Chapter 696: Playing Hard to Get

After listening to Zhi Bing's story, Wang Sheng and Yaoyun could not help but sigh. Chun Yangzi truly was a bit too much of a scoundrel.

Like many powerful beings in the endless space, Zhi Bing preferred to remain hidden. She was just a Nine-Curve Radiant Ice Lotus—a created spiritual root—when she started cultivating. By nature, she preferred solitude and quiet.

Long ago, her master, who had helped her cultivate and take human form, left the secluded celestial body where they had lived and vanished without a trace. From then on, Zhi Bing stayed there alone, cultivating in silence as the years stretched into ages.

Without even realizing it, she attained immortality and reached the Taiyi Golden Immortal Realm. Her enchanted power grew immensely, and her divine abilities became profound. Throughout that duration, she never once interacted with the outside world. She simply cultivated at ease on the lonely planet, pursuing the Great Dao... until Chun Yangzi came into her life.

With a nostalgic gaze, Zhi Bing softly added, "He crashed onto the planet gravely wounded and on the brink of death. I do not know what came over me, but I forgot my master's warning about avoiding karmic ties and chose to save him."

What followed was, in truth, the typical story about a pure and untouched immortal maiden who was innocent of worldly matters meeting a wounded and disheartened man who had been in countless romantic entanglements.

In only half a month, Zhi Bing started to feel a quiet affection for him. In less than three months, her feelings had deepened beyond return. They spent their days writing, painting, singing, and playing music together.

For the first time, she discovered that there was more to life than cultivation. Unfortunately, with it came a feeling she had never known before: loneliness.

The development of their relationship followed the natural course of things. Within their first year, they gave in to their feelings. After that came days of romance and carefree happiness.

Yet after only a few days together, Zhi Bing awoke one morning in the immortal palace they had just built, only to find him gone. All that remained was a letter by her pillow.

She waited for him for a hundred thousand years, but Chun Yangzi never returned.

With a bitter smile, Zhi Bing murmured, "In the letter, Lu Dongbin said that he had many great matters to attend to and that he did not wish to drag me into other karmic ties. He promised that once everything was settled, he would return to find me and stay by my side forever. Only later did I learn that he left such letters for many others as well. There were at least a dozen women like me."

Yaoyun could no longer hold herself back. "He toyed with hearts and abandoned them! He deserves to die!"

Before she finished speaking, an icicle formed in front of her forehead. Yaoyun froze instantly, not daring to move.

Zhi Bing said coldly, "Only I can say things like that about him! No matter how flawed he is, I am willing to accept him. There is no need for you to speak out of turn!"

Wang Sheng quickly interjected, "Senior, please do not blame her. Before becoming my sword spirit, she was once a living being. Some of her sisters fell victim to his advances as well, leading to her resentment toward him."

"

Oh?

" Zhi Bing's expression softened slightly. "That explains it, then. Anyway, you said earlier that you could help me. How do you intend to do that?"

Yaoyun snorted quietly.

Wang Sheng cleared his throat and straightened his expression. "I believe you know my forefather quite well, Senior."

"Other than being overly fickle in love, there is nothing wrong with him."

Yaoyun telepathically muttered to Wang Sheng, "

She is beyond saving.

"

"

Love clouds judgment. Try to be understanding,

" Wang Sheng replied.

He then fell into thought.

After a while, he asked, "From what you know, are there others like you who are searching for him?"

"There is one who's rumored to be from the Immortal Saint Realm. She has an extremely high cultivation realm. I have encountered her several times, and we have even fought," Zhi Bing said. "Most of the others are far weaker and have not reached the Taiyi Golden Immortal Realm yet."

She considers everyone below Taiyi Golden Immortals as weak? What about me, then? I worked so hard to reach the Heavenly Immortal Realm—whatever. I should focus on getting a little payback for now.

"In that case, you actually have a strong advantage, Senior."

"Oh? How so?"

Though it was easy to get his point across, Wang Sheng still phrased his next sentences carefully.

"At the very least, your cultivation is close to my forefather's. Externally, you can truly support him. Internally, you can stand as an unshakable presence among those connected to him." He shook his head slightly. "My forefather seeks absolute freedom and a life without restraint. If I may be bold, I believe the reason he left you so quickly was that he was afraid."

"Afraid?"

"

Mm.

He feared that if he stayed too long, he would grow attached to you and find himself unable to leave."

Zhi Bing immediately covered her cheeks. Her eyes rippled with emotion. "Are you sure? My beloved Lu really left because—"

Wang Sheng interjected seriously, "Don't celebrate too early, Senior. A man who values freedom so deeply is the hardest to keep. Right now, I can only think of two ways to do this. First, you can wander the world alongside my forefather."

Zhi Bing sighed softly. "If he were willing to take me with him, I would not be suffering like this."

"Then we're left with only one option: use your charm to make him always think of you and ensure his heart remains yours. No matter how far he travels, he will return to you in the end."

Zhi Bing quickly asked, "That sounds pretty straightforward, but how do I do that?"

Yaoyun answered, "Simple: the Old Man Under the Moon to tie the red thread of fate, or you can resort to the Ancient-Era shamanic arts that use love Gu."

