‘What is she doing here?’
Gu Ming walked forward while looking ahead, but he failed to notice two tall and burly men standing in front of him, staring at him with wary expressions.
After a moment, one of the large men couldn’t help but shout, “Hey, hey, hey! Passage is forbidden ahead.”
Hearing this, Gu Ming snapped back to reality. He looked the two men up and down; they were as strong as bulls, standing before him like small mountains. However, in Gu Ming’s eyes, they were just all for show.
Moreover, the two of them looked quite similar, except that one had a deep scar over his right eye, while the other had a deep scar over his left eye.
Gu Ming glanced at them and then caught a glimpse of Shen Lingxi on the small boat. A thought occurred to him.
‘They are probably Shen Lingxi’s guards or something.’
After all, she was the Saintess of Saintess Mountain; she would naturally have one or two guards by her side.
However, if they blocked the entire path, how were ordinary people supposed to walk?
Gu Ming scanned the surroundings and realized his concern was unnecessary. For some reason, this path by the river was deserted. There was only him, the two large men, and the Saintess on the boat.
Even so, Gu Ming developed a somewhat negative impression of Shen Lingxi. After all, that cold-as-ice Saintess actually had such an overbearing side.
However, he didn’t feel like making a fuss about it now. He had already unintentionally provoked two of the Five Great Forces; there was no need to turn Saintess Mountain into his enemy as well.
‘It’s better to avoid trouble if possible.’
With that thought in mind, Gu Ming prepared to leave.
Just as he was about to turn around, he heard a pleasant female voice call out coldly, “Dazhuang, Erzhuang, don’t cause trouble for others.”
Without him noticing when, Shen Lingxi, who had been sitting on the boat, suddenly jumped onto the shore and walked quickly toward them.
Upon seeing her, the two large men quickly bowed to Shen Lingxi.
However, the man with the scar over his right eye seemed a bit defiant and hesitated to speak. “But, Saint — Miss.”
“Dazhuang, I told you, I only came here to clear my head. It’s not good to cause trouble for people,” Shen Lingxi said, stopping the man with the scar over his right eye — Dazhuang — and shaking her head.
Seeing this, Dazhuang had no choice but to remain silent.
Witnessing this scene, Gu Ming’s impression of Shen Lingxi changed slightly. It seemed she wasn’t just some aloof Saintess and didn’t harbor those overbearing thoughts.
“Hello, my name is Shen Lingxi.” Shen Lingxi reached out her hand toward Gu Ming and smiled. “If it’s convenient, may I treat you to a meal? Consider it an apology for Dazhuang and Erzhuang’s rudeness.”
Hearing this, Dazhuang and Erzhuang immediately panicked and tried to stop her.
“Miss, if an apology is needed, we’ll just kowtow and apologize to him. You don’t need to treat him to a meal personally.”
However, when they saw Shen Lingxi’s eyes, which were filled with cold intent, they immediately shut their mouths.
Gu Ming also shook his head slightly and said, “Thank you for your kindness, but a meal is unnecessary. They didn’t do it on purpose.”
A flash of disappointment appeared in Shen Lingxi’s eyes, but how could she let such a good opportunity pass?
After leaving the Martial Arts Tournament venue in a huff, Shen Lingxi had felt increasingly depressed. She had brought two guards to this riverside path to clear her mind, never expecting to run into Gu Ming by chance.
This made her very happy.
“Then we can at least get to know each other, right?”
Shen Lingxi did not withdraw her outstretched hand. Seeing that Gu Ming still hadn’t responded, she smiled again.
“Actually, I’ve wanted to get to know you since the first time we met. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the right time for introductions. But now, I think the time is right.”
‘The first time?’
Gu Ming recalled the scene when he met the Saintess.
At that time, he had broken Gu Ziye’s hand, which had drawn the Law Enforcement Disciples of Saintess Mountain and even Elder Zhong. Back then, those people had intended to make things difficult for him, but Shen Lingxi had appeared to resolve the situation. In a way, Shen Lingxi was his benefactor.
Before Gu Ming could react, Dazhuang and Erzhuang were so shocked their jaws dropped. The Saintess of Saintess Mountain was actually taking the initiative to offer friendship to this nobody?
The gaze they directed at Gu Ming was full of hostility. ‘This damn pretty boy.’
Gu Ming continued to ignore them.
“What, am I not qualified enough now?” Shen Lingxi joked half-heartedly.
The moment those words were spoken, Gu Ming’s expression became very subtle. A memory hidden deep in his heart resurfaced.
In his memory, a little girl seemed to have said something similar.
However, he couldn’t remember the girl’s face no matter how hard he tried.
“Mi — Miss — “
The shocked voices of the two large men interrupted Gu Ming’s recollection. Gu Ming glanced over; the two of them were so dumbfounded they had practically turned to stone, unable to speak a word.
It made sense.
The dignified Saintess was saying such things to an unimportant person like him.
If he still didn’t respond, he would truly be failing to give Shen Lingxi any face.
“I’m Nameless,” Gu Ming said, reaching out to shake her hand.
It was a soft, slender palm. Holding it felt like being wrapped in cotton; it was a very strange sensation.
But that feeling quickly disappeared.
Gu Ming let go, and Shen Lingxi withdrew her hand at the appropriate time. The two of them looked at each other and shared a faint smile.
“Well then, would you do me the honor of walking with me?” Shen Lingxi tilted her head slightly.
“Of course,” Gu Ming nodded.
And so, under the stunned gazes of Dazhuang and Erzhuang, they walked away together.
***
Walking along the deserted path with Shen Lingxi, Gu Ming felt a strange sensation. Although neither of them spoke, it wasn’t awkward at all. Instead, there was a sense of comfort, like a spring breeze, as if they had known each other for a long time.
But if he said that to Shen Lingxi, she would probably think he was hitting on her.
Gu Ming shook his head slightly, clearing away those fanciful thoughts.
“What’s wrong?” Shen Lingxi suddenly asked.
“No… it’s nothing.” Gu Ming shook his head and said casually, “You said earlier that you wanted to know me since the first time we met? Why?”
Shen Lingxi blinked and gave a mischievous smile. “Guess?”
Gu Ming hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Because I look like your White Moonlight.”
“Wrong.” Shen Lingxi shook her head slightly.
“Wrong?”
Gu Ming was stunned, his brow furrowing slightly. ‘How is that wrong? Isn’t that the whole reason I was sent here?’
Seeing Gu Ming’s face wrinkle in slight annoyance, the corners of Shen Lingxi’s mouth curled up. She took a few quick steps forward, then turned around lightly, staring at Gu Ming with glowing eyes.
“Because you are!”
‘Because I am… your White Moonlight?’
‘Is that what she means?’
Gu Ming’s frown deepened. He didn’t quite understand Shen Lingxi’s meaning. “What do you mean?”
Shen Lingxi smiled mischievously again.
“Literally.”