"What?"
At first, Mu Lingxi didn't quite react.
Then, as if realizing something, a faint blush spread across her delicate face. She snapped angrily, "What nonsense are you thinking? You're already half a step into the grave, and yet your mind is still filled with such filthy thoughts!"
"What do you mean 'filthy'? Dual cultivation is the most esteemed practice in our Hehuan Sect!"
Wang Jianqiang curled his lips, unwilling to agree.
Men are boys until death.
Though he looked like he was near the end of his years, in truth his heart remained as youthful as ever.
His dream had always been immortality. His hobby had always been beauty.
Neither had ever changed.
Even now, though he could only "fight properly" for thirty seconds at most, he still enjoyed it with unshaken enthusiasm… That's called a hobby.
At that moment, a sudden curiosity rose in his heart.
If Mu Lingxi's three identities were really her in different stages of life… then was her youthful appearance truly her original body?
Or was she just pretending to be young?
The thought gnawed at him, and before he could stop himself, he voiced his suspicion.
Hearing this, Mu Lingxi's lips curved into a playful smile.
"Why don't you guess?"
As her voice fell, the maiden version of Mu Lingxi suddenly merged with the graceful young-woman version and the mature, beautiful-wife version—both stepping forward before melding seamlessly into her figure.
Wang Jianqiang fell silent.
All three versions shared the same vital essence. How on earth was he supposed to tell?
Seeing his vexed expression, Mu Lingxi felt as though she had finally turned the tables on him. Her mood lightened considerably, and she turned her head—only to pause. "Eh? Lin Xian'er is gone."
At her words, Wang Jianqiang glanced back. Sure enough, the spot where Lin Xian'er had been was empty.
"She ran? Well, it can't be helped," he said. "We were fully occupied fighting those four from Zhengyang Sect. She's not stupid—of course she would seize the chance to escape."
Though he spoke as if indifferent, a flicker of frustration burned inside him.
The more he thought about it, the more irritated he grew.
Whipping his head around, he flicked Little Chick hard on the forehead. "You stupid bird! Didn't I tell you to watch her? What the hell were you doing?"
The bird's eyes were full of grievance.
"Chirp, chirp, chirp~~"
What?!
I was busy fighting, okay? If not for me holding off the two strongest ones, would you even be standing here?
And besides—you never said I had to keep watch!
"You still dare talk back? You've grown bold, eh? Wings hard enough now to defy me?"
Little Chick: …
In the end, under Wang Jianqiang's loving "persuasion," the bird admitted its fault.
Mu Lingxi: …
Satisfied, Wang Jianqiang nodded and turned back to her.
Just thinking of her Three-Life Body stirred a warmth in his chest. His face softened into what could almost be called a grandfatherly smile.
"Little one, I notice your cultivation is still stuck at the peak of Qi Refinement. You're not short of Foundation Establishment pills, are you? If you are, you can just tell Grandpa—I'll find a way to get them for you."
Mu Lingxi froze, then promptly rolled her eyes. "If you had that kind of ability, you should establish your own foundation first. Another year or two, and you'll be buried in the ground."
His smile stiffened.
This damned girl, her tongue was sharp as a blade.
Suppressing the urge to spank her, his smile grew even more "kind." "Child, how can you talk like that? Grandpa is simply a late bloomer, not as hopeless as you think."
"Foundation Establishment? That's nothing to me."
Mu Lingxi pouted.
A little too late of a bloomer, don't you think?
Seeing her disbelief, Wang Jianqiang only shook his head. "When I establish my foundation, you'll see. When that day comes, if you want to break through yourself, come to me."
When he had first met her, her lack of Foundation Establishment had surprised him.
But after witnessing her Three-Life Body, he finally understood.
To cultivate three selves, each with a different Heavenly Spiritual Root… Such a method was monstrously powerful.
But of course, the stronger the method, the greater the cost. The difficulty of breaking through must have multiplied many times over.
Otherwise, with her talent, she would never still be stuck in Qi Refinement.
Indeed, this was exactly the truth.
[…]
Thus, though she had long since secured the Nine-Leaf Red Lotus and the promise of a near-perfect Foundation Pill, she only smiled faintly at Wang Jianqiang's words, offering no reply.
He looked at her expression—calm, unshaken, even a touch dismissive—and only chuckled softly.
As any skilled hunter knew, patience was the most important trait.
He could not appear too eager. He had to wait until the prey walked willingly into the snare.
What was that phrase again…?
Ah, yes.
Playing hard to get.