Chapter 362: I Like You!

The Adjudication Sword Master turned around to leave, but a spacetime rift manifested in front of her, and Ye Guan walked out of it.

The Adjudication Sword Master stopped walking and stared at Ye Guan silently as he walked up to her.

Ye Guan sounded excited as he exclaimed, "Cijing!"

Cijing!

The Adjudication Sword was astonished. Ye Guan had always addressed her formally as Lady Adjudication Sword Master, so she couldn't help but be astonished that he had addressed her so casually.

Ye Guan laughed and exclaimed once again, "Cijing!"

"What?" As always, Cijing's reply was as cold as a thousand-year-old icy cavern. However, Ye Guan had already gotten used to her cold replies.

"Did you come here to help me?" asked Ye Guan.

Cijing's expression was indifferent as she said, "As if."

Ye Guan grinned but stayed silent.

Cijing's eyebrows raised, and she asked, "Why are you smiling?"

"I'm just happy to see you here," Ye Guan replied.

Cijing looked at him. After a while, she looked away and shook her head. She turned around to leave, but Ye Guan pulled her arm. She turned and glared at him.

"What are you pulling me back for?" she asked.

Ye Guan sounded serious as he said, "Cijing, can we talk?"

"What is there for us to talk about?" asked Cijing while glaring at him.

Ye Guan had many things to say, but he didn't know how to start.

"I'm from the True Universe, and you're from Guanxuan Universe. The only thing we can talk about is how to destroy the other," said Cijing.

"Then why did you save me over and over again?" asked Ye Guan.

Cijing said fiercely, "Because I want to end you myself!"

"That's a lie." Ye Guan shook his head and retorted, "Otherwise, I would have died long ago."

Cijing shook her head and didn't say anything in response. She also had many things she wanted to say, but she wasn't sure how to start.

Ye Guan was from the Guanxuan Universe, and she was supposed to kill him, but for some reason, she didn't want to see him die. Her emotions were like a tangled web; she was conflicted and found it agonizing.

The Adjudication Sword Master then said, "I'm leaving."

She turned around to leave, but Ye Guan didn't let go of her arm.

The Adjudication Sword Master met Ye Guan's gaze.

Ye Guan stared intently at her ice-cold visage and gently brushed her cheek with his right hand.

She didn't resist his touch, but she asked, "Do you know what you're doing?"

Ye Guan grinned. "Do you know what I felt when you were about to leave just now?"

The Adjudication Sword Master was quiet.

"I felt like a failure," Ye Guan confessed.

The Adjudication Sword Master frowned slightly.

Ye Guan explained, "You've saved me multiple times now, and you've done it, even though you're from the True Universe. I know you must have been torn between saving me and killing me, especially when the former means that you'll stand on the opposite side of your sister."

Ye Guan revealed a self-deprecating smile and said, "You've always been so unwaveringly devoted to me, but what about me? I've been playing dumb, pretending not to know, not even daring to say that I like you..."

The Adjudication Sword Master flinched, and her heart started to pound madly against her chest. Her voice was trembling, and even her pupils quivered violently as she stared at Ye Guan and muttered, "D-do you even know what you're saying?"

"It doesn't matter whether you like me or not," Ye Guan stared at her and said earnestly, "I like you."

The Adjudication Sword Master quivered, and a strange feeling rose in her heart.

"What do you like about me?" She shook her head and said, "You're from the Guanxuan Universe, and I'm from the True Universe. Have you forgotten that we're enemies? Are we going to stage some melodramatic play in the future?"

Ye Guan was about to speak, but she continued. "You won't betray the Guanxuan Universe for me, and I won't betray the True Universe as well as my elder sister for you, so—"

"Huh? What am I even saying?" The Adjudication Sword Master frowned deeply and explained, "I never said I like you too!"

She had just allowed her thoughts to get the better of her!

The Adjudication Sword Master glared at Ye Guan with a mix of embarrassment and anger. This scoundrel of a man was truly cunning.

Ye Guan was stunned by the Adjudication Sword Master's tirade. However, her embarrassed visage had also taken him by surprise. The Adjudication Sword Master's cheeks were adorned with faint blush, and even though her overall demeanor was icy, it carried an inexplicable charm that captivated him.

Seeing Ye Guan staring at her with infatuation, the blush on the Adjudication Sword Master’s cheeks deepened a bit. She glared fiercely at Ye Guan and scolded, "What are you looking at? Keep staring, and I'll stab you to death."

Ye Guan tightened his grip on the Adjudication Sword Master's arm and muttered, "You're really beautiful."

The Adjudication Sword Master was stunned. She avoided Ye Guan’s gentle gaze and muttered, "What’s the point of telling me that?"

Ye Guan held the Adjudication Sword Master‘s hand and whispered, "I've been avoiding it. I hadn't been able to face you because I've been thinking of you as part of the True Universe, as the Adjudication Sword Master. We're enemies..."

"We've always been enemies, and we're going to keep on being enemies. A fight to the death is our fate, and we cannot escape that fate," the Adjudication Sword Master said.

Just then, Ye Guan bent down and kissed her on the lips. Books had taught Ye Guan that it was sometimes unnecessary to talk reasonably with women, and it was highly recommended not to argue with them.

If there were issues between a man and a woman—the man should just kiss her!

The Adjudication Sword Master's figure stiffened, and her mind went blank. When she came to her senses, she instinctively wanted to resist, but she felt as though her entire body was made out of jelly. She couldn't resist at all.

