17: Chapter 17 Ungrateful

When Cao Sini heard Ye Xiaoyao use the Saintess as an excuse again, the slight displeasure she felt from being rejected intensified, instantly turning into clear anger.

The gentle and charming smile on her Face faded slightly, and her tone carried a hint of interrogation and an imperceptible sourness.

"Junior Brother Ye, you and Her Highness the Saintess have only known each other for half a day, yet you are already so devoted to her? Are you afraid that even if Senior Sister gives you a Storage Pouch, she might misunderstand?"

She lifted her chin slightly, carrying the customary arrogance of a young lady from a noble Family.

"This is just an ordinary item. It is perfectly normal for fellow Disciples to exchange small gifts. With Her Highness the Saintess's status and broad-mindedness, how could she not tolerate such a small matter?"

Cao Sini tried to make Ye Xiaoyao accept the Storage Pouch.

Ye Xiaoyao was as clear as a mirror in his heart.

How could he be devoted?

It was purely a strategy for self-preservation after weighing the pros and cons.

Not long ago, in the Saintess's cold Immortal Cave, there was that remark from her: "My person cannot run off with another female cultivator," and the warning gaze that followed.

He certainly hadn't forgotten.

Although he knew the Saintess had ulterior motives for him, he had indeed received heavy Spirit Stones, life-saving Talismans, and a precious Flying Sword from her.

He who takes bribes is soft-handed; he who eats another's food is soft-mouthed.

To turn around and accept a gift from another female cultivator right after receiving benefits, especially from one he had just rejected.

This approach was too stupid; it was practically handing the Saintess leverage over him.

With his weak cultivation, he could not afford to endure the wrath of someone at the Foundation Establishment Stage Great Perfection.

Furthermore.

He really had no good feelings towards Cao Sini's style of acting with inherent superiority and calculated behavior.

It was just a Storage Pouch; it wasn't as if he couldn't afford to buy one himself now.

Why bother owing an unclear favor for this?

"Senior Sister Cao."

Ye Xiaoyao's attitude remained polite, but his refusal was clearer, even carrying a sense of distance as he said:

"This Storage Pouch, Junior Brother truly cannot accept. I accept your good intentions, Senior Sister, and am extremely grateful."

"It's just... there really is an inconvenience. I ask for your understanding, Senior Sister; please take this item back."

He cupped his hands again, lowering his posture, but his tone was firm.

Cao Sini stared at him for two breaths, her chest, half-exposed by her twin peaks, heaving slightly.

The resentment from being repeatedly rejected churned in her heart.

Unappreciative!

Refusing a kindness!

Since birth, she had been the pearl surrounded by stars in her Family, and the sought-after Fairy in the Sect.

When had she ever been rejected so many times, again and again?

And both times it was this Ye Xiaoyao!

But the more this happened, the stronger the desire for conquest and investigation in her eyes became.

The more you resist, the more it proves you have a guilty conscience.

Or... the secrets you carry are all the more valuable.

There is nothing that I, Cao Sini, have set my sights on that I cannot obtain!

She quickly suppressed her churning emotions, and a smile reappeared on her Face, though it did not reach her eyes.

She flipped her wrist and put away the exquisite Storage Pouch, as if nothing had just happened.

"Since Junior Brother insists on refusing, then I, as your Senior Sister, cannot force you."

Her tone was relaxed, as if this were just an insignificant episode in a casual chat.

"However, I feel quite compatible with you, Junior Brother. I believe in the future... we will have plenty of opportunities to get to know each other slowly."

These words were filled with hidden meaning, and after speaking, Cao Sini gave Ye Xiaoyao a peculiar look.

Ye Xiaoyao took it as mere pleasantries, nodded slightly, bowed simply again, and said: "If Senior Sister has no other matters, I shall take my leave."

Having said that, he did not linger, turned around, and walked quickly down the mountain along the path he had come, his figure soon disappearing into the thickening twilight and the vegetation on the hillside.

Until he walked down the hillside and returned to the path leading to the Disciples' residences.

Ye Xiaoyao let out a soft sigh, rubbed his somewhat tight brow, and muttered to himself:

"What is this... I haven't even figured things out with the Saintess, and now I've attracted another one with even deeper intentions."

"Forget it, of two evils, choose the lesser. Offending Senior Sister Cao is still better than offending both her and the Saintess at the same time."

He shook his head, temporarily casting these troubles to the back of his mind, quickened his pace, and walked towards his own simple room.

Right now, Cultivating for a Breakthrough was the real priority.

...

On the small hilltop.

Cao Sini watched the direction where Ye Xiaoyao disappeared, her eyes deep.

She was just about to take out her Flying Carpet to leave when a sound of breaking through the air and landing, not particularly light, suddenly came from behind her.

"Fairy Cao! Please stay!"

A raspy voice filled with urgency rang out.

Cao Sini didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

She turned around slowly and, sure enough, saw Zhang Jiba's bear-like, sturdy figure jumping down from a wobbling Flying Sword, his Face wearing a naive and ingratiating smile, gazing at her eagerly.

"Senior Brother Zhang."

Cao Sini's tone was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Why have you come again?"

Zhang Jiba rubbed his large, fan-like hands, trying hard to make his expression look righteous as he said:

"Fairy Cao, I saw everything from below just now. Did that brat surnamed Ye make you unhappy again? If he dares to be even slightly disrespectful to you, tell me, and I, Zhang Jiba, will go drag him over and teach him a harsh lesson, guaranteed to make him walk around you whenever he sees you in the future!"

He spoke with spit flying, slapped his chest with a thudding sound, with an expression that said, "Praise me, need me!"

Cao Sini sneered in her heart, but on her Face, she revealed a look of contemplation. Her beautiful eyes shifted, and she suddenly adopted an expression that was slightly weak yet carried a hint of mystery.

