Chapter 34: Divine Strategy
"I already have someone I like, so it's useless for you to keep chasing after me."
Bai Zhanfeng suddenly turned around, reached out, and pulled Xianyue, who had quietly retreated to the side, into his embrace.
That reason—ruthless, sharp, and decisive.
Xianyue, held tightly by Bai Zhanfeng, suddenly felt a cold shiver all over her body. She glanced at Nian Xiaoyu on the opposite side, whose fiery eyes were glaring at her, like sharp knives, piercing through her with deadly intent.
Xianyue chuckled awkwardly, using both hands to struggle hard. Bai Zhanfeng, having anticipated this, tightened his grip around her, like an unbreakable wall. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't break free.
Helpless, Xianyue gave up, turning her body slightly to glare at Bai Zhanfeng from the corner of her eye. Her lips pressed into a tight line, sharp as a scimitar—cold and merciless—slashing across Nian Xiaoyu's heart, leaving bloody wounds in its wake.
"You're lying."
Nian Xiaoyu pointed at Xianyue with her whip, her black eyes filled with a pitiful intensity as they gazed at Bai Zhanfeng, brimming with tears. She practically shouted, a mix of anger, hurt, and despair in her voice.
"Can this woman defeat you?"
It was a question, but in her heart, she already had the answer. To her, Xianyue was no match for Bai Zhanfeng. This must be just an excuse to brush her off.
"Even if she's weak and powerless, I like her. I've chosen her."
Xianyue stared at Bai Zhanfeng. Even under the soft moonlight, his features were sharp and rigid. She gazed at him, suddenly feeling a pang of sympathy for Nian Xiaoyu. It was hard to watch that heartbroken face. Bai Zhanfeng's skill at hurting others was just as excellent as his martial prowess.
However, what he did was his business; he shouldn't drag her into it. As for Nian Xiaoyu, chasing after a man for three years and still not giving up—such persistence, if directed at her, would be unbearable.
"Miss Nian."
Xianyue called out loudly. Nian Xiaoyu stared at her, her eyes full of venom, like a leopard ready to pounce and tear her apart. The only reason she hadn't done so was because of Bai Zhanfeng's earlier warning not to harm her.
"I'm not very close to him."
Xianyue shot a sideways glance at Bai Zhanfeng, whose arm was wrapped around her waist. She then turned her head to face Nian Xiaoyu's burning gaze, giving her a sincere nod.
"Brother Feng, you're lying to me."
Nian Xiaoyu's eyes lit up instantly, and a smile curled at the corners of her mouth. The flames of anger that had been blazing inside her were suddenly extinguished by Xianyue's words.
Xianyue nodded toward Nian Xiaoyu but kept a watchful eye on Bai Zhanfeng's every move. Seeing that he was about to speak, she quickly jabbed him with her elbow. Her strength wasn't small, and having trained in martial arts, Bai Zhanfeng winced in pain but refused to let go. The two staggered back several steps.
"You see? He's doing all this on his own."
Xianyue turned around, her playful smile disappearing as she spoke earnestly. "I already have someone I'll protect for life. He's a perfect man, flawless in every way. So?"
She snorted, raising her head arrogantly to glance at the cold-faced Bai Zhanfeng before fixing her gaze on Nian Xiaoyu, whose eyes were now gleaming with hope. "There's absolutely no chance between me and him."
Xianyue pinched her fingers together to emphasize how slim the possibility was but decided even that was too much, pressing her thumb and forefinger tightly together. At that very moment, hope reignited in Nian Xiaoyu's eyes, shining brightly.
"Who is that man?"
Bai Zhanfeng's face turned as dark as a pot's bottom, his expression a mix of fury and confusion as he shouted.
Xianyue ignored him, instead focusing on Nian Xiaoyu, speaking gently, "They say that with determination, even a mountain can be moved. Persistence can achieve anything. Don't worry, don't be afraid—be bold and brave in your pursuit. The first three years have passed, and the next three years, he will be yours."
Xianyue patted her chest, offering both encouragement and assurance. Nian Xiaoyu's face lit up with joy.
"You woman..."
Bai Zhanfeng lowered his head, glaring at Xianyue. He was so angry that smoke nearly rose from his head. Lei An and Lei Yun, standing to the side, could barely suppress their applause. That's right, this is exactly how it should be.
Bai Zhanfeng leaned in closer, and Xianyue leaned back, seeing that she would fall to the ground if she retreated any further. Suddenly, Xianyue straightened up and said, "Women are meant to be cherished, you know?"
Bai Zhanfeng froze. Xianyue rested her chin on her hand, giving Bai Zhanfeng a once-over from head to toe. "Arrogant, conceited, and self-righteous. Nian Xiaoyu falling for you is the luckiest thing that's ever happened to you. Don't be so blind to it."
Bai Zhanfeng opened his mouth to speak, but Xianyue cut him off, pointing at his lips, "How many three-year periods does one have in life? She gave you the best three years of her life."
Through wind and rain, enduring countless hardships, she chased after him, leaving behind her prestigious position as the beloved daughter of the martial arts alliance leader. She could have had any man she wanted, yet it was Bai Zhanfeng she loved so deeply, enduring all the gossip and scorn. And still, after all the heartache, she held on.
Xianyue gazed steadily at Bai Zhanfeng and saw the guilt and helplessness in his deep, dark eyes. Everyone has their reasons, and it wasn't her place to judge, but she didn't want to be dragged into this mess.
"Oh, Lan Gongzi, what brings you here?"
Bai Zhanfeng suddenly recalled Lan Yixuan's cryptic smile and words of advice before leaving. Instinctively, he turned his head, his hand now empty. The slender figure in white had slipped from his grasp like a slippery fish and vanished into the night.
"Woman, stop right there!"
Bai Zhanfeng snapped back to his senses, shouting as he ran after Xianyue's disappearing figure.
"Brother Feng!"
Nian Xiaoyu called out, hurrying after him.
Lei An and Lei Yun exchanged glances, watching the three vanish into the distance. They walked over to the wishing tree and looked up in unison.
"Did you see where he put it?"
Lei Yun asked, turning to Lei An.
Lei An chuckled, his smile sly and full of mischief. He leaped up and squatted precisely where Bai Zhanfeng had been sitting. Hidden among the branches, it was hard to see clearly. Lei An reached out, and with a casual flick of his hand, two bamboo tokens appeared in his palm. Under the moonlight, faint characters could be made out—"Xianyue" and "Feng." He waved them proudly at Lei Yun below before leaping down, as light as a feather.
"Though that woman only thinks about eating and sleeping, and she treats us like pack mules, still—"
Lei An smiled, pondering as he waved the tokens, "Compared to those pretentious women who constantly cling to our master, I do prefer her."
Lei Yun remained silent, snatching the tokens from Lei An's hand. He then pulled out a purple token from his sleeve, tied with a red string. He removed the token engraved with Bai Zhanfeng's name and tossed it to the ground.
Lei An's eyes widened in shock. "Where did that come from?"
The purple token was engraved with "Lan Yixuan" in bold, confident strokes, clearly their master's handwriting.
"Our master gave it to me before we left."
Lei Yun spoke calmly as he worked, twisting the shortened red string to tie together the tokens engraved with "Xianyue" and "Lan Yixuan." He smiled and suddenly produced a silver thread.
Lei An gaped at him, pointing at the indestructible silken thread in his hand, stammering, "Did the master give that too?"
Lei Yun didn't even look up as he secured the two tokens together with the silver thread. "I thought this would be safer."
Once finished, he smiled and, under Lei An's astonished gaze, hung the newly tied tokens on the wishing tree.
Lei An stared at Lei Yun, speechless. If Bai Zhanfeng knew his only opportunity to manipulate Xianyue had been hijacked for someone else's benefit, he would be utterly furious. Once again, Lei An was in awe of their master's brilliance.
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