Chapter 3

This enchanting, surreal scene was almost dreamlike. Overcome by her appreciation for beauty, Luo Han temporarily forgot fear. Slowly approaching Ling Qingxiao, she gently brushed aside his long hair.
He was ethereal, pure as moonlight, untouched by the dust of mortal realms. She'd imagined the villain who nearly destroyed the world would appear menacing, or at least steeped in dark demonic energy. Yet, to her astonishment, he looked every bit the elegant, aloof immortal from legend.
Seeing Ling Qingxiao's rare original form suddenly reminded Luo Han of something she’d read in the book:
Celestial beings took pride in their human forms, and reverting to their original shape usually indicated severe injuries. Ling Qingxiao’s lower half had transformed into a dragon tail because he lacked the spiritual energy to sustain human form. Clearly, this was an incredibly rare moment of vulnerability.
She recalled the Bodhi tree’s urgent plea before she departed: "Stop Ling Qingxiao."
If she killed him now, all future tragedy would vanish instantly.
But as Luo Han stared at his exquisite features, she swiftly dismissed the thought. No matter how evil the beauty, surely he had his reasons—how could she bear to harm such a perfect face?
Throwing away all dignity, Luo Han rolled up her sleeves decisively, determined to move him somewhere safer. First, she grasped his shoulders and pulled with all her might. He didn’t budge an inch. Giving up on that approach, she decided to try moving him piece by piece—starting with the tail.
When she'd transmigrated, she wore modern clothes, but this outfit had been magically crafted by the ancient ancestors inside the barrier. At the time, she'd watched the Bodhi tree pluck leaves from its branches, the Black Tortoise conjure pearls from the Eastern Sea, and the other elders knead something together until clothes appeared. She assumed it was just a makeshift outfit, yet after all this tumbling and hauling, the clothes were still spotless.
Not bad quality at all, Luo Han thought approvingly, as she carefully wrapped her arms around the slender end of Ling Qingxiao’s silver dragon tail. Using every ounce of her strength, she lifted it slightly off the ground, only to feel the graceful tail suddenly twitch beneath her grasp.
Instinctively glancing upward, she realized Ling Qingxiao had awakened at some point. Seeing Luo Han holding his tail, his icy expression darkened. In an instant, the place she touched was covered in frost.
Startled by the sudden coldness, Luo Han released her hold immediately, and the heavily injured tail dropped painfully back onto the rocky ground with a harsh thud. Just hearing the sound made her flinch. Pulling back her hands, she hid them guiltily behind her back. "I swear it wasn’t intentional! You suddenly froze—I got startled!"
Ling Qingxiao’s murderous gaze could have frozen the surrounding air. Silver light shimmered across his dragon tail before quickly reforming into human legs. Watching this transformation, Luo Han quietly thanked fate she'd abandoned thoughts of killing him earlier—otherwise, she’d be the one collapsed on the ground right now.
With difficulty, Ling Qingxiao managed to push himself up into a sitting position. Luo Han watched tentatively, asking softly, "Do...you need help?"
"No."
His voice was clear yet cold, like shattered ice or pure jade. Luo Han marveled silently—what a heavenly voice!—yet obediently withdrew her hand.
Not everyone wished for assistance at their weakest moments. After all, respect was more important than mere kindness. Besides, hadn’t this very person tried to slash her in half just moments ago? Did Ling Qingxiao think Luo Han had no grudges?
He’d violently disrupted the temporal tunnel, forcing her into this precarious situation. Luo Han’s present misfortune was entirely thanks to him.
Due to Ling Qingxiao’s abrupt movements, many of his wounds reopened, blood once again dripping down his slender fingers, seeping quietly into the earth.
Watching him, Luo Han felt a pang of sympathy and whispered softly, “Be careful. You're already badly hurt—why torture yourself like this?”
Ling Qingxiao’s lips were pale, his complexion almost transparent in its whiteness. He stared at Luo Han, his gaze cold and suspicious. “What exactly are you trying to do?”
