Bitter Realm: A Happy Person Traveling Across China

"Oh dear!" Ye Jinming exclaimed, jumping up from his recliner. Pointing at Qiaotiangong, his face showed just the right amount of anger and confusion. "Girl! What are you doing? In broad daylight, under the clear sky, how can you overturn someone's stall for no reason! This is too much!"

"Excessive?" Qiaotiangong's chest heaved with anger. She slammed the crumpled book down in front of Ye Jinming, put her hands on her hips, and retorted sarcastically, "Without my consent, you fabricated my experiences and openly sold them at the foot of Qinggeng Mountain. Who's really going too far here?"

This woman is none other than the one who was driven down the mountain from the Green Stem Wonderland by this outrageous rumor—Hibiscus Caster · Ingenious Craftsman!

She was eccentric and quick-witted, and loved reading BL (Boys' Love) books. But it was precisely because she understood them that she knew how disastrous it would be for her "reputation" if such things were to spread.

(Although she may not have a good reputation.)

Seeing her furious expression, Ye Jinming smiled instead, abandoning his exaggeratedly innocent demeanor. He bowed respectfully, displaying impeccable manners, as if he hadn't just been the one whose stall had been overturned: "May I ask who you are, young lady?"

"You really don't know?" Qiaotiangong sneered.

Ye Jinming feigned sudden realization, "So you are the renowned Northern Craftsman, Miss. But you misunderstand, this book has nothing to do with you! I'm just using your name to boost sales a little."

"Hmm?" Having rushed out without carefully reading the book, Qiaotiangong's heart tightened. Could he have really misunderstood? "You'd better be right!"

Then Ye Jinming continued, "My name is Ye Jinming. I have long admired your name. Greetings."

Looking at the polite Ye Jinming, Qiao Tiangong rolled his eyes at him and snorted coldly, not buying into his pleasantries at all.

This clumsy yet highly targeted tactic makes its purpose practically written all over its face.

Do you really think she can't tell?

"Speak," Qiaotiangong said, crossing her arms and scrutinizing Ye Jinming. "You've gone to such lengths, using this method to lure me down the mountain. What exactly do you want? You'd better have a convincing reason, otherwise..."

She weighed the tiger-tail spring ice that she had taken off her head at some point, her expression full of threat.

Ye Jinming continued to tease, "Oh dear, it really is my fault. How about I give you some endorsement fees?"

"Do you think I need your little bit of money?" Qiaotiangong's anger flared again. "If you don't explain your purpose, you'll face the consequences!"

Seeing this, Ye Jinming quickly said, "Oh, just kidding. The reason I came here this time, resorting to such a tactic, is naturally to forge weapons!"

"Hehe..." Qiaotiangong rolled his eyes at Ye Jinming, letting him figure it out for himself.

From her eyes, one could see that she seemed to be saying: Do you think I would agree to help you forge weapons after you treat me like this?

"What if I disagree?" Qiaotiangong said coldly.

"If the young lady does not agree, I naturally cannot force her to comply, but I cannot guarantee that the items I sell next time will be genuine!" Ye Jinming said calmly.

"You..." Qiaotiangong was immediately furious.

After all, her own experience had already been written into a novel by Hong Chenxue called "The Monster CEO Forces Me to Marry," which was already infuriating enough. She couldn't imagine doing it again...

Then, the skilled craftsman reluctantly said, "Come with me!"

.........

The Green Stem Wonderland is serene and elegant, a hidden paradise.

Stepping into this place feels like stepping into another world, away from the bustling markets outside.

Exotic flowers and rare herbs dot the landscape, streams gurgle, and mist hangs in the air. Several exquisite houses are built against the mountain and beside the water, displaying both natural charm and ingenious craftsmanship.

A faint, peculiar scent, a mixture of metal and vegetation, lingered in the air—traces of the sword-forging furnace fire and spiritual plants coexisting.

Furong Zhuke Qiaotiangong walked ahead angrily, glancing back every now and then at the uninvited "bad guest," feeling an irresistible urge to chop something up.

Ye Jinming, however, seemed completely oblivious, leisurely following behind, his gaze taking in the layout and furnishings of the fairy realm with great interest.

He secretly admired her: This Fu girl, though a seasoned homebody, had a truly excellent eye for choosing a location and decorating her nest. Quiet yet not desolate, elegant yet casual, especially her bed by the window, covered with soft sable fur... it looked so comfortable.

