Thinking back to his earlier cold and impatient tone, Su Xuan’s expression stiffened.
His ears reddened slightly. Turning his head away, he cleared his throat and lowered his voice, speaking softly, “What’s wrong?”
After speaking, he seemed to feel it was still too indifferent and added, “I was busy just now and didn’t hear the silver feather ringing. What’s the matter?”
His words were so gentle, his tone so light, as if he were afraid of startling a certain sword cultivator.
On the other end, Cui Shao’s expression was complicated as she overheard everything.
She stood quietly behind the blue-robed sword cultivator, watching as Miss Sang held the silver feather and simply said, “It’s me.” The tone of the voice on the other end changed instantly.
Cui Shao, who had served in the Beast Palace for many years, had never heard their lord use such a tone. It was as if he was afraid a slightly harsher word would frighten Miss Sang.
Their lord, who always spoke as little as possible, saying only one word when two weren’t necessary, now uttered an entire sentence and even offered an explanation.
It seemed that Young Master Liu was right. The one to rule the Beast Palace in the future would likely be Miss Sang. As long as she served Miss Sang well, her life would be secure.
Cui Shao’s admiration for Sang Dai grew as she glanced at her.
Sang Dai held the silver feather in her hands, listening to the howling wind on the other end. She wondered where Su Xuan had run off to for the wind to be so fierce.
Her voice was calm as she asked, “Su Xuan, where is my Zhiyu Sword?”
There was a moment of silence on the other end before the wind noise ceased, likely because he had isolated the wind.
Su Xuan replied, “I’ll find you another Heaven-grade sword.”
He avoided mentioning the Zhiyu Sword.
Sang Dai lowered her gaze and paused for a moment before softly saying, “I just want to see the Zhiyu Sword.”
The other end remained silent for a long time, but Sang Dai waited patiently.
After a while, a clear voice responded, “Alright.”
“Thank you for the trouble.”
Just as she was about to hang up the silver feather, the voice on the other end suddenly called out, “Sang Dai.”
Sang Dai paused, then lifted the silver feather back to her face. “What is it?”
Su Xuan hesitated briefly before asking, “What would you like for dinner?”
Sang Dai hadn’t expected such a question. Even though she was aware that her former nemesis harbored feelings for her, hearing such a caring question directly from his mouth left her momentarily unprepared.
She pressed her lips together slightly, her hand tightening around the silver feather. In a quiet voice, she said, “Anything is fine.”
Su Xuan’s reply came swiftly. “Alright.”
Just before the call ended, he hastily added, “Wait for me to return.”
“…Okay.”
The silver feather disconnected.
Sang Dai looked at the delicate silver feather in her palm, her gaze momentarily dazed.
At that moment, the binding ribbon around her left wrist came into view. Its warm spiritual energy continuously nourished her damaged meridians.
Sang Dai glanced at her wrist. The binding ribbon not only nourished her meridians but also served as a Heaven-grade defensive weapon. Even without recognizing her as its master, it could withstand a desperate strike from a Nascent Soul cultivator. If it were to formally bond with her, it could fight alongside her.
Sang Dai gently stroked the ribbon, which nuzzled against her affectionately.
Thinking about how Su Xuan had personally woven this ribbon, Sang Dai couldn’t help but feel like laughing.
The Beast King who wore a cold expression while killing people would return to the Beast Palace to thread a needle and do handicrafts.
Cui Shao didn’t understand why Miss Sang was laughing, but the usually cold and aloof sword cultivator’s smile softened her features, making her appear gentler. Standing amidst a sea of flowers, she outshone them all.
Cui Shao was momentarily entranced.
The Beast Realm didn’t lack attractive demon cultivators, but Miss Sang’s temperament was entirely unique. She was cold and ethereal, like a fairy from the nine heavens. Even with her golden core half-shattered and having been abandoned by someone she had risked her life to protect, she never wallowed in self-pity. She accepted everything around her with calm composure, like water that could accommodate and envelop all things.
Previously, Cui Shao hadn’t understood why Young Master Liu said what he did. But after just one day by Sang Dai’s side, she now understood.
It was almost impossible not to like Sang Dai when you were near her.
Their lord liked Miss Sang. Cui Shao believed that their lord would only ever like Miss Sang, given how he had spent the past century finding every possible excuse to see her.
Unfortunately, Miss Sang always assumed that their lord was simply bored and picking fights. Every time she saw him, she would immediately draw her sword and fight him for days.
Cui Shao couldn’t help but mentally light incense for her lord. To pursue a girl like this—there was no one else in all four realms who could match his persistence.
—
As the day turned to dusk, the far-off glow of the sunset painted the sky red. Thin threads of mist lingered over the mountaintops, the interplay of clouds and light creating a stunning scene as the mountains cradled the setting sun.
When Sang Dai returned with Cui Shao, she had just stepped through the arched gate when she saw someone standing in the expansive courtyard.
The man’s wide, luxurious robe dragged on the ground, black fabric embroidered with gold thread. He stood in the middle of the courtyard, his waist-length silver hair loosely tied, his broad shoulders and narrow waist accentuating his tall figure.
A strand of sunlight fell on his profile, tinting his silver hair with a reddish glow. His face was half-lit and half-shadowed. Though his expression was impassive, when Sang Dai met his gaze, she inexplicably felt that his eyes seemed to brighten slightly.
