Another night of jade-like wind and dew, sweat pouring down like rain, bitter and exhausting.
Supporting his slightly sore waist, Xu Ping’an looked at the little lady curled up and fast asleep beside him. His heart swelled with both pride and satisfaction, yet also helplessness and frustration.
There was no way around it—once the little lady’s innate seductive nature was awakened, there was no turning back.
Now she was like a fish that had been deprived of water for over ten years—naturally needing it, but parched for so long.
Once suddenly quenched and tasting water, how could she ever leave it again?
From what he had learned before, Pei Qingxuan was originally the type who cared only about strength, never entertaining romantic feelings.
But this innate charm had sparked her true nature, making her impossible to be as cold and indifferent in front of Xu Ping’an as she was with others.
Yet she had to maintain her image in public—not only to protect the reputation of the Flowing Cloud Sect, but also to suppress the likes of the Evil Sect and Demonic Sect.
The reason for hiding their relationship likely lay here.
Faced with the changes her special constitution brought, the only small resistance she could muster was this.
This was also why Xu Ping’an had agreed.
He couldn’t really let the little lady lose too much face outside, right?
If people saw that the top Sword Cultivator of the orthodox sect, the Sect Master himself, was being doted on like a little bird in a man’s arms, it would shatter their entire image.
[For now, it was better to keep their relationship a secret, but if it were to be exposed, even outside, Pei Qingxuan probably wouldn’t be able to suppress the desires in her heart anymore.
This secrecy was not only to maintain appearances—it was a boundary she had drawn for herself.
Xu Ping’an would never cross that line; at least not until she felt ready to let go of it.]
Xu Ping’an stared at the unfamiliar yet luxurious ceiling.
The bed he was lying on was a large Ba Bu Bed, occupying at least ten square meters. The bed itself was spacious and bright, surrounded by intricately carved solid wood patterns.
To be honest, he hadn’t really experienced such a comfortable life before.
Just as Xu Ping’an was zoning out, the little lady had already opened her eyes without him noticing.
Her pair of moist, sparkling eyes fixed on him, her gaze so tender it seemed to drip with moisture.
“Awake?”
“Mm~”
Pei Qingxuan, lying in Xu Ping’an’s arms, snuggled closer, pressing almost half her body against his.
Feeling the boundless sense of security emanating from the man beside her, she was utterly captivated.
But… she was well aware that as a Sword Cultivator, she was supposed to focus only on her sword.
Yet now, her heart was filled with this man before her.
If not for her past cultivation experience and the support of the Purple Patterned Lotus on her abdomen, her strength would have plummeted by now.
A Sword Cultivator without a sword in her heart—even forgetting the sharp edge—how could she wield the sword well?
“Husband.”
“Hmm?”
“If… if one day, I’m no longer the Sect Master—”
“Then come home with me. We’ll live a simple life—husband farming, wife weaving.”
This time, Xu Ping’an answered without hesitation.
He didn’t know why Pei Qingxuan asked such a question, but as a man and as a husband, there was no second option for this kind of matter.
“Mm~”
Seemingly satisfied with his answer, the little lady became even more clingy, now pressing nearly two-thirds of her body against his half.
But… Xu Ping’an couldn’t feel her heartbeat.
No way… too much flesh.
Yeah, too thick.
Despite toiling hard these days without complaint, this patch of ground was just too tough!
Forget about turning into black soil; even the original color didn’t seem to have changed.
The flowers were still as red as ever.
Looking down at the little lady, feeling the weight on him, Xu Ping’an exasperatedly flicked her tender, peach-pink cheek.
“Ah~!”
A coquettish cry echoed on the bed.
“Are you trying to crush your husband to death? Half your body is on top of me…”
“Husband~”
These words made the little lady reluctant to yield. With a voice so delicate it sent shivers down one’s spine, she rolled over and took the dominant position!
Before Xu Ping’an could refuse, Pei Qingxuan immediately began to unleash all her skills, starting their usual morning exercise.
Morning exercise was good for body and mind, good for mood, and also… a bit tiring.
By mid-morning, Xu Ping’an struggled to dress Pei Qingxuan, who was still clinging to him, then put on a plain blue robe himself.
Looking at his reflection in the mirror, he nodded in satisfaction.
“Alright, it’s about time. Let’s go to the Hall of Ten Thousand Harmonies.”
“Husband~ are we really going?”
The little lady seemed hesitant. Hearing this, Xu Ping’an glanced at her and pulled her fully into his embrace.
“Don’t be afraid. Although that old fellow is a bit gruff, he’s a good man at heart. Besides, he’s the only relative I truly acknowledge in this world…”
“Then… am I not family?”
“How could you be my family?”
Xu Ping’an gave the uneasy little lady a sharp look.
“You’re my lover, my wife!”
To be honest, Xu Ping’an had never imagined such words would come from his own mouth.
But when facing Pei Qingxuan, it seemed no matter how mushy the words, he could say them without restraint.
Sigh… is this what it means to be thoroughly taken in?
Xu Ping’an was puzzled but didn’t waste any time.
The two boarded the carriage out of the city.
The carriage crossed the Great River and arrived at South City, stopping in front of the Hall of Ten Thousand Harmonies.
Outside the hall, the bustling traffic and crowds showed no sign that yesterday’s little incident had left any mark on this old pharmacy that had stood here for over a hundred years.
However, as Xu Ping’an entered the hall, an elderly man, who was taking a patient’s pulse, suddenly noticed him. He quickly stood up and approached.
“Ping’an, how dare you still come? After you ran off yesterday, Master was furious and hasn’t calmed down yet! Aren’t you afraid of getting beaten up for real?!”
Beaten up?!
What a joke!
With the lady beside him, he didn’t believe that old man would dare to hit the Sect Master of the Flowing Cloud Sect.
Xu Ping’an snorted disdainfully.
“Senior Brother Shen, don’t call me a braggart, but even if I gave that old man ten chances today, he wouldn’t dare lay a finger on me. Believe it or not?”
Hearing this, the fifty-five-year-old Shen nearly lost his soul in fright.
He hurriedly tried to cover Xu Ping’an’s mouth, but unexpectedly, a powerful voice suddenly came from the inner room.
“You scoundrel, how dare you come here and brag again?!
I missed you yesterday because you ran fast. If I miss you again today, it means I’m a coward!!”
The old man charged out wielding a stick, but halfway through, his aged eyes suddenly flashed sharply as his gaze landed on the sword held by the woman beside Xu Ping’an.
On the sword sheath, three large characters were clearly engraved:
Nine Phoenix Sword!
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