Chapter 57

“Baby.”

The light from the luminous pearl was hazy, filtering through the gauze curtains in faint, indistinct patterns.

The sensation on her lips was soft, cool, and carried a sweet, cloying floral fragrance. Xie Lingyu, having kissed her before, immediately understood what it was.

…He never expected that after getting drunk, she would completely change her personality, becoming so open and unreserved.

Seeing him remain motionless, the young girl even began to urge him on, pushing at his shoulder. “Xie Lingyu, don’t just stand there. Hurry up and kiss me.”

Xie Lingyu chuckled softly, agreeing. Then, supporting her waist, he leaned in unhurriedly, capturing her lips, gently kissing and savoring them.

Unable to see, his senses became even sharper.

Beside his ear, he heard the girl let out a muffled moan, a soft whimper like that of a kitten. He felt her slender, cool hands grip his shoulders, her fingers tightening slightly.

And her breathing, her heartbeat—these things that did not belong to him were now extraordinarily close, within reach, as if he could grasp them in his palm.

He could clearly sense the position of her heart, holding her in his arms, pressing close without any barrier, listening to the thumping rhythm of her heartbeat.

She was letting him kiss her willingly, giving him the illusion that she belonged only to him.

From the moment they first met, he had wanted to possess her.

Every minute and every second they spent together afterward, this desire only deepened, growing more intense and increasingly dark.

He wanted to possess her, wanted her bright eyes to look only at him, wanted her to belong to him forever.

He was always watching her, observing her every move, noting who she interacted with, whom she met today, and whom she spoke to.

He pretended to be the kind of person she liked, using his charm to coax and trick her into getting close to him. But he never dared to ask her if she liked him.

Because he already knew the answer, and it haunted him like a nightmare, forever clinging to him.

She didn’t like him. She only saw him as her senior brother. The intimacy between them was merely because of her innocent, easily swayed nature, coaxed into it by his deception.

His knuckles unconsciously tightened, and his kiss grew more forceful, almost biting.

The girl immediately tightened her grip, her nails digging into his shoulders, her voice muffled. “Kiss me more gently.”

Xie Lingyu snapped back to reality, softening his kiss, gently soothing her with his lips before pulling back slightly.

As he lifted his head to seek her lips again, she pressed her hands against his head, her voice tinged with dissatisfaction. “Why are you slacking off? You only kissed one tail.”

This was blatant favoritism!

How could Xie Lingyu handle things like this?

Xie Lingyu couldn’t help but laugh softly. His warm fingers moved to the other neglected tail, giving it a gentle squeeze. The soft, white rabbit tail beneath his palm was exceptionally adorable and well-behaved, its tip peeking out from between his fingers, tinged with a beautiful shade of red.

His warm breath fell on the rabbit tail as he leaned in to kiss its tip. “Are you satisfied now, junior sister?”

“Barely,” Sang Ying huffed.

As she lowered her head, her dragon horns accidentally brushed against her face. They were as smooth and cool as green jade. Sang Ying reached out to touch the beautiful dragon horns, finding them smooth and pleasantly cool.

They didn’t seem real, more like exquisite glasswork. Intrigued, she ran her fingertips from the tips of the horns down to their base, then firmly grasped the horns near his forehead.

The next second, she hissed in pain. “Xie Lingyu, why did you bite me again?”

Xie Lingyu stepped back, pulling her wrist away from the dragon horns on his forehead. His breathing was slightly unsteady, and his jade-like Adam’s apple bobbed.

“…Does it hurt?”

Sang Ying lowered her head to look and saw a clear bite mark. She pouted, “What do you think? If I bite you, you’ll know whether it hurts or not.”

As she spoke, she grabbed his hand, intending to bite him, but the young man took the opportunity to cup her face and pull her close, kissing her lips.

“You’ll have plenty of chances to bite me later, Junior Sister.”

Sang Ying didn’t know how to kiss when she was sober, let alone now that she was drunk. But compared to the shy avoidance she showed when sober, she was now more curious, blinking her moist eyes as she watched him kiss her.

In the end, Xie Lingyu couldn’t bear her intense gaze and reached out to cover her eyes, murmuring softly, “Baby, close your eyes.”

The long eyelashes beneath his palm trembled suddenly. The girl abruptly pushed him away, and he fell back against the headboard, caught off guard. Thinking she was angry, he was about to speak to soothe her when he heard her say, “Say it again.”

Xie Lingyu paused slightly, “Baby?”

Although he couldn’t see, his Spiritual Sense could feel that she seemed very happy now, her breathing even lightening.

If she had a tail, it would surely be wagging.

She reached out and poked his arm, “Say it again.”

…Earlier, he had only noticed that she seemed emotionally stirred by this term, becoming even more embarrassed when she heard it, so he used it to coax her. He hadn’t expected her to genuinely enjoy being called that.

Xie Lingyu pulled her back into his arms, pecking the corner of her lips, “Baby, didn’t you want to kiss me?”

