Ch. 75 - Meeting Baili Xiao

“What brings you two here?” Xu Zimo asked with a faint smile.

“We're here to pass a message from Senior Sister Bai,” Xue Qianxue replied softly. “She’s been wanting to visit you and wanted to ask when you might have time.”

“If it were you two, I might consider it,” Xu Zimo said with a smirk. “As for her, not interested.”

“Can you speak properly for once?” Xue Qianxue said helplessly. “We’re just delivering her message. Senior Sister Bai has always admired you.”

“Admire me? Yeah, I totally believe that,” Xu Zimo thought sarcastically.

Still, he squinted slightly, gave the sisters a once-over, and said, “Tell her to come find me at South Goose Mountain tomorrow afternoon.”

Seeing the undisguised look in his eyes, Xue Mengmeng scrunched up her nose and glared. “What are you staring at? Never seen a beautiful woman before?”

“I’ve seen plenty of beauties,” Xu Zimo chuckled. “But sisters? That’s a first.”

“Come on, sis, let’s go. No need to talk to this jerk,” Xue Mengmeng said, her face flushed, tugging at her sister’s sleeve.

“Don’t forget your promise. Tomorrow afternoon,” Xue Qianxue gave Xu Zimo a meaningful look and then left with her sister.

“I see the stars aligning, the moon full and round tonight,” Xu Zimo called out with a loud laugh. “Why don’t you both stay a while, drink some wine, admire the moon, and share life stories? Sounds like a great time!”

Hearing his voice behind them, the sisters quickened their steps.

As they disappeared, Xu Zimo’s smile slowly faded. He clicked his tongue.

“Baili Xiao, I’m curious to see what you’re up to.”

He wondered to himself: In his previous life, was he truly infatuated with Baili Xiao?

Not really.

He just wanted to sleep with her.

All those “love at first sight” stories? Just shallow infatuation. True love grows over time.

…

From the afternoon on, Xu Zimo remained at the Thunder-Summoning Pool. The lightning attribute tempering of Shadow Tyrant was nearing completion.

More accurately, the first phase of the Heavenly Thunder attribute was about to be completed. To proceed to the second phase, he’d need to finish tempering the remaining five attributes first.

In the fifth zone of the Thunder-Summoning Pool, massive arcs of lightning wove into a net of crackling energy. Silver dragons roared, violet lightning howled.

Most would be awed upon first entering the Thunder-Summoning Pool, but for Xu Zimo, who had come many times, it was nothing new.

The Shadow Tyrant trembled, a blade light flashed, and in addition to the shadow dragon emblem, a lightning rune appeared near the hilt.

…

When Xu Zimo exited the Thunder-Summoning Pool, he realized he’d been inside for an entire day and night. It was now afternoon, just in time for his appointment with Baili Xiao.

“So this is technically the first proper meeting between us in this lifetime,” he murmured, smiling as he made his way back to South Goose Mountain.

The sunset was beautiful, but it signaled the day’s end.

In the courtyard of South Goose Mountain, a young woman stood with her back to the path, poised at the edge of the mountainside. Her gaze was fixed on the setting sun.

The golden hue hung along the horizon. The sunset today was more brilliant than usual. Blue skies, white clouds, rolling green hills.

Her long hair flowed freely, dressed in a white inner garment and a sheer pale-blue gauze robe fluttering in the breeze. A faint fragrance clung to her body. Her skin was like snow, her eyes full of softness and vitality.

But most eye-catching of all were her long, slender legs, so fair, so straight. When the gauze robe lifted slightly in the breeze, it was enough to drive any man’s hormones wild.

Sadly, there were few who passed by the courtyard to admire the view.

As Xu Zimo reached South Goose Mountain, Baili Xiao turned around, as if sensing his presence.

Her gaze was clear, her lips red and teeth white. From an outsider’s perspective, Baili Xiao was undeniably stunning.

She looked like a fairy who had fallen to the mortal world, gazing upon her felt almost like sacrilege.

“Junior Sister Bai, what brings you here?” Xu Zimo asked with a chuckle.

“Senior Brother Xu may have heard, I used to live in a small mountain village. I’m still unfamiliar with many things in the sect,” Baili Xiao said gently. “I thought I’d pay you a visit, in hopes you might offer some guidance in the future.”

She smiled like a spring breeze.

“I actually wanted to visit earlier,” she continued, “but you were away from the sect. So I asked someone to reach out instead. I hope you won’t take offense.”

Xu Zimo studied her for a moment.

Many who rose to prominence overnight tried to bury their humble pasts. Yet Baili Xiao brought it up so calmly.

“No problem,” Xu Zimo said, walking into the courtyard. “So that’s all you came for?”

“There’s something else,” Baili Xiao followed him in and fixed her gaze on him. “My aunt arranged a marriage between us and the Vice-Lord. I never liked being forced into such things, but I didn’t reject it either. I want to know why you turned it down?”

Xu Zimo looked at her. She met his gaze, her eyes stubborn and unwilling to yield.

"Great acting," Xu Zimo thought with a faint smile.

If not for his memories of his past life, he might’ve seen her as just an innocent girl.

“Why are you laughing?” Baili Xiao bit her lip slightly, looking a little aggrieved. “Am I so undesirable?”

Watching her act out the scene, Xu Zimo found it almost funny, like everyone was drunk but he alone was sober.

He shook his head and laughed softly. “I just don’t want to steal another man’s woman, that’s all.”

Baili Xiao was stunned, then quickly responded, “But I don’t have anyone I like.”

“Oh?” Xu Zimo raised an eyebrow, then called over his guard, Zhang Zhongtian.

“Help me kill someone,” he said.

Zhang Zhongtian blinked in surprise, then bowed respectfully. “Young Master, just give the order.”

“Go to Sunshine Village and kill a boy named Chu Yang.”

Baili Xiao’s expression changed instantly.

“Senior Brother Xu,” she quickly said, “Chu Yang is just a friend, nothing more. There’s no need to kill him.”

“Why so nervous then?” Xu Zimo smirked and reached out to lift her chin.

But Baili Xiao turned her head aside with displeasure. “Please behave yourself, Senior Brother Xu.”

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