"Senior Brother Zhang~"

Her voice softened, and she looked at Zhang Jiba with glistening eyes, saying:

"What you said before... that you like me very much, was that the truth?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jiba nodded his head like a chick pecking at rice, his eyes wide open.

"It's the truth! Truer than real gold. My heart for Fairy Cao, Zhang Jiba's heart, can be witnessed by the sun and the moon!"

"Then..."

Cao Sini took a small step forward, the elegant fragrance on her body wafting towards Zhang Jiba, her tone carrying a hint of a request.

"Since you like me so much, are you willing... to do one thing for me?"

Zhang Jiba's blood instantly rushed to his head, feeling that his chance had come.

Being able to do things for his goddess was a huge honor!

He immediately slapped his chest even louder and said in a booming voice:

"Willing! Of course I'm willing! Fairy Cao, just give your orders. If I, Zhang Jiba, even frown at going up a mountain of blades or down into a sea of fire, then I'm not a man!"

Cao Sini's disdain in her heart grew even stronger, but on her Face, she blossomed with a smile that was slightly charming and dependent, making Zhang Jiba lose his soul.

"There's no need to go up a mountain of blades or down into a sea of fire."

She spoke softly, as if sharing a secret.

"I just want to ask Senior Brother Zhang... to help me keep an eye on Junior Brother Ye Xiaoyao."

"Keep an eye on Ye Xiaoyao?"

Zhang Jiba was stunned, his thick eyebrows knitted together. Jealousy mixed with confusion, he asked:

"What's there to keep an eye on with that brat? Why do you care about him, Fairy Cao?"

The moment he thought about his goddess wanting him to watch another man, his heart turned sour.

Cao Sini had long anticipated he would ask this, and calmly explained:

"It's not that I care about him, it's just... I feel that there are some things about him that are quite unusual, which makes one curious."

She paused, her tone taking on a hint of serious instruction.

"However, Senior Brother Zhang, you must remember a few points: First, do not let him discover that you are keeping an eye on him. Second, you absolutely must not let him know that it was I who asked you to go. Third, you yourself must absolutely not harm him in the slightest."

She looked at Zhang Jiba's half-understanding Face and added the most crucial requirement:

"Also, if... I mean if, you discover that someone else wants to secretly harm him, when necessary, you must step in to help him, and try your best not to let him get hurt. Do you understand?"

Zhang Jiba was a bit dizzy from listening.

He had to watch him, but couldn't be discovered; couldn't say Fairy Cao asked him to watch; couldn't hit him himself; and had to protect him from being hit by others?

Why did this task sound so awkward?

However, his brain was simple, and he quickly found an explanation for himself: Fairy Cao was just kind-hearted, a bit curious about a fellow Junior Brother, and afraid he would get into trouble or be bullied, so she asked him, a capable person, to secretly look after him.

Yeah, that must be it!

This was testing his ability!

Thinking of this, Zhang Jiba immediately felt the task was glorious and great, slapped his chest with a loud sound, and smiled naively:

"Fairy Cao, don't worry! This matter is on me! I will definitely keep that brat... Oh no, I will keep Junior Brother Ye watched closely. If there is any movement, I will be the first to know, and I will absolutely not let anyone hurt him!"

Seeing Zhang Jiba's solemn guarantee, Cao Sini's Face revealed a satisfied and encouraging smile, but in her heart, she coldly said: A simple-minded fool, easy to trick indeed.

"Very good."

She nodded and continued to instruct: "If you discover Junior Brother Ye doing anything special, or encountering anything unusual, remember to tell me promptly."

"Definitely! Definitely!"

Zhang Jiba agreed hurriedly.

Cao Sini said nothing more, turned around, stepped elegantly onto her Flying Carpet, and turned into a stream of light as she flew away.

Zhang Jiba watched his goddess leave until she was out of sight, then excitedly rubbed his hands.

He jumped onto his mediocre-quality Flying Sword and wobbled towards the Outer Sect male Disciples' residential area, starting to execute his glorious and great surveillance mission.

His mind had already started fantasizing about Fairy Cao showing him a smiling Face after he perfectly completed the mission.

And even... scenes of other things.

Meanwhile, in a quiet corner of the trading fair.

Lu Guan leaned against a dilapidated stone wall with a gloomy Face, while Sharp Mouth and Monkey Cheeks stood before him, dejected.

"Trash! Two at Qi Refining Fifth Layer, made unable to step down by a kid at the Qi Refining Third Layer!"

Lu Guan cursed in a low voice, his folding fan creaking as he gripped it in his hand.

Sharp Mouth defended in a low voice: "Senior Brother Lu, that was because Fairy Cao suddenly arrived..."

"Cao Sini!"

A cold light flashed in Lu Guan's eyes, and he said: "This woman... sooner or later, I will let her know my power!"

He also vented his resentment towards Ye Xiaoyao onto Cao Sini.

Monkey Cheeks asked cautiously: "Senior Brother, what do we do now? That kid seems to have really latched onto the Saintess; should we still move against him?"

"Move! Of course we must move!"

Lu Guan said through gritted teeth: "The Saintess? Hmph, I don't think she values him that much; otherwise, why would she let him return to the Outer Sect alone? At most, he's just a little white face she threw away casually!"

"If I don't vent this anger today, how can I, Lu Guan, continue to mix in the Outer Sect?"

His eyeballs turned, and a sinister expression appeared on his Face: "If we can't do it openly, we'll do it secretly. Didn't he buy Medicinal Pills to Cultivate? When he goes into seclusion... we will do this..."

He lowered his voice and muttered to his two subordinates for a while.

Sharp Mouth and Monkey Cheeks listened, their Faces gradually revealing looks of realization and lewd smiles, nodding repeatedly.