31 The story of Cao...!? (1/2)

Liu Sumeng was about to slap his own face with his palm. Of course, the Tiger Heart Amethyst once belonged to tiger demons, how dense was he not to put two and two together?

And for some reason, Cao Sancui wasn't in the least bit surprised nor alarmed, ”Please calm down! Why won't you listen to what I have to say…” Was he asking to get slapped? Liu Sumeng was teetering on the edge of his patience at this point and he knew himself to be a very patient man. But perhaps his patience was only reserved for Yuan Xuelan…

”Calm! I am calm! Who said I'm not calm!? I'm calm, can't you see that I'm calm?” Her eyes were red now, misty and threatening to water. Liu Sumeng could hardly understand what was going on at this point. But he really shouldn't have been surprised. With Cao Sancui's insane personality, it was only right that he attracted women that were equally as insane.

Xiao Rong stomped her feet, the wooden floor cracked and splintered beneath her soles. ”Who do you think you are? Who do you think you are!? Here I was expecting at least an apology. Just an apology! And yet!? Even that's too difficult for you!? Get out of my sight! Just get out of my sight!”

The tigress lunged forth! Claws swiping at Cao Sancui. Liu Sumeng reacted quickly, surging force to block her attack with the sheath of his sword. The table knocked over, tea set clattered on the ground. ”Please refrain from violence. We can talk it out.”

”I've already talked enough with that piece of trash!” Using her superior strength, she wrestled with Liu Sumeng before shoving him aside. But he was not going to be bested so easily and twirled around to block her advance again. ”Why are you getting in my way!?”

”Xiao Rong!” Cao Sancui begged repeatedly. He leaped to his feet but didn't unsheathe the blade strapped to his hip, ”I don't understand…things were going so well between us. How could you throw me aside based on such a stupid rumor? I… If you keeping such hateful words I will…” His voice trembled.

Liu Sumeng had a feeling that he knew what this stupid Cao Sancui was about to say. As if he was going to allow it! ”Just shut up!” He yelled and between parrying and blocking Xiao Rong's attacks, he twirled around and landed a powerful kick right in Cao Sancui's chest! The rogue cultivator was sent flying with such force his body dented the wall he crashed into.

A sharp cracking sound was heard, ”Gah-!” Cao Sancui's voice instantly went hoarse as something fell out of his robes. A small mirror, glass painted black lay shattered on the ground. When Cao Sancui peeled open his eyes and saw the glass on the ground he gasped in horror and coughed, ”Y-You! What have you done?”

But the voice that came out of those lips, wasn't at all like what he'd heard before. Lost was the deep timbre and replaced with hoarse, but high and decisively female voice!

Both Liu Sumeng and Xiao Rong were both frozen mid-battle to stare at Cao Sancui who was struggling to pick himself- or herself!? off the floor.

”O-oh please don't look at me like that…” she whined, ”i-if I didn't do what I did, I was afraid you'd hate me.”

Xiao Rong pushed Liu Sumeng aside to rush up to Cao Sancui. This time, the Ivory Sword Saint didn't stop her. Somehow, he felt resigned, as though he had already invested far too much in a worthless joke. So he only stood there and watched with dark, judgemental eyes. ”Y-you…is this true?” Xiao Rong knelt at Cao Sancui's side, touching the black broken glass on the floor as though in hopes of confirming its power, ”You're a woman…?”

Cao Sancui nodded, ”Yes…I really didn't mean to lie to you.”

Tears trickled down the tigress's cheeks before she pulled the rogue cultivator into a tight embrace, ”S-stupid! So you really didn't see those dumb prostitutes? I'm sorry to have doubted you. Oh, how could I hate you for something like this? Xiao Rong is sorry…!”

…

No, but weren't there too many things wrong with this scene!?!? What about the child!? Liu Sumeng couldn't even bear to watch anymore and looked away. He turned his gaze around the room, trying as he could to focus on anything that wasn't the two women embracing each other with passionate words and tear-stained faces.

A wooden box with golden edges caught his attention, tiny tigers were carved its its body and even from where he stood, he saw little embers of golden light escaping from within. That was it. That was what he came for.

While he was busy staring at the box, the two women had hauled themselves off the ground. ”Stay there!” Xiao Hong commanded him before dragging Cao Sancui off somewhere.

…Why did he even have to stay? From the beginning to the end, he was just some outsider in this whole mess in the first place. Liu Sumeng felt almost light-headed, dizzy from the ridiculousness he'd just witnessed.

But now, the Tiger Heart Amethyst was right in front of him and how easy would it be for him to simply pluck the jewel and run off in escape. Temptation rife, he inched closer towards the box. The entire residence was quiet, not a sound could be heard. It clicked open and slowly he revealed the brilliant jewel within.

He needed this jewel.

But Liu Sumeng was no thief. However, privately he wondered if Cao Sancui was? Just how did this eventually end up in that woman's hands. Was it a gift from Xiao Hong?

”Those that dare touch the Tiger Heart Amethyst without my permission will not leave unscathed. There is a reason why I don't bother hiding that thing.” The voice came out of nowhere, startling Liu Sumeng from his thoughts. It was only his naturally stoic countenance that saved him from embarrassment as he slowly closed the box and turned around, seeing Xiao Rong watching him from the shadows. Her steps did not make a single sound.

”I was only looking,” he said.