The girl in front was as charming as a blooming peach. Her beautiful eyes flitted about as she propped her chin on her hand, looking devout.
Mu Qihan's breath caught. It was as if something had cut through the bustling passage of time, ripped through the fog, and crashed into his heart, churning ceaselessly within.
Nan Chaoyu had no idea that her words would have such a profound impact on Mu Qihan. She then resumed her lazy demeanor, reaching out to pick up a teacup and taking a sip.
"The tea here is excellent. You sure know how to pick a place. I've never had it before!"
Mu Qihan raised an eyebrow, looking slightly surprised. "You've grown up in Dream Sea City. How come you've never been here?"
"What's so strange about that? Do you think someone would take a fool out for tea?"
Mu Qihan suddenly remembered her background and immediately felt that he had overstepped. He murmured softly, "Sorry!"
Seeing his guilt - ridden expression, Nan Chaoyu couldn't help but curl the corner of her lips.
This man's personality had become much more likeable after losing his memory.
As this thought crossed her mind, she noticed that the look of sympathy on his face hadn't faded yet.
She waved her hand, smiling playfully. "There's no need to apologize. Whether I'm a fool or not, the most important thing is to stay alive."
Mu Qihan saw her expression and instantly realized his mistake.
The girl in front of him was the newly - crowned Grand Princess of Holy Light. If anyone should be pitied, it certainly wasn't her.
Thinking of this, he put on his cold and aloof expression again, straight - faced, and asked, "Why did you tamper with the formation on the Soul - Devouring Sea?"
"Of course, it's for Dream Sea City!"
Nan Chaoyu was quite curious about his ability to change expressions so quickly. She blinked her eyes.
She was really eager to know what kind of person was hidden beneath that cold facade.
Mu Qihan didn't believe her reason at all. A sarcastic smile appeared on his face. "You've almost completely embarrassed Lord Li. Now you're saying it's for Dream Sea City. Could it be that you have a love - hate relationship with the Xie family?"
Hearing this, Nan Chaoyu choked on a mouthful of tea and coughed violently. It took her a while to catch her breath. She said, half - laughing and half - crying, "Young Master Mu, if I were to fall in love with someone, that person could only be you!"
Mu Qihan's face stiffened. He glared at Nan Chaoyu.
Seeing his reaction, Nan Chaoyu finally felt a bit better. She said, "Back then, my mother entrusted me to Li the Second. Although Li the Second had his own motives and betrothed me to the Xie family, he protected me for more than a decade. If it weren't for those peaceful years, I would probably have vanished long ago."
Mu Qihan's heart skipped a beat. He didn't expect there to be such a story behind it.
He only knew that Lord Li of Dream Sea City came from the Holy Light Royal Family. He was the second son of the current Holy Light Emperor and had been sent to Dream Sea City to be the lord because he was out of favor.
He never thought that the girl in front of him had been entrusted to Lord Li by the Holy Light Queen.
Seeing Mu Qihan lost in thought, Nan Chaoyu decided to continue. "Li Yuejin's only wish in this life is to defend Dream Sea City. So I set my sights on the Secret Realm of the Soul - Devouring Sea. If this secret realm falls into the hands of Dream Sea City, along with those few travel passes to Holy Light, it should be enough to repay the favor."
Mu Qihan's eyes flashed. He thought she probably didn't understand the significance of that formation, so he didn't ask any further.
"Do you have any other questions?"
Nan Chaoyu waited for a while but didn't hear the next question. She leaned back lazily, putting her hands behind her head.
She seemed nonchalant, but her eyes never left the man opposite her.
Mu Qihan ignored her gaze. He sized up her sitting posture and raised an eyebrow. "Is this how the Holy Light Royal Family teaches you etiquette?"
"No, no, no!" Nan Chaoyu waved a finger at him. "I'm only a princess when I'm in the palace. Right now, in front of you, I'm just Nan Chaoyu."
"Moreover, this is just how I am. You'll have to get used to it sooner or later!"
"..." Mu Qihan was speechless at her shameless words. He couldn't get angry and could only keep a straight face.
He thought that asking this girl out today was really self - torture.
Nan Chaoyu was quite happy. Now that she could see Mu Qihan, she realized how precious a second - chance encounter could be.
The room fell silent for a moment. Nan Chaoyu was enjoying the view, and her unreserved gaze made Mu Qihan's expression start to crack.
He was a bit frustrated. Did this girl know what she was doing?
Was there anyone who stared at a man like this?
Just as he was about to say something, the sword on the table in front of Nan Chaoyu suddenly moved.
Then, the sword pierced through the window and rushed into the night.
Nan Chaoyu's expression changed. Without hesitation, she chased after it.
"Nan... Chaoyu!" Mu Qihan's words were left hanging in the air. The girl was nowhere to be seen.
*
The Mysterious Ice Sword was like a silver lightning bolt, tearing through the pitch - black night and rushing towards an alley outside the Lingfeng Teahouse.
Nan Chaoyu followed closely behind. She watched as the silver lightning bolt was about to strike a limping man.
The night was thick. If it weren't for the silver light around the Mysterious Ice Sword, she wouldn't have been able to make out the figure of the man in front.
Her heart skipped a beat. It wouldn't be good if an ordinary person was accidentally hurt. She opened her mouth to shout.
But the next second, the limping man turned around and struck out with a palm. The Mysterious Ice Sword was sent flying back.
Nan Chaoyu saw clearly that the palm strike had the power to destroy everything in its path and devour spiritual energy.
She immediately stepped out of the shadows and looked at the man opposite. She said with certainty, "A member of the Xie family!"
Xie Zhenming didn't expect that he would be chased just by passing by the Lingfeng Teahouse.
He was caught off - guard and his identity as a member of the Xie family was seen through.
But even if he tried to retreat now, it seemed that the girl opposite wouldn't let him go. So he calmly admitted, "I'm Xie Zhenming from the Xie family!"
Nan Chaoyu's eyes narrowed slightly. She looked at the man's left foot, which was lying limply on the ground.
She knew who this man was!
The third son of the Xie family, once the most outstanding genius of the Xie family, was hailed as the one most likely to break through the barrier of a high - level cultivator and reach a higher level.
But later, for some unknown reason, he injured his left foot and became a useless person.
Only then did Xie Zhenkai gradually rise to prominence and become the head of the Xie family.
But judging from his strike, the fact that he could repel the Mysterious Ice Sword with one palm showed that his skills were still there. He wasn't useless at all!
Nan Chaoyu retrieved the Mysterious Ice Sword and nodded at Xie Zhenming. "Third Master Xie, my sword was being impolite. It has disturbed you!"
Seeing that she had no intention of making things difficult for him, a look of surprise flashed across Xie Zhenming's pale face. "Your Highness is just going to let me go like this?"
"Third Master Xie, if you keep stalling, I can't guarantee what will happen."
Nan Chaoyu was a bit impatient. She turned around with her sword and walked away.
After taking two steps, she felt something was wrong.
The Mysterious Ice Sword was only sensitive to dangerous auras. Did that mean...
Nan Chaoyu quickly rushed back to the alley entrance. It was empty. The man who had been standing there just now was gone.