Chapter 36: Between Fire and Water

The moonlight was pale and quiet. Above the clouds, several water lotuses swayed and grew in the wind, while fine, dense raindrops brushed against her cheeks with a cool touch.

Sang Ying was now somewhat more awake. She glanced down—the crimson fabric embroidered with twin lotus flowers had slipped away, revealing the fluffy white rabbit tail. Fine raindrops fell upon it, stirring a slight chill.

She was held in his embrace, leaning weakly against him, with a dragon tail coiled around her waist. The tip of the tail, covered in soft fur, brushed against the hollow of her waist, tickling her.

Sang Ying’s cheeks flushed with warmth. She had actually let herself be coaxed into a daze by him, allowing him to kiss her all over and even her rabbit tail.

Not just kissing—he had played with it too.

His hands were large, his fingers long. Compared to his hand, her rabbit tail seemed small, small enough to be completely cupped in his palm.

The memory of that scene made Sang Ying feel extremely embarrassed. She quickly gathered her clothes to cover herself.

She really had been led astray by this wicked dragon. In just a few short days, she had let him kiss her, let him look at her—nothing was left untouched.

Wait… would he dislike her for being small? Pressing her clothes against her chest, this thought suddenly surfaced in her mind.

She had been frail since childhood, shorter than others her age. Though she had been carefully nurtured over the years, her figure remained delicate and petite, unlike ordinary female cultivators.

“What is Shijie thinking about?”

Her earlobe was suddenly bitten hard, followed by a firm press of his long fingers. The young man’s voice behind her was low and cold: “To be distracted at a time like this—could it be you’re thinking about your useless husband?”

A mistiness clouded Sang Ying’s eyes. It took her several seconds to regain her composure, feeling both shy and annoyed. “Yes, so what if I am thinking about him?”

“And…”

Blushing, Sang Ying grabbed his hand. “Stop moving around.”

They were supposed to be cultivating properly—what was he doing?

“But doesn’t Shijie like it?” he replied softly, even presenting evidence by placing his fingers before her eyes.

Sang Ying immediately saw his fingers coated with lotus dew, its sweet fragrance lingering in the air, mingling with the scent of white sandalwood.

“This scent is familiar.”

The young man gazed at her reddened earlobes and spoke thoughtfully, “It seems I’ve…”

As memories resurfaced, Sang Ying watched as he seemed about to bring his fingers to his lips. Her ears flushed crimson, and she hurriedly grabbed his arm. “You’re mistaken! You definitely haven’t tasted it!”

Xie Lingyu couldn’t help but laugh at her attempt to cover up the truth. Pinching her small face, he teased, “Is Shijie admitting it without being asked?”

Sang Ying: “…”

Her face flushed with embarrassment. “In any case, you’re not allowed to taste it!”

Sang Ying’s demeanor clearly showed her inexperience in such matters. Xie Lingyu didn’t know whether to feel fortunate—that her husband was incapable, giving him the opportunity to get so close to her.

Not long ago, he had scoffed at the idea of being a “lover,” yet now he found himself willingly embracing the role.

The young man rested his chin against the crook of her neck, remaining silent for a few breaths before suddenly letting out a soft chuckle. He plucked a water lotus, his thumb brushing against its petals, gathering lotus dew before delving into its core.

Fire element spiritual power was drawn from the surroundings, gathering around the water lotus and dyeing its petals a vivid crimson, beautiful and striking.

Around them, a fine drizzle fell, and mist drifted through the clouds.

When the young man remained expressionless, he resembled an aloof immortal, casually toying with the delicate water lotus and stirring the lotus dew.

His chin rested lazily against the crook of her neck, the scent of white sandalwood enveloping her completely, along with the warmth of his breath brushing against her ear.

He watched as her damp, glistening eyes grew hazy, like a lost little fox, weakly clutching his hand, nestling against his chest with soft, whimpering sounds.

Xie Lingyu kissed the corner of her lips and whispered, “He can’t even help you cultivate, Shijie. What use is such a useless man that you’d keep him around?”

Water and fire elements converged, their spiritual powers merging, a blend of deep waters and scorching flames.

Sang Ying was immersed in this surging spiritual power, completely unable to hear what he was saying. All she knew was that she wanted more, whimpering softly, “More…”

But the young man stopped. Sang Ying waited for a long while, until even the scent of white sandalwood drifted away. Suddenly cut off from the spiritual power, she felt unbearably uncomfortable, as if ants were crawling all over her.

