Chapter 87: Your Apology Lacks Sincerity—Say It Louder

Su Jian immediately voiced his strong condemnation.
“These people are just too much. Next time I see them, I’ll help you teach them a lesson. If there’s nothing else, let’s part ways here. You go on walking your dog, and I’ll continue my stroll.”

This little girl was rather difficult to deal with; he couldn’t just give her a talisman to freeze her in place.

Li Ling’er wasn’t buying it at all. A sly smile curled at the corners of her mouth. “You’re so afraid of me following you, I bet it’s because you’re hiding something you don’t want me to find out!”

Su Jian waved his hand dismissively. “If you want to follow, go ahead. But let me make this clear—I’m heading up the mountain. Little girl, don’t complain if you can’t keep up. If you start crying, I won’t bother with you.”

“You’re underestimating me!” Li Ling’er retorted indignantly.

She was, after all, a girl raised in the mountains—there wasn’t a trail she hadn’t walked.

On the contrary, Su Jian looked more like a pampered young master from a wealthy family. He might not be handsome, but his skin was certainly fair and tender.

After observing the area earlier, Su Jian had already picked out the best spot to watch the action.

Lingxiu Village was situated nearly a hundred miles east of Yingdu City, but the standoff between the Myriad Treasures Pavilion and the Alliance of the Righteous was some dozen miles to the southeast.

Thus, the highest peak to the west naturally became the best choice.

Moments later, they arrived at the foot of their chosen mountain.

“Can’t you slow down a bit? I can tell you’re trying to ditch me,” Li Ling’er panted heavily as she caught up.

Su Jian seized the opportunity. “If you know that, then stop following. Be good, go home.”

It was true—a person’s charm could not be concealed.

He’d attracted a little fan so quickly.

Li Ling’er muttered, “Don’t you know how to be gentle with a lady?”

“My, little girl, you know quite a range of words,” Su Jian teased with a smile.

“You’re underestimating me again! My father is a learned man, and I’ve picked up a thing or two myself,” Li Ling’er said, rather pleased with herself.

Su Jian replied with mock seriousness, “Mm, very impressive.”

Li Ling’er: “...”

She followed behind him, complaining, “If you had to climb a mountain, couldn’t you pick a better one? Pipa Mountain is treacherous—it’s not a good place to go.”

Pipa Mountain was named for its resemblance to the pipa instrument.

Maybe this “bad man” had more in mind than a mere hike.

Su Jian replied with utmost seriousness, “You’re still young. The feeling of standing atop the summit, gazing down at all the other mountains—you can’t understand it yet.”

Li Ling’er’s eyes lit up. “What’s the other half of that line?”

Such a splendid poetic line left her rather dazzled.

Su Jian answered perfunctorily, “I haven’t thought of it yet. I’ll tell you when I do.”

He had no interest in showing off before a little girl.

Besides, the line wasn’t really his own. Showing off with someone else’s words just felt ridiculous.

Li Ling’er was left yearning for more...

Before long, they reached halfway up the mountain. Su Jian looked as calm as ever, but Li Ling’er was already drenched in fragrant sweat and gasping for breath.

“Bad man, help me up, will you?” she pleaded pitifully.

“What are you thinking? I suggest you rest here a while and head back the way you came.” Su Jian refused without a shred of sympathy and even felt like mocking her for overestimating herself.

Li Ling’er’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re just going to leave me here alone?”

“That’s right. Next time, don’t be so stubborn, and don’t go running after strangers. You’re lucky it was me you met today—if it were someone else, your cries would be useless in these wild mountains,” Su Jian warned her, not unkindly.

Li Ling’er edged closer, her voice aggrieved. “I’m not going back alone. There are beasts in these mountains, maybe even something stranger. I know you wouldn’t let anything bad happen to me.”

“Be good. You chose this path. If something really does happen, for old times’ sake, I’ll burn a stick of incense for you,” Su Jian said, patting her head with a faint smile.

At his words, Li Ling’er’s eyes suddenly brightened with inspiration. “If you don’t take me with you, I’ll go complain to Sister Zhao and tell her you tried to take liberties with me!”

If you show no mercy, don’t blame me for being ruthless.

Su Jian couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation. He grabbed Li Ling’er at once.

Li Ling’er, feeling the sudden loss of balance, grew alarmed. “What are you doing?”

“Well, since you’ve already made the accusation, if I don’t do something, wouldn’t I be at a disadvantage?” Su Jian’s voice came from above.

“Eh?”

Li Ling’er was stunned. She sensed things were going badly. After a brief struggle that proved futile, she pleaded, “Please, bad man, I was wrong, I shouldn’t have threatened you... Please let me down.”

Su Jian gave her a light tap and snorted, “That didn’t sound sincere enough. Louder.”

Li Ling’er shrank back, eyes glistening with tears, and said timidly, “Good brother, I was wrong...”

Su Jian: “...”

She really was cuter after a good cry.

Oh well, if he didn’t put her down now, who knew what wild words she’d come up with next.

Just moments ago she’d been fierce and feisty, and now she’d suddenly changed character—he could hardly keep up.

Could she have a split personality?

A glimmer of cunning flashed in Li Ling’er’s eyes. So this was the bad man’s weakness.

“Good brother, help me,” she wheedled.

Su Jian pretended not to hear.

With her unremarkable little self, did she really think that would work?

Suddenly, Li Ling’er leaped up and clung tightly to him, refusing to let go no matter how he tried to shake her off.

Su Jian: “...”

In the end, Su Jian was defeated by her incessant cries of “good brother.”

Even with Li Ling’er hanging on him, his steps remained brisk and sure.

Her small hands gripped his shoulders, her body pressed closely against his.

She’d never been this close to a man before. The mountain breeze lifted the hair from her brow, and her heart was anything but calm—her pulse quickened.

In just a short time, they reached the summit of Pipa Mountain.

Li Ling’er took a moment to steady herself, breathing in deeply before exhaling.

“Bad man, do you practice martial arts?” she asked, curiosity piqued by Su Jian’s display of agility, which was far from ordinary. The wind had howled past her ears the whole way, and the scenery had sped by in a blur.

Su Jian frowned slightly. This little girl was so pragmatic—when she needed him, it was “good brother,” but as soon as they reached the top, he was back to being a “bad man.”

Li Ling’er began analyzing to herself, “Seems you have a lot of secrets. I’ll uncover them all, bad man. Are you ready?”

Su Jian sighed softly; this little girl was simply too idle.

When he didn’t answer, she pressed him again about his martial arts.

Su Jian raised an eyebrow. “No martial arts, but I did study a little Daoist immortality for a few days.”