The two leaned against each other, gazing at their own private starry sky.
"Are we going to live stream here?" Nan Gong Qianyue asked softly, looking at the exquisite food that had somehow appeared above the clouds.
"This is a world belonging to just the two of us. How can we let it go to waste?" Ye Ming twirled a few strands of hair from the beauty in his arms, bringing them to his nose, savoring the present moment.
"Mmm!" Nan Gong Qianyue, of course, didn't want to be disturbed.
"Alright! It's time for us to enjoy the feast!"
...
Half an hour later.
When Ye Ming and Nan Gong Qianyue walked out of the Mandarin Duck Palace, Xuan Yue, clad in a dark green long dress, was already waiting.
"Are you two satisfied?" Xuan Yue asked with a friendly smile.
"Mmm!" Nan Gong Qianyue nodded with great satisfaction, saying, "I don't think I'll ever forget this in my life!" As she spoke, the hands that were clasped between them tightened instinctively. For them, this was undoubtedly their most precious memory.
Xuan Yue smiled with relief as she looked at the couple whose eyes were only for each other. "This is a small gift I prepared for you both. I hope you'll accept it!" At this moment, Xuan Yue produced two exquisite gift boxes and handed them to the couple.
"What is this?" Although Nan Gong Qianyue was curious, she didn't open the boxes immediately. It was a sign of respect for the giver. Xuan Yue noticed this and seemed to like her 'sister' Nan Gong Qianyue even more. "Go ahead and open them!"
"Okay!" Since the other person had spoken, Nan Gong Qianyue opened the gift box. Ye Ming did the same. Upon opening the gift boxes, they found rings inlaid with peculiar gemstones. Even in the daytime, a faint radiance could be seen around the gems. However, the gems on the two rings were different. Nan Gong Qianyue's held a black gem, while Ye Ming's held a white one. Furthermore, even Nan Gong Qianyue, with only her mid-stage Ganwu Realm cultivation, could sense a connection between these two gems. She looked at Xuan Yue, her eyes filled with confusion.
"The rings you are holding are called Mandarin Duck Rings. Only couples who have entered the Mandarin Duck Palace have the chance to obtain them!" Xuan Yue continued, "And! Every pair is unique!"
"Not only that, but it also has a special function!" Xuan Yue looked at the couple and smiled. "When you two wear them, no matter how far apart you are, as long as you think of each other in your hearts, you can communicate across the distance to alleviate your longing!"
Communicate across the distance!
"That's amazing?" Nan Gong Qianyue looked at the ring in her hand, somewhat surprised. Who would dare compare this to a telephone! If anyone did, they must not have... a girlfriend! Just kidding!
"By the way! Sister Qianyue! May I discuss something with you?" Xuan Yue spoke up.
"Ah? Sister Xuan Yue, please speak!" Nan Gong Qianyue was a little taken aback. Then, Xuan Yue's gaze fell on Ye Ming, indicating, "Could I borrow Teacher Ye for two minutes?"
"What?" Hearing this request, Nan Gong Qianyue almost dropped the box in her hand. Xuan Yue wanted to borrow Ye Ming! What was she planning to do?
"Of... of course!" Nan Gong Qianyue truly didn't understand what the other party wanted.
"Hey! At least ask for my opinion!" Seeing Nan Gong Qianyue lend him out so easily, Ye Ming expressed his displeasure.
"Alright! Hurry up and go!" Nan Gong Qianyue ignored his grumbling and even gave him a push.
"Hehe! Sister Qianyue is indeed generous!" Xuan Yue giggled, seeing this. "Don't worry! I won't eat your Teacher Ye." Then, Xuan Yue led Ye Ming back to the room where they had first arrived. Nan Gong Qianyue watched the departing pair, lost in thought.
...
"Miss Xuan Yue! You can tell me now!" Ye Ming was indeed quite curious about the woman before him. Her asking him to meet her alone clearly had a purpose.
"Fellow Daoist Ye! Xuan Yue offers her greetings!" Xuan Yue smiled at Ye Ming and gave a graceful bow. It was worth noting that her address to Ye Ming had changed. Fellow Daoist Ye! This already indicated many things!
"Yin Yang Formation! Ten Thousand Miles Sound Transmission Stone! These things should not appear in the mortal world!" Ye Ming was not surprised by Xuan Yue's sudden change in address, but rather responded calmly. "Indeed! These things shouldn't be in the mortal world! But..." Xuan Yue's gaze fell on Ye Ming, as if trying to see through him. "But... why are you in the mortal world!" This was a rhetorical question, but also a probe.
"No! You're mistaken!" Ye Ming waved his hand and smiled. "We are different!"
"Oh! Is that so?" Xuan Yue's gaze remained fixed on him, not shifting. "Recently, I've received some information. I wonder if Fellow Daoist Ye could enlighten me?" Hmm? It seemed this was the reason Xuan Yue had summoned Ye Ming alone.
"Within a certain scope, I can answer some of your questions!" Ye Ming did not refuse.
"Mmm?" Seeing that he agreed without hesitation, Xuan Yue seemed a bit surprised. "Doesn't Fellow Daoist Ye have anything he wants to ask me?" According to Xuan Yue's expectations, both sides should engage in an equal exchange of intelligence. There was no reason for Ye Ming to answer her questions for free.
"Of course, I do!" Ye Ming did not deny Xuan Yue's words. "However, considering your thoughtful reminder to Qianyue earlier not to easily reveal the illusory ear pendant to outsiders, I can answer one question within a certain scope for you first!" Xuan Yue's remark had indeed earned her a good impression from Ye Ming.
"I see!" Xuan Yue had not expected her unintentional act to yield such results. However, while gaining this reward, she felt a trace of envy. "No wonder Sister Qianyue is so smitten with you!"
"Fellow Daoist Xuan Yue may ask now!" Ye Ming said with a smile, accepting her words gladly.
"Alright! Then I won't be polite!" Xuan Yue took a deep breath. When she looked at Ye Ming again, her entire demeanor had changed. Her beautiful eyes held a sharp glint, highly aggressive.
"Fellow Daoist Ye! Are you trying to start a war?"
Start a war? When she uttered these words, the room became utterly silent, as if even the air had frozen, and the atmosphere was oppressively heavy. Ye Ming looked at the woman before him, not answering her question immediately. Similarly, Xuan Yue stared directly at him. Both fell into silence. Because they both knew what an answer to this question would signify.
"Yes..." After tens of seconds of silence, Ye Ming slowly uttered a single word. And when Xuan Yue heard this word, she felt her heart nearly stop beating. Her palms, at some unknown time, had become drenched in cold sweat. "Yes... and no!"