Chapter 112 "Favoritism" Then let's each rely on our own abilities! ...
Mingguang led Bitao down the steps of the Chongxiao Six Imperial Platform. The crowd automatically parted to make way for the two of them.
Bitao gripped Mingguang tightly, forcibly suppressing her urge to grin from ear to ear.
By doing this, Mingguang was essentially announcing to everyone in the Nine Heavens that he and Bitao were together.
Bitao had been pursuing Mingguang alone for so many years, enduring malicious speculation and ridicule. Although she didn't care at all, this feeling of being "open and aboveboard" still made her so beautiful that she didn't know which leg to step on.
Mingguang was clearly not as calm as he appeared. His palms were hot and damp, and he gripped Bitao with an absurdly strong grip. If Bitao were not a Xuanxian of the same immortal rank as him, he would have crushed her with his hand.
On the high platform, Zhu Ming, who was instructing his subordinates to evacuate the crowd, saw the two of them holding hands and swaggering through the streets, making a fool of themselves. He rolled his eyes so hard they almost reached the sky.
To the uninitiated, they would look like a newlywed couple being congratulated by a multitude of immortals.
You think the Heavenly Realm isn't "lively" enough?
The Heavenly Official on the high platform winked at the Water Official—"Look, look, I told you they'd be a couple sooner or later!"
Shui Guan shrugged. This matter is probably not that simple.
The ancient immortal clan has a vast and extensive network of roots and branches. Now, the little "Emperor" they hold in their hands has been instigated to turn against them.
They probably won't give up easily.
The two people surrounded and watched by everyone were oblivious to, or rather, indifferent to, what the future held.
The peach blossom symbolizes the fulfillment of a year-long, unrequited love.
For Mingguang, at this point in his life, there was finally something and someone that truly belonged to him.
And no one could ever take it from him again, separating them forever.
He seemed to have everything from birth.
He was raised to be an emperor, and the followers and reverence of the people made him feel extremely fortunate. He thought that this would continue for thousands of years to come, peaceful and without any mistakes.
Inheriting the power of the ancient immortal clan, they will protect all living beings and live up to their parents' expectations.
However, until the second competition, he was busy shaping Xiao Taozhi's soul, but he was delayed for several years and did not plan for his servants and protectors.
All those people then distanced themselves from him.
They no longer trusted his abilities, no longer followed his lead, and even gossiped behind his back about how he had made mistakes because of lust, saying that he was nothing without the protection of the ancient immortal clan.
Mingguang finally realized that he had nothing at all and had never possessed anything.
Little Peach Branch is right. Those people only want to treat him as a golden crow that can shine and radiate heat, and restrain him with chains on the high platform.
He is not allowed to flap his wings, he is not allowed to rest, and he cannot be allowed to have any selfish desires.
They wanted to make him an obedient puppet emperor.
Next, they will surely denounce him as a tyrannical ruler and deem him unfit to be emperor.
Mingguang gripped Xiaotaozhi's hand, a cold smile playing on his lips, while maintaining an arrogant demeanor.
As soon as the two left the crowd, they immediately transformed into spirits and departed.
Upon entering Xuanhui Palace, Bitao transformed into human form, but before she could even hug Mingguang, he had already embraced her tightly.
He followed Bitao's shoulders and neck, kissing her all the way to her lips. He held the back of her neck with his large hands, forcing her to lift her head, and pressed her against the door, deeply sweeping his kisses over all the hidden places in her mouth.
It still doesn't feel enough.
He simply picked her up, tilted his head back, kissed her as he walked into the house.
However, this bedchamber was destroyed in a fierce battle between the two and has not been cleaned up since, so there is really no place for them to fight again.
Mingguang doesn't allow anyone to enter; this place was messed up by him and Xiaotaozhi, and it has too much of their presence.
He cannot tolerate others spying on or touching him.
Mingguang carried Bitao around, about to throw her onto the tattered bed, when Bitao finally held him down, panting.
"Calm down, calm down. If you throw me up there now, I'll fall right under the bed."
