Shaolin Hou Shan.
The man in the black robe stood with his hands behind his back at the edge of the cliff, his gaze distant, as if traversing countless mountains and rivers, settling upon the pear trees in full bloom.
A gust of wind blew, scattering a few stray pear petals before him.
“Senior Brother…” a gentle voice called, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Ling Zhao, supporting Shen Yue Ru, stood beside him.
Ling Xi turned, his eyes flickering slightly as he glanced at her pregnant belly. “Junior Sister, you are with child. It is inconvenient for you to be out. You should return to your chambers.”
Shen Yue Ru raised her eyes to meet his deep, boundless dark ones. Her heart skipped a beat as she softly asked, “…Are you still waiting for Miss Ye?”
Now that she was married to Ling Zhao, but her Senior Brother remained alone. It was a sight that always stirred her pity.
“Yes, Junior Brother Ling. Miss Ye… she might not be returning.”
Ling Zhao looked at his junior brother, then lowered his gaze, a flicker of dimness in his eyes.
The world knew that those who sacrificed themselves ceased to exist, not just their bodies, but their souls as well.
Ling Xi lowered his eyelids, his lashes concealing all emotion, leaving his thoughts unfathomable.
“Shaolin is entrusted to you,” he said indifferently, preparing to leave.
Seeing him like this, Shen Yue Ru suddenly thought of something and called out to him.
“Senior Brother Ling…”
“Now there are demon beasts appearing in the capital. I am unwell, and Husband must attend to Shaolin’s affairs. Why don’t you…”
He was always lost in thought or gazing at pear blossoms anyway. Perhaps finding something to occupy him would help ease his mood.
Seeing him pause, Shen Yue Ru continued with a smile, “I heard that a living Bodhisattva with extraordinary medical skills has arrived at the foot of the mountain. Her whereabouts are unknown, but she possesses a benevolent heart.”
A few days ago, when she had gone down the mountain, she had been bumped into, nearly losing the child. Fortunately, that living Bodhisattva had encountered her and given her a few immortal pills, stabilizing the fetus.
She had not yet properly thanked that immortal. If she could offer some demon cores in return, it would be a most fitting gesture.
“Mmm,” Ling Xi nodded faintly and strode away with his long legs.
Ling Zhao watched him leave before turning to walk beside Shen Yue Ru.
In the courtyard, fallen branches swayed, casting a soft pinkish-white glow under the moonlight.
Under the moonlight, Ling Xi pursued a streak of red.
A fiery red fox spirit darted among the pear trees, shaking a cascade of blossoms onto the ground.
Man and fox moved with extreme speed, vanishing into the moonlight in the blink of an eye.
The fox demon’s body arced, landing on a branch, and suddenly transformed into a bewitching woman, lounging lazily on the bough.
The woman narrowed her foxy eyes, her smile radiant. Her crimson gown, set against the pristine moonlight, was dazzling.
“Pretty young man, what’s the fun in taking my life? How about we play something else?”
Her voice was alluring, captivating the heart.
Ling Xi’s footsteps faltered. His face darkened as if smeared with ink, and a hint of murderous intent clouded his brow.
Unfortunately, he had seen more stunning sights. This red attire on this beast was truly an eyesore.
“I don’t strike women,” he said, his voice chillingly devoid of warmth as he drew his sword sheath and pointed it at the demon fox. “End yourself.”
The fox demon, however, seemed unfazed. She remained perched on the branch, tucked a pear blossom behind her ear, and lazily drawled, “Little brother has quite a temper.”
She deliberately swayed on the pear tree, scattering pollen. The pink mist, carried by the fragrance of the blossoms, gradually blurred his senses.
Ling Xi felt his vision swim, and the blood within him began to boil.
He braced himself with his sword, trying to steady his stance, but found himself unable to resist the hypnotic effects of the demon mist.
Seeing this, the woman leaped from the branch and approached him with a languid grace, her seductive voice ringing out, “What? Your heart is taken? Who is it? Can she be half as beautiful as I am?”
As she spoke, a white figure descended gracefully, lazily propping her chin on her hand, her beautiful eyes narrowed in disdain.
White gauze fluttered across her face, her dark hair cascading down like a smooth waterfall.
In her luminous, captivating eyes, a subtle gleam flickered, as if holding a smile, or perhaps, concealing ice.
Ye Zi Ling raised an eyebrow and waved her sleeve, sending several bee stings, carried by a gust of wind, towards the treetops.
The needle tips swept away the scattered flower petals, and the fox demon, caught off guard, was also swept to the ground. The impact of her body hitting the earth made her chest feel tight, almost causing her to spit out a mouthful of blood.
She struggled to rise, glaring at the person on the rooftop. “Who… are you? How dare you ruin my good deed?”
Ye Zi Ling twirled a pear blossom, sniffing it with amusement. “Naturally, his beloved.”
“Who is so reckless as to dare touch my person?” Her eyes slightly lifted as she glanced at the fox spirit, then slowly tossed the blossom to the ground, shaking her head and tutting, “This fight… I don’t know how much merit it will cost me.”
She had already decided to retire. It seemed it was too soon.
Her excellent martial arts, after all, were meant to be used.
A flash of white light streaked across the rooftop, a whooshing sound followed, and the fox spirit’s demon core appeared suspended in mid-air.
Hearing the familiar voice, Ling Xi’s eyes snapped open. Upon seeing the person, the coldness in his eyes vanished completely, and his heart skipped a beat.
