Sang Ying didn’t know how long had passed before she woke again. Faint daylight filtered through the bed curtains. Her lashes trembled as she opened her eyes and saw the youth sitting at the edge of the bed.
Sensing movement, he looked over, his expression as calm and composed as ever, though his eyes seemed unusually dark.
Sang Ying tilted her head, not avoiding his gaze, and, propping herself up against the headboard, spoke softly. “Little senior brother, how long have I been asleep?”
The youth stayed silent for a few seconds, not answering her question, instead asking one of his own: “Why has junior sister suddenly started calling me senior brother?”
Sang Ying leaned against her pillow, her small face pale, coughing lightly. “Isn’t that how it should have always been? Hasn’t senior brother always called me that? I was young and thoughtless before, I hope senior brother won’t hold it against me.”
A faint scent of blood lingered in the air. Sang Ying frowned slightly, glancing over the youth, but found no trace of blood on him.
While drifting in and out of consciousness, she vaguely remembered drinking something, its taste similar to the medicine she usually drank, that same peculiar sweetness.
If what the book described was accurate, the source of that peculiar sweetness could only be Xie Lingyu’s blood.
She’d drunk quite a lot of it, if he’d cut himself for it, the wound likely hadn’t healed yet.
Sang Ying pressed her lips together. “Little senior brother, I’m very thirsty. Could you pour me some tea?”
The youth got up to fetch water, returned, and parted the bed curtain to hand it to her.
Sang Ying watched him carefully as she took the cup, her pinky finger accidentally catching his sleeve. In that brief moment his sleeve shifted, she caught sight of white gauze wrapped around his wrist bone.
In that instant, a whirlwind of emotions surged through her.
First, guilt, confirming that everything really had happened. Second, frustration at Xie Lingyu, how could he be so foolish, letting himself be treated this way without a shred of resistance, all because of some debt of gratitude from years ago that he still hadn’t let go of even now.
The air fell quiet, the atmosphere between them growing stiff and cold without either of them realizing, neither saying a word.
In the end, it was Sang Ying who moved first, gripping her teacup tight, biting her lip, and lifting her eyes to meet his dark gaze.
“Little senior brother, let’s—” get a divorce.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
A knock at the door cut off her words, followed by a gentle female voice. “Sword Sovereign Xie, the Immortal Alliance needs you for something.”
The voice sounded somewhat familiar, but before Sang Ying could place it, the youth at her bedside had already stood, his words coming faster than usual. “Whatever it is, junior sister, we’ll talk when I get back.”
Without waiting for Sang Ying to respond, he pushed the door open and stepped out.
Sang Ying blinked, parting the bed curtain to look toward the door, and just before the youth closed it behind him, she caught a glimpse of that gentle, pure face—Shen Ying.
No wonder he couldn’t even wait to hear her out, he was rushing off to see his white moonlight.
Her chest ached. Sang Ying let the curtain fall and lay back against her pillow, closing her eyes to sleep. After a long while, still unable to fall asleep, she pulled out her glass mirror instead.
It turned out she’d been asleep for several days already. In that time, the cultivation world’s missing-and-kidnapped female cultivators case had been fully resolved, cleared of any connection to Yunshui Merchant Association, which had simply been exploited by the real culprits, its name fully restored.
The matter involved the demon realm, and for now, the demon realm and Immortal Alliance were still negotiating over it. The demon realm’s position was that this was the work of demon cultivators and had nothing to do with demons as a whole, while the Immortal Alliance argued the demon realm should still bear some responsibility and compensate for the losses. Neither side was backing down.
Sang Ying had already arranged everything in advance. During the days she’d been unconscious, Lengmian, Jingxi, and the branch’s own Laba had handled everything in an orderly fashion, releasing a full timeline of events and an apology letter the moment things happened, assuring all customers there’d be no further oversights and that things would only improve from here.
The two merchant associations that had originally tried to kick Yunshui while it was down had just been released by the Immortal Alliance, cleared of suspicion, but before they could even celebrate, they found themselves branded as the ones who’d kicked a competitor while it was down and framed them, suffering endlessly for it.
Sang Ying only skimmed past all this. What she truly cared about was the one merchant association among the four major ones that hadn’t waded into this whole mess at all—Jinxiu.
…Could they really be innocent and clean?
Sang Ying rubbed her temple. To be honest, she’d always felt a strange sense of déjà vu about Jinxiu, compared to Yunshui, it was almost like looking in a mirror.
The same innovation of new sales methods through the spirit network, the same convenient branch delivery services everywhere, the same direct-to-consumer contracts with source suppliers… whenever she thought up something new, Jinxiu always seemed to think of it too.
She’d once wondered if someone close to her was leaking information, but every time, the new sales model existed only in her own head, told to no one at all.
And yet, before her new model even launched, Jinxiu would roll out something remarkably similar, sometimes even better, having already solved loopholes she herself hadn’t considered.
When Yunshui first broke into the spirit-network sales market, it had captured fifty percent of the market share by the very next year. That success had given Sang Ying great confidence, believing she could conquer the entire market within three years, barely giving old-guard associations like Wantong and Xingxiao a second thought.
But then, in the third year, Jinxiu had come out of nowhere and caught her completely off guard.
And strangely enough, rather than trying to dominate the market alone, Jinxiu had actively supported these old-guard associations instead, forming mutually beneficial partnerships with them, and within just a single year had risen to become one of the four major merchant associations.
Her mind foggy and confused, Sang Ying put away her glass mirror, deciding not to dwell on it further, and closed her eyes to sleep again.
