Startled by the sudden voice, Hu Jia gasped, the teacup slipping straight from her fingers.
Before it could smash against the floor, a subtle surge of Dou Qi flickered, smoothly catching the teacup mid-air and lifting it back to safety.
"Tsk tsk. When did Jia Nan Academy's fearless Little Witch become so easily startled?"
Hu Jia snapped her head around to find Xiao Tian lounging nearby, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. She gave him a sharp glare.
"Don't you know sneaking up on people can scare them half to death?"
"You were staring blankly into space," Xiao Tian retorted, amused. "I've been sitting here for almost a full minute watching you cycle through half a dozen ridiculous facial expressions. What were you plotting? Cursing my name?"
Xiao Tian leaned in close, inspecting her with mock suspicion.
Looking at his handsome, sharp features so close to her own, Hu Jia felt her heart drop a beat. A fleeting flush of warmth crept up her neck, though she tried desperately to mask it.
"Stinky man, don't get so close!" She reached out and shoved his face away, her eyes darting nervously. As her palm brushed past his jaw, her fingers lingered for a fraction of a second longer than necessary.
Xiao Tian caught the subtle touch, but remembering her notorious past preferences, he assumed he was simply overthinking it.
"Tiger Girl, why is your face so red?" Xiao Tian gasped dramatically, feigning horror. "You weren't thinking of something inappropriate and scared yourself... into that, were you?"
Hearing the nickname Tiger Girl again, Hu Jia felt no annoyance this time—only a secret wave of relief.
When he had called her Little Witch moments ago, she had felt a strange pang of disappointment; that was just a title outsiders used out of fear. But Tiger Girl was a nickname unique to the two of them. Hearing it again made her feel as though their bond hadn't drifted apart despite his elevated status or the time they had spent separated.
"Go away! I wasn't!" Hu Jia huffed, her mind catching his crude insinuation. "Wipe away those dirty thoughts!"
"I was asking if you were scared to the point of wetting yourself. What on earth were you thinking?" Xiao Tian raised an eyebrow in mock scandal, his face practically spelling out, I can't believe your mind went there.
"Get lost, or I'll bite you so hard you won't be able to take care of yourself!" Hu Jia gnashed her small tiger teeth, glaring at him fiercely.
"Oh, I'm trembling with fear~" Xiao Tian chuckled, reaching out to lightly pinch her flushed cheek.
Before Hu Jia could blow a fuse, Xiao Tian casually changed the subject: "How did your grandfather actually agree to let you join my palace? Knowing him, he'd usually insist you stay at the Academy to take over his position eventually."
Hu Jia froze for a fraction of a second, but quickly recovered her composure. "Grandfather was the one who suggested it," she lied smoothly, affecting an air of indifference. "He said I'd grow much faster here. Plus, I took a liking to your massive stockpile of cultivation resources, so here I am."
In truth, she had spent days badgering her grandfather, employing every stubborn tactic in the book until he finally relented. Nor had she come merely for the resources.
Still, the Boundless Heaven Divine Palace's wealth was undeniable. Xiao Tian had given her unrestricted access to the Pavilion of Hidden Scrolls. Even so, she currently cultivated a High-Tier Earth-rank Qi method and had only selected a single Mid-Tier Earth-rank Dou Technique. She understood the golden rule of cultivation: quality over quantity. Anything higher would only drain her dry; even now, casting a Mid-Tier Earth-rank technique nearly exhausted her reserves.
"Fair enough. Use whatever resources you need," Xiao Tian said casually. "After all, you were one of my earliest allies, so consider yourself a core investor."
Hu Jia shot him a suspicious glance. Why does the word 'investor' sound so suspicious coming out of his mouth?
"Don't worry, I won't be polite," she huffed, putting on a show of indignation. "You're always finding ways to irritate me anyway. Just wait—I'll drain your vaults dry!"
Xiao Tian fought back a smile. She was as stubbornly prideful as ever.
In reality, he had already read the regular reports on her performance. Since joining, Hu Jia had been one of the most dedicated workers in the entire organization. Despite having open permission to draw vast amounts of pills and materials, she never took more than she earned. Through sheer grit and talent, she had rightfully earned her position as a respected Elder within the Divine Palace.
"Alright, jokes aside—if you ever run into trouble, just tell me. Did you come by today for something specific?"
"What, am I not allowed to drop by unless I have business?" she shot back.
"You? Dropping by just to chat?" Xiao Tian scoffed playfully. "I told you ages ago you were welcome anytime, yet you haven't shown your face once until today. Do you even believe your own excuse?"
"Uh... well, I've just been busy!" Hu Jia laughed sheepishly.
"Suit yourself. Just don't push yourself too hard. You should hang out with Meng Meng and Ling Ling sometime; they love having extra company." Xiao Tian studied her face, feeling a strange sense of faint familiarity he couldn't quite place, though he couldn't recall what he was forgetting.
"Right. Actually, I came today to deliver a report to Vice Palace Master Yun Yun."
Mentioning Yun Yun brought a sudden pang of envy to Hu Jia's heart. Recalling the stunning beauty of Yun Yun and the other women in Xiao Tian's inner circle, she inwardly cursed him: Absolute lecher. Every single one of his wives is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty that most men would never see in a lifetime, yet he has a whole collection.
"Oh? Then why come to my main hall first?" Xiao Tian asked, tilting his head.
"I... I don't have her sound transmission stone," Hu Jia stammered, her gaze shifting. "So I came to use yours to reach her."
"Why didn't you just ask the guards at the gate or come straight through? I gave strict orders that you have full access."
"I saw how busy the guards were, so I didn't want to bother them," Hu Jia said, her eyes flickering nervously. Truthfully, she hadn't bothered asking the guards because she simply wanted an excuse to see him first.
"Make sure you exchange transmission stones with her today to make things easier," Xiao Tian said smoothly. "And next time, just come right in. Xiao Yu drops by all the time."
Noticing her slightly flustered demeanor, Xiao Tian's smile faded slightly into concern. "Did someone in the palace give you a hard time?"
"No! Not at all!" Hu Jia shook her head hastily, panicked that he might misinterpret things. "I used the token you gave me to walk straight in, and then I just... forgot to ask."
"Good. If anyone ever gives you trouble, let me know immediately. You're one of my people; I won't have anyone bullying you on my watch. It'd make me look bad as the boss."
Xiao Tian pulled out a transmission stone, sent a quick message to Yun Yun, and then picked up a spiritual fruit from the table, tossing one to Hu Jia while taking a bite of another.
"Don't be so stiff around here. I don't care for rigid formality. Just be yourself, like back at the Academy."
Hu Jia caught the spiritual fruit, holding the cool, fragrant fruit in her hands as she stared at it in a daze.
"Snap out of it," Xiao Tian chuckled, waving a hand in front of her eyes. "It's just a spirit fruit. It's not like you've never had high-grade treasures before."
"I wasn't staring because I've never had one!" Hu Jia snapped defensively, taking a large, vindictive bite out of the fruit.
"Is that so? Well, there's definitely one thing you've never tasted before," Xiao Tian remarked with a meaningful, teasing smirk.
Before Hu Jia could throw the rest of her fruit at his head, the grand doors opened, and Yun Yun, having received the transmission, stepped gracefully into the hall.