C18 The First Time He Was Chased

Yeying sat in the car, looking at the map in her hands. The Demonic Seed Cave wasn't too far from here, nestled in the mountains, but the location was pretty secluded, with only a few small villages scattered around. Generally, places like this, untouched for years, tend to have their share of challenges.

Jinfei was driving, humming a tune, clearly in high spirits. In the backseat, the two guys were fast asleep. If Yeying hadn't intervened earlier, they would've certainly fallen victim to Jinfei's relentless pursuit. It was a mystery where Jinfei got such stamina, managing to chase the two men until they were exhausted.

Yeying put down the map and said, "Let's stop at the next city for lunch. If we keep going, it'll be too far. We should stock up on supplies, like food and water, before heading into the mountains. Let's get ready."

"Got it," Jinfei replied with a smile. "So, what's this Demonic Seed Cave all about?"

Yeying sighed, "It's a legend. They say it's where all demonic creatures originate, but it's just a myth. No one has ever actually found it."

"Really? So why has it appeared now?" Jinfei asked.

Yeying shook her head, "I don't know. It's strange. Historical records about the Demonic Seed Cave are sporadic. The last time it was mentioned was a thousand years ago. It's a mysterious place. The Demon Suppressing Association spends a lot of effort each year trying to locate it."

Jinfei thought for a moment and called out, "Hey, wake up." In the back, Lee Jiaxiang and Lei Jiuping immediately stirred.

"How did you guys find the map to this Demonic Seed Cave?" Jinfei asked.

Yeying shook her head, "Jinfei, don't ask. It's probably confidential. Lee wouldn't know."

"I actually know," Lee Jiaxiang said, drawing everyone's attention.

Lei Jiuping exclaimed, "The Demonic Seed Cave? Wow, you guys actually found it! Our association has been searching for years without any luck. How did you manage it? Tell me."

Lee Jiaxiang thought for a moment and replied, "Well, I heard about it from my teacher. He bought the information from a man in black."

"Bought it?" Ji Yeying's eyes widened as she turned to Lee Jiaxiang. "That's incredible! You can just buy maps like that?"

Lee Jiaxiang nodded. "That's what my teacher said. I don't know the details, but apparently, a merchant recommended it to him, claiming there were some biological research materials there. So he bought it, and sure enough, we found something."

Ji Yeying scratched her head, pondering. "This could be tricky. It suggests there's something going on there, maybe even a conspiracy. Anyway, let's check it out first."

The group drove into the city and quickly found a place to stay. Ji Yeying handed a list to Lei Jiuping and Lee Jiaxiang, asking them to go shopping. Ji Jinfei wanted to join, but Ji Yeying stopped her, knowing that if she went along, they'd end up with nothing and waste a lot of effort.

Lei Jiuping and Lee Jiaxiang left happily to shop. Meanwhile, Ji Jinfei and Ji Yeying stayed in the room, each meditating. Although Ji Yeying didn't know what was in the Demonic Seed Cave, she was sure it would be dangerous, so having a few capable people was a good idea.

As they meditated, a commotion erupted downstairs. However, it was nothing to them; they'd trained in far more chaotic places. Part of their Demon Suppressing training involved practicing in disorderly environments, maintaining a calm mind despite external disturbances. The noise grew louder, but neither of them paid any attention.

"Jinfei, I love you!" A loud voice suddenly echoed from outside.

Jinfei was deep in thought and had no intention of paying attention to the commotion outside. But hearing those words, she couldn't sit still any longer. With a swift motion, she jumped up from the bed and pushed open the window. Outside, she saw a heart shape made of countless roses. Right in the middle stood Jiuping, holding a bouquet of roses high in the air.

The flowers were beautifully arranged, and it was clear they were fresh, not artificial. The atmosphere was enchanting. Judging by the number, each bouquet had nine roses, and the entire heart shape must have had at least 999 roses.

A crowd of young people stood around, helping out. When they saw Jinfei, they were a bit surprised, but in moments like these, it's all about the vibe, not appearances. The crowd cheered and whistled in support.

Lee Jiaxiang stood nearby, looking at two large bags filled with supplies they had bought, now set aside. Jinfei felt a lightness in her heart. It was the first time someone had pursued her like this. Usually, she was the one chasing others, but she never succeeded.

Being pursued felt wonderful. A warm feeling spread through her, as if she were floating in warm water. Tears welled up in her eyes, ready to spill over.

"Let me remind you," a cold voice from behind interrupted her thoughts. It was Yeying. "This is just the first time. If you say yes, there won't be another ninety-eight times. And just because he's pursuing you doesn't mean he wants a future with you."

Jinfei was wrapped in happiness, feeling a mix of excitement and a touch of shyness she didn't expect. But Yeying's words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the flicker of excitement in her heart.

Ji Yeying continued to press, "And if you break the bet, he will too, and the next ninety-eight times he won't chase you. Think it over, what are you going to do?"

Ji Jinfei, much calmer now, called down, "You're dreaming. I don't agree." She closed the window, gently patted her chest, feeling her heart still racing and her face flushed. It felt amazing. Too bad, if it weren't for Ji Yeying's words, she might have agreed.

A chorus of disappointment rose from below, with someone advising Lei Jiuping, saying there are plenty of other girls out there. Lei Jiuping just smiled wryly. Wasn't he just trying to complete a task? He had thought it through today and even consulted Lee Jiaxiang, who was sure no one had pursued Ji Jinfei before.

Someone like her should be easy to win over. Just put in a little effort, make it romantic, and she'd be unable to resist. As soon as she agreed, it would break the bet, and he'd be free from it. But unexpectedly, Ji Jinfei held her ground in the end.

Lee Jiaxiang walked over and asked, "So, did you lose?"

Lei Jiuping chuckled, "It's nothing, just some money. I didn't expect her to hold out at the crucial moment. I thought for sure it would work."

Lee Jiaxiang nodded, "That's what I thought too. It was so romantic, she should have given in. But she refused. I'm puzzled how she managed to resist. Oh well, start over. This way is too costly."

Lei Jiuping didn't reply. Money wasn't an issue for him. For one, he was the son of the Demon Suppressing Association's president, never lacking funds, and his mother doted on him. A single call home would bring in whatever he needed. Plus, he had earned quite a bit accompanying his father on demon-suppressing missions.

The crowd around hadn't dispersed yet; they were eager to see how Lei Jiuping would handle the flowers in front of him. However, Lei Jiuping didn't even glance at them. Instead, he followed Lee Jiaxiang, carrying the supplies they had bought, and entered the hotel. The roses outside were immediately snatched up by the onlookers, as they were beautifully packaged and perfect for gifting.

Meanwhile, although the window was closed, Jinfei stood by it, watching as the flowers below were taken. Her heart felt like it was being twisted. Those flowers were hers, but since she had turned down Lei Jiuping, she couldn't claim them anymore.

She sighed and said, "For the first time, I feel like being pursued is a kind of happiness. Master, have you ever experienced this?"

Yeying also sighed, recalling something from long ago, but quickly snapped back to the present. She patted Jinfei and said, "Alright, don't dwell on it. Since you turned him down, it's for the best. Remember, there are still ninety-eight more chances, and each one will surprise you."

Jinfei nodded, looking outside at the few broken bouquets left on the ground, which made the scene seem desolate. She sighed again and said, "What a waste. If each flower represented a pursuit, I'd surely be caught by now."

Yeying chuckled and said, "Let it go; it is what it is."

"I'm just puzzled. Being pursued feels so wonderful, so why don't the people I chase feel the same way?" Jinfei wondered aloud.

Yeying had just taken a sip of tea and, upon hearing this, nearly spat it out, coughing. Just then, there was a knock at the door—Lei Jiuping and the others had returned.