Chapter 144

Ling Qingxiao blinked.
Luo Han shook her bound wrist with a crisp clink of the chain. “Exactly how do you expect me to bathe like this?”
The realization struck him at last. He turned his gaze away, clearing his throat awkwardly. Stepping forward, he unfastened the bracelet from her wrist without daring another glance, then quickly turned and walked away.
He retreated to the outer hall and sealed off his senses completely, sitting to resume his work. Yet something felt off today. No matter how he stared at the text, he couldn’t seem to focus.
He had blocked off his divine perception completely, he wasn’t peeking but still, he couldn’t shake the sense of rustling from the inner room. After struggling through a few paragraphs, Ling Qingxiao closed the scroll. He had to clear his head.
Outside, the night breeze swept through the Jade Purity Palace. The cool wind washed over him, and only after some time did that strange restlessness finally begin to dissipate.
He stared at the shimmering starlight spilling from the star trees and couldn’t help but think, the bath in the Jade Purity Palace was his own; fed directly by the world’s purest spirit springs, it was where he usually went to meditate and cool his inner fire. And now, Luo Han was in there.
Ling Qingxiao forcibly shut the thought down. No. His age, his rank, his self-discipline, none of it allowed for such disgraceful behavior. He stood there for a long time until at last, a faint sound came from within.
She had finished. For the first time, Ling Qingxiao found himself caught in an awkward position, not entering would make him seem cold, but entering now…a young woman, fresh from bathing, it would be extremely improper.
As he hesitated, the door creaked open behind him. Luo Han stood at the threshold, hair unbound, robe light and airy, a gentle mist of water clinging to her skin. She held the door and looked at him with faint surprise. “Why are you standing here?”
Ling Qingxiao turned just enough to glance at her before quickly averting his gaze. His eyes fixed just above her brow. “It was stifling inside. I came out for air.”
“Mm.” Luo Han didn’t buy it. She crossed her arms. “How long do you plan to stay? Are you going to watch me sleep too?”
Ling Qingxiao was flustered. He turned his head aside. “If you’re tired, go rest. I’ll return tomorrow.”
Luo Han gave a half-hearted reply and turned to close the door. But before she could, Ling Qingxiao raised a hand to stop her.
“Wait. Your hair is still wet.”
Luo Han glanced at the damp strands over her shoulders. “It’ll dry on its own. I’m not mortal, I won’t get sick.”
“That’s not the point.” Ling Qingxiao looked genuinely troubled, like a fussy elder. “Even with a divine body, constant neglect allows cold energy to accumulate. It’ll hinder your cultivation. Especially now, while you’re still recovering.”
Luo Han raised a brow, then gave him a teasing smile. “All right. But...my comb is in my storage ring.”
Ling Qingxiao didn’t even blink. “There’s a full set on the dressing table. I had the servants prepare it. If anything’s missing, I’ll have them send more.”
Even combs and hair ornaments? Luo Han blinked, caught off guard. Had he been planning to lock her up ever since last night? Everything was so prepared.
Not giving up, she tried another route. “But I’m not used to those.”
No matter how exquisite something was, one line, ‘I’m not used to it’ could render it useless.
She thought she had him cornered. But to her surprise, Ling Qingxiao said, “If you’re not used to them...then let me help.”
He gently pulled her to sit before the mirror, picked up a jade comb from the table, and slowly began to comb through her hair. His hands were careful, his motions smooth, not once did he tug. As if afraid to cause the slightest pain, he treated her long black hair as though it were the most precious thing in the world.
From the mirror, Luo Han watched his every movement and asked, “You’d rather waste an entire day catering to me than just give back the ring?”
Ling Qingxiao gently dried and smoothed the black silk of her hair, his voice tinged with a smile. “If I could serve you for a lifetime, I’d consider myself fortunate.”
The palace was quiet and deep, its windows left slightly ajar. A gentle breeze drifted through the doors, carrying the lingering sweetness of night. Ling Qingxiao soon finished drying her hair, each strand falling like a cascade from his palm, sleek and neat, flowing down her back almost to the floor.
After tidying the last lock, he brushed her crown lightly with his palm and said, “It’s late. Rest well. Good night.”
With that, he stepped back and disappeared into the shadows of the hall. Luo Han sat alone in the hushed room, unmoving for a long time.
—
Just as she expected, the next morning, Ling Qingxiao arrived not long after she woke. He accompanied her through breakfast, then brought her to the front hall of the Jade Purity Palace. While he attended court, he had Luo Han remain in the side chamber, painting and writing to pass the time. Occasionally, he would stop by to review her progress. Luo Han began to suspect this was revenge in disguise.
Ever since the chain had been removed, neither of them had mentioned it again. But in truth, the chain had never bound her, Ling Qingxiao had turned himself into the shackle. They dined together, moved together, spent the day side by side. He even seemed intent on cultivating for her a proper, healthy work schedule just so they could review memorials together.
Back when she first arrived in the Immortal Realm, he forced her to study. Now, he was forcing her to work.
The Celestial Emperor’s workload was no joke. Luo Han was dragged along into overtime day after day, she was practically in tears. No, she thought. I have to get my storage ring and the Bodhi root back. I can’t live like this.
—
By evening, Luo Han was slouched over a desk doodling. She turned her head only to see Ling Qingxiao seated by the window, calmly and elegantly reviewing reports. She glanced down at her own childish scrawls, then at his neatly written memorials in flawless semi-cursive script...and felt a rare twinge of shame.
While she slept, he reviewed documents. While she played on her tablet, he reviewed documents. When she was doing absolutely nothing he was still reviewing documents. Truly, the Six Realms’ model workaholic.
Sensing her stare, Ling Qingxiao set down his brush and asked, “Are you hungry? Let’s eat.”
Luo Han nodded. As she stood, she muttered without much thought, “The weather’s been cold lately, it makes me crave some spirit wine.”
Ling Qingxiao glanced at her, then said to the attendants, “Bring the Jade Chalice Brew.”
Once the dishes were served, the maids left automatically without being told. Ling Qingxiao picked up the wine flask and poured two cups himself. “Jade Chalice Brew is made with a hundred and eight spiritual herbs. It nourishes the body and sharpens cultivation. But it has a strong after-effect, don’t drink too much.”
Luo Han picked up her cup and noticed he wasn’t drinking. “You’re not joining?”
“I still have work later.”
“You always have work,” she scoffed. “Twelve months a year, twelve hours a day, when don’t you have court matters? Can’t you relax for one normal evening?”
Ling Qingxiao looked at her and smiled. “All right.”
He raised the cup and drank it in one motion. Luo Han immediately topped off his glass. Ling Qingxiao drank smoothly and silently. His complexion remained fair, his expression calm. Even after several cups, he looked as pristine as ever. If Luo Han hadn’t poured the wine herself, she would’ve suspected he was drinking water.
“Your tolerance seems extraordinary,” she tested.
“It is,” he replied evenly.
After drinking, his eyes turned even clearer, dark and crystalline like obsidian, yet with a warm gleam of indulgence. He gazed at her with a quiet smile.
Luo Han had heard that dragons had strong alcohol tolerance. Now she realized it was beyond what she’d imagined. She had originally planned to get him drunk. But after just a few sips, it was she who started to feel dizzy.
Her head spun in waves. She braced herself on the table, the whole world soft and unsteady. Ling Qingxiao gave a helpless sigh. “I warned you, the aftertaste’s strong, but you wouldn’t listen. Don’t move, rest well tonight. You’ll be fine by morning.”
Fortunately, the wine was high-quality. Though potent, it left no lingering pain or discomfort. A good night’s sleep would not only recover her body, but also nourish her spirit.
Dinner was clearly over. Ling Qingxiao picked her up and carried her to bed. Her cheeks were tinged a delicate red. Just as she touched the bedding, something seemed to occur to her. She tried to get up again.
Ling Qingxiao held her down with a sigh. “What now?”
“I need a bath.”
“You’re drunk.”
“No, I must bathe before bed.”
For cultivators, bathing wasn’t for cleanliness but rather a ritual of relaxation. Even in her state, Luo Han stubbornly insisted. She swayed with every step but refused to yield.
Seeing she wouldn’t be reasoned with, Ling Qingxiao had no choice but to carry her to the bath.
—
The “bath” wasn’t just any bath, it was an entirely separate grand palace.
This was Ling Qingxiao’s private bathing chamber. A massive pool, carved into the floor, was filled with the world’s purest spiritual spring water. The surroundings were paved with cold jade, elegant and luxurious. Beyond the water, there were sitting areas, bedding, study desks, a full suite.
Ling Qingxiao set her down on a low bench beside the pool. “Are you still coherent? I can call for a maid.”
“No need. I’m fine.” Luo Han could barely stand, but her pride was unwavering. “Only children need help with baths. I’ve been independent for a long time.”
Fine.
Ling Qingxiao didn’t argue. “Then I’ll wait outside. Be careful.”
Though intoxicated, she wasn’t a mortal. With her cultivation, she wouldn’t face any real danger. Ling Qingxiao stepped out into the courtyard, using the time to tend to minor tasks.
Formal court documents required detailed scrollwork, official seals, and archival storage. But for less formal matters, Ling Qingxiao issued directives via short notes, no seal needed, no record required. It was faster and far more efficient. This was the bulk of his day-to-day as Celestial Emperor.
