After another wonderful bathing session with Xiao Lan, Bubai left his home behind.

Pausing not far from his tower, Bubai’s gaze lingering on the shut entrance, a thoughtful expression crossing his features.

"Hmm. It seems I can no longer sense it when I leave the tower. Is the connection blocked by the tower’s perception isolation formation, or are there other factors at play?"

After a brief contemplation, Bubai shook his head slightly, dismissing the thought for now. “Just take it slowly...”

As long as he keeps up with the experiments, he’ll figure it out in due time. For now, there were more pressing matters on his plate.

Bubai turned away from the tower, his gaze drifting towards the North District.

“I wonder if the fairy is still...?”

Book Pavilion.

Crossing the entrance hall, Bubai came to a stop at the front desk. He straightened his robe, then greeted the old granny who was rocking silently in her chair, "Good evening, Shu Po Po.”

Granny Shu paused her gentle rocking, cracking open one eye to peer at him. "Fufu, young Bubai has finally returned," she crooned. "How was your day off?"

"Everything went well," Bubai replied with a warm smile. "Junior thanks Shu Po Po for her care."

“Good, good.” Granny Shu nodded, her eye closing once more. "Hum, tonight will be the same old. You know the routine."

Bubai nodded, but he remained rooted to the spot, his eyes wandering the hall.

Even without taking a look, Granny Shu noticed this. "Hum? What's wrong, young Bubai?"

Bubai reined in his searching gaze, bowing slightly and asking softly. "Shu Po Po, junior is wondering if Miss Shu Ling is here tonight?"

At this mention, the old granny's eyes cracked open, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "So it is this..."

While her beady eyes fixated him with a shrewd gaze, Granny Shu began anew the gentle rocking of her chair. "Hum. That lass, she said you have slighted her, and she doesn’t want to see you unless you agree to her demands."

Upon hearing the news, Bubai's expression stiffened momentarily, his words catching in his throat. "Junior, I-" He paused, collecting himself before continuing, "Junior doesn’t want to overstep certain boundaries."

“Fufu…” Granny Shu chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Hum, this old lady understands what you are worried about. But do not worry. This old lady will not have an opinion with the matter of you young ones. These matters, it is only a natural process…”

The nerves fluttering in Bubai’s chest seemed to settle. This old granny was that easygoing?

As if reading his thoughts, the experienced old granny continued, “Young Bubai, you shouldn’t be so rigid. If you are to survive in this sect, take the initiative to adapt to our code of conduct and be more open-minded. Don’t make this old lady fret for such a small matter."

Wryly smiling, Bubai nodded, apologizing with a hint of sheepishness. "Sorry for bringing Shu Po Po unnecessary worries. Junior is grateful for the advice and will make sure to correct himself.”

“Small matter.” Granny Shu waved off his apology dismissively. "Hum, is young Bubai still bogged down by any other thoughts? Might as well ask this old lady now.”

“That…” Gathering his courage, Bubai saluted politely, his gaze meeting the old granny's. "Then, can Shu Po Po pass a message for junior?"

“Message?” Granny Shu bobbed her head, her hand rising to pat her bun affectionately. "Hum, speak.”

Taking a deep breath, Bubai straightened his posture, "Tell her junior is willing to discuss conditions with her."

“Oh?” A gleam of intrigue sparked in Granny Shu's eyes. She squinted at Bubai, her lips quirking into a smile. "Hum. Very well. But there’s no need for this old lady to insert herself as a third wheel. Young Bubai, you can tell the lass yourself."

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Looking up, Bubai caught a glimpse of something in the granny's eyes, a subtle reflection that made him turn back.

His heart instantly skipped a beat. Like a shadow, Shu Ling was standing behind him, playfully curling strands of her silver hair!

Meeting his gaze, she playfully blinked back, teasing in a voice lilting with mischievousness. "Fairy brother is really willing to discuss life with this fairy?"

Bubai held his breath for a moment... Unable to resist the sparkle in her eyes, he finally exhaled softly. "Fairy, just let nature take its course.”

Shu Ling's beautiful visage seemed to glow as she clapped her hands together. "That's what you said, fairy brother. You can't go back on your words!"

Bubai helplessly nodded, "I won't.”

Shu Ling extended her delicate hand, raising a pinky finger. "Promise?"

Hooking his pinky finger with hers, Bubai smiled with a light heart, “Promise.”

Watching them complete the exchange with a kind smile, Granny Shu finally interjected, her voice warm and approving.

