Zi Lingling's eyes were veiled by mist.
"Ye Lingyuan, you... you... you big dummy!"
She playfully punched Ye Lingyuan's shoulder, her voice choked with sobs.
A tear splashed onto the roof tile, making a clear, crisp sound.
Although a cultivator wouldn't die from having half their heart gouged out, the pain was real.
Seeing the falling tears, Ye Lingyuan's heart ached instantly.
He gently cupped Zi Lingling's face, tenderly wiping away the tear tracks from the corners of her eyes. "Ling'er, don't cry. From the moment I decided on you, everything I have was yours."
"Let alone half my heart, if you wanted my entire fortune and my life, I would offer it up with both hands without hesitation."
"Do you remember what you said when Ye Moyuan summoned you to the palace?"
Without waiting for Zi Lingling to answer, he continued, "You said: 'Ye Lingyuan is mine in life, and mine in death! No one can touch him without my permission! If gods dare to touch him, I will slay gods; if demons dare to touch him, I will slaughter demons; if you dare to touch him, I will... kill you!'"
"I loved those words, and I am always prepared to be yours in life and yours in death. So, how could I possibly run away when I'm already so attached to you?"
Ye Lingyuan's voice was not loud, yet every word was firm.
Mist once again welled up in Zi Lingling's eyes.
She couldn't help but tighten her embrace around Ye Lingyuan's neck and passionately kissed his cool lips.
What maidenly reserve, what shyness, all could go to hell!
If she didn't cherish such a good man, heaven itself wouldn't permit it.
Ye Lingyuan was stunned for a moment, then took the initiative.
Their breaths gradually deepened until their brains began to starve for oxygen, and only then did they reluctantly part. Suzan Novel Network
"Ling'er, in a few more days, it will be your fourteenth birthday. What do you want?"
Ye Lingyuan licked his lips, his eyes curving with a smile.
Zi Lingling thought for a moment and shook her head. "I lack nothing right now. Ye Lingyuan, the fact that you remembered my birthday makes me very happy."
Ye Lingyuan said dotingly, "If I can't even remember your birthday, then what right do I have to like you?"
Zi Lingling was stunned, and a wave of emotion washed over her once more.
Today, she had been moved so many times, even more than in her past life.
"Ling'er, can you tell me about the world you spoke of?"
Ye Lingyuan, seeing the mist again gathering in Zi Lingling's eyes, deliberately changed the subject.
A man would never want his woman to cry, not even from being moved.
Zi Lingling nodded and said, "Of course! As long as you're willing to listen!"
Ye Lingyuan took out a low table from his Nine Dragon Ring, then produced tea-making utensils. He elegantly and quickly brewed a pot of tea before saying, "I am eager to hear, and I shall listen with bated breath!"
Zi Lingling straightened her thoughts and then began to narrate.
"I don't know how far that world is from here, whether it's separated by space or time, but I really liked that world."
"There were no cultivators in that world, but there was something called technology. Through technology, many wondrous items could be created, like mobile phones that could communicate across thousands of miles, machines that could move mountains and fill seas, and spaceships that could soar through the universe..."
Zi Lingling spoke in great detail, from technology to education, and from education to concepts...
She spoke of her own country and then of foreign lands, of the modern era and then of ancient times, describing that world from multiple perspectives.
This narration lasted for an entire night. All the knowledge she had ever encountered poured out of her like a torrent.
Even the well-traveled Ye Lingyuan couldn't help but sigh at the vastness of the universe, truly filled with all sorts of wonders.
As dawn broke and the eastern sky began to glow with purple hues, the two leaped off the rooftop.
"We've been sitting all night, it's time to stretch our muscles!" Zi Lingling yawned.
"What are Ling'er's plans?" Ye Lingyuan asked dotingly.
He knew that if Zi Lingling said this, someone was bound to suffer.
Zi Lingling dangled the Alchemist Guild token in her hand. "Since I'm idle anyway, I'll go visit our rivals and mooch some breakfast!"
The rivals of the Alchemist Guild were, naturally, the Poison Master Association.
She hadn't forgotten that when she killed Xiao Shan, the Grand Elder of the Joyful Union Sect, Zhao Yunfei, the president of the Poison Master Association, had interfered.
"Since Ling'er mentioned it, I am also feeling hungry. May I accompany Princess Consort to mooch some breakfast?"
Ye Lingyuan did not expose her true intentions, but readily agreed.
Zi Lingling thought for a moment and replied, "It's mooching whether it's one person or two, so let's go together!"
She knew that Ye Lingyuan would never let her go to the Poison Master Association alone.
Ye Lingyuan smiled. "Then let's go!"
They spoke casually, as if they were truly going for a meal.
Moments later, they stood at the entrance of the Poison Master Association.
The two strode in, as if no one else was present.
"Halt! Please present your Poison Master token!" a guard at the entrance stopped them.
Ye Lingyuan remained silent, but Zi Lingling chuckled. "A token? I don't have one! But I have this!"
With a wave of her delicate hand, a powdery substance was scattered onto the guard.
"Ah!!"
The guard cried out in agony and fell to the ground, writhing.
What Zi Lingling had sprinkled on him was an enhanced version of "Heart in Chaos."
"I'll give you two options: one, you suffer here while I storm in; two, you go inside and announce that I've come to retrieve my property!"
After she finished speaking, she waved her hand again.
The guard immediately stopped his wailing, crawled up, and said, "My lady, please wait a moment, I'll go announce your arrival!"
Zi Lingling nodded. "You're wise to cooperate. Go ahead!"
She preferred not to force her way in unless absolutely necessary.
Poison Masters were without scruples.
The Poison Master Association, capable of rivaling the Alchemist Guild, was at the very least extremely dangerous, if not a dragon's den.
No one knew how many poisons were laid within.
Zi Lingling could withstand poisons, but what about Ye Lingyuan? She didn't want him to take any risks.
The guard, having received his reprieve, hurried inside.
A moment later, the guard emerged, looking dejected.
Immediately after, a familiar figure appeared in Zi Lingling's sight.
Zi Lingling smiled.
For this person was none other than Zhao Yunfei, the president of the Poison Master Association.
Zhao Yunfei saw Zi Lingling at the entrance and was stunned. "It's you?"
Zi Lingling nodded. "President Zhao, how have you been!"
Zhao Yunfei snarled, "You actually dare to come to the Poison Master Association?"
Zi Lingling laughed. "What? Is the Poison Master Association off-limits to others?"
Zhao Yunfei sneered. "Others are naturally welcome, but you..."