Jiu Ming was speechless. He could not endure it any longer. His smile was frozen and his lips twitched. Then, he relaxed. "I think Xiao Qing"er has captivated me. I"ll not give up."

Nan Xian looked at Jiu Ming calmly. "You don"t have a chance."

"Why?"

"She just wants to sleep with me, aside from the fact that she likes women."

Jiu Ming did not know how to respond to that.

Unknowingly, Jiu Ming felt that he wanted to hit Nan Xian so badly at that moment. If Feng Ruqing was not there, he might not be able to hold himself back and might actually beat him up.

"It"s fine. I don"t mind it." Jiu Ming squinted. He smiled wickedly. "I don"t care what happened between you and Feng Ruqing. But, I can see that your family does not quite like Feng Ruqing. They do not treat her nicely. Nan Xian, if you let anything happen to her or if you do not always take her side in the future, I"ll definitely force her to leave you behind."

"You still don"t stand a chance."

It was destined that Nan Xian would never let her go when they had met each other a year ago at the Southern Bamboo Grove. 

"I can disown every family member and friend I have for her!

"No one can hurt her!"

"I hope so." Jiu Ming walked toward Nan Xian slowly. He lowered his voice deliberately. His voice sounded nice. "If you hurt her, even just a little, I"ll force her to leave you behind even if she"s unwilling."

"Fine."

"But…" Jiu Ming smiled again. "Don"t think that I"ll leave Xiao Qing"er. She"s so exceptional. I don"t want to leave her. I"ll have my chance if you"re treating her badly."

Nan Xian was calm and cold. But, there was something unsettling in him after he heard what Jiu Ming had said.

"I"ll never give you a chance."

"It"s because I"ll never hurt Qing"er.

"So, he"ll never have a chance in his whole life."

Jiu Ming was not smiling anymore. He stared at the young girl in front of him.

"Xiao Qing"er, I could only do so much for you.

"I do hope that he"ll always side with you.

"If he ever hurts you for his family, I"ll never let you go no matter what happens. I"ll take you away! I"ll never give him a second chance!"

Jiu Ming softly stroked the violet lightning mark at the corner of his eye. He seemed defeated and hopeless.

Maybe… he was captivated by Feng Ruqing because of what she had said when she consoled him. Everyone else was afraid of him and hated him.

But, the one who captivated him was someone else"s lover.

His feelings came too late.

He just wished that Xiao Qing"er could be happy for the rest of her life. Then, his feelings for her would not be a waste. 

***

Feng Ruqing released all of the spirit beasts. Then, she ordered the dark dragon to imprison all the other humans in the cages. After that, she returned to where Nan Xian was. But, she somehow felt that there was something wrong going on between Nan Xian and Jiu Ming.

Nan Xian was still calm. But, Jiu Ming seemed to be lonely and sad.

He appeared just like a sorrowful woman who was unable to have her wish granted.

Feng Ruqing was suddenly anxious. "Jiu Ming, what do you think about our relations.h.i.+p?"

Jiu Ming was stunned. Then, he recovered his senses. He looked at Nan Xian subconsciously before turning his gaze back to Feng Ruqing.

"That"s very good."

He still seemed lonely and sad.