Chapter 647: Chapter 525: You See... And You Still Say You Don’t Like Me

"How heartless of you, Young Master..."

Xiang Niang’s tone was a mix of flirtatious pouting and complaint.

"I put myself out there like that, and you still refused me. You even used an Illusion Technique on me. Am I really that undesirable in your eyes, Young Master?"

Xiao Mo shook his head, his tone calm. "Of course not. It’s just that matters of the heart can’t be forced."

"Can’t be forced?" Xiang Niang set down her chopsticks, her bewitching foxy eyes staring straight at Xiao Mo. "Does that mean you already have someone you love, Young Master?"

Xiao Mo didn’t answer.

But even without his answer, Xiang Niang had already guessed most of it.

"Young Master... that person you like... let’s not even discuss whether she likes you back. Even if your feelings were mutual, so what? You and Jing... and her... it would be impossible for you to be together in the end."

As she spoke, Xiang Niang’s tone softened, becoming a mixture of persuasion and sorrowful sighing.

"Young Master, just accept me. It would be good for both of us. We could not only dual cultivate, but we could also have a litter of little foxes. I would serve you dutifully for the rest of my life. Otherwise... here in Tushan, Young Master, I’m afraid..."

Xiang Niang’s voice died mid-sentence, as if she realized she had said too much. She lowered her head, bit her lip, and fell silent.

"Otherwise my life will be in danger?" Xiao Mo smiled, finishing the sentence for her.

Xiang Niang didn’t answer.

But silence was an answer in itself.

"Xiao Mo... Xiao Mo..."

Just as silence fell over the courtyard, a girl’s cheerful voice called out from beyond the gate. It was as crisp as a bell and sounded particularly lovely in the morning light.

Hearing Tushan Jing Ci’s voice, Xiao Mo and Xiang Niang rose at the same time and went to open the gate.

"Xiang Niang greets Miss Jing Ci."

Xiang Niang folded her hands before her and gave a graceful, deferential curtsy.

Tushan Jing Ci’s gaze darted between the two of them, her lovely eyes holding a hint of unconcealed worry and a faint trace of jealousy.

But with someone else present, she suppressed her complicated feelings. She offered a slight, polite smile. "Greetings, Xiang Niang."

With that, Tushan Jing Ci turned her gaze to Xiao Mo, her expression tinged with a touch of pique. "I heard you were staying here in Hundred Flowers Lane, Xiao Mo, so I came to visit as soon as I came out of seclusion. But... it seems I’ve come at an inopportune time? With a beauty for company, you must be enjoying your stay here, Young Master Xiao?"

"It’s been acceptable," Xiao Mo replied honestly. "But I have been eagerly awaiting your return from seclusion, Miss."

"Really?" Tushan Jing Ci took a step forward, staring at Xiao Mo without blinking, her gaze appraising. "You were really waiting for me? And not afraid I’d interrupt your little romance?"

"What romance?" Xiao Mo shook his head, his tone candid.

"Hmph. Good. Then let’s go." Tushan Jing Ci turned her head away with a huff and muttered under her breath, "Living in a place like this all day, you wouldn’t even know it if you got eaten alive."

Xiao Mo smiled, pretending not to have heard Jing Ci’s muttering. He turned, bowed solemnly to Xiang Niang, and said, "Thank you for your meticulous care these past few days, Miss. And thank you for your well-intentioned reminder just now. But in the end, I must walk my own path."

With that, Xiao Mo took out a bead from his robes and handed it to Xiang Niang.

"This Dao-Charm Bead was condensed from my own Dao-charm these past few days. While it’s not exceptionally precious, it might be of some help to you when you break through to the Golden Core Realm, Miss."

"This... is for me?" Xiang Niang was slightly startled, her eyes full of surprise.

’I can’t believe Xiao Mo actually prepared a gift for me.’

"Our meeting was fate. Consider this my rent for staying here, Miss." Xiao Mo gently placed the Dao-Charm Bead in Xiang Niang’s hand, his tone peaceful. "Farewell. No need to see me out."

"Sister Xiang Niang, we’ll be leaving now. Thank you for taking care of Xiao Mo these past few days." Tushan Jing Ci also gave a poised and elegant curtsy.

