Chapter 181 – 181

Chapter 181 - 181

Feng Jixue gently stroked the top of the person in his arms, overwhelmed with compassion. Whenever she cried, his heart would melt, causing him to constantly lower his boundaries until he couldn't care less about anything else.

He wanted to dote on her, spoil her until her temper was unbearable and her nature became capricious. That way, no one else in this world would be able to tolerate her except for him, and no one would dare to compete with him for her affection.

But seeing her cry so bitterly, Feng Jixue couldn't help but feel a pang of distress. He pulled her into his embrace, patting her back as he whispered soothingly, "Please don't cry anymore, alright? The fetus can be influenced by the mother's emotions. If you keep feeling sad like this, our child might end up being a little old man with a dark face."

Upon hearing these words, Nanyan's expression faltered slightly. She instinctively looked down at her belly, then after a moment, she angrily pounded her senior brother next to her, "You're the one who's a little old man! Our child will definitely be as beautiful as me. Don't you dare talk nonsense."

Observing his little junior sister's emotions stabilize and her tears subside, a faint smile finally graced the senior brother's face. He gently pinched her cheek, then thoughts of the child's father crossed his mind, causing his smile to fade gradually.

An indescribable bitterness welled up in his heart.

At that moment, he was truly unwilling, but no matter how much he resented it, he was not the child's biological father. He didn't even have the right to care for them as a family.

The senior brother tried his best to quell the turmoil in his chest.

Noticing that his little junior sister had started to gaze absently at her belly again, he reached out to hold her fingertips and whispered, "Yanyan, this event caught us off guard, and your health might be affected too. Perhaps it would be better if there's one more person to look after you. So, regarding the child's father..."

His words were cut short by the somewhat out-of-control voice of the other party, "Don't tell him!"

Nan Yan's breaths were uneven, likely recalling the events from the previous day. The cold demeanor of Jing Wuyan and his hurtful words flashed through her mind, causing her teary eyes to overflow uncontrollably. Her face was etched with endless sorrow and vulnerability, "Please don't tell him about this."

A sobbing undertone emerged in her throat, her voice hoarse and dry, "He's a liar. He doesn't want me anymore. He accuses me of being fickle and being with others. He thinks I'm an immoral woman, but I'm not! He's the one who has wronged me!"

The more she spoke, the sadder she became. Tears rolled down her cheeks like pearls, and she seemed to lose control of her emotions again. Her fingers gradually clenched, turning her knuckles slightly white. She then turned around, burying her head in her senior brother's neck, soaking his collar and hair with her tears.

"I can't tell him, he might think I'm lying to him again. Then, he might claim that this child isn't his... How could I bear such injustice?"

"Senior Brother, I beg of you, please don't tell him about this? This is my child, my own child, I don't want any more involvement with him."

Nanyan's grievance grew with each word, a tinge of red rimming her eyes. Looking up at the person before her, she appeared unusually vulnerable and fragile. "I never want to see him again. He's a liar; he doesn't fulfill a single promise he makes. He lets me suffer and be bullied without a thought for my feelings. All he does is complain about my bad temper. I don't want anything to do with him anymore!"

"Senior brother, don't tell him..."

How could Senior Brother, under such a gaze, utter any words of refusal, especially when he saw his little Junior Sister, whom he had doted on since she was in his palms, weeping for another man? It felt as though a boulder was weighing heavily on his chest, making it difficult to breathe. The feeling was truly agonizing.

He could sense, albeit subtly, that her gloom was rooted in her concern for that person. The more upset she was, the more she tended to contradict her true feelings. Yet, he couldn't help but hold a bit of selfishness in his heart.

He also didn't wish for that man to learn about Yan Yan's pregnancy, nor did he want him to bother her again.

Since he had chosen to let go himself, he shouldn't regret it. Ideally, they should never meet again in this lifetime.

Feng Jixue caressed her delicate cheeks with his fingertips gently, his calloused palm making his touch exceptionally tender, afraid of accidentally hurting her. "Alright, I won't say anything. I promise you, I'll never tell him. He's just too foolish, and it's no one else's fault. Please don't cry anymore, alright?"