"You cut a hole in this bed that's as wide as a person that day, don't you remember?"
“Besides…” Bitao’s lips were bright red as she teased, “Didn’t we just come here this morning? Are you trying to start a fire by rubbing sticks together inside me?”
Looking at Mingguang's wolfish and eagle-like gaze, Bitao knew that he might not actually want to do it, but rather wanted to overturn everything in the past today and completely break ties with all the protectors of the ancient immortal clan. She felt uneasy.
He, like Bitao, hated the feeling of being out of control, even if it was a loss of control that he himself had brought about.
He needs an outlet to vent his frustrations and is eager to take control of something.
Bitao sat on his arm, looking down at his aggressive and icy face.
He reached out and rubbed his face, melting away the glare.
He smiled and said, "You really had the majesty of an emperor just now."
"I'm so infatuated with him that I've almost forgotten who I am."
"But Mingguang, don't be afraid..."
"Among the ancient immortal clan, there are ambitious, power-hungry old fogies, and even the juniors who are like accomplices to those old fogies. Although some of them hold high positions, they cannot represent the position of all the Nine Heavens Immortals."
"Most of the immortals are those who diligently and conscientiously perform their duties and do not participate in any competition."
"Today's 'accident' was clearly orchestrated by those people. Otherwise, why would those brats, whose immortal spirits had just been extracted and whose cultivation levels hadn't stabilized yet, rush to the crowd to curse you?"
"Didn't you notice? The people standing in front of you were all trembling with fear, and it's clear that what they said might not be what they really meant."
"The selection of immortals is a competition that determines both victory and defeat, as well as life and death. In your last competition, you brought thousands of people back to heaven. You even corrected the star orbits of that realm and selected such a wonderful Ziwei star on earth."
"You should know that no matter how big a wet nurse's breasts are or how abundant her milk is, she can't breastfeed so many children. Why force yourself to take care of a group of 'children who never grow up' all by yourself?"
"Their failure in this competition is due to their incompetence. They were under your protection in heaven, but in the mortal realm, they turned away from you after you had not made any plans for them for a short time."
"You can still allow them to return to heaven and start over, which only shows my benevolence and kindness."
"Why don't they dare to use such methods to deal with the Qingming Emperor?"
"They are only taking advantage of your immaturity, trying to break your wings and make you adapt to chains before you can fly."
Bitao smiled and looked at Mingguang with utmost tenderness, saying, "What's ridiculous is that they think you shine because of their protection."
"They have forgotten that the Golden Crow clan is born as Golden Crows. You have never shown them your true fiery passion, so they think you are gentle and can be easily manipulated."
"Now they have only felt a little bit of the real heat of the Golden Crow, and they are so burned that they come and 'squeak and yell,' pointing at you and scolding you for not restraining the heat."
"Why should you restrain yourself? Your warmth is meant to benefit all living beings. They tried to manipulate you, and they deserved to get burned. Let them burn to death!"
Mingguang stared intently at Bitao, a slight redness spreading across his eyes.
He had been so tough in front of everyone, but now, because of these words, he finally showed a hint of grievance in front of Bitao.
Bitao said, "They just want to embarrass you in public, make you feel ashamed and scared. They want you to submit to them and go back into the cage they've built for you."
"But the Golden Crow should hang high in the sky. The Golden Crow is a divine bird that illuminates all things. They are just hairless rats under the weasel. When they get together, they think that the rat army can dominate the heavens."
Although Bitao was smiling, her eyes were many times colder than the raging light she had shown before: "They dared to treat you like this..."
Bitao lowered her head and kissed Mingguang's forehead, whispering, "My darling, don't be sad. Don't worry, I will make them regret it, I will make them pay the price."
The indescribable resentment that had been building up in Mingguang's chest was like a deflated, flattened fish, its internal organs completely smoothed out.
He slowly put Bitao down, and even couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth slightly because she described the high-ranking immortals of the Nine Heavens as "bald rats" and "an army of rats".
He doesn't swear.
