Ye Ziling sighed and walked to the Heavenly Soldier's side. "Our mortal affairs should be settled by mortals. Please return, Your Excellency."
The Heavenly Soldier froze for a moment, swallowed nervously, and said, "Miss, please don't make things difficult for us. We are only acting under orders..."
"If we cannot resolve this case, we will be punished..."
Ye Ziling watched the Heavenly Soldier's flustered expression with interest, let out a soft laugh, and a hint of coldness flashed in her eyes. "Who is your master?"
The gods in heaven generally gave some face to Jiuling Palace, yet these people were questioning her and putting her in a difficult position. She wondered who had given them such orders.
"Naturally, it is this top scholar." A voice filled with teasing came from afar. Ling Xi appeared, dressed in a black robe, his cloak billowing in the wind as he strode towards her.
Ye Ziling looked at the figure exuding a gentle and refined aura, her thoughts stirred, and she stood frozen for a long time, unable to speak.
Ling Xi?
He had returned?
A hint of joy flashed imperceptibly in her eyes as she stared at his handsome face, remaining silent for a long time.
Seeing this, the Heavenly Soldiers quickly made way, bowing respectfully. "Top Scholar."
"How is the case?" he asked, lifting his gaze, his voice clear and cold.
"This..." The Heavenly Soldier lowered his eyes in embarrassment and said through gritted teeth, "We discovered more than a dozen recently buried corpses in the outskirts. They were all killed by... by this young lady."
Ye Ziling composed herself, her expressionless, and remained where she stood, carefully studying Ling Xi's eyes. Her heart skipped an unnatural beat.
No matter what, whether those people were innocent or not, she had... killed people just now.
He didn't seem to like her killing, even if none of the souls under her sword were good.
She unconsciously tightened the hem of her skirt, her heart churning with a tempest, unable to calm down for a long time.
It was over now.
She had taken over a dozen lives, and she didn't know how Ling Xi would punish her.
She should have just tied them up; her impulsiveness had thrown her into disarray.
After hearing what the Heavenly Soldier said, the coldness on Ling Xi's face gradually intensified as he strode towards her.
His steps were heavy, his cloak fluttering slightly behind him, carrying an inexplicable sense of pressure as he drew closer.
Ye Ziling watched him approach, observing his eyes that were gradually gathering a storm. She offered no resistance, simply gazing at him.
It had only been three days since he went to guard Nanyang Mountain, and he had already repelled the enemy?
He had promised to bring her a peach blossom upon his return, but instead, the first thing he did upon his return was to punish her.
Before she knew it, Ling Xi had reached her.
As their eyes met, their emotions were different, but Ling Xi's eyes clearly held a cold glint.
After a long moment of eye contact, he suddenly leaned down, pulled her close, brought his lips to her ear, brushed against it, and whispered, "Bury them better next time. I'll pretend I didn't see anything this time."
A trace of warmth briefly appeared in his stern gaze.
After speaking, he looked up at the Heavenly Soldiers, his smile vanishing, and he resumed his usual solemn demeanor.
He calmly walked away from her, circled the corpses, his brows furrowing with more coldness, his voice laced with chill. "How did you do your jobs?"
A fierce coldness suffused his features. He glanced at the corpses and sneered, "You can't even distinguish between humans and demons?"
He then took out a bag of demon-dispersing powder and sprinkled it lightly. The human corpses on the ground gradually transformed into several giant centipedes.
Everyone present was stunned, nearly jumping out of their skin.
The Heavenly Soldier knelt with a thud, his face panicked, and quickly said, "Your subordinate's work was insufficient. I beg the Top Scholar for punishment!"
"Alright, you may leave," Ling Xi said, waving his hand, his gaze shifting from the corpses.
"Yes..." After the Heavenly Soldiers retreated, Ye Ziling then instructed the disciples beside her, "There are still some demonic beasts in the capital disguised as humans. You must eradicate them cleanly in the coming days."
"Those who do their job well will be rewarded handsomely. Those who do poorly will be sent to the dungeon."
"Yes," the disciples replied respectfully and withdrew.
Only the two of them remained at the entrance.
A gentle breeze blew, and his handsome sword-like eyebrows flickered slightly, revealing a faint smile.
It was like an ice mountain melting, ushering in the warmth of spring.
Ling Xi curved his lips, walked closer to her, took out a peach blossom from his embrace, and said with a soft smile, "I told you, I would bring you a peach blossom when I returned."
The peach blossom glistened with dew, appearing even more vibrant against the backdrop of a few green leaves. The unfurling buds were dyed a deep red, the same color as her lips.
Ye Ziling let out a soft laugh and accepted the peach blossom from his hand.
As soon as the peach blossom landed in her hand, it instantly bloomed in a shade of pink, its faint fragrance wafting to her nose.
"Don't you know there are peach blossoms in Peach Blossom Valley?" Ye Ziling looked up, her delicate eyebrows raised. His refined features were reflected in her eyes, and those affectionate eyes with a silver glint gazed at her unblinkingly.
"If you don't want it, give it back," he reached out to take the peach blossom from her hand, but she dodged him.
At this moment, Ye Jinghuai and his group, having heard the commotion outside the door, were informed that the Heavenly Top Scholar had arrived. They quickly rose to greet him.
"We are greatly honored by the Top Scholar's visit. I, Ye, am remiss," Ye Jinghuai said, lowering his brows and bowing with clasped hands. The children behind him followed suit with bows.
"Brother, stand up." Ye Ziling moved to help him up but was pulled aside and reprimanded, "Sister, why didn't you tell me someone had arrived? Hurry... pay your respects."
The Heavenly Top Scholar was a rare genius, a person serving the Heavenly Emperor. Their Saintly Doctor clan could not afford to offend him.
"Ling Xi, what are you waiting for? Hurry and tell them to rise." Ye Ziling turned and saw Ling Xi standing behind her, observing the expressions of these people.
So it was her brother; no wonder their eyebrows bore such a resemblance.
"Brother Ye, please rise." Ling Xi strode forward and helped him up, raising his handsome brows before continuing, "I came without betrothal gifts this time, which was a miscalculation."
He had rushed back immediately after the battle and hadn't prepared properly. If he were to present them casually, it would be better to delay the gifts.
Ye Jinghuai, who had just been helped upright, felt his legs go weak again, almost collapsing to the ground. Fortunately, he was steadied by someone.
"...Betrothal gifts?"
He trembled, his lips moving, his phoenix eyes wide with disbelief. He grabbed Ling Xi's sleeve and said, "Top Scholar... Is this true?"
Seeing Ling Xi nod with a smile, Ye Jinghuai, whether from excitement or shock, gestured to lead the way. "Quick... Top Scholar, please come inside."
While they were discussing matters, Ye Ziling placed the peach blossom in her hand into a vase on the table and rested her chin on her hand, admiring it leisurely.
Strange, it was just an ordinary flower, yet she found it more and more beautiful the more she looked at it.
After sitting for only a moment, Ye Jinghuai's voice came from inside the room, calling her over.
"Sister, go and prepare a clean room for the Top Scholar."
Ye Ziling looked at Ling Xi, who was drinking tea nearby, paused for a moment, and then said leisurely, "No need. He'll sleep in my room tonight."
Ye Jinghuai frowned and asked, "Then where will you sleep?"
"I'll sleep in my room too."
Ye Ziling answered crisply, not finding anything inappropriate about it.
Ye Jinghuai's face immediately darkened. He pulled her hand and said in a low voice, "As a young lady, how can you be so unreserved?"
Ling Xi coughed twice, nearly spitting out the tea in his throat. He put down his teacup, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned upwards.
He had only been gone for two days, and she was already so forward?
Did she miss him?