Chapter 27: Clingy

Upon hearing these words, Sang Ying’s eyelashes trembled, and she quickly averted her gaze.

“What do you want to do now?”

How had he changed his approach again in such a short time? He had already kissed her several times without warning, and now he was pretending to be a gentleman, even announcing it before kissing her.

It was so strange—there must be something fishy going on.

The young man sat by the bed, gently lifting her face with his fingers. Sang Ying looked up and met his dark, calm eyes.

She couldn’t remember when she had stopped being able to see through him. He had always followed her silently, and whenever she turned around, he was there.

She prided herself on liking him, yet she hadn’t noticed any signs of him hiding his true nature for so long.

If he hadn’t exposed himself today, perhaps she would never have discovered it.

His dark eyes gazed at her as he spoke softly, “Junior Sister, I want to kiss you. May I?”

Sang Ying’s heart trembled. Even though he had already kissed her several times and they had shared more intimate moments, she couldn’t help but feel flustered and panicked at his words.

She didn’t understand why but tried her best to calm down.

She thought, since they had already kissed, one more time wouldn’t matter. It was the least she could do for him, considering how he had always been her follower.

Sang Ying stammered, “Alright. But only once, and you can’t kiss me so fiercely. And definitely don’t bite me—I can hardly breathe…”

A cool, gentle touch lightly brushed against her cheek.

The young man leaned down and softly kissed her cheek.

Sang Ying froze.

The kiss was brief, lasting only a second or two before he pulled away. Sang Ying stared blankly as he stood up, straightened the rolled-up quilt, and covered her with it.

Only then did she react belatedly. The next moment, her face flushed with heat. She pulled the quilt over her head, burying herself back under the covers like a turtle retreating into its shell.

Seeing her exaggerated reaction, Xie Lingyu was momentarily stunned before pursing his lips slightly.

He had done something so excessive—it was only natural for her to reject him.

He spoke softly, “Sleeping like that isn’t breathable.”

A muffled voice came from under the quilt.

“Don’t worry about it. I like sleeping like this.”

Xie Lingyu stared at the lump under the quilt for a moment, realizing she didn’t want to see him. He stood up, intending to leave. “Junior Sister, rest well here. I have some matters to attend to outside.”

Suddenly, a hand reached out from under the quilt and grabbed his sleeve.

Years of illness had left her skin pale and sickly, her hand slender and small. Once, when they were playing around, she had compared their palms.

When their palms pressed together, he had restrained himself for a long time to keep from holding her hand.

Xie Lingyu looked at her hand. “What is it, Junior Sister?”

This phrase had been exchanged between them countless times, too many to count.

When she secretly sneaked down the mountain and caused trouble, when she called his name out of boredom, when she first experienced her Menstrual Period and cried while clinging to him.

But this time, it felt different.

With the veil of pretense torn away, they were no longer just simple senior and junior disciples. Even the relationship they had desperately tried to maintain through pretense no longer existed after what had happened today.

The meaning of these words had changed.

No senior disciple would covet his junior sister for years, secretly watching her sleeping face every night, fantasizing about her during his Tide Heat Period, kissing her, holding her tightly, and desperately wanting to merge with her flesh and blood.

No senior disciple would be so twisted as to want to lock his junior sister away, to keep her all to himself.

The hand that had been clutching his sleeve paused, as if hesitating itself. After a long while, a muffled voice came from beneath the covers.

“Xie Lingyu… what are we now?”

Xie Lingyu remained silent for a long moment, lowering his lashes to veil his dark eyes.

“What does Shimei think?”

He wanted to know her thoughts. If she wished to continue as senior brother and junior sister, pretending nothing had happened, he could keep playing the role of her good senior brother.

If she despised him and wanted nothing more to do with him, he would…

A slender finger suddenly tightened its grip on his sleeve and gave a sharp tug. Caught off guard, Xie Lingyu abruptly met a pair of dewy eyes.

The girl threw back the covers, revealing her indignant little face, her watery eyes glaring at him. “Xie Lingyu! You’ve seen everything, and… and kissed me, and you don’t even plan to take responsibility?!”

Xie Lingyu froze.

