“Su Xuan?”
“Let me hold you for a while.”
The little fox was now evolving into a sly fox, gradually understanding the art of dealing with someone like Sang Dai, who had a thin skin. He, on the other hand, could afford to be shameless. Acting spoiled, yielding, and pretending to behave—these would tug at the sword cultivator’s heartstrings.
And pity was the beginning of love.
Through Su Xuan’s figure, Sang Dai saw Liu Lixue in the distance. The peacock stood far away with his back turned, his posture practically shouting, “Carry on, pretend I’m not here.”
Su Xuan licked Sang Dai’s earlobe and bit it lightly, making her flinch.
“Dai Dai, I’m so happy.”
Sang Dai, not knowing what made him so happy, looked adorably confused.
Su Xuan nuzzled against her cheek while holding her tightly, his voice rising with giddy excitement. “Mine. All mine.”
Sang Dai sighed helplessly. Su Xuan was becoming clingier by the day.
She pointed toward Liu Lixue in the distance. “Young Master Liu is still waiting for us. Can we save the hugging for later?”
Later? They could hug again later.
Happy.
This time, Su Xuan’s tail might as well have been wagging for her to see.
He suppressed his laughter and stood up. “Alright.”
And, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he took the sword cultivator’s hand.
Sang Dai glanced down at their interlocked fingers. By now, Su Xuan seemed to have made it a habit—wherever they went, he liked to hold her hand.
The little fox was very clingy.
Liu Lixue shook his head and strode off with a flourish. “Looks like we’ll be hosting a grand ceremony in the Beast Realm before long.”
Sang Dai’s cheeks flushed red; she naturally understood what Liu Lixue meant.
With Su Xuan’s personality, there was no way he would let Sang Dai stay by his side without a proper title. The dual-cultivation ceremony would undoubtedly be extravagant and ostentatious. Subtlety was not in his vocabulary—he might even invite the Four Realms.
But Sang Dai was socially anxious; the sword cultivator didn’t like interacting with others.
Su Xuan, however, was different.
The little fox tilted his chin slightly, looking particularly expectant.
Sang Dai sighed inwardly but didn’t speak to disrupt the current lighthearted atmosphere.
By evening, the Mustard Seed Boat arrived in the Beast Realm.
As soon as they disembarked, Su Xuan turned back to block Liu Lixue, who was about to follow them inside.
Liu Lixue: “?”
Su Xuan: “Do you have any business here?”
Liu Lixue, puzzled: “No, not really. But it’s dinnertime, so I thought I’d stay for a meal before leaving.”
Normally, Liu Lixue didn’t live in the Beast Palace—he had his own residence. But when he had nothing to do, he’d often drop by. Su Xuan even kept a room for him in the palace, so Liu Lixue would occasionally come over for a free meal, and Su Xuan never minded.
Liu Lixue instinctively started walking in. “What’s for dinner today? I’ve been craving the palace’s crispy fish.”
The little fox stretched out his hand to block him. “If you have no business, then leave.”
Liu Lixue: “???”
He glanced at Su Xuan holding Sang Dai’s hand and immediately understood.
“Alright, alright. So now I can’t even get a meal, huh?”
Sang Dai: “…”
She tugged at Su Xuan. “It’s dinnertime. Young Master Liu hasn’t eaten yet.”
But the little fox, eager for the sword cultivator’s promised reward, had no intention of entertaining the pesky peacock.
“If you want the palace’s crispy fish, I’ll have Cui Shao send it to you. You can leave now.”
With that, he pulled the sword cultivator away, completely ignoring the heartbroken and bitter peacock left behind.
As Su Xuan dragged her along, Sang Dai turned back and nodded slightly at Liu Lixue, offering an apologetic look with her eyes.
Su Xuan’s pace was quick as he led the sword cultivator toward the main hall.
Sang Dai, puzzled, asked, “Su Xuan, we can walk slower. There’s no rush.”
The little fox replied seriously, “It’s urgent.”
Sang Dai: “…What are you in such a hurry for?”
Su Xuan, equally serious: “Your reward.”
Sang Dai: “…”
Oh no, she had completely forgotten about that.
She hadn’t yet decided on what reward to give him and had originally planned to think it over carefully tonight.
When Cui Shao saw the two return, she happily greeted them, “Greetings to the Lord and Madam.”
Su Xuan immediately shut the small courtyard’s gate behind them. “No need to prepare dinner for now. Wait for my instructions.”
Cui Shao: “Understood.”
Su Xuan pulled Sang Dai into the main hall and closed the door behind them before turning around.
Sang Dai: “…”
She felt like she had set a trap for herself.
Trying to explain, she said, “I haven’t figured out what reward to give you yet. How about we wait a few more days?”
The main hall was unlit. Their return had been sudden, and Cui Shao hadn’t received any prior notification.
Now, with the evening sky gradually darkening, the hall grew even dimmer.
Su Xuan blocked her path. His tall figure and naturally imposing appearance were intimidating, and when he wasn’t smiling, he looked even fiercer. Lowering his gaze to look at her, the pressure he exuded was palpable.
The little fox’s mind was consumed by Sang Dai’s earlier words.
She liked him.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as his eyes darkened even further.
Unconsciously, Sang Dai took a step back. “Su Xuan, don’t be angry. I’ll think about your reward tonight, okay?”
Su Xuan raised an eyebrow. “I thought you’d already decided on a reward.”
“I… well, no, I haven’t…”
“But I want my reward now.”
