Bei Li Mo turned around, lowered her head to look down at him, and hooked the corner of her lips in a mocking smile: "What are you doing? What's wrong with just talking things out — did you really have to get physical?" Her eyes flicked to Yang Kai's offending hand. "Take that paw off me, or I'll break it."
Yang Kai hastily withdrew his hand — he had no choice. This woman might not actually kill him, but torturing him would absolutely be her idea of entertainment. He wasn't about to give her an excuse. Trembling, he stammered: "Don't go too… far, alright? A warrior can be killed but not humiliated. If you keep embarrassing me like this, believe it or not, I'll die right in front of you. I'm a man with a low tolerance — I can't handle being wronged."
Bei Li Mo burst into a fit of giggles, then slowly crouched down in front of Yang Kai. She extended a delicate hand, hooked a finger under his chin with an almost brazen coquettishness, and smiled: "You're already talking about dying after such a short time? You were cursing up a storm these past few days — why not keep going? Oh, right, you also told quite the fascinating story. Why don't you tell it to me again? I'm very interested in that tale."
Yang Kai turned his head away with a look of disgust, but she simply twisted it back, forcing him to meet her gaze. Those stunning eyes were brimming with amusement and delight — he couldn't fathom what she found so entertaining.
Through gritted teeth: "What exactly do you want from me?"
Bei Li Mo narrowed her eyes slightly, her red lips parting softly: "Am I beautiful?"
Yang Kai blinked, momentarily thrown off by the abrupt turn in conversation. He was about to say something like "You're as ugly as a pig," when Bei Li Mo continued: "You'd better answer honestly, or else… heh heh…"
The threat was unmistakable, and her slender eyes glinted with a chilling light.
"Beautiful! Radiantly beautiful!" Yang Kai declared indignantly. Even though it was the truth, he was seething inside. Secretly vowing: You little wretch, you'd better never fall into my hands — one day I'll make you pay! I'll grab you and ask you ten thousand times whether I'm handsome or not! Saying I'm not handsome is absolutely unacceptable, and if you say I am, you'd damn well better explain why!
"Then… compared to Yu Rumeng, which one of us is prettier?" Bei Li Mo pressed.
"Hey, don't push your luck — what kind of question is that? Trying to set a trap for me?" Yang Kai glared at her.
"Answer honestly first…" As she spoke, Bei Li Mo lightly traced a finger across Yang Kai's lower lip.
Despite the biting cold pervading his entire body, Yang Kai felt his throat go dry. He swallowed hard and said: "Both beautiful!"
Bei Li Mo was clearly not satisfied with such an answer. She shot him a bewitching glare: "Give me a proper answer. Don't even think about brushing me off."
Yang Kai slumped in dejection: "Is there any point in pestering me about this? My relationship with Rumeng is completely different from whatever I have with you. In my heart, Rumeng is the most beautiful woman in all the world — no other woman comes even a fraction as close. But from another man's perspective, you and she would be like spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, each lovely in its own way. A woman's beauty can't really be compared — the only thing that differs is men's tastes. As the saying goes, to each his own. If you asked Brother Bo Ya, he'd definitely say you were prettier. Mm, though I'm not sure he'd have the nerve to answer."
"Cunning thing!" Bei Li Mo huffed softly.
Still, judging by her tone and manner, Yang Kai could tell that while this answer wasn't exactly what she wanted, she could grudgingly accept it. After all, what he'd said wasn't wrong.
"Then… if I asked you to abandon Yu Rumeng and come to serve me instead, what would you choose?"
"Kill me!" Yang Kai jerked his chin up, his stance resolute.
Bei Li Mo, exasperated, rapped him on the head — producing a soft thud. "You won't even think about it? At the very least, I'm no worse than Yu Rumeng."
"To be favored by a Holy Sovereign is Yang Kai's great honor — truly a blessing upon my ancestors' graves. But there's nothing to think about here. You might as well just kill me."
Bei Li Mo chuckled lightly: "Fine, I won't make things difficult for you. I can't really blame you. With that wench's Heart Seal Secret Art, you probably can't shake off her influence so easily. Speaking of which — did you know she cast the Demon Charm Clan's innate divine ability on you? Your feelings for her are all the result of that secret art, not what you truly feel in your heart."
"On the very first day, Rumeng told me. But I think even without that secret art, nothing would change."
Bei Li Mo gave a soft laugh, noncommittal. She rose gracefully to her feet, once again looking down at Yang Kai from above, and spoke: "Kid, don't be too full of yourself — thinking that Yu Rumeng has genuinely taken a fancy to you. She is, like me, one of the Twelve Demon Holy Sovereigns of the Demon Realm, with standards beyond imagining. You may be extraordinary, but even you can hardly catch our eye. If not for your connection to Yu Rumeng, I wouldn't even bother toying with you. Here's my warning: the day you realize you've lost your value in Yu Rumeng's eyes, leave while you still can — it might just save your life!"
Hearing this, Yang Kai sensed there was something more behind her words. He furrowed his brow: "What does the Holy Sovereign mean by that?"
Bei Li Mo smiled contemptuously: "Did Yu Rumeng tell you that once the Heart Seal Secret Art is cast, it can never be broken?"
Yang Kai nodded: "She did."