His dark eyes reflected the girl’s vivid face as she angrily grabbed his collar, pulling him to eye level. Her pale cheeks flushed red with anger, even the knuckles gripping his collar tinged pink.

“What do you take me for? Someone you can kiss and play with as you please, then discard when you’re done? Xie Lingyu, I really misjudged you. You’re just a big scound—”

Her wrist was seized, then pulled.

Sang Ying suddenly found herself in a cool embrace, her voice cutting off.

Her cheek pressed against his chest, enveloped in the rich scent of White Sandalwood, his cool, slender fingers cradling the back of her head.

Sang Ying heard the low, clear voice above her, soft yet weighty.

“I will take responsibility for Shimei.”

“If Shimei says she wants me, I am yours.”

The tips of her ears flushed red, her lashes fluttering as blood rushed to her face, warming her entire body.

She seemed to hear a thumping heartbeat and quickly pressed a hand to her chest, yet still felt that rhythm, one beat after another, as if uncontrollable.

Was it coming from the Heart-Protecting Scale Pendant at her collarbone? That was his heartbeat.

Xie Lingyu lowered his lashes, holding the girl tighter.

Even if she despised him and wanted nothing more to do with him, he… would not let go.

Sang Ying’s heart was bursting with joy, but her expression remained indifferent.

With a barely satisfied hum, she said, “At least you have some basic decency.”

She poked his shoulder, feigning arrogance and nonchalance, casually adding, “Oh, right. I can’t stand any complications. Handle that so-called ‘white moonlight’ of yours yourself, or I won’t want you anymore.”

“You know how it is. This young lady is adored by countless boys, very popular, with plenty of suitors.”

The air around them cooled. The young man’s arms tightened around her, his tone slightly grave. “Besides Shimei, I have never cared for anyone else.”

Sang Ying’s ears burned hot. She mumbled an indistinct response and pushed him away, burrowing back. “I’m tired, I need to sleep.”

In the end, her constitution was too weak. The Love Potion had been fierce; though she had expelled the poison earlier, it had drained most of her energy and spirit. Now she was utterly exhausted and drowsy.

Sang Ying burrowed back under the covers, turning her back to him to sleep. After dozing for a while, she sensed the young man still sitting by the bed, not having left.

It seemed he was still watching her.

Didn’t he say he had matters to attend to? Not busy now?

Sang Ying wanted to speak, but she was too exhausted to care about him anymore, and soon fell asleep.

I don’t know how much time had passed. It seemed to be night outside now. Hazily, she heard his voice, “Junior Sister, eat something before sleeping.”

She couldn’t even open her eyes, a bone-deep laziness washing over her, and she didn’t want to move. But she couldn’t resist him. Leaning against his chest, she drank the porridge he fed her, sip by sip.

After finishing the porridge, Sang Ying thought she could finally sleep in peace, but the young man brought over a small medicine bowl and fed her the medicine.

With just one taste, Sang Ying knew he had added his blood again. She sobered up slightly and pushed his hand away, “The medicine I’m drinking uses your blood as the medicinal catalyst, doesn’t it?”

Seeing that she knew, Xie Lingyu didn’t hide it, “Yes.”

“Then I won’t drink it.”

Sang Ying snorted lightly, “Losing blood will damage your cultivation base. I don’t want to end up with a reputation for bullying the esteemed Qingyu Sword Lord under the pretense of a life-saving favor.”

Xie Lingyu glanced at her calmly, “Is that also from those rumors?”

“Just tell me if it’s true or not. Don’t lie to me.”

“It does indeed cause some damage to cultivation.” Just as Sang Ying was about to show a “see, I told you” expression, the young man continued unhurriedly, “But that damage is less than one-thousandth of my cultivation speed. I can recover it just by absorbing a bit of heaven and earth spiritual energy.”

Sang Ying: ?

“What realm are you at?”

“Outwardly, early Nascent Soul; in reality, peak Divine Transformation Stage.”

Xie Lingyu gently tapped the bowl with the spoon, “Still drinking?”

“…”

Sang Ying snatched the medicine bowl, drank it in one gulp, and fell back onto the pillow.

Xu Baishen, the second place on this year’s Tianxing Ranking, was only at the peak Golden Core stage, yet he was already a one-in-ten-thousand genius. But Xie Lingyu was already a Divine Transformation Stage cultivator—truly worthy of being a favored child of heaven from the Azure Dragon clan.