He was holding a sword in his hand. The silver-white scabbard was intricately carved, and the sword tassel, woven with blue threads into the shape of a lotus flower, swayed gently. Once soaked in blood and presumably filthy, the sword now showed no trace of dirt. Someone must have cleaned it meticulously.
Her Zhiyu Sword.
Sang Dai didn’t step forward to take the Zhiyu Sword. Instead, she first asked Su Xuan, “How long have you been here?”
Su Xuan replied calmly, “Not long. I just arrived.”
Sang Dai looked into his eyes.
[Half an hour ago. Dai Dai went to look at the flowers in the Beast Palace, didn’t she? The flowers are blooming. Dai Dai likes flowers, so her mood should be okay. At least she didn’t cry. Once I finish handling the matters in Xingque Palace, I’ll take her out of the Beast Palace for a break. Dai Dai still looks pale. Damn those filthy Sword Sect bastards…]
If Su Xuan weren’t standing right in front of her, Sang Dai would have held her forehead in exasperation.
She listened to him for a while before she couldn’t take it anymore and interrupted, “Su Xuan, are we going to just stand here?”
Su Xuan was startled, his internal tirade abruptly cut off by her words. At last, Sang Dai’s mental sea returned to peace and quiet.
She walked straight into the hall. “Let’s go inside first.”
Her casual and familiar demeanor made it seem as if the Beast Palace belonged to her.
If it were someone else, even Liu Lixue, who had grown up with Su Xuan, speaking to him in this way, Su Xuan would have already kicked them out of the Beast Realm with a single blow.
But this was Sang Dai.
Cui Shao stayed outside, not daring to enter. She simply stood guard and, mustering some courage, glanced at her lord as he passed by. She noticed his slightly curved lips—clearly struggling to suppress a smile—yet still maintaining a composed expression.
It seemed even Su Xuan wasn’t aware of it himself. Whenever he looked at Sang Dai, his previously calm and indifferent eyes would soften with gentle light, and his usual cold aura would unconsciously withdraw.
Even when speaking to a certain sword cultivator with his typical stoicism and aloofness, his invisible metaphorical tail in the background seemed ready to wag itself into a frenzy.
Sang Dai entered the inner hall, placing the flowers she had picked into the vase by the bedside. Turning around, she saw Su Xuan following her inside.
Cui Shao had already stayed outside, leaving the space to the two of them. Yet, it seemed that Su Xuan had unconsciously followed Sang Dai into the room.
When Sang Dai turned to look at him, the fox froze in place.
[Dai Dai is looking at me… Wait, this is the inner hall—this is the bedroom!]
Sang Dai thought Su Xuan had finally realized the impropriety of the situation. Feeling slightly relieved, she was about to ask him to step outside with her.
[Really want to sleep with Dai Dai.]
Sang Dai: “?”
Always calm and composed, even when faced with shocking situations, Sang Dai couldn’t stop her pupils from contracting slightly this time.
Su Xuan’s face remained expressionless, but Sang Dai’s mind was filled with his chaotic inner voice.
[Want to kiss, want to hug. The mating season is coming soon. This year’s mating season… Can I spend it with Dai Dai?]
Sang Dai, expressionless: No, absolutely not.
[But we haven’t bonded yet, no name, no status… Damn it, when can I marry Dai Dai? The wedding robes are already made…]
Sang Dai’s eye twitched. He was in such a hurry.
[No, wait. Dai Dai has lost weight. The wedding robes need to be adjusted… Adjusted to what? The current styles in the Beast Realm don’t seem popular anymore. I wonder what style Dai Dai would like—]
Sang Dai closed her eyes for a moment, finally unable to endure it. She raised her hand and firmly interrupted, “Su Xuan.”
The world finally fell silent.
Su Xuan’s long lashes fluttered slightly, his silver hair draped over his shoulders like flowing moonlight. He stood there, pristine as jade, his light-colored eyes fixed on Sang Dai, and his Adam’s apple bobbed faintly.
Sang Dai let out a breath, finally ready to speak.
[Dai Dai’s hands are so slender and white. I want to kiss them. I want to bite them.]
Bite?
Even Sang Dai’s impeccable composure couldn’t stop her from exhaling a long breath, suppressing the urge to slap him awake. She decisively lowered her raised hand.
Without saying another word, she turned on her heel and almost fled, pushing aside the bead curtain as she left the inner hall. She quickly walked through the corridor and entered the dining hall.
Cui Shao stood at the door. When she saw Sang Dai emerge, she bowed respectfully and said, “Miss.”
Her voice, however, was stifled with laughter.
Sang Dai had already been infuriated by Su Xuan inside, and now, seeing Cui Shao’s barely contained laughter, she couldn’t help but feel even more exasperated. Even with her usual composure, her face involuntarily reddened.
She heard footsteps behind her and, with a hint of annoyance, turned around, only to meet Su Xuan’s gaze.
Those glassy eyes of his were as calm as still water. His black robe trailed behind him, and his slender right hand gripped her Zhiyu Sword.
And then…
[Is she feeling hot? Why is her face red?]
Sang Dai’s embarrassment deepened, and she tried to change the subject. “I’m a bit hungry—”
[But still so beautiful. I want to kiss her. Just a little peck.]
Sang Dai: “…”
That’s it. She couldn’t take it anymore.