Li Mingke glanced at him and said, "No."
"Why?"
“Cultivation is all about sects and lineages. I haven’t broken my contract with my master yet, so how can I turn around and become a disciple of someone else? I’ll be scorned by the world!”
Luan Hua didn't take it seriously: "Then let's just terminate the contract. What kind of master is a master who hasn't taught you anything?"
"A teacher for a day is a father for life."
"Tsk." Luan Hua simply and casually sat down on the grass next to her, so that the two of them were the same height.
Li Mingke thought to himself: Why is he sitting next to me instead of leaving?
Luan Hua suddenly asked, "Aren't you afraid of me?"
"I'm scared." Li Mingke replied without hesitation.
Luan Hua thought she would give some reason to prove that she was not afraid, but she did not expect her to be so straightforward.
He laughed in exasperation.
"I don't think you're scared at all."
"I am terrified inside, but the Demon Lord just didn't realize it."
"Well then, tell me, why are you afraid of me?"
Li Mingke thought for a moment, "The Demon Lord acts eccentrically, and normal people are afraid of him."
Does this mean he's not a normal person?
“If you don’t provoke me, I won’t do those things.”
He sounded somewhat aggrieved, and Li Mingke looked at him with surprise.
"You always provoke me and say things I don't want to hear."
"..." Li Mingke opened his mouth: "Sorry."
"You don't need to apologize." He covered his eyes with his large hand. "Actually, I regret it every time I lose my temper."
What does he regret?
"Everyone is afraid of me. The only person I can talk to is Gu Piao, but he's a bit dim-witted, and he doesn't understand many things even if you tell him."
Li Mingke mourned for the dutiful and responsible Gu Piao.
"But every time I see you, I want to talk to you. They're all afraid of me, but you're not." His tone was rather melancholic. "Am I too pathetic?"
From a spiritual perspective, it is somewhat pitiful.
“But now you have someone to talk to.” Li Mingke stood up, patted her skirt, and looked directly at Luan Hua.
"Those lonely days are over, Demon Lord."
"Someone is waiting for you to come back."
Her voice was flat and monotone, as if she were recounting facts that had nothing to do with her.
It really has nothing to do with her.
Luan Hua's gaze, which had been fixed on the distance, fell upon her face.
There was no joy or anger, no emotion.
He suddenly grinned, a smile that was neither crying nor laughing, "Yes!"
He stood up as well, a scene unfolding in Li Mingke's eyes like a slow-motion moment in a movie.
As he brushed past her, she could feel a strand of his hair brush against the corner of her eye, tickling her and bringing out a few tears.
"If you don't want to, then you don't want to."
"I'm leaving."
His footsteps paused for a fleeting moment, unnoticed, as he passed her, but then quickly disappeared.
"She's waiting for me."
It was as desolate as a mountain wilderness.
Li Mingke clasped his hands together, bent over, and placed them in front of him:
"Respectfully seeing off the Demon Lord."
The person's figure gradually became blurred.
After a long while, she finally got up.
After seeing two people off, another one unexpectedly arrived.
Li Mingke thought to herself: Is today some kind of auspicious day for going out and visiting? She'll go check the almanac later.
"You're really busy!"
A cheerful voice tinged with teasing.
"Why are you here too?"
Li Mingke saw Bie Chen and sighed.
"Others can come, but I can't?" he retorted.
"Yes, yes, yes, I can do it all."
Come on, come on, I've given you the whole day.
"Why do you look so gloomy? Is it because those two officials upset you?" Bie Chen tilted her head and looked at her.
"That's not true, don't make wild guesses." Li Mingke looked away.
"I brought some good stuff, look!"
Bie Chen carried out a jar of wine from behind his back. Even before it was opened, Li Mingke could already smell the aroma.
"The sake brewed from the cherry blossoms of Mystic Cherry Blossom Island is said to be delicious. Would you like to try some?"
Bie Chen shook the wine jar, making a clattering sound.
Li Mingke was thinking about his alcohol tolerance.
She hadn't drunk much, only a few cups at family banquets during holidays, and they were always lukewarm. She never drank much, and she didn't know where her limit was.
"I probably don't drink much..."
"Oh, it's alright, I'll keep an eye on it, there won't be any problems."
Bie Chen's eyes were filled with sincere enthusiasm.
She nodded.
The two leaped onto a rooftop, which was Bie Chen's residence. The surrounding area was a dense bamboo forest, quiet and secluded.
"No one will bother me here."
As the seal was opened, a rich and mellow aroma of wine poured out like a clear spring, quickly filling the air. It seemed to possess a magical power, making people feel intoxicated and yearning for it.
