Moonlight shone bright outside with few stars. Demon realm weather was fair, gentle evening breeze carrying flower scent came pleasantly.
Sang Ying blew on the wind and calmed down, patted her small face. What was she thinking? There were other things to do.
“How was your day out?” she asked.
Xie Lingyu’s voice was flat: “Have some leads. Tomorrow we go to Nanlibo in the demon realm.”
The demon realm had four demon kings of the four directions, east, west, south, north. Nanlibo was the territory of the South Demon King, with a reputation for gu sorcery. Whoever was struck by Nanlibo gu would be trapped there forever, so Nanlibo was also called the Land of Difficultto-Leave.
Sang Ying stood up: “What are we waiting for? We know where it is. Let’s go tonight.”
“Oh right, we can’t pilot swords. I’ll call a demon to take us. We can leave immediately.”
Sang Ying pulled out her glass mirror. Her wrist was gently pressed by cool fingers. “Junior sister, I haven’t finished meditating yet.”
Sang Ying blinked. “Oh.”
Three minutes later, a white horse laid out a red carpet before the sedan, roses in its mouth, bowing respectfully: “Most esteemed guests, please board.”
The sedan looked plain outside but was lavishly decorated inside, tea already brewed. After they boarded, the white horse deftly rolled up the red carpet and pulled the sedan smoothly without any bumping.
Sang Ying propped her chin, humming lightly: “Problem solved now, right?”
Xie Lingyu glanced at her flatly without speaking, leaning against the carriage wall with closed eyes.
The demon pulling them was minor-king level, and being a white horse excelled at speed. The journey to Nanlibo took only one night.
With nothing to do along the way, Sang Ying remembered the test again and took the initiative: “Hey, Xie Lingyu, the scent’s getting lighter. Let me hug for a bit longer. I don’t want to get exposed there with some weird gu planted on me…”
The youth still had his eyes shut, calm expression, but pulled her wrist. Sang Ying fell into his embrace.
Her heartbeat suddenly skipped, Sang Ying moved her eyes away, took a moment to calm herself, and decided to implement the test content.
Wait.
Wait wait wait.
…Nobody taught how to test!
Sang Ying was stuck, but coming this far, next time there might not be such a chance for ages. She gritted her teeth, started improvising, stood up, and heavily sat on his lap.
She once disguised as a man while conducting business, and a charming female merchant she partnered with was interested. That’s how she had sat on her lap to pour wine. Although she pushed the woman off saying that was extra, the procedure was the same.
Sang Ying’s spine went stiff as a board [1]rigid as a salted fish (xian yu, 鹹魚) (Metaphor), utterly stiff and lifeless, unable to relax jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3389876_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3389876_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, wooden as a post, carefully observing his reaction.
The youth opened his eyes, dark pupils without emotion, “junior sister.”
Sang Ying looked hopeful: “Mm?”
“You’re stepping on me.”
Sang Ying looked down and indeed she was stepping on him. She quickly got off his lap and sat to the side.
The youth looked away, imperceptibly pulling at his robe.
Sang Ying sat back in her spot, sneaking looks at him.
Seemed like he had no reaction?
Right, forgot the wine-feeding part!
Sang Ying poured a cup of tea, held it to his face: “Xie Lingyu, this cup is nice. Want to try?”
Her hand shook, pouring out half a cup of hot tea onto the youth.
Xie Lingyu: “…”
The youth’s expression was calm. He took the cup from her hands and set it down, pulled a handkerchief to wipe her hand dry, took out several books.
“If junior sister is bored, here are some books to pass time. Also, once we reach Nanlibo, junior sister should stay at the inn like today, no need to go out, so no need to scent-match again.”
No need to hug anymore.
Sang Ying felt both relieved and inexplicably hollow, gave a sound of acknowledgment, took the books and sat across from the youth.
She thought this was the most proper decision, if she were him, she’d do the same. After all, she was truly too weak, not even Foundation Establishment, she’d just be a burden going along to rescue people.
She reported the situation to Xiaxia Cave Master.
Xiaxia Cave Master: 【What? A young beautiful wife sat on his lap feeding wine and zero reaction? That’s definitely it, he can’t.】
【Married three years without sleeping together, I said so, must be something wrong. He’s afraid you’ll find out, that’s why he doesn’t dare sleep together.】
Sang Ying confused: 【Why would he fear I’d find out?】
【Because of inferiority, of course. Males with erectile dysfunction all fear others finding out, afraid of being laughed at. Many blow up when called out.】
Sang Ying quietly looked at the youth across from her with closed eyes, pressed her lips…She wouldn’t laugh at him. Knowing each other this long, still wouldn’t tell her?
Turning the thought around, she hadn’t told him about the merchant association either. Suddenly understood.
He was always proud, wouldn’t admit injuries. That he as Heaven Ranking first place demon cultivator couldn’t was something he’d definitely never tell.
Sang Ying: 【No cure for it?】
【Actually there is. Medical arts are advanced now, cure cases aren’t rare in cultivation world. I have physician cultivator friends, I’ll ask around for you later.】
Arriving at Nanlibo inn, dismounting, the white horse held a rose, hooves offering cards: “Honored guests, these are my name cards. Feel free to contact me next time you need, old customers get twenty percent off!”