"Take care, you two..."

Xiang Niang watched as Tushan Jing Ci and Xiao Mo turned and left together.

Clutching the Dao-Charm Bead tightly in her hand, Xiang Niang watched Xiao Mo’s receding back. Reluctance filled her eyes, and she couldn’t help but take a step forward.

But in the end, she stopped.

Leaning against the doorframe, Xiang Niang stared blankly as he and Miss Jing Ci laughed and talked, until their two figures disappeared completely from view...

"Miss Jing Ci is a Nine-tailed Celestial Fox. How could you possibly be with her...? You’re courting death... don’t you know...?"

Xiang Niang pressed her thin lips together, her expression wavering slightly. She lowered her head and muttered softly to herself.

"What a fool..."

...

"Miss, it seems your Cultivation has improved significantly these past few days."

Xiao Mo and Tushan Jing Ci walked side-by-side on the town’s streets. He sensed the Spiritual Power circulating around her and noticed that Jing Ci’s aura was becoming purer and more condensed. It seemed she had already entered the mid-stage of the Golden Core Realm.

’In the blink of an eye, her Realm has already surpassed my own.’

"It really has improved a lot."

Tushan Jing Ci nodded happily, her face beaming with joy.

"Xiao Mo, you have no idea how incredible that Moon God Tree on Moon God Mountain is. I cultivated under the tree for just a few days, and it was like I had cultivated for decades. When there’s a chance, I’ll let you go cultivate under the Moon God Tree too."

Xiao Mo just smiled, not taking her up on the topic.

’Even an ordinary member of the Fox Race would have to perform a great service to cultivate under the Moon God Tree, to say nothing of a human like me.’

"Hearing you say that, Miss, the Moon God Tree, the Tushan Clan’s guardian treasure, truly lives up to its reputation." Xiao Mo changed the subject, a hint of awe in his voice. "I wonder how the ancestors of Tushan managed to obtain it."

"Everyone has their own destiny. Things like that are impossible to explain."

Tushan Jing Ci waved her hand dismissively, then abruptly changed the subject. She turned her head, a teasing smile playing on her lips as she looked at Xiao Mo.

"Speaking of which, your Cultivation has also improved quite a bit these past few days, Young Master Xiao. Why? Could it be that someone used a Dual Cultivation Technique with you?"

"Not at all." How could Xiao Mo miss the sour note of jealousy in Jing Ci’s voice? He shook his head. "Nothing happened between Xiang Niang and me."

"Then besides Xiang Niang, the ones living around you are all Fox Demons as beautiful as flowers, Young Master Xiao. Were you truly not tempted at all?" Tushan Jing Ci pressed again, but her tone was a bit lighter than before.

Xiao Mo shook his head again, his tone calm yet earnest. "They’re not as beautiful as you, Miss."

Tushan Jing Ci was slightly startled upon hearing this, then a smile bloomed on her lips. She nodded and said, "That’s true. They certainly aren’t as beautiful as me."

She paused, slowing her pace to look at Xiao Mo. Her expression turned serious. "By the way, Xiao Mo... you once told me that you would never lie to me, right?"

"That’s right. I won’t lie to you, Miss."

"Good... In that case, I’m going to ask you a question, and you have to answer me truthfully." Tushan Jing Ci’s eyes curved into beautiful crescents. Her voice was playful, but it also held a hint of hidden anticipation.

"Please, ask away, Miss," Xiao Mo replied.

Tushan Jing Ci quickened her pace, her long legs striding lightly beneath her dress. She walked ahead of Xiao Mo, then spun around gracefully, her skirt flaring. With her hands clasped behind her back, she gazed at him, her smile radiant.

"Alright then, Xiao Mo, tell me—if it weren’t Xiang Niang and the others who wanted to dual cultivate with you, but me... would you agree?"

"..."

Xiao Mo fell into silence, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. For a moment, he didn’t know how to answer.

Seeing him like this, the smile in Tushan Jing Ci’s eyes grew even more radiant.

She took a graceful step forward. Her clear, foxy eyes rippled with the gentlest light in the world as she said softly,

"See... and you still say you don’t like me..."

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