Meeting Chi Ji Again

Meeting Chi Ji again.

Opening the window to see the light, the night in the Demon Abyss’s outer city was a scene of clamor. People came and went, and the cries of vendors rose in the air, giving Xu Xian an unprompted sense of excitement.

The coldness of the day and the bustle of the night hid a distortion in the system.

Because of the nights in the Demon Abyss, the heavenly demon race and earthly demon race rarely traveled, so the streets of the outer city became boisterous.

Or perhaps...

Only at night could the demons of the outer city enjoy the radiance of the Nether Pool and feel that they were close to it.

Xu Xian couldn't say for sure, but in any case, it was quite lively.

The bustle of the night, the coolness of the day—no sleep.

Xu Xian went out once, found a bookstore, and bought many books. He returned to the inn and flipped through them all night, trying to find anything regarding Shadow Soul Stones within the lines of the Demon Abyss's lost history.

He continued until the colors faded from the morning sky and the flowers on the windowsill ignited with flames.

Still, there were no results.

Xu Xian closed the book, rubbed his aching eyes, and thought, 'Perhaps I still need to find someone to ask.'

A blacksmith, an archaeologist, or...

Suddenly.

The youth became alert, his gaze turning inward. The Little Book Spirit darted out of his forehead with a swish, flew out the window, glanced down, and then looked back at Xu Xian. "She's entered the building."

Xu Xian frowned. "Such a coincidence?"

The Little Book Spirit tilted its head and asked, "Should we run?"

Xu Xian stroked his chin, puzzled. "When was I targeted?"

The one entering was none other than Chi Ji.

Although she, like the previous Xu Xian, hid her appearance under her clothing.

Xu Xian would not mistake this aura, and the Little Book Spirit certainly wouldn't either.

Through his divine sense exploration.

She entered the inn, went straight up to the fourth floor, and came to his door, pausing slightly.

Her chest rose and fell slightly as she calmed herself. She raised her hand and knocked on the door.

Thud!

Thud thud!

Xu Xian pulled back his thoughts, stood up, and walked toward the door, his mind busy with other matters.

He had been a bit careless, assuming that the presence of fifth, sixth, and seventh stage cultivators passing by in the Nether Capital was normal and nothing to be surprised about.

Thinking about it now.

One or several of those auras had been tracking him.

Otherwise, how could she have found him?

And how was he exposed?

It could only be the name he registered when entering the city.

Bai Mang.

He silently warned himself not to take shortcuts for the sake of convenience in the future.

At the same time, other thoughts stirred in his mind. Since her influence was so great, perhaps she could find out how to refine Shadow Soul Stones.

Well... at the very least, that one million should be given to him now.

Even though he had picked up her spear, she didn't know that, did she?

Harboring his little schemes, Xu Xian opened the room door.

Standing before him was a girl, slender and elegant. A fiery red fur coat wrapped her tightly, yet it still couldn't hide her long legs and high peaks.

Under the brim of her hat, half of her face was as white as frost. The moment she looked up, her emerald eyes were filled with an unmistakable joy.

Xu Xian feigned ignorance and frowned. "Miss, is there something you need?"

Chi Ji suppressed her inner joy and said calmly, "Can we talk inside?"

Xu Xian pretended to be hesitant. "That's not very appropriate, is it? We don't even know each other, and a man and woman alone like this..."

Chi Ji didn't believe Xu Xian hadn't recognized her. She raised her hand and gave him a light push. "Move." Then, she walked straight into the room.

Xu Xian was speechless.

"Close the door."

Xu Xian closed the door.

Chi Ji stood in the middle of the room, scanned it once, and muttered, "It's a bit small."

She then turned her gaze to the books scattered all over the floor, picked one up from the table, flipped through it casually, and said with a hint of banter, "You're quite the scholar, aren't you?"

Xu Xian leaned against the doorway, arms crossed over his chest, and went straight to the point. "How did you find me?"

Chi Ji looked at him from the side and said softly, "Didn't you say you didn't know me?"

Xu Xian curled his lip. "If you're going to talk like that, then this is pointless."

