Zhao Xue's expression remained unchanged, but Yun Shu Nian's eyes widened as she looked at Feng Huo.
What are you doing?
Yun Shu Nian, embarrassed, questioned Feng Huo with her eyes.
Feng Huo turned his head, raised an eyebrow slightly, and gave Yun Shu Nian a reassuring look.
"If you have something to say, just say it," Zhao Xue slowly turned his teacup, looking directly up at Feng Huo.
"It's nothing. Just a return courtesy. Shouldn't you also talk about your situation?
Although the Heavenly Empress does not value financial status when choosing a companion, being honest is the most basic requirement."
"Feng Huo!" As soon as Feng Huo finished speaking, Yun Shu Nian couldn't help but shout at him.
"Come with me." Yun Shu Nian grabbed Feng Huo's sleeve, wanting to drag him away. However, Feng Huo sat still, looking at Yun Shu Nian with some confusion, completely uncooperative.
Seeing Feng Huo's lack of cooperation, Yun Shu Nian didn't dare to look at Zhao Xue again. She turned and walked upstairs.
Yun Shu Nian's footsteps were quick, her wide skirt and sleeves fluttering elegantly as she moved.
The slow turning of the teacup in Zhao Xue's hand had long since stopped. His lips were pursed into a straight line, and his phoenix-like eyes stared intently at Yun Shu Nian's retreating back, his eyes faintly red.
That's right...
What he said earlier was not wrong.
Courtship in the mortal world followed a similar pattern: highlighting strengths and downplaying weaknesses. He hadn't mentioned the little phoenix's many flaws, such as sleeping a lot, being playful, and being willful. Yet, he had immediately brought up hundreds of properties. Why was the little phoenix angry?
Feng Huo lowered his head, thoughtfully analyzing.
Right, how could he not have realized that cultivators wouldn't care about houses like mortals? He must have focused on the wrong point, which made the little phoenix angry and stomp away.
With this realization, Feng Huo's back relaxed instantly. He took the tea in his hand and drank it in one gulp.
"It's like this, what I said earlier was not comprehensive. Please allow me to add a few points."
Feng Huo cleared his throat and continued.
"Our little phoenix has an immortal body and has been an attraction for spiritual energy since childhood. When you two cultivate together..."
"Your Excellency, this humble immortal has some matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave."
Zhao Xue placed his teacup on the table and hurried upstairs.
Could it be...
Could it be that he wasn't interested in spiritual energy either?
Looking at the untouched dishes on the table, Feng Huo banged his head on the table.
However, just as Feng Huo's forehead was about to hit the table, a slender, white hand blocked the space between his forehead and the table.
"Yu Ji!" Feng Huo shot up and grabbed Yu Ji's hand to examine it.
Yu Ji, who had been biting her lip due to the pain, soon curved her lips upwards again.
"It's already red," Feng Huo looked at Yu Ji's hand, his voice filled with concern as he blew gently on her palm.
Yu Ji seemed uncomfortable. The word "it doesn't hurt" that was about to escape her lips was swallowed.
...
How could Feng Huo be so rude? She hadn't even conveyed her feelings to Zhao Xue yet, and she hadn't won Zhao Xue over.
If Feng Huo said this, and Zhao Xue had no feelings for her, wouldn't he avoid her from now on?
Upstairs, Yun Shu Nian paced back and forth in her room.
If she had known that Feng Huo would say even more "outrageous" things after she left, Yun Shu Nian would probably be about to bang her head against the table like Feng Huo earlier.
However, she also didn't know that Zhao Xue, just a wall away, was sitting at the table, listening to Yun Shu Nian's anxious footsteps, his fingers caressing the Buding Bead that he had almost lost his life to obtain.
Zhao Xue's grip on the bead was strong, causing layers of ripples to spread across its surface.
Zhao Xue's phoenix-like eyes were tightly shut, yet black energy surged within them. After an unknown amount of time, a sweet, metallic taste welled up in Zhao Xue's throat.
The surrounding air began to churn uncontrollably.
With a bang, the table in front of Zhao Xue shattered.
Yun Shu Nian heard the noise and stopped pacing.
She walked a few steps towards Zhao Xue's room but eventually stopped.
After a moment of hesitation, Yun Shu Nian turned and walked to her bed, lying down obediently.
Did she disturb Zhao Xue?
Lying on the bed, Yun Shu Nian turned her head to look in the direction of Zhao Xue's room. Her crescent eyes flickered for a moment before she closed them in annoyance.
As Yun Shu Nian's anxious footsteps ceased, Mu Qi suddenly opened his eyes and glanced in the direction of Yun Shu Nian's room.
The air around Zhao Xue churned more violently, then gradually subsided after another ten seconds.
Zhao Xue also lay back down on the bed, looking in Yun Shu Nian's direction, curled up, and clutching the Buding Bead in his hand.
-------------------------------------
At that time, Feng Huo was standing by the window, silently contemplating Zhao Xue's various reactions during the day. No matter how many times Feng Huo thought about it, he couldn't find anything unusual about Zhao Xue.
This person is unfathomable...
As Feng Huo pondered, he turned around and unexpectedly noticed Yu Ji still standing beside him.
The corners of Feng Huo's eyes curved upwards, displaying a gentleness Yun Shu Nian had never seen: "Yu Ji, aren't you sleepy yet?"
Yu Ji, as obedient as ever: "Not sleepy."
"Alright, go to sleep quickly, or you won't be able to wake up tomorrow." Feng Huo ruffled Yu Ji's hair and then walked towards his own bed.
"Yes, okay." Yu Ji's voice was soft as she watched Feng Huo's retreating figure.
Feng Huo responded with a sound, and Yu Ji paused for a few seconds, looking at Feng Huo's back, then turned and left.
Late at night, as everything returned to silence, Feng Huo suddenly got out of bed and quietly entered Yu Ji's room.
"Why are you so well-behaved even when you're sleeping?" Feng Huo leaned close to Yu Ji's bed, involuntarily bending down, his fingers hovering above Yu Ji's face for a long time before finally retracting.
Today, what did you record?
Recalling Yu Ji's serious expression as she diligently took notes while he was teaching the little phoenix how to pursue Zhao Xue during the day, the gentle color in Feng Huo's eyes faded, replaced by a dark gloom.
Feng Huo picked up the notebook placed on Yu Ji's pillow. The pages flipped faster and faster in his hands.
Every word was about attracting others' attention!
Furious, Feng Huo threw the notebook onto the floor, then suddenly leaned over, covered Yu Ji's eyes, and fiercely pried open Yu Ji's lips.
Yu Ji let out a pained whimper, and in an instant, she fainted again.