Why did she keep showing concern for him? Even when he’d lost consciousness just now, his spiritual sense remained sharp, clearly perceiving everything around him.
Contrary to his expectations, Luo Han hadn’t seized the opportunity to kill him; instead, she’d ridiculously attempted to drag him somewhere safer. Having lived for centuries aloof and detached, Ling Qingxiao was truly baffled—what on earth was she plotting?
Even more outrageous was the fact that she’d dared touch his dragon tail.
Apart from his infancy, Ling Qingxiao had never willingly allowed physical contact with anyone. His nature had always been cold, indifferent, and repulsed by intimacy—whether physical or emotional.
Yet, when Luo Han touched his tail, he experienced a warmth and softness he’d never known before. In that instant, he’d momentarily lost himself. When his senses returned, he immediately forced her away without hesitation.
Actually, Ling Qingxiao could’ve easily swept her aside with his tail. Dragons were born with extraordinary power; every part of their bodies was a treasure. His skin alone was impervious to normal weapons, and a casual flick of his tail could shatter mountains and split the earth.
But Luo Han had no cultivation. Even a gentle sweep could’ve killed her instantly. He’d ultimately restrained himself, enduring unbearable pain to channel spiritual energy and push her away.
Luo Han inwardly clicked her tongue: Look at your terrible personality, you can’t understand affection—no wonder you failed to win the female lead.
She was now certain Ling Qingxiao was destined to be a lonely second lead, forever unloved. Reminding herself of the importance of saving the world, Luo Han forced patience into her tone, gently saying, “Like I said, I’m really here to save you. These rocks are sharp, and you're badly injured—we should move to a softer spot. Now that you're awake, can you stand up and walk? We’d better change locations.”
Ling Qingxiao found her amusingly ignorant. Who exactly was she, lacking even the most basic common sense? Did she truly believe mere rocks could harm a dragon?
How absurd. Even cultivators of his own level could barely scratch him with their strongest weapons. Every injury he bore now had been inflicted by divine lightning—not something trivial like stones.
Seeing him remain silent, Luo Han assumed he agreed. She moved forward to help him up, but Ling Qingxiao stubbornly evaded her touch, using his sword to push himself upright instead.
Fine, Luo Han withdrew her hand quietly. It seemed Ling Qingxiao truly despised physical contact. Luo Han had taken some psychology courses, learning that children deprived of parental affection often struggled with normal relationships as adults, becoming withdrawn or overly cautious.
Of course, those theories applied to humans—perhaps immortals simply preferred solitude and distance.
After standing, Ling Qingxiao briefly oriented himself, then started moving slowly in a particular direction. Luo Han, aware of her own total lack of strength, didn’t dare lag behind, quickly following after him.
She maintained a cautious distance—not so close as to put Ling Qingxiao on edge, yet not so far that she was left vulnerable. The two walked silently, Luo Han occasionally sneaking glances at his profile.
Truthfully, ignoring the plot, Ling Qingxiao’s appearance was truly stunning, surpassing even other immortals. Even now, badly wounded, he seemed to radiate a gentle, captivating glow.
A celestial immortal beneath moonlight, cool and untainted.
He needed no external light; he himself was radiating.
What kind of extraordinary being was the male lead, she wondered, that the female protagonist remained unmoved even by Ling Qingxiao’s striking beauty?
Ling Qingxiao eventually stopped at a relatively safe spot. His wounds from the lightning tribulation were still severe, especially where his dragon core had been torn from him. Every step he took was agony; he desperately needed rest.
The moment he stopped, Luo Han eagerly moved closer, deciding to stick with him shamelessly. Her brief time here had taught her the brutal reality of this cultivation world—she, a so-called Heavenly Dao who was weaker than an average mortal, couldn’t survive alone. Regardless of Ling Qingxiao’s willingness, Luo Han had no choice but to rely on him for protection.
Currently, even breathing hurt Ling Qingxiao terribly; he had no strength left to chase Luo Han away. Sitting down to regain some energy, he ignored her entirely. Luo Han curled her knees up, quietly observing him from nearby.
