Ye Lingyuan shook his head helplessly, saying dotingly, "Lin'er, you're being mischievous again!"
Tsk tsk, his Lin'er was too good at playing.
Destroying that person's paper army and calling it a grand gift for them, that person would probably explode with rage.
As Ye Lingyuan expected, deep within this realm, a "person" wearing a mask with a green face and fangs, upon sensing the complete annihilation of the paper army, flew into a rage and overturned the table before him, roaring, "You're going too far!"
But no matter how angry he was, there was nothing he could do, as he could not leave this place. Therefore, he could only dispatch some cannon fodder to be sent to their deaths.
Zi Linling winked at Ye Lingyuan, nonchalantly stepping onto her masterpiece. Ye Lingyuan moved, and his body was already close to Zi Linling. He took her hand again and said dotingly, "Fine, let's continue on our way!"
The two continued forward and were soon blocked by a river. The river water was dark yellow and emitted a nauseating stench. By the riverbank, large patches of bright red flowers bloomed, enchanting and captivating. The flowers grew directly on bare stems, without a single leaf, appearing extremely eerie.
This was... Manzhushahua!
While Zi Linling was shocked, a smile of "as expected" also appeared on her face. The moment she saw the paper figures, she had vaguely guessed that this was where souls resided after death—the Underworld. Now, seeing these vast expanses of netherworld flowers, the Bian Hua, her last shred of doubt vanished completely.
Ye Lingyuan smiled and said, "Lin'er, you have no choice but to agree to be this king's consort now, because I have already journeyed to the underworld with you once."
"We vowed not to leave each other on the journey to the underworld, our shadows entwined on the Bridge of Helplessness."
"Lin'er, this is heaven's will, decreeing our alliance. Therefore, you are destined to be this king's consort."
Zi Linling was stunned. What kind of logic was this?
"We vowed not to leave each other on the journey to the underworld, our shadows entwined on the Bridge of Helplessness!" Why did her heart race upon hearing this? And what was this sweet sense of happiness?
Zi Linling rubbed her slightly flushed cheeks and thought to herself, "Have I really fallen for this ice block, Ye Lingyuan?"
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
"Like him? How is that possible?"
"We haven't even known each other for a month, how could I fall so easily?"
No matter how smart or cunning Zi Linling was, she couldn't understand that there was a feeling called love at first sight, and another called a glance that spanned a millennium. It was the same for Ye Lingyuan towards her! The same for Shen Liuxing towards her! The same for Situ Yunfeng towards her! The same for Mu Qingyan towards her!
However, at this moment, Zi Linling could only shake her head vigorously, trying to drive this absurd thought out of her mind. But why did it become clearer the more she tried to push it away?
Zi Linling's body involuntarily turned towards Ye Lingyuan, a hint of daze in her eyes. Her mind was in turmoil, and she had forgotten that the Bian Hua had the effect of enchantment. However, this enchantment only worked on lovers.
Ye Lingyuan's gaze also grew hazy. The quiet Zi Linling, the mischievous Zi Linling, the fiery Zi Linling, the cunning Zi Linling... various facets of Zi Linling flickered before his eyes, eventually coalescing into a single figure. That figure's eyes were tear-filled, looking at him timidly and resentfully, yet seeming to look through him at someone else.
"Lin'er, don't abandon this king!" Ye Lingyuan murmured. In his haze, he pulled Zi Linling into his embrace. "Lin'er, you belong to this king. No one else is allowed in your mind!" At this moment, Ye Lingyuan was domineering and mournful.
Under Ye Lingyuan's domineering and mournful gaze, Zi Linling slowly succumbed. Their lips drew closer, the scent of the opposite sex attracting each other. It was a fleeting touch, and they parted immediately. Their breathing gradually became heavier.
"Alas!" A sigh echoed in the colorful space.
At the same time, a stream of clear energy flowed into Zi Linling's muddled mind. Zi Linling suddenly awoke and pushed Ye Lingyuan, who was fumbling with her clothes, away. Then, a furious roar erupted, shaking the Yellow Springs water nearby and causing ripples.
"Ye Lingyuan, you scoundrel!" Zi Linling exclaimed, raising her leg to kick him.
At this moment, in Ye Lingyuan's mind, the Yi Qi Whip suddenly flicked, pulling him back from his stupor. The moment he regained clarity, Ye Lingyuan felt a powerful surge of energy directed towards him. And the target of this energy was the mark of his manhood. This was unbearable! With a shift of his mind, he quickly retreated three steps, thus avoiding the surge of energy.
"Lin'er, are you trying to murder your husband!" Ye Lingyuan said, still shaken. If he had woken up even a moment later, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
"Ye Lingyuan, you lecher, you took the opportunity to... to..." The words "take off my clothes" simply wouldn't come out of Zi Linling's mouth. She was so distressed that tears welled up. As a ghost hand poison doctor, when had she ever suffered such a loss? Her chastity from two lifetimes was almost compromised.
Ye Lingyuan was stunned. He then noticed Zi Linling's disheveled clothes. Could it be...? Remorse instantly flooded his heart. He did like Zi Linling, but he had never intended to cross that line. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but he wanted to save the most beautiful moment for their wedding night. Moreover, Zi Linling hadn't completely agreed, so how could he ruin her chastity?
At this moment, Zi Linling's appearance made Ye Lingyuan's heart ache as if it were being pierced. When had he ever seen such a fragile Zi Linling? But what had happened to him just now? How could he suddenly have done something so vulgar to his Lin'er?
"Lin'er, this king will take responsibility for you!" Ye Lingyuan wanted to embrace Zi Linling, but ultimately stopped his outstretched arms in mid-air.
Zi Linling looked at his anxious expression, and her heart felt as if it had been pricked by a needle. Now that she was sober, she knew it was the Bian Hua's doing. However, she had been too ashamed and angry then, and had directed her rage at Ye Lingyuan. Now, seeing Ye Lingyuan's self-reproach, Zi Linling felt a sense of guilt. She raised her head, forced back her tears, and said casually, "Although this isn't entirely your fault, your lack of willpower is your mistake." In reality, the enchanting effect of the Bian Hua was undetectable even by gods, let alone by Ye Lingyuan. It was also her own carelessness; how could she forget the potent enchanting effect of the Bian Hua, which even gods and demons couldn't resist?
Ye Lingyuan nodded repeatedly and said, "Lin'er, it's this king's fault. Please don't be angry, alright?" Looking at him being so submissive, the anger in Zi Linling's heart immediately dissipated.