“But I thought he seemed very steady?”
“Hmm, that’s only in front of you. He’s not like that with me.”
“Is he good to you?”
“Very good,” Sang Dai said with a smile. “So good that he’d give his life for me.”
Ying Heng didn’t know what Sang Dai had seen. Su Xuan himself only knew that in the old destiny, he had also died, but even he hadn’t witnessed the moment of his own death.
But Sang Dai had seen it with her own eyes.
Ying Heng asked, “Dai Dai, do you like him a lot?”
“Mm, I like him very, very much. Master, if it weren’t for him, perhaps you wouldn’t be seeing me now.”
Ying Heng was silent for a moment before reaching out to gently ruffle Sang Dai’s hair.
“Dai Dai, you’ve only been together for a month.”
Sang Dai replied earnestly, “Master, his love for me far surpasses mine for him. He’s loved me for over a hundred years, but I was blind back then and didn’t see it.”
“Dai Dai, have you thought it through?”
“I have, Master. Feelings aren’t measured by time. The bond we’ve built over our seven years as master and disciple outweighs the century-long father-daughter relationship I had with Sang Wenzhou. The few months I’ve spent with Su Xuan are enough for me to see his sincerity. I’m very certain—we’ll never betray each other. He’ll be my final home.”
“If you like him, Master has no objections.”
Sang Dai threw herself into his arms, her tears soaking into his collar.
“Master, everything will get better.”
Ying Heng gently patted her back and said softly, “Dai Dai, Master won’t leave you again. From now on, we’ll always be together as a family.”
“Alright, Master.”
Everything will get better.
That’s what Sang Dai always believed.
Ying Heng, now in a mortal body, fell asleep after drinking the medicine from Liu Lixue.
Sang Dai set up a restful formation for him and stepped out. By the time she left, it was already the hour of Hai (9-11 PM).
As soon as she pushed the door open, she was engulfed in a broad, scorching embrace.
The little fox held onto his sword cultivator tightly and, in passing, locked the door.
“Dai Dai, you’re finally back.”
They had only been apart for a few hours, but he missed her terribly. Yet, since her conversation with her master was precious time for the two of them, he dared not disturb them. He was worried that if he angered Ying Heng, his newly granted title of “disciple’s husband-to-be” might be revoked. Su Xuan didn’t dare risk that, not with the title still unsteady on his head.
What Su Xuan didn’t know was how mild-tempered Ying Heng was—he wouldn’t get upset over something like this.
Sang Dai tilted her head up to hug him back and patted Su Xuan’s back. “I was just talking to Master for a while.”
Su Xuan lifted her by her thighs, and Sang Dai wrapped her legs around his waist, her entire body hanging off him.
He loved holding her like this. Sang Dai was so light to him that he could easily lift her with one hand, holding her without any effort.
Sitting down on a chair, Su Xuan had Sang Dai straddle him, sitting face-to-face in his lap.
Carefully, Su Xuan asked, “Is the Immortal Lord satisfied with me?”
Sang Dai tilted her chin, pretending to think deeply. “Hmm… Just now, my Master asked if I had really thought things through… It seems he’s still a bit worried…”
A flicker of panic crossed Su Xuan’s eyes. “Still worried? Should I talk to Immortal Lord Ying Heng again tomorrow? I truly am a good person.”
Sang Dai burst into laughter, her forehead resting against his chest as she laughed uncontrollably.
“Dai Dai, has Immortal Lord Ying Heng gone to bed?”
“He’s been asleep for a while.”
Sang Dai lifted her head, her eyes sparkling with laughter. “This good person, what are you so afraid of?”
Su Xuan explained, “…I’m afraid he won’t approve of our marriage.”
“He does approve.” Sang Dai kissed his cheek and said, “I told him, ‘I really like this little fox, and this little fox really likes me. We’ll never betray each other.’ So he approved.”
Her words were like coaxing a child, but they worked exceptionally well on Su Xuan.
He was great at catching the key points—Sang Dai had said she really liked him.
The smile on his lips was unstoppable. He had felt like he was dreaming all day, smiling at everyone he met.
“Really?”
“Really, all of it is true.”
