“I believe you can block it. You’re Xiao Yunluo.”
Xiao Yunluo repeated Ye Anping’s words in her mind, gritting her teeth. Was this statement implying that as long as she was “Xiao Yunluo,” she could block it? However, if her sword had been a moment slower, she would have been killed by Ye Anping’s sword. Xiao Yunluo even suspected that the person before her wanted to take her life.
Yet, just as this person had said, she endured the pressure and blocked it with her own sword, surviving. But what if she hadn’t managed to block it? Without a doubt, she would have died. And the person before her would undoubtedly be captured and thrown into the Heavenly Prison by the Xuan Xing Sect. Was this person gambling his own life on whether she could block it? What a crazy person!
But… Xiao Yunluo pouted. When she looked up at Ye Anping’s face, she couldn’t help but feel a little deer head-butting her chest, thumping wildly. Sensing this emotion, Xiao Yunluo quickly shook her head and averted her gaze.
“Woo—”
Seeing her reaction, Ye Anping squatted down and asked, “Does it hurt?”
“No…” Xiao Yunluo pouted, looked at him again, and then nodded slightly. “Yunluo is fine. Lian Xue calls me that, so you can too.”
Ye Anping shrugged slightly and smiled, “Senior Sister Xiao is still more natural.”
“Call me Yunluo!!”
“…”
Xiao Yunluo frowned and called out his name, “Ye Anping!”
“I’m here.”
Ye Anping exhaled softly, inexplicably lamenting in his heart that Xiao Yunluo, who had been turned into a “cat” by his junior sister, had now returned to “tiger” form.
At this moment, Bai Yuexin seemed to have heard the “bang!” and “boom!” from the backyard and rushed out of the room. “Anping?! What happened…”
Her voice suddenly stopped upon seeing Xiao Yunluo and Ye Anping sitting on the ground, leaning against the courtyard wall. When did Young Miss arrive? Were they sparring? But why did sparring cause such a commotion, and why was Young Miss bleeding from the corner of her mouth? Blood?
“Hiss—” Bai Yuexin, startled, rushed towards Xiao Yunluo, squatted down to help her up, and then glared at Ye Anping, scolding, “Anping! Sparring is sparring, why did you strike so heavily?!”
“…”
“You’re still smiling!!” Bai Yuexin was anxious now. Although swords and sabers have no eyes and injuries are inevitable during sparring, it would be fine if it were an ordinary disciple. But Ye Anping had injured Xiao Yunluo.
—The Young Miss of the Xuan Xing Sect!
—The only daughter of Immortal Dan Yue!
If Young Miss held a grudge and cried out, Ye Anping would definitely be beaten severely. Bai Yuexin looked at Xiao Yunluo, who was stunned, and quickly defended Ye Anping with an apologetic tone, “Young Miss, don’t blame him too much. Anping really didn’t mean to.”
“Ah…” Xiao Yunluo also came back to her senses and quickly shook her head, “It’s okay.”
“Are you really okay?”
“Really, it’s fine.”
Then, Bai Yuexin looked at Ye Anping and quickly gestured to him, “Anping, apologize quickly.”
While Bai Yuexin was signaling, Xiao Yunluo frowned and looked at Ye Anping, saying, “Ye Anping…”
“Hmm?”
“…Thank you.”
???
Bai Yuexin was instantly filled with a thousand questions. How could she thank the person who beat her until she bled?
Ye Anping smiled easily and clasped his hands, thinking, “You’re welcome. Senior Sister Xiao, would you like to come inside and sit for a while?”
“No, I’m going back.” With that said, Xiao Yunluo broke free from Bai Yuexin’s arm and stomped away from the Physiotherapy Center, her face in a huff.
Watching Xiao Yunluo leave, Bai Yuexin felt a bit lost, unsure if Young Miss was angry or not. Bai Yuexin looked at Ye Anping helplessly, “Anping, Young Miss was so angry just now, maybe we should run away?”
“…”
“I can help you cover up other things, but I can’t cover this up.”
Bai Yuexin pondered for a moment and suggested, “You call your junior sister, then we’ll leave the Western Regions together and open a physiotherapy center in Hantian Kingdom. There are more martial cultivators there, so business must be good.”
