Cang Jiumin's act of feigning ignorance seemed poised to last an eternity.
Su Su had not yet engaged in Dual Cultivation with him, but at the thought of something, Cang Jiumin couldn't help but curve his lips into a faint smile.
If she still held reservations, did that mean there was no place for Yue Fuyai in her heart?
After waiting a few days, Su Su noticed his performance growing increasingly convincing—now even the disciples of the Hengyang Sect regarded him as their esteemed head disciple.
A pack of gentle sheep had unknowingly welcomed a cunning, dark-hearted wolf, who had to suppress his true nature and feign purity and righteousness.
Su Su harbored a mischievous desire to mess with him. Since he insisted on playing this role, very well—he’d better endure it to the end.
During the day, she had a fairy attendant bring in a pot of fragrant orchid grass. When Cang Jiumin returned that night, he immediately noticed the two additional pots in the room.
Su Su stood nearby, watering them.
She seemed in better spirits today, more vibrant than usual.
He watched her for a moment, a softness flickering in his eyes, then wrapped his arms around her from behind. "What gave you the energy to tend to these today?"
Since becoming Dao Companions, such intimate moments between them had been rare.
Cang Jiumin was careful with boundaries—Yue Fuyai was a reserved and somber man, unlikely to take the initiative. Even as he held her, he dared not embrace her too tightly.
Su Su chuckled inwardly, aware of how difficult it was for him to maintain this facade of propriety and restraint. "The immortal palace lacks color," she explained. "I asked the disciples to bring in some plants and flowers."
Cang Jiumin's lips brushed faintly against her neck, his voice husky. "If you find the immortal palace dull, we can return to Changze tomorrow."
"That won’t be necessary. Changze is too desolate. The immortal palace is just fine."
"Are you tired now?" he asked, his gaze lingering on the delicate curve of her neck. His tone remained calm, almost probing. "It’s been several days since our marriage, and your life soul still hasn’t been repaired."
To mend a life soul, Dual Cultivation had to be performed while she was conscious.
It was hard to say who stood to gain more from this. In Su Su’s current state, only Cang Jiumin could transfer his Cultivation to her, while his own would inevitably regress.
Su Su turned in his embrace. He nearly failed to shift his expression in time, his face stiffening momentarily before he managed to look at her with a hint of bashfulness, his gaze clear and seemingly free of ulterior motives.
Su Su wondered: Do you want me to agree or refuse?
Suppressing a laugh, she thought of the spectacle to come and decided to play along. Blushing, she met his eyes and gave a slight nod.
Cang Jiumin’s expression froze for an instant, his hands tightening abruptly.
From his reaction, Su Su guessed what he was thinking: he assumed she was willing to engage in Dual Cultivation with Yue Fuyai.
She vaguely understood that if his mind were filled only with lustful thoughts, he wouldn’t be angry—he’d even delight in it.
But when she nodded, he grew furious. For a moment, he nearly forgot he was pretending to be Yue Fuyai, almost tearing off his mask. His grip tightened so much it nearly hurt her waist.
Su Su pretended not to notice, looking at him with feigned confusion. "Fuyai?"
He forcibly suppressed his rage.
"Sorry," he said.
Su Su swore she detected a hint of gritted teeth in his tone. Though his anger nearly overwhelmed his reason, he still had to feign composure.
Under Su Su’s gaze, he even forced a sliver of joy onto his face, though his dark eyes held no trace of amusement. Su Su deliberately lowered her gaze and began to untie his belt.
He remained silent and still, his eyes fixed intently on the crown of her head.
"Do you like Yue... me?" Su Su’s chin was lifted. "Look at me."Su Su almost wanted to remind him: You're acting as Yue Fuyai, not my mortal enemy who wants me dead.
She suddenly wondered how long this person could endure.
Under his intense gaze, she bit her lip and said, "Of course I like you. Fuyai, what's wrong? You look so pale. I like you... aren't you happy about it?"
He closed his eyes briefly, and when he reopened them, he smiled, "Of course I'm happy. How could I not be happy!"
He pulled her over, and in an instant, the outer garment he had carefully dressed Su Su in that morning shattered under his palm.
Su Su knew he was furious.
He probably wished he could strangle her right now. Seeing him angry made Su Su want to laugh even more.
When he pressed down on her, Su Su knew this couldn't happen.