No wonder during the final trial, the two didn’t seem to differ much in strength. She thought he would spar with Xu Baishen for a long time, but the match ended quickly.

Hearing how powerful he was, Sang Ying felt happy for Xie Lingyu, but also an indescribable bitterness.

She had no talent for cultivation, and her body was frail, weaker than ordinary people.

Before, she thought living for over a hundred years was already good enough, but now she couldn’t help thinking: Divine Transformation Stage cultivators lived for tens of thousands of years. Even if she were with him, it wouldn’t be for long.

She would grow old, eventually dying as an old woman, while he would remain unchanged, just as he was now.

She was merely a passerby in his long life, gone in the blink of an eye.

Xie Lingyu set down the medicine bowl and was about to tuck in the blanket for the girl who had turned her back to him when he suddenly heard her muffled voice.

“Xie Lingyu, since you’re with me, you’re mine. Even after I die, you’re not allowed to find anyone else.”

Xie Lingyu’s knuckles tightened. After a long pause, he spoke softly, “I won’t.”

“You’d better not.”

Sang Ying snorted lightly. Truthfully, she didn’t really expect Xie Lingyu to remain a widower for her. She thought, being alone for such a long time would surely be very lonely.

She just wanted to hear some comforting words now. No girl dislikes sweet talk, especially from someone she likes.

Besides, whether he would actually be that faithful was uncertain. Right now, he was just a lustful, bad dragon. Who knows—maybe he wouldn’t even wait for her to die. Once she grew old and lost her looks, he might find some other young girl.

Sang Ying thought hazily, drowsiness washing over her, and soon fell asleep again.

I don’t know how long she slept. Hazily, the young man’s voice brushed softly against her ear, light as a whisper.

“Junior Sister, do you remember yesterday’s bet?”

…Like a mosquito, so annoying.

Sang Ying raised her hand and slapped it down with a crisp smack.

The young man wasn’t annoyed. He caught her hand and pulled it down, his cool fingers naturally wrapping around her palm as he continued softly, “Is my junior sister very angry?”

Having her peaceful sleep disturbed by an annoying mosquito, Sang Ying was indeed angry and gave a muffled “Mm.”

“Then, how about giving junior sister a chance to vent her anger now?”

“Mm… how… do it?”

Sang Ying’s mind was hazy, only able to follow his step-by-step guidance. She leaned close to the source of the rich fragrance, slowly opened her mouth, and finally bit down hard.

“Ah… pah, not tasty.”

…

When she woke again, Xie Lingyu was no longer in the room.

On the table were warm food and medicine, with a note pressed beneath them. Sang Ying pulled it out to look—only one sentence was written.

【Check the Glazed Mirror.】

After washing up, Sang Ying sat at the dining table, rubbing her still slightly dizzy head, and took out the Glazed Mirror to look.

Opening it, she saw a message from Xie Lingyu saying he had some matters to attend to and would be away for a while. He reminded her to eat and take her medicine on time and mentioned that he had already arranged for everything to be moved back.

…Couldn’t this have been written on the note?

Sang Ying found it strange. She replied with “Got it,” then exited the Glazed Mirror, only to find her messages flooded—all marked with red dots, and new messages were still coming in, though without any sound notifications.

Had Xie Lingyu turned off her message alerts?

Sang Ying grew even more puzzled. She first opened messages from familiar people.

Eldest Senior Brother: 【Xiao Ying, congratulations on getting your wish, happy marriage. I’ve already sent Xiao Mi with the wedding gift; it’ll reach you by tonight.】

Xiao Lingzhou: 【Ahem, I never expected that you, little junior sister, who seem so gentle and delicate, would hide such a wild heart. But no matter what, since it was a misunderstanding, it’s fine. I still hope the two of you can live in harmony.】

Jingxi: 【Has the young mistress finally made up with the Sword Lord? Ah, as they say, quarrels between husband and wife never last the night. How sweet.】

Lengmian: 【99】

Laba: 【Wow wow wow, yay yay 9999999 (throws flowers) (throws flowers)】

Sang Ying: ?

How come, after waking up from a nap, it seemed like the whole world knew she and Xie Lingyu were together?