It was true that Ying Heng had agreed, and it was true that she liked him very much.
Su Xuan hugged her tightly, rubbing his face against her neck. “I like you so much too. I like you so much, Dai Dai. I love you to death.”
His whining, cooing tone was utterly adorable, and Sang Dai kept smiling, holding his shoulders and letting him indulge in his affectionate display.
She never doubted Su Xuan’s sincerity. Su Xuan would never have a change of heart. The little fox had always liked her and always would. Su Xuan would only love Sang Dai, forever and always.
He had sworn a life-and-death pact, so Sang Dai was determined to fight to stay alive—so Su Xuan could keep living too.
“Dai Dai, when we return to the Beast Realm the day after tomorrow, let’s get married, alright?”
“…Su Xuan, is the ceremony really this rushed?”
Su Xuan pondered for a moment. “Is it very rushed?”
“A little…”
Su Xuan thought about it. His heat period would last only another four or five days. He wanted to give Sang Dai the grandest wedding ceremony across the Four Realms, but in just four or five days, many people might not make it to the Beast Realm in time.
He spoke softly, “But I only have a few days left in my heat period.”
The Jiexin Grass had accelerated his heat cycle. If not for its effects, he would still have a month left to prepare, which would have been enough time to hold a proper wedding ceremony.
Sang Dai stroked his hair. “How about we bond first, and then, after your heat period… we can hold the ceremony?”
Su Xuan wanted to bond with her before his heat period and hold a formal ceremony, but Sang Dai felt it was too rushed.
In a quiet voice, she said, “Actually, I’d prefer to wait until my Master can attend and hold the ceremony then. I want him to officiate for us.”
Su Xuan immediately apologized. “I’m sorry, Dai Dai. I didn’t think it through—I was too hasty.”
He really hadn’t considered this aspect. Both he and Sang Dai had lost their parents, leaving Ying Heng as the only elder in their lives. Now that they had found him, it was only right for Ying Heng to officiate the wedding.
Su Xuan apologized again and again. “I’m sorry. I didn’t plan it properly. I’m sorry, Dai Dai.”
Sang Dai buried her face in the crook of his neck, breathing in the fresh, herbal fragrance that clung to the little fox.
“Su Xuan, there’s no need to apologize.”
Su Xuan kissed the tip of her ear. “Then shall we bond first when we return to the Beast Realm?”
“…Alright.”
“During the heat period… how about we stay in the cave? I’ve already had it prepared. We can go there together.”
“…Where’s the cave?”
“Zhenhua Crossing,” Su Xuan replied. “It’s behind the Beast Palace, on the mountains. It’s my cave dwelling. Every year during my heat period, I go there.”
Sang Dai had heard Su Xuan mention it before. The Nine-Tailed Fox clan’s heat periods were too volatile, and their spiritual energy could easily leak and collapse nearby structures. For this reason, each fox built a custom cave dwelling to stay in during their heat cycles once they reached adulthood.
She had never been to the back mountain of the Beast Palace, as she had only wandered around the main hall before.
In a soft voice, Sang Dai replied, “…Wherever you want to go is fine. I don’t mind.”
Her voice grew quieter, and Su Xuan immediately recognized her shyness. The little fox was utterly delighted, holding her tightly and kissing her again.
Sang Dai wrapped her arms around his neck, closing her eyes and gently responding to his kisses. The little fox’s lips and breath always carried his unique scent. Sang Dai gradually felt his kisses deepen.
Her hands unconsciously fell to his chest, initially responding but slowly shifting to simply enduring.
Though they had kissed many times before, he was always gentle at the start. But after a while, he would grow fiercer, his arms tightening around her as if he wanted to press her into his very bones and blood.
Sang Dai softly called, “Su Xuan…”
His kisses trailed downward, and his voice turned hoarse as he said, “I locked the door when you came in. It’s already the hour of Hai, Dai Dai. No one will disturb us.”
His silver hair fell, and Sang Dai instinctively grabbed it. The silky strands were smooth as satin. She asked in a daze, “Your hair… What do you wash it with? It smells so nice and feels so soft…”
Su Xuan answered casually, “Just washed it with soapberry. I’ll help wash yours too when we get back, alright?”