Seeing her mood dampen, Feng Jixue couldn't help but frown. However, remembering that she was carrying his child and was emotionally vulnerable at this time, he did his best to comfort and dote on her. "Why are you crying again? You always claim to be the Senior Apprentice Sister, saying you're grown-up now. Yet, you're weeping at the slightest provocation, even though you're already carrying a child. When the baby is born, will you cry alongside the little one, seeing who can cry louder?"

Upon hearing this, a strange image popped into Nan Yan's mind – a scene of a mother and child wailing together. Nan Yan imagined this scenario.

Unable to contain herself any longer, she let out a soft giggle.

Tears still shimmered on her long, lush eyelashes, with droplets adorning her rosy cheeks. The corners of her eyes, freshly streaked with tears, held a faint blush, like a light dusting of rouge, resembling a blooming pear flower.

"You're just making things up, Senior Brother. I won't act like a child. I'll definitely be more obedient than this little one," she protested, her laughter intertwining with her sobs.

Her alternating display of laughter and tears was pure childishness. As her big brother gently stroked her head, he yearned to embrace her, but hesitated, considering the circumstances. Feng Jixue expelled a breath and, after confirming that her mood had genuinely improved, mustered the courage to share his final concern.

"Yan Yan, a child needs a father, whether in reality or in name. Elder Medicine Master mentioned that the life growing inside you isn't purely human bloodline. If anyone discovers that it's a dragon-human hybrid, even if only a mix, it would drive the cultivator world into a frenzy."

"So, once the child is born, it will need a rightful identity and a father with a legitimate status," he said.

Upon hearing this, Nan Yan pursed her lips and lowered her head, clearly not in the mood for discussion. He knew that Mirror Wuyan's words yesterday had deeply hurt her, and now she refused to forgive him, let alone allow him to know about their child.

Thus, this was his only chance to remain by Yan Yan's side and care for her.

Feng Jixue reached out to draw her into his embrace, his palm caressing her shoulder as he spoke calmly, "Yan Yan, let me take care of you, alright? I'll be the child's father from now on. I'll treat it as my own and never force you to do anything against your will. Will you give me this chance?"

At his words, Nan Yan's body visibly tensed for a moment. Unconsciously, she clenched the fabric of her sleeve, her long lashes hiding the emotions in her eyes.

There was a long pause before she spoke, her expression still somewhat uneasy. "But... I do have someone I like in my heart. Now, I carry his child. I... am like this."

"I don't mind that at all."

Nan Yan pursed her lips, still obviously troubled. "But I truly..."

Nan Yan had never met anyone as eager to become a stepfather. Her senior brother's thoughts were indeed unconventional.

Before she could finish her sentence, Senior Brother replied, likely fearing she wouldn't believe him. Feng Jixue gently lifted her chin with his hand, his gentle gaze meeting hers. "Yanyan, I really don't mind. Even if you don't think about yourself, you should consider the child. Can you bear for it to grow up without a father? And with its mixed heritage."

He was aware of his impure intentions, but this was the only chance he had to stay by her side and take care of her. Even if it meant being just a brother from now on, as long as she no longer resisted him.

"I won't force you into anything, not like before. So, don't be afraid of me, Yan Yan. I'm your senior brother, you can always trust me, alright?"

Perhaps his sincere words finally touched her. South Yan fell silent for a while, hesitant, but eventually, she reached out slowly and held Senior Brother's hand, her breath steady and carrying a subtle fragrance of a maiden.

Wind Jixue, on the other hand, instinctively pulled her into his embrace. He stroked her head gently, as if holding a precious treasure that he had regained. He dared not let her go easily. "Yan Yan, I'll take care of you for the rest of your life."

In that moment of embracing her, Wind Jixue felt his heart tremble. An indescribable emotion surged within him, but it didn't matter. As long as she was willing, he could protect her as a brother for eternity.

He would take care of her with utmost devotion, ensuring that no one else would ever hurt her or make her weep again. Nor would he permit anyone to snatch her away from him. It was Jin Wuyan himself who had let Yan Yan go; thus, there was no chance for him to come near her anymore.

...

In another courtyard, Lin Qingxuan also noticed that something was amiss with Jin Wuyan recently.

