After the kiss had ended,

Chen Hao's expression darkened as he saw Ye Yuqiao's fair face already wet with tears like raindrops on pear blossoms. As he reached out to wipe the tears from her face, he asked with concern, "What's wrong? Is it because you don't like me, that my relentless pursuit has made you feel troubled?"

Ye Yuqiao looked up at him, shook her head repeatedly, and then suddenly burrowed into Chen Hao's arms, sobbing a couple of times before crying out in his embrace, "Don't say anything more, alright? My heart is in such turmoil!"

Having said that, Ye Yuqiao sobbed even more violently in Chen Hao's arms.

This was the first time Chen Hao had seen Yuqiao so vulnerable.

After a long while, Ye Yuqiao moved away from Chen Hao, looked at him coldly, and said, "I hope that one day, you won't hate me for making you fall for me now. I'm sorry, I've been too wilful; I've been restraining myself, but..."

Before she could finish, Ye Yuqiao broke down into tears once again.

"How could I possibly hate you?" Chen Hao said softly into her ear as he held her, his expression one of utter bewilderment, not understanding the true extent of Ye Yuqiao's troubles.

After a long silence, Ye Yuqiao finally stopped crying, her expression returning to its usual coldness.

"Let's go home," Ye Yuqiao said coldly.

"Okay!" Chen Hao nodded and then hesitantly asked, "Before we head back, could you tell me if you like me or not?"

Ye Yuqiao snorted coldly and said, "You made me cry so miserably, of course I don't like you."

Chen Hao's face darkened immediately, and he said in a mournful voice, "I'm asking you seriously, is this your serious answer?"

A playful smile suddenly appeared on Ye Yuqiao's face, and she stuck out her tongue at Chen Hao, laughing lightly, "You guess?"

Chen Hao squinted his eyes, looking somewhat helplessly at Ye Yuqiao. Her mix of crying and laughing made him feel that she was truly unpredictable. However, seeing Ye Yuqiao's mood brighten, his troubled heart also lightened up, and he couldn't help moving forward to kiss Ye Yuqiao's cheek, saying confidently, "I believe it won't be long before, without any urging from me, you will say that you like me of your own accord."

Ye Yuqiao made a face at Chen Hao and then patted his back, saying, "I want you to carry me on your back home."

"Sure, sure!" Chen Hao agreed cheerfully.

But it was only when Ye Yuqiao climbed onto his back that he realized the problem and, looking around at the tranquil mountains, he asked, "Where are we? I don't recall ever being here."

"This is Yue Mountain!" Ye Yuqiao's arms were already around Chen Hao's neck, "Over a hundred li from our home."

"That's over fifty kilometers!" Chen Hao exclaimed, shocked. "Ye Yuqiao, did you know how far this place is and ask me to carry you on purpose?"

Ye Yuqiao closed her eyes and whispered into Chen Hao's ear, "Are you not willing? Then put me down right away."

"How could I be unwilling!" Chen Hao shook his head gently and began to stride into the deepening night. "Don't forget, I'm the man who would carry you for a lifetime!"

Hearing Chen Hao say this, Ye Yuqiao's eyes reddened again. With a misty smile in her eyes and looking at Chen Hao's resolute yet haggard profile, she thought to herself, "Fool, I've already kissed you twice, and you still ask me such a silly question about whether I like you!"

She closed her eyes, resting her head against Chen Hao's not particularly broad but warm shoulders, putting aside all worries and past events for the moment, deeply enjoying this silent and romantic night, belonging just to the two of them.

The next day dawned faintly.

Outside Qian Feng's room in the Netherworld.

Listening to the urgent footsteps approaching from far to near, Qian Feng, who was in the midst of sleep, slowly opened his eyes, thinking that surely some vexing matter had come knocking at his door again.

It wasn't long before the footsteps halted at the door, and then came the voice of the butler drifting in, "Clan Leader Qian, the Soul Devouring Beast was also disposed of by that lad last night."

"What!" Qian Feng was astonished. He had previously believed that there were no Yin Yang Arts in the mortal world capable of dealing with the Soul Devouring Beast, so he couldn't help but exclaim, "Indeed, there are always people better than oneself, there's always someone out there stronger. It seems I have underestimated the people of the mortal world!"

After that, he sat up in bed and said toward the door, "I've got it, you can leave now, I want to sleep a bit more!"

"Clan Leader, there's one more important matter," the butler spoke from outside the door.

Qian Feng, feeling lackluster, sighed helplessly and said coldly, "Then spit it out quickly!"

"Yes! Clan Leader, King Ning has come to the mansion, and he's now seated waiting in the hall!" the butler reported, his voice trembling slightly as he was adept at reading expressions and knew that Qian Feng was somewhat displeased at the moment.

"Alas!" the complaining Qian Feng, who had wanted to sleep a while longer, frowned and muttered, "Is a mere Dharma King worthy of a personal reception by me?"

Though he said this, he still got out of bed.

A quarter of an hour later, Qian Feng, having dressed and freshened up, walked into the guest reception hall. Stepping into the hall, he forced a beaming smile onto his gloomy face, and the previously stern-faced King Ning suddenly stood up, greeting Qian Feng with a warm smile.

After a few pleasantries, they took their seats.

Having sipped some tea and exchanged some small talk, Qian Feng broached the main topic, asking, "I wonder what brings King Ning to my home today?"

The always jovial King Ning suddenly grew serious and said, "A few days ago when Clan Leader Qian summoned me, I regretfully couldn't come due to pressing matters and had some unpleasantness with a few servants from your mansion. My purpose for coming today is to apologize for that offense."

Qian Feng's expression darkened, and he forced a smile, "King Ning, let's not beat around the bush with nice words. It's widely known that you and I have never gotten along!"

In Qian Feng's empty eyes, nobody could see his true intentions. This was precisely what made others fear him.

"Then, I'll speak frankly," said King Ning, his expression growing stern, "I've heard about the issues between your mansion and that young lad Chen Hao. I've come today to offer you a strategy that would hit him hard."

"Offer a strategy?" Qian Feng laughed scornfully, "Why is King Ning suddenly so kind-hearted as to offer me a strategy?"

"Dao County's ghost market is destroyed, and I've found a good place to tap into under my jurisdiction. I wanted to propose a partnership with Clan Leader Qian to explore financial opportunities together," King Ning explained.

"Oh?" Qian Feng scoffed again, "I wonder what brilliant strategy King Ning has?"

"That lad Chen Hao has an elderly grandfather who's been dependent on him since childhood, lying comatose in the hospital. What if we target his grandfather, wouldn't that deal the most severe blow to the lad?"

..

Not long after, King Ning left.

Qian Feng sat in his chair, lost in thought.

At that moment, the butler of Qian Mansion approached Qian Feng and said, "Master, should we heed King Ning's words?"

"Why should we not?"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.