Chapter 280 Vying with Him for a WomanHua Qiyue heard her. She turned around instantly and dashed out. She saw at the bottom of the stairs a man in teal robe climbing up. The man raised his head. His familiar face made Hua Qiyue and Ji Jing cried out in astonishment.

Ji Jing had wanted to go out for a walk. The moment she came to the corridor, she saw a man climbing the stairs, greatly resembling Xuanji.

She did not expect it to be really him!

It had been almost a year. He had finally returned. Xuanji smiled and nodded. “Qiyue, I’m back.”

They had not seen each other for almost a year. Xuanji had lost much weight. His somewhat fleshy face had become long and thin. But it could not disguise his handsome features.

Hua Qiyue was at a loss for words. She was extremely agitated. Ji Feng and Bai Qianxue also came out following his voice. Both of them were smiling.

“Haha, Brother Xuan, you’re finally back! We’ve waited a long time for you!” Bai Qianxue walked over and patted Xuanji’s shoulder.

Ji Feng also smiled gently. “That’s right. Brother Xuan, it’s been quite a while. How are you?”

They had temporarily forgotten why Xuanji was sent away. Xuanji gave a quiet smile. He seemed to bear them no grudge.

Caining and Caiqing also came out. When they saw the handsome Xuanji, a strange glitter flitted across their eyes.

Princess Qianyang was behind Bingyi and she stared at Xuanji curiously. “Hmmm, this priest looks familiar. But why can’t I place him?”

The last to come was naturally Yun s.h.i.+mo. He watched the joyously smiling Hua Qiyue and Tianci, hanging on Xuanji’s neck. Xuanji had a bunch of wild crimson fruit in his hand which gave off an alluring scent.

Tianci was a glutton. He was naturally eager to climb up and s.n.a.t.c.h that bunch of wild fruit away.

“Brother Xuan, give it to me! This gift of yours must be for me!” Tianci cried in an overbearing yet adorable way.

Hua Qiyue was grinning from ear to ear by the side.

They were reunited after a long separation. Although she had no deep relations.h.i.+p with Xuanji, everything he had done after their earlier meeting was for her.

Hua Qiyue was a grateful person. Besides, Yun s.h.i.+mo had sent Xuanji away because of her. She had always felt a pang of guilt in her heart.

Xuanji caressed the little fellow’s head. “Yes, Tianci is the brightest. So you’ve guessed this bunch of wild fruit is for you. Come, it’s my gift for you. After all, I believe you must have tried every snack of the street stalls.”

Tianci happily released his hand and slid down Xuanji’s body. He took the bunch of red fruit and munched on one. He instantly felt its sweet juice oozing out in his mouth.

“Mmmm! It’s delicious!”

“If you find it tasty, I’ll pick some for you every day, alright?”

“Yeah! Brother Xuan dotes on me!” The laughter of the man and the boy created a big headache for Yun s.h.i.+mo. His heart was sinking.

“Tianci,” Yun s.h.i.+mo called out softly. Tianci turned around but did not see his grim face. He dashed into Yun s.h.i.+mo’s arms. “Dad, Brother Xuan has gotten me a bunch of wild fruit. They taste great! I haven’t had them before!”

“Tianci, be good. Call him Uncle Xuan. He is of my generation after all,” Yun s.h.i.+mo remarked quietly.

Tianci stared at Xuanji and at the unfriendly Yun s.h.i.+mo. Hua Qiyue feared that the boy was in a dilemma. She went over and pulled Tianci to one side. “Come, mom shall accompany you out to see a puppet show.”

“Great! Uncle Xuan, come along with us!” Tianci was grateful for the gift, addressing Xuanji as he blinked his eyes.

Yun s.h.i.+mo did not know whether to cry or laugh. This boy totally ignored his dad!

The atmosphere became a bit tense. But since Hua Qiyue had taken Tianci away, Ji Jing also smiled. “Brother, you guys sort out the records. I guess for the moment there won’t be any trouble. I’m going to watch the show too!”

With that, Ji Jing darted off.

Ji Feng watched the two and silently retreated.

Yun s.h.i.+mo turned around and walked toward his room. Xuanji caught up with him and both of them entered the room tacitly.

Bingyi furrowed his brow, standing there. The hare sat lazily on the floor. “Hey, both of them have gone in. They wouldn’t fight, would they?”

Bingyi stared scornfully at the hare and walked silently to the door, eavesdropping on the faint conversation inside.

Princess Qianyang lowered her head, silently accompanying Bingyi.

She was like a haunting ghost who kept following Bingyi. Despite Bingyi’s resentment and no matter how much he cursed her, she was not willing to depart.

“Xuanji, I didn’t expect to see you again. What a surprise.”

In the room, Yun s.h.i.+mo had quietly sat down. He poured himself a cup of tea.

Xuanji stood erect in front of him, his smiling lips full of sarcasm. “Of course. You must be hoping that I’d never return, isn’t it? But Yun s.h.i.+mo, don’t try to send me away using the Transmission Array. I have now mastered the runes.”

Xuanji had weathered many ordeals. Although he did not encounter any grave danger, he had climbed mountains and traversed rivers during his journey. He also put in much effort to master the runes. Xuanji’s great gift was his photographic memory.

Because Xuanji could still remember some of the runes Hua Qiyue had written him.

After being sent away by Yun s.h.i.+mo, Xuanji felt greatly aggrieved. He thought to himself that once he returned again to Hua Qiyue’s side, he would not treat her coldly again!

