Can't this guy just cultivate honestly on his own? Why does he have to come find me?
"Yue Qingshan! I've already told you I'm fine.
Everything has been my own choice. Don't try to stir up trouble here.
I've suffered no injustice from the Young Master.
You don't need to worry about me—no, it isn't even your place to.
I barely even know you!"
Each word struck like frost-edged steel, dousing the flames in Yue Qingshan's chest as thoroughly as a bucket of ice water.
[Ding! Yue Ming's coldness and ruthlessness successfully struck the heart of the Child of Destiny, Yue Qingshan, who lost 500 Luck Value. Congratulations to the Host for gaining 500 Villain Points. Currently, the Host has 3700 Villain Points!]
Five hundred Villain Points from a single barrage. Ye Qian savored the efficiency.
"Yue Ming, you...!"
Yue Qingshan's voice cracked. He had rushed here expecting gratitude, expecting her to flee into his arms. Instead, she had shattered his fantasies with surgical precision.
Then understanding dawned.
Of course.
Ye Qian stood right there, his presence a silent threat. Yue Ming wouldn't dare speak the truth. The Young Master must have twisted her mind, bent her will through some vile means.
If I defeat him, the spell will break. She'll leave with me willingly.
Resolution hardened in Yue Qingshan's eyes. His hand drifted to the hilt at his waist.
Swish!
The Crushing Star Blade sang free, its edge splitting the air with a crystalline ring.
"Ye Qian! I hereby challenge you to a duel!
Let this place be our arena. If I defeat you, you must set Yue Ming free and never pursue her again!"
Determination blazed across his features, as if he had staked his entire path on this single moment.
Yue Ming's eyes widened. Her lips parted in disbelief.
Where does this idiot get the confidence to challenge the Young Master?
A newborn calf charging a tiger—stubborn, reckless, and doomed.
Ye Qian regarded him with languid interest. The audacity was almost refreshing.
"I have no issue with that... If you win, you may take Yue Ming and do with her as you wish.
But what if I win?
It can't be that I'm the only one placing a wager. There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
Tell me, what are you putting on the line?"
Twelve thousand three hundred Luck Value hung on this Child of Destiny like ripe fruit. Ye Qian could kill him outright, but wasting such a bounty would be wasteful.
Since the fool cooperated so eagerly, it would be a disservice not to bleed him dry.
"I... if I lose, I'll... I'll give you this sword!"
Yue Qingshan's knuckles whitened around the Crushing Star Blade. It was the only treasure he possessed worth offering.
"Qingshan!"
The remnant soul in the ring nearly shattered from rage.
He had bestowed his most precious heirloom—a Samsara Artifact, no less—and this ungrateful whelp was wagering it like a common trinket.
If he had known, he would have buried the blade rather than entrust it to such hands.
What an unfortunate lineage!
"Alas!"
His sigh echoed through Yue Qingshan's consciousness, heavy with despair.
The remnant soul knew his disciple would not listen. Now he could only pray for victory, pray the Crushing Star Blade remained where it belonged. The alternative was unbearable.
Yue Qingshan heard the sigh but ignored it. He had no other choice.
Ye Qian's smile widened with satisfaction.
"Good. I agree to your terms. If you lose, that sword is mine."
The blade was precisely what he wanted. Nothing else Yue Qingshan possessed held any value.
The wager was struck. Neither spared a thought for Yue Ming's feelings.
Her fists clenched until her nails bit into her palms. She wanted to storm over and slap sense into this self-righteous fool.
To use me as a bargaining chip… he truly deserves to die!
Yet she felt no anger towards Ye Qian. He had only agreed to end Yue Qingshan's pestering.
All of this—every humiliating second—was Yue Qingshan's doing.
Self-righteous. Presumptuous.
He had no connection to her, yet he insisted on playing the hero, forcing help she neither wanted nor needed. Unrequited affection at its most pathetic.
"Yue Ming, come here."
Ye Qian's voice cut through her thoughts, gentle but absolute.
She obeyed without hesitation. Two days had trained the instinct into her bones.
The moment she reached his side, his arm coiled around her waist and pulled her close. His lips claimed hers with ruthless possession.
Yue Qingshan's world fractured.
"Ye Qian! You... let go of my Yue Ming! Filthy piece of trash!"
Blood vessels burst in his eyes. He lunged forward, desperate to tear them apart.
Ye Qian snapped his fingers.
The Wind Qilin, bored until this moment, understood instantly.
Roar~!
The beast's cry tore through the clearing. Gale-force winds erupted, scattering leaves and flinging sand like shrapnel.
Yue Qingshan staggered. The wind hammered against him, fast and relentless.
His advance died. When he tried another step, the gale flung him backward.
"Damn it! That beast is actually so strong?! Ahh!"
Unwillingness clawed at his throat. Blocked by a mere roar. His rage echoed uselessly across the clearing.
He could only watch.
Watch Ye Qian ravage Yue Ming's lips. Watch her hands push weakly against his chest, unable to break free.
He's bullying her, Yue Qingshan thought, fury blinding him to truth.
It's not her fault at all.
The reality was simpler. Yue Ming burned with humiliation—not at being kissed, but at being kissed in front of this fool she now despised.
The indignity scalded her cheeks crimson.
[Ding! Yue Qingshan witnessed the shameless display between the Host and Yue Ming, suffering a great impact to his Dao Heart, causing him to lose 1000 Luck Value. The Host gained 1000 Villain Points. Currently, the Host has 4700 Villain Points!]