The persistent old fox continued his teasing, engaging Shi Yue in battle of words until her cool demeanor finally crumbled.

With anger etched across her features, she closed the distance between them and made her declaration.

"I-I am beating you today!" she proclaimed, determination blazing in her eyes as she charged towards him, her fist poised to strike.

The audacity of his shameless words had pushed her too far. The boundaries of her patience had been breached, and she was ready to make him pay for it.

However, the old fox was quick to react, his laughter only fueling her determination. He caught her fist mid-air, preventing her blow from landing.

"You might want to think twice before trying something like this again," he advised, his laughter persisting.

Though his demeanor remained light and carefree, his words carried a unique weight that sent a shiver down Shi Yue's spine.

For a fleeting moment, she felt as if she had glimpsed beyond his facade, catching a glimpse of his true nature hidden beneath.

The sensation faded almost as quickly as it came, leaving her to dismiss it as a mere illusion. She struggled to free her hands from his firm grip, urgently reiterating her plea. "Please, don't touch me. My Destiny has already been decided—it's not with you!"

Xia Tian's laughter persisted, his amusement unshaken. "Destiny? She can go fuck herself."

While Shi Yue had unknowingly stepped towards danger, Xia Tian's underlying motive for stopping her was simple—he remained the same old fox, he was protecting her from the consequences of her own actions.

His playful manner only extended to her because he recognized her, and no one, woman or man, was worthy enough to strike him—even playfully.

Thus, he intervened to protect her from herself, ensuring that her impulsive action didn't lead to ceasation of her existence.

"Y-You... are insane!" Shi Yue's mind momentarily froze when she heard Xia Tian openly curse Destiny.

The old fox gave her a sly smile, his laughter ringing through the air as he took advantage of her momentary lapse. He pulled her closer, his grip strong, "You Diviners can catch glimpses of the future, can't you?" he suddenly inquired, causing Shi Yue to nod instinctively, feeling the pressure of the situation.

Only when she realized she was once again ensnared in his grasp did she start struggling to break free.

Amused by her futile efforts, Xia Tian continued, "If you can foresee the future, why didn't you anticipate this situation?" he questioned.

"We can't alter the future, even if we..." Shi Yue's voice trailed off abruptly as a realization struck her. Her gaze locked onto Xia Tian, her expression a mixture of shock and dawning comprehension.

Indeed, the realization was dawning on Shi Yue that her visions, while glimpses into the future, were not always the complete picture.

Diviners were considered agents of Destiny, bound to carry out its will, which meant that even if they had foreseen a situation, they would follow the script as it was written.

They could manipulate, pretend, and react to events as if they were unforeseen, all while secretly knowing what was to come.
The manipulative nature of diviners allowed them to play their roles seamlessly, ensuring that even those around them remained unaware of their true understanding of events.

While their visions provided a snapshot of the future, they often omitted details deemed less important.

Yet, here stood Shi Yue, confronted by a situation that had never appeared in her visions. Her mind raced to understand why she had failed to foresee this encounter with Xia Tian.

Could it be that this situation was more significant than she had initially thought? Had Destiny purposefully kept it hidden from her, its agent, to allow her to experience it with fresh eyes?

As she pondered these questions, Shi Yue's struggle against Xia Tian's grip lessened, her mind preoccupied by the revelations that were unfolding before her. Her eyes, once defiant and angered, now held a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty.

As Xia Tian burst into laughter at her own moment of folly, a surge of indignation welled up within her. Clenching her teeth, she stood there in silence, a mix of frustration and wonder brewing inside her. How could Selene endure the company of someone so exasperating?

Unbeknownst to her, Xia Tian held fast to the belief that finding joy in others' misfortunes was a valid philosophy of life.

In a sudden, unexpected move, he clasped her hand, his voice resolute as he declared, "Let's go and meet your destiny."

Shi Yue's eyes flickered with a complex array of emotions, a array of thoughts crossing her mind. This time, she surrendered the futile struggle of freeing her hand from his grip, a surrender borne out of prior failed attempts.n0veLusb.c0m

Then, almost out of nowhere, a smile illuminated her face. It was as though newfound strength coursed through her veins.

