Su Xuan paused for a moment, assuming she was dissatisfied with the Beast Realm’s offerings. Turning his head away, he said, “The eldest miss of the Sword Sect has come to the Beast Realm as a captive, naturally it’s not as good as your immortal realm. Our Beast Realm is just like this.”
As long as their eyes didn’t meet, Sang Dai couldn’t hear his inner thoughts.
Hearing the slight bitterness in his tone, Sang Dai realized Su Xuan had misunderstood. She sighed softly and stepped down the stairs, moving a few steps closer to him.
He was much taller than her, and once she stepped down the stairs, Sang Dai had to tilt her head back to look up at him.
Su Xuan’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, his eyelashes fluttering as his hand clenched tightly within the wide sleeve of his robe.
Sang Dai said, “Su Xuan, I don’t dislike them. The hair accessory is very beautiful, and the clothes are beautiful too. I like them both very much.”
She was over a hundred years old now. At her coming-of-age ceremony, Shi Yao had received a lavish gown personally crafted by Madam Shi. But Sang Dai, at her own ceremony, received only a sword manual handed to her by Sect Master Sang, who reminded her that, as one of the rare Heaven-grade spiritual roots in the immortal realm, she must diligently cultivate to protect peace in all directions.
Su Xuan lowered his gaze to look at her, his usual pretense of fierceness nowhere to be seen. Their eyes met.
Liu Lixue happened to arrive at that moment. As he approached the Beast Palace, he immediately noticed a shadow standing at the entrance. The intricate and ornate gold embroidery on the dark robe, paired with the long silver hair cascading to the waist, instantly revealed it was their Sovereign Lord.
Although Liu Lixue couldn’t see who stood before Su Xuan, only one person could make Su Xuan bow his head—Miss Sang.
Sang Dai smiled at Su Xuan. “Su Xuan, I like them very much.”
Su Xuan remained expressionless, silent for a long time.
Sang Dai thought she had made things awkward and was about to say something to ease the tension when a familiar inner voice suddenly echoed in her ears.
[“Dai Dai said she likes it. Does she like the clothes and the hair accessory, or does she like me?”]
Sang Dai: “…I like the clo—”
[“Forget it.”]
Sang Dai: “I like the clo—”
[“The clothes and the hair accessory were both given by me. Rounding off, that means she likes me. Great, I like Dai Dai too. Let’s kiss.”]
Sang Dai: “……”
Su Xuan, oblivious to the odd expression on her face, turned his head away, pretending to act nonchalant. “It’s just a few pieces of clothing. Spirit stones are the last thing I’m short of. Consider it payment for all the times you’ve sparred with me in the past.”
From this angle, Sang Dai could clearly see his earlobes, flushed red.
If his tail were visible now, it would probably be wagging so hard it could sweep flowers off the ground.
Her mortal enemy truly, genuinely liked her.
Sang Dai was speechless, but her eyes landed on Liu Lixue behind Su Xuan.
“Master Liu.”
As if she had spotted a lifeline, she stepped out and nodded at Liu Lixue.
Su Xuan turned to look as well. Liu Lixue, who had been leisurely fanning himself with a grin just moments earlier, stiffened under the Sovereign Lord’s gaze. The sharp eyes seemed to question him: Why did you have to come now and ruin my precious alone time with my sword cultivator?
Liu Lixue immediately stood at attention, cleared his throat, and, driven by a strong survival instinct, said, “The celestial herb and artifact for mending meridians are ready. I came to ask when Miss Sang would like to begin the procedure.”
Sang Dai’s eyes lit up.
Her heartbeat seemed to quicken for a moment as she hurriedly stepped forward, her voice rising with excitement. “Really?”
Hearing the anticipation and excitement in her tone, Su Xuan’s lips curved into a faint, silent smile.
Feeling a pang of bitterness in his heart, Liu Lixue softened his voice as he replied, “Yes, it’s true. Miss Sang, restoring your meridians won’t be a problem.”
At this point, Liu Lixue glanced at his Sovereign Lord.
Ever since Su Xuan brought Sang Dai back from Kongsang Realm, he had been scouring the Four Realms for various celestial herbs. Gathering these materials was merely a matter of money for him. Su Xuan knew how much Sang Dai valued her cultivation, so Liu Lixue dared not slack off either, poring over medical texts for solutions and even consulting the elders of his family.
Sang Dai’s hands trembled, and her lips moved as if she was trying to speak. After several attempts, she finally found her voice.