An icy and indifferent aura enveloped the man, exuding an ominous and menacing vibe from head to toe. It was as if his heart had turned completely cold, leaving no room for affection or empathy.

She had always found this man enigmatic and inscrutable. Now, with him deliberately concealing all emotions and releasing his icy demeanor, the black robe accentuated his pale, chiseled features, making his allure even more haunting.

His lips were crimson and thin, his eyes dark and unwavering, like a magnificent, dazzling flower blooming in the depths of night. Half concealed in shadows, half basking in the mud, he was an irresistible spectacle.

The elongated corners of his eyes lent an air of casual disdain when he looked at others, as if he could effortlessly penetrate their thoughts. He seemed both lofty and aloof, like an unfeeling demonic Buddha enshrined in a temple, exuding an icy aura with a subtle hint of hostility around his gaze.

Such a person was perilous yet captivating. No matter how striking his appearance or profound his cultivation, it would be difficult for anyone to approach him without reservation.

Only Su Nanyan, that mindless fool, dared to provoke him casually. And now, she had been discarded without hesitation. Serving others with her beauty, this was the consequence she deserved!

Lin Qingshuang never believed that a cultivator like Jing Wuyan could genuinely fall for a girl like her junior sister. Perhaps he had some affection, but he wouldn't lose his reason for such a woman.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have witnessed in her past life the scene of her junior sister being unable to open a bracelet through the water screen. Their current intimacy was merely a result of her using some licentious techniques from the Joyous Union Sect to lure Jing Wuyan into dual cultivation with her.

These tactics were beneath others to employ.

Though she thought this, an inexplicable fear still gripped Lin Qingshuang's heart, and she dared not reveal any hint of it on her face. She could vaguely guess the reason behind the man's transformation—it was all because of that shameless junior sister.

She had indeed deliberately mentioned the matter in front of him that day. She had seen her senior brother enter the junior sister's courtyard, and out of a subtle, unspoken jealousy and concern, she brought it up to Jing Wuyan. Little did she expect it would lead to their complete separation.

In a way, this was beneficial; it would lessen the obstacles for her actions. She knew that Mirror had an ulterior motive for her, although she wasn't yet clear about its specifics.

Yet, for such a powerful man to expend energy aiding her rebirth, safeguarding her life, and assisting her ascension to the Higher Realms, his purpose must hold extraordinary significance to him. It was so crucial that he felt compelled to protect her existence at all times.

This gave her the audacity to push against his boundaries, and she was gradually discovering where those limits lay.

Now, Su Nanyan had become her ultimate nemesis. In both her lifetimes, she had been suppressed and excluded by that junior sister. Thus, in this life, she vowed to eliminate her, no matter what.

Initially, she had considered turning a blind eye, but the junior sister's greed was insatiable. She coveted everything and sought to snatch it from Su Nanyan. How could she tolerate such provocation?

She had mentioned before that if she had spent her life quietly within the sect, idling away her days as a good-for-nothing with no ambitions, indulging in pleasure and amusement, she might have been able to let go of those past matters.

Yet, that damned girl had lately lost her mind again, starting to cultivate diligently and strive to enhance her cultivation. Due to her dual cultivation with Jing Wuyan, her realm effortlessly soared two levels in a single night. How could others even compare to such rapid progress?

Recently, with the assistance of her senior apprentice brother, she had successfully formed her Core, effortlessly becoming a Golden Core cultivator.

What qualifications did such a person have? How could she so effortlessly attain what others could only dream of after tireless efforts? Was it simply because she knew how to cry and make a scene?

In this world, injustice prevails, and her senior brother acts as if he's lost his mind. He neglects using the spirit plants and medicinal pills provided by the sect for himself, instead dedicating himself to aiding his junior sister in forming her core, protecting her through the lightning tribulation, and afterwards, expending his energy to stabilize her cultivation. All of this, with almost no complaint. But why, oh why, does he do this?

Did he not know about the connection between that woman and Jing Wuyan? Was he oblivious to the fact that his pure and innocent junior sister had long lost her maidenhood, serving another without an ounce of shame? How could such a person deserve his cherish and adoration?

