Chapter 34: The Young Lord Is Far Too Proud

"Do you really dislike me that much?"
Ji Yin glanced up at the sky, then rubbed her stomach. "It's already this late, and two buns aren't enough to fill me."
Bei Mingyu couldn't help but smile a little. "As it happens, I haven't eaten yet, either. Stay and dine with me."
"What about my father?" Ji Yin was still worried about Ji Yun.
She could easily imagine Ji Yun's fury when he went to the palace gate looking for her and couldn't find her.
"The Grandmaster is still in the imperial study. I have sent word for him to return home first; I'll arrange for someone to escort you out of the palace."
Ji Yin looked troubled.
"Ji Yin, no one has ever refused me," Bei Mingyu's expression grew displeased.
His indulgence toward Ji Yin had reached unprecedented heights.
"And if I do refuse you?"
"Death will be your reward."
Ji Yin: ... Damn it!
...
A few peach blossoms, a cup of fragrant tea, four dishes, one bowl, one block.
Lord Ji sat before the table, picking up the plain white cloth to cleanse his hands before the meal.

Wuyan hurried to serve at his side. "My lord, since coming to Chiyu, I've noticed you eat less and less each day. Are the dishes not to your taste?"
In truth, it wasn't that Lord Ji had a poor appetite. At his level of cultivation, ordinary food was unnecessary; eating more only brought needless troubles.
Lately, he had felt a strong fluctuation in his soul power, as if another breakthrough was imminent.
Within him flowed the imperial divine bloodline: the Qiankun spiritual vein. He had already broken through the ninth tier of the spiritual domain. Could it be that he was about to reach the Grand Completion stage? If he attained Grand Completion, what would follow?
All records about the period after Grand Completion had vanished from the Kunlun Temple. Was Grand Completion the ultimate peak?
Everything remained unknown.
"Has Ji Yin returned after entering the palace with Ji Yun?" the lord asked suddenly.
"Just now, I heard the servants discussing it. The Emperor of Chiyu kept Ji Yin in the palace for a meal; Ji Yun returned alone."
Lord Ji paused with his chopsticks mid-air, then set them down, along with his bowl.
"My lord?"
Wuyan watched as Lord Ji stood, heading toward the inner chambers.
"My lord, are you not eating?"
"Take it away."
What was happening to Lord Ji? Lately, whenever it concerned Ji Yin, his reactions were strange and inscrutable.

Baili Yuan heard that Ji Yin had stayed in the palace to dine with Bei Mingyu, and her heart was uneasy.
Though she trusted that the Joyful Face technique would keep Ji Yin's identity hidden, she still worried that Ji Yin and Bei Mingyu might grow too close.
"Madam, don't worry. Have your meal first; Xiao Qi will be back soon."
"That child, why is she so disobedient?"
"Who knew she'd run into the Ninth Princess?"
"Sigh!" Baili Yuan sighed. "She would have been better off never awakening."
"I heard that today, the Emperor punished Consort Chu because of Xiao Qi. Now, the entire Chu family will hate her even more," Ji Yun said, not because he feared the Chu family, but preferring fewer troubles over more.
Before, Ji Yin and Chu Ming were evenly matched, their little squabbles harmless, but now the feud was growing deeper.
Chu Shenghong was narrow-minded and vindictive! The Emperor trusted him greatly, entrusting several important matters to him. If Consort Chu soon bore a prince, the Chu family would rise even higher.
"When you take Xiao Qi to Tianyuan Sect, you must keep a close eye on her," Baili Yuan was deeply uneasy.
"Madam, please finish your meal. I will return to the palace shortly to fetch Xiao Qi and bring her to Tianyuan Sect."