A chilly night wind blew through the courtyard, but the silence outside the Jade Glass Palace was heavy.

Mu Zhi’an had considered this possibility before, but he had pictured it being between Senior Sister Lan and Bai Ruoxi, not Ye Lingxuan. After all, Senior Sister Lan and Bai Ruoxi had similar personalities. Both were rather domineering, the only difference being that Bai Ruoxi, in person, was soft-spoken and gentle, masking her possessive nature.

Of course, in bed, she was mostly passive, only resorting to the Heart-Binding Lock when he pushed her too far. As for Senior Sister Lan, both publicly and privately, she exuded a queenly aura, refusing to be subdued.

As for Ye Lingxuan… she wasn’t competitive by nature. In Mu Zhi’an’s imagined scenarios of arguments, she was never involved.

It seemed Mengrou was right. Human nature, especially that of women, was hard to predict. Mu Zhi’an pondered for a moment, then said, “It’s getting late, Sister Lingxuan. You should get some rest.”

Ye Lingxuan smiled sweetly. “See you tomorrow, Brother Mu,” she replied, then turned and entered the Jade Glass Palace, her skirt swaying gracefully with each step.

Bai Ruoxi gave Mu Zhi’an a deep look, then turned and followed Ye Lingxuan, without another word.

As she reached the entrance, Ye Lingxuan glanced back. Mu Zhi’an stood alone, his expression filled with resignation, sighing occasionally. He made no move to follow Bai Ruoxi.

Did I go too far…? Seeing his dejected appearance, Ye Lingxuan’s heart softened. She wanted to call out to him, to invite him back with her, but knowing his personality, she held back, not ready for that kind of development.

“I’m going back,” she sent a mental message.

Mu Zhi’an looked up, nodding. “Get some rest. I’ll take you to see the peach blossoms tomorrow,” he replied, his voice laced with fatigue.

Ye Lingxuan hesitated, then said, “Maybe we shouldn’t go tomorrow…”

“Tonight’s… date… was enough.”

“Lingxuan…” Mu Zhi’an looked at her, touched by her concern. He gazed into her eyes, speechless. It seemed his plan to sleep at Lingxuan’s place tonight was ruined. But it didn’t matter. They had just kissed. Progressing too quickly wasn’t always a good thing.

He watched Ye Lingxuan disappear into the palace, his pseudo-Natural Spirit Body confirming she had returned to her pavilion. He smiled faintly, then, like a dog off its leash, he hurried inside, chasing after Bai Ruoxi.

His calm demeanor outside had been an act. He had to appease Bai Ruoxi, but in front of Ye Lingxuan, he had to appear “reserved.” Otherwise, he would lose the goodwill he had gained. Walking a tightrope between two women was no easy feat, especially when the “fish” in his pond weren’t entirely secure.

And tonight, he had discovered something terrifying. He had thought the women he was pursuing were like harmless fish. However, the seemingly gentle and innocent Bai Ruoxi was not as simple as she appeared. She was not a naive girl without a cunning mind. On the contrary, she was quite astute, but only those close to her could discern her true nature.

And Ye Lingxuan was no different. Mu Zhi’an had initially thought she was a passive girl, but tonight, he realized she also possessed a strong possessive streak when it came to relationships. Although she seemed to accept Bai Ruoxi’s presence, it didn’t mean they would coexist harmoniously.

It seemed only Qian’er was the truly kind and understanding girl who cared for Brother Mu. As for Ye Lingxuan and Bai Ruoxi, these two “fish” were clearly baby orcas!

…

By the time Mu Zhi’an returned to the Garden of Heavenly Harmony, Bai Ruoxi had already retreated to her room. He tried to open the door, but it was locked. He went to the window, but that was also shut.

She’s truly angry this time…

He pondered for a moment, then knocked on the door. “Ruoxi, I’m back.”

“Shouldn’t you be with your Sister Lingxuan, Young Master Mu? Why are you here?” a cold voice asked from inside.

She had switched from “My Dear(Mu Lang)” to “Young Master Mu”… It reminded him of her distant attitude when he had first pursued her. But they had come a long way since then. She was willing to speak to him, which meant she was giving him a chance to explain.

