Chapter 42: A Little Gentler

Before coming to the Yun Ling Realm, Sang Ying had imagined that Xie Lingyu’s parents would be similar in temperament to him—aloof and reserved. Combined with their status as the Demon Emperor and Demon Empress, she assumed they would be the cold, imposing type.

But she never expected…

The stern-faced man: “Oh, come on, what’s wrong with letting your wife hug your mother? Don’t be so petty, you big male dragon.”

The gentle-looking woman chimed in: “Exactly, exactly! What did I teach you before? You should know how to share good things with others. How could you hide such an adorable wife for three years without letting anyone see her?”

Turning to Sang Ying, the woman smiled warmly and reached out her hand: “I remember your name is Xiao Ying, right? Let his father take him to heal his injuries. Come, Xiao Ying, my dear, let Mother take you on a tour of the Yun Ling Realm.”

The woman before her was beautiful, with a natural, approachable warmth in her smile that made it easy to relax.

Sang Ying felt as if she were seeing her senior brother again. This feeling drew her in, and she peeked out from behind Xie Lingyu, her eyes fixed on the woman.

Xie Lingyu said calmly, “She’s a bit shy around strangers. If you approach her so suddenly, you might scare—”

Sang Ying cautiously reached out and gently placed her fingers in the woman’s palm.

Xie Lingyu: ?

The woman immediately grasped her hand and pulled Sang Ying along, waving as she walked: “Yu Cang, don’t bother making dinner tonight. Xiao Ying and I won’t be back for dinner.”

With that, she disappeared into the mist with Sang Ying, leaving the two men standing where they were.

Xie Lingyu’s dark eyes turned to the man: “Can’t you control your wife?”

Xie Yu Cang patted his shoulder: “Oh, don’t be so stingy. Your wife has never been to the Yun Ling Realm before. Let your mother show her a good time.”

…

True to its name, the Yun Ling Realm was filled with mist everywhere, as beautiful as a fairyland.

Unlike the Cultivation World, the Demon Realm was natural and unadorned, lacking grand, imposing structures. Instead, it was filled with grotto-abodes that blended seamlessly with nature.

For example, squirrel demons lived in nut houses and slept on mushroom beds.

Fish demons lived in shell houses, playfully bickering with seaweed demons. A turtle demon practiced boxing after removing its shell, while two shrimp demons played chess on the discarded shell nearby.

As they passed by, these demons would greet them warmly: “Good afternoon, Demon Empress!”

Then, their gazes would focus intently on Sang Ying: “Is this our Crown Princess? Oh my, has His Highness the Crown Prince finally decided to let her show her face after hiding her for years?”

The woman smiled and wrapped an arm around Sang Ying’s shoulder from behind: “Yes, isn’t the Crown Princess adorable!”

“…”

Sang Ying’s ears burned with embarrassment as she lowered her head shyly. How did every demon in the Yun Ling Realm know about their marriage?

The woman took Sang Ying on a tour of the Yun Ling Realm, chatting casually as they walked.

Sang Ying learned that her name was Rong Xue Man, and she had been married to the Demon Emperor, Xie Yu Cang, for many years, living in the Dragon Palace on the sea in the Yun Ling Realm.

Perhaps due to the backlash from their exceptional innate talents, the dragon clan naturally struggled with fertility, with difficulties increasing as they aged. Offspring were especially rare, and the dragons currently in the Yun Ling Realm were all ancient elders.

For thousands of years, these dragons had eagerly awaited new offspring, their eyes practically straining with anticipation. Finally, Xie Lingyu had arrived.

After finally hatching from the egg, he stayed in the Yun Ling Realm for over a decade before running away from home, insisting on learning swordsmanship in a human sect of the Cultivation World and never returning.

This left the old dragons deeply troubled. How could such a well-bred young dragon be so rebellious? Not only did he refuse to learn their inherited magic, but he wouldn’t even come home.

Later, when they heard he had married, these lonely old dragons were overjoyed. Early marriage meant early chances for little dragons, right?

So they all clamored to attend the wedding, including his father, Xie Yu Cang, but Xie Lingyu mercilessly drove them all back.