Lin Qingshuang felt trapped in a peculiar cycle. Her inner demon was deeply rooted, and she harbored resentment towards many! She resented Jing Wuyan for helping her reincarnate but not standing firmly by her side. She blamed her senior brother for betraying her affection in both lifetimes. Most of all, she loathed her junior sister, who effortlessly obtained what she could never achieve in her lifetime. Now, she even resented herself.

Due to her rebirth, her obsession with the inner demon was more intense than others. Because of it, she had transformed into this wretched existence. There was only one solution: either vanquish the inner demon completely or witness her junior sister's demise. Otherwise, she would never find peace in this life.

This time, she came to Jing Wuyan to inquire about the exact circumstances of the initial opening of the Chaos Mystic Realm. The sect had received news that it would manifest near Xiao Zhou Mountain.

She had studied numerous records, but the cultivation world knew little about the Chaos Mystic Realm. It was merely mentioned as a tiny fragment from a divine realm in the Upper World, torn apart during a power struggle.

The Mystic Realm only opens once every five hundred years, and so far, it has only been accessed a couple of times. It is abundant with spiritual plants and herbs, yet fraught with peril. Cultivators from the Foundation Establishment to the Golden Core stage are permitted entry.

Other than that, what mattered to her was that within the Chaos Mystic Realm existed a wisp of primordial Chaos Purple Qi, born from the heavens and earth. The Chaos Purple Bead, nurtured by this aura, was a rarity that emerged but once in a millennium.

If not for the restriction on cultivation levels for this particular mystic realm, countless cultivators would have bled for the chance to seize that precious Chaos Purple Bead.

Lin Qingshuang was no exception; she too had set her heart on obtaining that elusive bead.

She vaguely inferred that Jing Wuyan hailed from some divine domain in the Upper Realm, hence his ignorance of many matters in the cultivation world. Conversely, he knew significantly more about the affairs of the divine domains than she did.

If that was the case, what harm would it do for him to assist her more? After all, Jin Wuyan relied on the Universe Bracelet to absorb spiritual energy for cultivation. Only if her cultivation advanced swiftly could his recover faster, enabling him to ascend to the upper realm sooner. Why not seize this opportunity for mutual benefit?

As for Nanyan on the other side, with the help of her senior brother, she had indeed felt less exhausted after ascending to the Golden Core stage.

The fake pregnancy pill had worked so convincingly that she genuinely believed she carried a life within her. All the symptoms of pregnancy were there, and as time passed, she could almost sense the shape of the tiny golden mass in her abdomen, as if it were an infant connected to her bloodline in some subtle way.

She could even perceive its emotions, a vague yet distinct sense of joy being conveyed. If it had been a real child, Nanyan might have genuinely enjoyed raising it for fun. Fortunately, it was just an illusion... Yes, as expected from the System, a premium creation.

Counting the days, it was now exactly three months. Yet, her waist remained slender and flat, showing no signs of abnormality.

Perhaps due to her low cultivation level, the growth of the fetus was being restrained, hence the pregnancy wasn't visibly obvious in her abdomen.

At night, when she removed her clothes, one could barely discern a slight bulge. On regular days, with slightly loose dresses, nothing could be detected.

Now, as the fetus grew at an increasingly rapid pace, after ascending to the Golden Core stage, Nan Yan felt her spiritual energy draining away faster and faster. Therefore, she had to search for other treasures to sustain the fetus's subsequent development.

It was then that the sect announced that the Hongmeng Mystic Realm would soon open on Xiaozhou Mountain. Nan Yan had finally reached this pivotal moment. In the original plot, the junior sister had perished completely within that mystic realm, her body devoured by demonic beasts, leaving not even a trace of her remains. Thus, it seemed that this lifetime, their fate would again intertwine within the Hongmeng Mystic Realm.

Nan Yan thought calmly. In the original storyline, the Hongmeng Mystic Realm was a torn fragment of the Qingyao Divine Realm. Mirror Unyielding had found the Hongmeng Purple Bead and offered it to Lin Qingshuang for her cultivation. While she was stabilizing her realm, the junior sister had intended to launch a surprise attack but was instead terminated by Mirror Unyielding's palm, ending her life altogether.

