Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard

Han Mingyuan leapt back ten feet, pointing at her. "Look at yourself! Look at this pathetic state you're in! Being with you would be a surefire way to die a miserable death! What kind of woman acts like this?!"

"What's wrong with me?! What's wrong with me?! What's wrong with me?!" The little phoenix closed in on Han Mingyuan. "Do you only like those delicate, weak women who spend all day lamenting spring and autumn? What's so great about them? Acting so fake all the time—don't you get tired of it?"

"I like them. What’s it to you?" Han Mingyuan turned and hugged the tree trunk beside him, peeking out to glare at the little phoenix.

"No! You're not allowed to like anyone else! You can only love me!" The little phoenix screamed as she lunged at Han Mingyuan. "You're only allowed to marry me in this lifetime! If you dare marry anyone else, I'll castrate you first, then kill her!"

"You venomous woman! Your heart and blood must all be black!" Han Mingyuan accused.

"You saw my body—how dare you not take responsibility? Letting you marry me is already generous! If Grandfather found out, he'd have tossed you into the snake pit long ago!" the little phoenix retorted, sounding slightly aggrieved.

"See? Your whole family is vicious. Why create a snake pit? Only perverts would enjoy such things. And what do you mean I saw your body? The moment I saw you, I immediately closed my eyes! I truly saw nothing! How many times do I have to say it before you believe me?!"

Han Mingyuan felt wronged too. He hadn't seen anything! He'd just gotten lost in the mountains, stumbled upon a pond, and accidentally saw someone bathing in it. How had he ended up with such a troublesome person?

"I don't believe you! I won't believe a word you say!" The little phoenix declared. "My grandfather said men's words can't be trusted! You say you didn't see it, so you didn't? But how did you find me bathing in the pond if you didn't see anything?!"

"I..." Han Mingyuan was momentarily at a loss for words. His eyes darted around and he retorted, "Your grandfather said men's words can't be trusted, so why do you believe this particular thing he said? Is he not a man?"

"You're the one who's not a man! My grandfather is the person closest to me. Of course I believe what he says! " The little phoenix retorted. "Stop beating around the bush. Just answer me—will you marry me or not?"

"No way! Never in a million years!" Han Mingyuan shook his head like a rattle.

While he admired the straightforwardness of martial artists, that didn't mean he could handle the little phoenix's fiery temper.

"You truly won't marry me?" The little phoenix pressed.

"I won't!" Han Mingyuan declared firmly.

"Fine. Since you won't marry me, I'll kill you first! Save Grandfather the trouble of doing it himself when he returns." The little phoenix drew the whip from her waist and lashed it fiercely at Han Mingyuan.

"Again?" Han Mingyuan scoffed. "We've fought for days. Do you really think you can kill me?"

This exchange repeated twice daily in the woods, invariably ending in a fierce brawl. More often than not, Han Mingyuan fled while the little phoenix pursued, only stopping when both were utterly exhausted and sought shelter.

This time was no exception. After half an hour, each clutched a tree trunk, gasping for breath. Already exhausted, compounded by days without proper meals—surviving only on forest fruits—both felt increasingly drained. Their bouts of chase and combat grew shorter each time.

"Seriously," Han Mingyuan panted, waving his hand in surrender, "what kind of forest is this? Why can't we get out?"

The little phoenix was exhausted too. Running and fighting nonstop had taken its toll.

"There's an array here!" The little phoenix declared. "Grandfather always warned me never to come into this forest, saying once you enter, you can't leave. If it weren't for you, you fool, stumbling in by accident, I wouldn't have followed you in. Hmph! Didn't you swear up and down you could lead me out?"

"I don't know any formations. How come you can't get out of a place your grandfather set up?" Han Mingyuan side-eyed the little phoenix.

This woman has boundless energy. She'd nearly driven him mad over the past month.

"I do know formations," the little phoenix replied with an air of superiority, "but Grandfather never taught me how to break this one! Since he said I couldn't, why would I waste my energy trying?"

"Fine then," Han Mingyuan sighed helplessly. "Tell me how we get out."

The little phoenix instantly deflated, her face falling as she replied, "Only Grandpa can let us out once he returns."

"And where is your grandfather?" Han Mingyuan had heard her mention him countless times. He couldn't help but wonder how this old man could abandon his own granddaughter like this. If he let her go out and about, he could at least accompany her!

"My grandfather's gone on a long journey!" The little phoenix slid down the tree trunk and said, "Every year, Grandpa takes me back to visit Grandma Sea. I suppose that's where he's headed this time too."

"When will he return?" Han Mingyuan asked.

The little phoenix shook her head. "Sometimes sooner, sometimes later. Sometimes we'd return after just a few days, other times it took months. The longest time, Grandpa took me to stay with Grandma Sea for a year and a half."

"Whoa—a year and a half?!" Han Mingyuan was startled. If he was gone for a year and a half, wouldn't that mean he'd have to endure living with this tigress for a year and a half?

MoonWhisperer, skyrise's Thoughts

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