Rong Xue Man smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. “Little Yu has been stubborn and rebellious since he was young.”

“I wonder if it’s because those old dragons kept talking around him while he was still in the egg. He’s utterly annoyed by them and always does the opposite of what they say.”

Sang Ying couldn’t help but laugh, never imagining Xie Lingyu had such a past.

Rong Xue Man added, “By the way, I still have Little Yu’s old eggshell. Would you like to see it?”

Sang Ying’s eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously.

Rong Xue Man took her to a secluded and tranquil paradise—the dragon nest, where newly hatched young dragons reside.

Inside, Sang Ying saw many stored items: beautiful jade-like dragon eggs, several illustrated books of swordsmen, small wooden carvings of various swords and blades, shed baby scales…

Flipping through the illustrated books, Sang Ying saw the gallant figures of swordsmen and blade masters, as if she could picture a delicate, snow-white little boy propping his chin, engrossed in reading, his small dragon tail swaying behind him.

She couldn’t help but laugh. So Xie Lingyu had this side to him too.

…

When the old dragons learned that Xie Lingyu had brought Sang Ying back, they were thrilled and waited eagerly at the Dragon Palace early on. However, only Xie Lingyu and Xie Yu Cang returned.

This didn’t sit well with them, and they voiced their dissatisfaction. “Weren’t you supposed to bring your wife back? Where is she?”

Xie Lingyu glanced coolly at Xie Yu Cang.

Xie Yu Cang cleared his throat lightly. “Ancestors, please don’t rush. Xue Man took her out to play; they’ll return later. Lingyu is injured, so I’ll take him to meditate and heal first.”

Hearing that their young dragon was injured, the old dragons immediately grew concerned, fetching medicine and offering assistance. Precious herbs and spiritual plants piled up into a small mountain.

Xie Lingyu sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. Xie Yu Cang and several old dragons sat beside him, creating a dense realm of Spiritual Power to aid his recovery.

Even while sitting, they couldn’t stay idle and kept asking questions.

“Lingyu, how’s your relationship with your wife? It’s been three years, and you haven’t brought her home to visit.”

“What about little dragons? Are there any little dragons yet?”

During his recovery, his dragon horns and dragon tail would appear, and the dragons couldn’t help but notice the Binding Ring on the young man’s tail—pure gold, flawless, and transparent.

Suddenly, the dragons fell silent.

A deathly stillness.

…It’s been three years since the wedding, and they still haven’t consummated the marriage?

Exchanging glances, the dragons communicated with Xie Yu Cang using their Divine Sense.

[Yu Cang, does Lingyu have some… issues in that area?]

[Exactly, he’s been married for years. How could he not have engaged in Dual Cultivation even once?]

[Our dragon clan has the Tide Heat Period. Could it be that Lingyu doesn’t?]

Xie Yu Cang: [I don’t know either. You all know he ran away from home when he was young.]

He pondered for a moment. [Perhaps he has some hidden ailment? After all, he grew up outside. Maybe someone harmed him.]

[“Oh dear, how come you as a father don’t pay any attention to this? If Lingyu isn’t capable, it’s such a waste for that young girl.”]

[“I remember there are plenty of qi-replenishing and yang-strengthening spiritual herbs growing in my area. I’ll go back and pick some.”]

[“I have an old medical cultivator friend. I’ll go ask him right away.”]

[“I also…”]

Sang Ying returned to the Sea Dragon Palace late at night after playing outside.

As soon as she pushed the door open, she saw a pile of herbs and elixirs covering the table, so many that they couldn’t all fit and had been hastily piled on the floor into a small mountain. Sang Ying nearly tripped over them when she entered.

She picked some up to examine them and found that most of the herbs had effects like replenishing qi and strengthening yang… How did she know this? Of course, it was because when she first learned he might be incapable, she had thoroughly researched possible remedies.

Picking up a bottle of elixirs, she realized it was actually a love potion with that kind of effect.

Sang Ying raised her eyes to look at the young man resting by the couch inside the room and asked in confusion, “Xie Lingyu, why did you bring all these here?”