Then, in this lifetime, would he still be able to do it?

With a slightly distracted mind, Yanan suddenly felt a movement on her cheek as it was pinched again. Only then did she snap back to reality, shooting her senior brother an aggrieved glare. "Senior Brother, you've squeezed my face into a circle!"

Beside her, the senior apprentice brother's brows twitched slightly as he looked down at her. Her small face had become more rounded, flushed with a healthy glow. Most likely, she had been well-fed, well-rested, and enjoying good sleep lately. Her complexion was much better than before. Indeed, it was his little junior sister, nurtured by him, that he could trust the most.

With this thought, a curve involuntarily formed at the corner of the Eldest Senior Brother's lips. The cold and detached Eldest Senior Brother reverted to his former gentle demeanor when facing her, warmth radiating from the corners of his eyes and brows.

"Well, let me see, it seems to have gained some roundness."

"Yet, the dot seems quaint and charming."

Perhaps it was because his younger junior sister had raised too many plump and round pet creatures in her childhood, each of them delightfully cuddly, that the senior brother had secretly come to believe that the fatter they were, the more adorable they seemed. Now, as he cared for his junior sister, he felt the same way about her.

Upon hearing this, Nan Yan was so enraged that she couldn't help but pummel and twist him, her punches as a Golden Core cultivator packing a greater punch.

The Senior Apprentice Brother didn't get angry; there was still a smile on his face. He caught the little hand that was pinching his waist and held it in his palm, gently squeezing it. "Alright, stop messing around. Yan-yan, did you hear what I just said?"

"Near Mount Xiaozhou, the Chaos Mystic Realm is newly unfolded, filled with rare spiritual herbs and the fabled Chaos Purple Qi that forms the Chaos Purple Beads. Upon entering, I'll search for this legendary treasure. Once I find the Chaos Bead, your fetus should no longer need to draw upon your life force for sustenance. You must stay obediently within the sect, refraining from any mischief. Focus on your daily cultivation to advance your realm. When I return, I wish to see you flourish."

Upon hearing this, Nanyan's eyes widened in disbelief, her face revealing unwillingness. How could she pass up such a golden opportunity?

In a reflexive gesture, her fingers clutched at her senior brother's robe, her voice filled with anxiety. "No way, Senior Brother, I have to go too! There will be plenty of precious spirit herbs and medicines in the mystic realm – I can't afford to miss out."

Her senior brother was already aware of her stubbornness, but this matter was not ordinary. The mystic realm was fraught with danger, inhabited by carnivorous monsters and watched by other cultivators lurking in the shadows. With her current condition, how could he possibly allow her to join them?

Frowning, he pinched her palm gently, his tone becoming more stern. "Yanyan, listen to me. This time is different. You're carrying a child now. Even if you don't think about yourself, you need to consider the life growing inside you. Do you believe you can compete with those ruthless cultivators for rare treasures?"

Although his words were true, Nanyan still tried to argue her case. "But, Senior Brother, you might not find the Primordial Purple Pearl. Therefore, I need to gather more spirit plants and herbs. Lately, you've given me all the medicinal resources provided by the sect, leaving your own cultivation stagnant. If we fail to find the Primordial Pearl in this mystic realm, what will you do in the future?"

The senior apprentice brother gently rubbed her head. "My cultivation isn't stagnant due to the lack of spiritual herbs or pills..."

It was because of his troubled state of mind. He still couldn't forget, nor could he forgive himself for the words he had spoken to her on the day of their bond. He was the one who had imprisoned himself.

"Don't worry about me. You just need to take good care of yourself and not concern yourself with anything else."

Nan Yan grew even more distressed upon hearing this. Seeing her senior apprentice brother's unyielding attitude, she fiddled with the small bead on his sleeve in silence for a while before speaking up, "But if you don't let me come along, when you leave, I can secretly blend into someone else's group and follow you..."

Her expression gave away her intentions as she tried to feign nonchalance with a glance at him, attempting to hide her not-so-subtle plan.

