Thoughts returning to the present, Bai Shuanglian looked at Ling Xiaoyou, whose face was full of curiosity, as if she had “Just tell me already—what’s the reason?” written all over it.
She paused, then spoke.
“I called you over this time to have you witness something.”
“Witness… something?”
Ling Xiaoyou tilted her small head in confusion.
“That’s right.”
Bai Shuanglian nodded.
“You should still remember that I talked to Xiaoyu about guiding her cultivation, right?”
“Of course I remember. It was only a few days ago. I’m not an idiot—how could I forget so soon?”
As she spoke, Ling Xiaoyou clapped her small hands as if suddenly realizing something.
“So you called me over because of Xiaoyu!”
“Yes. You were there at the time, too, and since you helped Xiaoyu so much, you can be considered half her master.”
Saying this, Bai Shuanglian rubbed Ling Xiaoyou’s small head and smiled.
“So I still hope you can witness all of this. Witness the beginning of her cultivation and teach her together with me.”
“Oh, I see. I understand now.”
Ling Xiaoyou nodded knowingly, not noticing the strange light that flashed through Bai Shuanglian’s eyes.
Although it wasn’t exactly a lie—one of her reasons for summoning Xiaoyou was indeed this—more than that, it was to help Xiaoyou train her resistance to Yang Flame.
But Bai Shuanglian still felt a little guilty for some reason.
Luckily, she was good at keeping a straight face, and Ling Xiaoyou didn’t notice anything unusual.
“If that’s the case, then there’s nothing I can do!”
Ling Xiaoyou crossed her arms and let out a light humph, speaking like a tsundere heroine from an anime.
“Then I’ll reluctantly go with you.”
“Just so you know, I’m not going because of you. It’s for Xiaoyu!”
“Alright, alright, I get it.”
Hearing this, Bai Shuanglian laughed softly and rubbed Ling Xiaoyou’s head again.
“Xiaoyou is the best.”
“Don’t use that tone with me! I’m not a kid!”
Hearing Bai Shuanglian’s coaxing, child-like words, Ling Xiaoyou became a bit annoyed, swatting Bai Shuanglian’s hand away.
“I’m an adult!”
“Oh? An adult?”
Having her hand slapped away, Bai Shuanglian didn’t mind.
Instead, she raised an eyebrow and looked at Ling Xiaoyou with a smile, leaning down to whisper in her ear.
“Then you don’t mind doing things that only adults can do?”
Upon hearing this, Ling Xiaoyou was stunned at first.
Then, who knew what her little head imagined, but her flawless little face instantly turned bright red.
She stretched out a trembling little finger, pointing at Bai Shuanglian.
“You… You shameless thing, you finally showed your true colors!”
Seeing Ling Xiaoyou’s panicked yet still forced composure, Bai Shuanglian chuckled.
“What are you thinking? I just wanted to invite you for a drink after this is over.”
“A… a drink?”
Ling Xiaoyou froze, her pointing hand falling subconsciously.
“Yes. Since you’re coming with me, I have to treat you to express my gratitude.”
Bai Shuanglian nodded in explanation.
“T-then that’s fine.”
Ling Xiaoyou breathed a sigh of relief, though for some reason, she also felt a little disappointed.
She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the strange feeling.
“Thanking me is fine, but let’s skip the drink.”
Ling Xiaoyou looked at Bai Shuanglian, speaking in a “Good children shouldn’t learn this” tone.
“But I don’t like alcohol, so forget it.”
“Not liking alcohol is good.”
Bai Shuanglian nodded approvingly.
“I don’t drink either.”
“You don’t drink? Then you…”
Ling Xiaoyou’s words caught in her throat.
Her little head quickly processed the situation, and she glared at Bai Shuanglian, puffing up.
“So you were lying to me just now! There’s no drinking at all! And that adult thing was fake too!”
“The drinking part is indeed false. As for the latter…”
Bai Shuanglian narrowed her eyes at Ling Xiaoyou, wearing a meaningful expression that made Ling Xiaoyou’s heart waver.
But she was Ling Xiaoyou!
There was no way she’d surrender to the evil Exorcist Bai Shuanglian!
Therefore, Ling Xiaoyou’s aura weakened significantly, and her mind unavoidably conjured up those embarrassing scenes from yuri manga, making her voice drop a few notches.
“That’s a lie too, right?”
Bai Shuanglian said nothing, only looking at Ling Xiaoyou.
Under that silent gaze, Ling Xiaoyou’s aura weakened further.
Finally, Bai Shuanglian seemed unable to hold back and burst into laughter.
“Relax, it’s a lie too.”
“But did you think of something bad just now?”
Ling Xiaoyou let out a sigh of relief, but at Bai Shuanglian’s next words, her face flushed again.
“Mind your own business! Weren’t you going to find Xiaoyu? Stop wasting time here!”
With that, Ling Xiaoyou huffed and prepared to slip underground, flying toward Xiaoyu’s house.
But before she could enter the floor, Bai Shuanglian grabbed her hand.
“What is it now? Is there something else?”
Ling Xiaoyou glared at Bai Shuanglian, annoyed.
“Alright, I’m sorry. I did go a bit too far.”
Seeing this, Bai Shuanglian pulled Ling Xiaoyou into her arms, speaking softly.
“I just missed you too much after not seeing you for so long.”
“Will you forgive me?”
Hearing Bai Shuanglian’s gentle apology, most of Ling Xiaoyou’s anger vanished instantly.
Still, she turned her face away with a humph, crossing her arms.
“Hmph! Who do you think I am?”
“I’m not that petty! I wouldn’t get mad over something this small!”
“Yes, yes, Xiaoyou is the best.”
Bai Shuanglian hugged Ling Xiaoyou tighter.
“Actually, I wasn’t lying about everything just now…”
“What?! You really want to do that kind of thing?!”
Ling Xiaoyou was shocked. After all the back-and-forth, they ended up here again.
Now Bai Shuanglian is hugging me, and this is her house, so isn’t she planning to—
Thinking of this, Ling Xiaoyou’s face turned scarlet, as if steam was rising from her head.
But she didn’t struggle, lost in her thoughts.
“What are you imagining…”
Seeing this, Bai Shuanglian pinched Ling Xiaoyou’s soft cheek with a helpless smile.
“I just meant that after this is over, I really do plan to treat you to a meal.”
“You weren’t thinking something lewd, were you?”
Ling Xiaoyou: “…Of course not!”