He said this very seriously.
For a moment, Sang Dai thought there must be something wrong with her ears.
Su Xuan had thicker skin than her. Seeing the sword cultivator frozen in place, he felt a soft warmth in his heart. He leaned in, kissed her face several times, the sound especially loud. The sword cultivator’s eyes were misty, as if she still hadn’t processed what had just happened. Her mind seemed to have crashed, but it made her even cuter.
So adorable. How could she be so adorable?
The little fox caught her lips and lightly licked them, the sensation slightly ticklish. Finally, the sword cultivator snapped out of her daze.
As soon as she came to her senses, she immediately turned her head away and buried her face in Su Xuan’s shoulder, once again resembling a timid little turtle.
“Don’t kiss me anymore…”
Her voice was muffled. She didn’t understand why Su Xuan liked her so much.
But Su Xuan simply couldn’t help it. Holding the sword cultivator, he nuzzled the back of her head, inhaling the calming fragrance that emanated from her. He said, “Didn’t you want to give it a try? I’m offering you a solution.”
Sang Dai closed her eyes and clung to him tightly. Her body had no strength left; she could only hang onto him as he held her.
She began to retreat again, “I… I don’t want to try anymore…”
“Is Miss Sang really going to give up halfway?” Su Xuan kissed her hair, his voice hoarse. “My mating season is coming soon, Dai Dai. You have to sort out your feelings quickly.”
Sang Dai stiffened, suddenly becoming nervous for no reason.
“Dai Dai, you know what I mean. After the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan reaches adulthood at the age of eighteen, we experience a month-long mating season every year, which is usually spent with a partner in a secluded cave. But I have no partner. In the past, the one I cared for rejected my closeness, so I endured it for over a hundred years.”
“The princes my age already have little fox cubs. I’m still alone and have been ridiculed for a long time. I once thought I’d have to endure this for the rest of my life. But now you’ve given me hope. You’ve come to my side.”
Sang Dai felt a pang of guilt, and the arms she wrapped around him tightened.
Of course, she understood what Su Xuan meant.
In the past, whenever Sang Dai saw Su Xuan, she would draw her sword and fight him. The little fox had always assumed the sword cultivator hated him, so he kept his love for her buried deep in his heart, pretending to be indifferent. But each time, he would come back with a cold expression to see her again.
Su Xuan only liked her and had set his heart on her. If not for her, he would likely have had to endure his mating seasons alone for the rest of his life.
“You understand, don’t you? This year, I don’t want to endure it anymore. Dai Dai, can’t you feel sorry for me? It’s so unbearable.”
The little fox started to act spoiled, kissing the sword cultivator’s black hair with gentle pecks.
Sang Dai was finding it harder and harder to resist his pleading, especially after learning that this particular fox had harbored feelings for her for over a hundred years and had endured his mating seasons alone during all that time. The thought made her heart ache even more.
Their distance was so close that Sang Dai could feel the overwhelming desire emanating from Su Xuan. The Nine-Tailed Fox Clan was known for their fiery blood and intense passions; Sang Dai had heard Cui Shao mention this after she arrived in the Beast Realm.
“Su Xuan…”
“Dai Dai, is it okay?”
Sang Dai lifted her head, her gaze meeting his.
The little fox’s face was flushed, a fine sheen of sweat covering his forehead. His eyes were fixed on her, unwavering, and the slight upward tilt of his reddened eyes added to the charm.
[I really don’t want to endure it anymore. This year, I only want to spend my mating season with Dai Dai. It’s unbearable. When Dai Dai isn’t around, I can suppress it, but with her here, I can’t hold back at all.]
[Why isn’t she saying anything? Did I scare Dai Dai just now? Does she not like this…?]
[Is this progress too fast for her? I must have lost my mind.]
The little fox’s inner thoughts turned remorseful, tinged with guilt. Sang Dai could hear him already contemplating how to coax her.
His focus on Sang Dai’s emotions was so intense that even the slightest shift in her mood made him especially sensitive.
Sang Dai felt a faint dryness in her throat. Her rosy lips pressed together.
Just as Su Xuan began to think she was upset and was about to start coaxing her—
Sang Dai suddenly cupped his face.
“Okay, I’ll give it a try.”
The sword cultivator leaned in to kiss him.
