Qi Yuan burst into laughter. "What misunderstanding?"

His smile seemed friendly, even gentle—but to Xiangyun, it was utterly terrifying. Just a glance at it made his life flash before his eyes.

At that moment, a clear female voice rang out, melodious like the music of the heavens. "How could you fail to inform me of the Blood-Clothed Sword God’s arrival in Qinghong City? Had I known, I would have prepared a proper welcome for you in the Phoenix Palace."

Everyone turned to look. Like a fairy descending from heavens, a woman had appeared, her face hidden behind a veil. Her robes seemed woven from the radiant glow of morning clouds. Graceful and radiant, she moved with the elegance of a celestial maiden.

She instantly became the center of attention.

"Greetings, Great Venerable Jasmine!"

"Greetings, Palace Master!"

All the cultivators bowed.

As the palace master of Phoenix Heaven's most powerful faction, Jasmine was the most prestigious woman around here. Cold sweat poured down Xiangyun's forehead. If even Jasmine had arrived, then the man had truly been the Blood-Clothed Sword God!

Qi Yuan glanced lazily at Jasmine. "These people accused me of stealing the Linglong Flask from Wangxian Tower. They even told me to kill myself to atone for it. Normally, with my temper, I'd just kill them and be done with it. However, since our relationship is somewhat ambiguous, I figured I should at least give you a little face."

Xiangyun felt a surge of relief. So, everything is fine?

Qi Yuan's next sentence shattered him. "That's why I called you over so I can kill him right in front of you."

There was a flash of red. In the blink of an eye, a sword of blood qi cleaved Xiangyun and the shopkeeper in two.

Qi Yuan clapped his hands lightly at Jasmine. "You love me so much. You don't mind if I help you clean the house, do you?"

His sudden attack stunned everyone. Jasmine had just arrived, and yet he killed her subordinates right in front of her. It was practically a slap to her face.

Yet instead of getting angry, Jasmine smiled bewitchingly. "They insulted you. If you hadn't killed them, I would have done it for you."

The cultivators couldn't help but stare enviously at the Blood-Clothed Sword God. Despite what he did, she coaxed him with such a soft and flirtatious tone. This was true love. Overwhelming power combined with the favor of a Great Venerable—the Blood-Clothed Sword God truly had it all!

"Looks like I misunderstood you. The rumors were true, you really do like me," Qi Yuan said casually.

"Young Master is unmatched in appearance and extraordinary in strength. It's only natural for me to be drawn to you." [1]Jasmine smiled faintly, reaching out to place her hand on his arm. "Let's return to the Phoenix Palace together."

"No thanks." Qi Yuan flicked his sleeve away before she could touch him. "Men and women should keep proper distance. I haven't agreed to date you yet, so don't touch me."

Jasmine’s eyes flickered in surprise before she laughed again. "What brings Young Master to Qinghong City so suddenly?"

"I heard there was a beauty here secretly in love with me. Since she couldn't see me, she supposedly wept herself to sleep every day. I felt bad for her, so I came to see whether she'd fallen ill from lovesickness," Qi Yuan spouted complete nonsense.

To begin with, Jasmine was the one who started the rumor. He might as well add a little embellishment.

He added, "Jasmine, my dear, I never expected you to love me this much. I'm deeply moved."

He even lowered his voice slightly when saying "my dear," as if deliberately trying to sound seductive. Surely, she couldn’t resist him?

If he weren’t the Blood-Clothed Sword God, the surrounding cultivators would have burst into laughter.

Jasmine’s laughter rang like silver bells. "As expected of the man I've taken a fancy to. You're quite amusing."

Qi Yuan said boldly, "Since you love me so much, now that I've personally come to Qinghong City, when are you planning to confess your love to me?"

The crowd froze.

"Confess?"

"Great Venerable Jasmine confessing to the Blood-Clothed Sword God?"