The dirtiest thing I ever said was "bastard" when I called Bitao that day.
At this moment, however, he felt extremely happy because Bitao had scolded those people on his behalf.
This feeling of being understood and unconditionally protected was a kind of "favor" he had never experienced before.
No matter how magnificent or beautiful things are in this world, they are hard to move Mingguang.
Money, power, and beauty—without exception.
Only this favoritism could move him.
Moreover, favoritism alone is not enough. No matter how gently you say "I understand you," it's just empty talk. It might appease a child, but it won't appease Mingguang.
Only a woman like Bitao, who is his equal, who is capable of doing what she says, and who can truly retaliate for him, could make a "heavenly prince" who was born with everything fall for her.
Mingguang was so overjoyed that he couldn't contain himself. After putting Bitao down, he hunched over, buried his head in Bitao's shoulder and neck, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
It's not low-pitched at all; it's crystal clear, as melodious as a clear spring.
His entire body relaxed from its tense state.
It was even a bit too relaxed; even the spine was flexible.
He wrapped his arms around Bitao's shoulders and back, his strong, ox-like body leaning towards her.
It seemed that in front of Bitao, who was a head shorter than him and whose shoulders were so thin that he could completely block them, he didn't need a backbone at all; she could be his backbone.
Bitao secretly mobilized the wood spirit, taking a slight half-step back to support the boneless bird.
Her palm continued to stroke his back, comforting him.
Mingguang leaned against Bitao, finally able to clear his mind, not thinking about anything, not caring about anything.
He could only feel the presence of the person in his arms.
It pressed its nose against the side of Bitao's neck and sniffed around like a dog.
It would lick it every now and then.
Bitao felt a slight itch from his touch.
He chuckled and said, "Are you a dog or a bird?"
Mingguang chuckled and whispered in her ear, "It smells good."
Bitao also raised her hand, smelled herself, and then said, "No."
Although she is a spirit formed from a large peach tree, and peach blossoms on the large peach tree bloom for three thousand years, Bitao has never used the fragrance of peach blossoms as her body scent.
Such a distinctive aura can only be found in people like Zhu Ming, whose souls had nowhere to rest after death and could only take plum trees as their bones.
Moreover, he tried his best to cover it up, and therefore rarely used his divine powers.
After all, people like Bitao and Zhu Ming would be exposed by their distinctive aura when they "do bad things".
“It smells good,” Mingguang said stickily, his lips pressed against the peach blossom. “It smells like herbs and trees.”
Bitao: "...Did you smell it in my blood and veins?"
She is a wood spirit, so she does indeed have the scent of herbs and trees.
Normally, you can't smell it, you can't smell it when you sweat, you can only smell it when you bleed or are injured, and only immortals with exceptionally sharp senses can smell it.
Mingguang didn't look up, and after a long while he whispered, "I tasted it that day."
It took Bitao a moment to realize how he had "tasted" it.
After she passed away and became a Xuanxian (a type of immortal), she could no longer bleed or get injured, so the only liquid she could taste was something other than blood.
Even though she was usually thick-skinned, Mingguang's words made her blush.
However, after a moment, Bitao smiled and said, "If you want to try it, come find me at the Cang Sheng Palace tonight."
This time, Mingguang didn't say anything, his face was hidden behind Bitao's shoulder and neck, but his ears were bright red.
The two hugged for a while longer.
Only after Mingguang's emotions had completely calmed down did he release Bitao.
After tidying his hair and clothes, in the blink of an eye, he was once again the aloof, unapproachable, and revered future emperor.
The Emperor said very seriously, "There are quite a few official documents piling up these past two days, and I need to deal with them first."
He looked around the room, pointed to the broken bed, and said, "You can sleep there for a while. No one will fall into the hole."
Bitao: "...Can't I just go out for a walk?"
Mingguang looked at her for a moment, his displeasure obvious, and asked with a sensitive and sharp tone, "Are you going to find Zhu Ming?"
She used to spend most of her time in Zhu Ming's Jade Bone Palace, and Ming Guang could always see her entering and leaving the Jade Bone Palace through the image-recording array.
