Ziran’s beautiful eyes carried a look of reminiscence, full of nostalgia, as she said, "Back in the day, we were such close besties we even wore the same pair of panties. From our awakening all the way to the Great Venerable Realm, the four of us were totally inseparable—even showered and slept together."
"But you didn’t even tell me about your contract, didn’t invite me to your wedding."
Yun Bing replied with disdain, "We even swore back then to marry the same guy and stay sisters for life, but now I’m married to Xiao Ye. You wanna marry him?"
Ziran looked at Xiao Ye’s ridiculously young and handsome face, words stuck in her throat for a moment, then finally said, "So what if we marry the same guy? But this little bro here is way too young, he’s just not my type."
Yet another "little bro," huh? Xiao Ye got annoyed, speaking up, "Hey, don’t think just because you’re the Alliance Hierarch, and Sister Yun Bing’s former bestie, you can go around spreading rumors and say I’m small."
"You’ve never even seen it, so don’t say I’m small."
"Otherwise, I’ll whip it out and scare the hell out of you."
*A man couldn’t stand being called useless, or being told he was small.*
Ziran shook her head and kept quiet.
Yun Bing said, "Ziran, we’ve still got things to do. You’re gonna the whole time?"
Ziran glanced at Huangfu Xiangling and replied, "Today just happens to be my day off, so let’s stroll around the Secret Realm together. Whatever you need to do, say it out loud, maybe I can lend a hand. Been with the Venerable Alliance for like a thousand years—I know this place inside and out."
Yun Bing huffed, "If you wanna tag along, then tag along."
Huangfu Xiangling bounced over, hugging Yun Bing’s soft white arm, and grinned, "I’m Huangfu Xiangling, Master’s one and only disciple. Sister Yun Bing, you’re so gorgeous! That body of yours is killer, just like my Master’s!"
Facing Huangfu Xiangling, Yun Bing’s attitude grew gentle. She patted Xiangling’s silvery-white hair and chuckled, "You’re cute too, you little white-haired loli."
"This is my husband, Xiao Ye." Yun Bing pointed at Xiao Ye standing nearby.
Huangfu Xiangling glanced over, a look of disgust flashing across her pretty face, and said coldly, "Hello."
*Xiao Ye frowned. What the hell’s wrong with this white-haired chick? Why the disgusted look? We haven’t even met before.*
*Yun Bing’s brows furrowed too, clearly displeased.*
Ziran suddenly appeared between the two, blocking Huangfu Xiangling’s line of sight, and spoke with an apologetic tone,
"Sorry. Xiangling has gone through some rough stuff, so she’s got a big aversion to men."
Yun Bing and Xiao Ye finally understood.
Ziran secretly transmitted to Yun Bing, "Yun Bing, there’s something I’d like your help with. What happened a thousand years ago—my hands were tied. I just couldn’t sit there and watch you and Yunxi walk right into a trap. I couldn’t let my dearest friends go off and get themselves killed."
*When Ziran brought up something long-buried in her heart, Yun Bing’s face twisted with anger as she said,*
"No choice? You think a simple ’no choice’ makes it all okay?"
"That was mine and Yunxi’s only chance to find our parents, and just like that, you wrecked it."
"Do you even get it—for people like me and Yunxi, whose mom and dad vanished when we were little, it doesn’t matter if it’s a trap, doesn’t matter if it’s suicide. Even if it means risking everything, we’d do anything to find them and protect them!"
*As she spoke, Yun Bing’s voice grew sad, and a mist of tears filled her beautiful eyes.*
Since Yun Bing didn’t bother to use a secret transmission, everyone heard her words. Xiao Ye’s face darkened—he’d had no idea his wife Yun Bing had been through this kind of stuff.
Ziran’s face was full of guilt, "I’m sorry."
*In her heart, she added, Even if I could go back, I still wouldn’t let you walk into death like that.*
Xiao Ye patted Yun Bing’s back, his tone soft, "It’s all in the past now."
Yun Bing suddenly spun around and hugged Xiao Ye, body trembling as she said, "Yeah, yeah, even without my parents, I have you and Yunxi."
They stayed hugged for a while before Yun Bing finally calmed down, wiped away the tears in her eyes, and let go.
"Hmph, since you helped me just now, I’ll help you out this one time. Say it, how do you want my help?" Yun Bing sent a secret transmission.
*Ziran smiled. Yun Bing was still the same Yun Bing—sharp-tongued, soft-hearted—her best friend, her soulmate, her Yun Bing.*
"Xiangling’s issues go beyond just her aversion to men—she also has issues with her orientation." Ziran secretly transmitted.
*Yun Bing’s eyes widened—she looked at Huangfu Xiangling in disbelief. Seriously? She’s... into girls?*
Ziran looked a little troubled and kept on transmitting, "She keeps trying to kiss me and says she wants to spend her whole life with me. That’s just not right—women should be with men."
Yun Bing raised a brow and replied, "She wants to kiss you? Well, did you let her?"
Ziran blushed and transmitted, "Knock it off—I did not! And besides, how could two girls even ’give’ anything?"
Yun Bing thought to herself, *True, neither of you has the right equipment. Even if you wanted to, it wouldn’t work.*
Ziran’s mouth twitched. She transmitted back, "You’re still the same old Yun Bing—never filtering a single word. No matter how outrageous, you just say it."
Yun Bing’s face darkened, replying impatiently, "Don’t act like you’re some goody-two-shoes—didn’t you used to secretly watch naughty movies by yourself? And then you’d smugly compare your body to the female lead and say you’re hotter."
Ziran’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. She quickly changed the subject, "Ahem, who doesn’t have a few weird attributes? Anyway, back to the point."
"I want your help to change Xiangling’s view of men, so she stops hating them. That way, her orientation might get back on track."
Yun Bing was speechless, and transmitted, "I’m not some miracle worker. How am I supposed to help?"
Ziran glanced over at Xiao Ye, continued the transmission to Yun Bing, "I have an idea."
"Because of her family, Xiangling thinks all men are cold and heartless, with rules coming before everything. We just need to change her mind and break that stereotype."
"Xiangling’s last name is Huangfu. She’s the illegitimate daughter of Huangfu Tian, City Lord of the Imperial Capital City Lord’s Mansion. Back then, Huangfu Tian accidentally hooked up with a beautiful maid—Xiangling’s mother. Her mom died in childbirth, and since she wasn’t a Contractor, the Huangfu Clan never accepted Xiangling. She was kicked out and grew up with no fatherly or motherly love."
"So, she despises her cold, unfeeling father—and thus, men."
Yun Bing nodded, glanced at Huangfu Xiangling with sympathy, and transmitted, "Tell me your plan—I’ll help you."
Ziran replied by transmission, "I want Xiangling to interact with Xiao Ye, let her see that not all men are cold or heartless. Once that thinking shifts, her view will too."
Yun Bing nodded, "Alright."
Xiao Ye noticed Yun Bing and Ziran exchanging meaningful looks, and got curious. He leaned close to Yun Bing’s dainty ear, blew on it, and whispered, "What are you two up to, catching up or something?"
Yun Bing felt her ear tickle, rolled her eyes, and said, "Yeah."
Xiao Ye asked with curiosity, "You and the Alliance Hierarch are close, huh? Three others as close as her?"
Yun Bing shot a glance at the fresh-faced big-sis Ziran, curled her lip, and said, "Yep. I even know how many hairs she’s got. Besides her, there’s Yunxi and the Hang City Empress."
"By the way, I’ll need your help in a bit."