Chapter 11: Xie Lingyu Is No Good

Outside the window, the moon was bright and the stars sparse. The weather in the Demon Realm was pleasant, with the evening breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers—a delightful scent.

Sang Ying took a breath of the cool air to calm herself, patting her cheeks lightly. What was she thinking? There were other matters to attend to now.

“How did it go today when you went out?”

Xie Lingyu replied softly, “I have some leads. Tomorrow, we’ll head to the Nanli Realm in the Demon Realm.”

The Demon Realm was ruled by four demon kings in the east, west, south, and north. The Nanli Realm was the domain of the southern demon king, renowned for its Gu techniques. It was said that anyone afflicted by Nanli’s Gu arts would be trapped there for eternity, which was why the Nanli Realm was also called the “Hard-to-Leave Realm.”

Sang Ying stood up. “Then why wait? Since we know where to go, let’s head there tonight.”

“Oh, right, we can’t fly on swords. I’ll just call a demon to take us. We can set off right away.”

As Sang Ying pulled out the Glazed Mirror, her wrist was gently held by pale, slender fingers. “Junior Sister, I haven’t finished meditating yet.”

Sang Ying blinked. “Oh.”

Three minutes later, a white horse laid out a red carpet in front of a carriage, holding a rose in its mouth as it bowed respectfully. “M-m-m-most honored guests, please board.”

The carriage appeared plain on the outside but was luxuriously and comfortably decorated inside, with tea already brewed. After the two boarded, the white horse swiftly rolled up the red carpet and began pulling the carriage, moving so smoothly there was not a single bump.

Sang Ying rested her chin on her hand and hummed lightly. “This should be fine, right?”

Xie Lingyu glanced at her briefly without a word, leaning back against the carriage wall and closing his eyes.

The demon escorting them was a minor demon lord, a white horse known for its speed. It would only take one night to reach the Nanli Realm.

With nothing else to do on the journey, Sang Ying remembered the test and decided to strike up a conversation. “Hey, Xie Lingyu, the scent on me seems to have faded. Let me hold you for a bit longer. I don’t want to get caught there and have some random Gu planted on me…”

The youth still had his eyes closed, his expression indifferent. He grabbed her wrist and pulled, and Sang Ying tumbled into his arms.

Her heart skipped a beat. Sang Ying averted her gaze, calming herself for a moment before deciding to carry out the test.

Wait.

Hold on a second.

…The test didn’t teach her how to do this!

Sang Ying was stumped, but since she was already here, who knew when she’d get another chance like this? Gritting her teeth, she decided to improvise. She stood up and plopped down heavily onto his lap.

Once, while disguised as a man for a business negotiation, the client—a charming and alluring woman—had tried to seduce her by sitting on her lap and feeding her wine. Though Sang Ying had pushed her away, saying that would cost extra, the process was roughly the same.

Sang Ying’s back was as stiff as a salted fish, and she sat there woodenly, carefully observing his reaction.

The youth opened his eyes, his dark gaze devoid of emotion. “Junior Sister.”

Sang Ying perked up. “Hmm?”

“You’re stepping on me.”

Sang Ying looked down and saw that she was indeed stepping on him. She quickly got off his lap and moved to the side.

The youth shifted his gaze, subtly adjusting his robe.

Sang Ying returned to her seat, stealing glances at him.

No reaction at all?

Oh right, she’d forgotten the wine-feeding part!

Sang Ying poured a cup of tea and held it up to his face. “Xie Lingyu, this cup is nice. Want to try it?”

Her hand trembled, spilling half the hot tea onto the youth.

Xie Lingyu: “…”

The young man calmly took the cup from her hand, set it down, pulled out a handkerchief to dry the tea from her fingers, then produced several books.

“If you’re bored, Junior Sister, here are some storybooks to pass the time. Also, once we reach the Nanli Realm, you should stay in the inn like you did today and not go out, so there’s no need to mask your scent anymore.”

In other words, no more hugging was required.

Sang Ying felt both relieved and an inexplicable sense of emptiness. She responded with a soft “mm,” took the storybooks, and sat down opposite the young man.

