Chapter 60

Upon hearing Snake Princess’s report, Yi Heng fell into a deep silence.
Snake Princess grew uneasy. It wasn’t her fault, she had only reported the truth, but as she watched the dark energy swirling in Yi Heng’s pitch-black eyes, a chill ran down her spine.
Just as she thought she might suffer because of that girl named Su Ling, and that the Demon Lord might take his anger out on her, Yi Heng suddenly curled his lips into a smile, his dark eyes instantly filling with a sinister aura. "I understand. You may leave."
Snake Princess held her breath, quickly bowed, turned, and left without daring to say another word.
Once she was gone, the spacious hall was empty except for him.
Yi Heng lowered his gaze, looking at his moon-white robe. His slender fingers lightly flicked away a speck of dust on the garment, and in the next moment, his figure vanished from the spot.
He had thought that when he left that day, and she threw herself into his arms, it was a clear declaration of their feelings. So, he had been even more cautious, wanting to create an environment she would love.
Now, it seemed he might have been overthinking it?
Crack, an invisible barrier seemed to shatter at that moment. All the gloom surged forth, enveloping Yi Heng tightly, leaving only darkness.
If that was the case, there was no need for him to tread so carefully anymore.
Let things take their natural course.
Just follow his heart.
Hadn’t he sworn as much when he first fell into the demonic path?
The way of demons was to act according to one’s heart.
There was truly no need for him to restrain himself for anyone.

Su Ling was enjoying hotpot and drinking the wine she had brewed herself.
Last year, when the peach blossoms were in full bloom, Su Ling had a sudden inspiration to try brewing peach blossom wine. Coincidentally, the peach tree grew in the courtyard of the residence she had later chosen. As she cultivated daily, the surrounding plants benefited greatly, and the peach blossoms carried a trace of spiritual energy.
Thus, using them to brew wine naturally elevated the flavor to another level.
Since she hadn’t brewed much, only the most elite customers could purchase a little, and most of it was gifted to the imperial palace. The remainder, Su Ling kept for herself to drink.
Meng Jin was keeping her company.
He no longer dealt with mundane matters daily, but staying in one place for two years was still a trial for him. So, he kept trying to persuade Su Ling to go out and explore.
"As the saying goes, 'Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles.' Don't you ever get tired of staying in this little place all day?"
"Not at all." Su Ling took a sip of the wine, sweet and fragrant, with just a hint of alcohol, something the female patrons particularly enjoyed.
She then took a bite of the thinly sliced meat from the spicy red oil hotpot, dipped in a bit of sauce, savoring the deliciousness without a hint of discomfort.
This wasn’t the first time Meng Jin had failed to persuade her, so he wasn’t the least bit annoyed. He changed the subject: "I heard that the Southern Kingdom is selecting imperial consorts. Their consorts are chosen from among commoners, anyone who catches the prince’s eye is eligible, and the fewer family ties to hold them back, the better. It’s become quite the spectacle. Would you like to go and see?"
The Southern Kingdom’s royal family had learned from past mistakes. In earlier times, the emperor’s maternal relatives had grown too powerful, nearly causing a change in the dynasty. To prevent this, they established a rule that the women chosen for the princes must not come from influential families, with commoners given priority.
When this method was first introduced, it infuriated the noble families. But with the imperial power centralized at the time, their opposition was futile. Decades later, it had proven to be quite effective.
Although it reduced ties with the nobility, it also prevented the princes from forming cliques for personal gain.
Of course, with the Southern Kingdom currently at the peak of its power, no drawbacks had yet emerged.
Now, the selection of consorts for the princes had become a national event. Any family with a daughter of suitable age and humble origins would try their luck.
Su Ling was somewhat intrigued by this but quickly shook her head. "I don’t want to go. It’s too tiring."
"You don’t have to walk, we can take a carriage," Meng Jin retorted, rolling his eyes.
Su Ling shook her head again. "Even riding in a carriage is exhausting. Do you think I’ve never been in one before?"
Meng Jin: "…"
He gritted his teeth in frustration, all scholarly refinement gone. "Then tell me, what isn’t tiring to you?"
"This kind of life is just fine, not tiring at all." Su Ling curved her lips into a smile and raised her glass to him. Noticing Meng Jin was on the verge of exploding with anger, she finally said, "Hey, don’t be mad. I really don’t need your protection. You should tell that other personality of yours to back off."
"…He’s even more stubborn and old-fashioned than I am!" Meng Jin fumed.
Even if he hadn’t understood at first, after two years, he had pieced things together. But he had a good mindset, worried, yet unbothered.
Su Ling rubbed her nose and fell silent.
She was genuinely too lazy to leave and go somewhere else. Being in an unfamiliar place made her feel insecure, as if she could get lost at any moment.
Even though she was now a cultivator, she still retained the mindset and habits of an ordinary mortal.
Meng Jin gave up in disappointment once again. The two of them drank and ate hotpot in silence, finishing an entire jar of spirit wine.
By now, the sky had darkened, and the sound of the night watchman’s clapper seemed to echo from outside.
Su Ling, feeling dizzy, turned around and staggered away, her steps alternating between light and heavy.
Suddenly, her waist tightened as if she had bumped into someone’s embrace. Then, her waist tightened again. Su Ling looked up and saw a familiar face, except the eyes were open, which was somewhat eerie.
However, with the alcohol clouding her mind, Su Ling didn’t have time to scream before she calmed down. Blinking, she said, "Master?"
"Mm," Yi Heng replied softly, holding her and nodding.
Just as Su Ling was about to express her joy, Yi Heng asked her, "Come with me?"
"Okay," Su Ling obediently nodded.
A trace of coldness finally faded from Yi Heng’s expression as he wrapped his arm around her and turned to leave, not even sparing a glance at the equally drunk and disoriented Meng Jin, who was still trying to find his way.

