Chapter 3: It Was His Scent

Sang Ying had prepared an explanation for this question early on, but hearing it asked so abruptly now left her mind blank and caught off guard.

“Well…” she hesitated, then glimpsed his sword and suddenly had an idea. “I came to see Xu Baishen.”

The young man paused slightly. He had just taken out a cooling ointment and opened it, lowering his head with his eyelashes downcast, naturally not noticing the girl’s unnatural expression.

Dipping his fingertip into the ointment, Xie Lingyu circled her slender, pale ankle with one hand, lifting it slightly as his thumb spread the ointment. After a few seconds, he spoke as if casually, his voice calm and light.

“Why did you come to see him, Junior Sister?”

Her ankle tingled. His palm was warm, and from years of sword practice, his thumb and the base of his thumb had a thin layer of calluses.

His dry thumb loosely circled her ankle, brushing against it, spreading the tingling sensation.

Sang Ying was most ticklish, forcing herself to endure this strange feeling as she clenched her fingers around her dress beneath the cloak, replying lightly, “Recently, rumors have spread in the Cultivation World that Xu Baishen, the son of the Grand Elder of the Wu Wen Sect, has inherited his father’s true teachings. Despite being under thirty, he has already reached the peak of the Golden Core stage, truly a prodigy of heaven.”

“Compared to the previous sect leader’s sickly, useless son who couldn’t even reach Foundation Establishment, he’s more suited to inherit the position of sect leader.”

Xie Lingyu suddenly looked up, his calm, dark eyes meeting hers.

Sang Ying’s eyes curved slightly as she smiled, radiant like a red rose. “But seeing him today, it seems the rumors don’t hold up. You’re ten years younger than him, yet he couldn’t even defeat you. How could he compete with me for the sect leader position?”

Xie Lingyu softly hummed in acknowledgment, then lowered his head again, closing the ointment box as he withdrew his hand. “What were you about to say earlier, Junior Sister?”

Sang Ying withdrew her gaze from the empty sword hilt, her smile fading as she turned her small face away, looking at the darkening snowy sky in the distance.

“Nothing. I was going to say I’m tired and want to go back.”

The young man replied softly, “Alright.”

A pale green sword light flowed out as Xie Lingyu stood atop it, extending a hand toward Sang Ying.

Sang Ying looked at the distinct, bony hand before her and hesitated. The sword had only so much space; if two people rode it together, they would inevitably have to stand very close.

Her foot hurt now, and she couldn’t stand steadily. If it were Lengmian, it wouldn’t matter—if she stumbled, he would support her. But with Xie Lingyu… what if she stumbled and fell against him? Would he think she did it on purpose?

“Junior Sister?”

Sang Ying shook off the messy thoughts in her head. Lengmian had taken a quarter of an hour to bring her here; Xie Lingyu would surely be faster. At most, it would be a quarter of an hour—she could endure it!

Thinking this, Sang Ying placed her hand in his palm.

The young man’s fingers closed slightly, his dry, warm fingers enveloping hers as he gently pulled her up. Sang Ying stood atop the sword light.

Once she steadied herself, his hand promptly let go. Sang Ying felt a chill on her fingertips, followed by a sense of emptiness.

The young man stood with his back to her. Sang Ying buried her small face in the fox fur, lowering her head as she rubbed her fingertips awkwardly.

She didn’t understand. They had held hands before and had even been closer. Why did it feel strange now?

Sang Ying fluttered her eyelashes. Since childhood, she had been weak. To strengthen her constitution, her father had her attend training sessions with her senior brothers.

But she was truly frail and lazy, unable to practice for more than a quarter of an hour before feeling exhausted and sleepy. Every day, she only walked the downhill path herself; when returning uphill, someone always had to carry her.

Among the three senior brothers, the eldest was gentle in temperament but principled in his actions, unwilling to help her slack off. The second senior brother was a free-spirited and unrestrained social butterfly who would disappear after class, off to who-knows-where.

Thus, she always made Xie Lingyu carry her on his back.

Even back then, the youth was already of a taciturn nature, not fond of speaking, and in Sang Ying’s eyes, easy to bully.

She would jump onto his back, hook her arms around his neck, and threaten him not to tell her father. He would then silently carry her up the mountain, day after day.

The lingering sunlight at the horizon flickered in her eyes, and Sang Ying snapped back to reality, realizing this was something from a long time ago.

Since their marriage three years ago, they had never done anything like this again.

Having stood for too long, her ankles ached faintly. Even after applying the ointment, it hadn’t healed that quickly. Sang Ying pursed her lips and was just about to move when the young man in front of her suddenly sat down.

…What kind of decent person sits while flying on a sword?

Sang Ying muttered to herself inwardly, then tugged at her skirt and sat down as well. After all, standing alone would look too foolish.

The space was already narrow, and sitting down inevitably brought them close together. Sang Ying turned around, leaning back-to-back with him.

Unlike her, the young man’s back was warm. The heat seeped through his cloak, slowly warming Sang Ying’s cold hands and feet.

