A Date

It was morning, and the golden rays of the sun streamed through the windows of Zhuan Ming's house, accompanied by the cheerful chirping of birds. He rose from his bed, stretched his limbs, and began his daily routine—training, preparing a simple breakfast, and washing up. Just as he finished, there was a soft knock at the door. He opened it to find Li Qingyue standing there, looking radiant and meticulously put together.

Li Qingyue had taken extra care with her appearance today. Her long, silken hair was intricately braided, adorned with delicate silver pins that caught the sunlight, giving her an ethereal glow. She wore a flowing robe of pale blue, embroidered with subtle frost-like patterns that shimmered as she moved, complementing her frost-like eyes. Her lips were tinted a soft rose, and her cheeks carried a faint blush, adding warmth to her otherwise cool demeanor. She stood with an air of confidence, yet there was a hint of nervousness.

"Good morning," she said, her voice calm but carrying a subtle warmth. "I was wondering if you'd like to join me for a walk today. The weather is perfect, and it would be a good chance to… keep up appearances." Her eyes met his briefly before she glanced away, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Zhuan Ming was acutely aware that the girl liked him, yet the kind of relationship he envisioned was fundamentally different from what she desired. While both sought closeness, their intentions were worlds apart. To Zhuan Ming, relationships were akin to formless contracts—mutual agreements to maintain proximity to someone based on their perceived worth, with the aim of gaining personal benefits. But was this so different from how others approached relationships? People often claim they form bonds out of love, but what is love if not a reflection of one's own desires and perceptions?

When individuals seek a partner, they weigh factors like appearance, personality, wealth, status, and strength. These attributes, however, are malleable and transient. Beauty can be enhanced or concealed, personalities can be curated, wealth can be squandered, and strength can fade with time. If the person they "love" were stripped of these qualities—if their appearance changed, their wealth vanished, or their strength diminished—would the love remain? Or was it never truly the person they loved, but rather the idea of them, the carefully constructed image that aligned with their own desires and expectations?

This raises a deeper question: What is the foundation of love? Is it the essence of the person, or is it the value they provide to us? If love is conditional upon external factors, can it ever be pure? Or is all love, in some way, transactional—a silent agreement to give and take, to fulfill each other's needs and desires?

Perhaps the difference lies in awareness. While many people unconsciously seek relationships for what they can gain, Zhuan Ming does so with deliberate intent. He sees the world as a web of interconnected interests, where every bond is a negotiation. But does this make him more honest, or simply more detached? If love is, at its core, a mutual exchange of value, then is it not better to acknowledge this truth rather than cloak it in illusions of selflessness?

Yet, there is another layer to consider. If relationships are indeed transactional, what happens when the terms of the exchange change? When one party can no longer offer what the other seeks, does the bond dissolve? Or is there something deeper—something intangible—that can sustain a connection even when external circumstances shift? This is the paradox of human relationships: they are both fragile and enduring, shaped by both self-interest and selflessness.

And so, Zhuan Ming refuses to lie to himself. He embraced each relationship as it was, extracting its value from his own understanding, unburdened by the illusions that clouded the heart.

Zhuan Ming realized her intentions. "Knew it, this girl really likes me. Well, I don't blame her. Honestly, it feels like I get better looking each day."

"So, like a date?" he replied to her.

"Y-yes," she stammered, not wanting to make it obvious but deciding to be forward about it. "I just felt like since we are boyfriend and girlfriend, we should at least act like it."

Zhuan Ming stepped closer, taking her hand. "You don't have to lie to me if you want to spend time with me," he teased, trying to make her open up and bring the relationship closer.

"Don't flatter yourself!" she replied, but her face was red, Zhuan Ming having fully exposed her intentions.

"Should I have been honest and just said that I want to spend some time with him? Ugh…" she wondered in her head.

"Let's just go!" Zhuan Ming grabbed her hand, leading her forward.

She was surprised by his action, but Li Qingyue didn't fight back. In fact, she was quite happy he did that. Zhuan Ming had a bright smile, and if someone were to look at him, nobody could guess he was a 100-year-old demonic cultivator. They both moved toward the market.

"We could use this as an opportunity to scout some artifacts for you," Zhuan Ming said. "I think you're ready to start merging with rule path artifacts. Of course, that requires spiritual stones, but since you're in second place in the inner sect rankings right now, it shouldn't be a problem. I'll soon find us opportunities to earn spirit stones, so we don't have to worry. But for now, you'll have to live on your savings."

She listened closely, slightly wishing he would be more romantic and talk about something else on their first date.

Zhuan Ming and Li Qingyue strolled through the market, their hands still intertwined. The air was filled with the lively chatter of merchants and the tantalizing aromas of street food. Zhuan Ming led her through the maze of stalls, his sharp eyes scanning for artifacts that might suit her. "Rule path artifacts are somewhat rare, but they're out there," he said, his tone practical yet attentive. "We'll find something that suits your current needs." The benefits she would gain were the rule path marks she would acquire from doing so, as well as reducing the strain on her body.