Dazedly opening her eyes, she saw the young man sitting at the other end of the cloud, lazily leaning against it as he admired the flowers.

Sang Ying’s eyes were brimming with moisture, filled with grievance and dissatisfaction. “Xie Lingyu…!”

The young man glanced at her unhurriedly, leisurely swaying his dragon tail, propping his chin with his hand, watching her with perfect composure. “What’s wrong, Shijie?”

…He knew perfectly well!

He was doing it on purpose! Deliberately kissing her there, waiting until she was dazed and immersed, then suddenly cutting off the spiritual power and leaving her cold, just to watch her suffer.

Having figured out his malicious behavior, Sang Ying grew furious. She turned her face away, unwilling to acknowledge him, but her body truly felt miserable. The once continuous flow of fire element spiritual power had suddenly vanished, leaving her body extremely unaccustomed to the change.

Moreover, she was so close—just a little more, she felt, and she could reach the same state as when she soaked in the hot spring yesterday. Yet he withdrew his fingers.

Sang Ying bit her lip. Xie Lingyu, after losing his memories, was truly wicked, deliberately withholding it from her like this.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She lay alone in the cloud, curling up like a mushroom.

Sang Ying had always been stubborn. Once she decided not to acknowledge him, she wouldn’t, not even glancing his way despite her unbearable discomfort.

The stalemate lasted for a while, until finally, the young man took the initiative to approach her. He pulled her into his embrace and sighed, “I’m already your nameless, status-less lover, Shijie. Won’t you even say a few soft words to coax me?”

Sang Ying opened her mouth and bit his finger, glaring at him. “I hate you, you bad dragon, you scoundrel…”

Xie Lingyu pressed his finger against her lips, then kissed her again, silencing her unfinished words.

Spiritual power surged back into her body, flowing through her meridians.

Sang Ying was soon whimpering again under his kisses, nestling comfortably in his arms as she refined the spiritual power.

Until the sensation against her lips changed from the cool touch of fingers to something else—warm, somewhat pliant, and resilient. It was his dragon tail, pressing against her leg, sliding back and forth bit by bit.

Sang Ying shuddered suddenly, her fingers tightening around his arm.

Dazedly, she opened her eyes a slit. “Is this… your dragon tail?”

“Mm.” He held her from behind, took her hand, and guided it to cover the front of her body. “Shijie, do you want to touch it?”

Her palm brushed against a part of the dragon tail—likely the tip. The sensation was strange, she thought. So this was a dragon tail. It was a bit mischievous, sliding between her legs and lightly prodding her palm, tickling her slightly.

But… the dragon tail was a bit too short. Sang Ying, who had only touched the tip, thought hazily. She wanted to say it out loud but held back at the last moment.

Her rabbit tail wasn’t that big either, and he hadn’t minded her for it. She shouldn’t disdain him either.

Xie Lingyu kissed her slowly, coaxing softly in her ear, “If Senior Sister divorces him, I’ll give it to you, okay?”

Sang Ying: “?”

Sang Ying: “…”

Sang Ying fell into deep thought.

After a moment of silence, she spoke weakly in a small voice, “Then… maybe not.”

Xie Lingyu narrowed his eyes, a fierce glint emerging in their depths. He pinched her small face and lifted it. “What’s so good about him? He’s left you a widow for three years—do you love him that much?”

Sang Ying: “…”

Not really. She just thought divorcing and remarrying was too much trouble.

Sang Ying felt conflicted. Should she just confess to him? She noticed he was getting too into his role as the lover.

But how should she explain it? Would he believe her?

Seeing her lower her head without speaking, Xie Lingyu thought she was silently agreeing. The gloom in his dark eyes deepened, his lips pressed tightly together as he turned her around, his knuckles gripping her ankle and lifting it.

The Dragon Tail bound by the Golden Ring coiled around her waist, the dragon tail tapping a few times before wordlessly moving to kiss her.

Sang Ying panicked instantly. “Xie Lingyu, you can’t!”

Xie Lingyu pinched her small face, his gaze dark and menacing, his tone icy.

“What, is Senior Sister still thinking of preserving her chastity for him?”

A familiar stinging pain spread, and tears immediately welled up at the corners of Sang Ying’s eyes. She grabbed his arm. “No… it’s what you said—we can’t do Dual Cultivation right now.”

Xie Lingyu paused slightly and stopped.