Rubbing her revived nose, the soothing and calming scent of white sandalwood drifted into her nostrils. Sang Ying was slightly taken aback—it was his scent.

Neither of them spoke.

The scenery flowed backward as they sat quietly for two quarters of an hour. The sky had completely darkened, and Sang Ying, feeling somewhat drowsy, finally realized something was amiss.

“Xie Lingyu, how much longer until we get home?”

Perhaps due to the night, the young man’s voice behind her sounded somewhat low and dim. “A little longer.”

Sang Ying sensed something was wrong. Lengmian only needed a quarter of an hour to send her back, yet he had already spent two quarters and still hadn’t arrived?

Combined with him sitting on the sword’s glow and his slightly hoarse voice earlier… Sang Ying suddenly understood.

“Xie Lingyu, were you injured in today’s match?”

The air fell silent for a few seconds.

The young man paused. “No.”

With all the evidence laid out before her, Sang Ying didn’t believe him at all. She tapped the sword beneath her with her knuckles. “Luo Qing, is your master injured?”

The bluish-white sword light flickered, and a childish voice emerged, sounding somewhat sorrowful as it sighed softly, “Just now, Master suffered a severe sev… Mmm!”

The voice of the Luoqing Sword Spirit was abruptly and mercilessly cut off.

The young man coldly closed his eyes, his tone indifferent. “Don’t listen to its nonsense.”

The unfinished words of the Luoqing Sword Spirit had already conveyed the meaning to Sang Ying—Xie Lingyu had indeed suffered a severe injury in the match.

But judging by Xie Lingyu’s attitude, he clearly didn’t want to say more. Perhaps… it would be more accurate to say he felt she had overstepped, meddling in his affairs.

Sang Ying was all too familiar with this kind of rhetoric. When unrelated people inquired about her own matters, she would also impatiently brush them off.

A wave of irritation rose in Sang Ying’s heart, and she no longer wanted to bother with him. Since he said he was fine, why should she foolishly offer her concern?

Burying her small face in the soft white fox fur, Sang Ying closed her eyes angrily to rest.

The young girl behind him fell silent.

Perhaps it was the dim twilight, or perhaps she had expended too much energy going out today. Before long, he heard her breathing grow soft and even. Her body, which had been rigidly held to avoid pressing against him, gradually relaxed, leaning softly against his back.

She had fallen asleep.

With a flash of sword light, they arrived at the courtyard pavilion.

Xie Lingyu turned around. Without support, the young woman began to tilt backward. He raised his hand and gently caught her, lifting her into his arms before walking into the courtyard.

Lengmian, who had returned earlier, stood in the corner beside the crabapple blossoms, holding his sword expressionlessly as he watched the two, not uttering a word.

The maid Jingxi also knew better than to disturb them. She watched as Xie Lingyu carried the young woman through the flower corridor and into the room.

Jingxi smiled knowingly. “How did the sword tassel delivery go today? Judging by this, the mistress and the Sword Lord must have reconciled, right?”

“Ah, the moonlight is so lovely tonight. They must have been out admiring the moon, coming back so late. As they say, beneath the flowers and the moon, a spring night is long…”

Lengmian glanced at her sideways. “You underestimate the young mistress too much.”

No sooner had he spoken than the cool, aloof young man in white emerged from the room, closed the door, and returned to his usual residence in the side courtyard as if nothing had happened.

Lengmian maintained his calm demeanor. “See? The sword hilt is empty.”

Jingxi was surprised. “The mistress didn’t give it?”

Lengmian also turned and headed toward his own room, a faint hint of pride in his calm tone. “Of course not.”

Jingxi: “…” Wait, what is there to be proud of?

…

In the middle of the night, Sang Ying woke groggily. Her mind was hazy for a moment before she remembered Xie Lingyu had been beside her, and she suddenly became fully alert.

She opened her eyes abruptly, only to see the familiar gauze bed curtains—it was her room.

The room was as cold and quiet as ever, with only her inside.

Sang Ying lay still for a few breaths before pushing aside the bed curtains and sitting up. She noticed a jade box on the table, picked it up, and opened it. Unsurprisingly, inside was an elixir.

She had always been frail, constantly drinking various medicinal soups since childhood, and even now, she had to take a bowl of medicine daily.

Since their marriage three years ago, Xie Lingyu often had Jingxi bring her elixirs to nourish her health. Clearly, this was another one.

Inside the box was another item. Sang Ying picked it up to examine—it was a Glazed Mirror.

… Xie Lingyu’s Glazed Mirror? Had it been placed inside by mistake? Puzzled, Sang Ying opened it and happened to see some strange conversations.