With formal memorials temporarily set aside, Ling Qingxiao busied himself with miscellaneous matters, the kind of unofficial affairs that didn’t require a seal or archive. As he went through each dispatch, he gradually realized: Luo Han was taking far too long to bathe.
Had she been sober, it wouldn’t have mattered. But she was still drunk, her mind unclear, staying in the water too long in such a state could be dangerous.
Ling Qingxiao gathered his sleeves, face growing grim, and made his way to the bath palace. He stopped just outside, knocked gently, and called, “Luo Han, are you still awake?”
No reply. He knocked again, slightly harder, just as he was about to summon a maid when a loud splash echoed from within, as though something had fallen into the water.
Ling Qingxiao’s expression changed. He pushed the door open and entered. Inside, he saw Luo Han, clad only in a thin white underrobe, slumped half-asleep at the edge of the pool, her body already beginning to slide forward.
He called her name twice more, but she didn’t stir. The water was rising dangerously close to her throat.
With no choice left, Ling Qingxiao stepped forward, kneeling beside her and speaking softly, “Wake up. It’s not safe to sleep here.”
After several tries, her lashes finally fluttered. She blinked hazily, limbs shifting, nearly falling in completely. Ling Qingxiao caught her in time, his sleeves soaked in the process. Sighing, he resigned himself to the inevitable. He stepped into the water and gently lifted her into his arms.
The soaked white fabric clung to her figure, subtly revealing the curves beneath. Her sleeves, damp and transparent, slipped up her arms, exposing the pale elegance of her wrists. Her neckline was loose, and the cloth plastered to her skin, tracing the delicate contours of her collarbone and the graceful slope of her neck.
Ling Qingxiao forced himself to look away, gaze fixed rigidly on her face.
Her cheeks were flushed with wine, and her hair, wet and tangled, clung to her neck and cheeks. Her beauty had always held a sacred, untouchable air, like a distant deity. But now, soaked and fragile, she looked like a lotus caught in rain, still exquisite, but heartbreakingly human.
Ling Qingxiao suppressed every stray thought, firmly guiding his eyes away. With the utmost restraint, he carried her out of the water like a proper gentleman. But Luo Han, drunk and drowsy, had no such self-awareness. She leaned into him, full weight pressing against his chest. Her arms fumbled as if seeking a more comfortable position, fingers wandering across his robes.
Even though Ling Qingxiao wore several layers, once wet, the fabric clung to him just as hers did. He let her lean against him without complaint, carefully guiding her step by step. Her fingers brushed lightly against the jade pendant at his waist, gliding across the edge then dipped back into the water, seemingly unintentional.
Beneath the surface, a ring slipped into Luo Han’s palm. Her fingertips quietly traced the familiar carving etched along the band’s inner curve. She exhaled inwardly, reassured, this was it. Without a sound, she tucked the ring away.
Ling Qingxiao carried her out of the pool, half-supporting, half-holding her. Behind the screen, he helped her settle down so she could change. Thankfully, after the whole ordeal, she had sobered up quite a bit and insisted on dressing herself.
Ling Qingxiao stepped outside and ordered sobering tea. He had initially assumed that in the Jade Purity Palace, she’d be safe, that sleep would naturally dispel the wine and restore her spirit. But now it seemed that even in safety, Luo Han could stir up danger by sheer force of will.
It was better to make sure she was fully awake.
—
Inside, Luo Han could feel Ling Qingxiao’s presence withdraw, his spiritual aura fading as he walked away. Knowing his upright nature, she was certain he wouldn’t dare peek. Feeling secure, she pulled out the ring she’d just pilfered from his person and turned it over in her hand, utterly moved.
Finally, she thought. I’ve got my storage ring back. She extended her spiritual sense to open it only to find it completely empty. Empty? Her breath caught. She flipped the ring over, scrutinizing its surface.
Her own ring had traveled through heavens and seas, no matter how carefully maintained, it had gained some subtle scratches over time. But this ring was flawless, pristine, smooth as if brand-new. She stared at it for a long time, realization dawning slowly but with crushing clarity. She’d been tricked.
She had intentionally gotten drunk, staged a scene in the bath, let herself fall into the water just so that, when Ling Qingxiao came to retrieve her, she could use the opportunity to search him and retrieve the ring unnoticed.
She had even sacrificed her dignity and in the end, the ring was a fake? She’d sold her soul and lost the war. The second half of the wine left her completely, she was stone-cold sober now, fuming. She stormed out, still in damp clothes, too furious to care.
Ling Qingxiao was sitting at the table, calmly pouring tea. When he saw her dripping wet and storming toward him, his brows furrowed. “Why haven’t you changed yet?”
Luo Han ignored him. She held up the elegant white jade ring in her palm, her tone sharp. “What is this?”
He gave it a glance, then smiled. “It’s in your hand, and you’re asking me?”
