People in Qin Dynasty: Opening the treasure chest, I took off!

Chapter 35 Purple Orchid Pavilion

"I'm wary of your intelligence," Xia Bing said, "and also wary of your initiative."

"Isn't being smart a good thing?"

"Being smart is good," Xia Bing said, looking at her, "but women who are too smart are often cunning."

"It's not that I dislike smart women, I just... dislike being schemed against."

Yan Lingji's expression changed.

Do you think I'm plotting against you?

"No," Xia Bing shook her head, "but I have to be careful."

Why?

"Because you are Yan Lingji," Xia Bing said, "a fire-type expert from Baiyue, and a capable assistant to Tianze."

"You must have your own purpose in coming to South Korea."

Yan Lingji remained silent.

She hadn't expected Xia Bing to be so direct.

"Young Master Xia..." she began, "you are indeed no ordinary person."

"What do you mean?"

"I thought I hid it well enough," Yan Lingji said with a wry smile, "but I didn't expect you to see through it so easily."

"I didn't see through it," Xia Bing said. "I was just guessing."

"But now it seems I was right."

Yan Lingji looked at him with a complicated expression.

"Young Master Xia, do you want to hear the truth?"

"think."

"Alright." Yan Lingji took a deep breath. "I did come to Korea for a reason."

"What's the purpose?"

"To restore the nation."

Xia Bing raised an eyebrow.

"The Baiyue were destroyed by the Qin state, and you want to restore your kingdom?"

"Yes." Yan Lingji nodded. "Baiyue is our homeland, and we want to take it back."

"What does that have to do with South Korea?"

"South Korea is the weakest of the seven kingdoms," said Yan Lingji. "If we can control South Korea, we can use it as a foundation to gradually grow stronger."

"Then what?"

"And then..." Yan Lingji looked at him, "destroy Qin, and restore the kingdom."

Xia Bing fell silent.

This plan is quite ambitious.

"So you're approaching me to try and win me over?"

"At first it was," Yan Lingji nodded, "but now..."

"What's going on now?"

"Now I'm not sure," Yan Lingji said, looking at him. "Because I've discovered that you're more complex than I thought."

"Complex?"

"Hmm." Yan Lingji nodded. "You're not only highly skilled in martial arts, you also..."

"What else do I have?"

"You also..." Yan Lingji paused, "...made my heart flutter."

Xia Bing was stunned.

"What did you say?"

"I said, you make my heart flutter." Yan Lingji looked directly into his eyes. "Xia Bing, I like you."

"Miss Yan Ling Ji..."

"Stop talking," Yan Lingji interrupted him. "I know what you want to say."

"You have too many women around you; you can't accept me."

"Is it right?"

Xia Bing was speechless.

Because what Yan Ling Ji said was indeed his idea.

"But I don't care." Yan Lingji suddenly smiled.

"Don't care about what?"

"I don't care how many women you have," Yan Lingji said, looking at him. "I only care... whether you have me in your heart."

Xia Bing fell silent.

"Flame Spirit Princess..."

"I know you might think I'm easy," Yan Lingji said. "Saying you like someone the moment you meet them sounds fake."

"But I'm telling the truth."

"In my entire life, I, Yan Lingji, have never been attracted to many men."

"You're the first person who makes me feel this...want to get close to you."

Xia Bing looked at her.

Under the moonlight, Yan Lingji's eyes shone brightly.

Her face was flushed, as if it were burning with fire.

"Xia Bing." She suddenly leaned closer to him. "Could you...give me a chance?"

"What opportunity?"

"Let me... stay here." Yan Lingji looked at him. "Let me... be closer to you."

Xia Bing fell silent.

He looked into Yan Lingji's eyes.

There is expectation, longing, and some... vulnerability in it.

"Okay," he said.

"What?" Yan Lingji was stunned.

"I said okay," Xia Bing said. "You can stay."

"Really?" Yan Lingji's eyes lit up immediately.

"Really." Xia Bing nodded, "But I have one condition."

"What are the conditions?"

"You have to be honest with them," Xia Bing said. "Jing Ni, Xue Nu, Li Wu... they are all my people."

"If you stay, you must get along well with them."

"You must not be jealous or quarrelsome, and you must not secretly trip up others."

Yan Lingji was stunned for a moment.

"You... trust me that much?"

"It's not about trust," Xia Bing smiled, "it's about giving you a chance to prove yourself."

"Prove what?"

"Prove that your feelings for me are real."

Yan Lingji looked at him with a complicated expression.

"Are you really that confident? Aren't you afraid I'll hurt them?"

"Don't be afraid," Xia Bing said, "because if you truly love me, you won't hurt them."

"All you want is... for them to accept you."

Yan Lingji remained silent.

She had to admit that Xia Bing was right.

If she truly loved Xia Bing, she wouldn't hurt the people around him.

Because doing that would only make Xia Bing hate her.

"Okay." She nodded. "I promise you."

"Then it's settled." Xia Bing smiled. "Welcome to join us."

Yan Lingji looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"Xia Bing, you really are..."

"What really is it?"

"What an unfathomable man," Yan Lingji shook her head. "I thought I knew you well enough, but I never expected..."

"What didn't you expect?"

"I didn't expect you to be so..." Yan Lingji thought for a moment, "so special."

Xia Bing smiled.

"Likewise."

……

At this moment, Jingni and Xue Nu came out of the house.

"What's wrong?" Jingni asked, looking at them. "What are you talking about?"

"It's nothing," Xia Bing said with a smile. "Yan Ling Ji is staying here."

"What?" Jing Ni frowned. "She's staying?"

"Yes." Xia Bing nodded. "From now on, she's one of ours."

"Our people?" The snow woman looked at him. "You accepted them?"

"I accept," Xia Bing said. "She's sincere, and I can't refuse."

Snow Maiden and Jingni exchanged a glance, both feeling somewhat helpless.