White Cat Swordsman: 【Mimi has run away from home again. Fellow Daoists, has anyone seen any trace of Mimi?】

Delivery Heavenly Venerable: 【What does it look like? While I was delivering an order at Yaochi, I saw a tabby cat dyed white cursing while bathing. By the time I finished my delivery, it was】

White Cat Swordsman: 【It was what?】

White Cat Swordsman: 【Hey hey hey? Heavenly Venerable, where are you? Has something happened to Mimi?!】

Hermit Tian Hu: 【White Cat Daoist, don’t panic. Delivery Daoist is probably about to exceed the delivery time. He’ll reply once he’s finished.】

Delivery Heavenly Venerable: 【I’m back.】

Delivery Heavenly Venerable: 【That cat kept cursing and grumbling for a while. A fairy saw it struggling to scrub its back and even helped it out. By the time I finished my delivery and returned, it was】

White Cat Swordsman: 【It was?】

White Cat Swordsman: 【… Heavenly Venerable, next time, skip the unnecessary details and get straight to the point, okay?!】

Hermit Tian Hu: 【White Cat Daoist, don’t be anxious. Relax your mind, let go of everything. Just like fishing, the more you rush, the less you’ll achieve.】

Daoist Bukong: 【Shared photo (thirty-three-pound fat spirit carp)】

Hermit Tian Hu: 【Fake.】

Hermit Tian Hu: [Fake at first glance, how could there possibly be such a plump spiritual carp flower fish?]

Hermit Tian Hu: [Fellow Daoist, delete that photo. I don’t mind, I don’t feel anything, but one of my friends is sweating bullets. He’s not feeling well and wants to sleep, definitely not me though. I just want to consider my friend’s feelings, so I still suggest you delete it.]

Sang Ying watched these people chatting and, as she kept reading, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud. These people were quite amusing.

However, she also realized something: this Glazed Mirror didn’t belong to Xie Lingyu but to a cultivator in the group named [True Person Bi Xu].

Why would True Person Bi Xu’s Glazed Mirror be in her medicine box?

Just as Sang Ying was about to look for his contact to ask, she saw a new message in the group.

Cave Master Cai Xia: [So mad! Today I went with a friend to catch a cheater, only to find out the other woman was a man! And he even has a Dao Companion!]

That one sentence made Sang Ying stay.

She kept reading, enjoying the fresh, piping-hot gossip.

Cave Master Cai Xia’s friend had been married for two years but had never shared a room. Once, the friend noticed stains on their Dao Companion’s clothes and grew suspicious. So, they deliberately set a trap and called Cave Master Cai Xia to catch the cheater, only to discover it was a male homewrecker.

Coincidentally, the male homewrecker’s Dao Companion also came to catch the cheater, and the two parties ran into each other.

Cave Master Cai Xia: [I told you! If you’ve been married for two years and still don’t share a room, there must be a problem!]

The group members all agreed, joining forces to angrily denounce those two male cultivators.

Sang Ying rested her chin on her hand, her cheeks puffing out slightly.

Sharing a room… did that mean sleeping in the same room?

Her thoughts drifted, and she began to daydream.

Oh right, I’ve heard that after marriage, husband and wife are supposed to sleep on the same bed. But Xie Lingyu and I have been married for three years, and we only slept together on our wedding night. For these three years, Xie Lingyu has been living in the side courtyard.

Suddenly, the Glazed Mirror buzzed and vibrated incessantly. Sang Ying snapped back to attention and saw everyone in the group expressing shock, sending messages one after another.

White Cat Swordsman: [Wow, what a shocking piece of gossip!]

Hermit Tian Hu: [Old Bi Xu, when did you get married in secret?! Is this what they mean by “silent until the moment you speak, then shock everyone”?]

Cave Master Cai Xia: [Wait, husband… damn, old man, you really can’t judge a book by its cover. Who knew you had such tastes?]

Bi Xu’s Disciple: [Master, you…]

Sang Ying wondered what had suddenly happened. She quickly scrolled up and saw the cause of this storm.

Someone with the name True Person Bi Xu had sent this message:

[Then what does it mean if, after three years of marriage, the husband still insists on sleeping in separate rooms?]

Sang Ying: ?

Wait, what did she send?

0.01 seconds later, Sang Ying’s ears burned as she realized what had happened. It was as if she were holding something scalding hot, and in a panic, she threw the Glazed Mirror away.

The Glazed Mirror rolled twice on the ground before bumping into something and stopping.

“What is Junior Sister doing?”

Hearing the voice, Sang Ying froze and looked up sharply. The very person she had just been thinking about was standing at the door, moonlight spilling from behind the white-clad youth, cool and clear as jade.

Why was he here?!

No, more importantly—

The Glazed Mirror had rolled right to his feet. The youth lowered his gaze and reached out to pick it up.

“Bang—!”

The moonlight at the door swayed slowly, creaking softly.

Before her mind could even process the situation, Sang Ying’s body had already sprung into action, rushing over to snatch the Glazed Mirror back from Xie Lingyu’s hands.

Thank goodness, she got it back—he hadn’t seen it.

She let out a slight sigh of relief and lifted her gaze, only to find the young man’s face right before her eyes, close enough to catch the crisp, calming scent of White Sandalwood emanating from him.

At this very moment, Xie Lingyu was leaning against the door, while she sat between his legs, one hand pressing against his shoulder and the other clutching the Glazed Mirror.

He looked at her, his usually calm and emotionless dark eyes tinged with a hint of surprise.

Only then did Sang Ying belatedly realize—she seemed to have…

pinned Xie Lingyu down?!