Chapter 54: Stirred by Chu Xuan, Sweet Tranquility, Time Stands Still

“I have an idea. We can find someone who admires him, drug Ling Xiao with an aphrodisiac, let things take their course, and use his guilt to bind him as a Dao companion…”

Ling Tian listened, the corners of his mouth twitching. There it was—Jiang Xiqi always had schemes in her mind, but they were sometimes a little too ruthless.

To be honest, the method she proposed was, indeed, a feasible choice. The only problem was, it was rather underhanded. If Ling Xiao ever learned he’d been set up, it would all backfire spectacularly.

“No, I can’t use that method. I don’t want to force him—I want him to accept it with his heart.”

Ling Tian shook his head, refusing Jiang Xiqi’s proposal.

“You’re really quite troublesome…” Jiang Xiqi frowned slightly, but said nothing more, simply taking the matter upon herself.

“Then I’ll leave it to you. Just remember, don’t use any extreme measures,” Ling Tian reminded her, feeling it was better to be cautious—something about Jiang Xiqi always made him uneasy.

There was no harm in repeating his warning. Besides, with the system rewards, he believed Jiang Xiqi would unconsciously come to agree with him.

Seeing her accept, Ling Tian didn’t linger any longer and left.

The next moment, an elderly man with white hair appeared.

“Are you truly going to do this?” the old man asked quietly, eyes full of helplessness. He had thought he’d found a promising disciple, but she was so exceptional that even the heavens had taken notice.

“Master, if heaven will not tolerate me, then I must defy the heavens!” Jiang Xiqi withdrew her gaze, turned to look at the old man, her eyes full of resolve.

Perhaps she could deceive others, but never her master. She was not as indifferent to fame and fortune as she appeared. On the contrary, she valued such things even more than most.

The old man sighed deeply, but said nothing further.

Such were the times, such was fate.

“Friend Tian Ling, what did the Divine Maiden say to you?” As Ling Tian emerged from the room, Jiang Tian hurried forward, voicing the question on everyone’s mind.

After all, it was the first time Jiang Xiqi had brought a man into her chambers—small wonder they were curious.

Nearby, Zhao Jinying pricked up her ears at Jiang Tian’s question, her heart full of complicated feelings. She had played right into her own trap: she’d brought him here herself, and now he’d gone off with the woman she liked, into her own room.

How infuriating! Was the allure of men really so irresistible? If necessary, she could always transform into a man herself!

Jiang Tian’s question wasn’t mere curiosity, but prompted by the look on Ling Xiao’s face—he seemed on the verge of saying something, but held back.

Frankly, he knew his own worth; he was no match for Jiang Xiqi. He was self-aware enough to know that whatever happened between Ling Tian and Jiang Xiqi was none of his concern.

But Ling Xiao was different! He had strength, background, looks—the whole package. Truly, he had a real chance. This, surely, was what it meant to be a gentleman who helps others find happiness.

At the same time, this brought him closer to Ling Xiao. Besides, from Ling Tian’s demeanor, it was clear his relationship with the rescued woman was not ordinary. He wouldn’t be so blatantly two-timing, would he?

“Didn’t the Divine Maiden just tell you herself?” Ling Tian glanced around, looking at them all as if they were fools.

Really, what was wrong with them? She’d already said she didn’t quite understand, that’s why she’d called him in. Did they not trust him, or did they not trust Jiang Xiqi?

Of course, none of them were actually fools—they caught the meaning behind Ling Tian’s words at once. The trouble was, none of them dared offend either party. Ling Tian topped the ranking of prodigies; Jiang Xiqi was the Divine Maiden. How could they risk offense?

“It was foolish of us!” Jiang Tian immediately responded, realizing his mistake.

Ling Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. So did Zhao Jinying. Their eyes met by pure chance.

What are you looking at?

What’s it to you?

The two glared at each other, neither able to stand the other—a curious play of fate…

“It’s time to go back.”

Ling Tian walked over to Chu Xuan, crouched down slightly, and patted his shoulder, signaling for her to climb on.

When he’d come over, he’d seen her clutching her shoulder, assuming her injury hadn’t healed, hence his gesture.

Sometimes, things really were strange like this. People said a woman’s heart was hard to guess, but if you tried guessing a man’s thoughts, it could be just as difficult.

“Mm.” Chu Xuan didn’t refuse; she lifted her skirt slightly and lay down on Ling Tian’s back.

Her arms circled gently around his neck, her lips curving in a smile that couldn’t be suppressed.

Ling Tian didn’t take to the skies, but walked slowly with Chu Xuan on his back.

Before long, they had left the Celestial Secrets Pavilion far behind, the world growing darker around them.

The stars thinned around a bright moon, spilling silver light over the two of them.

In the tranquil night, it seemed their hearts drew closer still.

“In that moment, when you didn’t stop me—was it because you’d already decided to follow me?” Chu Xuan’s hair fluttered in the breeze, her eyes bright as the Milky Way as she asked softly.

She wasn’t foolish; Ling Tian’s timely appearance when she needed him couldn’t be mere coincidence.

“Yes.” Ling Tian didn’t hide it; there was no need for pretenses between them.

“When I was hurt, were you angry?”

“Yes.”

Ling Tian’s answer was simple—if he hadn’t been angry, he wouldn’t have beaten Qi Ming so thoroughly.

Delight sparkled in Chu Xuan’s eyes. She felt she had found the joy of being in love.

And she hoped this moment could last forever, unchanged.

“You said you’d always be behind me—did you mean it?” Chu Xuan leaned closer, gazing at Ling Tian’s profile, eyes full of longing.

“Eh…” Ling Tian was just about to answer when he stepped on a stone and stumbled forward.

With a splash, both of them tumbled into a muddy pool.

“Chu Xuan… you—pfft, hahaha…” Ling Tian surfaced, intending to look for Chu Xuan, but saw her emerge plastered in mud, grinning broadly.

“I’m fine…”

At that, Ling Tian couldn’t hold back anymore. He even took out a recording stone to capture the moment.

“Hey! This is all your fault—I’ll get you for this!” Chu Xuan pulled out a mirror, saw her reflection, and immediately protested, scooping up mud and charging at him.

She broke into genuine laughter. In their playfulness, all pretenses fell away.

Pretending was a lesson everyone had to learn.

“Is that enough now?” The two of them lay side by side at the water’s edge, covered in mud, and Ling Tian asked helplessly—women really never wanted to be at a disadvantage.

Chu Xuan nodded in satisfaction. She didn’t ask Ling Tian to erase the contents of the recording stone.

So what if he’d seen her in a sorry state? If it could bring him joy, so be it.

Lying with their heads together, they gazed in silence at the bright moon.

As dawn broke and the first pale light appeared in the sky, they changed into clean clothes. It was truly time to return.

Suspended in midair, Chu Xuan looked back wistfully at the little mud pool. After a moment, she blinked, her gaze turning cool and clear.

“Let’s go.”

Ling Tian, waiting by her side, nodded.

“Tian Ling…”

“Hmm?” Ling Tian turned to look at Chu Xuan, radiant in the morning sun, and smiled—a hundred charms blossoming in that moment.

“I want to join your faction!”