Wang Sheng smiled. "My sword spirit is joking. The Heavenly Court no longer exists, and even if the red thread still worked, it would just turn your relationship with him into a mere title.

"Considering how my forefather sees things, he probably sees concubines as better than wives, and illicit relationships far above concubines. He values those he cannot obtain the most. That's why methods like that won't work on him. In the end, you'll just have to rely on your own charm, Senior."

"My own charm?"

"

Mm.

" Wang Sheng snapped his fingers. "Forgive my bluntness, but although you possess unmatched beauty, you are only showing a portion of your full charm. We need a clear plan.

"First, we have to make my forefather come to rescue me. When he does, you have to appear before him in a way that leaves him stunned and completely captivated. If my guess is correct, there is a high chance he will turn around and start pursuing you. At that point..."

Zhi Bing focused.

With emphasis, Wang Sheng exclaimed, "You have to make sure to give him a hard time!"

Zhi Bing paused in surprise.

"The harder something is to obtain, the more a man desires it. That is simply how we think. Playing hard to get is a classic tactic in the game of love. You should not give in too easily.

"My forefather is very masculine, and he cultivates in the Great Dao of Pure Yang. It's in his nature to be unrestrained. As long as you never let him succeed, he will get entangled with you more and more deeply.

"On top of that, you already share a past. That contrast will weigh on his mind. At the right moment, you can give him a small taste, enough to keep him from letting go but never enough to satisfy him. After that..."

Wang Sheng went on for a while, explaining every detail. As he spoke convincingly within the cave, Zhi Bing listened with complete focus, nodding from time to time.

Yaoyun could only stand at the side. She stared at Wang Sheng in astonishment as he spoke with immense enthusiasm. If she did not know he was Chun Yangzi's disciple and that the two shared no real enmity, she would have likely believed that he harbored a deep grudge against his own forefather.

"You have to become an expert in this field to deal with my forefather. When experts face each other, the outcome is decided in an instant. With your personality and the Great Dao you cultivate, you can present yourself as a supreme sovereign of ice, someone far above all others. My forefather will fall completely under your charm!"

By the time he was done, Zhi Bing's breathing had grown uneven.

The Grand Dao Golden Immortal suddenly turned and flew out of the cave, spreading her arms as she sensed the Great Dao around her.

After a moment, she turned back. She resolutely exclaimed, "Tell me exactly what to do! Please guide me! If I succeed, I will reward you generously!"

Wang Sheng gave her a thumbs-up. "That presence just now was good. Try to hold on to that feeling. Yaoyun, come help as well. Design a few different looks for Senior. Since you have seen the wider world, I'm sure you can make her appear as noble and striking as possible! We have to help her win over my forefather and give him a warm and reliable place to one day return to!"

Yaoyun rolled her eyes. Still, she started to seriously examine Zhi Bing's figure, thinking about how to refine her appearance and presence.

***

Half a month later.

"Zhi Bing has a soft heart. She wouldn't give my grand-disciple a hard time, would she?"

Within space, Chun Yangzi stroked his chin in thought as he looked at the ice-blue planet in the distance.

He knew this was where he would find Zhi Bing.

"This makes me feel so nostalgic. I was ordered to capture two old fiends back then, but I was ambushed and severely injured. In the end, I fled here and met Little Zhi Bing." Chun Yangzi sighed. "After so many years, I have finally returned to this place."

Chun Yangzi shook his head and took out a wooden box. From within it, he released two butterflies that drifted toward the planet. They appeared slow, yet in the blink of an eye, they had already entered its atmosphere.

Chun Yangzi closed his eyes. Sharing their vision, he soon located Wang Sheng's aura.

In truth, he had already noticed the ice-crystal palace atop the highest peak. Wang Sheng's aura was inside it.

The two butterflies fluttered forward as if no one could see them. They passed through two layers of arrays without disturbance and soon entered the building.

"Oh? This place is quite tastefully built, and the scenery is rather pleasing. There are ice crystals and icicles everywhere."

Before long, the butterflies traced Wang Sheng's aura to its exact location. They concealed themselves completely and drifted toward him, who was sitting cross-legged beside a stone pillar in the great hall.

𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

At first, Chun Yangzi just observed the surroundings and considered how to rescue his grand-disciple. However, when the butterflies reached Wang Sheng from behind, Chun Yangzi's attention was drawn to an ice-crystal throne on the elevated platform ahead.

A woman in an ice-blue dress reclined upon it, her eyes gently closed and her long lashes trembling slightly. She supported her flawless face with one of her delicate hands. Her gown was also exquisitely luxurious, making her skin appear even fairer and shinier.

She was as beautiful as a painting and looked almost unreal. However, she also seemed like a sovereign of ice, standing above all things and offering indifference to the world.

Proud, cold, and beyond compare.

She flicked her finger lightly, and the two butterflies exploded instantly. Her lips curved into a faint smile that had a trace of disdain.

Chun Yangzi's eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost. "Was that... Little Zhi Bing?"

He found it impossible to dispel the image lingering in his mind.

Did I really miss how beautiful she was back then?

Looking down at his clothes, he transformed them into a fresh white robe. He adjusted his collar, changed his hairstyle, and rode a cloud toward the planet.