"..."
"(¬_¬)"
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
In a small yet beautiful spirit boat flying slowly in a certain direction, Mo Zhiran looked at Mei Xuan and asked. Her constant gaze from the corner of her eyes was so glaring that he finally couldn't help it.
"Mmm... n-nothing..."
Mei Xuan was stunned by his words and hurriedly dodged his eyes awkwardly.
After all, besides her and Zhiran, there was also Senior Xiao Lan, who was busy looking outside, her robe fluttering and showing an impressive figure.
"Hey, Mei Xuan, right? Why are you acting timid now? If you have something to say, just say it directly. I don't like your obvious fake act."
Unfortunately for her, Zhiran wasn't about to let her go just like that. This girl was constantly glaring in his direction from the moment they left their place.
After he chose to join Ember Lotus Peak, people were of course surprised. Heck, Ruan Feng and Li Wei even tried to persuade him not to join this peak, saying that it was the weakest.
But since he persisted and it was the reward for being in the top three, in the end, even Xiao Lan was forced to accept him at their peak.
However, Zhiran never thought that she would not only accept him, but also take Mei Xuan with her.
"Fake act? What do you mean? Do you think I am acting right now?"
Mei Xuan couldn't help but retort, finding Zhiran extremely irritating.
At first, this guy didn't even care that she was a girl and threw her out of the ring mercilessly.
If not for that pill given by Tianyu, she would have almost lost her chance to enter the inner sect.
But instead of apologizing for that or at least showing sympathy for her, he was once again blaming her for the so-called fake act.
Of course, she was furious.
"Otherwise? You were quite fierce in the competition just now, and now you're acting so timid? Isn't this an act? Do you think I'm as stupid as that guy Tianyu?"
Unfortunately, Zhiran didn't care how angry she was. Instead, he openly commented on her behavior.
He had no sympathy for this demon sect spy. In a way, she was also the reason behind his downfall in his previous life.
All the more reason to torture her any way possible.
"Oh... or perhaps, you also want me to ask you nicely like that guy?"
Zhiran smiled slyly all of a sudden with clear mischief in his eyes and came a little closer to Mei Xuan, increasing her nervousness.
"Xuaner, can you tell me why you were looking at me like that? Did you like my face or what? Are you feeling alright?"
He whispered softly in her ear, sending shivers down her spine. Only... the feeling wasn't completely pleasant.
"Damn, bastard! In your dreams. Don't call me Xuaner... that's so gross."
Sure enough, when Mei Xuan heard his voice in her ear, she felt so uncomfortable that she pushed Zhiran aside and distanced herself from him.
Her timid and gentle demeanor completely disappeared from her face, replaced by a look of disgust. She had never felt this cringe in her life.
This guy really knew how to get on her nerves.
"Haha... see? Now you have finally come to your true self. Don't you get tired of acting all the time?"
But Zhiran just laughed at her frown, clearly enjoying the moment. He didn't even care that Senior Xiao Lan was right beside him and teased Mei Xuan mercilessly.
"You..."
Mei Xuan was speechless at Zhiran's childish behavior and didn't know what to say. She had never felt so powerless in front of anyone before.
Fortunately, just as she didn't know what to do, Xiao Lan came to her rescue:
"Okay, don't make too much noise. You two will be fellow disciples from now on. It isn't good to be on bad terms."
She first calmed both of them and lightly looked at Mo Zhiran with her blue eyes, asking softly,
"Say, Junior Mo Zhiran. Can you tell me the reason why you joined Ember Lotus Peak? Don't tell me it is really because of my promise."
Xiao Lan asked lightly while hiding her faint blush on her cheeks.
After all, if Zhiran took such a big decision just because she promised to spar with him a few times, wasn't this too much of a compliment for her?
After all, he was someone who had condensed Sword Intent no matter what. He was a genius who could reach her level of Foundation Establishment anytime, and yet he folded under her skirt like this?
The more Xiao Lan thought about it, the shyer she felt, and perhaps a little... pride?
'Sigh... unfortunately, I might get scolded by the Peak Master. She clearly said to only pick one girl.'
She remembered the Peak Master's order. But there was nothing she could do here, as it was the reward for the top three disciples of the Outer Sect competition to choose the peak they wanted.
Even the Sect Master couldn't easily change the rule, let alone her.
"Hmm? Why did I join? Of course, it is because of your promise, Senior."
Mo Zhiran heard Xiao Lan and immediately answered with utmost sincerity.
"Why? Senior, you aren't going to default on your promise, right?"
He asked, as if afraid that she wouldn't follow her promise.
"Okay, no need to act too much. Didn't you just berate that girl for acting just now? Tell me the real reason behind it."
Xiao Lan couldn't take Zhiran's look and hurriedly stopped him with her hand. She didn't believe he joined just for her. She wasn't that narcissistic.
"Cough... okay, there are indeed other reasons."
Zhiran also felt he was going too far and lightly coughed to ease his voice.
"First of all, I joined this peak because you said it is small and it values its peace more than anything. Unlike how I look, I don't like fighting and conflict that much. The only reason I retaliate is because I don't like to get bullied."
Mo Zhiran said while spreading his arms.
"Since Ember Lotus Peak is quite small and clearly has fewer disciples, it is the perfect place for me to practice."
He said with a serious look while hiding his real motive all along.
After all, he couldn't say that he chose this peak just because it was near the Ancestral Tombs, where the bodies of Inner Sect disciples, Core Elders, and ancestors were laid to rest, right?
That would be too suspicious and demonic.
But Zhiran had no choice.
He knew that he was no swordsman, and his talent in other areas was too low.
If he really joined another peak, his low talent would be found out sooner or later unless he found the brain of another genius.
That's why he had been planning where to go for one month and decided to come here directly after learning about this peak's style, which perfectly suited his needs.
"Of course, while those were the main reasons, I wasn't lying to you before, Senior. One reason I joined was also because of your promise to teach me."
"After all, how can I deny the request of such a fine lady? How can I disrespect you?"
Zhiran said at last with a faint smirk, making Xiao Lan stunned. But he didn't care, as in his opinion, Xiao Lan was indeed quite beautiful.
He didn't mind being close to her.
"Tch... Respect for a lady? You?"
Before Xiao Lan could say something, though, Mei Xuan spat lightly in irritation. If he really respected a lady like he said, why would he act so vulgar in front of her?
She didn't believe this guy who only knew how to talk big.
"What? Are you doubting me?"
Zhiran raised his eyebrows at her sudden rebuttal and asked. But then, as if realizing something, he smiled slyly once again and said,
"Mei Xuan, you seem to have misunderstood my words. I said, 'I cannot disrespect a 'fine lady'. And looking at you, you clearly are not...'"
He suddenly shook his head while glancing at her chest, as if quite disappointed.
After all, although Mei Xuan was indeed beautiful, unlike the other girls around him, she was too flat.
Poor girl didn't fit the description of his 'fine lady' at all.
"You..."
Mei Xuan, of course, noticed his gaze and became so angry that she unconsciously released her Qi Condensation aura, causing the air around her to ripple slightly.
"Okay, stop your nonsense... We are in Ember Lotus Peak. Get ready to meet the Peak Master."
Unfortunately, a sharp shout from Xiao Lan stopped her in her tracks. It seemed that, while being bullied by Zhiran, they had unknowingly already arrived at Ember Lotus Peak of the Divine Cauldron Sect.