“I can restore my meridians now.”
Su Xuan immediately interrupted, “No, wait half a month. Your body is still too weak.”
Sang Dai insisted, “I’m fine.”
Su Xuan refuted her firmly, “I won’t allow it. The method for meridian restoration is too harsh. In your current state, you won’t withstand it.”
Sang Dai turned to face Su Xuan, meeting his gaze.
His stance was resolute. At this moment, Sang Dai couldn’t hear his inner thoughts, because Su Xuan wasn’t thinking about anything.
He was solely focused on opposing her attempt to restore her meridians while her body remained so frail.
Sang Dai and Su Xuan stared at each other in silence, while Cui Shao stood to the side, too frightened to speak.
Finally, Liu Lixue stepped forward to ease the tension.
“Well… it’s not urgent, actually. Miss Sang, the Sovereign Lord is right. Your body isn’t in the condition to endure this process right now, and it might even backfire. Let’s spend the next half month recuperating and then discuss the procedure again. How about that?”
Sang Dai realized she had been too impulsive.
The Bairen Alley auction was only a month away, and she was desperate to investigate the Immortal Velvet Grass and the Heaven-grade spiritual root being auctioned. If her meridian restoration wasn’t completed in time, she wouldn’t have the spiritual power to resist the ghostly energy of Bairen Alley, and Su Xuan would never allow her to go. That’s why she had been so eager.
But Su Xuan and Liu Lixue were right.
Sang Dai lowered her eyes and nodded. “I was too hasty. I’m sorry. Half a month it is, then.”
The sword cultivator lowered her head, lost in thought. Su Xuan observed her for a moment before pulling something out from his sleeve and handing it to her.
“Take this.”
His tone was cold.
In his long, slender hand was a silver feather, crafted with exquisite detail.
Sang Dai accepted it. “What is this?”
“You don’t have spiritual power now and can’t use voice transmission. This is a silver feather from the Beast Realm. If anything happens, you can use it to contact…” He hesitated. “…Liu Lixue.”
After saying this, as if afraid of revealing something, he quickly turned and headed toward the exit.
“I have things to attend to.”
The demon strode out briskly, but after taking only a few steps, he turned back and glared at her fiercely.
“No running around. Cui Shao, keep an eye on her. If she dares to run, I’ll hold you accountable.”
Fierce and commanding.
Cui Shao quickly responded, “Yes, Sovereign Lord.”
Sang Dai, however, simply watched him leave. His steps were fast, as if something were chasing him from behind.
Liu Lixue raised an eyebrow at her, smiling with a hint of mischief.
He, too, turned and walked away.
The black and red figures disappeared into the distance. Sang Dai looked at the silver feather in her hand and suddenly smiled.
She fastened the feather to her waist and turned to Cui Shao. “Can you show me around? I’d like to walk a bit.”
Cui Shao nodded. “Yes, Miss.”
The Sovereign Lord had instructed her beforehand that if Miss Sang wished to go out, she could wander within the confines of the Beast Palace but must not leave its boundaries.
The Beast Palace was protected by Su Xuan’s spiritual energy, but outside of it, the demonic aura would erode Sang Dai, who currently had no spiritual power to defend herself.
Su Xuan had walked far ahead when Liu Lixue caught up to him.
Once they reached a secluded area, both of their expressions changed abruptly.
Liu Lixue said coldly, “Sovereign Lord.”
Su Xuan knew Liu Lixue hadn’t come to the Beast Palace just to ask when Sang Dai’s meridians would be restored—there was definitely something else.
“Speak.”
“Shen Ciyu has gone to Kongsang Realm.”
Su Xuan suddenly stopped in his tracks.
A sharp pressure spread outward, sending his dark robes billowing, and his silver hair lifted by the force.
A demon cultivator in the Grand Ascension Realm could not fully control their aura when enraged, and Liu Lixue, though no weakling himself, felt the oppressive force keenly at such close range.
Struggling, Liu Lixue said, “Sovereign Lord…”
But Su Xuan’s figure had already vanished.
Liu Lixue fell to one knee, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
The Beast King’s intent to kill had risen—intensely, fiercely.
thanks! lolol him not listening to her when she tries to emphasise that she likes the clothes! “sweep flowers off the floor” with his wagging tail is a good imagery! hmm does he just not like shen ciyu looking for her, or does he thinks she likes hiiim!