With a furtive glance at Xia Tian's countenance, complex feelings roiling within her, she brushed it aside as he urged, "Open the portal already!"

Though Shi Yue couldn't decipher the reasons, an inexplicable compulsion led her to follow him, exhaling a deep breath as if this choice might, finally, grant her solace from his persistent presence.

________

In the heart of Shanling, the capital city of the southern continent within the sacred sky jade realm, Yang Kai, a Cultivator adorned with short black hair, savored the tranquil moment.

Yet, his reverie was abruptly shattered when something plummeted from above, landing squarely on his head.

*Splat!*

"Huh?"

Yang Kai's brow furrowed, and he hesitantly extended his hand to his head. His fingertips encountered a slightly slimy substance, prompting an instantaneous contortion of his face.

Seated right beside him, Shen Qiao could no longer suppress her amusement. "Seems even the birds have taken a dislike to you!"

Yang Kai's expression grew even more contorted, but then he broke into a grin. "Who needs birds when I've got you?" he quipped, lunging for Shen Qiao's hand. However, she deftly evaded his grasp, playfully admonishing, "Not so fast, you little rascal."

Rising to her feet, Shen Qiao maintained a slight distance, her gaze fixed teasingly on him as if daring him to give chase.

Gritting his teeth, Yang Kai's determination solidified. "I'll become stronger than you, just wait. Then we'll see how you manage to slip away!"

And so, amidst the backdrop of Shanling's heart, a playful exchange unfolded between two souls intertwined by fate. from him looking at him teasingly as if daring to chase her.

Yang Kai gritted his teeth, "Let me become stronger than you, then I would see how you would escape!"

Shen Qiao let out a soft chuckle. "Time will reveal the truth."

Yang Kai's frustration simmered within him. Shen Qiao was infamous for her enigmatic responses. Sighing in defeat, he shifted his attention to Shen Qiao's younger sister, Song Liqin.

With a glimmer of hope in his eyes, he addressed her, "Liqin, you won't turn me down like your sister, will you?" He extended his hands toward the other woman.

Song Liqin's faint smile sent a flutter through Yang Kai's heart, but his hopes were dashed as she rose to her feet. "We've had this discussion before. Until you convince my father to dissolve the engagement with the northern empire, we won't be at your beck and call." Gracefully evading his advance, she mirrored her sister's actions, eliciting a laugh from Shen Qiao at Yang Kai's crestfallen expression.

"Are you absolutely certain this bastard is the one from your vision?" Xia Tian's voice sounded from the concealed figure, suspended in the sky beside Shi Yue.

With a hesistant nod, Shi Yue affirmed, "Yes."

Despite knowing that Destiny itself lacked self-preservation, Xia Tian couldn't help but feel an overwhelming urge to give her a good lesson.

"He's resembling a bald peacock," Xia Tian's gaze remained fixed on Yang Kai, prompting a slight twitch of amusement from Shi Yue's lips as she fought back a laugh.

"Tell me more about him," Xia Tian inquired of Shi Yue.

Observing him suspiciously, Shi Yue hesitated. "... I can't divulge his fate. Don't you already know—"

"Idiot, I mean his past!" Xia Tian interjected, delivering a gentle flick to her head.

"Ah!"

In response to the flick, Shi Yue's expression shifted abruptly. She instinctively cradled her head, rubbing it cutely as if on the verge of tears.

Being reprimanded by him left her feeling a strange mix of resentment and hurt; even her own mother had never scolded her in such a manner.

Witnessing her simmering discontent, Xia Tian's glare matched the intensity of her emotion. "I'll drop you to the ground if you don't start talking within the next ten seconds!"

Internally, Shi Yue protested, 'You can't just toss people around for such ridiculous reasons!' Frustration churned within her mind as she grappled with the seemingly nonsensical way Xia Tian communicated.

Would he genuinely cast her aside over something like this?

Did he truly believe she couldn't navigate the skies on her own?

.

.

.

A/N: The updates would temporarily freeze for next 10 days, read my other novels during this period!

Thank you for your patience and continuous support!