Sang Ying suddenly had a bad feeling. Could it be that he had gone around telling everyone they were together first thing in the morning? Was he really the type to show off like that?

Looking further.

Even in the gossip group, there were messages about the two of them.

Blue Cat Swordsman: 【Such a dog-awakening moment, having to see this first thing in the morning】

Cave Master Cai Xia: 【Don’t say that. Fellow Daoist Sleepyhead was still sad and upset a few days ago; we should be happy for her.】

Hermit Tian Hu: 【Looks like my foolish son has no chance anymore, sigh】

Daoist Bukong: 【Shared photo (two happy carps)】

Daoist Bukong: 【@Sleepyhead, just caught them, address】

Stock-Buying Demon Emperor: 【I don’t think it’s that simple. Who knows what methods were used? Where there’s something unusual, there’s bound to be a demon involved.】

Cave Master Cai Xia: 【…Can’t you just wish the young couple well?】

Pet Master: 【Ahem, even the Demon Emperor noticed.】

Pet Master: 【Alright, I did lend a helping hand. I gave her a Love Gu a few days ago. With my Southern Li Love Gu, how could there be any male cultivator who couldn’t be won over?】

All Sword Cultivators Are Blockheads: 【?】

Sword Cultivators Are All Fools: “The Southern Li Love Gu is indeed powerful, but it can only control a person’s body, not win their heart. How could your Love Gu possibly make that sword cultivator fool talk? Clearly, he was willing.”

Sword Cultivators Are All Fools: “So of course, it was the other thing I gave her that came in handy—the Huanhe Sect’s Love Thread Entanglement. Once you’ve captured his body, his heart naturally follows.”

Pet Master: “How do you know she used Love Thread Entanglement?”

Sword Cultivators Are All Fools: “And how do you know she used Love Gu?”

Bixu Child: “Finally finished my confinement! Fellow Daoists, stop arguing for now—I have something to say! The Qingyu Sword Lord has always cared deeply for his Dao Companion. I think it likely has nothing to do with Love Gu or Love Potions.”

Bixu Child: “The Qingyu Sword Lord’s Dao Companion has poor health. Over the years, he has been constantly seeking life-nourishing elixirs from our master. Some of the medicinal ingredients required for these elixirs are so rare and precious I’ve never even heard of them. They grow either in ancient secret realms or in desolate lands, and obtaining them is extremely perilous. Yet, the Sword Lord braved the dangers every single time.”

Sang Ying was slightly stunned, staring at this message… Xie Lingyu had done so much for her?

But he had never mentioned it. When giving her elixirs, he would either have Jingxi deliver them or simply leave them lightly in her room, never once mentioning how precious these elixirs were.

The group chat’s conversation shifted with Bixu Child’s words, mostly filled with blessings for their sweetness and some teasing comments about “showing off affection,” with only the Stock-Buying Demon Emperor still muttering.

“Tsk, that kid actually managed to get himself a wife.”

Sang Ying found his attitude strange. Recalling how he had previously stirred the pot with a “just break up with him” comment, she wondered if he might know Xie Lingyu.

After a moment’s thought, she privately messaged him: “Senior, do you know Xie Lingyu?”

The other side seemed startled by her private message, accidentally sending a stray symbol.

After a while, he formally replied: “Ahem, daughter-in-law, let me introduce myself. I am the current Demon Emperor of the Yun Ling Realm in the Demon Realm, and also that brat Xie Lingyu’s father.”

Sang Ying: ?!

She had considered that this person might have a close relationship with Xie Lingyu, but she truly hadn’t expected him to be Xie Lingyu’s father.

Thinking carefully, it seemed she had never truly understood Xie Lingyu. Not only did she not know his true nature, but she was also unaware of his family background.

All these years, he had never mentioned any relatives. When she asked him early on, he had only remained silent. She had assumed he was an orphan with no family.

Wait, if Xie Lingyu had family, why had he stayed all this time in the Wu Wen Sect of the Cultivation World?

Could it be that he didn’t know his family was in the Demon Realm?

She voiced her confusion, and the Demon Emperor quickly replied: “No, of course he knows. He grew up in the Yun Ling Realm and hasn’t lost his memory—how could he not know?”