As Xie Lingyu walked out of the room, his mind was still replaying the girl’s expression from moments ago, her gaze had been serious, clearly bracing herself to say something important to him.
But for the first time in his life, he’d instinctively chosen to run from it.
“Sword Sovereign Xie, how is your wife’s condition?”
An unfamiliar female cultivator’s voice sounded beside him.
Xie Lingyu didn’t react, continuing on toward the Immortal Alliance’s temporary outpost in the demon realm. The female cultivator spoke again. “Sword Sovereign Xie, I specialize in healing and purification techniques at Jade Pool. Demonic qi in the body can leave lingering damage if untreated, why not let me examine your wife?”
This time Xie Lingyu reacted, glancing over at the woman, noticing the Jade Pool saint maiden’s insignia on her, and finally spoke. “Alright. Then I’ll trouble the immortal for her help.”
Shen Ying smiled. “I heard your wife fell to demonic possession, and you’ve stayed by her side the whole time, refusing to let anyone visit her. Quite the devoted couple, aren’t you.”
Xie Lingyu didn’t respond, his lashes lowering slightly to hide the emotion in his eyes.
By the time Sang Ying woke again, it was already night. She turned her head, but didn’t see Xie Lingyu, instead, someone else sat at her bedside.
—Shen Ying.
Sang Ying blinked, startled.
Seeing her awake, Shen Ying smiled. “Miss Sang, you’re awake. Do you still remember me? We met once, two years ago.”
Of course Sang Ying remembered her, but she had no idea why she’d be here now.
Had she come specifically to see her, wanting to say something? Was she here to stake her claim, urging her to divorce Xie Lingyu? But Sang Ying had already planned to do exactly that, there was no need to rush her about it.
While her muddled mind spun through wild thoughts, Shen Ying had already spoken again, smiling gently. “It’s understandable if you don’t remember. Miss Sang, I’ve come to examine your body. If any lingering demonic qi remains hidden in your meridians without being fully cleared, that wouldn’t be good.”
Shen Ying took her hand, palm pressed to palm, guiding her gently. “Miss Sang, try circulating a thread of spiritual power through your meridians.”
…So she really had come to examine her. Sang Ying felt a flicker of shame, lowering her eyes and doing as she was told.
A soft glow bloomed in her palm, and Sang Ying felt a gentle stream of spiritual power flow through her meridians, light as a breeze, warm and soft.
After a moment, Shen Ying withdrew her power and released her hand. Sang Ying felt her exhausted body grow considerably lighter, her small face no longer so pale. Jade Pool’s healing arts truly were remarkable.
Sang Ying lowered her head. “Thank you.”
“It was nothing at all. There’s no need to thank me, Miss Sang.”
Sang Ying pressed her lips together, wanting to ask about her and Xie Lingyu, but the moment she looked up and met Shen Ying’s gentle gaze, she suddenly froze.
A strangely familiar sensation crept into her mind, resonating with something deep in her soul, making her scalp prickle. Sang Ying murmured, dazed: “Have I… met you somewhere before?”
Shen Ying only smiled. “Has Miss Sang remembered something? We met outside that ancient secret realm two years ago. You were even younger then…”
“There now, healing arts tend to leave one drowsy afterward. Miss Sang should rest.”
Sang Ying rubbed her heavy head. “Mm.”
Shen Ying left the room, closing the door, then turned to look at the cool, detached youth leaning against a pillar in the corridor.
“Sword Sovereign Xie clearly cares so much for Miss Sang, why stand out here instead of going in?”
The youth didn’t respond, only saying flatly: “My thanks, immortal. Luoqing.”
The sword Luoqing lifted a pouch of spirit stones, flying over to Shen Ying.
Shen Ying glanced at it and, without standing on ceremony, took the pouch, weighing it in her hand with a smile. “Quite generous of you, Sword Sovereign. Although I suppose this is your own private savings?”
The sword spirit Luoqing stiffened. “Shh, shh!”
“Keep your voice down. My boss has good reason to keep private savings, okay! Look, without money, how’s he supposed to buy medicine and pills to nourish his wife’s body, or secretly buy her gifts during holidays and pretend they’re from the household maids? It’s not easy, you know!”
Shen Ying laughed. “That does sound difficult.”
She glanced over at the cool, composed youth resting with his eyes closed nearby. “Sword Sovereign Xie, could you have your little sword spirit Luoqing—Luoqing, was it?, take a short break?”
Luoqing protested. “Huh? What is it that I can’t—”
Xie Lingyu opened his eyes flatly. “Speak.”
Shen Ying said, “I’ve examined Miss Sang’s body thoroughly. I found no trace of lingering demonic qi, but I did discover something else.”
“Miss Sang has been drinking a medicine using dragon blood as its base for years now. Her body has been nourished by dragon blood, and it truly has improved significantly. But this isn’t without its drawbacks, dragon blood is addictive. Once dependent on it, it becomes nearly impossible to quit, like being caught under a curse.”
“She can no longer do without it now.”
Because of Xie Lingyu’s promise to discuss things once he returned, Sang Ying had kept waiting, forcing herself to stay awake despite her drowsiness.
But deep into the night, the youth still hadn’t returned. Unable to hold out any longer, she’d hugged her pillow and drifted into a heavy sleep.
Once she was asleep, the bedroom door opened.
The pillow in her arms was pulled away, tossed carelessly into the corner of the bed.
The youth gathered the girl into his embrace, letting her be completely enveloped in his scent, looking down as she unconsciously nuzzled against his chest in her sleep, like some innocent little creature unaware of what it was doing.
His dragon tail slowly tightened around her, in a gesture of complete possession, coiling tighter and tighter still.