If I have the chance, I should also try to make one myself at Woxue Mingfeng.

"Hey! What are you looking at?" Qiaotiangong suddenly turned around, put his hands on his hips, and blocked Ye Jinming's gaze from wandering around.

Seeing that he treated her like family, and even lingered his gaze on her beloved bed for a moment, she became even more furious, her pretty face contorted with rage.

Ye Jinming withdrew his gaze and looked at Fu Nu, who was clearly on the verge of exploding. He blinked and said, "Judging from your expression, you're not thinking of hitting me, are you?"

"You have a good eye for people!" Qiaotiangong suddenly smiled, a smile as sweet as a lotus in spring, but a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.

Before she finished speaking, she had already swiftly pulled out the seemingly ordinary jade hairpin from her hair with lightning speed, and with a flick of her wrist—

"Clang!"

A clear, melodious sword rang out, and the jade hairpin instantly transformed into a slender sword with a unique shape, crystal clear as ice, and tiger stripes flowing across its blade—it was her sword, Tiger Tail Spring Ice!

With a flash of sword light, it pierced straight at Ye Jin's face, swift and ruthless, showing no mercy!

"Wow, so direct?" Ye Jinming teased, but his actions were anything but slow.

With a "whoosh," he unfolded his black folding fan and seemingly casually blocked the sword horizontally. The fan ribs collided precisely with the sword tip, producing a crisp "clang." Qiao Tiangong's sudden attack was firmly blocked, unable to advance an inch.

Ye Jinming waved his fan slightly and laughed in a way that was sure to infuriate people: "Although I know I am not bad looking, Fu Nu, do you have to be in such a hurry to make a move on me? If word gets out, it will only damage your reputation."

"Ha! My reputation was ruined long ago when you sold your books!" Qiaotiangong's attack was blocked, and he felt a chill in his heart, knowing that the opponent's strength was by no means ordinary.

She was sharp-tongued, but her swordplay had changed.

The Tiger Tail Spring Ice Sword suddenly gleamed with a chilling light, just like the coldest ray of light before dawn in winter. As she charged forward, the tip of the sword trembled, turning into several points of cold stars that enveloped Ye Jinming's vital points. It swooped down, even more fierce than before!

Ye Jinming chuckled lightly, tapped his foot, and his figure drifted back several feet like a willow catkin in the wind, just in time to avoid the sword's edge.

At the same time, he made a vague grabbing motion with his free left hand to his side—

"Buzz!"

A clear, resonant sword rang out from his waist, like a dragon's roar as it was drawn from its sheath!

A flash of sword light, as swift as a swan, appeared, and the Swift Sword was already in hand, its blade long and narrow, shimmering with iridescent light.

"Clang—"

The two swords clashed, the metallic clang echoing throughout the fairyland, stirring up the surrounding air currents, causing the flowers and grasses to bend low and the mist to surge.

They parted immediately after the first contact, each taking a half step back, and the fujoshi's eyes showed a hint of seriousness.

"Interesting!" Qiao Tiangong exclaimed, her footwork suddenly becoming agile and elusive. Her body moved with her sword, and the sword turned with her body, as she displayed her unparalleled single-edged sword technique!

This swordsmanship does not rely on brute force to win, but rather emphasizes exquisite moves with endless variations, displaying ingenuity within a small space.

With a slight tremor, the Tiger Tail Spring Ice Sword in her hand instantly unleashed several sharp sword flowers in the air, each with a hidden killing intent, whether stabbing, slicing, or slashing, attacking Ye Jinming from an unbelievable angle. The sword light intertwined into a net, as if to trap and kill her opponent within it.

"A clever single strike!"

A hint of appreciation flashed in Ye Jinming's eyes, but he remained calm and composed. Suddenly, a streak of light appeared on the Jinghong Sword in his hand, and the sword speed increased to its limit in an instant!

"Sword - Flowing Light!"

There were no complicated changes, only a sword light that was faster than the limits of visual perception, like a meteor tearing through the night sky, piercing straight into the sword net in the most direct and swift way!

Their ultimate moves clashed, and their energy surged forth!

The ingenious sword net collided with the extremely fast sword, producing a deafening explosion.

The force of the recoil pushed them both backward several steps, leaving clear marks on the ground beneath their feet...