Chapter 115 A Little Romance He happily cuddled Zhong Jiuli and collapsed onto the bed…

The candlelight in the room burned all night, and the mother and daughter talked all night long until the sky began to lighten. Only then did Bai Shu finally believe that Senior Zhong, who stood in the clouds, had really taken a liking to her silly tiger.

She slammed her hand on the table, declaring with boundless pride, "Fine! Since Senior Zhong... cough, since Sect Leader Zhong is also interested in you, then I agree to this marriage. As long as you win the Nine Provinces Grand Competition and bring back first place, I will definitely muster the courage to propose marriage to Sect Leader Zhong on your behalf!"

Upon hearing this, Bai's face immediately lit up with joy. With his goal achieved, drowsiness began to wash over him.

She yawned widely, stood up, and flopped onto Bai Shu's bed. "I've been talking all night, I'm so sleepy, I'm going to sleep for a while."

"Get out of the way!" Bai Shu reacted quickly, pulling her back. "You're about to have a Daoist partner, how can you still squeeze into your mother's bed? Aren't you ashamed? Go back to your own room and sleep!"

The moment the words left her mouth, she changed them again: "No, what are you talking about? With such a good opportunity, why don't you go and spend some time with your future Daoist partner? The arena competition starts in a couple of days, you won't have time to be all lovey-dovey then."

After she finished speaking, she pushed Bai Ye out the door without saying another word.

"Okay, I'll go right away, please don't refuse." Bai obediently left the room and departed from the Guzhou courtyard.

On the road, Bai encountered a patrol of Sanqing Sect disciples and politely asked, "Hello, may I walk around by myself? I'd like to take a stroll without anyone accompanying me."

The disciple also recognized Bai Ye, and she cupped her hands in reply, "Fellow Daoist Bai, please feel free to do as you please, as long as you do not trespass into the forbidden area."

"Okay, thank you." Bai nodded his thanks and turned to leave.

As for the warnings about not trespassing, just listen to them and forget about them. Tiger just wants to find his wife; he doesn't have any bad intentions.

......

At the summit of Yunwu Peak, beneath the peach blossoms.

Zhong Jiuli sat with her chin resting on her hand, seemingly lost in thought, completely unaware that her shoulders were covered with pink and white petals.

When Bai Ye slipped past the patrolling guards and arrived at this place, this was the scene he saw: a beautiful woman, dressed in white, with her long, black hair loosely draped over her shoulders, contrasting beautifully with the pink and white petals of the trees.

She was stunned for a moment, and hid in the bushes for a long time before she came back to her senses from the shock of his beauty.

"Hey, Zhong Jiuli~" Bai also jumped out of the bushes, waving at her with a bright smile on his face.

Zhong Jiuli looked up at the sound and saw the familiar figure, but there was no surprise in her eyes.

Last night, after overhearing that Xiao Wang and Bai were secretly planning to propose marriage, she guessed that this guy would definitely come looking for her.

She waved to Bai, "Come and sit down."

Bai brushed the grass clippings off her clothes as he walked over and sat down beside her, muttering, "Why are you sitting here alone in a daze so early in the morning? Haven't been back to sleep in a while and you're having trouble sleeping because you can't find a good bed?"

"This place is indeed a bit remote. It took me a lot of effort to sneak up here in order to avoid the patrolling guards."

After rambling on for a while, Bai belatedly realized that Zhong Jiuli seemed to have remained silent the whole time.

She looked up and met his deep eyes.

"What's wrong with you?" Bai asked, puzzled. "Why are you staring at me like that? Did you notice I've gotten even better looking after just one night?"

Zhong Jiuli shook her head slightly, her gaze still fixed on Bai Ye. "It's nothing. You're right. Perhaps it's because I haven't been back for too long, and I'm not used to living alone on this lonely peak."

"I don't like hearing that. Am I not a human being?" A familiar voice came from behind.

Bai turned around at the sound and saw Liu Xianyue push open the door, yawning as she walked towards the stone table. Jiaojiao, nestled in her arms, also yawned, looking incredibly adorable.

Bai wasn't surprised to see Liu Xianyue there, but she was somewhat taken aback when she saw the woman in white who followed closely behind Liu Xianyue.

The woman was dressed in white, with a gentle and graceful demeanor that gave people a feeling of warmth and comfort.

Bai blinked, looked at this person, then at that person, and finally looked at Zhong Jiuli, "You're not sleeping, is it because someone has taken over your room?"

Zhong Jiuli nodded almost imperceptibly and said in a low voice, "That's why I said I'm not used to it."

"Come on, you're not saying you're not used to it, you just can't sleep without your little tiger to keep you company." Liu Xianyue exposed her without any mercy.

Bai also tugged shyly at Liu Xianyue's sleeve: "Boss Liu, don't say such things in front of so many people, it'll make you shy."

She was actually referring to the gentle, white-clad woman, and she felt a little awkward talking about such things in front of strangers.

"It's alright, she knows whether I tell her or not," Liu Xianyue waved her hand dismissively.

The woman in white smiled and nodded, then spoke first: "Jiang Zhiming!"

"Hello, I'm Bai Ye." Bai Ye stood up and replied, his face showing a hint of initial awkwardness.

“I know.” Jiang Zhiming said gently, and naturally sat down next to Liu Xianyue. She waved her hand, indicating, “Sit down, don’t be shy, you can talk as you like, just pretend I’m not here.”

Liu Xianyue pushed her away slightly with a hint of disdain, not letting Jiang Zhizhi get too close, and explained, "Don't pay attention to her, she's always been a bit eccentric."

"Jiang Zhiming is the head of the Tianji Pavilion. He was born with a pair of discerning eyes that can see through the entanglements of cause and effect in the world at a glance. So when he says he knows, he really does know everything. He is an extremely annoying guy."

Upon hearing this, Bai Ye immediately became interested and looked at Jiang Zhiming curiously, "You can really see through cause and effect at a glance? Then... can you tell my fortune too?"

She wanted to know if the other person was really that amazing. If they were, they could figure out the way home, so she could go back and bring her mother over. Then the family could be reunited, and she could even attend her and Zhong Jiuli's wedding banquet.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhiming's gaze fell upon Bai Ye.

Bai met her gaze, which was deep and unfathomable, like two bottomless pools. After a moment of eye contact, he felt as if his very soul was being drawn into them.

“In the land of Kyushu, among all living beings, there are always some special people. The karma of these people is shrouded in mystery, transcending common sense, and it is difficult to see their true nature,” Jiang Zhiming said slowly.

"You mean you can't see through me?" Bai pressed.

Jiang Zhiming nodded: "I really can't see through you."

"Not only that, but even your friend, Jiao Jiao, is shrouded in chaos regarding her karma. Bai Ye, you are a very peculiar existence."

Bai also fell into deep thought upon hearing this.

She felt that the reason Jiang Zhiming couldn't see through her was mostly because she was a time traveler. The characters in the book all had their own predetermined fates, and her intrusion as a variable caused Jiao Jiao's fate to deviate from its original course.

However, fate is not something that should be predetermined by heaven. Since one has already embarked on the path of cultivation, one must take control of one's own destiny.

It's a little regrettable, though. I originally thought I could easily find a way home, but then again, if it were that easy to leave, the people of this world wouldn't be unable to ascend.

A jumble of random thoughts flashed through her mind. When she came to her senses, she realized that Liu Xianyue and Jiang Zhiming were no longer by the stone table. Only Zhong Jiuli remained sitting there, like a simple yet profound ink painting.

"Where are they?" Bai looked around but couldn't see the two people, and even Jiao Jiao was nowhere to be seen.

"There are still many things to handle regarding the upcoming arena competition, so they've gone to take care of them," Zhong Jiuli said softly.

"And what about you?" Bai Ye looked at the woman in front of him and asked with a smile, "With so many things to do in the Nine Provinces Grand Competition, as the sect leader, don't you have anything to do?"

"Of course we need to. But with Liu Xianyue around, she can handle it, so I don't need to worry about it."

She paused, her gaze falling on Bai Ye, "Besides, you've gone through so much trouble to find me. Wouldn't it be too unromantic to just leave you here alone?"