Suddenly understanding, she blurted out, “Could it be that you really are incapable?”

Xie Lingyu: “…”

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the room. His injuries hadn’t fully healed yet, so his dragon horns and Dragon Tail were still visible.

Xie Lingyu looked gloomy as he pulled her into his embrace, his Dragon Tail wrapping around her waist. He spoke coldly, almost word by word, “It was those old dragons who sent these over. The reason…”

The Dragon Tail rested in her palm, the pure gold Binding Ring at its tip gleaming transparently.

The young man held her from behind, lowering his head to bite her shoulder, grinding his teeth slightly as he forced out the remaining words, his voice thick with gloom.

“…is this.”

Sang Ying immediately understood. The dragon clan knew the meaning of the Binding Ring, so one glance was enough to tell he was still a virgin dragon.

Outsiders didn’t know the specifics of their marriage situation, so they would assume that after three years of marriage, they still hadn’t engaged in Dual Cultivation, naturally attributing the reason to Xie Lingyu.

Realizing this, Sang Ying felt like laughing. “Why don’t you explain to them that our marriage is fake?”

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her neck—the young man had bitten her. He seemed a little angry, even gnawing gently on the soft flesh. Only when he heard Sang Ying’s pained gasp did he let go, soothing the spot with a couple of light kisses.

His cool fingers slipped under the hem of her clothes at her waist as he spoke in a low, hoarse voice, “Has my junior sister forgotten about another method?”

If they engaged in Dual Cultivation, this problem would naturally be resolved.

Sang Ying’s ears flushed red as she grabbed his hand and pushed it away. “No, I promised Rongrong’s mother I’d sleep with her tonight. I only came back to get my favorite pillow—I left it here.”

Xie Lingyu: ?

Rongrong… mother?

In just one day, they’d become this close?

Sang Ying retrieved the pillow from his Storage Ring, pried his hand off, and stood up. Her ears were still slightly red, but she put on a serious face and said, “Besides, your injuries aren’t healed yet. The medical cultivator said you can’t cultivate or engage in strenuous activities—it could reopen your wounds. You should just rest properly!”

With that, she hugged the pillow and dashed out, closing the door behind her.

Sang Ying ended up staying in the Yun Ling Realm for half a month, completely adapting to life there. Every day, she and Rong Xue Man explored various places in the Yun Ling Realm.

Rong Xue Man treated her extremely well, even combing her hair, her fingers gently weaving through the dark strands, braiding them and pinning them up with hairpins.

At night, she slept with Rong Xue Man, lying on her pillow and swinging her legs as she listened to Rongrong’s mother tell her interesting stories about the dragon clan and things about Xie Lingyu from the past.

Both of them adapted remarkably well to the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship.

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess had finally returned, and all the demons of the Yun Ling Realm were overjoyed.

Only two people radiated a low-pressure atmosphere—

“Little Ying baby, the new hammock I had made is ready. Let’s go and sleep. Today, I’ll tell you…”

“Okay!”

Xie Yu Cang watched their figures disappear around the corner with a deep, lingering gaze, then turned to look at the young man beside him. “Can’t you control your wife?”

Ever since Sang Ying arrived, his wife had ruthlessly abandoned him. It had been half a month since they last slept together!

Even when they argued, gave each other the cold shoulder, or slept in separate rooms, it had never lasted this long!

Xie Lingyu sipped his medicinal soup for healing his injuries, leisurely raising his eyelashes, his tone light and airy. “A man shouldn’t be so petty in his actions.”

Xie Yu Cang: “…”

In the end, a son couldn’t be relied upon. Xie Yu Cang decided to take matters into his own hands.

The next day, as evening approached, Xie Yu Cang secretly watched his son leave for Tian Zai Shui and quickly sought out Sang Ying, who was finally alone.

“Daughter-in-law, something’s happened!”

Sang Ying was taken aback. “What is it?”

Xie Yu Cang’s expression turned grave. “It’s like this—Lingyu’s injuries have worsened recently. I’ve observed that he sneaks out to practice at night lately. He must have aggravated his wounds during cultivation. I tried to persuade him, but he wouldn’t listen at all. Daughter-in-law, could you go and talk some sense into him?”

