135: Chapter 135: Using this to test cadres?

The two of them began to play chess while sipping tea.

Nangong Xiyue took the black pieces and made the first move.

Her fingers were long and fair, and her movements as she picked up the black pieces were elegant, as if she were playing a zither.

The first piece landed on the star point in the upper right corner with a crisp "pa" sound that was exceptionally clear in the quiet courtyard.

Ye Xiaoyao held the white pieces and placed them calmly.

His movements were much more casual, but every piece was placed steadily, without haste or impatience.

For the first few moves, both were setting up their positions, and the flow of the game was stable.

Fairy Xiyue's chess style was like her personality—gentle yet possessing a sharp edge.

She disliked direct slaughter, preferring instead to manage the corners and edges, slowly accumulating an advantage.

Surrounded by her black pieces, the white pieces were like moths trapped in a spider's web; seemingly restricted at every turn, yet always able to find a way out.

Ye Xiaoyao saw through her intentions but was in no rush to break the deadlock.

He dealt with her while drinking tea; occasionally, he would drop a piece that would cause Nangong Xiyue to frown and ponder for a long while.

"Young Master, this move..."

Nangong Xiyue rested her cheek in her hand, staring at the chessboard for a long time before finally letting out a soft sigh.

"It's truly tricky~"

She eventually placed a piece in response, but she had already lost the initiative.

During the mid-game, Ye Xiaoyao suddenly exerted his strength.

As a white piece fell, the black 'dragon' was cut in half, and the situation that had seemed stable instantly collapsed.

Nangong Xiyue let out a soft "ya," her beautiful eyes widening as she looked at the board in disbelief.

"This... how can this be?"

She tried to salvage the situation, but Ye Xiaoyao gave her no chance.

The white pieces surged like a tide, encroaching upon and consuming the black pieces' territory piece by piece.

Nangong Xiyue's brow furrowed tighter and tighter, her red lips slightly pursed. Her fingers held a black piece suspended in mid-air, unable to place it for a long time.

Finally, she put the piece back into the bowl and smiled helplessly.

"I have lost. Your Master's chess skills are superb; Xiyue admits defeat."

Ye Xiaoyao smiled and said, "Fairy, you flatter me. Your style is very stable, but you focus too much on the corners and edges, ignoring the overall situation in the center. If you can balance both, your skill will surely increase greatly."

Nangong Xiyue nodded thoughtfully, a flash of admiration in her eyes.

"Young Master's words make sense. I didn't expect that not only are your chess skills superb, but your understanding of the Dao of Chess is also so profound."

Back at the Yin Yang Sect, besides discussing the Dao with Ji Chanxi, Liu Yunshuang, Fu Hongxue, and Song Yu, Ye Xiaoyao often competed with them in chess.

So, playing chess was second nature to him.

Seeing that Ye Xiaoyao had won a game against her so easily, Nangong Xiyue was somewhat surprised and a bit indignant.

She rearranged the pieces, fighting spirit igniting in her eyes. "Another round! This time, I won't admit defeat so easily!"

Actually, Nangong Xiyue's chess skills weren't bad; it was just that Ye Xiaoyao was truly too powerful, which was why she had been defeated.

Seeing this stunning Fairy so unwilling to lose, Ye Xiaoyao felt a secret joy, and the corners of his mouth curled up unconsciously.

Is this what it feels like to be praised by a beautiful woman?

Haha, how refreshing!

A new round began.

This time, Ye Xiaoyao planned to go easy on her and let Nangong Xiyue win a bit.

Lest she lose too miserably and hurt her self-esteem.

After all, he was a graceful and warm-hearted man.

Thus, his moves became much more conservative.

He didn't attack when he should have and intentionally left openings when he should have surrounded her.

Nangong Xiyue, on the other hand, fought more courageously as the battle progressed. Her black pieces pressed forward step by step, compressing the white pieces' territory bit by bit.

Sure enough, with Ye Xiaoyao intentionally holding back, Nangong Xiyue won this round quite smoothly.

When the final piece was placed, Nangong Xiyue looked at the large swaths of black territory on the board, a happy and proud smile appearing on her face.

She looked up at Ye Xiaoyao, her beautiful eyes sparkling, and said:

"Heehee, how was that? I'm pretty good, right? I'm not that much worse than you, am I?"

That look was just like a little girl who had gotten a good grade and was asking an adult for credit.

Ye Xiaoyao smiled and nodded, praising her sincerely:

"Mm, Fairy is not only beautiful with a sweet voice, but even your chess skills are so remarkable. It truly makes one admire you immensely!"

Nangong Xiyue's pretty face was radiant as a flower, and she laughed so hard she trembled.

She reached out to pour tea for Ye Xiaoyao while casting a flirtatious glance at him, giggling as she said:

"Young Master, then what do you think... about this little girl becoming your Dao Companion?"

Ye Xiaoyao was just holding his teacup and drinking when he heard this. He nearly choked, coughing several times.

He never expected Nangong Xiyue to be so direct, catching him completely off guard.

