Chapter 332: Why Not Bow Upon Seeing the Holy Maiden?

Chapter 332: Why Not Bow When Meeting the Saint?

Zhao Changhe’s gaze also fell upon her hand.

This hand was so gentle, so soft…

Huangfu Qing felt his stare and glared back expressionlessly.

Zhao Changhe assumed a defensive posture, retreating half a step.

Huangfu Qing’s voice turned seductive: “What, still want more?”

Zhao Changhe swallowed his saliva, righteous and stern: “Am I only after this sort of thing?”

“Aren’t you?”

“…Even if I am, it should be in a fragrant, soft place.”

Huangfu Qing swung a punch at him; Zhao Changhe covered his head in defense.

The fist never landed. They stared at each other, eyes flickering, both knowing it was time to leave.

There might be many Kunlun secret realms, but all were small fragments like this—perhaps because many treasures existed, each protecting its own tiny space, leading to this phenomenon. But that meant little room for exploration; everything was visible at a glance, no bigger than a palm.

There was nothing needed for survival here—how long could they linger? Everyone had finished their tasks, obtained their treasures, completed their breakthroughs. It was time to go…

A sudden reluctance stirred in Huangfu Qing’s heart; time felt so short.

Hidden in that tiny space, they could forget many worldly matters, as if only the two of them existed in heaven and earth. They could share tenderness, achieve together, curl up in a man’s embrace, feeling his care and affection.

They could vent emotions forbidden outside, kiss him, wish to grasp the spear or invert the sword—no one watching, so do as they pleased.

Could they still do so outside?

The Winged Fire Serpent could only pretend occasionally; most of the time, as Vermilion Bird, she had to hide all thoughts behind a mask, presenting a cold gaze that dominated the world.

That dead turtle never helped with anything—did it know how much she bore, how tired she was?

Well, it did help once, saying she liked him… Was that help? Back then, she didn’t even like him! It was his later actions that touched her heartstrings…

But if he hadn’t mistakenly thought she liked him, would those later actions have happened?

Who knows…

Yet such feelings might not be good. What about Chichi… and Tang Wanzhuang—was she really going to fight over a man?

How ridiculous.

The more she thought, the angrier she got. Dead turtle, just you wait!

Zhao Changhe was asking: “After you leave… will you return to the capital?”

Huangfu Qing, already in a foul mood, said petulantly: “Why must I return to the capital? Afraid I’m too much trouble?”

“Nonsense. Of course I hope you can stay a few more days.”

Little did she know, Huangfu Qing regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth. Why stay here? Chichi was still around! Report the investigation of the Fire Flame Kunlun to the Saint Chichi as the Winged Fire Serpent?

Had Chichi ever seen Vermilion Bird’s true face? Huangfu Qing thought hard—she always wore the Vermilion Bird mask when meeting her, so that was fine…

Besides, though Chichi wasn’t an expert in fire, she had decent knowledge. Could she be fooled? What if she realized the Heart Flame wasn’t something the Winged Fire Serpent could subdue?

No, no matter how reluctant, she had to leave. If exposed, it would be mortifying. From now on, she’d cut ties with him completely, find an excuse to make the Winged Fire Serpent disappear—this game was unplayable.

Just as she thought this, the spatial barrier above suddenly trembled.

Their hearts leaped. They looked up, and Xia Chichi’s voice came: “Finally found the trick. This volcanic crater was so misleading—I thought the secret realm was inside the mountain, jumping up and down searching for ages, but the entrance was right here, the spatial barrier. So obvious in hindsight.”

“Hey! Zhao, you dead or alive? How do I break this barrier? Need help? Say something!”

Zhao Changhe replied: “I’m here. The barrier was already broken, then patched. Don’t worry, we’re coming out.”

“…” Huangfu Qing gritted her teeth.

You really aren’t afraid to bring a mistress before Chichi… Cui Yuanyang and the others have given you plenty of experience, haven’t they?

Wait, why am I the mistress? You two aren’t even together yet!

Since it had come to this, hiding was useless. Out they went—what was there to fear?

“Crash!” The spatial barrier shattered, and the two leaped out from the mountain’s belly.

