After having the servants prepare a room for Bai Ruoxi, Mu Zhi’an personally escorted her to the guest quarters.

She followed behind him, her white dress swaying gracefully with each step.

“I’ve stayed at the Mu Manor before. You don’t need to escort me. Attend to your duties,” she said softly, glancing up at him.

He shook his head firmly. “Absolutely not. You’re a guest in our home. If I didn’t treat you with proper hospitality, my parents would scold me.”

She frowned slightly, studying him.

She sensed an ulterior motive, but she couldn’t bring herself to dismiss him, afraid of hurting his feelings.

She sighed inwardly and continued to follow him.

He led her to a quiet and secluded room in the back garden. He opened the door, smiling. “This will be your room. You can use the Heavenly Dao Aura here without worry. No one will disturb you.”

She nodded and entered the room. After pouring him a cup of tea, she said, her voice laced with concern, “I wonder how my parents are doing…”

She’s feeling insecure… He smiled gently. “Don’t worry. I sent a letter to your father. If they disapproved, they would have sent someone to retrieve you by now.”

She relaxed slightly, nodding.

Then, recalling the events of the day, she asked, “What about Gongsun Cheng?”

The Bai family was on the verge of a resurgence. She was worried that the conflict with Gongsun Cheng would jeopardize their progress.

Sometimes, even the strongest individuals were held back by fear and uncertainty. If not for Mu Zhi’an, she wouldn’t have injured him so severely.

He swirled his tea, looking at her. “If you were so worried about the Bai family, why did you attack him?”

She hesitated, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Finally, she spoke, her voice barely a whisper. “You were behind me…”

If she hadn’t intervened, he would have been injured.

She couldn’t allow that to happen.

She didn’t regret injuring Gongsun Cheng.

But he was the Gongsun family’s top genius. He had been humiliated today. What if they retaliated?

He set down his cup, smiling. “Don’t worry. He’s not important enough to affect the bigger picture. To the Gongsun family, he’s just a talented cultivator… nothing more.”

Yes… just a talented cultivator.

No matter how skilled or intelligent he was, he couldn’t influence the overall situation.

The Gongsun family was in turmoil. They wouldn’t risk provoking another conflict.

Gongsun Xiong was probably hoping they would forget about him, allowing him to recover in peace.

However, despite his reassurances, she still seemed worried.

Of course he wasn’t concerned. Even if Gongsun Xiong was at his peak, he wouldn’t dare openly retaliate against the Mu family, the most powerful force in Tianxuan City.

But the Bai family was different.

With Lan Mulian in Tianxuan City, Bai Yuanfeng wouldn’t risk exposing her demonic identity.

And the Bai family’s Core Formation experts were… limited.

What if the Gongsun family seized this opportunity to strike?

He looked at her, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Ruoxi, imagine this… someone confesses their love for you, then kisses you in public. What would happen?”

She blinked, pondering his question. “Everyone would know…?”

The news that Tianxuan City’s most beautiful woman had a lover… it would be a shock to many.

It might not spread throughout the entire city, but the young cultivators would certainly gossip.

Then, realization dawned on her, and she stared at him, her eyes wide. “You did that… to send a message to the Gongsun family?”

“Partly,” he replied. “There’s another reason. Guess.”

She thought for a moment, then shook her head. “I can’t.”

He retrieved a bronze mirror and placed it in front of her.

The mirror reflected her beauty, her white dress with its delicate embroidery, her alluring figure, her long, dark hair framing her face, her aloof yet delicate aura.

“Do you understand now?” he asked.

She frowned, then blushed, realizing his meaning, her gaze downcast. “No”

He was implying that he couldn’t resist her beauty.

She couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud.

He took her hand, his voice soft. “The Heavenly Dao Aura can only refine the spiritual energy around its owner. If I want to meditate, I need to be near you. Can I stay in your room tonight?”

She blinked, looking up at him, surprised.

His eyes were sincere, his expression earnest. “I’ll just meditate. I won’t do anything… inappropriate.”

“Besides, you’re at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. Could I even overpower you?”

He had a point. The difference between their cultivation levels was significant. Her bronze sword could be used at least three times, and each strike was devastating.

She was at least three times stronger than him.

She pondered for a moment, then sighed. “If you misbehave… I can’t guarantee I won’t accidentally unleash my sword.”

Her words were a threat, but they lacked conviction.

He nodded, accepting her terms.

He sat down on the floor near the foot of the bed, while she removed her socks and sat on the bed, retrieving the Heavenly Dao Aura.

Soon, the room was filled with refined spiritual energy.

She felt a movement beside her and opened her eyes to see him sitting next to her.

She hesitated, but didn’t object.

The floor was cold. It was understandable.

But then, she felt his breath on her cheek and opened her eyes again to see him staring at her.

She blushed, her voice trembling slightly. “What is it now?”

“Simply absorbing spiritual energy seems inefficient. I’m an Inborn Celestial Vessel. Perhaps we should try a different method” he murmured, his gaze fixed on her face.

She seemed to understand his meaning, her eyes downcast, her expression unreadable.

He placed his hands on her shoulders, his voice gentle. “If you don’t like it, just push me away.”

He leaned down, pressing her gently against the bed.

Her lashes fluttered, and she peeked at him.

After a moment, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

He couldn’t resist kissing her, then whispered near her ear, a mischievous glint in his eyes, “What do you think people would say… if they knew a ninth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator was dominated by a mere third-level cultivator?”

Her heart skipped a beat. She clutched her skirt, her back pressing against the bed, her face turned away from him.

She had fallen into his trap.

Because… it seemed she truly couldn’t resist him.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay