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...Inside the Angel God Temple, the ambiguous atmosphere was like a taut string, frantically testing the edge of breaking.
Qian Renxue's kiss, which was both retaliatory and deeply affectionate, was like a raging fire attempting to ignite Xuan Ming's last shred of reason. Her hands were tightly wrapped around Xuan Ming's neck, and her entire body was pressed against him without reservation. That desperate resolve was enough to make any man instantly drop his guard.
However, just as that final line of defense was about to collapse, and just as Qian Renxue thought she could finally have her wish—
A hand that was somewhat too large pressed firmly onto her shoulder.
It didn't use force, yet it was like an unshakeable mountain, rigidly fixing the last sliver of distance remaining between the two of them.
"Mmm?"
Qian Renxue abruptly opened her eyes, her golden pupils filled with shock and disbelief.
Although Xuan Ming's gaze was slightly wavering, and obvious flames were burning deep within his eyes, he still took a deep breath, turned his head, and avoided Qian Renxue's tempting red lips.
"Xue'er, no."
"Why?!"
Qian Renxue practically screamed, her eyes instantly turning red.
She had clearly gone this far, having abandoned all her pride and reserve, not even caring about so-called ethics and morals. Why did he still refuse?!
"I told you, this isn't appropriate."
Xuan Ming gently exerted force, pushing her back slightly. Looking at her tear-filled eyes, he sighed helplessly, "I can be a scoundrel, or even someone worse than a beast. But I can't... actually be a beast."
"I just came from your mother, and immediately after, I would move on you. If I actually did something like this, how would the three of us get along afterward?"
"I don't care!" Qian Renxue cried out, her voice choked with sobs. "I don't care, so why do you? In your heart, are those so-called worldly opinions more important than me?"
"It's not about worldly opinions." Xuan Ming shook his head, his expression becoming extraordinarily serious. "It's a hurdle I can't overcome within myself. Xue'er, you are wonderful, and you deserve complete and serious treatment, not as a... continuation after an outlet, or a casual compensation."
"If I were to go along with it now, that would not only be a slight against you, but also a desecration of the feelings between us."
Although he was a bit of a jerk emotionally, he had a bottom line.
This bottom line might seem overly sentimental to others, but for him, it was the final line of defense preventing this complicated relationship from completely collapsing.
Qian Renxue stared intently at him, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
She really wanted to curse him a few more times, bite him a few more times, or even stab two holes into him with the Angelic Sacred Sword.
But she also knew that Xuan Ming was this stubborn.
This guy usually seemed unrestrained and lawless, but on some strange points, he was as stubborn as a mule.
If he could really back down easily and be easily dominated by desire, then he wouldn't be the Xuan Ming who made her feel a mix of love and hate.
"Hoo..."
Qian Renxue let out a long breath of turbid Qi, releasing her hands dejectedly. She slumped onto the Divine Throne, which was slightly askew from their earlier struggle, like a deflated ball.
"Xuan Ming, you win."
She said through gritted teeth, "You always use these high-minded principles to leave me speechless. Fine, you want to stick to your bottom line, you want to be a Saint, I'll grant you that!"
Seeing this, Xuan Ming secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He straightened his slightly disheveled collar, cleared his throat, and tried to change the dangerous topic: "Well... since everything is fine, let's talk about serious business."
"The matters concerning Douluo Star still need to be dealt with quickly."
"You know, one day in the God Realm is one year in the Mortal Realm. Although we only delayed for a moment here, several days might have already passed down below. If we keep dragging this out, who knows what the situation will become? If Bai Chenxiang or Ning Fengzhi mess things up, cleaning up the mess will be troublesome."
However, it was fine as long as he didn't mention time, but the moment he did, the anger that Qian Renxue had managed to slightly suppress immediately flared up again.
She sneered, her gaze cutting into Xuan Ming like a knife: "You know time is precious? You know one day in the God Realm is one year in the Mortal Realm?"
"Since you're so anxious, what were you doing yesterday?"
Qian Renxue pointed in the direction of the Asura Gods Divine Residence next door, her tone filled with ridicule. "When you were going crazy next door for a day and a night, why didn't you think that several years might have passed down below? What? You weren't afraid of messing things up then? Now that you're here with me, after staying for less than half a day, you start talking to me about the concept of time?"
Xuan Ming instantly felt so awkward he wanted to crawl into a crack in the ground.
This was indeed a sore point.
"Well... this matter... actually, it was mainly your mother... cough, mainly Bibi Dong. She really waited too long, and her emotions were a bit out of control. You know, in that situation, I was also passive..."
"Passive?"
Qian Renxue sounded like she had heard a huge joke, her voice instantly rising eight octaves. "Ha! Passive? Xuan Ming, you are a man! And a God King! You tell me you were passive?"
She suddenly stood up, walked a few steps in front of Xuan Ming, and fiercely poked his chest with her finger.
"Don't think I don't know! Forget about now, even in the past, your control over your body had already reached the point of perfection! As long as you don't want to, every muscle and every drop of blood in your entire body can be completely still!"
"Even if she forced you, even if she rode on you, as long as you weren't willing in your heart, you could truly remain as still as a mountain, or even turn yourself into an unconscious stone statue!"
"But what about you? The commotion shook the dust off my Angel God Temple! You tell me you were passive? You must have been enjoying it immensely!"
Xuan Ming was rendered speechless by the retort.
Indeed, if he truly wanted to refuse, there were ten thousand ways to prevent Bibi Dong from succeeding. But he didn't. Because at that moment, he was also moved, and he wanted to respond to the deep affection Bibi Dong had suppressed for many years.
"Xue'er, be reasonable." Xuan Ming spread his hands helplessly, trying to make a final struggle. "If I truly turned into a stone statue, would that be respectful to Bibi Dong? She waited so many years, and finally got this moment. If I had absolutely no reaction, wouldn't that be stabbing a knife into her heart?"
"That kind of rejection is more painful than killing her. I couldn't do it."
"Oh, so in order to respect her, you had to cooperate with her, is that right?"
Qian Renxue was so angry she laughed instead, dangerous light flashing in her eyes. "Then were you respectful to me just now?!"
"I also waited so many years! I was also so proactive! I threw all my dignity away! But what did you do? You pushed me away, talked to me about bottom lines, inappropriateness, and respect!"
"Xuan Ming! In your eyes, is refusing me the only way to be respectful? Is making me heartbroken the only thing that counts as your bottom line?!"
"Is my heart not made of flesh? Doesn't it get hurt?!"
"..."
Xuan Ming was completely speechless.
There was no way to continue this conversation. This was simply a vicious cycle; no matter how he explained it, it always looped back to the core question: "Why did you sleep with her but not me?"