It was as if a feather had lightly slipped into their nostrils, teasing their olfactory nerves. The captivating fragrance carried a faint floral scent, mixed with a hint of aged wine, making them utterly intoxicated.
Li Mingke took a deep breath.
"How is it? A good bar?"
Just smelling it made me dizzy, Li Mingke nodded vigorously.
Bie Chen took out two small glass wine cups, no bigger than the palm of his hand. He filled one of them and handed it to Li Mingke.
"please."
Li Mingke accepted it.
Another glass was poured, and the two clinked glasses.
The crystal-clear nectar slid into the corner of my mouth, as if a cherry blossom was blooming in my mouth, and the elegant and charming fragrance filled my entire oral cavity like a clear spring.
With a gentle sip, the tip of the tongue first touches a faint spiciness, a unique flavor that makes one tremble slightly.
As the tongue trembled slightly, the nectar flowed down the throat, creating fiery ripples wherever it passed. This heat, like a ignited flame, quickly spread to every corner of the body, bringing an intoxicating burning sensation.
At that moment, time seemed to stand still, and only the wonderful taste experience lingered in my mind.
It felt like being in a sea of flowers, surrounded by cherry blossoms fluttering in the air, feeling the breath and vitality of life, while the spiciness in your mouth became an embellishment to this feast.
"Another one!"
Looking at the empty cup in front of him, Bie Chen smiled, "Good!"
The glass was refilled, and Li Mingke tilted his head back and drank another glass.
After two drinks, she was already tipsy.
"Hiccup~" She hiccuped, bent her legs, and rested her head on her knees.
"Oh right, I forgot to ask you, what's your ranking? I didn't see you in the quarterfinals."
Given Bie Chen's level, he's definitely more than just a top-eight finisher.
Upon hearing this, Bie Chen seemed both angry and annoyed, "This is all your fault."
"Is it my fault?" Li Mingke asked, confused.
"Yeah, what's the point of me striving for such a high ranking if you're not here? If you had told me beforehand that you would be coming and that you had changed into such a beautiful outfit, I definitely would have made it to the very end and taken the top spot!"
"Why is it my fault?" she jumped up. "It's actually because you're not good enough! Don't blame others for your mistakes! Besides..." she hiccuped again, "Even if you make it to the end, you won't be number one, because..."
"My sister is the best; she'll absolutely beat you to a pulp!"
She imitated her younger sister, Li Pinyue, shaking her head and swinging her gun.
She was acting drunk when she suddenly felt her foot slip and her body involuntarily lean forward.
It turned out that a tile had been accidentally stepped on and lifted up, and her toe had just kicked the loose tile. This sudden change caused her to completely lose her balance, and her whole body tilted to the side like a kite with a broken string.
"Mingke—"
Seeing that she was about to fall, Bie Chen rushed over to pull her up.
At that height, he could definitely land smoothly, and might even be able to do a few somersaults in the air. But for Li Mingke, he thought she would most likely land headfirst, especially since she was dizzy right now. He figured a fall could really knock her brains out.
Li Mingke felt his wrist being pulled up by a strong force, and then the world spun around him.
I didn't fall.
Instead, she nestled comfortably in a warm embrace.
She looked at the person in front of her with blurry, drunken eyes.
Bie Chen felt a fire burning on his cheeks as she stared at him so closely.
Hmm, he's had too much to drink, otherwise why would his face feel so hot?
At this moment, the woman nestled in his arms had her beautiful eyes veiled in a thin mist, making them appear even more hazy and dreamlike. Her slightly parted lips revealed a warm breath that gently caressed his neck, accompanied by a faint, almost imperceptible scent of cherry blossoms. This sweet fragrance lingered in his nostrils, making his heart pound.
The Adam's apple, a symbol of maturity, moves up and down.
The two locked eyes, and an unusual atmosphere flowed between them.
“Ming…” Bie Chen was about to speak when he suddenly heard a thud, and then he and the person in his arms tilted together.
Hearing the wind whistling past his ears, he held the person even tighter.
Finally, Bie Chen landed on his back first, and he hissed as he bared his teeth.
Li Mingke peeked out from his arms, still confused.
The wine jar rolled down and landed right next to them, instantly soaking them completely.
Li Pinyue was searching everywhere for her older sister but couldn't find her. Someone said they saw her with Bie Chen, so she followed the passerby's directions and found Bie Chen's residence.
Through the dense bamboo forest, she could vaguely see two figures overlapping on the ground, accompanied by the whispers of a man and the cries of pain of a woman.
"……sister?"
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