"Barbatos, long time no see!"
Xiao Xiao's face was flushed with a hint of spring, her ears slightly red.
She lowered her head, but her gaze wasn't fixed on her toes. Instead, she used the corner of her eyes to glance at "Barbatos." As the saying goes, "If you can't see your toes when you lower your head, it's a sign of unparalleled beauty."
Wang Dong'er, standing beside her, twitched her eyes slightly. What a Xiao Xiao!
Xiao Xiao often mentioned "Barbatos" in front of her, her good friend.
She thought Xiao Xiao merely admired "Barbatos" for his talents, but it turned out Xiao Xiao was actually infatuated with "Barbatos's" body!
Ugh, how shameless! Wang Dong'er glanced at "Barbatos." The young man was handsome, with the demeanor of Martial God.
His every move was natural, as if he were an old hand. At such a young age, he had such behavior, which was indeed a bit strange. If one didn't know better, they might think "Barbatos" was Martial God in disguise!
"Nice to meet you, Xiao Xiao," Zhongli nodded and said to Xiao Xiao.
What's wrong with this girl? Why does she act like this when she sees him? Is she sick?
Xiao Xiao: "..."
Hearing this, a glimmer of light flashed in Xiao Xiao's eyes. She leaned closer to "Barbatos" and said, "Barbatos, you came to Star Luo City to watch the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament, right?"
"Did you get a ticket?"
"If you didn't get one, I... I have an extra ticket here!"
After saying this, Xiao Xiao looked at her "good friend." Of course, she didn't have an extra ticket. But her good friend had one!
Wang Dong'er, though young, wasn't a fool. Xiao Xiao's glance made her heart feel cold.
What a good friend she was, always scheming against her own people! The ticket was for the one she had on her.
"Barbatos, hello, my name is Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao's good friend."
"I happen to have an extra ticket here. If you haven't bought one yet, I can give it to you."
Wang Dong'er's ticket was next to Xiao Xiao's. For her good friend's "happiness," she could skip the tournament.
Hearing this, Zhongli shook his head and said, "Thank you both for your kindness. I already have a ticket, so there's no need to trouble you."
As for the ticket, Zhongli didn't have one. But as a representative of Liyue, he didn't need a ticket to enter the battle arena.
"That's a pity..." Wang Dong'er instinctively said, but after speaking, she realized something was wrong.
"Barbatos" had a ticket, so why was it a pity? She glanced at "Barbatos," and sure enough, he was looking at her in confusion.
She looked at Xiao Xiao, who was blushing, her hands behind her back, her index fingers twirling, looking very shy and timid.
"Uh, I mean, that's great."
"I accidentally misspoke just now."
Wang Dong'er quickly explained, afraid that "Barbatos" would misunderstand. But she didn't know that Zhongli wouldn't care about such trivial matters, only wondering why Wang Dong'er said that.
Xiao Xiao bit her lip, as if she had made a decision, and said, "Then... Barbatos, you probably aren't very familiar with Star Luo City. Let us show you around, okay?"
Hearing this, Zhongli stroked his chin and clasped his hands, saying, "Then thank you both."
In his heart, he had no other thoughts. Besides, Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong'er were only twelve or thirteen years old. What bad intentions could they have?
Seeing that "Barbatos" only thought for a moment before agreeing to the "companionship," Xiao Xiao was very happy.
Wang Dong'er, however, pouted. Xiao Xiao was probably obsessed with "Barbatos" for his sake.
He only resembled the Martial God by three parts. She didn't know if it was true love or just a "substitute." If it was a "substitute," how pitiful "Barbatos" was, becoming a stand-in. Even as a stand-in for the Martial God, it was extremely pitiful.
"When I have time, I should ask more clearly. My best friend can't be like this..." Wang Dong'er thought to herself. Her best friend, even if not of noble status, should be of high moral character, consistent from start to finish.
How could she be looking for a substitute? This was extremely unfair to "Barbatos" and a "misinterpretation" of the Martial God. (Intentionally misspelled)
The three of them strolled through the streets, occasionally tasting delicacies and admiring ancient architecture. As for the expenses, Xiao Xiao always rushed to pay the bill.
It wasn't until nightfall that the three parted ways.
"Xiao Xiao, tell me, do you like Barbatos for who he is, or because he resembles the Martial God by three parts, thus loving the crow because of the house?"
Wang Dong'er grabbed Xiao Xiao and asked.
Hearing this, Xiao Xiao's face turned slightly red. She didn't expect Wang Dong'er to be so direct.
After organizing her words, Xiao Xiao said, "Dong'er, I like Barbatos for who he is."
"When I first met him, it was because his appearance and demeanor were very similar to the Martial God, which made me interested in him."
"But as we spent time together, I was attracted by his talents..."
"Even if I have some thoughts about the Martial God, it's like the stars in the sky or the moon in the water, visible but unreachable."
"Barbatos is different. Our status and strength aren't worlds apart. We share common interests..."
Xiao Xiao spoke directly and clearly. She had once liked Zhongli, and that fondness had turned into respect over time. But her liking for "Barbatos" was different. Both were young and "well-matched." She couldn't sacrifice her happiness for an unrealistic fantasy.
"So that's it," Wang Dong'er understood. It seemed Xiao Xiao had fallen for this "Barbatos"!
"Xiao Xiao, you are a once-in-a-millennium genius. At this age, you should focus on cultivating. Only then can you be with the one you love in the future."
Wang Dong'er knew about Xiao Xiao's twin martial souls because Xiao Xiao hadn't hidden it from her.
No matter how small the Xiao family was, it was still a family. With Xiao Xiao's talent, how could the Xiao family allow her to be with a wandering bard? So, to be with "Barbatos," Xiao Xiao had to improve her strength!
"I will work hard to cultivate. If Barbatos likes me too, even if the family objects, I will... I will disregard their objections and share both joy and sorrow with him!"
Despite Xiao Xiao's seemingly easy-to-bully appearance, she was extremely determined. Once she set her mind on something, not even nine oxen could pull her back.