Chapter Eighty-Nine: The Judge and the Judged

"Do you dislike me that much?"

Seeing Tianming's sudden shift in mood, Xun Qing lightly bit her lip, her delicate face showing a trace of grievance as she looked at him.

Uhh...

Faced with Xun Qing's adorable, pleading expression, Tianming found himself at a loss for words. He had always been defenseless against women acting this way. If she were truly upset, it would be hard for him to keep pressing her. He could only change the subject.

"...Did you see everything?"

Shaking his head, Tianming sighed, unable to bear it, and asked softly.

"Are you homesick?" Xun Qing's gentle words floated to him.

At this, Xun Qing only nodded without directly answering, but neither did she deny witnessing the scene earlier.

"Oh? How did you know?" Tianming was surprised by her words.

He thought about it but couldn't figure out how she could tell. Even if Xun Qing had overheard, she shouldn't have understood.

"Hehe, I guessed..."

After a brief moment, Xun Qing blinked at him mischievously, her tone playful.

Perhaps this topic stirred something within her; as she spoke, her eyes grew distant, shadowed by confusion.

"Enough. Is there anything else? If not, go back to your room and rest." Shaking his head, Tianming spoke helplessly.

Since Xun Qing didn't want to talk, he wouldn't force her; he had no wish to pry. All he wanted now was a peaceful night's sleep.

"I'm not going!"

Before he finished, Xun Qing refused without hesitation.

"Hey... Miss, don't tell me you want to sleep in the same room with me? Let me make this clear, I won't give in." Tianming crossed his arms, feigning terror at being preyed upon, a comical sight.

"Bah! In your dreams! Who'd want to sleep with you?" Xun Qing huffed, cheeks puffed in indignation.

As she spoke, her face flushed, perhaps due to the charged atmosphere of a man and woman alone together.

"You!" Tianming lowered his hands, teasing her with a smile.

At first, he hadn't noticed, but after some time together, Tianming realized that despite being a favored daughter of the heavens, Xun Qing had her share of kindness and charm. With the protection of the Sect Master and even the Pavilion Lord, it was no wonder she was a bit spoiled.

"Let me ask you, was all that commotion just now your doing?"

Ignoring his tease, Xun Qing turned with a snort, her voice suddenly serious.

"How could it be? Think about it—I'm only at the tenth tier of Foundation Establishment. How could I possibly reach the sixth stage of the Spirit Void so quickly?" Tianming smiled.

He couldn't admit to it, not when it was his trump card. More importantly, he didn't want to dishearten certain people. Crossing six minor realms was no trivial feat.

Just look at Qingpo's reaction earlier. Who was Qingpo? That was an immortal soul, even if he refused to admit it himself.

"...You're right." Xun Qing nodded in agreement.

"Elder Yu sent you up here, didn't he?" Having managed to dodge her suspicion, Tianming suddenly recalled something and looked at Xun Qing.

"How did you...?" Before she could finish, Xun Qing hurriedly covered her mouth with her hand, but it was already too late. Seeing her reaction, Tianming knew he had guessed correctly. Elder Yu must have been too embarrassed to come himself and so sent Xun Qing to sound things out—

Both to foster closeness and to gather information.

Elder Yu's tactic was certainly killing two birds with one stone, but Tianming would hardly fall for it.

"I guessed." Tianming replied with a mysterious smile.

Hearing his words, Xun Qing felt a sense of déjà vu. After a moment, she realized she had said the same thing earlier.

"Why are you copying me?" she pouted, discontented.

"What do you mean 'copying'? I really did guess, alright?"

Tianming smiled wryly, looking at her with an innocent expression, as if to say she was wronging him.

"You really don't know?"

But Xun Qing was unmoved by his look, her face earnest as she pressed on.

"I don't know."

Shaking his head, and seeing that this tactic wasn't working, Tianming could only repeat his earlier answer.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I truly don't know."

"Then... do you dare swear it?"

"Spare me, my lady! Haven't you had enough? If you're not tired, I am!" Tianming inhaled deeply, exasperated.

"Just answer me..."

Seeing Tianming still refusing to clear things up, Xun Qing's expression turned grim, and she glared at him fiercely.

"...Take care. I won't be seeing you out." Waving his hand, Tianming cut her off completely. Since gentle coaxing didn't work, why should he keep embarrassing himself? He decided to ignore her altogether.

With that, Tianming sprawled out on the bed in a big star shape, shutting out the world, unconcerned that she was still in the room.

"You...!"

Just as she was getting to the heart of the matter, he lay down to sleep, leaving Xun Qing both flustered and angry.

Smack!

Realizing something, Xun Qing's eyes flashed with mischief. She quietly grinned at Tianming, then pressed her small hand to a certain spot on the wall.

"Heh, out of tricks, aren't you?"

Feeling the sudden quiet outside, Tianming was secretly pleased. This method never failed! After all, she couldn't just throw him out, could she? Even Elder Yu would object to that.

"Hmph! Serves you right for playing rogue."

As Xun Qing spoke, bands of tough, violet-glimmering silk shot from either side of the bed, crossing over him like a kidnap victim. In a matter of seconds, Tianming was tightly bound, only his mouth left uncovered.

"What the—?"

The sudden assault left Tianming no time to react. He felt like he was sinking into a marsh, utterly immobilized. Just as he was about to channel his elemental energy to break free, he sensed Xun Qing approaching.

"Now you're in my hands!"

Seeing his reaction, Xun Qing grinned impishly, made a silly face, and stepped forward.

"...What are you planning to do?"

Soon, Tianming found his vision clearing as Xun Qing came into view, and he felt a headache coming on.

"Nothing much. As long as you admit it was you, I'll let you go. How about that?" Xun Qing blinked at him.

"And if I refuse?"

Tianming let out a cold laugh. This mechanism might restrain someone at the Spirit Void level, but it couldn't hold an expert at the Sky Emptiness stage. Xun Qing would never dream that, with the Lightning Sword from the dimensional space, he could reach the sixth tier of Sky Emptiness.

"If you won't talk, don't blame me..."

A sly smile danced across her face as Xun Qing pulled a feather from her sleeve and began to tickle Tianming's face.

"I'm warning you! Think carefully before you act—you might regret it."

Tianming widened his eyes, signaling her desperately and pulling his head back to dodge the feather. He didn't want to reveal his strength, so he could only dodge for now. If all else failed, he'd have to expose his power.

"There's no escape! Hehe."

But Xun Qing paid him no mind, only quickening her attack with the feather, clearly delighted at the prospect of tormenting him.

"Ah, why force me?"

Seeing no way out, Tianming sighed inwardly and activated the Lightning Sword in his dimensional space for half a second.

Bang!

In an instant, profound elemental energy surged from his body, shredding all the silken bonds. Xun Qing, utterly unprepared for this, was stunned before him and thrown back by the residual force of his sudden power...