Chapter 6: A Rogue Cultivator’s Swift Return and a Knowing Gaze

After hearing them introduce themselves, Bai Mengqi’s expression remained somewhat nonchalant.

“Oh, so you’re from the Star-Plucking Gate,” she remarked. “No wonder. Never mind, I won’t bother arguing with you. This bag belongs to my boss, and I absolutely must take it back. Farewell.”

With those words, Bai Mengqi turned to leave the place.

However, the members of the Star-Plucking Gate were not about to let her go so easily.

Their figures flickered, moving with ghostly speed. In the blink of an eye, they had completely encircled Bai Mengqi.

As the leader of the Star-Plucking Gate’s current operation, Qi Wenxuan’s face was grim. He spoke in a deep voice, “That won’t do. What we’ve stolen is ours. Those are the rules of our Star-Plucking Gate. And you still haven’t introduced yourself.”

His eyes held an unquestionable resolve, as if the bag rightfully belonged to the Star-Plucking Gate, and no one should dare to take it easily.

Seeing this, Bai Mengqi let out a soft, helpless sigh.

She knew in her heart that a peaceful resolution was unlikely today. These Star-Plucking Gate members wouldn’t be easily dismissed. “Alright,” she responded, “it seems we have to resort to force, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, I’m a rogue cultivator with no sect or affiliation.”

Upon hearing Bai Mengqi’s words, the men immediately dropped all pretense of politeness.

In their eyes, what capabilities could a mere rogue cultivator possess? To dare to contend with their Star-Plucking Gate for an item—wasn’t that simply overestimating themselves?

Qi Wenxuan, in particular, flashed past Bai Mengqi without hesitation. His speed was like lightning, instantly stirring up a gust of wind.

His target was the bag in Bai Mengqi’s hand; he intended to use the Star-Plucking Gate’s proud speed advantage to snatch it back in one swift move.

These members of the Star-Plucking Gate primarily cultivated speed in their daily practice. Their figures weaved through crowds with effortless grace, like streaks of light and shadow.

Now, they took turns launching swift and agile attacks at Bai Mengqi, attempting to overwhelm her and find an opportunity to reclaim the bag.

Yet, Bai Mengqi was as slippery as an eel, her movements incredibly nimble. Each time they neared her or the bag, she would skillfully slip away from their grasp, effortlessly evading their attacks.

Her movements were light and swift, as if she had already anticipated their every action, always making the most appropriate evasive response at the crucial moment.

Thus, they exchanged blows, back and forth. After several rounds, the Star-Plucking Gate members gradually began to tire.

“So fast,” one of them gasped. “Her speed is greater than ours.”

After a few more rounds of attacking, they realized they had encountered a true master.

They had initially believed that, with the Star-Plucking Gate’s speed advantage, subduing this rogue cultivator would be an effortless task.

They never expected Bai Mengqi’s speed to be so astonishingly quick, leaving them utterly unprepared.

Since speed offered them no advantage, the group conferred and decided to change their strategy.

They ceased relying on speed-based attacks and instead launched a formal assault of punches and kicks against Bai Mengqi.

Clenching their fists and raising their feet, they adopted a stance ready for a direct confrontation, then fiercely lunged at Bai Mengqi.

However, just as the men simultaneously launched their true offensive against Bai Mengqi, she suddenly flickered repeatedly.

Her figure darted past them with such incredible speed that her movements were almost imperceptible.

In an instant, all of them were simultaneously struck. They felt a powerful force hit them, sending their bodies flying uncontrollably backward.

They crashed heavily to the ground, unable to get up for a long time.

After her attack, Bai Mengqi returned to her original spot, her expression still composed, as if she had merely performed a trivial task.

She lightly patted some non-existent dust from her clothes, then said, “Aside from being a bit fast, you’re all useless. You should really go practice your punches and kicks. I won’t call the Ability Bureau to arrest you.”

With that, she turned and left with a graceful flourish, leaving the Star-Plucking Gate members groaning in pain on the ground.

Lying on the ground, the men couldn’t even speak, for each of Bai Mengqi’s strikes had landed directly on their ‘Qi gates’.

Being struck in the ‘Qi gates’ made it difficult to breathe, as if a heavy stone pressed against their chests, causing extreme discomfort.

Fortunately, Bai Mengqi had struck with restraint; though they were temporarily incapacitated, they would recover within a minute at most.

****

Bai Mengqi quickly found Zi Yanran.

She jogged over to Zi Yanran, a slightly fawning smile on her face, and said, “Sister Yanran, your bag—I brought it back for you.”

Zi Yanran saw Bai Mengqi return her bag, yet she didn’t even glance at it.

Instead, she fixed Bai Mengqi with a meaningful look, a gaze that seemed to pierce through all of Bai Mengqi’s inner thoughts.

This gaze made Bai Mengqi feel utterly uncomfortable once more.

Subsequently, Zi Yanran walked directly into a high-end restaurant.

Bai Mengqi followed behind Zi Yanran, and just as she was about to enter the restaurant, the Great Immortaless’s voice suddenly echoed in her mind.

‘Did you see an old flame, boy?’ the Great Immortaless’s voice resonated. ‘Has your mind become sluggish? Do you think it’s normal for a young girl like you to single-handedly retrieve a bag for her boss?’

With the Great Immortaless’s reminder, Bai Mengqi suddenly realized she might have done something wrong.

She stopped in her tracks, regretfully slapped her forehead, and said in annoyance, “Huh? Why didn’t you remind me sooner?”

The Great Immortaless’s voice continued to echo in her mind.

‘Do I still need to remind you of this?’ the Great Immortaless pressed. ‘If you’re truly interested in her, just say so directly. Why get yourself so flustered and distracted?’

However, Bai Mengqi didn’t want to follow the Great Immortaless’s advice on this matter. She only wanted to proceed according to her own desires.

****

A minute later, the men lying on the ground were helped up by others.

After being helped up, Qi Wenxuan couldn’t help but complain, “Ouch, that really hurts! This little sister hits quite hard, doesn’t she? Ah, making money is tough these days.”

As he spoke, he rubbed the spot where he had been struck, his face contorted in pain.

The middle-aged man who had helped him up looked at Qi Wenxuan’s state, a wry smile on his face. He reassured him, “Don’t worry, the boss won’t treat you unfairly. Besides, that little girl knew how to hold back.”

****

Bai Mengqi and Zi Yanran had already entered the restaurant. After they sat down at a window-side table, Zi Yanran pushed the menu toward Bai Mengqi, a faint smile on her face. “You order first,” she said. “It’s my treat.”

At this moment, Bai Mengqi felt profoundly uneasy. She gazed at the menu before her, yet had no inclination to order anything.

She hesitated, then looked up at Zi Yanran and cautiously asked, “Sister Yanran, you… you’re not going to ask how I got the bag back?”

Zi Yanran rested her chin in her hands, her eyes curving into a smile as she stared at Bai Mengqi. She countered, “Do you think that matters?”

Her gaze remained as profound as ever, seemingly able to perceive all of Bai Mengqi’s inner panic and unease.

Faced with Zi Yanran’s beautiful eyes, Bai Mengqi grew even more self-conscious.

She felt her heart quicken, unable to meet Zi Yanran’s gaze any longer. She quickly lowered her head.

Then, as if an idea struck her, she looked up at the window, attempting to divert her attention.

However, with that glance, her eyes, as sharp as a magnifying glass, spotted someone approximately a hundred meters away, aiming binoculars directly at them.

That person had also just seen Bai Mengqi, and startled to realize they had been discovered, quickly lowered the binoculars, turned, and hurried away.

Bai Mengqi’s heart gave a ‘thump’. She didn’t know who this person was or why they were observing them with binoculars.

Countless thoughts flashed through her mind: Could it be someone connected to the Star-Plucking Gate? Or did they have some other agenda?

Her expression subtly changed, but she quickly composed herself, unwilling for Zi Yanran to notice her abnormality.

Zi Yanran seemed not to have noticed Bai Mengqi’s subtle changes. She continued to fix Bai Mengqi with that all-seeing gaze.

It was only when a waiter approached, asking if they were ready to order, that Zi Yanran finally withdrew her gaze and unhurriedly began to order.

Bai Mengqi secretly observed Zi Yanran, noticing her elegant and composed movements as she ordered.

She couldn’t help but admire Zi Yanran’s composure. Reflecting on her own recent panic, she felt even more like a naive child in Zi Yanran’s presence.

After ordering, Zi Yanran once again fixed Bai Mengqi with her penetrating gaze, continuing to stare at her.

Bai Mengqi dared not meet her eyes. She either fiddled with the hem of her clothes, head bowed, or pretended to observe the scenery outside the window.

She also pondered how her relationship with Zi Yanran should progress: should she keep her feelings hidden, or find an opportunity to express them?

Bai Mengqi fell into deep contemplation.