Bai nodded cheerfully, "Are you tired? Should we go back to the room to rest?"

"What do you want to do?" Zhong Jiuli looked at her meaningfully.

"I didn't mean to do anything. I just saw that you looked a bit tired, and I didn't sleep well last night either, so I wanted you to get some rest."

"Huh???" Bai Ye only realized what he meant after he finished speaking, pointing at Zhong Jiuli with an angry look on his face, "Well, you don't actually think that I came all this way just to...do that with you, do you? Zhong Jiuli, what happened to the most basic trust between people?"

Zhong Jiuli raised an eyebrow, her eyes full of laughter, "You stinky tiger, you have no credibility with me."

"Hmph! Your words have deeply hurt the fragile heart of a young girl in the prime of her life. You have to make it up to me." Bai also pretended to be angry as he got up and pulled her into the house.

Seeing the little guy's puffed-up cheeks and indignant expression, Zhong Jiuli found him adorable. She leaned closer and asked, "You really just wanted to come see your sister?"

"Yeah!" Bai nodded. "Since we started dating, we've been apart most of the time. When we finally have some free time, of course I want to spend it with you, even just to talk."

Of course, to be fair, they actually spent quite a bit of time together. It's just that most of that time alone was spent in bed.

"Alright then, I misunderstood you, I apologize."

"Never mind, never mind," Bai waved his hand magnanimously. "I'm not really angry with you."

As they spoke, the two had already reached the front of the house. Bai also stopped in her tracks; it was her first time visiting Zhong Jiuli's courtyard, and she didn't know where her room was.

Zhong Jiuli smiled knowingly, took her hand and led her through the main hall, turning to the side room on the left, "This is my bedroom."

She pushed open the half-closed door, and as soon as it opened, a cool fragrance unique to Zhong Jiuli wafted out.

Bai also curiously peeked out and looked around. The room was furnished very simply. There was a wooden bed against one wall, and a desk and a chair by the window, with the Four Treasures of the Study on the table.

Apart from that, the room had no other decorations or furnishings, and was unusually quiet and empty.

"This place looks so simple," Bai muttered to himself. "Aren't you the sect leader? Why does your residence look a bit poor?"

"You like older sisters who come from wealthy families?" Zhong Jiuli asked rhetorically.

"If that's the case, you should go find Liu Xianyue. She is the richest and most beautiful woman in the entire land of Kyushu."

"I didn't mean that." Bai Ye reached out and pulled her into his arms, his voice muffled. "I just feel a little sorry for you."

"Looking at your room is like looking at you. It feels like you have a lot, but when you think about it, it seems like you don't care about anything. If I had to say what you like the most, it would probably be me?"

"Shameless! You're starting to brag all of a sudden." Zhong Jiuli chuckled and hugged her back, his palm stroking her slightly thin back. "The room is simple because I don't like clutter."

"Now that I have you, if you feel this place is too lonely, then decorate this room to your liking, okay?"

"Hmm!" Bai nodded emphatically, lifted his head from her embrace, pointed to the desk and said, "I think we should at least put a vase on it, right?"

“Okay.” Zhong Jiuli agreed with a smile, and a pure white jade vase filled with spiritual energy flew out of her storage ring and landed on a corner of the desk.

"Then I'll pick some flowers for you." Bai let go of her and ran out like a happy little puppy.

She didn't go far. Right under the peach tree in the yard, she picked the most vibrant branch, carefully broke it off, and quickly ran back into the house to put it in a vase.

The pink and white peach blossoms complement the warm white jade perfectly, adding a vibrant touch to the room.

Zhong Jiuli wanted to stop her, but seeing how quickly she moved and the flower branch had already been broken off, she didn't say anything more. She just reached out and tapped her head lightly, saying helplessly, "You're not allowed to pick peach blossoms next time, or Granny Peach Blossom will be heartbroken."

"Huh?" Bai was surprised. "This peach tree has a spirit too?"

“Of course.” Zhong Jiuli nodded. “Every flower and blade of grass in this courtyard has a spirit, so we must not pick them indiscriminately.”

"Okay, let's continue and renovate your room." Bai Ye was no longer sleepy at this point, rolled up his sleeves, and looked very energetic.

