Chapter Twelve: First Encounter with Biyao, Winning Her Over

A brilliant white light dispersed, and from within emerged a man and a beast.

"Yay! We’re finally out! I, an ancient Void Dragon, have seen the light again after an era! The scenery out here is on a whole different level compared to that empty plaza," Little Void shouted excitedly as he hovered in the air.

"Alright, it’s time to search for the first volume of the Celestial Book—Blood Drip Cave in the Ancient Bat Grotto," Qian Mo said, then immediately flew off in the direction she mentioned.

As Qian Mo departed, the appearance of the place transformed completely.

...

The Ancient Bat Grotto lay beneath the city of Yudu, serving as the tomb for Elder Blackheart of the Demonic Sect’s Blood Refining Hall and Lady Golden Bell of the Pleasure Sect. The entrance was hidden in the city’s Azure Wave Pavilion. Many years ago, Elder Blackheart coveted Yudu’s abundant spiritual energy and established the grotto to resurrect the Beast God and enslave the populace, hiding many rare and bizarre treasures within. However, the resurrection of the Beast God ultimately failed.

Elder Blackheart died within the cave, and the citizens of Yudu, determined to prevent the grotto from being reopened, set up a barrier to keep outsiders away. The secret of the Ancient Bat Grotto became known only to successive city lords; no others were aware of it. The cave was riddled with traps and dangers. Even entering the entrance of the Ancient Bat Grotto made it exceedingly difficult to reach the deepest point—Blood Drip Cave.

...

The Ancient Bat Grotto

Qian Mo arrived at the front, recalling from the original story that Zhang Xiaofan and Biyao had once explored Blood Drip Cave together.

There were four barriers ahead: Bat Valley, the Abyss of the Dead, the Bubble Zone, and the Heartless Sea. Only by passing through them could one reach Blood Drip Cave.

Bat Valley

The first barrier of the Ancient Bat Grotto, home to tens of thousands of blood-sucking bats and massive fire-breathing bat demons. Although Bat Valley appeared tranquil, the slightest disturbance would send the bats swarming to attack any intruder. Ordinary spells were ineffective, but fire proved particularly devastating.

Within the valley—

"Aunt You! Run! Spells don’t work on them!" This cry came from none other than the heroine of this chapter, Lady Biyao. Ahead, fending off the bats, was the Vermilion Bird among the Four Sacred Envoys—You Ji.

She was one of the four Sacred Envoys of the Ghost King Sect, Vermilion Bird, and had watched Biyao grow up, truly cherishing her.

"Biyao, hurry—go! I’ll cover you! Damn it, what kind of bats are these? Spells are useless against them!" You Ji said in a panic.

Biyao and You Ji fled desperately toward the exit, but the bats pursued relentlessly.

The two were soon forced to the edge of a cliff. "Aunt You, what do we do?" Biyao cried, panic-stricken.

"Biyao, it’s all my fault," sighed You Ji.

"Aunt You, don’t say that. If this is the end, then it’s fate. I don’t blame you, so don’t blame yourself! Maybe I’ll get to see Mother sooner this way," Biyao said, as if delivering her last words.

Having arrived in time, Qian Mo couldn’t help but chuckle at the melodramatic scene unfolding before her.

"Master, are you just going to watch? Save them! Those two women are so foolish—spells don’t work, why not try a physical attack or fire? Watching them struggle is almost painful," Little Void urged Qian Mo, feeling that, as a dignified ancient Void Dragon, witnessing such a scene was beneath his station.

"My dear wife’s fate is not for a mere swarm of bats to decide. Even I can’t bear to let such adorable women be beset by these creatures," Qian Mo replied with a teasing tone.

Just as the two women were preparing to sacrifice themselves, a voice rang out.

"Hellfire Inferno! Burn these beasts for me!"

As the words echoed, a figure appeared behind Biyao, wrapping his left arm around her slender waist, holding her gently. "Don’t be afraid, darling. Your husband is here," he whispered softly.

At the same moment, a dragon of fire scorched the entire swarm of bats to ashes, their remains drifting to the ground.

Biyao, stunned, found her heart racing and her face flushing at Qian Mo’s actions. "Who—who are you calling your wife? I’m not married yet!" she protested, flustered.

You Ji was equally bewildered; where had this man suddenly appeared from, claiming to be Biyao’s husband?

"Young man, thank you for saving us, but you must be mistaken. Biyao is neither married nor engaged. Where does this talk of a husband come from?" You Ji asked cautiously.

"No mistake. I couldn’t possibly misidentify her. This is my wife, Biyao." Qian Mo then lowered his head, greedily inhaling her familiar scent. "This fragrance, this face, this figure, this voice—how could I possibly confuse her?"

"Sir, you really are mistaken. I don’t have a husband!" Biyao protested, cheeks flushed with embarrassment and grievance at the stranger’s boldness.

Qian Mo, amused by his future wife’s embarrassment, lifted her head to meet his gaze. "Am I handsome?" he asked.

Biyao’s cheeks glowed crimson, her large eyes wide and irresistible, making him want to tease her even more.

