Chapter 127: Protecting Her

After he walked over, he immediately pulled Xie Yingying away.

“Yingying, I advise you to keep your distance from your master. I have a feeling he’s got ill intentions toward you.”

Xie Yingying looked at him with a smile, amused by his nervousness.

“Oh, come on, don’t overthink it. He’s just my master—nothing more than that.”

This young lady was always so innocent. Don’t think that just because he’s a master, he wouldn’t have designs on his disciple. In this world, there are plenty of masters who harbor such intentions!

“Anyway, just stay by my side. I’ll protect you.”

Xie Yingying smiled sweetly. In the story, both men deeply loved her. But for this traveler through time, since she was not the original owner of the body, neither man would take a liking to her. She only hoped that both men could find the women they truly liked.

Before long, the three set out, riding in a horse-drawn carriage. The three of them sat inside, the atmosphere somewhat awkward. Xie Yingying, however, was unbothered. As she gazed out the window, she noticed the two men’s eyes meeting. She seemed to catch a faint scent of something burning.

She sighed softly. As the carriage moved slowly forward, a hunger stirred in her belly.

Xie Yingying turned to Bai Shengyun and asked, “I feel a bit hungry. How much longer until we reach the inn?”

Bai Shengyun quickly reached into his bag and pulled out an osmanthus cake, handing it to her.

“If you’re hungry, eat this osmanthus cake. The inn is just ahead—we’ll be there soon.”

Xie Yingying nodded, eating the cake, and immediately felt her hunger subside.

After a while, the carriage finally stopped in front of the inn.

Bai Shengyun said, “We’ve arrived. Yingying, since you’re hungry, let’s go inside and have something delicious.”

With that, the two men headed into the inn, followed closely by Huo Tianqing, whose gaze was filled with murderous intent. Watching Bai Shengyun’s back, it was as if he wanted to tear him limb from limb.

Xie Yingying paid no attention, completely ignoring the tension.

Upon entering, the innkeeper greeted them warmly, a cloth draped over his shoulder.

“Three of you—are you here just to eat, or will you be staying overnight?”

Xie Yingying glanced inside. The inn was bustling with people, spacious, and fragrant aromas wafted through the air. It was indeed a fine place. She smiled and asked the innkeeper playfully,

“Isn’t it possible to both eat and stay here?”

The innkeeper nodded eagerly. No one really quibbled over such a thing.

“Of course!”

The three of them went inside. The inn was crowded, and Xie Yingying, who disliked cramped spaces, said to the innkeeper,

“Please arrange rooms for us first. After that, we’ll come down to eat.”

The innkeeper looked at the three of them with a smile but seemed a bit troubled.

“There’s a small issue... I hope you don’t mind, but our rooms are nearly full. We only have two rooms left.”

Hearing this, Bai Shengyun’s face lit up. He pulled Xie Yingying close and said to the innkeeper,

“That’s easy. I’ll tell this lady something—let that man have his own room.”

The innkeeper readily agreed. However, Huo Tianqing looked displeased, pulling Xie Yingying to his side and saying,

“We’ll share one room. You take the other.”

The innkeeper stood there, unsure how to respond or what the relationship between the three was. He only thought Xie Yingying was beautiful—a great beauty—and guessed these two men were rivals, so he quietly stepped aside to keep his distance.

That familiar tension returned. Why were these two always at odds? Xie Yingying sat to the side, feeling helpless.

The two men glared fiercely at each other.

Bai Shengyun said, “Yingying’s staying with me anyway. She likes me, not you. If she stayed with you, she wouldn’t be happy at all.”

Huo Tianqing raised an eyebrow and boldly replied,

“On what basis? I’m her master. If you’re making moves on my disciple, how can I stand by and watch her fall into a bad man’s hands?”

Bai Shengyun was no pushover either. How could the woman he liked share a room with another man? His resolve matched Huo Tianqing’s in intensity.

“Yingying won’t stay with you. Even if you’re her master, so what? You’re still a man. Yingying and I have known each other a long time. We’re close. I wouldn’t make any moves on her—but you might.”

Xie Yingying sighed again. Huo Tianqing, walking beside her, lowered his eyes and asked,

“Yingying, which one of us would you prefer to share a room with?”

His face was full of hope, like a pitiful child.

Xie Yingying looked left and right, then blurted out,

“How about... you two just share a room together?”

What?!

The two men simultaneously and coldly rejected the idea.

“No way!”

Bai Shengyun drew his long sword from his waist and pointed it at Huo Tianqing’s nose.

“Fine. If that’s the case, let’s settle this—winner takes the lady.”

Huo Tianqing stared him down.

“You’re overestimating yourself. With so many people around, do you have the nerve to fight here? Put your sword away. We’ll fight with our bare hands—don’t hurt the other guests.”

Xie Yingying quickly interjected.

“Yes, yes! You two, stop fighting, okay? We’re out here to have fun. Isn’t harmony more important?”

But they refused to listen. Bai Shengyun said,

“Alright, we won’t fight inside. Let’s go outside, and no magic—just hand-to-hand combat.”

“Fine. Let’s go outside. I won’t let my disciple fall into your hands. As her master, I can’t watch idly while she’s taken advantage of.”

“Sounds like you’re just afraid of being taken advantage of yourself.”

The two men strode outside.

Xie Yingying hurried after them, trying to mediate.

“Master, please don’t fight him, okay? You two can share a room. I can sleep alone. Isn’t that easy to settle?”

“And you, Bai Shengyun, why are you so childish? Didn’t you say we’re here to play? Why fight?”

But no matter what Xie Yingying said, the two men ignored her and leapt into the air, landing on the roof eaves of the inn.

They faced each other, tense and ready.

Helplessly, Xie Yingying watched as they fought, flying and striking without magic, yet the battle was thrilling.

Huo Tianqing’s martial prowess was formidable, his reflexes lightning quick. Bai Shengyun was no slouch either.

The two were nearly evenly matched.

After a while, a crowd gathered downstairs, watching the fight and cheering them on.