Her skin was thin, her shyness too strong. During the kiss, she dared not look at Su Xuan and closed her eyes as she kissed him.
Sang Dai was famously known across the Four Realms as a cold beauty. Unlike Su Xuan’s bold and intimidating appearance, her features were elegant and refined. When she wasn’t smiling, she exuded the cool detachment of a snow lotus on a mountaintop. She rarely spoke, her aura clean yet aloof. While many in the Four Realms admired her, Su Xuan was the only one who truly dared to approach her.
Now, the cold beauty’s long lashes trembled as she grew nervous. Holding Su Xuan’s face, she kissed him in small pecks, her pearly teeth clumsily bumping against his lips and even biting him a few times.
Though she was inexperienced, Su Xuan’s breathing was already trembling.
He held one hand against the sword cultivator’s back, the other supporting her at her waist. Her legs were wrapped around his hips, her entire body suspended in his embrace. His hands were even shaking, unable to control himself. His rationality was crumbling bit by bit, breaking apart under the sensation of her touch.
Sang Dai didn’t notice. She was still cautiously and patiently kissing him, light and gentle, keeping him suspended in a teasing limbo.
But all she knew were the most basic movements, lightly pressing her lips to his.
This wasn’t nearly enough.
Suddenly, Su Xuan stepped back, pulling his lips away from the sword cultivator’s.
Sang Dai blinked her eyes open, looking dazed and utterly adorable. She asked hesitantly, “… Did I hurt you?”
When it came to swordsmanship, Sang Dai was always confident; her sword was invincible. But in matters beyond her blade, she had little skill.
Su Xuan’s breathing was scorching, veins bulging on his forehead. His voice was hoarse. “Dai Dai, kissing isn’t like that. That’s not the kind of kiss I want.”
[Why only the lips? I want more.]
Sang Dai instantly understood what he meant.
Her face turned even redder, her heartbeat pounding like thunder. She couldn’t tell whether she was more nervous or more embarrassed.
Su Xuan leaned closer, bringing his lips to the corner of hers, lightly licking the sword cultivator’s lips.
“You know what I want, Dai Dai. Give it to me.”
“I… I… I’ll try again…”
Sang Dai’s breathing trembled slightly as she carefully cupped his face. Su Xuan, obedient, allowed her to take the lead.
She looked as though she was performing an important task, her expression cautious and meticulous. Just as she was about to press her lips to Su Xuan’s, she suddenly froze.
Su Xuan grew anxious, leaning forward slightly and lowering his voice to plead, “Dai Dai, kiss me. Don’t leave me hanging.”
Sang Dai murmured softly, “Close your eyes. Don’t look at me.”
The little fox blinked, then suddenly chuckled.
His laughter made Sang Dai, who was already too shy to face anyone, tremble along with him. Seeing him laugh, she became even more flustered and annoyed, slapping his shoulder.
Sang Dai scolded angrily, “Stop laughing! If you laugh again, I won’t kiss you!”
Having genuinely upset the sword cultivator, Su Xuan quickly stifled his laughter and coaxed her for the sake of his future happiness. “Alright, alright, I’m not laughing anymore. I’ll close my eyes.”
The little fox obediently closed his eyes.
Sang Dai pressed her lips together, silently encouraging herself for a long while before she finally leaned forward slowly.
When one’s vision is obscured, the other senses become exceptionally acute.
Su Xuan could sense Sang Dai drawing closer, her breaths growing nearer and nearer, until she was right in front of him.
Her fragrant lips pressed against his thin ones. The sword cultivator mimicked the “demonstration” he had shown her earlier, pecking lightly several times. Then, with cautious hesitation, her soft tongue tentatively emerged, tracing the perfect curve of his lips like a hesitant kitten.
She was decisive and efficient with a sword, but in this situation, she was more like a timid turtle.
Su Xuan parted his lips slightly, forcing the hesitant little sword cultivator lingering outside to take the next step. Her tongue brushed over his lips and teeth, gradually venturing deeper.
He responded to her, gently biting the soft part of her lip, as clumsy and hesitant as her.
Sang Dai froze in place.
Su Xuan lightly patted her back, signaling her to continue.
The sword cultivator covered his eyes with her hand, afraid he might open them at any moment.