Although the two were still on opposing sides at that time.
Mingguang said, "I saw Zhu Ming's men helping to dismiss the immortals. You ordered them to do that, didn't you? Even if they hadn't dismissed those immortals, they wouldn't have dared to do anything to me."
The implication was that he did not appreciate Zhu Ming's favor.
Bitao shook her head, also very serious: "No, I'm going to find Binglun."
"I want to follow him down from the heavens to the mortal realm, to be entwined with him... mmm!"
She didn't finish her sentence because Mingguang pinched Bitao's tongue with two fingers.
Mingguang pursed his lips and stared down at her.
Bitao stared at him from bottom to top with her mouth agape.
After a brief standoff.
"What are you doing, Da Bai licking me and Ta Leng?" Bi Tao's voice was muffled as her tongue was pinched.
Mingguang is too jealous and too controlling.
He still wants to savor the jealousy of that idiot Binglun.
Bitao wanted to laugh when she thought about how Mingguang was jealous while watching the execution.
But Bitao liked it very much.
She liked any reaction Mingguang made to her.
She is too quick to discern love and goodwill in everything.
They really know how to cherish these hard-won genuine feelings.
Being loved by others is merely a matter of luck; true courage and strength lie in having the ability to continuously love and feel love, and in not fearing any change.
Bitao happens to be an outstanding figure in this field.
Therefore, she could clearly sense the process of Mingguang falling for her, and after he completely decided to accept her, she didn't think that the messy little things that were troubling him would be an obstacle between them.
She loved him, and he loved her.
Other natural barriers, such as mountains and seas, can all be leveled. ①
As for Mingguang's attempts to obstruct her relationship with Zhu Ming, Bitao didn't care at all.
It's not that Bitao Club abandoned friends for lust.
But Mingguang simply couldn't stop her.
As expected, Mingguang was ultimately defeated.
After releasing Bitao, he sat in the half-survived study, in front of a large stack of piled-up official documents, and said in a low voice with a stern face, "Go and play with your friends, I'll work by myself."
Mingguang spoke in a deep, magnetic voice, tinged with a hint of melancholy: "This is enough for me to work until dark. Don't wait for me tonight; I might not have time to go to the Cang Sheng Palace to find you."
Bitao: "..."
If Mingguang were to take a hard line, Bitao really wouldn't listen to him. He could never control Xiaotaozhi.
But he made such a sound, made such an expression, and even threatened her by saying she couldn't visit him at night.
Bitao was indeed "threatened" by him.
After all, it's true that she's a womanizer.
She and Mingguang were incredibly compatible, like dry wood meeting a raging fire.
If Mingguang doesn't come to her bed at night, who will she hug? What will she kiss?
Zhu Ming should step aside for now.
There are still some days until the third competition, so there's plenty of time to plot anything.
She first indulged in the beauty and enjoyed it to the fullest.
Bitao's expression immediately changed: "Oh dear, how can I let you do so much work by yourself?"
"Come on, let me help you."
"I'm the fastest at handling this kind of thing..."
When Mingguang first encountered the world of official documents, he was inseparable from the Peach Branch Figurine. Beyond simply keeping each other company and engaging in friendly sparring, the Peach Branch Figurine, with its superior adaptability and resourcefulness, indeed helped him process a considerable amount of official documents.
After many years, Bitao has traveled back and forth between heaven and earth several times, becoming more familiar with all realms.
She sat next to Mingguang, picked up her pen, dipped it in ink, and reviewed the papers at a speed no slower than his.
When she focused, Mingguang began to lose focus.
The stack of official documents descended rapidly. He held his pen, turned his head to look at Bitao, and in a daze, he fulfilled a "dream" that he had been having since he was very young.
Back then, his future plans always included the Peach Branch Pirate.
He imagined that after it took human form, it would become his most capable attendant, accompanying him day and night, traveling through countless worlds together, and handling official duties together, just like this.
They ate, lived, entered, and exited together.