“Don’t play games with me.” A droplet slid from her soaked temple, trailing down her cheek and jaw until it dangled from her chin then finally fell, disappearing into her collar.
She wiped her face roughly. “Why does this ring look exactly like mine?”
“It’s a standard Heavenly Palace ring. I’m the Emperor, carrying one or two is hardly unusual.”
Blocked again.
She flipped the ring to reveal the markings on the back. “Standard rings are the same, yes. But what about this personal engraving?”
Ling Qingxiao remained composed. “I carved it myself. Just a random pattern. What of it?”
Luo Han’s jaw clenched. He was outright lying. If she hadn’t checked the contents, she might’ve spent the whole night thinking she’d succeeded, pleased with herself for being so clever.
Her eyes went wide with frustration. “You planned this. You tricked me!”
Ling Qingxiao didn’t even try to deny it. “I did. But if you hadn’t tried to steal it, that decoy ring would’ve stayed in my sleeve forever.”
Shameless! Luo Han finally snapped and lunged at him.
Ling Qingxiao calmly shifted aside and caught her wrist, sighing, “You’re no match for me in close combat. Don’t waste your strength. Go to sleep.”
Luo Han was still seething, and Ling Qingxiao’s calm words only made her angrier. Every strike she threw was full of force. He caught both her wrists, crossing them gently before her chest, his voice low in her ear: “Enough. Don’t cause trouble.”
His breath brushed against her ear as he spoke, soft and close. She could even feel the faint tremor of his chest as he spoke. For a moment, she said nothing then suddenly raised her leg in a surprise attack.
Ling Qingxiao had to step back to avoid it. Luo Han used the moment to break free, fists clenched as she launched another strike. With a helpless sigh, Ling Qingxiao met her head-on.
Because of the residual spiritual energy in the air, Luo Han’s robes and hair were half-dried, fluttering with every sharp movement. The air hummed with the sound of motion. In one bout, Ling Qingxiao grabbed her arm but misjudged his grip, her sleeve slid down, revealing her bare, smooth shoulder.
He froze.
Luo Han struck again her blow landed squarely on him, and he didn’t dodge. Afterward, he turned his back to her and said quietly, “I’m sorry.”
Their scuffle had made quite the racket. Outside the sleeping quarters, a maid called out nervously, “Your Majesty, my lady, is everything all right?”
She dared not even breathe.
After a pause, Ling Qingxiao’s steady voice replied, “It’s nothing. You may go.”
The maids obediently retreated, but as they left, they couldn’t help overhearing murmurs, the low hum of voices, the occasional soft thud. None dared to imagine what might be happening inside. They withdrew in silence.
Inside, Luo Han was still struggling furiously. Her left hand was pinned to the desk, her right arm trapped mid-strike, her legs held at bay. Ling Qingxiao had her completely subdued.
Once he confirmed the outside had quieted, he lowered his voice again: “Stop fighting.”
She glared at him. “Will you give it back or not?”
Ling Qingxiao’s gaze flicked over her disheveled appearance. His voice was calm but unyielding. “You’re in no position to make demands.”
He spoke gently, not loud, not arrogant, and yet Luo Han heard nothing but quiet contempt in those words. Her fury surged again, but before she could strike, Ling Qingxiao had already lost patience. He scooped her up without warning and strode toward the bed.
Still struggling, Luo Han was silenced by his voice, low and frosted with control: “Move again, and I won’t be so nice.”
His voice was still that familiar cool tone, like ice tapping jade, but now, it carried something faintly hoarse, a tension just barely held back.
Luo Han stiffened instantly. Ling Qingxiao set her down, pinned her hands gently, then wrapped her securely in the blanket, only her head sticking out. She squirmed, annoyed by the confinement, and pulled the covers askew with deliberate force.
He could only sigh. He ran his fingers through her hair, thankfully, after all their tussling, her hair and clothes had dried completely. With quiet care, he combed through the ends of her hair, saying softly, “Sleep. Good night.”
Then he stood, smoothed his sleeves, and turned to leave. Luo Han sat up, watching his silhouette blur into darkness.
Just as he reached the doorway, she called, “I wasn’t joking.”
Ling Qingxiao paused, one half of him lit, the other in shadow. After a beat, he replied, “I know.”
But still, he was a selfish man. He couldn’t let go.
—
The next morning, the maids reported that the Heavenly Dao seemed...off. She didn’t smile, didn’t speak. When they suggested a scenic outing, she quietly declined.
Ling Qingxiao only gave a slight nod. “I understand. Look after her. Whatever she requests, do it without delay.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Once they were gone, Ling Qingxiao looked across the room, the neatly arranged brush and ink, the stacked memorials, the silent Hall of Governance, the Heaven Realm that never changed.
He sighed deeply. Luo Han had caused worse scenes before, but he knew this time, it was real. She truly wanted to leave.