Sang Ying, her ears flushed red, turned her face away and whispered, “You said it yourself—my body is too weak to withstand your power. I need to at least reach Foundation Establishment first.”

“Not because of your husband?”

Sang Ying, embarrassed and annoyed, spoke even softer, like a mosquito. “If it were because of that, you’ve already kissed me all over, and… it’s practically no different from Dual Cultivation anyway. What chastity would there be left to preserve?”

She had a point. Now, her entire body carried his scent—anyone who saw her would know she was intimately connected to him.

Thinking of this, Xie Lingyu’s mood improved slightly. He reached out to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes. “Did it hurt?”

Sang Ying mumbled an affirmative, still unsure why. When she touched it, the dragon tail seemed clumsy and cute, yet twice now, even without cultivation, it had caused her pain.

She didn’t understand, but it was definitely Xie Lingyu’s fault. Blame him.

“Senior Sister’s body is too weak, and she lacks experience. Her skin reddens at the slightest pinch—it’s normal for it to hurt.”

Sang Ying sniffled and decided to tell him the truth. “Xie Lingyu, actually, my husband… mmm!”

The young man sealed her lips with a kiss, cutting off her words. His voice carried a thick, fierce hostility and killing intent as he said coldly, “From now on, don’t mention him in front of me again.”

Sang Ying: “…”

When had she ever mentioned him? Wasn’t it always him bringing it up? He insisted on comparing himself to himself, and then got angry when he did.

Sang Ying met his gloomy gaze, shivered slightly, and nodded her head a little. Fine, if he wanted to play the lover, let him keep at it for a while.

Suddenly, the young man’s knuckles gripped her ankle again.

Sang Ying shrank back. “Aren’t we done kissing?”

“Not kissing.”

The young man pulled her over and held her in his arms, embracing her. “Before Senior Sister reaches Foundation Establishment, I’ll help her get used to it first.”

Sang Ying sat in his lap, confused. Just as she was about to ask how she was supposed to get used to it, the young man adjusted her position, her back leaning against him. The dragon tail pressed snugly against her petals, without any barrier.

The Dragon Tail coiled around her waist as well, cool and smooth like green jade scales, yet its temperature was the complete opposite of the dragon tail itself.

Sang Ying felt it was even hotter than fire element spiritual power and clenched her fingers.

She had initially wanted to escape, but then she thought, sooner or later, she would have to cultivate with him. If she got used to it now, she wouldn’t suffer during cultivation later.

But Sang Ying still had her doubts. She shifted uncomfortably and whispered suspiciously, “Xie Lingyu, is this really okay?”

“Why don’t you try it and see, Senior Sister?”

The young man embraced her from behind, his dragon tail slowly grinding against her, and he immediately felt the girl in his arms tense up.

He rested his chin on her shoulder, his fingertips brushing over the rabbit tail, tracing it slowly, all while reminding her to cultivate: “There’s so much fire element spiritual power here, Senior Sister. Don’t waste it.”

Sang Ying’s eyelashes fluttered. The dragon tail was completely different from fingers—its presence was too overwhelming to ignore. Pressed against her like this, it was hard for her to focus on cultivating peacefully.

Around them, the elemental Water Lotuses swayed with the mist, the drizzle hazy and soft.

Sang Ying held onto his arm and suddenly noticed the scent of Lotus Dew in the air growing stronger—sweet and cloying—dripping down the lotus petals and landing right on the dragon tail.

Sang Ying stiffened as she realized what was happening.

The young man behind her chuckled softly, moving the dragon tail moistened by the Lotus Dew. He reached over with his long fingers, dipped them in a little, and rubbed his fingertips together, making the fragrance of the Lotus Dew even more intense.

His voice was clear and low. “Senior Sister seems to like it.”

Sang Ying flushed instantly and raised her hand to cover his mouth. “Don’t say that!”

“Why can’t I say it?” The young man pulled her hand away, his dragon tail sliding slowly. “Senior Sister was so bold earlier, sneaking around with me in front of others. Now you won’t even let me say a word?”

“…”

Sang Ying really wanted to tell him that in Xu Baishen’s eyes, they were a legitimate couple, with proof from the Immortal Alliance and a Marriage Certificate. That wasn’t sneaking around—at most, it was just showing off their affection.

But when she saw how much he was enjoying himself now, completely embracing the role of a lover, she fell silent for a moment and ultimately didn’t say anything.

Forget it. As long as he’s happy.

Sang Ying shifted uncomfortably. “Xie Lingyu, it’s uncomfortable.”

