NOVPUB"Are you having fun back there?"
Yin Fei was a bit startled by his sudden question, her gaze flickering from his lips to his eyes as he spoke.
She blinked, then nodded silently in response, hiding her beautiful smile as if she was ashamed to be enjoying it so much.
"In that case, should we go faster?"
Unable to hide her smile this time, she nodded happily.
Xiao Fang smirked. "Hold on tight."
Without hesitation, Yin Fei wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her face against his back as he leaned forward. In the next moment, Xiao Hei surged forward with incredible speed, the wind whipping past them as Yin Fei screamed excitedly, her voice full of exhilaration.
After a minute of sprinting at full speed, Xiao Hei finally slowed down.
"How was that?" Xiao Fang asked, glancing back at her.
"Good!" she said happily, no longer concerned about hiding her pretty smile from him.
Xiao Fang couldn't help but admire her. Even among Dual Cultivators, Yin Fei's beauty was something exceptional. The way her eyes sparkled with excitement, the blush on her cheeks, the unguarded smile—it was captivating.
Catching him staring, Yin Fei's eyes met his, but she didn't shy away. She simply gazed back, her expression softening as if silently waiting for him to make the first move.
Xiao Fang cleared his throat and asked, "Would you like to try something different?"
Yin Fei tilted her head curiously. "Like what?"
Xiao Fang's eyes glimmered with mischief. "Do you trust me?"
Her brows furrowed slightly, but after a moment of hesitation, she nodded.
Without warning, Xiao Fang grabbed the collar of her robes and threw her forward with a controlled burst of strength.
[ Javelin ]
Yin Fei shrieked as she shot through the air like a meteor. Just as panic began to set in, she saw Xiao Fang on top of Xiao Hei blitzing past her from below.
[ Grip ]
The moment they passed her, she felt a pull—an invisible force tethering her to Xiao Fang, causing her to glide smoothly through the air like a kite, trailing behind him as Xiao Hei's speed continued to increase exponentially.
Wind rushed through her hair, the landscape whipping by in a blur. Her initial fear melted into pure exhilaration as she laughed, her voice carrying through the wind. For the first time in a long while, she felt utterly free.
"I'm flying!" Yin Fei shouted happily.
Seeing that, Xiao Hei became jealous.
{"Fang, I want to do that too."}
Without waiting for Xiao Fang to reply, Xiao Hei quickly transformed back into a girl, then jumped in the air.
Reacting quickly, Xiao Fang used [ Grip ] on Xiao Hei as well before running at an accelerating rate.
"Yay!! Yahoo~" Xiao Hei shouted playfully.
Yin Fei and Xiao Hei continued to maneuver in the air like that, feeling as if they were really flying at an incredible speed. Yin Fei couldn't believe how fast he was running; the world blurred beneath her feet, and she felt weightless.
Eventually, Xiao Fang reached his top speed, his pace steady and unyielding. As his momentum stabilized, Yin Fei and Xiao Hei drifted closer, practically floating back into his grasp. He caught them both with ease, their laughter still ringing as he slowed to a walk.
"Again, again!" Xiao Hei cheered with sparkling eyes.
"Again? You're going to wear me out," Xiao Fang chuckled.
"But it was so much fun, do it again!" she insisted, bouncing excitedly in his arms.
"You're too heavy. Fly on your own."
"Again, again, again!" she demanded, ignoring his complaint.
They bantered back and forth, Xiao Hei playfully pouting while Yin Fei simply watched with a quiet smile, her eyes softening. She hadn't realized it until now, but she was still cradled in Xiao Fang's arms alongside Xiao Hei. She didn't mind it. In fact, she found it comforting, as if being held by him was the most natural thing in the world.
When she finally caught his gaze, his words broke through her daze.
"Fei, would you like to do that again?" he asked
A blush crept up her cheeks, but she nodded. "Un, I would like that."
"Alright, get ready." Xiao Fang's eyes glimmered mischievously before he hurled them both back into the air.
For the rest of the day, they streaked across the landscape like shooting stars, Xiao Fang's power binding them to his speed. Laughter and playful shouts filled the air, echoing through the open plains as they glided and soared, their hair whipping wildly behind them.
As the sun began its descent, painting the sky in hues of orange and crimson, Yin Fei found herself looking at him differently. Each time he caught her after decelerating, her eyes would linger on him a little longer, holding a touch of longing she didn't fully understand. It wasn't the familiar craving of Dual Cultivation—it was deeper, warmer, and more genuine.
She enjoyed his company, his confidence, and his unrestrained spirit. She had left the Chaos Sect seeking freedom and growth, but now she found herself experiencing something else entirely. Something that felt a lot like love, or at least the beginnings of it. It was unfamiliar, raw, and a little terrifying, but she couldn't deny its presence.
For the first time in her life, she felt like she was falling. And it had nothing to do with the way Xiao Fang was throwing her through the air.
…
They eventually stopped at a nearby village to rest for the night. While booking their rooms, Yin Fei noticed Xiao Hei requesting just one room alongside Xiao Fang.
"Only one room? Will you two be sleeping together?" Yin Fei asked, her brows slightly raised.
"Yeah," Xiao Hei replied simply.
Xiao Fang glanced over at Yin Fei. "Would you like to join us?" he asked casually. 𝔫𝖔𝖛𝖕𝖚𝔟.𝖈𝖔𝔪
Yin Fei's heart skipped a beat, her cheeks warming slightly. "I... I wouldn't be intruding, would I?" she asked softly, her voice almost timid.
Xiao Fang gave her a curious look. "Of course not," Xiao Hei chimed in cheerfully. "You should join us."
A bit flustered but not wanting to seem hesitant, Yin Fei nodded. "In that case, I wouldn't mind sharing a room with the both of you."
Xiao Fang's eyes lingered on her for a moment, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. He couldn't shake the feeling that Yin Fei's behavior had been unusually reserved since they left the Chaos Sect.
'Why is she acting so inexperienced? I would've thought a Dual Cultivator would be far less restrained in this sort of thing,' he pondered.
After getting their rooms sorted, the three of them decided to find a place to eat. They shared a hearty meal, chatting lightly and enjoying the atmosphere of the bustling village. When they finished, Xiao Hei and Yin Fei decided to explore the night market, eager to see what treasures the vendors might have. Xiao Fang, however, returned to the tavern.
Instead of going straight to his room, Xiao Fang noticed a group of Elders playing chess on the first floor. He approached them, and with a respectful nod, he was invited to join.
It wasn't long before Xiao Fang's presence attracted attention. After a few consecutive wins, his table began to grow crowded. Spectators gathered, marveling at his methodical strategies and decisive victories. His moves were sharp and calculated, and he always ended the matches with overwhelming victories, crushing his opponent completely every time.
One of the Elders chuckled after losing his game. "Young man, it seems you show no mercy—not even to the elderly."
Xiao Fang smiled politely. "I believe playing my best is the greatest form of respect. I dare not underestimate a man with years of wisdom."
The old man pointed at him with a grin. "You're right, if you had slipped up even once, I would've shown you my fangs."
The surrounding spectators laughed, appreciating the Elder's spirit. Xiao Fang cupped his hands in respect, and the Elder mirrored the gesture before stepping aside to let the next challenger take his place.
Xiao Fang continued playing, his calm yet relentless strategy captivating the onlookers. He played as if each move was a test of will, a battle of wits that demanded absolute focus. It wasn't long before a small crowd had gathered, whispering about the young violet-eyed talent, both in strength and in mind.
From the balcony above, a young woman leaped gracefully to the floor, landing behind Xiao Fang with a confident smirk. She had been watching his games intently, studying his every move, convinced she had pinpointed the cracks in his strategy. What she didn't know was that Xiao Fang had noticed her observant gaze and intentionally made a few minor blunders during his matches with the elders, luring her into a false sense of confidence.
"Little MeiMei, do you really think you can take him?" one of the elderly onlookers chuckled from the side.
The young woman, her hair tied up in a ponytail, rubbed her nose smugly. "Just watch. If I lose, I'll even buy him a drink," she replied, brimming with confidence.
The elder shook his head with a grin. "Careful now. You might be good, but he's the best I've ever seen."
MeiMei only laughed lightly, her eyes still locked onto Xiao Fang. Even without exploiting the supposed weakness she thought she saw, she hadn't once believed she would lose to him while observing his matches.
"I already told you, if I lose, his drinks are on—" Her words trailed off the moment she got a proper look at his face.
Xiao Fang had been traveling without his blindfold for the past few days, almost forgetting he wasn't wearing it. His violet eyes glowed with a faint ethereal light, drawing her attention immediately.
MeiMei's confident expression wavered, replaced by a flicker of unease.
"You... your eyes are distracting," she muttered, almost to herself. Her gaze lingered for a moment longer before she snapped back to attention. "What did you say your name was?"
Taking out his blindfold, Xiao Fang tied it around his face as he replied,
"My name is Fang."
