Battle Through the Heaven: Purple Heaven

"Hello, miss!"

Xiao Bai sat cross-legged, elbow propped on his thigh, chin resting in his hand, leaning slightly forward. His eyes gleamed with playful mischief as he watched a small hand appear at the cliff's edge, followed by half a head popping up.

Xiao Yi Xian was panting, her fair face glistening with sweat, dark hair clinging to her cheeks. Nearing the top, relieved that the beast below hadn't followed, she was about to celebrate her escape when a shadow loomed overhead. A man's low, amused voice sounded in her ear.

Startled, she jerked her head up, finding a gray-white-haired head inches away, two strands nearly brushing her face.

"Ah!" A scream echoed across the cliff, making Xiao Bai want to cover his ears.

Despite her panic and closed eyes, she clung tightly to the rope, not letting go.

Xiao Bai watched with a quiet smile. After her scream, she cracked one eye open, peeking cautiously. Seeing his body behind the head, she exhaled, opening both eyes to regard him warily.

Though annoyed he'd scared her at the cliff's edge, she wasn't up yet and couldn't afford to snap. "Um… sir?" She faltered, unsure how to address him—gray hair but a youthful face. "Could you… pull me up? I'm out of strength."

Xiao Yi Xian saw him staring, his eyes twinkling oddly. Though puzzled, her trembling hands urged her to ask softly.

Xiao Bai, silent, stood and extended a hand.

She took a deep breath, gripping the rope with one hand and placing the other in his. With a gentle tug, he lifted her, her delicate frame arcing through the air to land lightly on the cliff.

As she tried to pull her hand free, Xiao Bai released it first. She murmured a quiet "Thank you."

Xiao Bai studied her. Dressed in a plain white skirt, she had a frail yet graceful figure, her waist strikingly slender. Her face, while not stunning, held an ethereal charm, especially her clear, lotus-like eyes, pure and refined.

That waist really lives up to the hype, Xiao Bai thought, nodding inwardly, his face impassive.

"Why are you here, sir?" Xiao Yi Xian asked, brushing hair from her forehead, tilting her head slightly. Does he know about the cave below?

"Chased by enemies, feeling down. Storybooks say jumping off cliffs leads to great encounters, so I came to try my luck," Xiao Bai said, his playful grin fading to feigned gloom.

Her heart raced. "No, sir! I just checked down there—there's nothing!"

"Oh? So you're a kindred spirit, hunting for treasures under cliffs too!" Xiao Bai's eyes lit up, as if finding a comrade.

Xiao Yi Xian rolled her eyes inwardly. Kindred spirit, my foot. She was worried he'd jump and actually find something. Wait—he might know about the cave!

Stepping back discreetly, she slipped a packet of medicinal powder into her hand.

Xiao Bai, sharp as ever, caught her movement. Tch, that's no fun. "Miss, I'd put that powder away. It's useless on me," he said, dropping the act, his expression turning cold.

Xiao Yi Xian froze, embarrassed, tucking the powder away. It only worked as a sneak attack—with her ninth-stage Dou Zhi Qi, she couldn't threaten him. She didn't know his cultivation, but reaching this cliff meant he was at least a Dou Zhe. His shifting demeanor, unlike the straightforward mercenaries she'd treated, unnerved her.

"I'm taking that cave below. You've got two choices: come with me or I knock you out and go alone. Three breaths to decide," Xiao Bai said coolly, cutting to the chase.

"One."

"Two."

"I'll go with you!" Xiao Yi Xian blurted, stunned he knew about the cave. Fearing he'd knock her out at "three," she shouted quickly. In the Magical Beast Mountain Range, being unconscious was a death sentence—eaten by beasts or, worse, caught by Joy Apes. A fate worse than death.

This hateful jerk! Just wait! she cursed inwardly, vowing revenge in Qingshan Town. The cave, her hard-earned discovery, slipping away filled her with sorrow.

"Congrats on the right choice," Xiao Bai said, glancing at her indifferently.

He'd only been bluffing—either way, she was coming with him.

Picking up the rope, he tugged it. Pretty sturdy. He beckoned her over.

Xiao Yi Xian stepped back, hands guarding her chest. "What are you doing?"

"Going down together, obviously," Xiao Bai said, giving her a look like she was an idiot.

"No! There's another rope by that crooked tree—my spare. I'll use that!" she said, pointing, refusing outright.

"Fine," Xiao Bai said, glancing at the tree and nodding.

Relieved, she hurried toward it, not wanting to descend with this jerk. But after two steps, his infuriating voice rang out again.

"You ran out of that cave in a panic earlier—met the Rock Snake, didn't you? It's up in that tree now. Don't freak out if you run into it."

"Rock Snake!" Xiao Yi Xian gasped, recalling her terror in the cave. She froze mid-step.

"You can handle it, right?" she asked cautiously.

Xiao Bai nodded. She started toward the tree again, but his casual voice stopped her. "If we share a rope, I'll deal with it. The other one? Depends on my mood."

Argh! How can someone be this infuriating? Stamping her foot, she spun, glaring at Xiao Bai, her eyes burning. If looks could kill, he'd be dead a thousand times. But fearing he'd leave her to the snake, she trudged to his side reluctantly.