If she really let him continue, he'd probably torment her mercilessly in this state.
Her fingers twitched slightly, and just then, a disciple rushed in from outside.
"Fairy Yuling, Fairy Yuling..."
The immortal attendant rushed in, only to see their compromising position. She immediately lowered her head, her face flushing crimson.
Cang Jiumin said coldly, "Get out."
The attendant, thoroughly embarrassed, hurried to leave.
Su Su asked, "What is it?"
In Hengyang Sect, Su Su's status ultimately surpassed Fuyai's. The attendant quickly explained, "I made a mistake earlier today. I was supposed to deliver Exorcism Grass but accidentally brought Fragrant Orchid Grass instead. But the Immortal Lord is allergic to Fragrant Orchid Grass..."
After speaking, she kept her head down, picked up the two pots of Fragrant Orchid Grass, and fled without daring to look at Su Su or Cang Jiumin.
Hearing this, Su Su turned back with concern, "That's right, I almost forgot. You've always been allergic to Fragrant Orchid Grass - you break out in rashes and develop fever when near it. Are you feeling unwell?"
The person above her stiffened.
She raised her hand to feel his forehead, surprised, "Why aren't you..."
He suddenly grasped her hand, smiling calmly, "I am feeling somewhat uncomfortable. I just didn't notice it earlier."
With practiced ease, he took Su Su's hand and placed it on his forehead after a moment.
When Su Su touched it, the previously normal-temperature forehead was now burning hot.
She unfastened his cuffs and pushed up his sleeves. Sure enough, scattered red spots had appeared on the young man's sturdy arms.
She nearly laughed aloud but managed to say with feigned anxiety, "Fuyai, wait here. I'll get medicine for you."
Pushing him away, she took a blue bottle from her dressing case. Curving her lips into a smile, she returned to him and said enthusiastically, "Take this and you won't feel uncomfortable anymore."
Cang Jiumin stared at the bottle in her hand, his eyes uncertain, as he smiled, "Alright."
Su Su poured out two pills and began spouting nonsense with a serious face, "These pills relieve itching through laughter. After taking them, Fuyai, you might not be able to stop laughing. But it's fine - keep laughing and you'll feel better."
His expression stiffened slightly as Su Su pinched his cheeks.
Confident that as "Yue Fuyai" he wouldn't dare resist, she fed him the pills.
After a while, watching Cang Jiumin's expressionless face, she asked curiously, "Why aren't you laughing? This medicine is very effective."
A vein throbbed on his forehead as he said, "I'm holding it in."
Just as she was about to say more, he could no longer endure and pressed her down, pinning her with his long legs, "Be good, stop messing around."
Sensing that Cang Jiumin was nearly driven mad by her antics, she lay still obediently, deciding to spare him today and continue tomorrow.
One can never truly become another person.
To become him, one must endure countless grievances and hardships.Unknowingly, Su Su fell asleep. After a long while, she regained consciousness. Hengyang was already in the night, with luminous pearls in the immortal hall emitting a soft glow.
She felt extremely comfortable, as if soaking in warm water.
Opening her eyes, she realized Cang Jiumin was transferring his cultivation to her.
His pale fingers pressed against her forehead, blue light flowing between them. Su Su had been sleeping peacefully every night, and only today did she understand why.
No wonder, even without dual cultivation, she hadn’t felt the discomfort of a missing soul—it turned out Cang Jiumin had been transferring his cultivation to her daily.
However, with an incomplete soul, this cultivation would quickly dissipate.
Noticing she was awake, he gently stroked her hair. "What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?"
Her heart was filled with mixed emotions, and a pang of sorrow suddenly struck her.
Her clear spiritual platform felt as if bound by something, and once again, she tasted that sensation—sour and swelling, enough to make her eyes redden.
Su Su wrapped her arms around his neck. He lowered his gaze to look at her, his eyes originally holding the innate indifference and aloofness of Cang Jiumin, which he slowly replaced with Yue Fuyai’s obedient gentleness.
Without a word, she suddenly propped herself up and kissed him on the cheek.
Cang Jiumin froze, staring at her in disbelief. After a long moment, as if realizing something, he pressed her into his embrace, suppressing his sarcasm and jealousy. "Sleep, Li Susu."
Her hand lightly clutched his robe, a smile curling at the corners of her lips—it was the first time in her life she had felt the warmth of attachment.
