Chapter 115: This Young Master and the Centipede Princess

Chapter 115: This Young Master and the Centipede Princess

Bao Si languidly waltzed into the clearing. She traded in her tight-fitting dress for a looser one of mossy green silk. A slit on one side revealed a toned and powerful leg. His Liquid Meridian enhanced sense of smell treacherously had him notice she smelled of flowers. Chen Haorans eyes werent deceived, however. Her gait was effortless, all liquid predator. So tightly controlled that it looped right back around into looking relaxed. Most people would see her and be fooled. Not him.

He knew a girl who moved the same way.

Chen Haoran nodded in greeting. Good afternoon.

Bao Si smiled back. Good afternoon, Chen Haoran.

Phelps squealed at her.

Good afternoon to you, too, she said.

Her eyes raked over him, and Chen Haoran became uncomfortably aware of the fact that he was all sweaty and dirty from training. Even a Liquid Meridian Realm wasnt spared from Zumulus humidity. Let alone the Basins.

Sorry, Im a bit of a mess, he hurriedly said as he pulled out a towel from his storage bag.

Dont apologize, Bao Si said. So many cultivators decide to coast on their success once they enter the Liquid Meridian Realm and ruin their future. I admire how hardworking you are.

Chen Haoran blinked. Oh, uh thank you.

Congratulations on your ascension to the Liquid Meridian Realm, by the way. Achieving it at such a young age is to be commended.

Right. I, uh, appreciate it.

Chen Haoran wasnt ashamed to say Bao Si caught him flat-footed. He had an idea why she was here. In the end, the only interesting thing about him in Zumulu was Xie Jin. He couldnt exactly treat her like he did Jiang Lei, though. In fact, he didnt know how to treat her at all. Whatever was going on between her and Xie Jin was their business. He could only hope she wouldnt drag him into it.

He mentally apologized to Xie Jin for what he was about to do. Brother Jin isnt here right now. I think he said he was going home.

Bao Si sniffed disdainfully. He can do what he wants. She brushed her hair away, revealing the centipede tattoo crawling up her neck. Im here for you.

Can I help you?

On the contrary. Im here to help you.

Excuse me?

Youve yet to be given a tour of the village, no? As a shaman and representative of the tribe, its my duty to guide you.

You dont need to go that far. I can get Xie Jin to do it.

Bao Si raised a delicate eyebrow. If Jin were going to do it, he wouldnt have left you here alone now, would he? How many days have you been here now? Its irresponsible that its been put off this long.

Chen Haoran struggled to find a reply, and Bao Si capitalized on his moment of hesitation and threaded her arm through his.

Allow me the honor? My home is beautiful. She fluttered her eyelashes. Its people even more so. I want to show you everything.

In the end, Chen Haoran had nothing to say.

Okay.

Just a tour should be fine.

It was not fine.

He had at least been able to beg for a quick stop at the lodgings he shared with Xie Jin to clean up and change clothes. Unfortunately, Xie Jin was nowhere to be found in his time of need. And so, Chen Haoran found himself given a tour of the village arm in arm with Bao Si.

At least Phelps seemed to be having a good time.

The style of these homes is a holdover from the tribes early days in the Basin, she said. Extended families all live around the same tree. Weve even given them names. The one youre living next to right now is called Proudtree.

Dangerous. His initial read of her hadnt been wrong. A Qi Realm to his Liquid Meridian, and she did that without him noticing.

Complete experience, my foot, Xie Jin groused. He shooed her away. Begone with you.

Now, now, Jin, she chided. Im showing Chen Haoran around. You have other duties.

Chen Haoran is my guest. Showing him around is my job.

Chen Haoran gently tugged his arm away. Thank you for today, Bao Si. I wont take any more of your time.

Bao Si didnt let go. Jin here doesnt have any time either. He has to go to the Healing Hall.

Xie Jin frowned. Since when?

Since this morning. Grandpa is the one who ordered it. He should be there right now, in fact. You shouldnt keep him waiting any longer. I imagine hes already quite cross with you.

Xie Jin paled. And youre only telling me this now?

It was Bao Sis turn to narrow her eyes. I am not a messenger. Nor do I exist to make things convenient for you. The duties are posted right there in the temple. You would have known had you decided to show up for the morning report.

Si

Dont you Si me. Its not my fault you didnt go. Nor is it my fault you didnt think to check on your own. I brought you your tasks because I wanted to, not because I needed to. My kindness is not a job.

Xie Jin gritted his teeth and looked as if he were about to say something until he glanced at Chen Haoran. Xie Jin held back his words and pointed at Bao Si. We will have words about this. Brother Chen, Ill see you later. With that, he ran off before Chen Haoran could even say bye.

Bao Si smiled at him. Shall we continue?

Chen Haoran gently but firmly pushed her arm away. Thank you, but I have to go now.

Bao Si smirked. Because of Xie Jin? How loyal.

Chen Haoran did not frown, but he couldnt hide his disapproval. Whatever it is you want from Xie Jin, you wont get it through me. Please stop now.

Bao Si laughed. It was a sharp but pleasant sound. Wanting something from Jin requires him to possess something worth having. I had hoped his travels had changed something, but alas. She sighed long and heavily. Ive given up on him a long time ago. The only one who expects anything of Jin anymore is Grandpa Ling.

Now Chen Haoran frowned. What do you want from me then?

Would you like to know? Bao Si asked, sing-songed. She pointed up toward the top of the tree. Shall we discuss it up there? Its the last place I wanted to show you today.

Chen Haoran briefly considered rejecting. A cursedly familiar mantra echoed in his mind. If not, this. Something else. Better to try and get a straight answer now when he could. He was getting tired of the vagueness surrounding him.

Okay, he said.

Excellent! Bao Si said. She held out her arms. Up we go then.

Chen Haoran looked at her. Phelps yawned over his shoulder. Bao Si stood perfectly still like a marble statue or a snake in ambush, a small smile playing across her face. If she felt any awkwardness, it didnt show.

What are you doing? he asked.

She cutely tilted her head to the side. How else am I going to get up there? Youre faster than me. You wouldnt rush ahead of a lady like that now, would you? Or do you want to climb behind me instead?

Inside Chen Haorans soul, there was a thirsty, dog-like portion of him that would have been perfectly quenched by either carrying her or having her climb ahead of him. Fortunately, Chen Haoran was human and not a dog. He only sometimes let his baser instincts get the best of him.

Bao Si wanted Chen Haoran to take her into his arms. What she got instead was a sloth. She looked down at Phelps. Phelps looked up at her and squealed. Her ever-confident composure finally broke, replaced with open confusion.

You have to earn my arms, Chen Haoran said.

Then he cycled qi to his legs and leapt into the air.