Jinyue's appearance jolted Yino back to his senses from his flirtatious exchange with Jinyu.
He had probably stayed at Ranmo Peak for too long. Now that he had a rare chance to indulge himself for a few days, Yino, emboldened by alcohol, had instinctively started flirting with Jinyu...
Thinking about it carefully, Yino had already seduced the Wuji Sect's guide (Yunjin), and since Jinyu wouldn't die in the game, he really had no reason to flirt with an Immortal Alliance tavern receptionist as well.
This realization made Yino draw in a sharp breath. He'd only just noticed how the conversation had drifted off track.
"Sorry, I need to leave for something."
He placed a few spirit stones on the table while regretfully waving goodbye.
Before he left, the young girl hadn't noticed Yino's change of heart. Her cheeks already flushed with a hint of shyness, she waved and smiled, "Young Lord, come again next time! Jinyu will be waiting for you to return triumphantly after your great achievements!"
Yino felt a pang of guilt listening to her words.
He only enjoyed being called "Young Lord" by beautiful young ladies, which was why he had casually flirted with Jinyu. But Jinyu wasn't part of his plans at all, and she was most likely Jinjie's sister.
Yino sighed inwardly but maintained a gentle smile as he turned back to wave.
They exchanged smiles. Though they'd only met twice, they had gotten along wonderfully—it was practically Western Province City's Yunjin situation all over again!
Thinking about it this way made Yino feel even more guilty.
He really wanted to slap himself. His type was supposed to be cold, mature women like Yuyan, so why couldn't he resist whenever he encountered these pure, cheerful young girls?
"Yino, you're really something."
"You take me and Yunjin to the Phoenix Pavilion for dinner, then sneak off to the Immortal Alliance tavern to flirt with girls, huh?"
Jinyue stood at the tavern entrance and, seeing Yino emerge, couldn't help but kick his backside with her white-stockinged foot in leather boots.
Yino had no defense. He had genuinely intended to come to the Immortal Alliance tavern to accept a mission and gather intelligence about Western Province City's recent news and policies.
Since the tavern belonged to the Immortal Alliance consulate and was high-ranking, Yino had cautiously decided not to bring Jinyue, who was a fox spirit.
But he hadn't expected...
After chatting with Jinyu for just a couple of sentences, he'd been healed by the girl's smile and unconsciously sat down to drink several cups of milk.
"Alright, alright, I know I was wrong. Don't be angry, wifey..."
Walking on the night road, Yino looked up at the moon and muttered soothingly.
But his words made the red foxgirl beside him, who had been pouting angrily, suddenly widen her eyes.
Jinyue blinked her peach blossom eyes and looked at Yino with an expression of disbelief.
Yino's mind was still pondering what Jinyue had mentioned earlier about the "Ranmo Peak puppets being exposed," and he hadn't realized what he'd just said.
"Who, who gave you permission to call me your wife?"
Jinyue stammered with her mouth open, and finally let out a huff with a slightly reddened face.
However, in the moonlight, though her words seemed reluctant, her body was quite willing—her small hands obediently wrapped around Yino's arm.
During the day's journey, because Yunjin was present, Yino had focused on accompanying Yunjin, and Jinyue hadn't been able to gain much advantage.
But now it was different.
In a dark alley late at night, Jinyue could finally have Yino all to herself for a while.
"Didn't you say you liked me?" Yino hit the nail on the head, leaving Jinyue frozen and speechless.
"Yes, that's right..."
"So, what exactly are your plans for me moving forward?"
Amid their banter, Yino shifted his focus from the Ranmo Peak situation and turned the conversation toward Jinyue herself.
Actually, there wasn't much left to discuss about Ranmo Peak. At this point, with him away from Wuji Sect, no amount of anxiety would help. It would be better to wait a couple of days, send Yunjin back, and have her help look after Ranmo Peak.
But being in the Western Region, Jinyue's situation concerned Yino more.
The outline was that a few days later, when the abyss swept through, Chen Jianxin was stabbed by Jinyue during the chaos and mercilessly kicked by her into the cliff abyss.
Though Chen Jianxin was already dead, Yino didn't believe Jinyue would backstab him. However, once someone had a record, they would inevitably be regarded with suspicion even after reforming.
"What plans could I have for you? I just want to date you..."
After hesitating for a moment, the foxgirl still held Yino's arm, lifted her face, and smiled sweetly with her alluring peach blossom eyes.
But Yino wasn't moved. After seeing Jinyue's genuine emotions in the secret realm, he could now distinguish the subtle differences between her various smiles.
Obviously... Tonight's Jinyue wasn't smiling sincerely enough.
"Let me ask more specifically then. With the abyss imminent, as a member of the Witch Tea Party, do you really have no plans or actions?"
As usual, Jinyue showed a shocked expression. She had never understood how Yino knew about the Witch Tea Party and her identity as a witch.
But compared to their time at the Mountain Temple, Jinyue had grown somewhat accustomed to Yino's mysteriously extensive intelligence network.
Mystical things, once you got used to them, became an accepted fact—namely, that Yino was a special existence, and nothing he knew should be surprising.
"Do you really want to know my plan?"
Under the moon, the foxgirl suddenly stopped.
Yino looked back and saw that Jinyue now stood with her hands behind her back. Her earlier smile had turned serious, and her peach blossom eyes, reflecting the moonlight, stared intently at Yino's gaze.
"My plan is to follow you wherever you go next. If you encounter danger, I'll protect you. If you need me to do something or kill someone, I'll obediently complete the task you assign..."
Jinyue spoke calmly, but her gaze was unexpectedly firm and sincere, contrary to Yino's expectations.
Rather than a plan, it was more like a confession expressed in another way.