Hearing this, Sang Ying grew anxious and immediately turned to head toward Xie Lingyu’s room in the Dragon Palace.

Xie Yu Cang quickly spoke up. “He’s not in his room; he went out. He’s at the place he used to live. Here’s a guiding butterfly—just follow it, and you’ll find him.”

In his youth, Xie Lingyu had a rebellious and unruly temperament and naturally disliked living in the Dragon Palace with his parents. He had his own residence in the Yun Ling Realm, named Tian Zai Shui.

By the time Sang Ying followed the guiding butterfly, the sky had already darkened.

Ethereal clouds and spirits drifted around a shallow bay, where the reflection of a bright moon shimmered in the water. The entire sky resembled an ink painting poured over the lake, breathtakingly beautiful.

Not far away, an elegant little Bamboo Courtyard stood amidst the mist, its windows glowing with warm, yellow light that reflected in the bay.

Xie Lingyu was indeed here. Sang Ying felt a pang of annoyance—this man truly didn’t care for his own health at all, practicing cultivation again before his injuries had fully healed.

The surroundings were pitch black, and she was about to make her way through the darkness when, suddenly, pale blue Spirit Lotuses bloomed in the shallow bay, spreading across the entire lake. A path paved with blue spiritual light appeared before her.

Sang Ying thought to herself, Xie Lingyu was quite the aesthete, arranging his residence like this.

Walking along the path of spiritual light to the front of the Bamboo Courtyard, Sang Ying entered the lit room and pushed the door open.

“Xie Lingyu…”

Her words abruptly stopped as she took in the scene inside the room.

The young man sat coolly and calmly at the desk, which was covered with sheets of rice paper, each one filled with the three characters “Xie Lingyu.”

Some were written delicately, others messily, and some were smudged with ink… Not just on the desk—the entire room was filled with them.

These… were what she had written during the hundred years she waited. Not wanting to forget him, she would write like this every day, trying to remember him through this method.

But these were supposed to be locked away in the study of her old residence… This shady, perverted dragon had secretly opened and looked at them.

Sang Ying’s body stiffened as she realized this.

Yet the young man’s expression remained calm as he lifted his eyes to look at her. “Why has my junior sister suddenly come here?”

Sang Ying averted her gaze, trying her best to calm down as she explained her purpose: “Your father sent me.”

The young man held a sheet of rice paper lightly between his slender fingers, lazily propping his chin. “Junior Sister, you’ve been tricked by him. He just wanted to send you away so he could spend time with his Dao Companion.”

Sang Ying: “…”

It could be like that?

Xie Lingyu chuckled softly. “Junior Sister, have you underestimated the possessiveness of the dragon clan toward their partners?”

Sang Ying recalled the dragons she had seen recently—indeed, they were all in pairs, inseparable and clinging to each other, their Dragon Tails entwined even during the day.

She scratched the tip of her nose. “Alright, since you’re fine, I’ll head back now.”

As soon as she finished speaking and tried to step back, she suddenly bumped into the door.

Sang Ying turned to check and found that the door to the room had been locked at some point.

“Junior Sister, are you planning to leave without explaining?”

Sang Ying turned her gaze back. The cool and aloof young man set down the rice paper between his fingers and stood up. An inexplicable panic seized her. “Explain what?”

The young man walked up to her, slightly bending down to meet her eyes. His dark gaze was intense and somber. “Junior Sister, why did you write my name so many times?”

Sang Ying’s heart skipped a beat. She shifted her gaze away, trying to brush it off. “I was just writing casually, practicing calligraphy. Is that not allowed?”

Suddenly, her small face was lifted by cool fingers. Sang Ying froze, and before she could react, a shadow fell over her as cool lips pressed against hers.

His kiss wasn’t fierce—it was gentle, his lips slowly covering and savoring hers.

This was their first kiss after a century apart. Sang Ying found it both familiar and strange. Familiar was his scent, still the comforting fragrance of White Sandalwood.

Strange was the sensation—the gentle sucking and rubbing of his lips made her heart race, yet she… didn’t resist.

After the initial gentleness, the young man seemed to reveal his true nature, turning fierce. He nipped her lips before pressing against her teeth, trying to deepen the kiss.

Dazed, she didn’t open her mouth, blocking him out.

Cool hands rested on the small of her back, slender fingers gripping firmly. Sang Ying let out a soft whimper, her body going limp, and her teeth parted involuntarily.

The young man took the opportunity to slip inside, quickly finding her small tongue. Their tongues met, sucking and entwining, teasing hers playfully.

“Mmph…!”

Sang Ying had little experience with kissing to begin with, and after a century, she had forgotten it all. Soon, she was whimpering, struggling to breathe.

Her fingers clutched his clothes helplessly, the corners of her eyes turning red, her eyelashes trembling incessantly, glistening with tears.

Only when she could no longer breathe was she released. Her mind was hazy, and she could only gasp for air instinctively. The young man, however, rubbed the small of her back with his fingers and whispered in her ear, “Junior Sister, why did you write my name?”

Sang Ying, dazed from the kiss, couldn’t comprehend the question. “Hmm…?”

As soon as she spoke, he kissed her again, cutting off her breath.

Before she could even catch her breath, Sang Ying endured his increasingly fierce kisses, her slender fingers clutching his clothes tightly. Her eyes were misted with a thick layer of moisture, glistening and pitiful.

Only when she could no longer breathe again, her fingers weakly scratching and pushing against him, did the young man finally pull back slightly.

She could no longer stand on her own, relying entirely on the young man’s support to stay upright. If not for his hand holding her waist, she would have collapsed to the floor, completely limp.

The scent of white sandalwood in the air was overwhelmingly thick, and even as she gasped for breath, it filled her senses completely. At this moment, it seemed to intoxicate her like wine, growing more dizzying with each inhale.

“Mm…”

While she was still panting to catch her breath, he whispered the same question in her ear again.

This time, Sang Ying realized that if she didn’t answer the question honestly, he would kiss her again and again.

As her muddled mind struggled to process the situation, he leaned in to kiss her once more. Sang Ying hurriedly spoke up, “I—I’ll answer, Xie Lingyu.”

“It’s because… I don’t want to forget you.”

Only then did the young man stop, seemingly satisfied with her answer. He pressed against her, cradling her face and showering her with gentle, lingering kisses. His somber voice now carried a lighthearted laugh.

“Say it again, Junior Sister.”

Regaining a bit of her senses, Sang Ying bit down on his finger, grinding her teeth fiercely as she refused to speak.

Xie Lingyu didn’t get angry. Instead, he gently pressed his thumb against her lips, slowly caressing them, his dark, glass-like eyes fixed intently on her.

After a long moment of staring into each other’s eyes, he whispered, “Junior Sister, is it okay?”

Now fully awake, Sang Ying understood exactly what he was asking. A mix of embarrassment and annoyance surged within her—this lustful dragon, still injured yet always thinking about such things.

But… Sang Ying had seen many members of the dragon clan recently, and every pair seemed inseparable. They embraced their nature without a hint of shame, openly displaying their dragon tails entwined with their companions’, adorned with dazzling golden-red binding rings.

Yet Xie Lingyu, despite having a Dao Companion, had never engaged in Dual Cultivation. His binding ring remained pure gold, leading others to suspect he had some hidden ailment.

So, Sang Ying thought, perhaps his urgency was understandable?

Seeing the girl remain silent for so long, Xie Lingyu assumed the pain from their previous encounters had left her traumatized. He paused for a moment.

“I’ll be gentler this time.”

To Sang Ying, however, his words carried a different meaning—he would be gentler, ensuring his wounds wouldn’t reopen.

With that thought, her worries eased. His injuries had improved significantly over this period, so engaging in Dual Cultivation once in a while shouldn’t be an issue.

With her ears tinged red, Sang Ying gave a slight nod.

“…Alright, then.”

Before he could speak, she added with a serious expression, “But only once!”

Xie Lingyu: “…”