Su Xuan stood at the pavilion at the end of the corridor, silently gazing at the distant desert.
Sang Dai walked up to him. “I’m ready. We can leave now.”
Su Xuan turned to look at her. The Sword Cultivator’s expression was calm, showing no other emotions.
He tapped her forehead and asked, “Why are you so calm? Aren’t you even a little afraid?”
Sang Dai replied helplessly, “Your Majesty the Beast King, you’ve asked me this several times already. I’m not afraid, not afraid at all.”
Su Xuan only wanted to tease her. Hearing this, he smiled and pinched her cheek.
“Then let’s go. I’ve already sent a message to Liu Lixue, asking him to bring troops to wait outside the Snow Realm. If anything happens, we can call him, and he’ll come in.”
“Alright.”
Su Xuan naturally took Sang Dai’s hand and started walking out. The Sword Cultivator glanced down at their interlocked hands.
“Su Xuan, why are you holding my hand?”
“I’m three years old and need an elder to accompany me.”
Sang Dai: “…Then would you trip and fall if you went down the stairs by yourself?”
Su Xuan replied seriously, “I would. A three-year-old child is at the age where they need company.”
“You’re so delicate?”
“Of course.”
“Are you a princess?”
“You could think of it that way.”
Sang Dai was amused by him and smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. “Alright, alright. Then little Princess Su should hold my hand tightly so you don’t get lost.”
She gave Su Xuan a once-over and revealed a satisfied expression. “After all, the princess is quite stunning, and too many people have their eyes on him.”
Princess Su happily held the Sword Cultivator’s hand. “Naturally.”
With this playful exchange, any tension dissolved, and Sang Dai found herself laughing.
Having Su Xuan by her side felt like he was always trying to make her smile.
In the past, Sang Dai had always been surrounded by serious and reserved people. The rules of the Sword Sect were too strict, and Sang Dai, being somewhat aloof, rarely spoke to others.
But Su Xuan was completely different from anyone she had ever met.
He was funny, enjoyed coaxing her, and showed her many interesting things.
As the two descended from the seventeenth floor, many people inside the building recognized Su Xuan. The Beast King’s silver hair was particularly striking, and his extraordinary appearance was renowned throughout the Four Realms.
As for the female cultivator beside the Beast King, many had heard of the Beast King taking a wife. Rumor had it that the Demon Empress had even set off fireworks for an entire night for him, a testament to their deep affection.
If they were visiting the Chunqiu Tower together, she must undoubtedly be his wife.
“That’s Sang Dai from the Sword Sect…”
“Miss Sang is truly beautiful. A Heaven-Grade Spiritual Root awakener is exceptional even in appearance.”
“No, no, her swordsmanship is even more impressive. You can’t just focus on her looks—that’s too superficial.”
“You’re right. I’d love to witness Miss Sang’s sword skills. A Heaven-Grade Spiritual Root awakener’s swordsmanship must be unparalleled. Unfortunately, I couldn’t withstand even one strike from her.”
“Tch, I’ve only ever seen Miss Sang draw her sword once.”
Sang Dai: “…”
Su Xuan chuckled, looking particularly pleased with himself.
Sang Dai forced a smile. Being in the Grand Ascension Stage, her five senses were extremely sharp. Even though the voices around her were intentionally lowered, they reached her ears with perfect clarity.
It was hard to ignore, especially with a certain fox grinning like spring blossoms.
They made their way out under the curious and teasing gazes of onlookers. Just as they exited the Chunqiu Tower, Sang Dai tried to shake off a certain fox’s paw.
But instead of letting go, the fox, who had previously been holding her hand, tightened his grip and interlocked their fingers.
The pressure emanating from Su Xuan became palpable, and Sang Dai could clearly sense it.
Her delicate brows furrowed slightly. She knew this was a sign that Su Xuan was angry.
Why was he suddenly upset? She hadn’t done anything, had she?
It wasn’t until Sang Dai followed Su Xuan’s gaze that she finally understood what had ruffled the fox’s fur.
To be honest, it hadn’t been that long since she last saw Shen Ciyu—just a few days, really. But in just a few days, Shen Ciyu had changed significantly.
Shen Ciyu used to wear pristine white robes, clean and neat. As the young master of the Shen family, the chief disciple of the Sword Sect, and a Heaven-Grade Spiritual Root awakener, his life had been smooth sailing. He was kind-hearted, responsible, and always seemed full of vitality, with a clear and tranquil state of mind.
But now, in just a few days, Shen Ciyu gave Sang Dai an unfamiliar feeling.
He was still dressed in clean white robes embroidered with the Sword Sect’s cloud patterns, with his ponytail bound high with a jade crown. His features were still handsome and gentle, but his gaze was dull, his lips frighteningly pale. In fact, his entire complexion looked lifeless.
Shen Ciyu shouldn’t have been able to enter the Chunqiu Tower. After all, only lovers could gain entry, and he was too principled to bring a female cultivator along to deceive Qiu Chengxi. His shoulders were covered with a thin layer of sand—who knew how long he had been standing there?
The wind outside was a bit strong. Because Tianyu had awakened from the snow, the weather had been slightly affected.
Sang Dai finally understood why a certain fox had suddenly gotten angry. He now held a strong dislike for anyone from the Sword Sect, including Shen Ciyu.
In the past, Su Xuan had already harbored significant hostility toward Shen Ciyu, and now it was even worse.
Sang Dai sighed inwardly and reached out with her other hand to tug at the fox’s sleeve.
The little fox looked over.