He truly looked miserable, she sighed inwardly. He'd been forced by his own adoptive mother to dig out his dragon core, struck by fifty bolts of heavenly lightning, then thrown into this abyss without a chance to heal. That he still lived at all was already miraculous.
Suddenly, Luo Han remembered something: before she’d left, the Bodhi tree had urgently handed her a leaf-shaped pendant, explaining it contained a storage space with life-saving treasures. Perhaps healing medicines were included.
She pulled the pendant from her collar, observing it closely. It appeared delicate, crystalline, every vein clearly defined, resembling a real leaf. Yet after fiddling for a while, she realized to her despair she couldn't open it.
Storage spaces required spiritual energy to activate—but Luo Han had no cultivation whatsoever. How could she have any spiritual energy?
Ling Qingxiao noticed her frustrated movements, opening his eyes indifferently to stare at her. Embarrassed under his cold gaze, Luo Han sheepishly waved the pendant. “This storage space was given to me by an elder, but I can’t open it. Could you help?”
Ling Qingxiao found her chatter annoying, ignoring her completely and closing his eyes again. Luo Han was about to speak further when she suddenly sensed something—the presence of a leaf.
Instinctively, she focused her thoughts and instantly found herself inside the pendant’s internal space. Bottles and jars filled her vision. Cautiously, she uncorked each one, carefully sensing the energy within.
After all, she was the Heavenly Dao—naturally sensitive to all things in existence.
Silence enveloped them as Luo Han focused her attention inward. Ling Qingxiao attempted to repair his damaged meridians with spiritual energy, but sharp agony coursed through every fiber of his being. Such pain was tolerable, yet Ling Qingxiao suddenly found himself questioning: Why exactly was he enduring this?
In his hour of greatest need, his parents, family, friends, even the junior sister he'd always protected—everyone had abandoned him without hesitation. All his life he'd pushed himself to perfection, desperately cultivating day and night, hoping one day to earn their approval. Now he understood clearly that, to all of them, he was nothing but an unwanted afterthought.
He would never compare to Ling Zhongyu. He would never truly be recognized.
What had been the meaning of all his perseverance? Why was he even forcing himself through the agony of healing his shattered body at this moment?
What reason did he even have to continue living?
Ling Qingxiao felt a sinister aura rising within him. His own spiritual energy surged violently, ripping through his already fractured meridians and tearing open old wounds. Just as he began slipping into that dark abyss, he suddenly heard a joyful, delighted voice:
"I found it!"
Her voice was warm and bright, each word strangely calming, as if woven with an invisible spell that instantly snapped Ling Qingxiao out of his near-demonic state. Opening his eyes, he saw her again—the noisy girl of mysterious origin.
Luo Han scooted closer, holding a delicate jade bottle, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Can this heal your wounds?"
Ling Qingxiao glanced at it and replied coolly, "Ten-thousand-year Bodhi essence. Of course it can."
Overjoyed, Luo Han immediately stuffed the bottle into Ling Qingxiao's hands. "Great! You should try it right away."
Caught off guard, Ling Qingxiao found himself genuinely startled. He stared at her with suspicion. "You're giving this…to me?"
"Of course," Luo Han blinked earnestly at him, her eyes full of sincerity. "Hurry and try it. I have plenty more. If it's not enough, just ask."
Ling Qingxiao remained motionless, scrutinizing her. "Do you even know what Bodhi essence is?"
Actually, Luo Han didn't. Sensing there might be a deeper meaning, she asked innocently, "Is it something special?"
Seeing her genuinely clueless expression, Ling Qingxiao sighed inwardly. This girl clearly had no idea how precious the ten-thousand-year Bodhi essence truly was. Without another word, Ling Qingxiao gently closed his eyes, causing the jade bottle to float softly back into Luo Han's hand.
"This item is extremely rare and precious. Put it away. Never reveal it casually again."
Luo Han stared blankly at the returned bottle, stunned. She'd suspected the Bodhi tree's gift wouldn't be cheap, but Ling Qingxiao's reaction implied it was far more valuable than she’d imagined. Determined, she firmly placed the bottle back into his palm and quickly hid her hands behind her back.