In Mingguang's still-young imagination at that time, the little peach branch figure would transform into a man with sharp eyes and an arrogant temperament.
Because of the many arrogant remarks and outrageous ideas of the Peach Blossom Fairy at that time, the deeply corrupt Mingguang could never associate her with the beauty and gentleness of the celestial maidens.
Who would have thought that in the end, she would transform into a beautiful, unruly, and cunning woman.
And him...
Although some things went wrong, he ultimately achieved his "dream".
Mingguang was immediately captivated by Bitao's earnest handling of official documents.
He even had some absolutely inappropriate evil thoughts.
Because of Bitao's absolute indulgence and affection for him, he quickly turned this evil thought into reality.
The official documents were swept on the floor, and Bitao lay half-lying on the table, her back covered with lifelike, freshly painted blooming peach blossoms.
Mingguang stood behind her, leaning forward to sketch the details, his hand holding the pen with remarkable steadiness despite the collision.
After finishing the peach tree painting, he leaned over and rinsed his brush.
Then he began to sketch a golden crow perched on a branch of a peach tree, its wings pointing towards the sky.
Bitao felt an itch on her back, and being hung there without getting too hot made it even itchier. She turned her head to look at him and said, "Haven't you finished painting yet?"
Mingguang's clothes were perfectly neat, and his Adam's apple was tucked under the overlapping fabric, as if he were painting intently.
However, beneath the long robe, the area resembled an ink bowl used for washing ink, muddy and splattered with ink everywhere.
He stirred the crimson-gold ink he had used to paint the golden crow vigorously in the ink bowl.
The golden ink was washed away, and the dripping water was squeezed out.
Then he picked up the pen again and dipped it in bright red ink.
He pressed down on Bitao's shoulders and back, saying, "Don't move."
"Wait a minute." Mingguang steadily traced the line of his pen on Bitao's lumbar spine. "I still want to draw the Red Spirit Crab battling the Peach Branch Little Man..."
A painting, created from day to night, vividly depicts the sunset over Dushuo Mountain, and recreates the most beautiful years in the memories of the two people on the back of Bitao.
After they were satisfied, the official documents were picked up again, and the two of them worked on them carefully, finishing them in no time.
Bitao leaned against Mingguang's shoulder, her clothes neat and tidy, her bare legs swinging as she bumped into Mingguang's equally naked knees.
"Hey, aren't we going to waste too many robes like this?"
Mingguang kept his eyes straight ahead and finally arranged the official documents neatly.
He said, "You can wear my pants later, I have plenty."
He has never thrown away any of his clothes since he was a teenager; they are all hanging in the storage bags in his wardrobe.
The implication is that they can continue like this for a long time.
Bitao laughed wantonly.
It was completely dark outside.
Bitao asked Mingguang, "Will you still come with me to the Palace of the Living Beings later?"
Mingguang looked at her: "Do you want me to go?"
"Tsk." Pretending.
Bitao, biting the white jade pen, looked at Mingguang and said, "Since you're not going anyway, I'll just chat with Zhu Ming... um."
Mingguang pinched Bitao into a chicken beak shape, and Bitao laughed.
Mingguang thought to himself: Sooner or later I will send that Zhu Mingxian back to his hometown.
The official document was handed over to the immortal lord of Xuanhui Palace to be delivered to various departments.
The mess inside the house remained untouched.
They closed the barrier and went together to Bitao's Palace of All Living Beings.
Before Mingguang even entered the room, the group of people who had been lounging around inside the Cangsheng Hall from a distance began to sit up straight.
When Mingguang entered, they greeted him in hushed tones, like a flock of sick chickens.
After Mingguang went upstairs, they discussed the matter in hushed tones, still feeling uneasy.
"Those people from the Ancient Immortal Clan are really bold, daring to point their fingers at Mingguang Xuanxian... I can't even breathe when I see him..."
"Tai Chi, Tai Chi, aren't you usually so arrogant? Why are you afraid of Mingguang Xuanxian?"
