Chapter Ten: Shall We Sleep Together?

Walking down the bustling street, Jiang Lin was filled with melancholy… How could he possibly make Senior Sister Lin let go completely? Did he truly have to cultivate alongside her and ascend to the heavens hand in hand? What a joke—he was a member of the demonic sect! Besides, joining the Dragon Gate Sect required a bone-root test. The moment they checked attributes like gender and cultivation, the truth would be laid bare. That would be the end of him.

No, that wouldn’t do! He had to come up with a plan, or else it was only a matter of time before he was exposed. For now, during the sect tournament, he’d best keep Senior Sister Lin steady and not arouse suspicion.

With a small goal in mind, Jiang Lin straightened the large steamed bun pressed against his chest and headed toward the inn where the Dragon Gate Sect was staying.

As soon as he arrived, the Dragon Gate Sect greeted him with a grand welcome—a huge banner stretched across the entrance: “Welcome to Junior Sister Jiang Xin!” Several men whom Jiang Lin immediately recognized hurried over to help him with his luggage. Even more enthusiastic were the girls who had joined the sect at the same time as Jiang Lin; their eyes sparkled as they fussed over the “little junior sister,” taking her by the hands and asking after her well-being. Jiang Lin let them drag him along reluctantly, though he took the opportunity to cop a couple of surreptitious feels.

Next came the routine interview with the sect’s supervising teacher—a mere formality. After that, the welcome ceremony concluded, and dusk had already fallen.

No sooner had Jiang Lin stepped out from the teacher’s room than he was surrounded by a throng of “senior brothers.”

“Junior Sister Jiang Xin, there’s a lantern festival tonight in Xuanwu City. Would you care to join us?”

“Junior Sister, I’m quite the poet, you know.”

“Junior Sister, I’m truly sorry about your brother. As his closest friend, I’ll take care of you!”

“Shouldn’t you all be cultivating? If I see any of you loitering around my sister again, I’ll see you dealt with according to sect rules!”

Just as Jiang Lin was considering giving these shameless fellows a swift kick, Lin Qingwan approached, sword in hand.

“Elder Sister Lin…” Without a second thought, Jiang Lin dove into the soft embrace of his senior sister.

“It’s all right. These men may be lecherous, but they mean well,” Lin Qingwan said, gently patting the shoulder of the shorter Jiang Lin, who barely reached her chin.

“Well? Why are you still here?” She shot a fierce glare at the senior brothers, who immediately shuddered and scattered.

“There now, it’s all fine. Don’t worry—you’re my sister and Jiang Lin’s as well. I won’t let anyone bully you.”

Lin Qingwan pinched Jiang Lin’s cheek with a gentle smile, her expression suddenly far more charming and sweet than her usual stern demeanor.

“Thank you, Sister Lin. I’ll just return to my room now,” Jiang Lin said quickly. The longer he stayed with Lin Qingwan, the more likely he was to slip up. He wanted to escape and check on those two bottles of body-tempering elixir waiting for him.

“Wait a moment.” Just as Jiang Lin turned to leave, Lin Qingwan caught his hand.

“Is there something else, Sister Lin?” Jiang Lin’s heart raced as he met Lin Qingwan’s gaze.

Could she have discovered something?

“Well… Little Sister Jiang, would you… would you sleep with me tonight?”

“Huh???”

Night fell. Moonlight streamed softly through the window. A cool summer breeze stirred the gauzy curtains.

In a guest room at the Xuanwu City Lord’s residence, a coldly beautiful long-haired woman lay on her side upon the bed, hugging a body pillow over a meter long, emblazoned with a man’s portrait. She rolled back and forth, her pale cheeks nuzzling the pillow as she murmured, “Little Linlin~~~” over and over.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded at the door. The woman reacted swiftly, shoving the pillow beneath the covers. By the time the door opened, she was already seated primly in a chair, slender fingers wrapped around a teacup, sipping quietly.

“Does the City Lord of Xuanwu not understand the basic courtesy of knocking before entering?” she said, lifting eyes as enchanting as a black cat’s toward Luo Qinshang, the city lord, who had just closed the door behind her.

Luo Qinshang shot a glare at the bewitching woman in the room, sat down unceremoniously beside her, and snatched the teacup away, draining it in one gulp.

“I’ve been running myself ragged all day—who do you think I’m doing it for? And you’re still so cold to me!”

“It’s not as if I forced you,” the woman replied haughtily, turning away. “But… thank you.”

“What was that, Yuni? What did you just say?” Luo Qinshang’s ears perked up. Though the words were quiet, she thought she’d heard something incredible.

Was it possible? The aloof and proud leader of the Sun and Moon Sect, Jiang Yuni, actually took the initiative to thank someone?

“I said… thank you…” Jiang Yuni’s voice was still barely above a whisper, but Luo Qinshang, ear pressed close to her cheek, caught it clearly this time!

She really was grateful! Luo Qinshang stared in astonishment at the cold beauty, whose cheeks now glowed with a blush so adorable she could hardly stand it.

“Ah… I can’t take it. Yuni, I didn’t know you could be this cute.” Luo Qinshang hugged her gleefully, rubbing her face against hers.

“All right, let go, let go—Luo Qinshang, don’t push your luck,” Jiang Yuni protested, firmly shoving the lovesick Luo Qinshang away.

“Hehehe… Fine, fine. I’ve already gotten more than enough today.” Luo Qinshang smoothed her skirt and sat up straight. “Here, this is your credential for the Daoist tournament.”

“But honestly, Yuni, you’re far too protective. Jiang Lin must be nearly eighteen by now—not a child anymore. He’s already reached the peak of the Cave Abode realm at such a young age. What’s there to worry about? And this tournament isn’t a life-or-death matter.”

“What do you know?” Jiang Yuni took the waist token, noting the name “Jiang Yu of Xuanwu City” carved upon it. She nodded with a smile, carefully tucking it away.

Watching this girl—who hadn’t even smiled when breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm, but now beamed just because of a simple token—Luo Qinshang was at a loss for words.

All she could think was that the boy from long ago was truly remarkable, to have changed someone who once lived only for cultivation and seemed untouched by the mundane world.

“Sigh… I haven’t seen little Jiang Lin in ages. He must be quite the dashing young man by now. Of course, I’m still young as well… Perhaps he and I…” Luo Qinshang mused, resting her chin in her hand as she recalled the boyhood days of Jiang Lin.

But before she could finish, a chilling killing intent swept through the room.

Bang! In an instant, the tea table was split clean in two.

Cold sweat beading on her brow, Luo Qinshang turned to the woman beside her, whose eyes had narrowed to slits. Her natal flying sword glimmered, and her beautiful face grew as dark as the night.

“Qinshang,” the transformed beauty said, hooking a slender finger under Luo Qinshang’s chin and smiling with dangerous sweetness.

“Lin is mine!”