"You need it far more than I do," Luo Han insisted stubbornly. "Besides, it's not like I'm giving it to you for free."
She understood well that someone as proud and noble as Ling Qingxiao would never accept charity. Thus, she quickly revised her offer into a proposal.
"Let's make a deal," Luo Han declared confidently. "I'll sell it to you—but instead of paying me money, you'll be my bodyguard to repay it. I'm defenseless here, so…one bottle of essence in exchange for one year of protection. Deal?"
Still stuck in a mortal mindset, Luo Han had instinctively offered a one-year contract, feeling slightly guilty as though she'd asked too much. Ling Qingxiao regarded her silently, and with a subtle flick of his fingers, the bottle hovered gently between them.
"This isn't an equivalent exchange," he replied, voice cold.
"Then you decide," Luo Han quickly amended. "You set the terms—however long you feel you need to protect me to equal this bottle's worth. Fair enough?"
Luo Han thought herself exceedingly generous—what kind of employer actually begged her employee to name his own price?
Ling Qingxiao felt an unfamiliar wave of confusion rise within him. In his past thousand years, he'd never experienced uncertainty or hesitation. His entire life had revolved around planning. The only variation had been that some plans needed to succeed, while others simply had no option but to succeed.
Yet this girl before him defied all planning and logic, utterly disrupting his usual methods. He stared deeply into her eyes, repeating once more, "What exactly do you want?"
"Nothing complicated," Luo Han answered gently, eyes curved in a soft smile. "I came for you. My only wish is to save you."
Ling Qingxiao didn't respond immediately. After watching her closely for a long while, he eventually closed his eyes, neither accepting nor refusing her offer explicitly. Unable to read the Celestial Emperor’s intentions clearly, Luo Han decided to demonstrate sincerity by bringing out several more bottles from her storage space, placing them carefully on the ground.
After a long, tense silence, Ling Qingxiao reluctantly accepted—but only half a bottle.
Though he maintained his aloof silence, Luo Han easily guessed his reason: he likely believed this precious essence had been gifted to her by an elder for protection, so he'd chosen the minimal amount necessary to sustain his life.
Luo Han felt an odd warmth in her chest, realizing the Celestial Emperor was nothing like she had anticipated.
She had imagined him as a ruthless, vengeful villain; instead, he appeared more noble and righteous than any immortal she'd encountered. Despite suffering betrayal by his father, losing his dragon core to his birth mother’s cruelty, being abused by his adoptive mother, and even being stabbed fatally by the heroine, Ling Qingxiao had never truly turned evil. Though the book later depicted him as a blackened villain obsessed with warfare, no one could deny that he’d ruled as an excellent emperor.
Luo Han sighed softly. Honestly, why hadn't the heroine chosen him instead? The male lead had repeatedly broken her heart, even tormenting her openly. Yet every single time, the heroine faithfully returned to him. What could possibly be wrong with Ling Qingxiao?
It was a complete mystery.
Ling Qingxiao sat cross-legged in meditation, absorbing the Bodhi essence to heal his injuries. Luo Han watched in awe as his wounds rapidly faded. For three full days and nights, he sat motionless, cultivating tirelessly. Luo Han fell asleep multiple times, and when she woke for the last time, she saw Ling Qingxiao before her, pristine and graceful, bathed in moonlight.
Like an immortal who’d stepped straight out of a dream.
Having just woken up, Luo Han’s mind was still foggy. She asked sleepily, “Are your injuries healed?”
“They’re mostly recovered,” Ling Qingxiao replied, expression solemn. “Even the smallest kindness must be repaid manyfold. Your assistance has saved my life. For the next thousand years, if you ever need anything, I’ll fulfill your request without question.”
Luo Han didn’t know what came over her, blurting out thoughtlessly, “Even dual cultivation?”
Author’s note:
"Pure as unstained snow, bright as harmonious moonlight." — Bai Juyi