When Su Ling woke up, she was lying on a soft, comfortable bed, so comfortable that she felt like rolling around on it.
No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than she actually rolled over twice.
Suddenly, she sensed someone’s gaze on her.
She froze for a moment, then looked up to see Yi Heng, still dressed in the moon-white robe she remembered, with a silver belt tied around his waist, sitting on the edge of the bed and watching her.
The only difference was that this time, he faced her with his eyes open. His eerily dark pupils, at first glance, were frightening.
After a brief moment of shock, Su Ling quickly composed herself. After all, this was someone she had spent a long time with, and she was no longer simply afraid.
"Master, you’re back?!" Su Ling exclaimed joyfully, sitting up.
Yi Heng gave a faint nod.
Su Ling, puzzled for a moment, rubbed her eyes to clear her head and looked at Yi Heng again, noticing something off. This Yi Heng was cold, expressionless, and exuded an icy aura, as if anyone who got too close would freeze solid.
A flicker of fear passed through her, and she instinctively retreated a little. Seeing the chill around Yi Heng intensify, she quickly whispered, "Master? Is it really you?"
Yi Heng narrowed his eyes. "Has two years apart made you forget your Master?"
His voice carried a dangerous undertone. The eyes that had always been closed in her presence were now open, their pitch-black, pupil-less depths unsettling. Yet, he wanted her to understand that even if she was afraid, he would never let her leave.
In this lifetime, she could only be with him!
His voice, though lacking the warmth she remembered, was still the same, only now, it felt devoid of human vitality.
Su Ling scrutinized him carefully. He looked exactly the same as he had two years ago, the only difference being his demeanor, colder and thinner, though his complexion seemed slightly healthier, likely because his injuries had healed.
It was Yi Heng, without a doubt.
She just didn’t understand why he had changed so much.
Still, Su Ling didn’t think there was anything about her worth someone impersonating Yi Heng to gain her trust. With her laid-back attitude and mediocre skills, it would be easier to just take what they wanted by force.
Once she confirmed it was him, Su Ling’s expression immediately shifted. A bright smile spread across her face as she threw herself at Yi Heng. After all, it wasn’t the first time she had done this. Though she felt a bit shy, after two years apart, her longing far outweighed any embarrassment.
"Master! You’ve finally come!"
Yi Heng, who had been trying hard to maintain a cold expression with his chin slightly raised, was once again caught off guard.
His pitch-black eyes were filled with astonishment. He had never expected Su Ling to react this way upon seeing him. He thought she would be upset that he had abducted her, or at the very least, blame him for not bringing Meng Jin along.
But now, this
He lowered his head, his expression growing complicated for a moment. Yet, his arms instinctively held the person in his embrace to prevent her from falling. In a low voice, he asked, "You want me to come?"
Su Ling nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Of course, I do. It's been two years. I thought you had forgotten about me, Master."
"No." Yi Heng's reply was resolute.
Over the past two years, he had constantly thought about their time together in the bamboo hut, wondering when she would return to his side. However, his surroundings were far from safe. Showing too much concern for Su Ling, who lacked the ability to protect herself, would only bring trouble.
Su Ling was easily satisfied. Nestled in his arms, she smiled brightly and asked, "Master, did you miss me?"
Yi Heng's eyelashes trembled slightly, and the cold expression he had been maintaining finally melted away. A soft tenderness softened the edges of his features as he nodded gently. "Mm."
That low, almost shy response made Su Ling laugh with pure delight as she hugged him tightly.
Yi Heng, caught off guard by how things had unfolded, felt a momentary sense of helplessness. Yet, his hands, acting on their own accord, wrapped around her slender waist. The corners of his lips, which had been pressed into a straight line, curved upward on their own, and his expression gradually returned to its usual calm.
The two of them didn't say much, simply holding each other in a quiet embrace, savoring the tranquility of the moment.
It wasn't until Su Ling snapped out of her reverie that she asked curiously, "Master, where is this?"
The arm holding her stiffened slightly. Yi Heng's voice carried a hint of guilt and stubbornness as he leaned close to her ear and whispered, "This is a paradise I prepared just for you. Stay here forever, alright?"
Su Ling blinked, not fully grasping the meaning behind his words. With a soft smile, she nodded and said, "Sure, but only if it meets my expectations."
"It definitely will," Yi Heng replied earnestly.
As long as you stay here, I can get you anything you want.