Ling Xi stood up and walked to her, placing his hands on the armrests of the stool. He leaned down, bringing his face close to hers, and said word by word, "Marry me."
His gaze was fiery, as if a flame burned within, making her whole body feel hot.
Scenes from the previous night flashed through her mind, and she could faintly hear his warm breath.
His eyes were exceptionally resolute, brooking no argument.
Ye Ziling was instantly stunned. She subconsciously reached out and covered his lips, "...You're pushing your luck, aren't you?"
It was one thing to drug her, and now he wanted her to take responsibility and suffer with him for a lifetime?
To be honest, she hadn't made up her mind yet.
Ling Xi reached out, took away her hand, and moved closer, gazing at her without blinking. "The three formal proposals and six rites, the phoenix coronet and embroidered robes, a legitimate marriage – do you think I can't give you that?"
"For eternity, you will never escape me."
His aura was extremely oppressive, making her feel suffocated for a moment.
Ye Ziling hastily averted her gaze and murmured, "We'll talk about this later."
She still had her own mission to accomplish.
Even though she was very willing to spend her life with him.
"Promise me first, I'm afraid you'll renege," Ling Xi, seeing her hesitation, quickly pressed his advantage.
"No... do you think I can renege?" Ye Ziling chuckled lightly, curling her lips and continuing, "Given the dosage of the medicine you, Scholar Ling, administered last night, I doubt you'll give me the chance to renege."
Ling Xi moved away from her, his eyebrows slightly raised.
She was his anyway; he was being overly cautious.
"You can marry me, but there's a condition." Ye Ziling looked up at him, her eyes rippling.
"Why are there still conditions?" Ling Xi chuckled, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
Seeing his slight hesitation, Ye Ziling's eyes sparkled, and she raised her eyebrows, "What, you don't agree?"
"Scholar Ling, do you think I'd propose conditions if I wasn't asking for something? Am I asking for your biting habit? Or your aphrodisiac habit?"
Ye Ziling's eyes darted around as she feigned deep thought, her tone laced with playfulness.
Ling Xi, upon hearing this, did not deny it, merely raising an eyebrow at her. "You say."
As long as it wasn't asking him to kill himself, everything else was negotiable.
Halfway through building suspense, Ye Ziling feigned fatigue and pressed her temples, giving him a faint smile. "Look, I forgot again. I'll tell you next time I remember."
Ling Xi was helplessly amused, looking at her triumphant expression. He felt his patience wearing thin.
Ye Ziling laughed boldly, but suddenly a large palm shot towards her neck, gently gripping it and pushing her down onto the chair. He leaned over and, without another word, kissed her lips.
Stubborn and defiant, she clearly needed to be taught a lesson.
Pear blossoms bloomed, and the window was blown open by the wind, scattering petals onto the table.
By the window, the maiden's cheeks were flushed red as she painstakingly pounded the demon core. Dewdrops clung to her temples.
"Luoyao, let me." Ye Ziling snatched the pestle from her hand, only to have it snatched back by her.
"Miss Ye is not feeling well. I'll handle the grinding of the medicine."
Ye Ziling looked at her empty hands and stood by, observing her expression.
"Miss Ye, have you come to talk to me about Ling Xi?" Luoyao stopped her movements, turned to look at her, her eyes clear. "I already knew."
"When?" Ye Ziling was slightly surprised.
"That day when we were at Hongxiu Inn, Ling Xi told me."
The maiden then smiled, "I almost broke you two lovebirds apart."
"And what about you?" Ye Ziling didn't understand.
"I don't want to waste my life with someone who doesn't like me. In this way, you've also made a choice for me. I should be thanking you."
Luoyao looked at Ye Ziling, her eyes shining with sincerity. "I just wish to meet my beloved soon."
Ye Ziling smiled in understanding.
"Miss Ye, just as Ling Xi said, you only have a sharp tongue. All the way here, I thought you were enemies."
