic artifacts I have been making the longest. In order to merge with magic artifacts of different origins, one must analyze the properties of matter and borrow the power of heaven and earth. All phenomena are only consciousness, and one thought returns to the truth. It is called - the appearance of all living beings."

Mingying blinked: "Then could you create a magical artifact that would allow us to return?"

Although I didn't understand, he sounded amazing. There's nothing Xiao Jingze can't build, so he must be able to do it, right?

Xiao Jingze laughed: "I used the Thousand Machine Guide to my heart, which is indispensable, but now the one in my hand has become an ordinary ring. If we want to go back, we still need to find the Thousand Machine Guide from nine hundred years ago."

Mingying nodded, yawned, and said that she was really exhausted from talking so late.

Xiao Jingze touched her face: "You should go to sleep."

Mingying looked left and right, but there was no second bed in the tent: "Where am I supposed to sleep?"

Xiao Jingze patted the bed next to him: "This is the most comfortable place to lie down."

Mingying stared into his eyes: "And what about you?"

Xiao Jingze smiled and said, "I'm very busy, I have to read the military report. You can sleep peacefully."

Xiao Jingze, the night owl, gave her his seat. Mingying took off her shoes, put on her coat, lay down in bed, and waved, "Goodnight."

The night was cold and windy. Mingying had half her face buried under the covers. Xiao Jingze quietly watched her face and placed a talisman on the pillow. Mingying rubbed against the pillow, a slight smile playing on her lips, as if she were having a sweet dream.

Xiao Jingze smiled, and a guard outside the tent called out, "General Xiao, Doctor Shen has come to see you."

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Author's Note: Song Xijia = The Unpredictable Boss

Shen Huai'an = The Boss's Secret Lover

Xiao Qingyi = one of the company's veteran employees

Xi: Grand Preceptor, you haven't laughed for nine hundred years. Why don't you laugh? Is it because you're not naturally inclined to laugh?

Xiao Qingyi, who had been busy all day: ...

Xi: Speaking of which, does the Imperial Advisor have holidays? How about I give you a title?

Model worker Xiao Qingyi: ...