[Does Dai Dai think of anything when she sees him? The Sword Sect treated her poorly, and Shen Ciyu likes her. Damn it, I might as well just kill him.]
Sang Dai: “…”
Shen Ciyu likes her?
Sang Dai couldn’t tell. After all, Shen Ciyu didn’t talk much with her. Even when the two of them went out alone to exorcise demons, they wouldn’t exchange more than a few words over several days. Both of them were taciturn.
A certain fox silently stewed in jealousy, childishly clutching Sang Dai’s hand.
Sang Dai whispered, “Let go for now. He must have something to discuss with me.”
Su Xuan cast a cold glance at Shen Ciyu and noticed his gaze lingering on their interlocked fingers. Although Shen Ciyu’s expression appeared calm, there was an unmistakable trace of sorrow in his demeanor.
Su Xuan sneered inwardly.
Despite growing up with Sang Dai, Shen Ciyu couldn’t even understand his own feelings. Blindly loyal to the Sword Sect, he lived such a muddled life. Sang Dai could never like someone like him.
The Sword Cultivator’s hand gently patted the little fox’s head, and Su Xuan bent down to make it easier for Sang Dai to touch him.
Sang Dai lightly rubbed his two fluffy fox ears and said, “Su Xuan, go wait for me over there for a moment. I’ll just say a few words to him.”
Su Xuan pursed his lips without replying.
[What do you need to say to him? Dai Dai, don’t even look at him.]
The little fox was not only jealous of Qiu Chengxi but also of Shen Ciyu—and he cared even more about Shen Ciyu.
After all, Shen Ciyu had grown up with Sang Dai, and their bond was much deeper than hers with Qiu Chengxi.
Sang Dai found it somewhat amusing and pinched Su Xuan’s cheek. “I’ll just say a few words, alright? Princess Su, wait for me, okay?”
The Sword Cultivator spoke to him as if coaxing a child. Princess Su straightened up.
“…I’ll give you only one quarter of an hour.”
“Alright.”
Reluctantly, Su Xuan turned and walked away without even sparing Shen Ciyu another glance.
With no one else around, the smile on Sang Dai’s face faded.
She looked at Shen Ciyu standing not far away. After a moment of silence, she finally stepped toward him.
“Young Master Shen.”
Her tone was polite yet distant.
Shen Ciyu smiled faintly. “You won’t even call me Senior Brother anymore?”
Sang Dai didn’t respond.
There was no need to, really.
She had already left the Sword Sect. Now Shen Ciyu was likely to inherit the position of Sect Master. Next year, during the selection for the leader of the Nine Provinces Immortal Alliance, the role would surely fall to him. The next time they met, she would likely address him as Sect Master Shen or Alliance Master Shen.
Their relationship as senior brother and junior sister no longer existed.
Shen Ciyu lowered his eyes and sighed deeply.
But in the absence of others, his eyes turned red.
“…Sang Dai, I’m sorry.”
Sang Dai shook her head. “It’s not your fault.”
Shen Ciyu had been deceived, but he had never wronged her.
Shen Ciyu tilted his head slightly, wiping away the tears at the corners of his eyes. His voice was hoarse as he said, “The wind is strong here. My apologies for losing my composure.”
Sang Dai remained silent.
When Shen Ciyu turned back again, his expression had returned to its usual calmness.
“You’ve married Su Xuan?”
The entire Four Realms should know by now that Su Xuan had a wife. Shen Ciyu was well aware that Su Xuan allowed no one but Sang Dai near him, so it was obvious who this wife was.
Sang Dai looked up at him, and Su Xuan’s earlier words suddenly came to mind.
—Shen Ciyu likes her.
Sang Dai couldn’t see it. Whether it was true or not, she didn’t really care.
But letting him give up would be better for both of them.
“Yes, we’re married. He is my husband now.”
Shen Ciyu felt a chill spread through his entire body.
A cold wind seemed to rise from nowhere, surging up from the soles of his feet. Even as a cultivator in the Soul Transformation Stage, he found himself unable to ward off that icy sensation.
“…Good.” He repeated, “That’s good. He treats you well.”
Sang Dai glanced at the fox standing in the distance. The little fox had his hands behind his back and was facing away from them, but even from his posture, Sang Dai could tell what he was feeling.
He must be scowling, his lips tightly pursed, counting the seconds where he stood.
He was probably muttering to himself:
[What is Dai Dai saying to him? Damn it, why isn’t she coming back to me yet?]
[That damned Shen Ciyu, that damned Sword Sect—Dai Dai, stop looking at him.]
[Dai Dai, Dai Dai, Dai Dai—come coax me already.]
[Still not coming? I’m about to get angry!]
Princess Su might look calm now, but he’d probably lose his temper soon.
Sang Dai’s lips curved slightly before she withdrew her gaze. Turning back to Shen Ciyu, she said, “Young Master Shen, you didn’t come here just to tell me this, did you? If you have something to say, it’s better to speak directly.”
Shen Ciyu’s eyelashes trembled, and his lowered hand quietly clenched into a fist.
“Sang Dai, I came only to apologize to you. I’m sorry. In the past, I knew nothing and left you to bear so much on your own.”
Sang Dai still wore a faint smile as she shook her head. “It’s fine. It wasn’t your fault.”
Hey everyone!
Just a quick update—if you don’t want to wait for the chapter releases, the complete translated novel for After Awakening, I Could Hear My Archenemy’s Inner Thoughts is available on my Ko-fi! We’re only at chapter 38 in the book, so if you’re eager to finish the story, feel free to check it out. 💙
Thanks so much for the support!