Ye Guan was a bit nervous. It was his first time stealing a kiss. Fortunately, it seemed that all men had the ability to adapt quickly during intimate moments.

Ye Guan felt that the Adjudication Sword Master had gone soft in his arms, and his heart started going wild—no, it was actually his hands. His hands were about to dance all over the Adjudication Sword Master's slender figure.

"

Humph!

"

A cold snort abruptly echoed from the side.

The Adjudication Sword Master’s face instantly changed, and a powerful sword aura burst out of her, blasting Ye Guan a few meters away. Ye Guan recovered quickly from his astonishment and followed the Adjudication Sword Master's gaze.

The Adjudication Sword Master was staring at Cirou wearing a long pale yellow dress.

Ye Guan's expression soured, and he felt horrible. Why did she show up

now

of all times?!

The Adjudication Sword Master's expression was a hodgepodge of embarrassment and fury. She was embarrassed that her sister had seen her during

that

, and she was furious at Ye Guan.

She glared at Ye Guan, and her gaze looked like it was sharp enough to kill.

Cirou swept her gaze across the two and sneered, "How scandalous!"

"So what?" The Adjudication Sword Master glared coldly at Cirou. "It's none of your business!"

Cirou smirked, saying nothing.

Ye Guan started walking toward the Adjudication Sword Master. As he approached, The Adjudication Sword Master drew her sword and pointed it at him before stammering, "Y-y-you... don't come any closer! I'm going to stab you if you do!"

Ye Guan stood his ground and called her bluff.

The Adjudication Sword Master's cheeks flushed red.

Ye Guan smiled softly and said, "I didn't mean to be disrespectful. I was just so happy to see you that I was struck by this overwhelming urge to kiss you. I don't know what happened to me. Perhaps it's because you're so beautiful—no, I think it's because I really like you..."

Cirou's eyes widened in disbelief at Ye Guan's sudden confession.

What? Since when and how did this scoundrel become a smooth talker?

The Adjudication Sword Master's fierce gaze softened upon hearing Ye Guan's words. She looked at the slightly nervous and uneasy Ye Guan and relented. She lowered her sword and muttered, "Just don't be so disrespectful next time."

Cirou’s expression froze, and she stared wide-eyed at the Adjudication Sword Master.

Is she the same Cijing that I know? Is she really that Cijing? Oh, no!

Cirou realized that the clueless girl had truly fallen for Ye Guan. Otherwise, she would have gotten mad upon getting kissed from out of nowhere. However, the opposite had just happened.

This is a complete disaster!

No! Cirou was determined not to let Cijing fall deeper in love with him! Having made up her mind, Cirou hurriedly said, "Cijing, this scoundrel isn't what you think he is. He's really despicable. He's just playing with your feelings. I've followed him for so long, and I know his personality well. He has many flaws, really..."

The Adjudication Sword Master glanced at Cirou and asked, "What are those flaws?"

Cirou wanted to say something, but she found herself at a loss for words.

Flaws? What are Ye Guan's flaws?

She couldn't come up with anything on the spot. She had been following Ye Guan for a long time, so she knew that he had a great personality. He was also humble despite his powerful background, and he was also quite a hard worker. He also stood out as a positive influence among his peers, so he was flawless in Cirou's eyes.

Still, Cirou knew that she had to nitpick here, so she said, "He's quite fickle in relationships, and he's attracted to many women. He fits Big Sister's description of

golden retriever men

, and he can't even take care of his women."

The Adjudication Sword Master turned to look at Ye Guan.

"Can't take care of my women? Are you talking about Ba Wan?" Ye Guan asked.

Ba Wan?

Cirou froze upon realizing that she had messed up.

The Adjudication Sword Master frowned.

"Lady Cirou, others liking me is their business, and I can't stop them from liking me. However, I have to admit that I genuinely like Ba Wan, just as I like Cijing... Of course, I had no idea at the time that I was just dancing on your palm."

Ye Guan shook his head with a smile and said, "Lady Cirou, you've created a trap targeting my emotions and good intentions. It's a trap I couldn't have avoided, so you really are a genius. I concede. I can't outsmart you."

The Adjudication Sword Master glared coldly at Cirou and said, "How despicable."

Cirou remained silent. She wanted to say something more, but Ye Guan suddenly walked up to her. Cirou looked at him silently

Ye Guan spoke earnestly, "Lady Cirou, you've been with me from the start of my journey. You've helped me a lot, and you've even saved me a few times. I've always respected you, and I've always thought of you as my tutor. Even now, I've never said anything bad about you to others..."

"So..." Ye Guan shook his head slightly and asked, "Must you speak ill of me to Cijing?"

Cirou stared quietly at Ye Guan.

Ye Guan continued, "I know you're helping your big sister, and that's the reason behind your scheme against me. However, Lady Cirou, I'm sure you know just what kind of a person I am.

"You've treated me well, so if you were in trouble and needed my help, you could have just called my name. Do you really think that I would have stood by and allowed you to face such adversity by yourself?

"I understand that the Universe Tribulation is extremely dangerous, and it concerns the fate of the vast expanse, but you should have just talked to me about it. I respected you a lot, and I would have asked my relatives to help you."

Ye Guan shook his head once again; his gaze seemed melancholic as he said, "All you needed to do was say one word, and I, Ye Guan, would have gone all out to help you because I truly respected you, and... I considered you as family."

Cirou clenched her fists tightly, and her pupils quivered as she stared at Ye Guan. She truly didn't expect that she had such a high position in Ye Guan's heart. No, she hadn't even considered it.