Bai Yu had no news all night, and Ye Ziling dared not ask Ling Xi, as he had become abnormal several times because of Bai Yu.
However, she believed in Bai Yu's abilities; no one could touch him in the slightest.
The streets of Yun Zhong Ling were bustling with people. Seeing Ye Ziling lost in thought the entire way, Ling Xi couldn't help but tighten his grip on her hand.
The pain in her hand drove her thoughts back into focus. She looked at her own fingers, clasped so tightly that they had turned white, and her gaze fell on Ling Xi's face.
He didn't seem to intend to let go. He gazed at the surrounding scenery, leading her along as if nothing was amiss, but the strength in his grip did not lessen until her hazy eyes gradually cleared.
Without needing her to say anything, Ling Xi knew what she was worried about.
Ye Ziling weaved through the crowd and suddenly found Ling Xi staring at her. Their eyes met, their gazes crossing.
"Let's go."
He suddenly pulled her hand and led her through the crowd. 138 Reading Net
Ye Ziling knew that Ling Xi wasn't in a hurry to get to the Queen Mother's Peach Banquet, but rather to shake off Bai Yu.
He wasn't even wearing his personal Hundred Beasts Pouch. It was likely that Bai Yu's disappearance all night was his doing.
But if she and Ling Xi appeared at the Peach Banquet together, her identity in the Heavenly Realm would be revealed.
"Ling Xi, why the rush for the Peach Banquet?" Ye Ziling couldn't help but ask.
Ling Xi simply replied dismissively, "Mm, we've already been delayed two days. I don't know if we can still make it."
According to the invitation, the Peach Banquet started in the afternoon. Although it was now the hour of the snake, it still took some time to get there.
Ling Xi was not interested in the Peach Banquet, but if he could use it as an opportunity to get rid of Bai Yu, he would go through fire and water.
He felt annoyed whenever he saw Bai Yu.
That beast had told him before that Bai Yu was the best candidate for the ultimate prize. Although that beast was unreliable in its work, what it said was indeed credible.
Since he was a dog disloyal to its master, he would fulfill the wish of that damned beast.
The words Ye Ziling wanted to say were choked back. Looking at the man's tall and straight back, she suddenly felt as though she had never truly understood him.
Ling Xi leading her caused quite a stir along the way.
The two of them were exceptionally beautiful, drawing attention wherever they passed on the street. Most of the people in this place were goddesses, and the street was filled with gasps.
Ling Xi's demeanor was elegant and aloof. Even in simple black robes, it couldn't conceal his noble aura. Coupled with his peerlessly beautiful face, he made the women around him turn their heads.
"Did you see it? The token at his waist is the Scholar Heavenly Token..."
"He's the top scholar in beast taming from the previous Heavenly Realm?"
"I've always heard that the Scholar of Beast Taming is talented and handsome. To me, he's simply the finest of mortals!"
...
Ling Xi stopped and glanced at his waist, only then noticing that the Heavenly Token was still hanging at his side.
He swept a glance at Ye Ziling from the corner of his eye. Seeing her curiously gazing at the snack stalls nearby, oblivious to the gossip, his deep eyes gradually became clear.
Ye Ziling was merely curious.
When she was in the Sacred Medicine Clan, her parents rarely let her wander in the mortal world. After ascending to the Heavenly Realm, due to the busy affairs of the Heavenly Realm, she hadn't had the chance to visit the mortal world. She was quite curious about the taste of these foods.
Although the ingredients in the Heavenly Realm were all precious, they tasted bland and tasteless when eaten, as if she hadn't eaten anything at all.
"Wait for me." Ling Xi released her hand and walked directly to the stall. When he returned, he had a skewer of candied hawthorn in his hand.
He stared at her, his eyes sparkling, and a smile curved his lips as if seeking her praise. "Here."
Ye Ziling looked at his tall figure, his noble and cold eyebrows incongruous with the candied hawthorn in his hand. Yet, he held it as if it were a treasure, carefully handing her the skewer of red beads. Seeing that she didn't take it for a long time, he raised his eyebrows.
"Hm?"