“That kid simply doesn’t want to come home, stubbornly clinging to that human sect to learn swordsmanship. It’s embarrassing to say—in the Yun Ling Realm, which dragon isn’t powerful in magic, riding clouds and commanding the skies? Who uses that little piece of iron? He’s the only one who’s so unconventional.”

“I’ve told him several times to come home and inherit the Demon Emperor position, but he just pretends not to hear. It’s left me, at my age, still stuck on duty, unable to retire and go fishing with the others. Ah, it’s truly vexing for a dragon.”

Sang Ying: “…”

So, she thought she had picked up a pitiful little orphan, but in reality, it was the rebellious Demon Realm Crown Prince who didn’t want to go home, right?

Demon Emperor: By the way, daughter-in-law, don’t tell him I contacted you. When you two got married, I wanted to join in the fun, but he got angry and wouldn’t let me go or contact you.

Sang Ying: …Why?

Demon Emperor: He said I’m an embarrassment, a disgrace to dragons.

Demon Emperor: I think he’s the one who’s an embarrassment. How stupid can he be? It took him three years after marriage to win over his wife. Back in my day, I won over his mother in just three days. Hmph, that brat really didn’t inherit any of my fine qualities.

Sang Ying: “…”

Sang Ying’s hand holding the Glazed Mirror trembled slightly.

Out of anger.

That bastard Xie Lingyu actually pretended to be homeless and stuck by her side for so long. If she hadn’t accidentally found out, would he have kept hiding it from her?

She even thought he was an orphan when they were young, felt sorry for him, and took him along every holiday.

Sang Ying exited the chat and saw the cultivation news, with headlines everywhere about Qingyu Sword Lord.

#Qingyu Sword Lord Late#

#Qingyu Sword Lord’s Wife Is Clingy#

#White Moonlight Rumor#

?

Sang Ying was stunned for a moment and clicked on the top video to play it.

The location was Yaochi. Today was the coronation ceremony of Yaochi Saintess Shen Ying, and the once-in-a-century Yaochi Secret Realm would be opened. Many cultivators had come to witness the ceremony and await entry into the secret realm.

Qingyu Sword Lord’s name was on the invitation list. Due to the recent popular white moonlight rumors, even more cultivators came to join the excitement, making it an unprecedented grand event. Everyone wanted to see this tragic, deep love story.

All the cultivators waited and waited for Qingyu Sword Lord, but it wasn’t until the Saintess’s coronation ceremony ended that the young man leisurely arrived, fashionably late.

In the footage, the young man was dressed in white, ethereal and aloof, with dark hair cascading down. Yet, on his fair neck, there was a conspicuous red mark. The image zoomed in—it was a bite mark, red and deep, strikingly obvious.

Everyone’s gossipy hearts were instantly piqued. Someone asked the reason for his lateness.

The young man in the footage seemed to recall something, his indifferent expression softening slightly as he answered in a clear, cool voice.

“Lately, the weather has been cold, and my wife has been rather fond of sleeping in. She’s also quite clingy, so we got up a bit late.”

At this, everyone present was stunned. What about the tragic, deep love story with the white moonlight?

Judging by this, they clearly seemed like a loving couple—not at all like a fake marriage.

Someone boldly asked, “I heard Sword Lord and the Saintess…”

At this, the young man’s expression turned cold. “I have never met Fellow Daoist Shen and share no personal feelings with her. I don’t know where these baseless, unfounded rumors came from.”

“I’ve been preoccupied with trivial matters lately and didn’t notice these rumors. After my wife found out, she was angry with me for several days. I hereby declare that my wife and I are deeply in love and share a harmonious relationship. I hope all fellow daoists will stop spreading these rumors.”

The video ended there.

Sang Ying’s ears flushed red, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears as her slender fingers tightened around the Glazed Mirror.

…That bastard Xie Lingyu, when was she ever clingy?!

And he had the nerve to drag her down with him, tarnishing her reputation with rumors. How despicable!!!

Just as she was thinking this, the Glazed Mirror suddenly chimed. She opened it to see a reply from Xie Lingyu.

Seeing what he sent, Sang Ying’s face instantly grew even hotter.

[How is your body feeling, Junior Sister? Does it still hurt?]