Li Qingyue nodded, though her mind was only half on the artifacts. She couldn't help but notice how good it felt to walk beside him, his presence both commanding and reassuring. Still, she wished he'd say something more romantic—something that didn't involve cultivation or artifacts. But she knew better than to expect that from him. Zhuan Ming was, after all, a man of purpose.

They stopped at a stall run by an elderly merchant who specialized in rare cultivation tools. Zhuan Ming picked up a delicate silver bracelet etched with intricate frost patterns. "This one," he said, holding it up to the light. "It's imbued with rule path energy. It'll also help stabilize your spiritual flow, so it's not a bad choice to use at the start."

Li Qingyue examined the bracelet, her fingers brushing against the cool metal. "It's beautiful," she admitted, though her voice carried a hint of longing for something more personal. Zhuan Ming, ever pragmatic, negotiated the price with the merchant and handed her the bracelet. "Wear it," he said. "It's an investment in your future."

She quickly refined it and put it on.

As they continued through the market, they attracted the attention of a few fellow disciples walking past. Whispers followed them, and Li Qingyue caught snippets of conversation. "Is that Li Qingyue? With a boyfriend?" one disciple murmured, clearly surprised. "Who's that guy? He looks… hot," another added. Li Qingyue's cheeks flushed, but she held her head high, refusing to let their curiosity unsettle her. In fact, she felt somewhat proud. Zhuan Ming, for his part, seemed entirely unfazed, his focus remaining on the task at hand.

After exploring the market, they stopped at a small, cozy restaurant overlooking a tranquil pond. The setting was serene, with lanterns casting a soft glow over the water. They ordered a meal of steamed dumplings, roasted duck, and fragrant tea, the flavors rich and satisfying. As they ate, Zhuan Ming decided to flirt with her, a rare shift from his usual pragmatic demeanor. He leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes glinting with amusement as he studied her.

"You know," he began, his voice low and teasing, "for someone who claims to only be keeping up appearances, you're putting in a lot of effort today." His gaze lingered on the silver snowflake bracelet he'd bought her earlier, now glinting on her wrist. "It's almost as if you want to impress me."

Li Qingyue's cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked down at her teacup, pretending to be engrossed in its contents. "Don't flatter yourself," she replied, though her voice lacked its usual bite. "I just thought it would be nice to look presentable for once."

Zhuan Ming chuckled, a deep, smooth sound that sent a shiver down her spine. "Presentable, huh? You're far beyond that, Li Qingyue. If anything, you're distracting me from my food." He reached across the table, his fingers brushing against hers as he adjusted the placement of her chopsticks. The touch was brief but deliberate, and it left her heart racing.

She glanced up at him, her frost-like eyes narrowing slightly. "Since when do you care about distractions? You're always so focused."

"Maybe I'm starting to realize there's more to life," he said, his tone softer now, almost contemplative. "Or maybe I'm just enjoying the company." He leaned forward slightly, his smirk returning. "Which do you think it is?"

Li Qingyue hesitated, caught off guard by his sudden shift in demeanor. She wasn't sure if he was being genuine or simply playing with her, but either way, it was hard to ignore the way his presence seemed to fill the space between them. "I think," she said slowly, "you're trying to confuse me."

Zhuan Ming laughed again, the sound warm and genuine. "Maybe I am. But isn't that part of the fun?" He picked up a dumpling with his chopsticks and held it out to her. "Here. Try this one. It's filled with lotus paste—sweet, just like you."

She rolled her eyes but accepted the dumpling, her lips curving into a small smile despite herself. "You're impossible," she muttered, though there was no real annoyance in her voice.

As the meal continued, Zhuan Ming kept up the playful banter, his words laced with just enough charm to keep her on edge. By the time they finished, Li Qingyue found herself laughing more than she usually did, her earlier reservations melting away under the warmth of his attention.

When they finally left the restaurant, the night air was cool and refreshing. Li Qingyue glanced at Zhuan Ming, her heart fluttering as she realized how much she'd enjoyed their time together. For a moment, she considered saying something—anything—to express how she felt. But before she could find the words, Zhuan Ming turned to her, his expression unreadable in the dim light.

"Today was… different," he said, his voice quiet but carrying a weight she couldn't quite decipher. "But not in a bad way."

Li Qingyue smiled, her cheeks tinged with pink. "No, not in a bad way at all."

As they walked back through the lantern-lit streets, their hands brushed occasionally, neither of them pulling away. For the first time, Li Qingyue allowed herself to hope that maybe, just maybe, there was more to their relationship than just appearances.