Reaching this point, Sang Dai knew she couldn’t hesitate anymore and steeled herself.
The little fox sat down on a nearby chair with her in his arms, placing the sword cultivator on his lap.
Sang Dai’s kisses were light and hesitant. Unfamiliar with how to breathe while kissing, she often had to pause to catch her breath before continuing. Her lips gently entwined with his, her tongue playfully teasing his, causing Su Xuan to finally experience the same torment she had earlier, the feeling of being hoisted by one’s own petard.
His entire body ached as he suppressed his urges, reminding himself of the promise he made to Sang Dai: he would not take the initiative and would leave control in her hands.
Since it was her first time taking the initiative, no matter how unbearable it was, he had to endure.
The hand gripping Sang Dai’s waist tightened more and more. Leaning against the back of the chair, Su Xuan allowed her to kiss him as she pleased. He offered subtle responses, but the initiative remained firmly in her hands.
Their kisses were infrequent and vastly different in style. Unlike Su Xuan’s intense and devouring manner, Sang Dai’s kisses resembled her personality—like a gentle spring rain, nourishing all things quietly and imperceptibly.
It gave Su Xuan the illusion—
That Sang Dai cherished him.
That she truly cared for him.
The sword cultivator’s soft tongue felt slightly numb. She withdrew, resting her forehead against his, breathing heavily as she said, “Su Xuan… is that enough?”
Sang Dai thought it was sufficient.
But she hadn’t even kissed him for a full fifteen minutes.
Su Xuan could barely speak, his eyes locked onto hers, suppressing the fierceness flickering in their depths.
“Not enough.”
“… What?”
“Dai Dai, it’s not enough.”
The self-restraint he had been preaching to himself turned into empty words.
He had made a mistake. He shouldn’t have given her control. Sang Dai couldn’t let go; she was too careful, too gentle.
But when it came to intimacy, the little fox didn’t like gentleness.
Her red lips were captured again, this time with Su Xuan taking the lead.
He aggressively pried open her lips and teeth, lifting her in his arms and placing her on the soft couch. Sang Dai’s waterfall-like hair spilled behind her, and the hairpins at the back of her head pressed against her uncomfortably.
One of Su Xuan’s hands cradled the back of her head while the other swiftly and impatiently began removing the hairpins from her updo. His kisses didn’t stop, muffling all of Sang Dai’s whimpers.
The hairpins he had personally pinned in place earlier that day were now being undone by his own hands. Once removed, he tossed them to the inner side of the couch without a second thought.
Sang Dai’s legs bent on either side of his body, her skirt in disarray, overlapping with his black robes. She pushed against him, but her hands were swiftly captured and interlaced with his fingers. Tears slid down her cheeks, only for him to lick them away.
Their lips couldn’t part. As their fluids mingled, Su Xuan gave her a personal demonstration of what a proper kiss should be.
Sang Dai’s resistance grew weaker and weaker.
Outside, the cold wind began to howl, slamming the window shut with a loud boom. The sound of the shutters crashing together jolted the sword cultivator back to her senses.
Her brows furrowed slightly, her breathing ragged. Her delicate hands pushed against the little fox, who was nuzzling her neck, her fingers slipping through his silky silver hair.
“Su… Su Xuan…” Sang Dai stammered, “I… I… I want to drink water.”
The little fox struggled to return to his senses.
He lifted himself, looking at the sword cultivator nestled in his arms.
Her cheeks were flushed, her slightly parted red lips glistening, the area around them swollen. Her neck bore his marks, and her slightly loosened collar revealed her prominent collarbones, dotted with traces he had left. On her fair, rounded shoulder, a thin light-blue strap dangled loosely.
Su Xuan turned his gaze away, breathing heavily. Sweat trickled down his forehead, and Sang Dai instinctively reached for a handkerchief to wipe it away for him.
He seemed to be in discomfort.
But the little fox still remembered her words—she said she was thirsty.
He stood up and walked to the table, summoning Hellfire to warm the slightly cool tea. Bringing the cup back, he helped the weakened Sang Dai sit up and pressed the tea to her lips.
Sang Dai drank three cups of water in one go.
Seeing that Su Xuan was about to pour a fourth, she shook her head. “No more.”
Su Xuan gave a soft “Mm,” and then, using the same cup she had just used, drank the tea himself.