“Your hair is really nice, better than mine to the touch,” Sang Dai murmured, her mind hazy. She couldn’t help but think that as an ancient divine beast, the Nine-Tailed Fox truly lived up to its reputation—his appearance was outstanding, and his fur, or in this case, his hair, was unbelievably soft. It was only when she felt a chill that she realized Su Xuan had already taken off her outer robe.
Sang Dai shivered slightly. “Su Xuan, it’s a bit cold in here.”
Su Xuan immediately apologized, “I’m sorry, Dai Dai.”
It was already late autumn, and the nighttime temperature was indeed low. He conjured a few balls of Hellfire to warm the room.
“Is it still cold?”
“Not anymore.”
Sang Dai steadied herself by holding onto his shoulders, slightly lowering her head to look at the little fox, who was currently kissing her chest. “Su Xuan, you’re not even in your heat period yet… Why are you always kissing me?”
Ever since Jiexin Grass had triggered his desires, Su Xuan had completely let himself go. Although they hadn’t taken the final step, they had seen each other’s bodies and shared every other form of intimacy.
Su Xuan lifted his head, the corners of his eyes tinged red, his gaze filled with evident longing. “Because I like you.”
He kissed her on the lips. “I like you.”
He kissed her on the neck. “I like you.”
He kissed her on the collarbone. “I like you.”
Finally, he placed a kiss over her heart. “I like every part of you.”
Sang Dai’s back arched slightly, her neck tilting upward. Su Xuan murmured in a low voice, “It’s because it’s you that I like.”
The room was illuminated by the soft glow of night pearls, but Sang Dai’s vision grew blurry. Sitting astride Su Xuan’s lap, her head tilted back, fine beads of sweat forming on her skin. Yet Su Xuan didn’t mind at all, kissing her tenderly and thoroughly, as if committing every inch of her to memory.
Finally, he carried her to the bed, laying her down as he lifted her skirts, the layers of fabric gathering around her waist. Su Xuan’s lips trailed down toward her lower abdomen. At that moment, Sang Dai became alert, half-sitting up and retreating slightly. “Su Xuan!”
Su Xuan looked up at her. She seemed panicked, her eyes filled with nervousness, like a startled fawn.
But she wasn’t entirely uncomfortable—just shy. Sang Dai was always reserved, unable to fully accept such things, but Su Xuan hoped she felt comfortable, hoped she enjoyed it, not just him.
Sang Dai pleaded with him, “Su Xuan, let’s not do this for now, please. I really can’t handle it.”
She recalled the moment earlier in the day when she had let him have his way—it had been so overwhelming that she had wanted to die.
Su Xuan leaned over, pressing her beneath the embroidered pillow. The sword cultivator lay quietly under him, and the little fox asked, “Don’t you like it?”
Sang Dai gripped his shoulders, feeling the solid heat of his muscles under her palms. She begged, “Su Xuan, please don’t…”
“Dai Dai, you’re so pure.”
“Su Xuan, I’m begging you.”
Su Xuan pursed his lips, brushing her hair aside and kissing her gently on her lower lip. “My darling is shy. I’ll give you more time to get used to it.”
For tonight, she managed to escape.
He undid his own robe. Sang Dai turned her head to the side and shut her eyes, refusing to look at him. Even though she had already seen his body, the sword cultivator still didn’t dare to stare openly.
The little fox leaned in again, kissing her neck and listening to her increasingly erratic breathing. In a muffled voice, he asked, “Do you like doing these things with me?”
In her hazy state, Sang Dai was honest, answering whatever he asked. “…Yes, I do.”
“Why do you like me?”
“Because it’s you. I like my little fox.”
This response greatly pleased Su Xuan. He kissed his beloved with abandon, determined to bring her joy. Finally, he straightened up and said, “Darling, before you came back, I tidied up.”
It was a suggestive comment. Sang Dai, eyes closed, replied softly, “Mm, alright.”
The little fox dared not go too far. Seeing the sword cultivator avoiding him, her delicate brows furrowed tightly, he noticed her body gradually relaxing.