He took a deep breath, composing himself. “Ruoxi, can you open the door?”

“I’m going to meditate tonight, Young Master Mu. Please leave,” she replied coldly.

He sighed. “When Qian’er went into seclusion on Dao Peak, Lingxuan said she wanted to see the peach blossoms at the Pilgrimage Palace. I felt sorry for her, seeing her alone, so I agreed.”

“She went there tonight, so I decided to… accompany her…”

“Why are you telling me this, Young Master Mu?” she asked, her voice cold, but with a hint of resentment.

“So I can spend tomorrow with you. Waiting until the day after tomorrow would be torture.”

She remained silent for a while, then asked, “Didn’t Sister Lingxuan say you were going with her tomorrow?”

“If you want to go tomorrow, I’ll refuse her,” he replied firmly.

Silence. He waited outside the door, then sighed heavily.

“I understand. I’ll wait for you out here.”

“Until you change your mind.”

He heard the lock click open, and his heart leaped. He pushed the door, and it swung open. The candle on the table flickered, casting dancing shadows on the wall. Sandalwood incense burned in a corner, filling the room with a calming fragrance. Bai Ruoxi sat on the bed, her white nightgown clinging to her curves, her long hair flowing freely, her legs tucked beneath her, her arms wrapped around her knees, her white socks peeking out from beneath her gown. It was a simple pose, but with her ample bosom pressed against her knees, it was somehow different.

He glanced at her, then sat down beside her, his voice soft. “Ruoxi, get some rest.”

She glared at him, her lips parting slightly. “Don’t touch me.”

“Alright, I promise I won’t touch you. We’ll just sleep,” he said, his voice soothing. He extinguished the candle with a flick of his finger, then he lay down beside her, pulling her close, his chest pressed against her back, his arms wrapping around her waist.

She squirmed, trying to escape his embrace, but her resistance was weak. It seems there’s hope. He got out of bed, changed into a loose robe, then got back in, pulling the covers over them, his arms still around her waist. Time to sleep!

…

The next morning, he woke up early, gazing at her beautiful face, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead, then he discreetly glanced at her cleavage before looking away. He got out of bed, pulling the covers over her, then he picked up her nightgown and socks, folding them neatly and placing them on the table, before leaving the room.

He stood in the courtyard, enjoying the warmth of the morning sun, his mind clear and refreshed.

“What are you thinking about?” Wei Mengrou’s voice, cold and sharp, startled him.

He turned to see her standing beside him, her yellow dress accentuating her alluring figure.

“Just some unimportant things. You don’t need to worry, Mengrou,” he replied, chuckling. He was simply reminiscing about last night’s activities with Ruoxi. Even though she knew everything about him, he wouldn’t share those details. He knew how good it was.

He suddenly sensed a familiar aura approaching. Why is Yi Hao here…? He frowned, watching as the peak lord landed in the courtyard.

He bowed respectfully. “Senior Yi.”

Yi Hao nodded, smiling, then glanced towards a specific direction. “Is Senior Ling Long still resting…?”

He nodded, his expression confused. “Is there something you need, Senior?”

“Could it be about the Eight Treasures Cranes…?” he asked tentatively. He wasn’t sure if she had taken all of them, but it seemed like the only logical explanation for Yi Hao’s visit.

Yi Hao chuckled, shaking his head. “The cranes can wait.”

“I’m here for another matter.” So she did take them all… He felt a pang of sympathy for Yi Hao. “Please tell me, Senior.”

Yi Hao studied him, his expression strange. “After returning yesterday, my master summoned me to the back mountain and asked me some questions. I mentioned you.” He paused, then continued, “She seems interested in you. She wants to meet you.”

Yi Hao’s master…? The founding peak lord of Boundless Sea Peak…? She’s a big fish. His eyes flickered, his thoughts racing. He had long suspected that the higher-ups of Boundless Sea Peak were connected to the Demon Realm Empress, but he hadn’t had a chance to confirm it. It seemed she couldn’t stay hidden any longer.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay