In the simple and cold home, Bai Shuanglian sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion that didn’t quite match the surrounding décor, calming her mind and circulating her cultivation method to enhance her strength.
She didn’t know how much time had passed.
The originally amber-colored evening sky had already turned completely dark, the bright moon hanging high, with only a few stars faintly visible.
“Hoo~ I’m only a step away from the Nascent Soul Stage. Once I break through, I can return to the family for a visit.”
Bai Shuanglian let out a long breath.
Her closed eyes opened again, the black pupils shining brightly in the dim room.
“It’s getting late. I should go to bed.”
Bai Shuanglian stood up from the cushion, waved her right hand to put it away, and prepared to head toward the bedroom.
Although she said so, at her cultivation level, sleep was already something unnecessary.
But actions like sleeping and eating are instincts engraved in a living being’s genes. If she gave up all of these, over time, her humanity would inevitably fade.
So occasionally, Bai Shuanglian would use sleep to relax and rest, maintaining the habits of being human.
Bai Shuanglian’s bedroom was cold and simple, with only a bed, a wardrobe, and a computer.
That’s right, Exorcists used computers too.
After all, it was the information age. If ghosts or demons appeared somewhere, you only needed to check a specialized forum online to get the general idea.
No need to ask around, investigate, or divine like in ancient times.
Sweeping her gaze over the lonely bedroom, Bai Shuanglian always thought of that cute figure at times like this.
How nice would it be if Xiaoyou could be here with her.
Every time she thought about it, Bai Shuanglian felt a strong urge to storm the Underworld and abduct Ling Xiaoyou by force.
But aside from her emotions being more turbulent around Ling Xiaoyou, when alone, she was usually rational over emotional.
So even though she missed Ling Xiaoyou, she could still suppress that impulse.
After all, as a living person, she couldn’t easily cross the boundary between life and death and enter the Underworld.
Moreover, Xiaoyou probably wouldn’t like being taken away by force, and if she really did that, Xiaoyou would definitely make a fuss.
So she had to proceed slowly.
However, just thinking about Ling Xiaoyou being dragged away by her, her little face panicking yet still trying to act calm, made Bai Shuanglian’s lips curl up.
The originally ethereal aura like a moonlit fairy was replaced by a touch of mortal warmth.
Bai Shuanglian shook her head with a soft laugh, as if marveling at how she could care so much for a girl.
Suddenly, Bai Shuanglian’s expression turned cold, no longer gentle.
She seemed to hear a sound calling her, but she could clearly sense that her ears hadn’t picked up any noise.
Was it a spiritual sense transmission?
Thinking of this, Bai Shuanglian’s Golden Core Stage cultivation activated instantly, her divine sense chasing after the faint sound.
When she understood the message, her expression became strange.
“Bai~ Shuang~ Lian~ Come~ Here~”
The voice was somewhat familiar. Bai Shuanglian felt she had heard it somewhere before, but the deliberately stretched tone was odd.
She didn’t believe it was a bad connection.
She’d never heard of a spiritual sense transmission being interrupted!
Either you received it completely, or not at all.
There’s no such thing as a bad connection!
Following the familiar voice, Bai Shuanglian pondered for a moment, then found the owner of the voice in her memory.
“Is that you, Senior Hong?”
She sent her divine sense, and soon received a reply.
“No~ It’s~ Not~ Me~”
After hearing the answer, Bai Shuanglian was speechless.
You’ve already admitted it.
Hong Lingyan seemed to realize she’d been exposed, so she stopped joking and sent another message directly:
“Alright, alright, I admit it. I’m indeed Hong Lingyan. I’m right outside your door. Hurry and open it for me.”
As Bai Shuanglian’s residence, there were protective Law Arrays set up in the house.
But for Hong Lingyan, whose cultivation far surpassed hers, these defenses were less effective than a sheet of paper.
If she wanted to, she could easily cross the arrays and appear before Bai Shuanglian.
But out of courtesy, and because of her ties to the Bai Family, and more importantly, because Bai Shuanglian and Ling Xiaoyou were already betrothed—
As a ‘mother-in-law’, she couldn’t be so rude as to barge into the ‘son-in-law’s’ home.
Jokes aside, it was necessary to give proper notice.
Bai Shuanglian went to the entrance and opened the door, sure enough finding Hong Lingyan waiting outside.
“Come in, Senior.”
Bai Shuanglian stepped aside for her.
Hong Lingyan nodded and walked in.
Hong Lingyan subtly examined the surroundings.
Hmm, even colder than she’d imagined.
It seemed this Bai Family girl hadn’t put much effort into home decor.
“Please have a seat, Senior. I’ll go prepare some tea.”
Bai Shuanglian said, about to head to the kitchen, but was stopped by Hong Lingyan’s words:
“No need, Lian girl. I just came to discuss something. I’ll leave soon. No tea required.”
Lian… girl…
It was the first time Bai Shuanglian had been called that.
It felt a bit strange.
But since Hong Lingyan had a complicated relationship with her family’s Ancestor and was also Ling Xiaoyou’s Guardian, Bai Shuanglian already regarded her as an elder.
So she didn’t say anything, simply nodded and sat on the sofa across from Hong Lingyan.
She asked,
“So, Senior, what brings you here tonight?”
Hong Lingyan nodded.
“I came regarding Xiaoyou.”
“I intend to have her participate in the Xuantian Martial Tournament, to let her shine in front of your Bai Family so that if she marries you in the future, your family won’t look down on her.”
Hong Lingyan paused, looking at Bai Shuanglian seriously.
“As someone Xiaoyou likes, I believe you don’t want that to happen either, right?”