Under the red maple tree, Jiang Yueyi stayed silent for a long time. The world seemed to go quiet for a moment and only the rustling sound of the wind through the leaves remained. Her gaze never left him for a second. It wasn't aggressive or flirtatious, but it was incredibly peaceful.
The silence lasted so long that Ling Feng started to feel awkward under her phoenix-like eyes. He finally decided to speak to break the tension. "So, what should I call you?"
Jiang Yueyi quietly looked away. In that moment of silence, she finally understood why her mental state had taken a hit.
"You were supposed to call me Pavilion Master or Boss, but... I don't know why, hearing you call me Sister makes my heart flutter a bit."
"Sister."
Ling Feng made his choice immediately. This was an answer that shouldn't involve any doubt or hesitation. 'I don't want to play along with her games.' He didn't know what her silence meant, but he was already on guard against her. She was going to be a difficult person to deal with and his future wouldn't be as easy as she claimed.
Jiang Yueyi smiled and nodded. She beckoned him closer and reached out to stroke the face that fascinated her so much. Ling Feng looked at her pale hand. Her fingers were slender and her nails were perfectly manicured. As she brushed against his cheek, he felt a [Status Effect: Tingling] sensation, but it wasn't uncomfortable.
"I am looking forward to seeing what you look like in five or ten years," Jiang Yueyi said with a light smile and drained her wine cup. She looked at him before pouring another. "Do you drink?"
"At my age, should I be drinking?"
"Your physical Level is a bit low, but I know that inside you isn't a pitiful puppy. You are a fierce wolf that knows how to bite."
Ling Feng scratched his cheek and didn't try to argue with her. Jiang Yueyi filled a cup for him anyway and stood up to hand it to him.
"Consider this a toast to celebrate you joining the [Pale Pavilion] and becoming my dog," Jiang Yueyi said with a charming laugh.
"Is that something worth celebrating?"
"Maybe it is?"
"I don't like being called a dog."
Jiang Yueyi laughed at his response. She leaned forward until she was right at Ling Feng's ear. "Mmm~" (It doesn't matter if you don't want to be a dog. I look forward to you baring your teeth at me. You could pin me down and become the Master of this Pavilion. Of course, if you don't have the ambition or if you're just a coward, I don't mind raising a submissive little puppy to warm my bed.)
Her tone was so seductive that Ling Feng felt his bones go soft. It felt like an electric current was running through his entire body and the [Numbness] was obvious. He started to suspect that Jiang Yueyi was hiding a pair of fox ears and a tail. She acted exactly like a seductive fox demon.
He took the cup and clinked it against hers before drinking it all. He felt the aroma of the wine spread through his throat and chest. It was a high-quality [Gourmet Item] that was smooth rather than harsh.
Jiang Yueyi used her fingers to tuck a stray hair behind her ear. She wasn't wearing her dark evening gown today. Instead, she wore a simple white silk dress. If her face wasn't so bold and seductive, she might have looked elegant. However, she was too beautiful, so even the plain white dress couldn't hide her charms.
When she stood still under the red maple tree with a gentle gaze, her seductive aura faded like mist. She looked as clear as morning dew while her white dress fluttered in the wind. Ling Feng thought she looked much better when she was quiet. She looked like a [Celestial Maiden] who had descended to the world.
Unfortunately, she wasn't the type to stay quiet. This kind of bold beauty would probably make most women in the world cry with envy.
After a moment of silence, Ling Feng took the sword from his waist and offered it back with both hands. Jiang Yueyi glanced at him and didn't seem surprised. She just asked in a casual tone, "Why are you giving it back?"
"I am not a Sword Cultivator. At least, not right now."
"You aren't a Sword Cultivator?" Jiang Yueyi looked confused.
"You are probably thinking about the move I used to hurt you that day. Think back carefully. Was I using a sword?"
Jiang Yueyi remembered the details clearly. That moment was burned into her soul. On that day, the [Weapon] he held wasn't a sword, but a uniquely shaped brush. However, that attack was definitely a sword technique. Grandmasters of the sword can produce [Sword Qi] even without a blade. Because of that, she never doubted his class.
'Now that I think about it, he didn't use a sword skill.' It looked more like he had written the word [Pierce].
"Then what is your main Class?"
"I know a bit of everything except the sword. I'm not a Master, but I have the basic Skills."
In the world of cultivation, there were Sword Cultivators with blades, Spell Cultivators with talismans, Mage Cultivators with magic, Weapon Cultivators with artifacts, and Body Cultivators who could move mountains. Jiang Yueyi suspected he was hiding his true [Stats]. She didn't believe he wasn't a Master. But everyone had secrets, so she didn't mind.
