A Royal Confrontation

“You! Get away from me!”

A wave of heat surged through Bai Qiao. She leapt to her feet, scrambling back several steps. Despite having resigned herself to her transformation into a girl—a woman of such striking beauty—her mind and body absolutely refused to accept this turn of events.

The very idea of being kissed by a man was utterly nauseating, a feeling that would likely never dissipate, even with a lifetime of adaptation. This was especially true for someone of her inherently proud nature.

Having regained her footing, Bai Qiao gazed at Qing, who remained seated and unmoving, her face visibly pale. The faint, enigmatic smile playing on his lips, coupled with the fresh memory of those very lips pressed against her own, sent a wave of nausea through her stomach. All she wanted was to purge everything.

Unlike a truly delicate girl, Bai Qiao quickly composed herself, her tone leveling out as she spoke:

“It’s getting late, Qing. You should head back. I fear that soon, Bai Chen… the King will come to admire the moon.”

A soft ‘Heh~’ escaped Qing’s lips. With a flourish of his right hand, his sleeve billowed in the air, and where his hand swept, petals cascaded, filling the sky with a myriad of blossoms. Such a spectacle was something Bai Qiao had only witnessed in cinemas; even 3D technology couldn’t evoke such a profound sense of reality and awe. Though not one to be overly sentimental, Bai Qiao found herself surprisingly moved by the sight of petals swirling everywhere.

“You… are you a magister?”

Bai Qiao turned to Qing, a quizzical expression on her face. ‘This isn’t merely an ancient era,’ she mused, ‘but rather an alternate dimension, wouldn’t that be simpler to say?’ While she had read novels of this genre, she had never imagined it actually happening to her. It had been roughly two months since she arrived here, and she had largely adjusted to her female body. Yet, reflecting on the past days, it truly felt like a dream.

“Snap! Crash!”

As Bai Qiao remained lost in her reverie, the entire space abruptly shattered into fragments. Shards, still tinged with red, swayed in the air before completely disappearing without a trace.

Bai Chen stood, sword in his right hand, his face devoid of emotion. Yet, his entire being exuded a dark, oppressive killing intent that almost seemed to take physical form, as if a mere turn of one’s body would result in countless lacerations. Bai Qiao, naturally, sensed this overwhelming aura and could only freeze on the spot, utterly unsure of how to react.

Qing, however, merely smiled faintly as he ambled forward:

“Bai Chen, indulging in a moment of leisure, are we? Finding time to ‘play’ here?”

“This is my residence. Is there anything wrong with me being here?”

“Heh, of course not…” Qing chuckled, reaching out to encircle Bai Qiao’s waist. “I wonder, Bai Chen, how have you considered today’s terms?”

Suddenly enveloped, Bai Qiao’s heart gave an involuntary lurch. She desperately tried to break free from Qing’s grasp, only to discover, to her horror, that her body was utterly beyond her control. No matter what commands her brain issued, her limbs remained unresponsive, as if they no longer belonged to her.

“You! Let go!”

Bai Chen’s expression grew increasingly grim, and the killing intent emanating from him intensified, becoming even more chilling. The two men held their ground in a tense standoff for a long moment; one, a formidable presence like an Asura from hell, the other, serenely indifferent yet subtly vigilant. After several minutes, neither showed the slightest sign of wavering. It was Bai Chen who finally broke the silence with a sneer:

“I have no desire to fight you today. Let’s save such a battle for the martial arts competition His Majesty is organizing half a month from now.”

“A martial arts competition?” Qing asked, a hint of confusion in his voice, wondering why he hadn’t heard of such an event.

“Ah, I had forgotten. You’ve been here for quite some time, Qing, and I haven’t informed you. But there’s still half a month. Perhaps you should return quickly and prepare for this matter…”

Upon hearing these words, Qing, who had maintained his provocative smile throughout, finally saw his expression twist into something contorted, his face flushing with anger.

“You! Fine, fine, fine! Truly excellent. You tell me now? Did you intentionally invite me here?”

“Think what you will…”

Qing’s expression shifted repeatedly, a storm of emotions crossing his face. Finally, with an indignant flick of his wrist, he released Bai Qiao and vanished directly from between them.

After Qing departed, an immediate wave of awkwardness washed over Bai Qiao. Bai Chen remained silent, his unwavering gaze alone enough to send a shiver down her spine. Finally unable to bear the oppressive quiet, she spoke:

“Um, it’s getting late. I… I’ll head back first. You should… go back early too.”

Bai Chen’s face instantly darkened. He flashed forward, appearing directly before Bai Qiao, and gazed down at her. His finger roughly hooked under her chin, forcing her head up. Ignoring the tears that welled in the corners of Bai Qiao’s eyes from the sudden movement, he gritted his teeth and said:

“I wondered what you’d say. And the first thing out of your mouth is to send me away?”

“Then… what do you want?”

Considering Bai Chen’s intentions towards her, Bai Qiao couldn’t help but shrink back. She, who had always believed there was nothing in the world to fear, now understood that this was precisely what terrified her—this profound sense of… humiliation.

“Never mind. Go back.”

Witnessing Bai Qiao’s reaction, Bai Chen was surprised to feel a pang in his heart. He had always dismissed her as merely a new plaything, but this sensation was entirely novel to him. Immediately, his grip loosened. He feared that her genuine fear would make him feel pathetic. As he watched Bai Qiao swiftly depart, an unsettling emptiness settled within him.

Late into the night, Bai Chen remained seated at his desk, his fingers pressed tightly against his temples. While Bai Qiao’s situation weighed on his mind, he was even more perplexed by the Emperor’s sudden decision to organize this martial arts competition. It wasn’t that Bai Chen had deliberately withheld the information from Qing. He had, in fact, just received a secret decree allowing each king to bring three individuals to the central region. Bai Chen had been on his way to inform Qing when he stumbled upon the scene, leading to their earlier confrontation. Three people? The number felt incredibly odd. There had never been such a restriction before, and for a king of such esteemed status to travel with only three attendants on a distant journey was highly unusual. Moreover, Qing’s remark when they first met that day clearly indicated his knowledge that Bai Qiao did not belong to this dimension. How could he possibly know?

‘Argh!’ Bai Chen clutched his throbbing head. ‘None of these matters seemed right, no matter how I looked at them.’ Frustration gnawing at him, Bai Chen unconsciously materialized in Bai Qiao’s room. Gazing at ‘himself’—or rather, the woman he now inhabited—sleeping soundly, he felt an inexplicable urge to visit their world, yet there was no discernible path.

He slowly sat on the edge of the bed, his hand gently brushing Bai Qiao’s cheek. This girl, usually so boisterous, only revealed a docile, endearing innocence in her sleep. She shifted from her side, turning to lie perfectly straight on the bed, utterly defenseless. Truly…

Bai Chen couldn’t help but lean closer, gazing down at Bai Qiao from above, feeling a surge of heat coursing through him.

So, when Bai Qiao inexplicably awoke, the first thing she saw was Bai Chen, hands braced beside her, leaning over her as she lay in bed. Her mind… it wasn’t just collapsing; a righteous palm was already rising.

****