He stepped closer with each word, and Sang Dai found herself unknowingly cornered by the round sandalwood table behind her, its edge pressing into her lower back.
Su Xuan finally managed to pull the sword cultivator into his arms.
Leaning down, he drew closer to her, his gaze a complicated swirl of emotions.
“Was I obedient just now?”
Sang Dai hesitated, then nodded. “…Yes, you were.”
He had been quite obedient; when told to leave, he had left.
The little fox, emboldened, pressed further. “If I was obedient, then I deserve a reward, don’t I?”
Sang Dai nodded honestly. “…It seems that’s true.”
Whenever she worked hard in her sword practice, Ying Heng would reward her with small gifts.
To the sword cultivator, rewards seemed natural.
Su Xuan locked eyes with her. “Then can I ask for my reward directly?”
Sang Dai hesitated. “…How about I think of a reward for you instead?”
Sensing something wasn’t quite right, she tried to negotiate.
Su Xuan shook his head. “No. If you pick the reward, I might not like it. How can a reward not satisfy the person receiving it?”
Sang Dai couldn’t find a rebuttal.
Ying Heng would always ask her what she wanted before buying her gifts.
In matters of social interaction, Sang Dai was quite simple. She believed everything Ying Heng taught her was right, and she felt she should follow his example.
And so, she was successfully led astray by Su Xuan’s twisted logic.
“Dai Dai, isn’t that right?”
“…It seems right.”
Su Xuan could hardly contain his delight.
She was too pure, so innocent and adorable. He had never met someone as straightforward and genuine as her.
If Sang Dai weren’t a Heaven-grade spiritual root awakener with the status of Sword Sect’s eldest daughter as her shield, her overly honest nature would have likely gotten her deceived countless times a day.
She had no cunning, but Su Xuan had enough for the both of them.
Su Xuan’s gaze dropped, landing on her rosy lips.
“Then, I want this.”
Sang Dai: “…What?”
His slender fingers touched the corner of her lips, gently brushing along the contour. The soft graze of his touch sent a ripple of shivers through her.
Sang Dai stammered, “Su Xuan, I…”
“Miss Sang, I want this,” he said, lifting his pale eyes to meet hers. “You are the greatest reward for me and the one I desire most.”
He knew Sang Dai already understood his feelings.
She just hadn’t sorted out her own heart yet.
The little fox leaned in closer until the tips of their noses touched.
“You said you liked me. I heard it. Whether it was partly true or not, I’ve taken it seriously, and I’ll turn it into reality.”
“If you like me, then you’re mine. If you don’t like me, I’ll work hard to make you like me. Dai Dai, when I set my mind on something, I see it through. You know that.”
In many ways, Su Xuan and Sang Dai were similar. They were both stubborn, willing to pursue a goal even if it left them battered and bruised.
Otherwise, Su Xuan wouldn’t have waited for her for over a hundred years. No matter how much Sang Dai hit him or gave him the cold shoulder, he would always pull himself back together and quietly look forward to the next time they’d meet.
His warm breath brushed against the sword cultivator’s face. The closeness made his inner voice all the more audible to her.
[I like you.]
[I like Dai Dai.]
[I like my Dai Dai.]
[Super, super, super like Dai Dai.]
Sang Dai’s waist was firmly held, her hesitation noticed by Su Xuan, who could see she was beginning to waver. The little fox moved on to the next step of his plan.
Seduction.
His beauty was his greatest advantage.
Su Xuan possessed a face renowned across the Four Realms, and even Sang Dai acknowledged his stunning looks.
“Am I good-looking?”
“…Good-looking.”
“Do you like it?”
“…Like it.”
“Do you like my face, or do you like me?”
“…”
Sang Dai wanted to say she liked his face, but the affectionate look in those eyes—eyes that had been whispering sweet nothings—made her words catch in her throat. All she could hear was the repeated refrain of “like Dai Dai.”
“Dai Dai, you like me a little, but you’re confused. Shall I help you figure it out?”
Su Xuan’s hand rested firmly on her lower back, his single hand easily holding the sword cultivator’s slender waist.
Sang Dai was completely defenseless against the fox demon’s allure. His eyes were practically made for ensnaring souls, and even someone as self-disciplined as she could be dragged into his abyss of desire.
She tried to turn her head away to avoid his gaze, but Su Xuan cupped her face, preventing her from escaping.
“Dai Dai, hm?”
Sang Dai was dazed.
Why did he have to look so breathtaking?
His warm hand guided hers to his cheek, his voice dropping to a low and intoxicating pitch.
“There’s a saying: enjoy life while you can; don’t let time slip away. Moments of ecstasy should be seized. Dai Dai, you like this face of mine, don’t you? Then what about my body? Do you desire it?”
Sang Dai’s face turned red. “You… don’t, don’t say such things…”
Why was he always so shameless, saying things like this?
The little fox kissed the sword cultivator’s ear and murmured, “If you don’t, then why aren’t you pushing me away?”
Her body had already gone weak.
“If someone else touched you like this, would you allow it?”
Sang Dai pressed her forehead against his chest, her breathing quickened.
Su Xuan’s kisses trailed down her neck, landing soft and warm on her delicate, jade-like skin. As he kissed, he whispered, “You wouldn’t allow it. You wouldn’t let a stranger touch you like this. Then why let me?”
Sang Dai tried to protest, “It’s not that… You said before that I would have normal desires…”
She clearly remembered the little fox’s words from not long ago in the palace’s bathhouse. She had a good memory and could recall many things Su Xuan had told her.