Xia Chichi stood at the crater’s edge, arms crossed, sizing up this seductive, enchanting woman.

So you’re the one who spent three shameless days with my boyfriend in the mountain belly, huh?

She is beautiful, truly. How strange—what is it with his luck with women? All such stunning beauties? And that aura…

Oh, you’re glaring at me?

Xia Chichi’s probing thoughts ignited at that glare. She stomped in fury: “Zhao! You came to find a Fire Flame Kunlun secret realm, and you end up rolling around with a woman? Who is she!”

“Uh…” Zhao Changhe quickly explained: “This is your sect’s Winged Fire Serpent. She was sent by the Vermilion Bird Venerable to investigate Fire Flame Kunlun, and we happened to meet…”

Xia Chichi paused, recalling that the Venerable had indeed said she’d send the Winged Fire Serpent here. She also remembered that this Winged Fire Serpent had a history with him, apparently at the Venerable’s behest… So she wasn’t a sudden woman; the whole story could be pieced together.

No wonder she had such looks and aura—said to be a noble consort, after all.

But wait… Noble consort, do you even know what identity Zhao Changhe holds now? Xia Chichi’s expression turned bizarre, even stranger than before.

And why was this woman still glaring at her? Who was the later vixen here?

Xia Chichi crossed her arms, her tone cool: “Oh, so it’s one of our sect’s Twenty-Eight Mansions, one of us… Then why are you so rude to me? Did the Venerable teach you to stare straight at the Saint like that?”

Zhao Changhe tugged at her sleeve: “Chichi…”

“Step aside. This is sect internal affairs, very serious!”

Zhao Changhe: “…”

Huangfu Qing’s face tightened. After a long pause, she said: “I answer only to the Venerable. The Azure Dragon and White Tiger branches have nothing to do with me.”

Xia Chichi retorted: “Sect rules are clear. Did I ask you to answer to me? Where is your courtesy? Should I go ask the Venerable?”

Huangfu Qing twitched the corner of her mouth, finally lowering her glaring eyes, and said in a low voice: “Greetings, Saint.”

Little bitch, remember this. Next time you see the Venerable, I’ll make sure you know how to bow properly.

Xia Chichi, unaware of future troubles, saw the Winged Fire Serpent’s submissive demeanor and felt as if she’d drunk iced sour plum soup at the crater’s edge—utterly refreshed. A smile bloomed on her face as she spoke with a drawl: “So, what results did the investigation of Fire Flame Kunlun yield?”

Huangfu Qing ground her teeth but could only reply cautiously: “This is not the place to speak. Shall I report to the Saint in detail back at the base?”

“Mm.” Xia Chichi declared victory, turned with her head high and chest out, then shot a glare at Zhao Changhe: “I’ll deal with you later!”

“Wait…” Zhao Changhe held back for a moment: “Why are you only picking on her? What about Ye Wuzong? The three-day agreement…”

Xia Chichi fumed: “Three days? It’s already the fourth day! You were in there hugging a woman, so happy you forgot to come home, right?”

“Huh?” Zhao Changhe was stunned. He’d only slept a while and meditated a while—four days had passed?

Meditation really was unscientific…

That meant, according to the agreement, the sword pellet was already his?

With that thought, Zhao Changhe quickly pulled out the sword pellet and shoved it into Xia Chichi’s hand: “This is the real business… Let’s head back first. If Ye Wuzong changes his mind, standing here won’t be good.”

Xia Chichi took the sword pellet, glanced at him sideways, and noticed his body was almost entirely covered in dried blood. The Winged Fire Serpent beside him was the same—her gorgeous mink coat had turned crimson.

She didn’t know what had happened, but clearly, they’d been through a fierce battle.

In the end, he had rushed to Kun Gang for his sword pellet, and had met with great peril.

As for the Winged Fire Serpent, it was merely a chance encounter, not something prearranged... Who knows if nothing happened between them down there?

Knowing full well she was deceiving herself, Xia Chichi's anger still abated somewhat, and she said gloomily, "Ye Wuzong isn't really interested in the sword pellet itself, so it should be fine... In any case, we'll talk about it when we get back."