Xie Lingyu thought she was in pain from cultivating and grew serious.

“Where does it hurt?”

Sang Ying’s voice grew even softer, barely a whisper. “It’s hot.”

She sounded puzzled as she poked his scaled Dragon Tail. “Why is your body temperature cool, your scales are cool, but your dragon tail is hot?”

The air grew quiet, but there was an inexplicable tension.

Like the calm before a storm.

Sang Ying was a bit confused. “What… Mmm!”

Before she could finish, the young man turned her around, held her face, and kissed her.

The once gentle young man suddenly turned fierce, as if venting some emotion or desperately trying to suppress it, almost biting her lips.

Sang Ying didn’t understand what she had done to upset him. She pushed against his shoulders, but all she could manage were weak whimpers as he kissed her.

The fire element spiritual power around them grew increasingly dense, surging and turbulent as it poured into her body. Sang Ying felt her entire body grow hot, overwhelmed by the immense spiritual power until her head spun.

Yet that dragon tail did not spare her either, clinging tightly like this, gently nudging with each kiss. Whether it was due to the increased fire element spiritual power in the surroundings or not, its temperature was even higher than before, almost searing to the bone.

The moonlight swayed, and the originally fine drizzle grew more urgent.

By the brook, the spring water flowed quietly, reflecting a moon shattered by raindrops, leaving only fragmented shadows. The pale purple irises blooming along the bank swayed under the pounding of raindrops.

In the stream, the water lotuses were in full bloom, their rich lotus dew continuously dripping down the stems, intertwining with the elemental spiritual power in the air.

Sang Ying’s thick lashes were damp, trembling incessantly—whether from rain or her own tears, it was unclear. Her hands rested weakly on his shoulders.

After who knows how long of being kissed, the young man finally calmed down slightly, releasing her and murmuring, “Don’t say such things again next time.”

“Oh…”

Sang Ying was dazed from the kissing, responding vaguely. She pointed to the dragon tail wrapped around her waist, “It’s squeezing me, it hurts.”

The dragon tail loosened in response, and Sang Ying sighed in relief. She shifted her body, about to brace herself on his shoulders to stand up, but suddenly her legs went weak, and the slippery rainwater caused her to abruptly fall back down.

The young man reached out in time to steady her, but it was already a step too late.

Sang Ying whimpered, the corners of her eyes instantly reddening. Her clear eyes misted over, slightly unfocused. She bit down on his shoulder, clenching her fingers tightly, digging in until they turned pale.

By the time she regained her senses, the young man had already shifted her position, holding her as he examined her wound, dipping his fingertip into golden lotus ointment to apply it for her.

Sang Ying’s ears burned, “N-no need for ointment.”

The young man’s tone was indifferent, “You were biting from the pain just now, and now you’re still trying to act tough, Senior Sister?”

Sang Ying’s ears grew even hotter. She said nothing more, burying her head in his chest, her eyes still damp.

She had accidentally taken in a little earlier, but she didn’t seem to feel any pain. Instead, it was like that time in the hot spring when Xie Lingyu had helped her.

After such moments, she would grow lazy, unwilling to move. Like a well-fed cat, Sang Ying nestled lazily in his arms, letting him attend to her—drying her clothes and lifting her from the cloud cushion.

Seeing him disperse the surrounding water lotuses and cleanse the lingering aura, Sang Ying asked in confusion, “Aren’t we continuing?”

Xie Lingyu glanced at her lightly, “The elemental spiritual power from earlier is enough for Senior Sister to refine for two days. Or is Senior Sister still not satisfied?”

Sang Ying flushed instantly.

As the restrictive barrier dissipated, a young man’s figure approached from afar. Sang Ying finally understood why they had been in such a hurry—it was because Xu Baishen had come looking.

Even though he was her rightful husband, at this moment, she truly felt as if they had been caught in an affair. Embarrassed, Sang Ying buried her head in Xie Lingyu’s chest, pretending to be dead.

Xu Baishen had seen the restrictive barrier from a distance, wondering why it had been set up. As he approached, the barrier dissipated, revealing the young man holding the girl.

The latter, as if having just heard something, shyly buried her head.

The girl was dressed neatly, but red marks dotted her exposed neck and wrists. He was no fool; one glance told him what the two had just been doing.

A wave of vexing, murky emotion surged in his chest, and his hatred grew even more intense.

Immediately afterward, a dark thought arose uncontrollably.

If she must need a lover… why couldn’t it be him?