Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

At the mountain gate.

Dongfang Shi wore a smug smile.

The Third Elder asked in confusion, "What did you just give him?"

Dongfang Shi replied with a mischievous grin, "A bond. A tether. His... motivation to return to the Qingyun Sect!"

Another taxi. Another journey from a mountaintop back to the city. Another trip without a cell phone. Another misunderstanding...

And what was even more ridiculous was that the driver was the same man from last time!

The driver looked at Zhao Dong, but his previous wariness was replaced with a fawning smile. "Sir, how is it you again?"

Zhao Dong gave a wry smile. "I was about to ask you the same thing. This place is in the middle of nowhere. How could I possibly get you as my driver both times I hailed a cab?"

"Perhaps it's fate," the driver laughed. "Last time, I dropped a customer off at South Mountain and ran into you on my way back. This time, I came to drop someone at North Mountain and, wouldn't you know it, I ran into you again. What a coincidence, right? But why are you alone this time?"

Zhao Dong was still wearing the white robe that the driver found so strange. Although it wasn't the tattered one from before, it was still a far cry from modern attire. So, the driver's question wasn't surprising.

The image of that silly girl, Qing Yu, surfaced in Zhao Dong's mind.

"Ah, we had an argument. She's not talking to me."

"Hey, young couples quarrel. I've been there, I get it," the driver said with a laugh. "You're a handsome guy, and you two have a shared hobby. She won't be able to stay away from you."

"What shared hobby?" Zhao Dong asked, puzzled.

The driver said awkwardly, "You both like to wear Hanfu. You must be into that cosplay stuff, right? Hahaha, I wouldn't have guessed it! You're pretty trendy, man."

Zhao Dong just smiled and shook his head.

The two of them chatted amiably.

An hour later, the car stopped once again in front of the same mall as last time.

Zhao Dong started awkwardly, "Driver, I... uh..."

"It's fine, it's fine. You forgot your phone again, right?" the driver laughed. "It must be fate that we've met twice. I was planning to drive back empty anyway, so don't worry about the fare."

"That won't do!" Zhao Dong shook his head. "Business is business. I have to pay you. Sir, leave me your bank card number, and I'll transfer the money tomorrow."

"No need, really," the driver insisted politely.

"Well," Zhao Dong said, even more embarrassed, "actually, I don't just need to pay you the fare. I was also hoping to borrow some money from you to buy a phone. Don't worry, I'll pay you back double tomorrow."

"Oh, that's no problem at all!" The driver immediately got out of the car and walked over to a nearby ATM.

He withdrew 10,000 yuan, handed it to Zhao Dong, and gave him his card number.

"So readily? Aren't you afraid I won't pay you back?" Zhao Dong was a little stunned.

The driver laughed. "You're friends with the Director of the Public Security Bureau. How could you possibly cheat me? If we common folk can't even trust Public Security, who can we trust?"

With that, the driver cheerfully got back in his car, gave Zhao Dong a wave, and drove away from the mall.

An indescribable feeling washed over Zhao Dong. There really are more good people than bad in this world. It's just that most of them have been scammed by the bad ones and are too scared to be good anymore.

Entering the mall, Zhao Dong's peculiar clothes naturally attracted a number of stares. However, plenty of people wore Hanfu these days, so no one actually pointed or whispered.

After changing into a new set of clothes, buying a new phone, and getting a replacement SIM card from a self-service machine, Zhao Dong finally left the mall.

He turned on the phone.

A long string of missed calls left him stunned. So many calls in the two days he'd been gone?

He soon realized all the missed calls were from the same number.

Qing Yu!

Zhao Dong smiled. He suddenly remembered what the driver had said. She won't be able to stay away from you.

Zhao Dong called the number.

The moment the call connected, Qing Yu's furious voice came crashing down on him.

"Why didn't you answer my calls!? So, you rotten man! You found someone new and completely forgot about me, your old flame, is that it? And after I helped cover for you at the Blood Sect, even letting you bully me like that, you... you're just a heartless man! A use-you-and-lose-you kind of man! A man who saw my body, kissed me, and touched me, then refused to take responsibility! WAAAH..."

As she spoke, Qing Yu burst into tears.

Zhao Dong quickly and awkwardly tried to explain, "Don't cry, please don't cry! I'm not that kind of person, and I haven't forgotten you. I was at the Qingyun Sect's Dharma Assembly for the last two days and lost my phone. I just got a new one, and aren't you the first person I called?"

"You went to the Qingyun Sect's Dharma Assembly?" Qing Yu's sobbing stopped abruptly, replaced by shock.

"That's right," Zhao Dong said proudly. "Not only did I go, but I also won first place! What do you think? Isn't your Senior Zhao Dong amazing?"

Hearing this, Qing Yu's resentment clearly faded. She pouted and said, "Hmph! Rotten man! Since you're so incredible, I'll let it slide this time. But you're never allowed to ignore my calls again! You scared me to death! I thought that bastard Ouyang Hong had found you and that something had happened to you!"

Hearing this, Zhao Dong's heart warmed. He realized her tears were born more from worry than complaint. Thankfully, he had glossed over the full extent of his troubles at the Qingyun Sect. Otherwise, she would have been scared into crying all over again.

This clingy girl… Zhao Dong couldn't bear the thought of her being heartbroken on his account.

Zhao Dong smiled. "Okay, I promise I'll always answer your calls from now on."

"That's more like it!" Qing Yu chirped, her mood completely changed. "Oh, by the way, there's a lantern festival in Provincial City tonight! It's supposed to be gorgeous. My senior sister is here too. Let's go see it together, okay?"

"Dai Ruyu?" The awkward encounter at the Blood Sect instantly came to mind. He quickly shook his head. "I think I'll pass. Your senior sister and I don't really get along. I should probably stay away."

"No way!" Qing Yu feigned anger. "My senior sister isn't a tiger. Is she going to eat you or something? Besides, you've already met. If you don't come, I'll be upset!"

Seeing her throw a childish tantrum, Zhao Dong could only laugh helplessly. He hadn't seen her in a while and really did feel like he owed her. Refusing to go to a simple lantern festival seemed too cruel.

"All right, all right," he said with a bitter smile. "Send me the location. I'll head over now."

"That's great! I knew you'd come! I'll send you the address right now!"

Qing Yu jumped for joy. After hanging up, she immediately sent Zhao Dong the location.

The Provincial City Lantern Festival was being held by a lake. When Zhao Dong arrived, the entire lakeshore was teeming with people and filled with lanterns of every shape and size. The atmosphere was incredibly lively. Seeing such a bustling, joyous scene, Zhao Dong's mood improved considerably.

"Senior!"

Just then, Qing Yu spotted him. Holding a candied hawthorn stick, she began jumping and waving excitedly from within the crowd.

And standing right beside her, with an unmistakably grim expression... was Dai Ruyu.