He remembered that he already had six Dao Companions.

Having one more wouldn't be impossible. Moreover, the woman before him was a top-tier beauty. If he could take her for himself, wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?

As for whether his six Dao Companions would be jealous or object, he wasn't worried.

After all, he possessed the Pure Yang Sacred Body; he would have no trouble handling them all.

On the contrary, once his cultivation progressed further and reached the Nascent Soul Realm, the essence of pure yang within him would become even more abundant. At that time, he would need more Dao Companions to help regulate his body and release the excess essence of pure yang.

The only thing that worried him now was that he was a Human Race Cultivator, while Nangong Xiyue was the Demon Race Empress.

The gap between their identities was simply too large.

Humans and demons follow different paths; it might be difficult for their relationship to bear fruit!

Seeing that Nangong Xiyue's expression was serious and she didn't seem to be joking, he couldn't help but confirm his previous guess.

This woman brought him back to the Qingqiu Holy Land because she really wanted to offer herself to him!

Then why did she previously push her rival, Bai Zhirou, onto him as a Spirit Pet and maidservant?

Ye Xiaoyao was puzzled.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration hit him, and he realized everything.

She was testing him!

So, Nangong Xiyue wanted to test if he was the kind of lecher who would be swayed by beauty, to see if he was worthy of her entrusting her life to him.

That was why she deliberately arranged for Bai Zhirou to test him, and even intentionally guided him to discipline Bai Zhirou, all to see if he would actually do anything improper to her.

Fortunately, Ye Xiaoyao's willpower was strong enough. He did not let Nangong Xiyue down and successfully passed her test.

That was why she was now so proactively bringing up the idea of wanting to marry him as a Dao Companion.

It had to be said that Bai Zhirou was indeed a pitiful and delicate woman who would make any man who saw her petite and lovely appearance feel a desire to protect her.

Such a test was indeed difficult to pass.

Ye Xiaoyao couldn't help but recall a TV series he had seen in his past life, which had a classic line:

"Using this to test an official?"

"Which official could withstand such a test?"

Fortunately, he had withstood the test and captured Nangong Xiyue's true heart.

Ye Xiaoyao suppressed the various thoughts in his mind and maintained a calm expression on his face.

He set down his teacup, showed a warm smile, and said:

"Fairy, this Ye is untalented. I am honored by your favor, but I truly don't dare to be your Dao Companion!

There is a huge gap in cultivation between the two of us. Moreover, you are the current Demon Race Empress, while I am but an obscure little Core Formation cultivator. I am truly unworthy of your status and position."

He paused and spoke sincerely: "I hope the Fairy does not develop the illusion that I am someone you can entrust your life to just because I saved you once before, and thus delay your future!"

These words were spoken solemnly and could be considered a bit cold.

In fact, he was playing hard to get.

He wanted to see how Nangong Xiyue would react.

He couldn't just agree so easily without even a polite refusal, right?

That might make Nangong Xiyue feel that he had been lusting after her body for a long time.

So, to maintain his persona, he still made a gesture of refusal.

Hearing this, Nangong Xiyue saw that Ye Xiaoyao's expression was natural and did not see through the little scheme in his heart.

She only wondered if Ye Xiaoyao looked down on her, which was why he rejected her like this.

Immediately, her beautiful eyes, which had been sparkling with extraordinary light from winning the game, dimmed slightly, and even the smile on her face stiffened.

But she quickly adjusted and smiled again, as if Ye Xiaoyao's words of refusal hadn't caused her much harm.

Ye Xiaoyao naturally noticed the change in her expression.

He wondered if he had hurt Fairy Xiyue's heart and was about to explain when Nangong Xiyue spoke first.

Her voice was still gentle, but it held a bit more seriousness.

"Young Master, Xiyue does indeed want to repay your life-saving grace, but more importantly, both your character and talent are the type that Xiyue likes.

That is why I want to offer myself to you and spend my life by your side."

After speaking, she stopped her movements in the chess game, stood up, and smiled at Ye Xiaoyao.

In that smile, there was shyness, nervousness, and a hint of stubbornness.

"Young Master, this sunset scenery is a rare sight. Why don't we go for a walk and enjoy it together?"

"We can continue this chess game another day, okay?"

As she stood up, there seemed to be a glimmer of tears in the corners of her eyes.

This was her first time confessing her feelings so directly and proactively, so she was inevitably a bit shy and nervous.

Even though Ye Xiaoyao had already refused her in words, she still hadn't given up.

Ye Xiaoyao was slightly stunned.

Could it be that this Fairy Xiyue had truly developed genuine feelings for him?

Before he could think further, he readily agreed: "Alright, then let's do it another day. It's not bad to go out for a stroll now."

With that, the two of them turned into two streaks of light and flew out of the small courtyard, heading toward a distant mountain peak.

Behind them, on the stone table, the Purple Clay Teapot and two teacups were still emitting curls of hot steam.

The unfinished chess game lay quietly under the sunset, black and white pieces intermingled, waiting for the next match.