"It's good you two have reconciled. Since this is the case, this old lady will give you two another day off to discuss the conditions for the next transactions. Knowledge is hard to come by, but opportunities wait for no one. Go on, have a good night. Fufu…”

Bubai and Shu Ling exchanged a glance. Then, with a polite salute from one and a graceful curtsy from the other, they chorused, "Yes, Granny."

As they turned to leave, the old granny's parting words echoed in their ears. "Oh, do remember. Be responsible and don’t give this old lady a headache."

North District.

The chilly night breeze whispered through the air, caressing Bubai’s face as the streetlights cast shifting patterns of light and shadow on his features.

Like an ethereal fairy, the silver-haired Shu Ling drifted beside him, her footsteps muffled by the quiet of the evening.

With hands clasped behind her back, her face was subtly inclined, looking toward the heavens in silence.

Carrying a hint of whimsy, her soft remark suddenly reached his ears. "The moon is beautiful tonight, isn't it?"

Bubai glanced up at the dark skies, only to be greeted by the swirling snowstorm beyond the magical barrier. "Fairy, there is no moon tonight.”

“Fufufu…” A musical laugh escaped the lady's lips as she turned to him, her eyes twinkling like distant stars. "Isn't there one right next to you?"

Caught off guard by her playful remark, Bubai lowered his gaze to meet hers.

Moonlight seemed to dance in her eyes, illuminating her youthful features with a captivating radiance. "Is this fairy beautiful?"

At her words, Bubai accepted the invitation to examine her once more.

Skin as pale as moonlight, a fairness accentuated by her silvery hair and delicate features. She was still a budding beauty, but she was already so…

"Beautiful," Bubai breathed, his voice barely above a whisper. "Very beautiful."

Shu Ling's pink lips curved like a crescent moon as she leaned closer, her starry eyes twinkling. "Then, how does this fairy compare to them?"

Images of a few other beauties flickered through Bubai’s mind, but in that moment... there was only one truth. "Unmatched.”

Upon hearing his response, the stars seemed to dance in Shu Ling's eyes as she leaned in even closer, her softness pressing for an answer, “Then why refuse this fairy’s advances?”

Her voice was barely audible like the whispers of the wind, yet it loudly reverberated in his mind, making Bubai shift uncomfortably, averting his gaze.

Yes, why does he refuse her advances time and time again? Is it solely due to logical reasoning? Or is there some other factors at play…

But Bubai set these thoughts aside. He already made his decision. Now, he needed a suitable reason for the occasion.

As the excuses churned in his mind, the faint scent of sandalwood wafted through the air, calming his nerves…

So, Bubai finally confessed, "It's because you're too beautiful.”

“Hum?” Shu Ling tilted her head in confusion, “What does this fairy's beauty have to do with your refusal?"

"It makes me afraid.”

"Afraid?" Shu Ling’s eyes searched his face for answers. “Afraid of what?”

Bubai lifted his gaze, his eyes searching for the obscured moon as his soft reply flowed out, "I'm afraid that if I start, I won't be able to hold myself back and hurt the fairy.”

The duo fell silent, the weight of his admission hanging in the air between them like a veil of snow.

But then, unexpectedly, Bubai felt a gentle tug on his arm, prompting him to come to a stop.

Turning to face her, he found himself ensnared by the moon's luminous gaze, the stars in her eyes piercing him like bright moonlight. "This fairy can handle it."

Bubai’s heart skipped a beat at the intensity of her implications, “Pardon?”

Shu Ling's grip tightened on his arm, sticking to him as if imposed with the gravity of the world. "This fairy isn't afraid of being hurt. Though this fairy may not look like it, but this fairy can handle whatever fairy brother throws at me. So..."

She leaned in, her soft lips trailing up his neck, breath warm against his skin, eventually delivering the message to his ear, "Fairy brother, you can play with this fairy... however. you. like."

The mischievous fairy in the midst of her teasing suddenly felt a powerful force acting upon her, shoving her until her back collided with the unforgiving surface of a nearby building!

Before she could fully comprehend what was happening, she found herself pinned against the wall, in between the two strong arms effectively trapping her in place.

Her heart raced in her chest as she looked up into his dark, intense eyes, their depths swirling with greed she couldn't quite decipher.

"Woman. I am dangerous. Teasing me like this is playing with fire."

Despite the gravity of his voice, Shu Ling didn’t feel fear.

Instead, a bold defiance flickered in her eyes as she bravely met his intense stare, her lips drawing an elegant curve. "Danger? That’s just the silver lining this fairy is booking for.”