Xia He wasn't unaware of the meaning behind Hikaru Uchiha's words. She was simply pretending not to understand, trying to escape the sudden shift in her reality.
But Hikaru had no intention of giving her that chance.
He gently lifted Xia He's chin, forcing her to meet his eyes—those eyes that seemed to peer directly into the depths of her soul.
"From this day forward, you're my woman. I'll protect you, but in return… you'll obey me."
His voice was low and commanding, every syllable branding itself into Xia He's heart.
Gone was the flirtatious, sultry woman from before. In this moment, she looked like a bashful maiden—cheeks flushed, heart thudding like a war drum.
Still, despite the storm within, Xia He forced herself to stay composed.
Her ability gave her great experience. She wasn't the type to expose her emotions so easily.
So, after a beat of silence, she feigned defiance to mask her excitement.
She pulled a few hundred ryō from her shirt and tossed them toward Hikaru.
"Here, take the money and just… ah!"
Before she could finish, Hikaru yanked her straight into his arms.
He stared at her faux-calm expression and couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
"If big sis insists on showing me something I've never experienced… then let me return the favor."
His gaze dropped to her delicate, petite feet. No further words were needed.
…
Afterward, Hikaru brought Xia He back to Zhang Chulan's residence.
Feng Baobao didn't react much. Romance wasn't really something she understood. Her expression remained as innocent as ever.
But Zhang Chulan nearly popped his eyes out of their sockets.
He never expected that Xia He—the woman known for her Bone-Cleaving Blade—would be so thoroughly subdued.
Seeing her clinging to Hikaru's arm like a docile bird, Zhang Chulan could only sigh inwardly.
Meanwhile, the Quan Xing faction had received word: their base had been raided, Lü Liang lost an arm, and Xia He had been taken.
They were furious.
But with the Trinity Gate Gathering about to begin, there was no time to deal with these "minor issues."
As for their plans being leaked? They weren't worried.
They'd never planned to keep anything secret. The more chaos they stirred, the better it served Gong Qing's goal.
And so, under the eyes of countless spectators, the Trinity Gate Gathering began as scheduled.
Hikaru arrived at the grand venue with Xia He, Feng Baobao, and Zhang Chulan—following Xu San.
Unlike the original world, where "異人" had their own small circle, in this realm, every individual was a cultivator.
That difference brought an overwhelming crowd to this gathering.
Mount Dragon-Tiger was packed—buzzing with noise and energy.
There were those who came for the spectacle, some with ulterior motives, and others genuinely seeking to test their skills.
They gathered together to witness this momentous event.
To filter the participants, the organizers of Mount Dragon-Tiger set up a formation that enveloped the entire mountain.
Anyone weak in cultivation or impure of heart would be stopped before reaching the peak.
The formation could only be used once—but once was enough to eliminate 99% of hopefuls.
Naturally, Hikaru's group passed through unimpeded, reaching the summit with ease.
The mountaintop was bustling—vendors hawking wares, cultivators milling about.
Even though Mount Dragon-Tiger was a sacred place for cultivation, not everyone here sought the path of immortality.
As such, worldly goods and distractions were still common.
Just like in the original world, Feng Baobao was lured by the cry of an old monk.
She curiously approached and offered her hand for palm reading.
The monk examined it carefully, then exclaimed:
"A true celestial aspect! Wealth, longevity, prosperity—your blessings are unmatched!"
Feng Baobao nodded solemnly. "You're spot on, big monk. I can't do much, but I sure can live."
The old monk was thrilled.
He rose and pulled a red string of beads from his robes, whispering mysteriously:
"This is the Crimson Glass Bead Strand, forged from the core of a fire qilin after 80,000 rounds of battle with my master's master. You and I were destined to meet. Take it home—for just 998 ryō!"
Feng Baobao's eyes lit up. "Whoa!! That sounds amazing—I want it!"
But just then, a crack of thunder fell from the sky, striking the monk squarely on the head.
The monk crumpled to the ground with a sizzle.
Thankfully, he was bald. Otherwise, he'd be sporting a literal explosion on his scalp.
A middle-aged Taoist stepped forward, smiling faintly as he muttered:
"Selling Buddhist trinkets on Taoist land? You've got guts, trying that in front of me, Zhang Zhiwei. Go sell your beads at the base of the mountain next time."
Laughter erupted all around.
The monk scrambled away in embarrassment.
Feng Baobao looked after him, clearly disappointed. She'd really wanted those beads.
Zhang Chulan, however, had gone pale.
Zhang Zhiwei—that name struck him like lightning.
By his knowledge, Zhang Zhiwei was well over a hundred years old. But the man before them looked no older than forty.
The disconnect made his head spin.
As he tried to make sense of it, Zhang Zhiwei strolled toward them.
He looked Zhang Chulan up and down and smiled warmly.
"All these years, and the brat of that big-eared thief's finally grown up. That rascal always loved hiding… looks like his grandson inherited that trait."
Zhang Chulan's heart trembled like a stormy sea.
He stammered, "Y-you're… the Old Celestial Master?"
Zhang Zhiwei nodded. His voice held both age and power.
"Time's flown. You've had your share of hardship, haven't you?"