Chi Ji sat down and removed her veiled hat, revealing a head of fiery red long hair and a face as exquisitely sculpted as an AI-generated image.

She stared straight at the youth, seeing that he still maintained a lazy and careless attitude.

She narrowed her eyes slightly and said with a hint of teasing, "Insolent Bai Mang. How dare you not bow upon seeing a heavenly demon? You certainly have a lot of nerve."

Xu Xian stopped pretending and laid his cards on the table. Shrugging his shoulders, he said lazily, "I've even slaughtered heavenly demons; why would I be afraid of you?"

"Hmm?"

Xu Xian deliberately reminded her, "Lest you forget, who was it that saved your life?"

Chi Ji gritted her teeth and said word by word, "You can rest assured, I won't forget who hit me as long as I live."

Xu Xian was speechless. Was that the main point?

"In all my life, I've never been hit like that," Chi Ji said.

Xu Xian rolled his eyes. If he hadn't hit her twice, he might actually have believed her.

Chi Ji didn't want to make things unpleasant either. She reined in her temper and said in a gentle voice, "Fine, let's not mention that for now. Pour me a glass of water; I'm thirsty."

Who do you think you're ordering around?

Xu Xian walked over to the table, sat opposite her, took the teapot, and turned over a cup.

Chi Ji felt a small surge of secret joy and waited quietly in anticipation...

The water splashed as it filled the cup.

Xu Xian picked up the cup.

Chi Ji reached out to take it.

Xu Xian raised his hand and downed it in one gulp.

Chi Ji froze, her eyes filled with shame and anger.

Xu Xian deliberately let out a burp with an expression of enjoyment and gave her a provocative glance.

His look seemed to say: I just won't pour it for you, what are you going to do about it?

Chi Ji glared at him, filled with resentment.

She snatched the teapot from Xu Xian's hand, poured herself a full cup, drank it all in one go, and then looked at Xu Xian provocatively as well.

Not pouring for her?

Then she would do it herself.

Xu Xian only found it childish and asked again, "How did you find me?"

Chi Ji gave him a cross look, her grievance still apparent. "In the Nether Capital, there is nothing this princess doesn't know. Was finding you supposed to be difficult?"

Xu Xian said half-heartedly, "Fine, you're impressive."

Chi Ji looked at Xu Xian and questioned, "Why did you leave me behind and run off alone?"

Xu Xian acted confused. "Hmm? Did I?"

"I waited by the creek for you for a whole day, do you know that?" Chi Ji's voice rose slightly.

Xu Xian's eyes darted around inwardly, then he suddenly looked down and sighed.

"Sigh..."

Just a long sigh, and then he stopped speaking.

Chi Ji waited and waited, finally unable to resist urging him, "What are you sighing for?"

Xu Xian remained silent, looking as if he wanted to speak but hesitated...

"Just say it already!"

Xu Xian gritted his teeth and put on a look of bitterness and internal struggle. "I never thought I'd make it out alive."

Chi Ji was completely bewildered. "What do you mean?"

Xu Xian stood up, paced to the window, and turned his back to Chi Ji. Gazing at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, he said slowly:

"You don't know how dangerous it was at the time. I could only leave you there to lure away the pursuers. Only then did you have a slim chance of survival. I just didn't expect my luck would be so good that I'd survive. By the time I went back to find you, you were already gone. I thought you must have returned to the Nether Capital, so I came here."

At this point, the youth's voice paused as he gave a sincere smile. "Fortunately, you really are alive."

Chi Ji was lost in a fog of confusion, yet a sense of guilt she couldn't explain suddenly overwhelmed her entire body.

Her intuition told her she had misjudged him. That sense of shame and self-reproach was stronger than ever before.

She pinched the corner of her clothes and looked affectionately at that silhouette. With slow speed and a soft tone, she asked, "What exactly happened that night?"

Xu Xian glanced sideways then looked away, waving his hand. "It's better not to mention it."

Chi Ji bit her lip, her throat bobbing. "I want to know."

Xu Xian turned around and stared straight at her. "No, you don't want to know."

Chi Ji: "????"