Two figures walked along the little mountain path, one in front and the other behind. Tuntun trotted along between them, swivelling its head to cast a gloating gaze at Zhou Yuan. Evidently, even it could sense that Yaoyao was in a bad mood.

　　Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes at it, before awkwardly scratching his head as he looked towards the graceful figure in front of him. He clearly had not expected the usually uncaring Yaoyao to become so angry this time.

　　Yaoyao did not say anything, while Zhou Yuan did not dare to start any conversation. Hence, the two of them returned to the cave dwelling under this stuffy and gloomy atmosphere.

　　When they were back, Yaoyao indifferently said, "Go clean yourself up."

　　Zhou Yuan took a sniff of his sweaty body, and let out an embarra.s.sed laugh, before obediently proceeding to wash up.

　　Yaoyao sat down in the stone pavilion by the cliff. She then retrieved a jade pot and poured herself a full cup of wine. As she lifted the cup, her clear eyes gazed towards the drifting clouds beyond the cliff edge.

　　After some time, a cleaned Zhou Yuan walked over and seated himself opposite Yaoyao.

　　Yaoyao was still ignoring him, continuing instead to stare at the clouds in a daze.

　　A long while later, she slowly withdrew her gaze, no emotion whatsoever on her face as she looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, "You…"

　　The moment she began spoking, however, Zhou Yuan cut out and said without the slightest bit of hesitation, "I was in the wrong."

　　Yaoyao was taken aback. She frowned a little and said, "Wrong…"

　　"Big sis Yaoyao is right!" Zhou Yuan immediately interjected again, his att.i.tude incapable of being more upright.

　　"What…"

　　"I'll never do it again!"

　　Every time Yaoyao was about to speak, Zhou Yuan immediately displayed a submissive and conceding appearance, as if ready to receive any kind of scolding or punishment.

　　Thump!

　　After being cut off several times, the cup in Yaoyao's hand slammed into the table with a little more force than usual, creating a clear 'thump' sound. She stared icily at Zhou Yuan and said, "Shut up!"

　　Zhou Yuan immediately sealed his mouth.

　　By the side, Tuntun revealed a disdainful look at Zhou Yuan. Such spinelessness was practically unwatchable! 

　　Yaoyao glared at Zhou Yuan, the rage originally boiling inside her weakening a little after the many interruptions. Frustrated, she downed the entire cup of wine in her hand.

　　Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the iciness on Yaoyao's face slightly recede, and hurriedly tried to pour Yaoyao another cup.

　　However, Yaoyao slapped away his outreached hands. She grabbed the jade pot and poured another drink for herself.

　　After several cups, her eyes finally lowered slightly as she slowly said, "Zhou Yuan, you are rus.h.i.+ng things too much."

　　Zhou Yuan could only sigh softly in response as he said, "Big sis Yaoyao, I cannot think of any reason to relax. Like you said before, senior brother Chu Qing and I are different. He is fond of doing things half-heartedly if he could, while I… need to give my hundred and twenty percent at all times."

　　"The threat of the Great Wu Empire is still looming over the Great Zhou Empire, and no one knows when the former will make their move, but once it happens, the Great Zhou Empire would definitely have to pay a terrible price."

　　"The Great Zhou Empire is currently incapable of facing the Great Wu Empire, while I am the Great Zhou Empire's only hope."