She thought this was the most sensible decision; if she were in his position, she would do the same.

After all, she was far too weak, not even having reached Foundation Establishment. Going with him to rescue someone would only be a burden.

She reported the situation to Cave Master Cai Xia.

Cave Master Cai Xia: [What? A young, beautiful wife sitting on his lap, feeding him wine, and he still doesn’t react? There’s no doubt about it—he’s definitely impotent.]

[Married for three years and still sleeping in separate rooms—I told you something was off. He’s afraid you’ll find out, that’s why he doesn’t dare sleep with you.]

Sang Ying was puzzled: [Why would he be afraid of me finding out?]

[Of course because of insecurity! Male cultivators with impotence are terrified of others discovering it—they’re afraid of being mocked. Many even fly into a rage when it’s pointed out.]

Sang Ying silently glanced at the young man sitting across from her, his eyes closed, and pursed her lips… She wouldn’t mock him. They’d known each other for so long—why wouldn’t he tell her?

Then it occurred to her: she hadn’t told him about the merchant guild either. Suddenly, she could understand.

He had always been proud, never admitting when he was injured. As the top-ranked genius Demon Cultivator on the Heavenly Ranking, being impotent was something he would never confide in her.

Sang Ying: [Is there no way to treat it?]

[That’s not entirely true. Medical techniques have advanced, and there are quite a few successful cases in the Cultivation World. I happen to have a few medical cultivator friends—I’ll ask them for you later.]

When they arrived at the inn in the Nanli Realm and got out of the carriage, the white horse held a rose in its mouth and offered several small cards with its hoof: “Esteemed guests, these are my business cards. Feel free to contact me next time you need my services—returning customers get a 20% discount!”

Just as Sang Ying was about to put them away, she noticed a small note tucked among the cards, its handwriting strikingly familiar and messy.

[Coo, coo coo coo]

Sang Ying was taken aback. When she looked up again, the white horse had already vanished without a trace.

Xie Lingyu glanced over. “Something wrong?”

Sang Ying naturally tucked away the small cards. “Nothing. Let’s go.”

As before, Xie Lingyu set up a Restrictive Barrier outside the room before leaving, leaving Sang Ying alone inside.

After about half an hour, the cooing of a bird came from outside the window.

Sang Ying walked to the window and opened it, immediately spotting a flash of red in the tree. A young man in crimson robes lounged lazily on a branch, looking utterly carefree and unrefined.

Meeting her gaze, he raised an eyebrow and smirked flirtatiously. “Well, hello there, pretty lady.”

Sang Ying closed the window.

“Hey, hey, hey—ancestor, my bad, my bad! Don’t close it, don’t close it! I’ve got something to tell you.”

Only then did Sang Ying reopen the window, leaning on the sill with her chin propped in her hands, her tone languid. “Second Senior Brother, did you finally escape after being sold to a shady mine and forced to dig for three years?”

Xiao Lingzhou resisted the urge to go over and tug her braid. “Can’t you wish me well, Junior Sister?”

Sang Ying: “You disappeared for three whole years—what else was I supposed to think except that you’d been sold off?”

Three years ago, after she married Xie Lingyu, her eldest senior brother had gone into seclusion to break through his cultivation and had yet to emerge, while her second senior brother had left her only a brief message before vanishing without a trace, with no news at all in the three years since.

Sang Ying found it strange: “Second Senior Brother, what did you want to tell me? And you had to avoid Xie Lingyu… Why didn’t you tell him you’re back?”

The young man before her fell silent for two seconds, glanced at her before looking away, and pursed his lips slightly.

Sang Ying couldn’t decipher the look in his eyes, but after three years apart, she felt Xiao Lingzhou had changed a great deal.

At first glance, he still seemed as carefree and irreverent as ever, yet he now carried many secrets. Just like now—she didn’t know where he had been these past three years or why he had appeared in the Demon Realm at this moment.

Xiao Lingzhou paused: “Little Ying… do you trust your senior brother?”

