"Is your name Shi Yue?" Xia Tian's inquiry hung in the air, his gaze tracing Shi Yue's form from head to toe, a newfound intrigue lighting up his eyes.

In the backdrop, both Xu Qing and Selene exchanged knowing glances, the fate of the unsuspecting girl seeming already sealed in their minds.

'The poor girl is already caught in his scheming,' Xu Qing thought, a resigned sigh echoing within her.

Selene's heart echoed the sentiment, 'One more innocent flower is about to be plucked,' she mused, a touch of sadness tugging at her features.

Shi Yue, her soul unaware of the approaching storm, nodded in response to Xia Tian's question. Yet, beneath the surface, a subtle unease stirred within her, casting a shadow over even her faint smile.

In a sudden twist of motion, Xia Tian's focus shifted to Selene, his narrowed eyes fixed upon her. "Hey, how dare you deceive me?" His voice was laced with a barely-contained intensity.

Taken aback, Selene's initial impulse was to retreat, but the intensity of his gaze sent a shiver down her spine. She promptly prostrated herself before him, desperation threading through her voice. "Darling, I am truly sorry! But please, first enlighten me—what exact lie are you accusing me of?"

.....

The sudden shift in events left Shi Yue gaping, her mouth open in astonishment as she observed Selene's abrupt transformation into a submissive figure.

'What has come over Master?' Shi Yue questioned, even her wildest dreams failing to prepare her for the unfolding scenario that was playing out before her very eyes.

Meanwhile, Xu Qing's expression contorted, her brows furrowing as she realized that Selene was issuing apologies without truly comprehending the nature of her alleged transgressions.

'Indeed, it's all his influence,' Xu Qing mused inwardly, her gaze shifting towards Xia Tian. She noticed that women, regardless of their status, seemed to adopt a peculiar attitude around him—a survival tactic, perhaps, in this man's presence.

Xia Tian cleared his throat, a gesture that seemed to command the room's attention. "You claimed she was on par with Ye Qingyue, yet she far surpasses her. Wasn't it you who was lying?" he posed, his voice measured and composed.

"What!?" Selene's reaction was swift, her expression a mixture of complexity as she grappled with the truth of her own words.

Seizing the moment to her advantage, she implored, "Darling, now that you're content, may I take my leave?"

"Yeah, go ahead," Xia Tian waved her off dismissively, his attention now irresistibly drawn to Shi Yue. Her eyes, shimmering like a constellation of captivating stars, held his fascination, prompting him to peer into her features with renewed intrigue.

.....

"Come here," he commanded, his voice a directive that held an air of authority.

Shi Yue hesitated for a fleeting moment before stepping forward, her gaze locking onto his with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty.

But in an unexpected twist, Xia Tian's motion was swift as he pulled her towards him. His hands wrapped around her supple waist, the contact eliciting a tremor in Shi Yue's gaze. *Whoosh.* In a matter of seconds, she managed to slip from his grasp, her eyes wide with surprise.

"What!?" Her astonishment reverberated through the air, and her gaze flickered towards Selene, a feeling of betrayal coloring her features. The person she had considered closest seemed to have orchestrated this situation.

In response, Selene offered a somewhat awkward smile, revealing a row of teeth. 'Disciple, now the task of capturing his interest rests upon you,' her expression seemed to convey, as her form gradually dissipated into thin air, leaving Shi Yue in a stunned state of disbelief.

"She lied to me!" A gasp of realization escaped Shi Yue's lips, her demeanor marked by a faint pout of anger.
.....

"What did she say to you?" Xia Tian asked, his curiosity piqued as he leaned in, not really caring about how Selene had managed to deceive this girl.

"S-she said that we are going to meet her master," Shi Yue stuttered, her voice shaky with nervousness. "And Qingyue made the terrible mistake of disrespecting you by not recognizing you earlier... she warned me for the same... a-and..."

"And she tricked you here?" Xia Tian's laughter bubbled up, causing him to chuckle with amusement.

Shi Yue pressed her lips together, her expression turning into a pout as she nodded, her eyes filled with a mixture of hurt and resentment.

"Haha!" Xia Tian's laughter echoed throughout the air, resonating with unabashed mirth.

However, instead of finding solace in his amusement, Shi Yue's frustration grew and she retorted, "Can you please stop laughing? I am hurt!" Her voice, although upset, had a hint of cuteness to it, a stark contrast to her earlier dignified demeanor.