Tai Chi's Yin-Yang Eyes spun halfway around, glaring at the man as he said, "I'm not afraid!"
"That's the person Fairy Bitao likes." He might be Fairy Bitao's husband in the future.
Wouldn't that mean he's another master of the Palace of All Living Beings?
As a waiter, he naturally had to show respect.
Moreover... Taiji knows how Fairy Bitao managed to win over Immortal Mingguang with a combination of coaxing, deception, and even lewd tactics.
He wouldn't dare to drive people away.
That night, another hole appeared in Bitao's bed.
Bitao sat cross-legged, staring at the hole and looking under the bed.
"Are you a celestial dog or a celestial bird?"
Why do people dig holes when they get excited?
The light began to flicker like a fish in the sea, shrouded in layers of cleansing spells.
Hearing this, he glanced at it, pursed his lips, and said, "The bed isn't sturdy."
"How sturdy can it be? Even if it's made of stone or steel, it can't withstand the power of a Xuanxian. One claw scratches it."
"You... sigh."
Bitao sighed helplessly. Oh well, she was "eating" her fill and enjoying her meal. She could just change the bed more often.
"Go to sleep, my darling."
Bitao lay down and patted her side.
Mingguang also lay down, and a cleansing spell enveloped the two of them, flashing continuously.
Bitao has gotten used to it.
With her eyes closed, she hesitated to go to sleep, remembering that she hadn't yet been intimate with Mingguang.
He asked Mingguang, "Want to talk? What are your plans regarding the Ancient Immortal Clan?"
Mingguang said, "There's nothing we can do."
Mingguang lay flat on his back, holding Bitao's hand under the covers, squeezing it back and forth.
He wasn't going to ask Xiao Taozhi anything anyway, since he knew she wouldn't believe him.
But the two of them are so close now, so close that he feels lightheaded and wants to turn her back into a little peach branch person, hold her in his arms, and be connected to her flesh and blood forever.
He asked Bitao in a soft, ethereal voice, "And what about you?"
"What are your plans? The third competition is just around the corner. I heard that all the departments of the Nine Heavens have sent you imperial seals, and the position you are given is also very suitable."
Mingguang kept his eyes closed, avoiding looking at Bitao's expression, not wanting to see the cunning and evasive look in her eyes.
Which one do you prefer? Or do you want to continue competing?
He asked in a very soft voice, "What exactly is the 'extreme' you want to stand at?"
Upon hearing this, Bitao rolled over and half-lay on him, saying, "I want to continue participating in the competition."
"As for the location..."
Mingguang didn't open his eyes, so Bitao pried them open.
Both eyes were pried open.
She looked down at him with a friendly demeanor, yet her eyes held an arrogant and disdainful air.
Bitao had long known that people were gossiping about Mingguang. Those old bastards from the Ancient Immortal Clan were probably trying to sow discord between the two of them.
Let them stir up trouble and let Mingguang speculate; it's better for her to say it herself.
Bitao asked him, "Mingguang Xuanxian, I want to take your place. What will you do?"
Mingguang was startled.
In an instant, all the tangled, chaotic web of thoughts, all the knotted and confused questions, were shaken apart by this one blow.
The earthquake shattered everything, leaving the army in complete disarray.
He never imagined that Xiao Taozhi would be so open and assertive with him in this way.
He suddenly realized how ridiculous his recent wild thoughts had become.
Little Peach Branch has never been polite in nibbling at his immortal spirit, and wants to seize his future position as Immortal Emperor. And just like those who deliberately instigate, she pretends to be nice to him, deceiving and covering up his secrets.
Mingguang's mind immediately went blank, and he opened his eyes to see the provocative look in her eyes.
In my heart, I remember fighting and sparring with her when I was a child, and the unruly and defiant fighting between us was completely ignited by her appearance.
He raised a long eyebrow, his golden eyes shining brightly: "Then let's each rely on our own abilities!"
Bitao patted his chest and laughed heartily: "Alright! Then let's do it the same way as before, whoever wins and whoever loses will rely on their own abilities!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
