Chapter 8: Forbearance, the Old Protagonist

Author: ccc 

Editor: Mymensingh Khan 

Read the raw novel at fanmtl.com 

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Bai Ruoxi stood outside the Mu family mansion, staring blankly into the pouring rain. The raindrops hit the ground with a crackling sound, creating a white, misty blanket over the pavement. She had left in a fit of anger at Ye Yu, forgetting her umbrella. Now, the thought of returning to the mansion filled her with dread; she might run into Mu Zhian again.

Young Master Mu had just been splashed with tea by Ye Yu, and Bai Ruoxi feared that if she encountered him, he might associate her with Ye Yu and feel displeased. It was entirely possible—after all, Mu Zhian had always been a stingy guy. Although he seemed to have changed in the past two days, Bai Ruoxi couldn't shake the feeling that it might all be an act.

Standing in the rain, she hesitated. If she left now, she would likely end up soaked like a drowned chicken. Just then, Ye Yu, who had already departed from the Mu Mansion, turned back and called out to her.

"Ruoxi, let me take you home!" he said, smiling as he stepped forward to hold her. The backdrop of the rainy night painted a romantic scene: a girl without an umbrella and a boy who had returned to offer her shelter. Yet, the tension from the recent events at the Mu Mansion loomed over them.

Seeing Ye Yu made Bai Ruoxi inexplicably angry. She waved his hand away and replied coldly, "Master Ye, please respect yourself!" Ye Yu felt a pang of unhappiness but held back his anger, muttering under his breath, "You respect yourself when you come to the Mu Mansion in the middle of the night."

Bai Ruoxi's eyes narrowed as she retorted, "I came to see Master Mu for an important matter. There's no relationship between us, as you imagine. Believe it or not."

"Did he threaten you to come to the Mu Mansion?" Ye Yu asked, his concern evident. "Ruoxi, don't be fooled by Mu Zhian. You know his reputation in Tianxuan City. Even if you agree to give him your body, he might not help you or the Bai family in the future."

Bai Ruoxi looked up sharply. "He has never threatened me."

Ye Yu frowned, disdain creeping into his voice. "If he didn't threaten you, why did you go to the Mu family at night? Did you come here voluntarily?"

The girl standing before him was the most beautiful woman in Tianxuan City. Many secretly admired her, and it was common knowledge that Mu Zhian had pursued her relentlessly in the past. Ye Yu couldn't believe that Mu Zhian would stoop to threatening Bai Ruoxi. 

As the rain fell, Bai Ruoxi stood silent, her mouth slightly open, struggling to find the right words. She didn't want to admit that her mother had coerced her into visiting the Mu family. The realization made Ye Yu even more jealous. He thought that perhaps Mu Zhian had taken advantage of the situation, and that Bai Ruoxi was hesitating to admit it. 

"Ruoxi, I'm different now than before," he said earnestly. "Give me half a year—no, just three months. I will definitely reach the Qi training realm." 

He believed he was destined for greatness, that Tianxuan City was just the starting point of his journey. With time, he would surpass everyone.

"Three months? You can enter the Qi training realm in that time?" Bai Ruoxi's skepticism was evident.

Ye Yu flashed a confident smile. "Want to bet?"

Bai Ruoxi frowned. "No. Whether it's true or not, what does it have to do with me?"

Ye Yu was taken aback, forcing a smile. "What are you talking about, Ruoxi? You're my fiancée—"

"That's just a marriage contract made by our parents. If you want to get married, go find them," she interrupted. The Ye family was once a prominent family, and their engagement was arranged due to trade relations with the Bai family. However, the Ye family had fallen from grace, and both Bai Ruoxi and her mother were dissatisfied with the engagement. They wanted a better match for her.

Ignoring Ye Yu, Bai Ruoxi strode into the rain. 

"Miss Bai!" a voice called from behind. It was a maid from the Mu family, trotting toward her with an umbrella. "The young master said it would rain heavily tonight, so he asked me to bring this for you. Please return it in the next few days."

