**Chapter 12: I Don't Remember, I'm Not Sure**
It was clear that Jingchen had never properly answered Hu Tao's proposed agreement from beginning to end. He had simply passed out in a drunken stupor.
In Jingchen's eyes, Hu Tao had always seemed more like the mischievous little sister from next door—quirky, playful, and prone to pranks. Sometimes he couldn't tell if she was joking or speaking from the heart.
Cloud Retainer waved her hand helplessly. "Hu Tao, this is the memory of your so-called agreement that day, isn't it?"
Hu Tao lowered her head guiltily, looking slightly flustered as she stammered, "Ah?! Um... but I asked him that day to give me a chance when my hair reaches my waist. He nodded, didn't he?"
Columbina raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "My Jingchen was clearly passed out drunk! How could that possibly count as nodding in agreement?!"
Hu Tao planted her hands on her hips and stepped in front of Columbina, her plum blossom eyes burning with suspicion. Though her instincts warned her that Columbina was dangerous, with Cloud Retainer backing her, she refused to give up on Jingchen.
"Silence implies consent! If Jingchen already agreed, then he should give me a chance when my hair reaches my waist!"
"You! You're being completely unreasonable!"
"What do you mean by 'being unreasonable'?! Can you tell me, Lady Maiden?!"
"Being unreasonable means exactly what you're doing right now! Understand?!"
"Heh."
Seeing Columbina and Hu Tao at each other's throats, their murderous aura growing increasingly terrifying, Jingchen sighed helplessly and pressed a hand to his forehead as he stepped between them.
"Alright, alright, Aya, Hu Tao, calm down, calm down. Harmony is paramount, harmony is paramount."
Columbina immediately clung to Jingchen's arm, glaring warily at Hu Tao.
"Jingchen, this Hu Tao won't listen to reason! Didn't you say she was just a mischievous little girl?"
Hu Tao retorted fiercely, refusing to back down.
"I may be lively and mischievous, but I'm not some little girl! I'm very grown-up!"
Cloud Retainer and Jingchen exchanged awkward glances, their faces etched with helpless smiles.
Hu Tao, her face flushed crimson, bared her small fangs and declared indignantly, "I'm still growing! Besides, my mental age is very mature! At least I'd be a perfect girlfriend."
Columbina scoffed softly.
"No matter what you say or how much you grow, I'll always be Jingchen's most perfect and only wife!"
"Aaaah!! Columbina, you?!"
The two girls were arguing again, leaving Jingchen to awkwardly smile between them, trying to minimize the chances of their argument escalating into a physical fight.
He genuinely hadn't anticipated that one day, two girls would be arguing endlessly over him.
To be honest, he wished they could resolve their conflict like the people of Sumeru in the legends—through the Seven Sacred Summons.
But it was clear these two weren't exactly the realistic type.
After half a day of bickering, they finally stood their ground, reaching a rare consensus to take a short break.
Jingchen quickly brewed tea and served them desserts.
The two girls sipped tea, nibbled on sweets, and glared daggers at each other, neither willing to concede.
Cloud Retainer pulled Jingchen aside.
"How do you plan to end this?! Hu Tao seems serious about this."
"Ah?! Master... Hu Tao was just a little girl ten years ago. How could I possibly agree to her demands?"
Cloud Retainer smiled awkwardly but with her usual elegance.
This half-day of drama had banished her boredom of millennia. It turned out there were such amusing affairs in the mortal realm.
As the male protagonist's master, with no romantic entanglements of her own, she was indeed an outsider.
Watching this unfold as an outsider was quite enjoyable.
No wonder Yanfei's father always loved being at the center of conflicts and disputes.
Cloud Retainer gently tapped Jingchen on the head.
"Then tell Hu Tao the truth."
"Ah, Master, you don't understand. Zhongli and I have a contract, roughly like this..."
Jingchen recounted every detail of his contract with Zhongli to Cloud Retainer.
"Hmm?! Hu Tao's inner turmoil?! That mischievous girl doesn't seem to have any deep-seated worries."
"I suspect it's either about me or Qiqi. As for her deceased grandfather, that matter should have been resolved on Wuwang Hill that day. Now it's likely just lingering grief."
Cloud Retainer shook her head dismissively.
"Do as you see fit, but don't let Hu Tao get too upset. Otherwise, Your Majesty might intervene personally. Even ten masters couldn't withstand his wrath."
Jingchen nodded frantically. The thought of the Martial God Zhongli taking action sent shivers down his spine.
Just as Jingchen was still contemplating Zhongli's terrifying power, Hu Tao and Columbina's bickering voices echoed from afar.
Cloud Retainer and Jingchen rushed back to find Hu Tao and Columbina locked in a fierce brawl, devoid of elemental or Seelie power. Only raw, unadulterated physical attacks.
Jingchen frantically threw himself in front of Columbina, wrapping his arms tightly around her.
"Jingchen, let go of me! I need to show Hu Tao my true strength!"
"Who's afraid of who?! Immortal, let go of me! I want to duel her!"
Cloud Retainer quickly pulled Hu Tao away as well.
"Master, let's take Hu Tao back to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor first."
"Mm."
Cloud Retainer hurriedly led Hu Tao out of the Serenitea Pot.
Columbina pouted, still visibly displeased.
"Jingchen! I had Hu Tao completely on the ropes!"
"Aya, calm down, calm down. Who threw the first punch, you or Hu Tao?"
"Huh?! I... I can't remember. Maybe... probably... I still can't remember!"
"Sigh... Forget about it for now. Let's go out and clear our heads."
Columbina's crimson, gem-like eyes widened, the fire of her anger still burning within them.
"Go out? I want grilled fish! All kinds of delicious food! I'm starving! I'll turn my grief and fury into strength!"
"Alright, alright."
Seeing Columbina's anger hadn't subsided, Jingchen had no choice but to pull her out of the Serenitea Pot.
Meanwhile, as Cloud Retainer led Hu Tao out of the Serenitea Pot, she overheard Hu Tao's complaints.
"Immortal! I had that Columbina completely cornered! If you two hadn't stopped me, I would have crushed her!"
"Sigh, alright, alright, let's not talk about it now. We'll discuss it later. Who threw the first punch?"
"Ah... I... I don't remember... Maybe... probably... Immortal, I really can't remember!"
......
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(End of Chapter)