Sang Ying was taken aback, instantly growing cautious. She glanced around to ensure no one was nearby before sighing in relief and speaking gravely: “You should go. I haven’t seen you today. Oh, and take these five hundred Spirit Stones—they’ll help you live a bit better while on the run.”

Xiao Lingzhou: “…”

For a moment, he didn’t know whether to be angry or amused. “Do I really look like someone who’s committed a crime?”

Sang Ying: “Remove the ‘like.'”

“If it’s not a crime, then what is it?” Sang Ying tucked the five hundred Spirit Stones back into her small pouch.

“I wanted to say…”

Just as Xiao Lingzhou was about to speak, he met the girl’s clear, bright eyes, brimming with laughter, and the words on the tip of his tongue suddenly took a turn.

“I know where those captured female cultivators are. I can take you there.”

Sang Ying blinked and smiled: “After three years apart, has Second Senior Brother made connections in the Demon Realm?”

She leaned against the windowsill, resting her chin in her hand: “But I promised Xie Lingyu I wouldn’t leave—I have to wait here for him. Besides, he set up a Restrictive Barrier, so I can’t get out anyway.”

Xiao Lingzhou felt a surge of irritation at the mere mention of that name. “So you don’t care if he’s dating other female cultivators?”

“Those captured female cultivators are all young and beautiful—from various prominent families, and even the Huanhe Sect…”

A Talisman melted through the barrier like water, and the girl jumped down from the window. “I don’t really care about dating—it doesn’t affect me much. What he does has nothing to do with me either. I’m mainly interested in the Huanhe Sect.”

She lifted her small face: “Second Senior Brother, when do we leave?”

Xiao Lingzhou: “…”

He couldn’t help but chuckle at her lively expression and instinctively raised his hand as he used to, wanting to ruffle her hair.

Sang Ying slapped a Talisman onto him, dodging away while his arm was still stiff. “I knew you’d try to sneak an attack again! I spent half an hour styling my hair—my head can be severed, my blood can flow, but my hairstyle must never be messed up!”

With Sang Ying’s Spiritual Power, the Talisman could only immobilize his arm for a second at most before fluttering down.

Xiao Lingzhou caught the spent Talisman, rolled it up, and tucked it into his sleeve, his tone faintly teasing: “Junior Sister’s Talismans are getting more and more impressive. I didn’t notice a thing when we first met.”

Sang Ying looked at him sympathetically: “Are you so poor you’re collecting scrap paper now?”

Xiao Lingzhou tugged her little braid in mock annoyance: “This is called covering your tracks. Understand? There’s a lot to learn when you’re out in the world. Watch carefully and learn well.”

Sang Ying nodded repeatedly, thinking to herself that if Xie Lingyu found out, she’d just say Xiao Lingzhou had lured her away and pin all the blame on him.

The Nanli Realm was teeming with insects and snakes. Knowing her constitution was weak and couldn’t withstand such things, Xiao Lingzhou handed her a repellent sachet to wear, summoned a small dog demon to pull the carriage, and had her sit inside.

Xiao Lingzhou pulled out an oil-paper package from his sleeve. “I picked this up on the way here—local specialty flower cakes. Eat them quietly, don’t tell…” He paused. “The pear juice here is pretty good. Give it a try.”

Sang Ying nibbled on the still-warm flower cake. “Second Senior Brother, what’s the deal with those kidnapped female cultivators? Why would the Demon King kidnap them?”

“Not bad, Junior Sister. You actually guessed it.”

Xiao Lingzhou took a sip of pear juice, reverting to his usual carefree, dandy-like demeanor as he chuckled. “It’s actually quite simple. A month ago, the Northern Border Demon King had a bit of an accident while out and about, got injured, and was unconscious for a night.”

Sang Ying: “And then?”

“And then, a few days ago, the Demon King discovered he was pregnant.”

“Oh.”

So it’s a story about finding the child’s father. Sang Ying responded without much reaction, but two seconds later, she suddenly realized something was off and sharply lifted her little face.

“Wait, isn’t the Northern Border Demon King a male demon??”