Bai Ruoxi was taken aback but felt a flicker of joy as she accepted the umbrella. "Thank you. Please convey my thanks to the young master. I will return it soon."

The maid smiled and nodded before heading back to the Mu Mansion. Bai Ruoxi, now sheltered from the rain, ignored Ye Yu and walked away. Ye Yu watched her leave, his hand instinctively reaching out as if to stop her, but he let it fall weakly. It wasn't the right time. He believed that if he trained hard, Ruoxi would eventually recognize him for who he was.

The next morning, Bai Ruoxi returned to her family's mansion, where it was eerily quiet. As she walked through the corridor, she passed her mother's room, where she heard a gentle voice.

"Ruoxi, are you back so soon? Come in and chat with me."

Bai Ruoxi entered, her expression cold. "I know, mother."

She found her mother, Bai Yuanfeng, sitting in a chair, pouring tea. "Have a cup of hot tea. Don't catch a cold."

"Thank you, mother," Bai Ruoxi replied gently.

"Is your visit with Master Mu over so soon?" Bai Yuanfeng asked, her tone ambiguous.

Bai Ruoxi's eyes flashed with coldness. "He didn't do anything to me."

Bai Yuanfeng's expression shifted slightly. "He still refused?"

"He didn't refuse. He asked me to return the umbrella in the next two days," Bai Ruoxi clarified.

Bai Yuanfeng's worry deepened. "That means he's giving you time to think... What does Master Mu want?"

"I think it should be the Tongmai Pill," Bai Ruoxi said, her eyes filled with complexity. She realized she had made a grave mistake. Mu Zhian may have had feelings for her in the past, but now he was considering the interests of the Mu family. He wanted the Tongmai Pill, not her as a person.

Bai Yuanfeng tentatively called out, "Ruoxi...?"

Bai Ruoxi snapped back to reality. "By the way, is Dad back?"

Her father had gone to the auction house in Lincheng a few days prior, and it was unusual for him to be gone for this long.

Bai Yuanfeng hesitated, her expression complicated. Bai Ruoxi sensed something was wrong. "Did something happen to Dad?"

With a soft sigh, Bai Yuanfeng replied, "Your father was attacked on his way back and is now seriously injured. He was secretly sent to a safe place for treatment."

"Even if he recovers, I'm afraid he won't be able to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm for the rest of his life," she added.

Bai Ruoxi's heart sank. Her father, the patriarch of the Bai family, was at the pinnacle of the Core Formation realm, just a step away from the Nascent Soul Realm. He had been trapped at this barrier for six years and had hoped to use the Tongmai Pill to advance. Now, his hopes were dashed.

"Then the Tongmai Pill is useless at the moment?" Bai Ruoxi asked, suddenly realizing the implications.

Bai Yuanfeng sighed. "I understand your concern, but the Tongmai Pill is worth a fortune. It cannot be given to the Mu family."

The Mu family was already powerful. If they obtained the Tongmai Pill and someone used it to ascend to the Nascent Soul Realm, they would dominate Tianxuan City, leaving other families in their shadow. Bai Yuanfeng couldn't allow that.

Bai Ruoxi softly stated, "Mom, it's getting late. I'll go back to my room." After saying this, she left the room.

The next morning, Bai Ruoxi woke up and turned to her maid. "Find out if Master Ye was attacked last night."

She recalled how Mu Zhian had remained calm after Ye Yu splashed tea on him. She needed to know if Mu Zhian was truly indifferent or if he had secretly sought revenge.

Not long after, the maid returned to Bai Ruoxi's boudoir, knocking gently. "Miss, Master Ye is fine."

Bai Ruoxi, sitting in front of her mirror, looked at her reflection and calmly replied, "I know. You can leave now."

After the maid departed, Bai Ruoxi took a deep breath, her heart racing slightly. It seemed that Mu Zhian was indeed different from before.