A hint of mischievousness flashed in his eyes, and his gentle voice carried a hint of teasing. "What? Afraid I poisoned it?"
"Lord Ling, your skills are superb. Aren't I just afraid you'll trick me again?" Ye Ziling replied with a smile, reaching out to take the candied hawthorn. She brought it to her nose and sniffed, the sweet flavor instantly filling her mouth.
So this was what the old immortals called the taste of the mortal world.
Ling Xi watched her smile, her eyes curving, his eyebrows slightly raised, and a faint smile tugging at his lips.
He remembered how the cool and proud beauty from last night had kissed him with such deep affection. Before, her eyes wished they could have cut him into a thousand pieces and steamed or fried him.
This sudden contrast made his heart soften.
"If I were to poison your voice, would it be better?" Ling Xi asked in a low voice, enunciating each word, his voice carrying a hint of ambiguity, his gaze frighteningly intense.
Ye Ziling leaned closer to him, deliberately tracing his lips with the candied hawthorn, her eyes twinkling. Her tone was flippant, but lacked its usual threat. "You try it?"
Why was she acting so infuriatingly today? Were all those affectionate words from last night nonsense?
His body stiffened abruptly. His gaze fell on her red lips, his eyes suddenly darkening. He grasped her wrist, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Then shall I try?"
Their ambiguous posture drew frequent glances from everyone. Ling Xi noticed her eyes sweep across the surroundings, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.
Ling Xi saw the emotion in her eyes, threw an arm around her, pulling her into his embrace, and breathed hot air into her ear. "I have no shame. I wonder if Miss Ye does?"
He was thick-skinned anyway, and didn't mind being even more shameless.
"If those fairy sisters saw this scene, wouldn't you, Lord Ling, be afraid of those peach blossoms..." Ye Ziling's gaze fell on his waist and she discovered that the Heavenly Token at his side was long gone.
Ling Xi followed her gaze, looked down at his waist, and smiled. "What scholar?"
He feigned ignorance, leaned close to her face, and seeing her swallow, escalating the atmosphere to its peak, he casually snatched the candied hawthorn from her hand, stared at the part she had bitten, and took a bite.
"Sweet." He lightly licked his lips, his eyes filled with affection.
Ye Ziling was stunned for a moment. By the time she reacted, he had grabbed her wrist and was dragging her all over the street again.
Weren't they supposed to be rushing to the Peach Banquet? How did he have the mood to accompany her shopping?
The two of them shopped with great enjoyment, only to realize they had forgotten about the Peach Banquet.
By the time they realized it, it was almost the hour of the monkey. The banquet had begun, and all the immortals were present. However, two important seats remained conspicuously empty.
At the Peach Banquet, music and song intertwined, and singing and dancing filled the air. Fairy maids carried peaches and various fruit wines, shuttling through the crowd.
The woman at the main seat wore a purple-gold robe and a phoenix with pearl crown. Her luxurious immortal attire made her skin appear like snow. At this moment, her face was cold.
"Why are the Scholar and the Goddess so late? Did something happen on the way?"
The woman at the seat spoke with a clear voice. The immortals below dared not look up upon hearing her words, fearing to meet the gaze of the woman at the main seat. They all kept silent, standing with their heads bowed, not daring to breathe.
"Bai Yu pays his respects to the Queen Mother." Bai Yu, dressed in white, slowly walked to the center of the grand hall and bowed slightly in greeting.
"Immortal Lord Bai Yu, there is no need for such formalities."
Bai Yu rose and, glimpsing the two empty seats, his gaze darkened.
"Immortal Lord Bai Yu, you look a bit unwell. Did you not rest well last night?" As the Queen Mother spoke, all the immortals' gazes turned towards Bai Yu. They saw that his thin lips were a little pale, not as radiant as usual.
Realizing the immortals' gaze, Bai Yu suddenly gave a light laugh. "It's nothing, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."
"Since the Goddess and the Scholar have not arrived, there is no need to wait," the Queen Mother said, knowing their dispositions, and directly issued her command.
Bai Yu's expression was slightly off, but his lowered eyes flickered with a strange light.