Chapter 7: You Dare?
"Why would you say that, Senior Brother Jiang Li?" Bai Sheng's voice carried a hint of hesitation.
"Because most male disciples in the sect think so."
Jiang Li's words were true—in the eyes of Xuantian Daoji Sect's male disciples, he was undeniably a scumbag.
"They say it… so it's true?" Bai Sheng's tone wavered.
She wasn't sure why she asked, but the words slipped out, and panic followed. Thankfully, Jiang Li's expression stayed calm, his explanation gentle. "It's like your Calamity Dao Body—whether it truly brings misfortune. If everyone believes it does, no amount of arguing can change their minds."
Bai Sheng lowered her head, silent for a long moment.
"I've never cared about others' opinions, but I'm suddenly curious—what do you think of me?" Jiang Li propped his chin, gazing at her lashes. Bai Sheng tried hard to meet his eyes.
She'd expected his stare to be intense, forcing her to look away, but it was only soft, melting her nerves. She found her voice. "We've only met twice… how would I know?"
"If I said I'm not a scumbag, would you believe me?"
She studied his eyes, glancing at Big White on the table. Hesitating for seconds, she seemed to have an answer, but before she could speak, Jiang Li cut her off.
"Your hesitation means you've already decided."
Perhaps their answers weren't the same.
Standing, he scooped up Big White and gave her a smile. "In three days, I'll send the new dress to your mansion. I've got things to do, so I'll head back."
A flicker of self-mockery crossed his eyes. In her view, he turned without hesitation, leaving the peach blossom grove with Big White in his arms.
Jiang Li needed to visit Praying Moon Pavilion again.
With his last three spirit stones, he could afford materials for the dress. Bai Sheng wanted a moon-white ruqun skirt—simple enough to make.
The rain hadn't stopped. Umbrella in hand, he reached the pavilion's second floor, where ready-made clothes and raw silks were sold. Having made dresses for other girls before, he was in familiar territory.
But as he bought the materials and headed downstairs, there she was—leaning against the entrance, her dark red off-shoulder mermaid gown striking, her eyes teasing him.
Jiang Li quickened his pace, but as he passed, a whiff of perfume hit him. She grabbed his shoulder. "Where're you running to?"
He stopped. "What's up?"
"You spent ages picking fabrics upstairs. Making a dress for another girl?"
"Why do you care?"
Puzzled, he watched her smile cool. "Figure it out."
His memory was spotty, often muddling details, so he studied Yue Ji, racking his brain but coming up blank.
"Can't recall?" Her hand slid from his shoulder to his chest, fingers gripping his collar, pulling him forward. Tall already, her high heels made them nearly face-to-face. Her lips, soft and pink, bloomed like early spring peach blossoms in his view.
Jiang Li stayed composed, but Yue Ji's eyes sparked with irritation.
Seconds passed.
Then it hit him.
"When you made this dress for me, you swore you'd never make clothes for another woman," she recited, eyes narrowing, her breath brushing his face.
"You're too close."
"Any closer, and I'll ruin your game with other sisters?" she sneered.
"Just worried rumors might hurt your reputation."
His peripheral vision caught the first-floor crowd watching them, their proximity so tight he could wrap an arm around her slender waist with ease.
"You misunderstood," he said earnestly. "I meant I'd never make the same dress style for anyone else."
Yue Ji laughed, exasperated.
She released his collar, stepping back, arms crossed. "I forbid it."
"Forbidding won't help," he said innocently, spreading his hands. "You're being unreasonable."
"No, I'm threatening you."
"How so?"
"If you make her that dress, tomorrow the sect will hear you seduced me, abandoned me, and moved on to a new girl, making her a pretty dress…"
Jiang Li's eyes widened. "You'd trade one-for-one like that?"
"Think it over."
He shot her a look. "What's got you so mad?"
"You said you'd only make clothes for me, so you can't for anyone else."
"You misheard me."
"That's how I understood it—and you meant for me to. Scumbag." She turned away.
"What do you want, then?"
She tossed him a jade token. "Take this, go upstairs, pick any dress you want. Buy one for her, fine—but you can't make one."
Her offer was tempting.
The second floor had exclusive dresses, luxury items worth hundreds, even thousands of spirit stones. But that missed the point.
"I refuse," he said flatly.
Yue Ji gritted her teeth, stepping closer. "Why not?"
"Having a girl I care for wear a dress I made feels more rewarding."
"A girl you care for? Ha, you believe that yourself?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" He grinned. "If you can't fool yourself, how do you fool others?"
"Your love's dirt cheap."
"You've known me long enough." He tossed the jade token back. "Gotta go."
"Scram."
She watched him raise his umbrella and vanish into the rain.
Jiang Li returned to his bamboo hut on Hidden Sword Peak.
He'd built it himself; it didn't leak in the rain. Big White darted to the bed, likely chilly, while Jiang Li gathered tailoring tools.
From past collaborations with Praying Moon Pavilion, he'd made samples for their seamstresses, so their unique dresses were his designs. Crafting one took just a few hours.
Today, he'd be busy—making two.
He'd bought enough fabric for two dresses: one for Bai Sheng, one for Yue Ji.
Yue Ji had discounted his sword purchase, a favor he needed to repay. He hated owing debts, but with Yue Ji, favors tangled messily, hard to settle.
Cutting silk, he mused.
Bai Sheng's bindings must be tight—Yue Ji seemed fuller by comparison.
Bai Sheng's was a moon-white ruqun; Yue Ji's, a black qipao.
He'd known Yue Ji's measurements since she was fourteen, up to now at twenty. As a child, she'd clung to his arm, begging for treats, toys, or pretty things. But women grew trickier with age.
Shaking his head, he finished Yue Ji's dress as the sky darkened outside, rain pattering on bamboo leaves. He loved such weather—his garden didn't need watering.
It was late, and Bai Sheng's dress wasn't started. Even at Foundation Establishment, sleep was essential. Yawning, he brewed tea and kept working.
Yue Ji's dress came first—it was more urgent.
Who knew if she'd really go for a one-for-one rumor?
He used to think women were predictable, until his past life's stabbing proved otherwise.
Rain tapped leaves outside. Big White woke, yawned, and hopped to Jiang Li's feet. With permission, it opened a cabinet, grabbed dried fish, and chowed down.
Big White was well-behaved, never ruining clothes unprompted.
What bad intentions could a cat have? Its master, though, was the villain.
Big White paused mid-bite, waddled to the door, and a knock followed. Before Jiang Li could answer, Big White leapt to open it for Yue Ji.
After opening the door, it flopped down, wagging its tail. Yue Ji crouched, rubbing its belly and head, then pulled a premium jade spirit fish from her storage ring for its bowl.
Among Jiang Li's female friends, Big White loved Yue Ji best—she always brought treats. Jiang Li turned.
Yue Ji, visiting late, wore a light purple cinched camisole dress, her porcelain skin glowing in the dark. His gaze traced from her slender ankles to her faintly cool expression.
"What're you doing here?"
"I heard… you picked out two sets of silk?"
"Maybe they're for another woman," he teased. Next moment, she plopped into his chair, crossing her long legs, dangling a slender calf. Arms crossed, she accentuated her alluring figure.
"You dare?"