His eyes burned, his throat constricted, and he was rendered speechless for a long moment.
Was this the person he had yearned for all year?
Ye Zi Ling lay on the rooftop, meeting his gaze through the light gauze, the light in her eyes churning.
She didn’t need to look to know Ling Xi’s expression.
For the past year, she could only lurk behind him. Wherever he went, she would follow, but she couldn’t get too close.
Hadn’t she too been longing to see him?
As long as she expiated all her sins, he wouldn’t have to die for her in the subsequent lifetimes.
Although she had avenged herself, she had also implicated many innocent people.
Now that she was given an opportunity, she naturally had to cherish it, even if she couldn’t see him.
“Didn’t I say?”
“When the pear blossoms are in full bloom, it will be my time of rebirth?”
“So impatient, you’ve depleted all my merit.”
She spoke languidly, still lounging lazily on the rooftop.
Ling Xi’s voice was slightly hoarse, carrying an almost uncontrollable excitement.
His gaze was fixed on her features, unable to look away.
The pear tree trembled, and pear blossoms rained down as they gazed at each other across the moonlight.
“…Come down,” his voice was laced with an irresistible emotion.
Ye Zi Ling swung her little feet, decisively shaking her head.
How could she bear to come down from such a scene?
“What if I say no?” Ye Zi Ling tilted her head, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. “Or perhaps you can come up?”
Ling Xi clenched his fists, his eyes surging with a wild longing, staring intently at her flower-like smile.
“Why the hurry? The scenery here is lovely. Young scholar Ling, why not come up and take a look?”
As soon as she spoke, a Bind Immortal Rope shot out from his sleeve, wrapping around her waist.
With a sudden pull, the person under the eaves drew an arc through the air like a celestial fox, her skirt swirling, nearly making intimate contact with the ground.
Fortunately, she still possessed her martial arts, allowing her to land steadily on the ground.
Ling Xi seized the opportunity to grasp her slender wrist, his other hand encircling her waist, and abruptly pushed her against the tree. He reached out and pulled off her veil.
Her peerlessly beautiful face came into view, and his breath hitched, his gaze growing even more fervent.
“…Where did you go?” His voice was husky, filled with suppressed longing, as he asked word by word.
During this time, he had searched all three realms, but there was no trace of her.
Everyone around him said she was dead.
Yet, in the depths of his heart, he still held onto a sliver of hope.
But he refused to believe it. She would never leave him alone.
He yearned to see her, unable to wait another moment.
“Where you have been, there are traces of me.” She had been by his side all along, but unable to reveal herself, she could only carefully conceal her whereabouts, silently guarding him.
Now, it was almost time. It was time to return to his side.
“They all said you were gone.” His voice was dry, emotions churning in his eyes. He tightened his arms, as if wanting to embed her into his very being.
Ye Zi Ling smiled softly, her body pressed tightly against him. “The King of Hell wouldn’t dare take me. He fears I’d slaughter all the souls in the underworld overnight.”
Overwhelmed with joy, he buried his face in her neck, deeply inhaling her warmth.
Ye Zi Ling gently patted his back as she called out to Mu Heng on the rooftop, “Deputy Palace Master, come quickly and see. The dignified Emperor of Heaven is actually crying like a child.”
Mu Heng stood on the roof, looking down at the pair below, a twitch instantly appearing at the corner of his mouth.
These two were truly becoming more and more unrestrained.
Alas, if she hadn’t been driven to destitution and chosen a career-driven male supporting character, how could this good fortune have fallen to Ling Xi?
But it was good. As long as she was happy.
“There are still some matters in the palace to attend to. I, the third wheel, will take my leave. You two do whatever you need to do…”
Mu Heng waved at the couple below the rooftop and swiftly vanished into the night.
“Hey— you haven’t given me the demon core yet!” Ye Zi Ling quickly pushed the person off her. Just as she was about to chase after him, her wrist was suddenly gripped, held firmly by the person beside her and pulled into his embrace.
“Trying to run again?” Ling Xi’s voice was husky, filled with intense desire. “Come back with me and get married.”
Married?
Ye Zi Ling frowned. “No, let’s wait a little longer.”
“Why?” He was displeased, his gaze gradually cooling.
“I haven’t had enough fun yet,” she said indifferently.
“…”
Ling Xi was displeased, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.
He had waited so long, and she was out sightseeing?
He forcefully turned her face into his embrace, his breath fanning her ear, teasingly, “I’ll use the Three Realms as my betrothal gift for you. Isn’t that enough?”
Ye Zi Ling was taken aback.
She had forgotten that Ling Xi was now the supreme ruler of the Three Realms.
If she became the Empress, wouldn’t that be a great honor to her ancestors?
So, she chuckled, her eyes sparkling with joy, and gently linked her arm with his. “…I spoke a bit too loudly just now.”
“Husband, let’s go, let’s get married.”
She wrapped her arms around his strong waist, stood on her tiptoes, and leaned close to his ear, her breath like orchid mist, her voice alluring, “You’ve held back for so long, isn’t it uncomfortable?”
With that sentence, she succeeded in turning his face as dark as charcoal.
“How about we consummate our marriage first?” Ling Xi leaned close to her earlobe, the haze on his face clearing, his voice a low, enticing whisper.
Before she could react, he scooped her up in his arms and walked towards the house.
“Hey—”
“…”
A night of peaceful slumber.