Their minds struggled to process what they'd just heard. When had it turned into Jasmine confessing to him?

Even Jasmine's smile stiffened slightly. "Is Young Master joking with me?"

Qi Yuan replied coolly. "I never joke. If you love me so much, you wouldn't refuse to confess, would you?"

Jasmine simply smiled without answering.

Qi Yuan continued pressing her. "Well, you’re a bit of a beauty, but back in my village, you’d probably be the type who couldn’t even find a husband. If you're going to confess to me, you'd better show some sincerity. You can start by handing over the Mythic Secret Treasury. Who knows, I might accept your confession."

His words had so many ridiculous points that the onlookers held their breath. They desperately wanted to scream, “Blood-Clothed Sword God, are you blind?!”

Couldn’t find a husband, he said? Jasmine was the number one beauty in the Phoenix Heaven! Moreover, asking for the Mythic Secret Treasury?! He really dared to dream big. His scheme was so obvious the whole city could see through it!

Jasmine gazed at him contemplatively. "The Mythic Secret Treasury was left to me by my father. Only my husband may share it with me."

Qi Yuan sighed dramatically. "Ha, there it is.[2] You don’t love me after all. Haa... I can’t even compare to those punk kids riding ghost fire motorcycles.[3] They can charm other people’s daughters into losing their minds. And you won't even give me your old man's inheritance."

Jasmine smiled gently, her voice softening. "Young Master jests, though I've admired you for a long time, my marriage is not something I can decide freely. Before my father passed away, he said that only a man willing to die for me was worthy of my hand and the Mythic Secret Treasury."

Qi Yuan shrugged "Your father was a stubborn old fossil. Don't listen to him."

What era was this? The Qing dynasty had already fallen, and dating still required life-and-death trials?

"A daughter cannot disobey her father's final wishes," Jasmine said softly, appearing as pitiful as a girl next door. "It seems Young Master and I are destined to miss each other."

Qi Yuan said coldly, "Which just proves you don't love me enough. In that case, you may leave."

Jasmine smiled. "If Young Master has time, come visit me at the Phoenix Palace. Though the Mythic Secret Treasury cannot be given to you, I can give other things."

With that, she vanished.

The rest of the cultivators were deeply shaken by everything they had witnessed. Watching this drama unfold had been far too exciting.

Qi Yuan glanced at the corpses on the ground and casually kicked them out of the room. Then, he looked at Ye He. "Brother, you spoke up for justice earlier. My thanks."

Ye He was stunned. The legendary Blood-Clothed Sword God was speaking to him. He felt both honored and overwhelmed.

Feng Xie added, "Brother Ye, thank you as well."

He knew how much courage it had taken for Ye He to step forward earlier.

Ye He glanced around the room before secretly transmitting a message to Qi Yuan. "Be careful of Great Venerable Jasmine. She's not as simple as she appears."

"Oh? I see. Thanks for the warning," Qi Yuan replied.

1. This Jasmine gives me snakey vibes. She calls him 'Young Master' in a seductive manner. Go teach this two-faced woman a lesson Qi Yuan. ☜

2. ***E/N: Qi Yuan toxic bf arc ☜

3. The term “Ghost Fire Boys” (鬼火少年) has become internet slang for young Chinese men who modify Yamaha RSZ scooters—nicknamed “ghost fire” bikes—and post videos of their stunts on social media platforms like Kuaishou and Douyin. These small 100cc scooters, popular for their sleek design and affordability, have become canvases for elaborate customization among youth in provinces like Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou. For these riders, leaving a bike unmodified is unthinkable. Modifications focus on speed (reaching 69-100 km/h) and flashy aesthetics—LED lights, roaring upward-pointing exhausts, colorful shells, and glowing accessories designed for maximum visual impact. Beyond customization, many perform increasingly dangerous stunts for social media: high-speed wheelies, racing through traffic without helmets, and risky maneuvers that prioritize viral content over personal safety. ☜