In front of Mo Bai's incredulous eyes, Yan Ruyu kissed Zhao Shuning on the lips.
Mo Bai was stunned on the spot at that very moment.
The medicine basket in his other hand dropped to the ground.
Scattered medicinal herbs spilled out.
Zhao Shuning was also a bit dazed by Yan Ruyu's sudden kiss.
Previously, when there was no one else around, she could be more relaxed. But this time, with Mo Bai watching, her master just kissed her like this.
Somehow, although she felt a little flattered in her heart, she still felt a bit uncomfortable.
She gently pushed Yan Ruyu away.
Shyly, she said, "Master—"
Yan Ruyu softly replied with an "En".
But this sound was so gentle, and his voice was so nice. As soon as Zhao Shuning heard her master's soft voice, the words on her lips just couldn't come out.
But at this moment, Mo Bai's eyes turned red.
He suddenly rushed forward and grabbed the green robe in front of Yan Ruyu.
But Yan Ruyu just dodged lightly, making Mo Bai's hand just brush past him as he tried to grab him.
"Mo Bai, why are you getting violent?"
Zhao Shuning quickly shouted.
But at this moment, Mo Bai's eyes were already red.
There was only anger in his eyes.
His gaze was fixed directly on Yan Ruyu beside Zhao Shuning.
The man in the green robe had no expression on his face, but his hand was on Zhao Shuning's waist.
What made Mo Bai even angrier was that Zhao Shuning didn't seem to show any sign of refusal to Yan Ruyu's actions.
"I'm going to kill you."
Mo Bai roared and rushed forward again.
Zhao Shuning was obviously angry at this time. Mo Bai was being reckless. No matter what she said, Mo Bai didn't answer her.
Zhao Shuning suddenly stood in front of Yan Ruyu.
At this moment, there was finally a hint of nervousness on Yan Ruyu's face.
Mo Bai was clenching his fists tightly at this moment. Seeing that Ning'er was defenseless, if this punch landed on Ning'er, the injury would surely be severe.
Yan Ruyu quickly reached out his hand, intending to pull Zhao Shuning to one side.
But at this moment, Mo Bai stopped abruptly, even at the cost of being backlashed by his own internal energy.
The next moment, due to the impact of his own internal energy, Mo Bai's body flew backward heavily.
Zhao Shuning gasped.
She quickly stepped forward and grabbed Mo Bai's hand when his body was about to hit the ground, pulling him back.
The two landed at the same time.
Mo Bai's eyes were still filled with grief.
There was a soft cough from behind.
Zhao Shuning quickly let go of her hand.
Seeing Ningning's attitude towards him, Mo Bai felt bitter in his heart.
He could only stare blankly at Zhao Shuning's retracted hands, a surge of sourness welling up in his heart.
Why?
Why could that Yan Ruyu receive such preferential treatment from Ningning?
Why couldn't he even touch Ningning's hand?
Ningning wasn't like this before.
Mo Bai steadied his body.
"Why?"
He spoke up.
Looking at Zhao Shuning.
Yan Ruyu stepped forward and said, "Mo Bai, Ning'er and I are not just master and disciple."
But Mo Bai seemed not to hear Yan Ruyu's words.
He just stared fixedly at Zhao Shuning.
He asked again, "I want to know why? Ning'er, tell me."
Zhao Shuning took a deep breath.
Then she said, "Mo Bai, Master and I are just as you think."
"But? But you two are master and disciple!"
"So what if we're master and disciple? I didn't have any improper thoughts about her before Ning'er came of age."
There was a hint less of hatred in Mo Bai's eyes. He hadn't touched Ning'er? That was indeed a good thing for him at present.
"Mo Bai, I don't know why you're so excited. Even if I'm with Master, what does it matter to you? As my friend, shouldn't you be happy for me?"
Friend?
There was a hint of doting smile on Yan Ruyu's face as he looked at Ning'er.
This little girl, didn't she know that the man in front of her not only liked her but also had a terribly paranoid kind of love?
"Ning'er, you know that I don't just regard you as a friend."
"But I only regard you as a friend."
"I don't want this, Ning'er. I don't want it. What's so good about him? What can he give you? He'll just abandon you countless times for the common people in the world. Where was he when you were injured before? Where was he when you were besieged by the four great families? He's the thousand - year imperial master Yan Ruyu, the founding ancestor, the god worshipped by the people on the Nine - Province Continent. A god's greatest love is for his people. He can't love you like I do, with my whole heart dedicated to you."
Zhao Shuning frowned.
Yan Ruyu also sensed something wrong in Mo Bai's words.
"Mo Bai, you just said that the four great families besieged me? How do you...?"
Hearing Zhao Shuning's question, Mo Bai came back to his senses.
What had he just said?
"I'm talking about the Wang and Lin families among the four great families. Didn't you tell me about the conflict with them before?"
Zhao Shuning nodded slightly.
She hoped she was overthinking. She thought Mo Bai might have known that she was Ye Ling.
"Ning'er, in short, you just can't be with him. Whatever he can give you, I can give you too."
But Zhao Shuning shook her head.
"Ning'er?"
"Mo Bai, I've overlooked one thing. You're already a grown man, and you have powerful internal energy. You're no longer the little fool Mo Bai who used to follow me. I shouldn't have regarded you as the old Mo Bai. You can go."
"Ning'er, you're driving me away?"
"It's not that I'm driving you away. It's just that with your current emotional state, it's hard for me to keep you by my side. If you hadn't said these things today, maybe we could still get along like friends. But now that you've said them, I won't let you stay anymore, because there's no place for you in my heart. From beginning to end, the one I like is only my master."
Mo Bai's heart skipped a beat, and his feet felt unsteady.
He almost lost his balance and fell to the ground.
"Ning'er, I, I can give you anything. Please, don't treat me like this, okay?"
Zhao Shuning's second shake of the head made Mo Bai's heart full of wounds.
"Mo Bai, what you can give isn't what I want."
"Is it because of him? Ning'er, do you know about the dirty things between him and Luo Qiu? He won't treat you sincerely. He—"
"Mo Bai! Have you said enough!"
Mo Bai shut up, and there was no more hope in his eyes.
There was a hint of pleading in his eyes.
"Ning'er, I know I was wrong. Please, don't drive me away. I came back this time just to find you. As long as you let me follow you, I won't bring this up again in the future, okay?"
"Mo Bai, it's good for both of us if you leave now. I can't give you a future, and I definitely can't watch you get deeper and deeper involved with me."
Mo Bai felt dejected. Was it still too late to withdraw now?
But I've already fallen deeply in love.
"After all, it's because I'm not the thousand - year imperial master. I don't have his abilities. I can't protect you well, right?"