Because a certain ice chunk returned to a bland meal, the Sword City invited Elder Qian and Elder Xue to attend as senior guests, even extending invitations to senior brothers like Shen Yunfei.
Clearly, the higher-ups in the Sword City wished to exchange resources with the Qingyuan Sect and build friendships.
As a result, the tavern was quite quiet.
Ouyang and Little Ke were huddled together, gazing in the direction of a certain spot not far away.
Little Ke was sitting there, staring blankly at a painting.
“What’s up with Junior Ke?”
Tang Xiaobao skipped the feast because he could only sit at the kids’ table, and there probably wasn’t a place for him in the Sword City.
“He’s just staring at that painting.”
“Is there something good in it?”
Ouyang couldn’t help but feel curious.
Just yesterday, Junior Ke mentioned that his taste in art needed improvement, and he had tossed and turned all night trying to figure it out.
Where exactly did his taste need to improve?
“A bit off still.”
“I’m trying to get the divine intention burned into my consciousness tonight…”
Junior Ke snapped back to reality, rubbing his sore temples.
Then he noticed someone and something—a Dantian and a pair of big and small eyes staring at him.
“What’s up?”
“So, Junior Ke, is this what you call an improvement in taste?”
Ouyang looked at the monkey in the painting, tilting his head slightly back.
“……”
Junior Ke was about to clarify that he was observing the divine mind.
Considering no one else could perceive the divine intention waves from the painting, he ultimately nodded:
“Isn’t this beautiful?”
“It’s a monkey, Junior Ke!”
Ouyang looked like he was questioning life itself, pulling out his prize art catalog from yesterday.
“Junior Ke, take a good look and tell me what’s good here?”
The catalog was shoved too close, nearly covering Little Ke’s eyes.
Then…
He pushed the catalog aside, completely ignoring the beautifully drawn lady in revealing attire, and declared firmly:
“The monkey looks good.”
“Ah?”
Ouyang was even more questioning of life.
Junior Ke’s gaze was as resolute as when he was younger, expressing a desire to learn painting.
Even when his mother almost beat him to d*ath for it, he remained steadfast.
“Junior Ke, there’s really a huge problem with your taste.”
“No problem at all.”
Junior Ke stated matter-of-factly.
Ouyang’s expression grew serious, his brows furrowing: “Then let’s ask everyone in the tavern which one is better.”
He thought he was pretty far off the path.
Unexpectedly, Junior Ke was even more ludicrous; it couldn’t just be called off the path.
It was simply bizarre.
But Ouyang forgot, all the other seniors had gone to Hengyun Sword City, leaving only Tang Xiaobao at the scene.
“I think the monkey looks good too, it’s clearly intelligent.”
“Unlike me…”
Tang Xiaobao gave Ouyang a strange look.
The innocence in his eyes seemed to say:
“Come on, you actually think the lady is prettier than the monkey? What’s wrong with your eyes?”
Ouyang felt struck by lightning.
His pupils shook:
“Humans can’t, at least shouldn’t…”
Little Ke had no idea how to explain it to Senior Ouyang.
Regardless, he figured he’d rested enough and resumed observing the divine intention.
Diving his consciousness into his Dantian, he saw a little person made of crystal.
Using spirit as a kn*fe, beside the moon shadow divine pattern, he commenced etching that stone monkey.
Very slow, very difficult.
This was different from observing the Mona Ice Mila.
Little Ke was puzzled himself.
Clearly one was a grand divine form, and the other was extreme form—why was it so much harder to cultivate afterward?
Was it that the monkey was exceptionally difficult to imprint?
Or was it that the Mona Ice Mila, despite being a grand divine form, had characteristics that made it much easier for him to observe?
Or perhaps… it was a combination of both?
…..
Time flowed quietly.
The mission’s subtitles still hovered silently in the air.
Ying Bing wanted to brew a pot of tea.
But just as she thought of putting the tea leaves in a big-headed doll, her hand gently retreated.
Go with the flow?
But that felt unnatural.
Should she head downstairs, walk up to Junior Ke, and say: “Let me kiss you?”
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…
Maybe she really didn’t mind this kind of trivial stuff before because of the system rewards; she would’ve just done it without hesitation.
After all, it was just a little lip contact, and they had shared a bed before—why be shy?
But now she was confused about what she was hesitating over…
“This reward, can’t it be given up…?”
【Ding Dong——】
【Punishments can be given up, oh!】
“Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Ying Bing remembered she had also refused before.
【Because the system didn’t detect the host saying the words ‘give up.’】
Ying Bing: “…..”
So if she hadn’t accidentally said those two words, she probably would’ve never known?
【Tip: Giving up any reward has its price, including rewards.】
【If you give up the level reward, the system’s ranking reward will also randomly withdraw one item.】
Randomly withdrawing a ranking reward?
Ying Bing’s heart stirred.
The system, although not very smart, still offered excellent rewards.
Among the three rewards she received last night.
The gathering of Moonlight Crystal allowed her to break through into the three openings today.
The Demon-Dispatching Gourd was quite magical; it could slay evil spirits and transform them into the purest energy, replenishing both the Xuanzhen and the Moonlight Crystal.
And then there were the Qingluan Wings.
If any one of these three rewards were missing, her chances for a comeback next time would be much slimmer.
“I’ll just take a peek at him first…”
Ying Bing pursed her lips and lightly moved forward.
As she descended the first floor, she bumped right into the two ongoing their debate.
It was Tang Xiaobao and Ouyang.
“Senior Xiaobao, clearly the lady is more beautiful.”
“But I really think the monkey looks good, the monkey looks super smart!”
Both of them turned to see Ying Bing as soon as they heard her footsteps.
Ouyang decided to ask Ying Bing for a judgment.
“?”
Hearing their question, Ying Bing furrowed her brows slightly.
“What monkey?”
“That one drawn by Junior Ke.”
“So this…”
“It came from my hand.”
Ouyang declared confidently.
Ying Bing thought for a moment:
“The monkey looks good.”
“!!”
Ouyang was instantly petrified.
Uh-oh, could it be that he was actually the most normal one in Qingyuan Sect?
“I told you,” Tang Xiaobao said with his hands on his hips.
Ying Bing walked to the backyard.
As her gaze lifted slightly, she spotted Junior Ke peacefully asleep on a lounge chair, breathing steadily.
It seemed like he was… sleeping?
Ying Bing instinctively sighed in relief.
Delays could lead to change.
Seeing that Junior Ke didn’t wake up to greet her, she bit her lip and quickly pecked him on the forehead.
Then she swiftly rose and pretended like nothing happened, her jade hand rubbing the big-headed doll to soothe her feelings, wondering what she’d say if Junior Ke suddenly woke up.
She’d say…
“Tonight’s moonlight is nice?”
But Junior Ke didn’t stir.
The system also didn’t respond.
Kissing the forehead isn’t working?
【Keyword Hint: Kiss.】
Ying Bing: “….”
Her gaze lowered, noticing the young man’s seemingly deep slumbering face and those eloquent lips.
Should she… kiss them?
Her expression remained emotionless, yet she suddenly felt her heart racing.
The night wind rustled through the leaves.
Under the moonlight.
The girl bathed in clear brightness quickly leaned down.
Her movements were rapid, but for some reason it felt like time passed slowly, each moment stretching as if it were eternal.
Junior Ke had no clue, his first kiss had vanished.
He probably couldn’t even dream of who took away his first kiss…
Finally, that eternal moment passed.
Their lips met for a brief instant.
“Mmm?”
Junior Ke stirred slightly.
