Ye Shu Lian Tong

Miss Zhao?

Despite expecting it, Zhao Zhixia still couldn't help but tremble slightly upon hearing this address. She turned her head slightly, refusing to let Ye Shu see the emotions in her eyes.

Looking at the two facing each other with such indifference, Xiaobai tilted her head, completely unable to figure it out.

These were people who had lived together for almost fifteen years.

How could they act like strangers?

"Since Miss Zhao dislikes the gift I gave."

Ye Shu's gaze remained fixed on Zhao Zhixia's wrist. His tone was as flat as ever, as if discussing the day's weather.

"Then could you please return it to me."

Hand over the bracelet?

Zhao Zhixia covered her wrist with one hand and slowly walked to the window. Gazing at the boundless night outside, she left only a lonely silhouette. Suddenly, she spoke, answering a question that wasn't asked:

"When I was very young, someone would always sneak into my room while I was asleep. They would touch all over my body, using spiritual energy to probe my bones and meridians, exploring every inch of me until they were dripping with sweat, only then sneaking away..."

"Would you say that person had good intentions, or bad?"

"..."

The atmosphere in the room instantly turned somewhat awkward.

Xiaobai frowned in confusion.

What is this guy talking about?

Suddenly, her eyes widened dramatically, and she pointed at Ye Shu, screaming, "N-no way, it wasn't you, you pervert, was it?!"

"She was just a child!"

"She was so small back then, and you sneaked into her room to molest her! You shameful pedophile, stay away from me!"

Xiaobai covered her small chest in horror, yet her feet didn't move an inch; she remained sitting securely on Ye Shu's shoulder.

"Shut up!"

Ye Shu's face didn't flush, nor did his heart skip a beat. He kept a straight face and said, "What do you know? I was paying homage to the classics, understand? Paying homage to the classics!"

"Besides, when I first crossed over."

"Didn't I lack an understanding of what spiritual energy was? Didn't I need to find someone as a test subject? Furthermore, I wasn't molesting her; I was using spiritual energy to nourish her meridians, do you understand?"

"Nourish her meridians!"

"You huge pervert! Now that she's come knocking on your door, you still want to deny it," Xiaobai grabbed his neck and said through gritted teeth, "I don't recall raising such a wicked Child of Destiny; you're just a massive pervert!"

With his dark history dug up, Ye Shu was out of options.

It was quite funny, actually.

Back when he first arrived in this world, starting off with a transmigration, four great families, a remote border town, an arranged marriage from childhood, and a little girl inexplicably sent to his family.

Wasn't this exactly the same as Battle Through the Heavens?

So Ye Shu resolutely chose to... pay his respects to the legendary grandmaster Xiao Huohuo.

And now...

Unlike Dan Xia, those were unwarranted false memories, or rather, future memories for them—things that hadn't happened yet. But this time, it was something that had actually occurred, something where he had truly wronged her.

Dan Xia, residing within the ring, also noticed this.

So she was very curious. How would this youth, who was always so calm and composed, able to resolve crises with just a few words, talk his way out of this one?

However, he didn't do any of that.

Rustle—

Under the moonlight, the sound of clothing slipping off echoed.

Ye Shu's clothes cascaded down like flowing clouds, revealing a torso that was covered in scars yet still lean and muscular.

Xiaobai blinked, then violently covered her eyes.

"You guy aren't just a pedophile, you're an exhibitionist too!"

Dan Xia, on the other hand, widened her eyes and observed closely, clicking her tongue in amazement. After all, no one knew if she was looking from inside the ring, so it would be a waste not to.

Zhao Zhixia's pupils shrank. She jerked her head away, a faint blush creeping up her beautiful face, though she couldn't help but steal glances from the corner of her eye. She scolded in embarrassment and anger, "W-what are you doing? Do you think letting me look back at you will cancel it all out?"

"Shameless!"

Ye Shu didn't speak. His right hand indifferently formed a hand seal.

Sword light suddenly flared!

Three hundred and sixty-one sword shadows materialized out of thin air, hovering around him with fierce sword intent.

Snik snik snik—

Bloodied gashes instantly covered Ye Shu's thighs, arms, and entire body, some deep enough to show bone. Blood immediately gushed out, yet he didn't even furrow his brow. With trembling hands, he picked up his clothes from the ground and slowly, methodically put them back on.

Blood stained his garments red.

The snow-like pure white turned into a blood-like crimson.

Ye Shu looked up at Zhao Zhixia and smiled faintly. "Now we owe each other nothing. Can you return the bracelet to me?"

Xiaobai watched from the side, dumbfounded.

Not shocked by Ye Shu's boldness.

But shocked by his shamelessness!

This kind of person was the most cunning. Those were clearly injuries left behind from breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage, yet he forcefully claimed he cut himself to pay off his debt.

But regardless.

He only touched a little brat's body, and now he was using hundreds of wounds to compensate.

Rounding it up, it was practically equivalent to death by a thousand cuts.

It should be considered settled, right?

However, just as she thought the matter was over.

Whoosh!

The wind picked up.

A dark silhouette emerged like mist, instantly arriving in front of Ye Shu. It grabbed him by the neck and hoisted him high into the air. With icy eyes, it said, "My young miss has a body worth its weight in gold. How could a mere ant like you pay it off by giving yourself a few scratches? The fact that you are still standing here at this very moment is something you should feel fortunate and grateful for!"

"If not for the young miss's favor, you would already be a dead man."

"You live in a remote border town, cornered off from the world, with a narrow vision. Because you were once praised a few times as a genius, you felt your aptitude was supreme and looked down on everyone else. Little did you know that there is always someone better, and a sky beyond the sky."

"For a nobody like you, if not for a stroke of luck, let alone touching my young miss, you wouldn't even be able to catch a glimpse of her. Even meeting me would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens!"

"How can a frog in a well behold the vast sky?"

"If you were in the prosperous lands of the Central State and had even an ounce of knowledge, seeing me would be like a firefly seeing the bright moon."

The Shadow Guard gripped his neck, its words dripping with absolute sarcasm.

All the anger previously pent up at Ye Zhan's place was completely vented onto Ye Shu.

As for the young miss's punishment?

Didn't you see this brat just cut himself hundreds of times and the young miss remained indifferent? In the past, she would have stepped forward to stop it long ago. Now that the young miss had thought things through, he could act without any scruples.

Creak...

Ye Shu was held high in the air, yet his expression remained indifferent.

There wasn't a single trace of fear in his eyes. On the contrary, because he was positioned higher up, the Shadow Guard actually saw a hint of condescension in his gaze.

"This brat..." The Shadow Guard gritted his teeth.

It was this look again, exactly the same as his old man's.

It was truly infuriating!

"Shadow Guard, let him go."

Zhao Zhixia's voice rang out.

"Miss..." The Shadow Guard gritted his teeth, hesitated for a moment, but obediently loosened his grip and retreated into the shadows.

Ye Shu fell to the ground, panting heavily.

"Shu'er, are you alright?" Dan Xia inside the ring felt a pang of heartache.

If Shu'er hadn't stopped her in his mind just now.

She would have long since taken action to teach that ungrateful thing a lesson.

"I'm fine," Ye Shu shook his head.

He looked up, only to see that Zhao Zhixia had already come to his side. She reached out her hand, palm open, and a simple wooden bracelet lay quietly in her hand.

"I'm returning it to you."

"From now on, we owe each other nothing."