Ye Ziling was slightly stunned, then she let out a soft laugh. 138 Reading Network
Halfway through pounding the medicine, Luoyao was searching for something on the table when she suddenly frowned.
"What's wrong?" Ye Ziling saw her unease and her gaze fell on the table.
The demon core was indeed fine, but a crucial medicinal herb was missing.
"I distinctly remember bringing the Firefly Grass... where did it go?"
The maiden frowned in thought, her gaze sweeping around the surroundings, her eyes reddening with anxiety.
"Firefly Grass?" Ye Ziling's eyes suddenly became complex as she stared at the herbs on the table, lost in thought.
She had read in medical books that the Firefly Grass resembled grass and emitted light at night.
Those who consumed it gained clarity of mind for nighttime reading, and consuming forty-seven pieces granted longevity, bringing great benefit to the human body.
It was just a lingzhi mushroom; she knew where to find it.
Upon closer consideration, the place where the Firefly Grass grew was no more than ten li from their current location. Not only could they reach it by flying boat, but even a person on horseback could get there quickly.
"The Firefly Grass is not far from here; I'll go get it." Ling Xi's voice came from outside the door. He raised his head and looked up, walking towards the two of them.
"No need, I'm free anyway, so I'll go." Ye Ziling said leisurely. She had been feeling bored these past few days, and it would be nice to go out for a bit.
She heard that there were many rare and exotic plants where the Firefly Grass grew, and she could pack them back to the valley to store some medicinal herbs.
Ling Xi lowered his head and chuckled, glancing at her with a knowing smile. "Does your head not hurt anymore? Or do your legs not ache?"
Ye Ziling raised her eyes, her expression calm, and said unhurriedly, "Scholar Ling won yesterday, winning ten games of cards against me. How about we have a competition this time?"
She had been tricked by Ling Xi last night, losing so miserably, and had even been taken advantage of for an entire night. She needed to find an opportunity to regain her honor.
"Oh? What shall we compete in?" Ling Xi's eyelids flickered slightly as he assumed a posture of attentive listening.
"I heard that your sect's Qinggong is quite good; I'd like to experience it."
"From here to Bixi Mountain is only about ten li. The rule is that neither flying boats nor horses can be used. Only Qinggong or walking is allowed. Whoever retrieves the Firefly Grass first wins."
Ye Ziling's eyes lit up.
"Alright, let's compete in that," Ling Xi said, glancing at her indifferently, his eyes filled with a hint of interest.
"When shall we start?" Ling Xi asked, looking at her with a smile.
"Now." Ye Ziling's lips curved. Her toes lightly touched the ground, her form flickered, and in the blink of an eye, she was already out the door.
Before Luoyao could interject, Ye Ziling had already disappeared.
Only Ling Xi remained standing in place, his posture like a pine tree, staring at the receding figure outside the door, the smile on his lips gradually widening.
"Ling Xi, why aren't you going? Aren't you afraid of losing?" Luoyao asked him with a puzzled frown.
"She's not feeling well, give her some time." His deep voice was full of pampering affection. His thin lips parted, "Win or lose doesn't matter."
After saying that, he also stepped out the door.
Luoyao watched his tall, receding back, her eyes darkening slightly.
Ye Ziling used her Qinggong all the way, passing through the marketplace, and bought a bowl of sweet soup to quench her thirst.
She leaned casually on the eaves, sometimes looking down at the crowds bustling on the street, sometimes staring at the prosperous street in a daze. After resting for a while, she still hadn't seen Ling Xi catch up.
Logically, Ling Xi's skills were not bad, and coupled with Jun Lan's cultivation, he should have been able to catch up with her with ease. Why had it taken so long?
After observing from the eaves for a moment, a figure with an extraordinary bearing flew towards her from not far away, dressed in a black robe that fluttered in the wind, as ethereal as an immortal, speeding towards her as fast as lightning.