Only then did Sang Ying remember the main task. Her little face turned serious as she placed her hands on his shoulders, sitting up and slowly leaning in. Her small mouth approached, planting a few kisses, but she lacked technique, merely brushing past his lips like a dragonfly skimming water.

She blinked in confusion, “Why… doesn’t it work?”

Xie Lingyu chuckled softly. His Dragon Tail wrapped around her waist as he mobilized the surrounding water attribute spiritual power. Water Lotuses bloomed in the air, their petals swaying gently.

“Because Junior Sister isn’t ready yet.”

He lightly covered one of the Water Lotuses with his knuckles, stroking the petals with just the right pressure. The surrounding fire element spiritual power was drawn in, attaching itself to the Water Lotus. The fire attribute spiritual power stained the lotus, dyeing the petals a shade of red.

The intense fire element spiritual power was drawn into her body, warm and exceptionally comfortable, but the dantian could only withstand a limited amount of spiritual power.

His technique for guiding qi into the body grew increasingly proficient. Before long, Sang Ying couldn’t bear the cultivation any longer, tightly gripping his arm, her eyes moist and the corners tinged with red.

Only when she bit his shoulder, her voice muffled and whimpering, did Xie Lingyu leisurely halt the cultivation.

The water attribute spiritual power temporarily subsided. He released the floating Water Lotus, taking a handkerchief to wipe the Lotus Dew from his fingers. “Now it should work.”

It took Sang Ying a moment to recover. After the cultivation, she felt lazy all over and somewhat tired.

She wanted to say she felt like sleeping, but then she remembered she had already promised him, so she decided to persevere a little longer.

But she was lazy, and the alcohol had left her muddled, so her actions were inevitably slow and clumsy.

She raised her hand, placed it on his shoulder, lifted herself slightly, and swayed unsteadily as she leaned in to kiss him—even less effective than the earlier dragonfly skimming water, her lips brushing past his and quickly moving away.

Seeing her like this, Xie Lingyu knew her lazy, cat-like nature had resurfaced. He sighed softly in resignation.

Sure enough, waiting for her to take the initiative was truly more difficult than ascending to the heavens.

If things continued like this, with him unable to kiss her properly, she would likely throw a tantrum later—whimpering a few times before flopping over to sleep on her own.

Xie Lingyu had no choice but to help her. He lifted her by the waist, pressing her lips against his own before letting go.

“…Mmm.”

Sang Ying was still in a daze, but this finally jolted her awake.

If you didn’t count the incomplete cultivation session in the Chamber of Commerce Building’s banquet hall, the two of them had only truly cultivated together once. The Golden Ring bore only a single Crimson Pattern.

As a result, she was still quite unaccustomed to cultivation. The beginning was always painful and difficult to endure.

Raised as a pampered young lady since childhood, she was already delicate by nature. Now, with the added influence of alcohol, she grew even more temperamental. She immediately regretted it, pushing against him as she whimpered, “Mmm, it hurts… no more kissing.”

Indeed, the books were right—if cultivation wasn’t practiced regularly, this would be the result: unfamiliarity and difficulty, making her even more resistant.

Once this matter was over, he would cultivate with her every day from now on, so she wouldn’t suffer like this again.

Xie Lingyu caught her slender wrists, gently pecking the corner of her lips. “Baby, it’ll be over soon.”

With such tender coaxing, he finally managed to calm her down. She nestled obediently in his embrace, letting him kiss her for a while longer.

He reached out and took one of her hands, intertwining their fingers.

His thumb brushed against hers like a butterfly alighting, gently holding before letting go again.

Once he sensed her tension easing, Xie Lingyu slowly deepened the kiss, his lips meeting hers.

One arm wrapped around her waist, while the fluttering butterfly settled on the back of his hand.

Warm knuckles slipped between her fingers, gradually tightening until no gap remained.

Fingers interlocked, completely engulfed.

Still in a haze, Sang Ying lowered her head and saw their tightly clasped hands.

His hand was large, hers small—pressed together like this, it felt strangely wonderful, almost unbelievable.

They were truly together now.

From a stray follower to a senior brother, and now her husband—from this moment on, their hearts would be inseparable, bound together forever.

She whispered softly, “Xie Lingyu, Xie Lingyu…”

Xie Lingyu gently kissed her cheek. “What is it?”

She reached out and grasped his wrist, her slender fingers wrapping around it, guiding his palm to rest on her slightly rounded belly.

She looked up at him, her eyes clear and bright, filled with wonder. “Xie Lingyu, look—it’s all gone.”

Xie Lingyu couldn’t see her expression, but he could feel her gaze.

His breath hitched, dark emotions swirling in his eyes. Unable to hold back, he cupped her small face and kissed her fiercely, one hand gripping her waist as he devoured her lips.

Instantly, a mist clouded Sang Ying’s eyes. Her thick lashes fluttered like butterfly wings, trembling uncontrollably, soon glistening with tears.