"The Chaos Mystic Realm is located at Little Zhou Mountain, right? It's not too far from the sect, and now that I'm a Golden Core cultivator, ordinary wandering cultivators should think twice before provoking me... Oh, Senior Brother, what's wrong with you? You seem a bit pale."

She then shook her head, adopting a gentle expression. "Ah, please don't misunderstand, Senior Brother. I didn't mean it like that. Honestly, I was just speaking casually. You know I'm timid and afraid of death. I was only joking, so please don't take it to heart..."

Upon hearing this, the eldest senior brother fell silent.

How could he possibly leave with ease?

The moment he turned his back, this pesky girl might follow, sneaking into someone else's group. She might not even realize if she was tricked and sold for profit...

The senior disciple frowned, gazing intently at the girl with a heavy heart. He truly couldn't bring himself to hit her or even scold her effectively. After a long silence, he finally decided against it. This impish girl had never sincerely listened to him since she was young.

He had been at her mercy for quite some time now.

Especially when he saw her rolling up her sleeves to retrieve various spirit talismans, medicinal pills, and other bags of spirit stones, as if fully prepared. The senior disciple promptly held her small hands in check.

"Enough, stop searching. I'll take you there."

Finished speaking, he couldn't help but ruffle her jet-black hair affectionately. Such an unruly junior sister, "But you have to promise me that once we enter the mystic realm, you'll behave obediently and stay by my side at all times. No causing trouble."

Nanyan finally smiled, her lips curving up, her eyes bending into crescents with joy. She immediately untied the bag, wrapped her arms around his arm, and swung back and forth. "I understand, I'll definitely follow you closely. I'm so honest, I'll go wherever you tell me to, I promise not to leave your side for a moment."

The eldest disciple couldn't help but laugh at her words and gently tapped her forehead. If she was truly honest, she would have stayed in the sect to wait for him. When did his little junior sister become so clingy and stubborn?

Nonetheless, he rather enjoyed her like this. It felt as if they were back in the past, when his carefree junior sister used to love clinging to people, making one's heart fill with delight.

Feng Jixue softly hummed in response, his gaze falling on her belly that wasn't yet visibly swollen. Cultivators were different from mortals; pregnancy didn't make them as fragile. Rather than letting her wander about with other groups blindly later on, it was better to keep her by his side from the beginning. This way, he could have more peace of mind.

...

Xiaozhou Mountain, due to the imminent opening of the Hongmeng Mystic Realm, the marketplace at its foot had become unusually bustling. Disciples from various sects and a considerable number of unaffiliated cultivators had gathered there.

Most were cultivators between the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stages, browsing the marketplace for protective and life-saving weapons.

Naturally, Nanyan wouldn't miss this opportunity either.

Thus, on that day, the eldest senior brother took her down the mountain to purchase all sorts of defensive spirit talismans. Knowing that she was now pregnant, he wanted to buy even more items for her protection.

Despite his presence, the eldest senior brother still felt a twinge of anxiety. He sensed an abundance of danger lurking within the mystic realm, and his youngest junior sister seemed particularly vulnerable in comparison.

Wandering through the market, the two picked and chose, purchasing quite a number of items. They still lacked an array formation talisman disc, so the senior apprentice brother led her in search of one. They eventually arrived at a shop at the end of the row, and Nanyan never would have expected to bump into her nemesis in such a narrow path. Sometimes, fate could be so ironic—she would always find that the things she set her eyes on would also catch someone else's attention at first glance.

Nan Yan gently caressed her pouch of holding and cast a glance at the two expressionless figures across from her.

For a moment, I was at a loss for words.

Feng Jixue had been deliberately avoiding Jing Wuyan lately, but ironically, the more one tried to evade someone, the harder it was to escape them.

Just as he had selected the Heavenly Secret Thunder Talisman Disk for Nan Yan and was about to reach for it, an elongated, fair finger extended from across, as if by coincidence.

It landed precisely on the small array disk that both of them had their eyes on, neither too high nor too low.

Whether it was unintentional or a deliberate provocation was uncertain.

The eldest disciple paused in his movement, and Nanyan couldn't help but purse her lips. Their unexpected encounter led to a collision of four pairs of eyes in mid-air, freezing the atmosphere on the scene with an eerie tension.