Sang Ying reached to take them when she noticed a small note tucked in the cards with very familiar sloppy handwriting.
【Coo coo, coo coo coo】
Sang Ying froze. When she looked up again, the white horse had vanished from sight.
Xie Lingyu looked over: “Problem?”
Sang Ying naturally pocketed the cards: “Nothing. Let’s go.”
Like yesterday, Xie Lingyu set barriers outside the room then left. Sang Ying was alone.
Two quarters later, bird cooing came from outside the window.
Sang Ying walked to the window and opened it. At a glance, she saw a red figure lounging on a branch, a youth in red robes, carefree and without proper form.
Meeting her gaze, he raised an eyebrow and smiled playfully: “Yo, quite a cute girl.”
Sang Ying closed the window.
“Aiii ancestor, I’m wrong! Don’t close don’t close, I have something to tell you.”
Sang Ying reopened the window, leaning on the sill with chin propped: “Second Senior Brother, did you escape from being sold to the black-heart mines for three years before finally getting out?”
Xiao Lingzhou held back the urge to tug her braids: “Can’t junior sister hope for some good on me?”
Sang Ying: “Why disappear for three years like it’s nothing? All I could figure was you got sold.”
Three years ago after she and Xie Lingyu married, Big Senior Brother closed for breakthrough and hasn’t emerged. Second Senior Brother left a text message then vanished for three years without contact.
Sang Ying wondered: “Second Senior Brother, what did you want to tell me? Why avoid Xie Lingyu specifically… Why not tell him you’re back?”
The youth before her was silent two seconds, looked at her then away, lips slightly pressed.
Sang Ying couldn’t read his eyes, but after three years apart, she felt Xiao Lingzhou had changed greatly.
At first glance still that carefree look, yet carried many secrets. Like now, she didn’t know where he’d been these three years or why he’d appeared in the demon realm.
Xiao Lingzhou paused: “Little Ying…do you trust your brother?”
Sang Ying froze, suddenly becoming cautious. She looked around, no one, then let out a breath, speaking seriously: “You should leave. I didn’t see you today. Here, take five hundred spirit stones for the road.” She took out currency for escape.
Xiao Lingzhou: “…”
He didn’t know whether to be angry or laugh: “I look that much like a criminal to you?”
Sang Ying: “The look’s gone now.”
“If not crime, then what?” Sang Ying pulled the five hundred spirit stones back.
“I wanted to say…” Xiao Lingzhou opened his mouth, but meeting the girl’s smiling, crystalline eyes, the words suddenly changed direction.
“I know where those captured female cultivators are. Can take you there.”
Sang Ying blinked, smiling: “Haven’t seen you in three years—Big Senior Brother’s carved out a path in the demon realm?”
She leaned on the window sill, resting her chin: “But I promised Xie Lingyu I can’t go out. Need to wait for him here. And he set barriers, I can’t get out anyway.”
Xiao Lingzhou’s expression soured hearing that name: “If he’s going on dates with other female cultivators, you’re just okay with it?”
“The captives are all young beauties, major families’ daughters, plus the Hedonism Sect…”
A talisman dissolved the barrier like water. The girl jumped from the window: “Date or not, doesn’t matter to me. Got no feeling about it. He can do what he wants, none of my business. Mainly I’m interested in the Hedonism Sect.”
She looked up: “Second Senior Brother, when do we leave?”
Xiao Lingzhou: “…”
Watching her lively expression, he couldn’t help but laugh, instinctively raising his hand like before to mess her hair.
Sang Ying *slapped* a talisman on him, dodging while he was frozen: “I knew you’d ambush. I spent half an hour on this hair. I’d rather lose my head than mess the style!”
With Sang Ying’s power, the talisman held his arm maybe a second before falling.
Xiao Lingzhou caught the spent talisman, rolled it up into his sleeve, voice soft: “junior sister’s talismans have gotten scary. First meeting and I didn’t catch a hint.”
Sang Ying: “You’ve gotten so poor you’re collecting trash?”
Xiao Lingzhou irritated: “This is called destroying evidence, understand? When you’re out here, the game’s complicated. Watch and learn.”
Sang Ying nodded yes yes yes, thinking mentally that if Xie Lingyu found out, she’d blame it all on Xiao Lingzhou, dump the pot on his head.
Inside Nanlibo, snake and insect infested. Xiao Lingzhou knew her weak frame couldn’t endure, so handed her insect-repellent sachet to wear, then summoned a small dog demon to pull the carriage, letting her sit inside.
Xiao Lingzhou pulled out oil-paper wrapped, “Bought this on the way, special local sweet cakes. Eat secretly, don’t tell…” He paused, “This local pear juice is nice though. Try it.”
Sang Ying chewed the still-warm sweet cake: “Second Senior Brother, what’s going on with those kidnapped female cultivators? Why did the demon king take them?”
“Right junior sister, you figured it out. This story’s simple too. A month ago, the North Demon King had an accident while traveling, got injured and unconscious.”
Sang Ying: “Then?”
“Then the demon king discovered a few days ago he was pregnant.”
“Oh.”
It was just a story about finding the child’s father. Sang Ying replied without fluctuation. Two seconds later suddenly she reacted, something was wrong. She jerked her small face up.
“Wait, isn’t the North Demon King male?!”
References[+]