100: Chapter 100 The Fifth Life, The Blazing Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (Forty-Eight)

The two sat opposite each other in the pavilion, playing chess.

Although Chu Shi had not touched Go in this lifetime, having experienced several reincarnations, he naturally had some exposure to it.

In fact, among mortals, while his skills could not be called peak perfection, calling him a master of the game was not an exaggeration at all.

Although Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan's chess skills were decent, they were completely inadequate in front of Chu Shi.

In less than half an hour, he had lost three games in a row, each one calculated so tightly by Chu Shi that he had no power to fight back.

"I'm not playing anymore, I'm not playing!" Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan threw the chess piece onto the board with a bitter expression.

"You kid are simply not human! Sometimes I really want to crack open your head and take a look; it's one thing to be powerful in cultivation, but to be this ruthless at chess too?

Every single step I take is calculated to death by you; I don't have a shred of a chance to win. If we keep playing, I'll start doubting my life."

Chu Shi looked at him in this state and couldn't help but chuckle. Just as he was about to speak, a maid's gentle voice announced from outside the courtyard gate: "Your Highness, the Princess has arrived."

As soon as the voice fell, the courtyard gate was pushed open.

Two figures walked in side by side, and the one walking in front was none other than Princess Xiao Xiao.

She came dressed in casual attire today.

She wore a pale pink dress with lifelike peach blossom patterns embroidered on the hem, and a white palace sash tied around her waist. Her figure was slender, and her appearance was dainty and spirited.

Her almond eyes were watery, and there was a faint smile at the corners of her mouth.

Compared to when they first met three months ago, she had lost some of her girlish naivety and gained some of the composure of a cultivator.

Her cultivation had already reached the early stage of the Stone Skin Realm; clearly, she had put in quite a lot of hard work over these three months.

Following by her side was Yun Mengyao.

She was still dressed in white, with a beautiful and refined appearance and a tall figure, but compared to when they first met three months ago, her entire demeanor had undergone an earth-shattering transformation.

Three months ago, when Yun Mengyao saw Chu Shi, her eyes were full of calculation and feigned grievance, looking exactly like someone bullied by a heartless lover.

Moreover, when facing Princess Xiao Xiao's closeness, although she didn't avoid it and even deliberately acted shy and delicate, anyone with a discerning eye could see it was faked.

But now, her gaze was glued to Princess Xiao Xiao from beginning to end.

Her eyes were filled with inseparable tenderness and focus, without sparing even a shred for anyone else.

When Princess Xiao Xiao took a step forward, she followed with a step, her pace neither fast nor slow, always maintaining a half-step distance from Princess Xiao Xiao.

When Princess Xiao Xiao raised her hand to tuck away hair blown messy by the wind, she immediately raised her hand, took a pearl hairpin from her sleeve, and gently helped Princess Xiao Xiao pin back the stray hairs.

When Princess Xiao Xiao walked to the pavilion, she immediately stepped forward and pulled out the stone stool.

Once Princess Xiao Xiao sat down, she naturally stood behind Princess Xiao Xiao, one hand resting lightly on the back of the chair, her gaze still not leaving Princess Xiao Xiao's side profile. The tenderness and possessiveness in her eyes could not be hidden at all.

Even her entire aura had completely changed.

When facing Princess Xiao Xiao, she was so gentle it felt like she could drip water, and her tone was extremely soft, for fear of disturbing her.

But when facing others—even Chu Shi, the genius currently rising to fame in the Holy Land whom she had once desperately tried to win back—she only gave a faint glance, without a shred of concern, not even bothering to spare a single look, as if Chu Shi were just an insignificant stranger.

That look clearly showed she had placed her entire heart completely on Princess Xiao Xiao, with no room left for anyone or anything else.

"Seventh Brother! Senior Brother Chu!" Princess Xiao Xiao walked to the pavilion and spoke with a smile, her voice as crisp as a silver bell.

She bowed slightly to Chu Shi, her almond eyes curved with full smiles: "Senior Brother Chu, long time no see. Congratulations on breaking through to the Iron Skin Realm. You are now the most famous rising star in our entire Holy Land; I hear disciples discussing you every day at Luoxia Peak."

Chu Shi stood up, nodded slightly in return, and spoke in a calm tone: "Princess, you are too kind. I merely broke through by luck. It has been several months, and the Princess's cultivation has also greatly improved; it is a joyous and congratulatory matter."

"Compared to Senior Brother Chu, my little progress is nothing." Princess Xiao Xiao smiled and waved her hand, sitting down on the stone stool.

Yun Mengyao immediately picked up the teapot, gently poured a cup of tea for Princess Xiao Xiao, and then poured one for Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan.

Her movements were natural and smooth throughout, and her eyes never left Princess Xiao Xiao.

Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan watched her in this state and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, teasing: "Yun Mengyao, Senior Brother Chu is right here, and you won't even greet him? Now your eyes only have our Xiao Xiao, is that it?"

Upon hearing this, Yun Mengyao finally raised her eyes to glance at Chu Shi.

She cupped her hands quite perfunctorily and said in a flat tone: "Senior Brother Chu." Afterwards, she immediately withdrew her gaze and let it fall back onto Princess Xiao Xiao.

Seeing Princess Xiao Xiao burn the corner of her mouth while drinking tea, she immediately took out a handkerchief in a panic and reached out to wipe it for her, her tone full of distress: "Xiao Xiao, drink slowly, no one is fighting you for it. Did you burn yourself?"

Princess Xiao Xiao swatted her hand away, a faint blush appearing on her face.

She glared at her reproachfully, then turned to Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan and said: "Brother, don't talk nonsense."

That coquettish appearance had not a shred of the arrogant princess she had been when they first met.

Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan laughed out loud and stopped teasing, just raising an eyebrow at Chu Shi with an "you know" look.

Chu Shi picked up his teacup and took a sip, a hint of imperceptible shock and vigilance flashing in his eyes.

Is this still that little tea-girl Yun Mengyao? She has been completely bent, right!

There is absolutely no trace of how she used to be; even a succubus wouldn't be this exaggerated...

As time passed, the atmosphere in the pavilion soon became lively.

Princess Xiao Xiao chatted about interesting things at Luoxia Peak, talked about her cultivation experiences over the past three months, and gossiped about the female disciples.

Seventh Prince Xiao Yuan chimed in with jokes from time to time, while Yun Mengyao stood quietly behind Princess Xiao Xiao, occasionally refilling her tea or peeling spirit fruits.

Her eyes remained glued to her, and only when Princess Xiao Xiao spoke to her would she respond with a few words, her tone unbelievably gentle.

Chu Shi sat quietly to one side, listening to the three of them laughing and talking, occasionally responding with a few words.

The morning light filtered through the pavilion's eaves, falling onto his purple brocade robe, softening the sharp aura around him.

However, he also knew that such leisure was only temporary.

The only constant in the world is that it is always changing; the current peaceful time would surely not last long.

The path he had to take in this life was still very long.

And the siblings before him would be his most reliable allies on this road.

Chu Shi picked up his teacup and drained the slightly cool tea in one gulp, a sharp glint flashing deep in his eyes.

Next, it was time to talk business.