"How can there be someone so shameless? But... he is rather handsome," Biyao first scoffed inwardly, then found herself blushing at the realization.

"Ugh, how can someone be so brazen?" thought You Ji. But she couldn’t act; after all, he had just saved them, and she doubted she could best him in a fight.

"H-handsome..." Biyao stammered, as if the word were stuck in her throat.

"Exactly! All my wives think I’m handsome, so you must be my wife! Hahahaha!" Qian Mo laughed heartily, embracing her.

Biyao was left speechless, unable to process the shamelessness of the man she’d encountered.

You Ji, sensing Biyao’s exasperation, also found herself lost for words; arguing would be pointless.

"It doesn’t matter if we’re not married yet; consider this our engagement. I’ll go to the Ghost King Sect to propose soon!" Qian Mo declared confidently.

Biyao was startled. "How do you know I’m from the Ghost King Sect? Who are you?"

"Your husband," Qian Mo replied innocently, like a harmless child.

"..."

"Enough, who I am isn’t important. What matters is that I like you, Biyao—truly. I’ve never known what it’s like to love someone. I grew up without parents and never learned how to love, but meeting you changed everything," Qian Mo said with the sincerity of a master actor, gently caressing Biyao’s cheek and gazing into her large, adorable eyes.

Biyao’s face was as red as an apple—no, redder than any apple. Never before had anyone confessed to her so passionately. She was torn. Should she accept him? He’s never had parents—how pitiful!

Seeing Biyao’s reaction, Qian Mo’s eyes sparkled. "It’s working! Not only am I good at fooling my sect, I’m apparently quite effective at wooing women too. Perhaps I should consider becoming a charlatan one day. Still, I could push a little further."

He decided to add another layer.

"Sigh! Never mind if you don’t accept me. Is it because I’m an orphan? I thought you were different. Sorry to bother you. After all, who would care for a parentless stray like me? You’re the daughter and heir of the mighty Ghost King Sect—it’s only natural you’d look down on me, no matter how strong I am!"

Once again, Qian Mo’s performance was flawless—his expression despondent, his gaze full of sorrow. He released Biyao and turned to leave.

Who was You Ji? She had lived for centuries, experienced love herself—her heart belonged only to Wan Jianyi of the Azure Cloud Sect. She knew Qian Mo was playing the sympathy card, but she let it be. This was the world of youth, after all, and Qian Mo’s cultivation was so profound that even she couldn’t see through him. As long as he was sincere toward Biyao, perhaps it wasn’t a bad thing.

Biyao, still pondering, was moved by Qian Mo’s words. Her final defenses collapsed. "Don’t go! I—I never said I wouldn’t accept you!"

"But I’m just an orphan. You don’t mind?" he asked, a bittersweet smile on his lips, though his eyes gleamed with joy.

"I don’t mind," she replied.

"Really? Then may I hold you?" he asked.

"Mm," Biyao answered shyly.

"And may I kiss you?" Qian Mo continued.

"Mm... no—mmph!" Before she could finish, Qian Mo embraced her tightly and kissed her, stifling her protest. At first, she resisted, but soon surrendered and began to enjoy it.

Would Qian Mo still be himself if he stopped now? Hardly!

The kiss lingered, and by the time their lips finally parted, an entire hour had passed.

It was no mere kiss, either—he kissed her deeply, passionately, with every trick in the book.

"Sweet," Qian Mo savored the taste of her lips.

"Aunt You is still here!" Biyao said bashfully, face aglow.

"Uh, I didn’t see a thing. Carry on! The sunlight was just so bright that I went temporarily blind," You Ji stammered, flustered.

"If Biyao calls you Aunt You, may I as well? If you don’t mind," Qian Mo said, glancing at the struggling Biyao in his arms.

"Of course, I wouldn’t mind at all!" You Ji replied, her eyes lighting up.

"Ding! Congratulations, Host, you have won Biyao’s heart. Task accomplished!"

"Host, would you like to learn the Divine Flame Heaven-Burning Technique?"

"Yes!"

A flood of insights and lifelong mastery merged into Qian Mo’s mind.

"My dear, what brings you here?" Qian Mo asked Biyao.

"I haven’t married you yet!" Biyao retorted, nose wrinkled in embarrassment.

"You’re absolutely adorable like this, Biyao."

"R-really?"

"Truly."

"We came here to find the tombs of Lady Hexuan and Elder Blackheart—the Blood Drip Cave. But we couldn’t even get past the valley," Biyao explained, her shyness gone.

"What a coincidence! I’m searching for their tombs too—I need something inside, the Celestial Book," Qian Mo admitted openly.

"The Celestial Book? There’s one in Blood Drip Cave?" Biyao and You Ji asked in unison.

"Yes. I just want to study it, see if there’s anything to discover," Qian Mo said nonchalantly.

"I see."

"Let’s go. I’ve already slain all the bats in this cave. There are four barriers here—Bat Valley was the first. We still have three more to face. Don’t stray too far from me, my dear and Aunt You," Qian Mo said.

"Alright," the two replied together.

"And my name is Qian Mo!"

They pressed onward.

(End of this chapter)