"I understand. But I gave you this sword because I wanted to. What you do with it is your business. All I want is the result of seeing you look good wearing it. Just keep it on you."
Ling Feng realized this woman was obsessed with aesthetics and probably had a bit of [OCD]. He took the sword back and clipped it to his belt.
"So, after joining the [Pale Pavilion], what is my job?" Ling Feng asked.
"Hmm..." Jiang Yueyi thought for a second. "How about playing around with me?"
"Can you be serious?"
"I really haven't thought about what to make you do. There aren't any Quests in the Pavilion that suit you right now. I told you that I'm just interested in you. I want to keep you by my side. If you really want to do something, you can just accompany me."
It sounded like a lucky break, but Ling Feng felt uncomfortable. 'This just sounds like being a kept man.'
"You are already here, so just relax. Your value isn't here and now. If the time comes where I need you to do something, I will tell you. For now, just do whatever you want."
"Then I will probably leave the Pavilion immediately to go to [Secret Realms]." Even without money problems, he still needed to go to [Dungeons] to do what he had to do.
"I won't stop you if that's what you want. I will give you a [Pavilion Token]. With this, you won't be used as [Human Fuel] to enter. You just need to pay the [Spirit Stone] fee according to the rules. As for the cost, just put it on the Pavilion's tab and my people will handle the [Gold] transactions."
Ling Feng really couldn't understand her. This woman was way too casual about everything.
"But you have to promise me one thing."
"What?"
"No matter where you go, you have to come back here. If possible, stay for four or five days for every two or three days you spend away. My goal is to keep you near me. However, a woman who is too bossy usually causes unnecessary [Aggro]. I don't want to ruin our relationship."
Jiang Yueyi leaned forward and moved closer to him. "Or you could look at it this way. I want you to treat this place as your [Safe Zone]. A home you can return to without any worries."
She smiled sincerely. Ling Feng's heart skipped a beat, but he regained his senses quickly. He saw a flash of fox-like cunning in her eyes. She was saying these things on purpose.
"Can't you hide your intentions a little better?"
"Why should I? I have my goals, but those words were also from the heart." Jiang Yueyi smiled and pinched his nose. "But Sister is very happy with that look of [Emotional Damage] you just had."
'This woman is impossible to describe.'
"I have one question for you. You must answer honestly."
"What is it?"
"I don't care about your past with the [Canghua Sect Leader], but I want to know your attitude toward her."
"It is what it is." His answer was simple.
"That doesn't count as an answer."
"But that is my answer. Everything is natural. It will be whatever it's meant to be."
"You really are carefree. Don't you suspect that I'm using you to deal with her? After all, you can shake the [Dao Heart] of that Celestial Maiden."
He looked at Jiang Yueyi and spoke in a flat tone. "I don't care."
Jiang Yueyi was stunned for a moment before she started laughing. "Good. It looks like you'll be a submissive little dog."
Her expression suddenly turned cold and serious. "But I don't plan to use you against her. Even if you side with her in the future, I don't care. At most, I'll just cry into my pillow because I'm heartbroken, and then I'll take my sword and kill you for being a traitor."
'She says she doesn't care, but...'
"Do you have a grudge against her?"
"A grudge... maybe not. But I will definitely stand against her in the future."
"Why?"
"I can't tell you the reason yet. But if that day comes and you want to leave, you can go. This is my personal business. If I want to fight her, I will face her myself. If you interfere, I'll actually be mad at you."
Jiang Yueyi had her own pride. She never intended to use him as a tool for her goals.
"Your value to me isn't about fighting her. Remember that. Right now, I just like you and want you around. I want you to use your Skills for me because you want to, not because I'm threatening you."
She was being honest. She just liked having him around. If he wasn't there, she would be annoyed. She definitely didn't want him to be her enemy in the future.
Ling Feng could tell she wasn't acting. However, he was now worried about his future. Living with such an aggressive woman was going to be hard. He slightly regretted joining the [Pale Pavilion]. His relaxed mindset was starting to crumble.
Jiang Yueyi saw the [Stress] in his eyes and felt even happier. She knew she was a handful, but that was just who she was. Seeing him so worried because of her made her feel excited. She knew she wouldn't be able to stop herself from teasing him in the future.
Ling Feng watched her sit back in the rocking chair. She crossed her legs and started sipping wine while enjoying the view. He could guess that she was already planning how to play with him. He wondered why most of the women he met were like this. Did he really look that easy to tease?