The two of them spent the whole day doing this.

Bai was like a busy little bee, running around inside and out. She changed the curtains and hung a string of shimmering beads by the window. She had taken these beads from the Hundred Beasts Bed and thought they were very pretty. Now they came in handy.

On the empty wall, a landscape painting has been added, and a small antique display shelf has been placed in the corner, displaying exquisite potted plants and small ornaments.

Of course, all of this was what Bai had previously scavenged. By the time he finished, the sun was already setting.

Bai Ye looked at the newly renovated room, and contentedly hugged Zhong Jiuli as they lay down on the bed. He said smugly, "Doesn't it look much more lively now that it's been decorated like this? At least it looks like a place where people can live."

Zhong Jiuli nestled in her arms and softly replied, "Yes, I feel much better."

Bai also rolled over while holding her, half-lying on top of her. His amber eyes shone brightly in the dimly lit room, as if they were filled with starlight.

She looked at Zhong Jiuli beneath her with a smile, a hint of smugness on her face, "Then hurry up and thank me."

"Thank you."

"Good girl, here's a kiss for you." Bai leaned down with satisfaction and placed a kiss on her smooth forehead.

The kiss was devoid of any lust, filled only with intimacy and cherishing. The two remained close together for a while before Bai reluctantly looked up, released her, and got out of bed.

She straightened her slightly disheveled robes and said, "Alright, I've spent the whole day with you. I need to hurry back to Welcoming Peak before it gets dark."

When Zhong Jiuli heard that she was going back, a sense of disappointment flashed through her heart. She had thought that Bai would also stay and keep her company for the night.

"Isn't the competition starting the day after tomorrow?"

"You're reluctant to part with me?" Bai looked up at her, smiling so wide his eyes disappeared. "But I have to go back. They're starting to see me as their main support. The tournament is just around the corner, so I need to go back and cheer them on."

"I won't be able to help them with the upcoming matches. But I can cheer them on and spar with them. So, I won't be able to spend the next couple of days with you."

Zhong Jiuli stood up and said, "Let's go, I'll see you off."

"Okay!" Bai took her hand, and the two walked out under the moonlight.

As if they had forgotten they could fly, they tacitly chose to walk, following the winding mountain path shrouded in spiritual mist, step by step, down the mountain.

The mountain forest at night was filled with the sounds of various insects. The fireflies resting in the grass were startled by their footsteps and took flight, like leaping stars, dancing around them.

"Zhong Jiuli." Bai stopped and called out softly.

Zhong Jiuli stopped, turned his head, and looked at her in the shimmering fireflies.

"After I finish my tournament, do you want to marry me?"

Zhong Jiuli's lips slowly curved upwards, her eyes brimming with laughter. She stepped forward and leaned closer to Bai Ye, asking, "Wouldn't you call this acting first and asking questions later?"

"Huh? What do you mean by 'act first, report later'?" Bai didn't immediately understand what she meant.

"You already discussed it with your mother last night, and now you're asking for my opinion? Isn't that acting first and asking for permission later?"

Bai was also a little stunned. "You could hear everything we were saying inside?"

"Naturally. Within the Three Pure Ones Sect, I can sense any movement or disturbance."

"Alright, you're the sect leader, you're all-powerful, whatever you say is right." Bai shrugged, feigning helplessness.

Then she dropped her joking expression and looked at her intently, "So, are you willing?"

Zhong Jiuli met her gaze and retorted, "If you don't want to, why bother spending all your time with this stinky tiger like you?"

Bai Ye couldn't suppress the smile on her lips. She rested her head on Zhong Jiuli's shoulder and said in a soft, coquettish voice, "What should I do? I don't want to leave at all. I just want to go home with you."

"Then we're not leaving?" Zhong Jiuli followed her lead.

“But…” Bai also raised his head, the light in his eyes brighter than the stars in the night sky, “I want to win this competition even more.”

"I want to be famous throughout the land, to make the name 'Bai Ye' remembered by everyone. I want people to sincerely admire me when they mention me. Bai Ye? He is an extraordinary person. He and our Sect Master Zhong are a match made in heaven."