This was probably the showdown between an ex-husband and an ex-ex-husband.

If Nanyan were not the protagonist herself, she would have rushed to fetch a small stool, grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, and settled down to enjoy the spectacle. The scene was no less thrilling than any dramatic tale in a novel.

The senior disciple beside her immediately sensed the chill in the air when he laid eyes on Jing Wuyan. He instinctively tightened his grip on Nanyan's hand, a subtle sense of unease and tension surging within him. His entire being radiated a vibe of rejection.

He was fearful that the delicate balance he had painstakingly constructed would be disrupted by this man before him. He was unwilling to surrender Nanyan to anyone else, let alone allow this person to discover that she was now with child.

Jing Wuyan, however, paid no attention to the couple. His indifferent expression, with cold and aloof eyes, contrasted sharply with the sharp slant of his eyelids, lending an air of wicked charm to his stern visage.

As if casually, Jing Wuyan swept a glance over the two of them, exuding an aura that carried a strong sense of aggression.

Nanyan had only witnessed such a demeanor from him once before, during an intimate moment when she had provoked him too far, resulting in a thorough lesson in submission.

Yet, there was a difference. Back then, he wasn't as ruthless towards her. Now, not only had he become cold and indifferent, but he was also deliberately going against her.

Nan Yan watched her ex-husband's slender fingers pick up the array disk from the counter and fiddle with it nonchalantly. His long and elegant fingers would inadvertently remind her of how clumsily he had once braided her hair, his hands stiff as he carefully avoided tugging on her scalp.

Now, those same hands held the array disk and offered it to Lin Qing Shuang, who stood beside him. "Keep it. You should find it useful in this mystic realm."

Hmm... Was this tolerable?

He had stolen something from her and then passed it on to her enemy.

Nan Yan realized it was her turn to step in.

She took a deep breath, her expression clearly displeased. Unconsciously, she reached out and grabbed his sleeve, wrinkling it slightly.

"Why do you always like to compete with me for things, especially when you don't even need them? Moreover, I had my eye on this first."

Heh...

Jing Wuyan gazed at the hand on his sleeve, raising an eyebrow. Beneath his long, dark lashes, his eyes were as calm as a still lake.

Indeed, he derived pleasure from competing with her.

To witness her futile attempts to resist, looking so pitiful.

Who could blame him for being able to crush her with a single finger? Relying on their past affection, where did she find the audacity to defy him?

Did she truly believe he wouldn't mete out harsh punishment upon her?

Only then did Jin Wuyan turn his head, condescendingly granting her a glance. His gaze was cold and distant, as if they were strangers. His thin, red lips softly uttered a few words,

"Don't touch it. It's filthy."

Nan Yan's expression froze.

Before she could react, Jing Wuyan casually pushed her away without any mercy, slinging the sleeve she had gently held back with force.

This caused Nan Yan to lose her balance. Her entire body tilted backward uncontrollably under the impact. In that moment when she was flung aside, her face paled instantly. Fortunately, her Senior Brother had been watching out for her all along.

Wind Jixue was startled for an instant as well, not expecting him to actually act. Swiftly, she stepped forward, embracing Nan Yan's shoulders and pulling her into his arms. One hand circled her waist, while the other gently patted her back in comfort.

"Shh, don't be afraid, it's alright now..."

Nan Yan's body was still trembling. She bit her lip, clearly struggling to regain her composure. Her hands clutched tightly onto her senior brother's robe, fear and panic evident in her eyes, "Senior Brother..."

The eldest senior brother frowned, pulling her into his embrace and soothing her incessantly, "It's okay now, I'm here. Don't be scared, nothing will happen..."

Nan Yan's emotions remained unsettled. She persisted in biting her lip, holding onto her senior brother's robe with a death grip, her face still pale.

Jing Wuyan, observing the peculiar atmosphere between the two, involuntarily furrowed his brows. An inexplicable feeling suddenly arose in his heart.

He had an inkling that something was off, but when he looked down at his own palm, he felt that the two were overreacting.

He clearly hadn't used any spiritual energy at all.

Yan Jing's eyes also gradually turned cold. It was these two who were being shameless, embracing in public.