Yet, Xia Tian's interest only intensified.

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he slowly approached Shi Yue, his steps brimming with playfulness.

"Huh!"

Shi Yue's panic instantly consumed her as she whipped around, turning on her heel, and began quickening her pace, desperate to create distance between them.

.....

"D-don't come any closer!" Shi Yue's voice wavered, a mixture of anxiety and protest.

"Why not?" Xia Tian's response was laced with a teasing note as he picked up his pace.

Shi Yue blurted out, "You touched me inappropriately before!"

"This time, I'll touch you appropriately," Xia Tian countered with a playful tone.

"I don't believe you!" Shi Yue exclaimed, her disbelief propelling her into a run as she saw him closing in on her.

Xia Tian continued the chase, his laughter trailing behind him. "You don't believe your own master's master?"

Shi Yue's face now full of disbelief, she didn't knew whether to laugh or cry anymore, speechless at his reasoning. "Y-You... a master would never molest their own disciple!"

Xia Tian's laughter persisted, his steps unyielding as he chased her. "My rules are different."

Shi Yue let out a sigh, her emotions a tumultuous mix. "I was right, you just want to molest me!"

Suddenly, a determination filled her, and she looked up to the sky. Her voice rang out, "Master, return my cultivation now!"

Yet, what met her gaze was an arrangement of clouds that seemed to form a smiling face, almost as if it were mocking her plight. She felt as though her own circumstances were being laughed at as she engaged in this cat-and-mouse game with Xia Tian.

Shi Yue can no longer feel the strength in her body — her cultivation completely sucked away!

No other than her master can do that!

She was betrayed once more!

She was forced to run like a little girl escaping from her molester today!

....

Xu Qing found herself suppressing a small smile at the sight before her—Xia Tian laughing heartily like a madman, while Shi Yue's fleeing cries sounded more like a little girl protests than genuine distress.

Realizing the need to prevent the disturbance from spreading, she discreetly used her abilities to lull the curious onlookers back to sleep, ensuring that the whimsical game remained undisturbed.

It was evident that Xia Tian was thoroughly enjoying bullying her, relishing the role of the pursuer and the tormentor.

If someone were to disturb him, who knows this whimsical old fox, might start to exact his revenge against Xu Qing, for not preventing such situation prematurely.

As Shi Yue continued to flee, Xu Qing's keen observation caught the mounting panic in her expression.

Shi Yue's grip on her dress tightened, and she leaped off the bridge, landing gracefully on the verdant grass by the lakeside.

Xia Tian followed in swift pursuit, the chase far from over.

Amid the game, a sudden question surfaced in Xia Tian's mind, interrupting the situation. "Why are you so insistent on me not touching you?" He inquired, his tone a mix of curiosity and confusion.

After all, despite the ongoing cat and mouse game, Shi Yue had shown no qualms about talking with him.nOvεlusb.com

So, why was the notion of his touch so vehemently resisted by her?

.....

As Xia Tian finally came to a stop, Shi Yue let out a relieved sigh and positioned herself at a cautious distance from him. She decided to disclose the underlying reason behind her peculiar behavior, her expression a swirl of complicated emotions.

"My destiny is not intertwined with yours," she admitted, the weight of her confession apparent in her voice.

Xia Tian's brow furrowed in confusion. "Your destiny?" he contemplated, realization dawning. "Ah, right. You are a diviner."

Shi Yue's eyes trembled as she mustered her words. "If you already know, why are you persisting in this manner?" She couldn't help but feel that Xia Tian derived immense pleasure from teasing and bullying others.

Unbeknownst to her, compared to the other women Xia Tian had encountered, her interaction with him was actually relatively peaceful.

Xia Tian couldn't help but chuckle at her response. "You're quite gullible, aren't you, girl?"

Shi Yue's frustration mounted. "What do you mean? Are you belittling me?"

Xia Tian shook his head, a hint of pity in his gaze. "I'm saying, not just your master— even destiny has tricked you."

"What?" Shi Yue stared at him in disbelief. "I don't believe you!"

Xia Tian's laughter rang out, his tone light. "Then don't believe me."

With gritted teeth, Shi Yue held back her emotions. If not for her cultivated composure, she might have been tempted to give him a piece of her mind.