She rambled on and on, but to Zhong Jiuli, it all boiled down to one sentence: This little tiger wanted to grow into a towering tree and longed to stand shoulder to shoulder with her.

"Ahem~" Zhong Jiuli cleared her throat and reminded her, "I think that after all that turmoil at Tianwaitian, many people have indeed remembered your name. However, this reputation may not be what you expected?"

"Hey!" Bai waved his hand dismissively. "A bad reputation is only temporary. When I stand on the stage and defeat those geniuses in the eyes of the world, great scholars will defend me."

"Good, that's ambitious!" Zhong Jiuli smiled and gently nudged her. "The ambitious little tiger should hurry back."

"Then I'm leaving!" Bai asked, turning back every few steps.

Zhong Jiuli waved with a smile: "Go back quickly."

"Wait, I almost forgot the most important thing." Bai Ye rushed back, grabbed Zhong Jiuli's slender waist, pulled her tightly into his arms, and kissed her.

"Mmm..." Zhong Jiuli let out a soft moan, softening her body and nestling in her arms, tilting her head slightly to respond to the kiss, which was a little urgent and lingering.

Fireflies danced around them, their soft glow like scattered starlight, enveloping the two who were embracing and kissing.

After the kiss ended, Bai released her and turned to leave.

......

At Welcoming Peak, cultivators from the Wilderness Prefecture gathered together, and all their eyes were fixed on the two figures fighting in the center of the open space.

Bai Ye has been sparring with everyone almost non-stop these past two days. After fighting with these people, she can feel more and more that everyone's foundation and fighting awareness are very solid. If there is any shortcoming, it is actually the difference in cultivation level.

However, cultivation is something that cannot be achieved overnight. Even Bai Ye couldn't raise everyone's cultivation by a whole realm in a short time.

She knocked her opponent back with a single palm strike, glanced at the crowd on the sidelines, and laughed loudly: "Everyone, on the stage, just strive to have a clear conscience and fight to the best of your ability! There's no need to be obsessed with winning or losing."

"The ultimate champion of the Nine Provinces Grand Competition will surely belong to my Wilderness Province!"

These words were like a shot in the arm for everyone, instantly boosting morale.

"Yes!! First place will definitely be ours from the Wilderness State!" Dayue and the others excitedly waved their fists, shouting in agreement, their eyes brimming with fighting spirit.

"Yes, it's ours!" Everyone responded enthusiastically, creating a lively atmosphere in the courtyard.

Bai waved his hand with a smile, glanced at the already dark sky, and said, "Alright, we've been busy for two days. Everyone should go back and get a good night's sleep to recharge. We need to be in top condition to step onto the stage tomorrow."

After she finished speaking, she smoothed her slightly disheveled silver hair, turned around and went back to her room. She took a comfortable hot bath to wash away her fatigue, then lay down on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Yingke Peak was already bustling with activity.

Young geniuses from all states got up very early, sect disciples changed into brand-new sect attire, and independent cultivators carefully selected the sturdiest defensive robes.

When Bai woke up, she found a set of brand-new clothes neatly folded beside her bed. She picked up the clothes and sniffed them. The familiar, cool fragrance lingered in her nose. It was Zhong Jiuli's scent.

She looked around the room but didn't see any familiar figures. She realized that someone must have sneaked into the room while she was asleep, and she hadn't even noticed.

She unfolded her clothes; the fabric was extremely soft and smooth to the touch, clearly another defensive robe personally crafted by Zhong Jiuli. She lifted her inner garment and discovered the characters "Bai Ye" embroidered in silver thread on the lapel.

Seeing this small detail, Bai Ye could no longer suppress the smile on her lips. She never expected that someone as aloof as Zhong Jiuli would also play such a thoughtful little romantic game.

She giggled as she put on her clothes.

After dressing properly, she pushed open the door and stepped out. The people from the Wilderness State were already waiting in the courtyard, looking very energetic.

Bai Ye's gaze swept over the energetic young faces, and he waved his hand with a heroic air: "Let's go, let's go to the arena!"

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Author's Note: Thank you everyone for the nutrient solution and the thunder (referring to unexpected events/disasters), love you all! [hugs][hugs][hugs]