It wasn’t Yue Fuyai she wanted to kiss—it was you, Cang Jiumin.
Watching Cang Jiumin play the role of Yue Fuyai every day was so engrossing that Su Su nearly forgot the unresolved matter with the East Wing Master.
After discussions between Qu Xuanzi and several elders, Hengyang Sect completely severed ties with Dongmu. Heart techniques, sword arts, and immortal methods would no longer be taught to any Dongmu disciples. Furthermore, Dongmu disciples were barred from participating in the century competition, and if any appeared on Hengyang Sect’s territory, they would face the fate of having their souls scattered.
For the first time in tens of thousands of years, two immortal sects had broken off relations.
The impact was significant, as at least the sects friendly with Hengyang also expressed their stance, cutting off all ties with Dongmu.
Losing access to heart techniques, being excluded from the century competition, and even being barred from entering secret realms that emerged on Hengyang’s immortal mountains were tremendous losses for Dongmu.
Su Su observed Cang Jiumin’s reaction, but he merely lowered his gaze, his expression indifferent, as if Dongmu’s affairs had nothing to do with him.
Su Su hadn’t really expected the East Wing Master to apologize to her. After all, as an elder who had lived for millennia, such immortal venerables were warlike and hot-tempered. The East Wing Master would rather antagonize Hengyang than bow to a mere child.
But when she fainted due to her incomplete soul and woke up in a pavilion, she found a green-robed, white-haired middle-aged man playing chess opposite her.
Startled, she eyed him warily. "East Wing Master? What do you want?"
She knew this man had previously tried to kill her.
The East Wing Master said, "Little girl, don’t be afraid. I just want to talk with you. Come, sit, and play a game with me."
Su Su glanced at him, aware that her cultivation was no match for his, and without hesitation, she sat down and began placing pieces randomly.
Sure enough, it didn’t take long for the East Wing Master’s face to darken with anger.
For a chess enthusiast, losing to a skilled opponent was tolerable, but enduring moves as terrible as excrement was unbearable.With a wave of his hand, the chessboard vanished. He sighed as he looked at her, then after a long moment, chuckled softly.
"She is indeed interesting." And clever too—no wonder that rebellious son of his was so fond of her.
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
"Such impertinence." The East Wing Master sat upright. After a long pause, he retrieved a jade box from his sleeve. "Open it."
Inside was a violet crystal ruyi scepter.
Su Su looked up. "What is this?" If she wasn’t mistaken, this was the Immortal Artifact passed down through generations of the East Wing Masters. It could absorb the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth, and legend had it that it could enable an ordinary mortal with no innate talent to form a golden core in just a few years.
"An apology." The East Wing Master seemed to know what she was thinking. "Don’t get any ideas. Legends are just legends. Though the violet crystal ruyi is powerful, it can only be used during the Deity Transformation stage."
"Why give this to me?" The East Wing Master didn’t seem like the type to bow to anyone, let alone offer an Immortal Artifact of this caliber. This went far beyond a simple apology.
After a long silence, the East Wing Master said, "Consider it my plea—treat him well."
He stood up and spoke wistfully, "You’re a clever girl. Even if he gives everything he has, he won’t be able to stay by your side for long. If only out of pity, don’t let him suffer too much in this lifetime."
Long after he had left, Su Su remained alone in the pavilion, gazing at the violet crystal ruyi.
What did he mean?
Did the East Wing Master also know that Cang Jiumin had taken on the form of Yue Fuyai?
Not long after, Cang Jiumin hurried over. He looked her over from head to toe, and for once, Su Su detected anxiety in his tone. "Are you alright? Did he do anything to you?"
Su Su shook her head.
"He gave me this." She held up the ruyi for him to see.
Cang Jiumin’s expression froze. "Why would he give you this?"
After a moment of silence, Su Su smiled. "He said it was a blessing for us to accompany each other in eternal life until our hair turns white. I thought, since it’s such a precious treasure, it would be a waste not to accept it. So I took his blessing."
He took her hand and smiled calmly. "Good."
Cang Jiumin leaned down and kissed her forehead.
In this world, there was no such thing as a gentle, eternal companionship until old age.
He thought mockingly, As long as I live, don’t even think about escaping me. Even if I decay and wither, I won’t let you go. How pitiful for you to have met me.
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