Xuanji had left the desert with the caravan. Then, he was recalled back to his home due to some family matters. This was why it had taken him nearly a year to return.

Otherwise, it would take no more than two months for him to return to the Yuewu Kingdom and look for Hua Qiyue.

After returning to his clan, he presided over the Xingwu Conference and met many beautiful women. Of course, those female Qi Artists all greatly adored Xuanji, but he liked none of them.

The more women came to pester him, the more he missed Hua Qiyue.

“I didn’t expect Brother Xuan to be so bright. You’ve thought of a way to deal with me. But let me make myself clear first. Qiyue is my Princess Consort. Please don’t think of wooing her.”

Yun s.h.i.+mo was direct, going straight to the point.

Xuanji slightly curved the corners of his lips. “Qiyue and you haven’t gone through the rites. So what makes you think she will marry you?”

Yun s.h.i.+mo was br.i.m.m.i.n.g with confidence. He quietly sipped a mouthful of tea and his handsome brows revealed a certain tenderness. “Because we both love each other.”

Xuanji gave a mysterious smile. “Since the two of you haven’t married, I too have the right to contend for her. Besides, Hua Qiyue is the fiancée chosen for me by my clan.”

“How absurd! How can a priest get married?” A faint smile hovered over Yun s.h.i.+mo’s lips.

“You’re right. I am a priest but I can return to the laity,” Xuanji said quietly. “I don’t need to argue with you. I know that now, you are at the first level of Holy G.o.d. But I too have reached the same level. We can vie for her fairly. If in the end, Qiyue prefers you, she can marry you. I won’t stop her. But if she likes me, then please don’t come and bother us,” Xuanji said quietly.

Every word of his sounded so determined.

Looking at his face, he did not look like he was joking.

After all, this was the first time Xuanji had explained his stand to Yun s.h.i.+mo. It looked like he would indeed be a serious compet.i.tor. Although the handsome Xuanji was a Taoist priest, he was still a strong opponent.

After all, Xuan Family was very powerful. And Xuanji felt more for Hua Qiyue than Bai Qianxue did.

“Then I shall wait and see. I’d like to see the tricks you have that can steal her heart away.”

Yun s.h.i.+mo was confident. Now that he and Hua Qiyue had reconciled their differences, Hua Qiyue would have him alone in her heart. She would not fall for Xuanji.

Xuanji gave another mysterious smile and then turned to depart, seemingly confident.

Yun s.h.i.+mo was somewhat baffled by his mysterious smile. He thought about the fortune-teller’s words and had to furrow his brow.

But Bingyi was right. Why should he believe in the words of a bogus fortune-teller? He had simply gone with the convention, hoping that an auspicious day would set their hearts at ease.

But why did he keep feeling a little unease in his heart?

Hua Qiyue brought Tianci to a nearby theater to watch a puppet show. It was the first time Tianci had encountered such a show. His excited face was flus.h.i.+ng like a big apple. Hua Qiyue really wanted to sink her teeth into his cheek.

She held her son’s hand. At this moment, she felt truly happy.

Ji Jing followed behind them. She, too, was entranced by the puppet show. These puppet shows always narrated folk legends. They were suitable for the young and the old.

Tianci widened his eyes, watching the puppets’ movements. Now and then, he would chuckle delightedly.

Suddenly, someone brought them two dark brown coconuts. The coconuts had been skinned, each with a reed straw inserted into them.

“Thirsty? I brought these from my family. Try them.” Xuanji’s quiet voice rang out from their side. Hua Qiyue stared at him in astonishment.

Hey, wasn’t it Ji Jing who was sitting there? When did that girl leave?

Hua Qiyue gave a slight smile. After thanking him, she took the coconuts and let Tianci have one. Tianci was instantly over the moon. With the reed straw in his mouth, he sucked and watched the show at the same time.

“How come you are here?” Hua Qiyue watched Xuanji’s face which had been tanned almost to a charcoal color. She had an urge to laugh.

But she thought about it. She was the one who had caused him to be sent to Boqi Desert. She had no right to laugh at him.

“I also wanted to watch the show. So I came,” Xuanji said quietly.

But Hua Qiyue knew that his motive was not so simple.

She was not stupid. She could see from Xuanji’s eyes certain things—adoration and tenderness.

These two emotions should not have come from Xuanji. After all, he was a Taoist priest. But Taoist priests could get married too. The purpose of his return this time seemed quite different from that before.

Hua Qiyue avoided Xuanji’s gaze and sipped a mouthful of coconut juice. It was sweet and fragrant. Xuanji silently watched the entire puppet show with her.

Ji Jing had departed with Bai Qianxue the moment Xuanji came.

Standing amidst the crowd before the puppet stage, Ji Jing cast a glance at the calm and collected Bai Qianxue. Girls all adore handsome guys—especially one as perfect as Bai Qianxue.

Ji Jing’s heart had been captured. But she could not reveal her feelings because of his ident.i.ty.

Moreover, if a woman took too much initiative, she would scare the guy away. At least she thought so.

“It’s getting late. It’ll be suppertime in one hour. Let’s go back to the inn,” Bai Qianxue said quietly.

Xuanji had returned. His heart was set at rest. Ji Jing started to stammer. “Errr… why don’t we take supper at the opposite restaurant? I’ve heard that their food tastes quite good.”