Chapter 16: Evil Fire Breaks Out

Ma Xiaotao didn't notice Gu Yue; instead, feeling guilty, she hurriedly weaved through the bustling crowd.

As her gaze swept over that familiar figure, she saw Chen Qiye just leaving.

"Qiye, stop right there."

Chen Qiye honestly turned his head, seemingly to ease the awkwardness by touching his own head, and said, "Little, Little Tao sister."

Xu Sanshi saw that the two knew each other, his face full of shock; he never expected them to be acquainted.

Knowing Bei Bei, and also knowing this girl who is regarded as a genius even in the inner courtyard, made Xu Sanshi curious about Chen Qiye's identity.

Ma Xiaotao quickly approached, her eyes full of concern and unease, and softly asked, "What, seeing me makes you this afraid?"

"Not."

Ma Xiaotao furrowed her brows, as if not displeased that Chen Qiye had run upon seeing her, but rather her eyes showed heartache: "It's all my fault, hurting you."

"Little Tao sister, you also know you've watched me grow up since I was little; I just want to blame myself, how could I possibly blame you?"

Chen Qiye looked around, "Little Tao sister, this isn't the place to talk, come with me."

"Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Gu Yue, I have something to do, I'll go first; you guys keep playing."

Having said that, he grabbed Ma Xiaotao's hand and left the crowd.

"Okay." Huo Yuhao responded.

Watching the two disappear, Gu Yue really wanted to chase after them.

Suddenly, Gu Yue's face showed pain, she clutched her chest and gasped heavily.

"How come now? The injury has flared up."

No one noticed Gu Yue's abnormality, and she left the grilled fish spot without greeting Huo Yuhao.

And Wang Dong watched Chen Qiye leave with the red-robed senior sister, stamping her feet, obviously looking like a wronged little girl.

"Really a big pig's trotter, how can you have so many girls around you? Humph, if you, this big pig's trotter, knew this young lady's appearance, you wouldn't even submit under my skirt."

"Wang Dong, what's wrong? Your face is so red." Huo Yuhao asked, concerned seeing something off.

"Ah, what am I thinking? What's good about that big pig's trotter?"

Wang Dong touched her cheeks and immediately felt how hot her face was.

"No, nothing, I, I'm leaving first."

Having said that, Wang Dong left as if fleeing.

"Strange, did you catch a cold?"

Huo Yuhao didn't understand, but continued selling grilled fish.

Just, Huo Yuhao today experienced some things that are really strange, quite peculiar……

…………

In Sea God Lake: "Big sis (don't)."

"Little Tao sister, I'm really fine, don't mess with my clothes, okay?"

Chen Qiye quickly tidied up Ma Xiaotao's disheveled clothes.

"Qiye, do you not like me?" Ma Xiaotao spoke, sounding somewhat aggrieved.

"How could that be, Little Tao? You've taken care of me for so long, I've long regarded you as family." "Oh, is that so!" Ma Xiaotao's eyes dimmed a bit, then she quickly changed the subject.

"Then why, when you see me, do you run? Isn't it because of the evil fire on me?"

"And you still say you don't dislike me."

"Little Tao sister…… I."

"If you don't say it, I'm leaving."

Chen Qiye hadn't given an answer yet when he saw Ma Xiaotao walking forward, slowly, stopping to wait for his answer.

Chen Qiye truly feared the evil fire, but actually, what he feared was his own heart; each time suppressing the evil fire wasn't just hand against hand.

What Chen Qiye feared was that soul-like fusion; each time suppressing the martial soul, their souls seemed to blend together, and Chen Qiye realized he had developed some unknown feeling for Ma Xiaotao, a feeling he knew what it was.

But his heart already held a bright moon; he wouldn't allow himself to simultaneously gain the favor of two heavenly prodigies, for they each had their own pride.

"Ah."

Hearing Ma Xiaotao's voice, Chen Qiao didn't think much, rushed over, and discovered Ma Xiaotao's whole body engulfed in flames, with faint black qi visible within the fire.

Before Chen Qiye could react, Ma Xiaotao embraced him.

Ma Xiaotao, in her late teens, was at the most beautiful age of a girl's life; moreover, she was already extremely beautiful, and at this moment her flushed cheeks made her look as lovely as peach and plum blossoms.

As she embraced Chen Qiye, Ma Xiaotao also let out a soft, coquettish moan: "Chen Qiye, I can't take it anymore, I can't bear it. Hurry up."

Only then did Chen Qiye remember that today was the day Ma Xiaotao's evil fire would erupt.

Ma Xiaotao had no perfume scent, only a special freshness, like a quilt just sun‑bathed, comfortable and fresh. Too bad it wasn't the warmth of a quilt, but rather some heat.

Ma Xiaotao's figure was extremely slender; as she embraced Chen Qiye, for a moment her bewilderment grew even stronger.

She seemed to finally catch her breath, stammering: "Q……uick…… help…… me, I…… can't…… take it……, use your…… cold…… attribute…… to…… suppress…… the…… evil…… fire…… quickly……"

Hearing Ma Xiaotao's call, Chen Qiye finally snapped out of his daze.

With soul power circulating inside, Chen Qiye quickly released his Broken Sword martial soul. Instantly, a strong chill burst from his body; Ma Xiaotao's body, which had been rushing, stiffened at once, she let out a sigh, but her legs went weak.

"Plunk……"

Ma Xiaotao didn't expect that this extreme cold current entering her body would work so well; feeling refreshed, her mind relaxed so much that she directly jumped into the lake with Chen Qiye.

The clear lake water cleared Ma Xiaotao's mind a bit; at this point she couldn't care about anything. Originally, her evil fire had been about to flare up recently; she had intended to visit Chen Qiye, but didn't expect the evil fire to erupt unexpectedly.

After releasing the Broken Sword martial soul, Chen Qiye's mind also felt light. However, their bodies were sinking underwater at that moment. He hurriedly kicked hard, grabbed Ma Xiaotao with his other hand, and lifted them together toward the surface, while simultaneously unleashing the third soul ring skill of his Broken Sword martial soul, Sword Guard Four Directions.

Six ice‑crystal swords flashed with dazzling light, covering Chen Qiye and Ma Xiaotao completely; the chill of the ultimate martial soul greatly intensified. The surrounding lake water froze at an astonishing speed, trapping them in an instant.

For ordinary people, being frozen would surely mean suffocation. But as an possessor of ultimate ice attribute, Chen Qiye was even more agile in the ice than in water. Carrying Ma Xiaotao, they rose like fish, and soon their heads broke through the ice surface.

Chen Qiye did not continue upward; his soul power was limited, and only with the aid of the surrounding ice could he better help Ma Xiaotao.

Ultimate martial soul, after all, is ultimate martial soul; Chen Qiye held Ma Xiaotao and only felt wave after wave of intense cold continuously flowing into his body, instantly suppressing that evil fire.

Ma Xiaotao's consciousness also became a bit clearer, but she was still somewhat dazed; looking at Chen Qiye's face, Ma Xiaotao wondered what she had recalled, and trembling, she said, "Chen Qiye, do you like the eldest senior sister?"

"What." Chen Qiye focused all his energy on suppressing the evil fire, and didn't hear clearly what Ma Xiaotao said.

However, in the next second Chen Qiye was completely stunned, and Ma Xiaotao actually kissed him.

(End of chapter)