“Sister, it’s really fine, don’t worry.”
“But just now…”
Ye Anping thought about how he had treated Xiao Yunluo just now, and that Golden Crown Parrot happened to be there. Si Xuanji would likely be watching it. But he was too focused at the time and didn’t spare a thought for the parrot’s presence.
“By the way, where is the Golden Crown Parrot? Is it still in the room?”
“No, that silly bird flew out the window earlier. It’s probably gone to pick up something somewhere?”
“…”
Ye Anping fell silent for a moment, then looked at the eaves of the Physiotherapy Center, spotting a golden crown feather left on a tile. After thinking for a while, Ye Anping said, “Sister, let’s go back early today. I’ll close the shop and go sleep for a while.”
Bai Yuexin was both worried and helpless, with a bitter smile on her face, “I’ll go and talk to Young Miss for you again.”
…
That night, the crescent moon shyly hid behind clouds. Lights were lit in the Xuan Xing Sect marketplace. Ye Anping had just picked up the clothes his junior sister had ordered from a clothing store – a light blue off-the-shoulder long dress and a brocade red cloud-patterned belt. Afterwards, he went to a small auction house in the marketplace to help his junior sister purchase some Heavenly Treasures needed for her Foundation Establishment.
As he returned to the entrance of the Physiotherapy Center, a duck-like cry suddenly came from the sky.
“Congratulations and prosper!! Congratulations and prosper!!”
“…”
Ye Anping looked up and saw the Golden Crown Parrot circling at a height of a hundred feet above his head. This parrot wasn’t an eagle, so why was it circling above people’s heads? After a moment of hesitation, he waved his hand and took out a glutinous rice ball from his Storage Bag, spread it in his palm, and held it up slightly.
“Here!”
The next moment, the Golden Crown Parrot swooped down like an eagle, then buffered with its wings and landed lightly on his wrist. As the parrot pecked at the glutinous rice ball in his hand, a bell sound suddenly came from behind him.
“It seems A’ying likes you quite a bit.”
Hearing this, Ye Anping was slightly startled and quickly looked behind him. A girl of seven or eight with Yin-yang eyes, wearing a loose Xuan Xing Sect disciple uniform, stood by the street. Her hair almost dragged to her calves, shimmering under the moonlight.
Ye Anping recognized her as Si Xuanji at a glance. From her uniform, it seemed she had borrowed it from a Xuan Xing Sect disciple; it didn’t fit her at all. Was she on a secret visit? Ye Anping paused and pretended not to recognize her, clasping his hands. “Miss, are you perhaps the owner of this Golden Crown Parrot?”
“Yes.” Si Xuanji walked forward, extended her somewhat chubby baby hand, and let the parrot jump back onto it. “Thank you, young master, for taking care of it these past few days.”
“It’s nothing. This little bird is quite talkative and has brought me some amusement.”
Si Xuanji chuckled. Seeing Ye Anping staring at her eyes, she tilted her head slightly, “Why are you staring at me?”
Your mixed-colored eyes, who wouldn’t stare at them when they first met you? Aren’t I cooperating with your act? If I expose you, you’ll be sad and alone for a long time afterwards.
Ye Anping averted his gaze and said, “Miss’s eyes are truly unusual. This is the first time I’ve seen such peculiar eye colors.”
“Unusual?” Si Xuanji covered her mouth and chuckled. “Most people who see me for the first time consider me a vengeful ghost because of my eyes. Aren’t you afraid?”
Ye Anping pondered for a moment and praised, “Miss has the look of a peach blossom. If there were ghosts like Miss in the world, ghosts wouldn’t be a derogatory term.”
Si Xuanji raised an eyebrow slightly, “Does Master truly think so?”
“Naturally.”
“Then why don’t we take a walk in the marketplace?” Si Xuanji looked up at the sky. “To have such a handsome young master accompany me for a stroll on the Heavenly Street, this old… young woman feels greatly honored.”
Are you trying to say “old woman”? Ye Anping blinked and simply ignored it. Ye Anping spread his hands and said, “Then, Miss, please.”
Si Xuanji nodded and stepped closer to Ye Anping, “You may call me Xuanji.”
