Chapter 289: I Allow You to Like Me

One camp, inside a room.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating four rosy faces.

After several years apart, Zhang Xingyu, Zhu Dafu, Fang Shiwen and Ouyang Lanlan reunited.

One square table, four small stools, two jars of aged wine, a few plates of side dishes.

They could not finish recounting what happened after parting, nor exhaust their schoolmate feelings.

"Senior Sister Ouyang, when did you start Foundation Establishment?"

"About two years ago. Right after you formed the Golden Core."

"I see."

"Senior Brother Fang, where did you learn this cooking skill?"

"I read a few recipe books, then tinkered on my own, and accidentally picked it up."

"Impressive!"

"Zhu Xiaopang, why have you become so thin? Did you take diet pills?"

"Not at all. Since joining the Special Operations Battalion, I have to carry wood and run a hundred kilometers daily, so I naturally got skinny."

"Junior Brother Zhang, you always play hide‑and‑seek. Every time you reappear after disappearing, you surprise everyone!"

"Senior Sister Ouyang, judging by what you said, am I still the same? Apart from growing a bit taller and becoming a bit more handsome, not much has changed!"

"Uh......" Zhu Dafu vomited wildly.

"Hey, Zhu Xiaopang, can you at least save some face for me?" Zhang Xingyu glared at Zhu Dafu.

"Junior Brother Zhang, I mean every time you disappear and reappear, a beauty follows you. The first time on Money Island, you had Fairy Yunxi by your side; the second time in Tan Tai City, Sister Ruyan was with you; this time, you have another demon‑tribe beauty beside you." Ouyang Lanlan counted on her fingers, looking very serious.

"Oh. That's what Senior Sister Ouyang was talking about!"

Zhang Xingyu rubbed his chin: "Being too handsome is just trouble!"

Hearing that, Zhu Dafu buried his head and vomited wildly again.

Fang Shiwen, upon hearing it, spat out a mouthful of aged wine.

Ouyang Lanlan smiled brightly at Zhang Xingyu: "Junior Brother Zhang, telling lies with your eyes open will get you struck by lightning."

"Sigh, you all don't understand me. A kindred spirit is hard to find!" Zhang Xingyu sighed.

He paused, then said, "I really miss Senior Sister Yunxi. She knows my handsomeness best! By the way, speaking of Senior Sister Yunxi, do you know where she is now?"

Fang Shiwen shook his head.

Zhu Dafu shook his head.

Ouyang Lanlan scolded, "Junior Brother Zhang, is this really you? Speaking of another beauty in front of me, Senior Sister. Even if I knew her whereabouts, I wouldn't tell you."

"Senior Sister, I'm sorry. Please, please. I really want to know her news."

"Boom!"

At that moment, the door was forcefully pushed open from outside.

Demon King Ha Li entered, holding a wine jar: "Zhang Xingyu, someone outside is looking for you!"

At the camp entrance, a maid in palace attire, her face as cold as ice, stood.

Seeing Zhang Xingyu approach, she stepped forward and asked, "Is the visitor Zhang Xingyu?"

Zhang Xingyu nodded.

The maid stepped forward, reached out and took out a jade message tablet.

The jade tablet was pristine and transparent, its surface etched with intricate cloud patterns.

"Zhang Xingyu, this is what the princess asked me to give you."

The maid said coldly.

Could this maid be ill?

He confirmed he had never seen this maid before.

Why does she, upon seeing him, wear a sour expression and speak as if she'd taken gunpowder?

He hasn't owed her money, nor abandoned her heartlessly.

Unreasonable!

Zhang Xingyu took the jade tablet and slowly infused it with spiritual energy.

After a moment, light flickered, and a line of delicate characters leapt out of the tablet.

"Zhang Xingyu, at sunset, fifty li west, I await you."

A rendezvous with a beauty?

According to Fang Shiwen, today Princess Yunmeng, the beloved daughter of the Celestial Emperor, is coming to inspect the camp.

Could this beauty be Princess Yunmeng?

But he doesn't know who this Yunmeng Princess is.

He puzzledly rubbed his chin.

Could he really be handsome enough that even Princess Yunmeng admires him?

At sunset, clouds of rosy light filled the sky.

Zhang Xingyu's robe fluttered as he rode his sword.

Behind him, Demon King Ha Li sat on a magic carpet, moving at a steady pace.

"Ha Li, I'm going to a rendezvous with a beauty. You, a demon king, following me—what's that about? Then just don't follow!"

"No way."

"Have some pity on me. Look at me, I'm old yet still a singleton. Being single isn't easy. On Valentine's Day, Qixi, a singleton just stays home, wallowing in self‑pity."

"No."

"You, this person, this won't do and that won't either. If you don't compromise, I won't teach you how to barbecue from now on."

Fifty li away, just a few words' time and we arrived.

At the edge of the view, a lone dune stood isolated.

Below the dune, three inner layers and three outer layers surrounded celestial soldiers wielding halberds.

Atop the dune stood a graceful lady in flowing purple robes.

"Fairy Tang Yunxi!"

It was definitely Tang Yunxi.

Countless lonely nights, countless times of soul‑tethered yearning.

That enchanting figure has already been deeply etched into his spirit.

"Senior Sister Tang Yunxi!"

From afar, Zhang Xingyu waved and shouted at Tang Yunxi.

Seemingly hearing his call, Tang Yunxi gently turned around.

"How audacious. What lowly rat dares to disturb the princess!"

A loud shout rang from the sky above the flying sword.

Immediately, a massive palm of condensed white cloud slammed toward Zhang Xingyu.

Seeing the palm about to strike, Zhang Xingyu neither fled nor dodged.

"Brother Ha Li, this palm is yours!"

Zhang Xingyu turned his head and shouted to the Demon King Ha Li behind him.

"Hmph!"

Demon King Ha Li let out a cold snort, raised his hand and struck upward.

"Boom!"

The white‑cloud giant palm shattered.

"Some skill! Again!"

Above the white clouds, a cold snort sounded.

Immediately, another massive white‑cloud palm coalesced.

"Damn!"

Demon King Ha Li stood up.

In his hand he held a bronze mirror, its surface bearing a red lip imprint.

Just as Demon King Ha Li was about to act, a light huff sounded at his ear: "Stop!"

She followed the sound and saw the beautiful figure on the dune.

"What a beautiful woman!" Demon King Ha Li exclaimed.

After a pause, she added, "Besides myself, I've never seen such a beautiful woman!"

Above her head, the white‑cloud giant palm slowly dissipated.

Seeing this, Zhang Xingyu continued to wield his sword forward.

Fortunately, with Tang Yunxi's order, no careless guard came to block him.

Zhang Xingyu descended onto the dune.

"Senior Sister Yunxi, long time no see!"

"Hmm."

"Senior Sister Yunxi, you are truly beautiful!"

"Hmm."

"Senior Sister Yunxi, I like you!"

"Rascal. If you keep babbling, I'll throw you down this mountain."

"Fine. If I don't say it, I won't. I'll say it quietly in my heart."

"Hmph! As you wish!"

The mountaintop returned to calm.

Tang Yunxi turned again, gazing once more at the clouds on the horizon.

The evening breeze gently brushed her black long hair, the setting sun illuminated her enchanting cheek.

For a moment, Zhang Xingyu was stunned.

Perhaps unaccustomed to Zhang Xingyu's silence, Tang Yunxi gently turned her head again.

Seeing Zhang Xingyu's infatuated expression, a faint smile appeared on her face.

After a moment, she whispered into Zhang Xingyu's ear, "Zhang Xingyu, I permit you to like me!"

(End of Volume Four)