Watching Long Zhen throw his heart—and his dignity—at Ling Xueying was like witnessing a train wreck in slow motion. No matter how much I wanted to look away, I couldn't.
The poor guy was practically begging for an intervention, but thankfully, I wasn't about to offer him one. That would just ruin all the fun.
"Ling'er, listen! My feelings for you are as deep as the abyss!" Long Zhen declared, striking a pose that would make any self-respecting cultivator roll their eyes. He put a hand over his heart, his aura flaring dramatically, causing the nearby flowers to wilt as if they were succumbing to his overwhelming charm—or rather, his overwhelming delusion.
"Do you ever hear the words coming out of your mouth?" Ling Xueying shot back, exasperated. Her sword shimmered menacingly in her hands, and even though I knew she wouldn't actually harm him, it was enough to send the message home.
I had to admit, watching her stand her ground was pretty impressive. The girl had spirit, which was ironic considering she spent most of her time chasing after me, the infamous 'little devil.'
"I'm not trying to impress you with flowery words, Ling'er! I'm speaking from the heart!" Long Zhen persisted, undeterred by the dangerous gleam in her eyes. It was like he was in a one-man play, desperately trying to hold onto his audience.
"And I'm telling you, I'm not interested! Not now, not ever!" Ling replied, her voice rising. She brought her sword closer to his face, the blade glinting in the sunlight. If she had wanted to, she could've easily sent Long Zhen flying back to the Duke's manor. But no, she was enjoying this too much, the attention.
"Ling'er! You wound me! How could you reject someone as powerful as me?" Long Zhen asked, hands dramatically clutching his chest as if she had struck a blow.
I exchanged a glance with Bai Lifen, who was leaning against the tree with an expression that said, Can you believe this guy? I couldn't help but chuckle. This was the kind of display that could only happen in the upper echelons of cultivation society—two powerful individuals acting like they were in some ridiculous drama.
"Power doesn't equate to being a good match, Long Zhen," Ling Xueying shot back, her voice tinged with amusement. "If anything, your power just means you can make a bigger fool of yourself."
"Touché!" I muttered under my breath, barely able to contain my laughter.
Long Zhen, undeterred, began to speak again, "But think of our potential! Together, we could surpass the—"
"Shut up! I told you I'm not interested!" Ling Xueying exploded, her patience finally wearing thin. With a flick of her wrist, she drew her sword back, nearly severing Long Zhen's hair.
"You could've gotten yourself a very powerful ally, but instead, you're wasting your time," Long Zhen huffed, fluffing his hair as if it was somehow a consolation prize.
"Please, I'd rather deal with a hundred low-level cultivators than another minute of this," she replied, exasperated.
I stepped forward, unable to resist the urge to intervene just a little. "Long Zhen, you really should consider finding a new hobby. Maybe try a less... intense approach? Like knitting?"
His head whipped around, eyes wide. "Knitting? What's that?"
"Never mind," I waved dismissively, trying to hold back another laugh. "Just know that no amount of power will win you Ling's heart. Maybe you should focus on developing some actual skills instead of chasing after someone who clearly doesn't want you."
"Easier said than done!" Long Zhen shot back, clearly not enjoying the advice. "What do you know about love? You're always running away from it!"
Ouch. That was a bit too close to home, and I could feel Bai Lifen's eyes boring into me with a knowing look. Sure, I was the 'little devil,' but love was not something I ever wanted to entertain, especially with my track record of disastrous romantic encounters.
"Yeah, that's why you're in this predicament and I'm not," I replied, crossing my arms.
Ling Xueying finally broke into a smile, the tension of the moment lifting. "Thank you, Yue Phaelo. If I wanted advice on avoiding lunatics, I'd consult you every time."
"Flattery will get you nowhere, Ling," I retorted, unable to stop the grin forming on my face.
In that moment, I sensed something—a shift in the air. It was subtle, but it was there. I felt Bai Lifen tense next to me, his attention shifting from the spectacle to something—or someone—else entirely. I followed my senses, and just as I turned, I spotted a familiar figure approaching.
"Great," I muttered. "Just when I thought we could enjoy some peace."
"Is that your grandmother?" Bai Lifen asked, a smirk creeping across his face as he leaned closer to me.
"Shut it," I shot back, watching as Bao Zhenhua's aura flared even more than Long Zhen's—an impressive feat, to say the least, I snickered.
She had an intimidating presence that could silence even the most stubborn of cultivators.
"Yue Phaelo! There you are!" she called out, her voice booming across the courtyard. "I've been looking for you everywhere!"
Long Zhen's eyes widened, and Ling Xueying's expression turned from amusement to alarm. "Oh no, not her," she said under her breath.
"Now would be a good time to disappear," Bai Lifen suggested, giving me a sly grin.
"Thanks for the heads-up, Captain Obvious," I replied, but deep down, I knew there was no escaping the inevitable. I could feel the impending doom approaching faster than I could run.
My grandmother's power practically crackled in the air, announcing her arrival like an ominous storm cloud.
"Yue Phaelo! What are you doing here with these... distractions?" Bao Zhenhua demanded, her sharp gaze piercing right through me.
"Uh... just enjoying the view?" I replied, trying my best to sound innocent.
"Doesn't sound like a good excuse to me!" she snapped, her aura intensifying, making the air around us feel electric. "I need you back at the estate immediately! Your mother is waiting to discuss your future, and I won't have you gallivanting around like some rogue cultivator!"
I could feel the heat rising to my face as I tried to muster a protest. "But I'm... uh... busy?"
"Busy?!" she exclaimed, eyes narrowing. "I've seen rocks with more ambition than you!"
"Hey, that's not fair!" I exclaimed, but I knew the fight was futile. When Bao Zhenhua set her mind on something, it was as if she had the entire heavens behind her.
Bai Lifen leaned back against the tree, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Well, at least you'll be entertained now, won't you?"
"Thanks for the support," I muttered dryly, knowing full well that whatever drama awaited me back at the estate was likely to be worse than what I had just witnessed.
As I turned to follow my grandmother, Ling and Long Zhen were still locked in their little power struggle, their drama will continue to unfold like a poorly scripted play. I could hear Long Zhen lamenting about his undying affection, while Ling rolled her eyes like it was a sport.
"Good luck, Long Zhen!" I called over my shoulder as I walked away. "You're gonna need it!"
"Shut up, Yue Phaelo!" Long Zhen yelled back, but I could hear the resignation in his voice.
And so, I walked away, bracing myself for the storm awaiting me back at my grandmother's estate, the chaotic drama of my life continuing to unfold in all its ridiculous glory.
But at least I had a front-row seat to the next episode—my life never lacked excitement, and as I often reminded myself, there was never a dull moment in the cultivation world.