“Mmm…”

Two opposing elemental Spiritual Powers were drawn together, yet they remained hostile, as incompatible as fire and water. The intense fire element Spiritual Power was drawn in by the water attribute Spiritual Power.

After what felt like an eternity, when she cried out his name, he finally relented slightly. She collapsed weakly into his arms, trembling faintly.

Crying again—such a crybaby.

The young man gently kissed away the tears at the corner of her eyes, softly massaging her dantian to ease the discomfort from cultivation. His voice was low. “Will you dare speak carelessly like that again?”

Sang Ying sniffled. “I wasn’t speaking carelessly—I was telling the truth. Isn’t it all gone?”

The dragon tail coiled around her waist, its jade-green scales cool to the touch. Xie Lingyu guided her hand to rest on the dragon tail. “Are you sure, junior sister?”

Sang Ying was dazed, her fingertips brushing against a section of the empty dragon tail. Her wine-addled mind slowly processed what he was saying. “How is there still…”

She pouted, took a deep breath, and sucked in her stomach. “Alright, I’ll eat a little more then.”

Xie Lingyu nearly lost control again at her action, quickly restraining the little one and pulling her into his embrace. He kissed her fair cheek. “Not now.”

For now, Xie Lingyu had no intention of letting her finish. Even though she had already reached Foundation Establishment, her body was still weak, delicate, and afraid of pain. As for the matter of the second dragon tail, he would wait until she had adapted to cultivation.

“Oh. What’s this?”

Sang Ying responded, then suddenly raised her finger, which was coated with a layer of Lotus Dew from the Water Lotus.

Xie Lingyu caught the sweet, cloying scent of flowers, his Adam’s apple bobbing. After a pause, he said, “That’s yours.”

Sang Ying seemed to understand but not quite, letting out another “Oh” as she looked utterly obedient.

Xie Lingyu thought she would press further, but the next moment, she suddenly extended her Lotus Dew-coated hand toward him.

“Xie Lingyu, do you want to eat it?” she tilted her head and asked.

“…”

Xie Lingyu’s hand, which had been lightly supporting her waist, suddenly tightened.

The girl winced in pain, speaking somewhat helplessly, “I saw you swallowing, didn’t you want to eat it?”

Xie Lingyu lowered his eyelids, slowly exhaled, and loosened his grip. His cold voice softened. “Yes, I want to eat it.”

Sang Ying sighed in relief, bringing her hand to his lips and tapping them lightly. “Eat up. There’s more if it’s not enough. I just touched a lot.”

Xie Lingyu’s temple twitched as he struggled to restrain himself, taking a deep breath.

Her drunken demeanor was truly nothing like her usual self—so… unrestrained.

He lowered his gaze, took her hand, and gently licked clean the sweet Lotus Dew from her fingers.

The brief respite ended, and cultivation resumed.

Sang Ying leaned limply against his chest, completely forgetting her earlier bold declaration about actively cultivating. All she did was murmur and moan, enjoying the fruits of his labor as she passively absorbed a considerable amount of elemental spiritual power.

Neither of them noticed that another force, not of fire element spiritual power, had also merged into their bodies.

After what felt like an eternity, Sang Ying could no longer take in any more spiritual power. The effects of the wine surged, leaving her too drowsy to keep her eyes open, drifting in and out of consciousness.

“Xie Lingyu, I want to sleep…”

In her wine-induced haze, the young man’s low voice whispered by her ear, “Baby, can we kiss a little longer?”

It had been a long time since their last kiss. Over the past half-month, she had been busy every day, collapsing into bed exhausted as soon as she returned home, leaving no opportunity for intimacy.

He wanted to accompany her during the day, but she insisted firmly that he stay home to recuperate. So, these days, he could only hold her while she slept each night.

Sang Ying, coaxed by his endearment of “baby,” lost all sense of direction again, murmuring, “…Okay.”

And so, they cultivated through the entire night.

…

The next day, Sang Ying woke with a hangover, rubbing her aching head as she tried to sit up, only to collapse weakly back down.

She furrowed her brow. What had happened last night? Why did this feeling of being unable to get up feel so familiar?

The gauzy curtain was pulled aside a little, and the scent of hangover soup drifted over.

Sang Ying looked up and saw Xie Lingyu sitting by the bed, his jawline cold and pale, his profile sharply defined.

The moment she saw his face, a sharp pain shot through her head, and memories from last night flooded in like a tide. In just a few seconds, Sang Ying remembered everything.

“…”

What had she done?

Had she actually, actually sat in his lap, actively offered her tail for him to kiss? And even… even taken Lotus Dew and fed it to him herself?

“Junior Sister, drink…”

Xie Lingyu stirred the hangover soup with a spoon, letting it cool slightly before preparing to hand it to her. But then he saw the girl suddenly take out a Talisman and stick it on herself.

In the next second, the girl vanished without a trace.

In her place, a petite red fox appeared on the bed.

Under his watchful gaze, it lifted a small paw, pawed a few times, and buried its head in its fluffy fox tail.