Chapter 137: This Is Fine

“It has nothing to do with Miss Sikong, you don’t need to apologize to me.” Lin Xun shook his head. “Miss Sikong is also a victim.”

“A victim?” Lifting her head, Sikong Wangxing looked up once more at the stars that only she could see.

“Miss Sikong… how do you view the marriage contract between us?” Lin Xun asked with some curiosity.

Logically speaking, not knowing about it as a child was one thing, but as she grew up, any girl with a promising future would naturally feel resistance upon learning she was to marry a great devil who was an enemy of the world.

However, in this young girl’s eyes, there didn’t seem to be any.

“How do I view it…” Sikong Wangxing hugged herself even tighter. “Actually, I’m not quite sure either. Perhaps, for me, that marriage contract has already become a habit.”

“A habit?”

Lin Xun was stunned. A marriage contract could become a habit?

Or did Sikong Wangxing mean, “Since it’s the command of parents and the words of matchmakers, and I can’t refuse, I can only accept it”?

It was like if you were screwed over by life and couldn’t resist, you could only enjoy it?

That was probably what she meant.

Although Lin Xun’s contact with Sikong Wangxing had been brief, he knew she was a very traditional woman, the type with rather conservative thoughts.

But it was precisely this kind of conservative woman who, once she truly committed to someone, would surely stay with them for life, treating her husband as her world.

That was why her reaction had been so intense when he wanted to break off the engagement.

After all, breaking an engagement was equivalent to abandonment, which was difficult for this young girl to accept.

However, now that both parties knew the marriage contract was a mistake from the beginning, there was no such thing as “abandoning her after leading her on.”

Then Miss Sikong should be able to get over it.

In Lin Xun’s view, as long as they dispelled the Qingtian Xuannü Technique and parted on good terms to live their own lives, everything would be fine.

“Young Master Lin, can you tell me what the woman you like is like?”

Just as Lin Xun was silently looking into the distance, Sikong Wangxing spoke slowly, her voice as gentle as a summer evening breeze.

“My wife…”

The image of his wife appeared in Lin Xun’s mind, and a flash of longing crossed his eyes.

This trace of longing was seen by the girl, and quietly, Sikong Wangxing clutched her heart.

“She is very beautiful. So beautiful that sometimes when we walk on the street, I wonder if a few hoodlums will come looking for trouble, though I’ve never encountered any.”

Lin Xun continued.

“Actually, she’s a bit clumsy. I remember when I was seriously injured, she fed me medicine and almost blistered my tongue from the heat. When she brewed medicine, she always ended up covered in soot. She was even a bit of a tsundere at first.

I remember when I proposed, she ran out in embarrassment.

I thought my proposal was going to fail.

But after a while, she ran back, put her hands on her hips, and said, ‘This Highness will reluctantly agree to your request.’

After we got married, this cute tsundere side of her remained.

When she’s angry, she sometimes stomps her feet, and sometimes she lunges over to bite me.

Sometimes her aura is as noble as an ice lotus on a mountain, but in reality, when something happens, she’s as silly and cute as a seven or eight-year-old Little Girl.”

Listening to Lin Xun’s description, Sikong Wangxing continued to hug herself tightly.

Every word he spoke was like an ant gnawing at the girl’s heart.

Gnawing until the girl no longer had any strength, until the mist in her eyes disobediently blurred once more.

But gradually, in Sikong Wangxing’s heart, the image of that woman became clearer. Yet for some reason, she felt it somewhat resembled Sister Qingshang.

“Young Master Lin’s wife feels a bit like Sister Qingshang.” Taking a deep breath and suppressing the emotions in her heart, Sikong Wangxing smiled with curved eyes.

“Qingshang? Jiang Qingshang? No, no.” Lin Xun waved his hand. “That Jiang Qingshang… she always feels a bit off, hard to figure out.”

Lin Xun couldn’t help but recall the last time he toured Zilin Holy Land with Jiang Qingshang; she had acted hot and cold, which was definitely problematic.

If Jiang Qingshang were his wife, he would definitely pin her across his lap and spank her!

“Young Master Lin has met Sister Qingshang?”

“Uh… we’ve met once,” Lin Xun said vaguely.

“Isn’t Sister Qingshang very beautiful?”

“She is indeed beautiful, living up to the title of the world’s number one beauty. But that’s just the world’s opinion. In my heart, my wife is the most beautiful! That Jiang Qingshang counts for nothing.”

Lin Xun started talking big.

“Even if that Jiang Qingshang wore a JK uniform and knee-high socks and spun around in front of me, I wouldn’t spare her a second glance!”

“What kind of clothing is Young Master Lin talking about?” Sikong Wangxing asked in confusion.

“Cough, cough, cough… it’s nothing.” Lin Xun straightened his expression. “In short, that Jiang Qingshang is just so-so.”

“This is the first time Wang Xing has heard someone speak of Sister Qingshang like that,” Sikong Wangxing said with a smile. “However, although Sister Qingshang looks as cold as an iceberg, she is actually very gentle and considerate on the inside.”

As she spoke, Sikong Wangxing showed a hint of longing: “Actually, Wang Xing has always wanted to become a woman like Sister Qingshang—beautiful, strong, and gentle.”

“You are indeed not strong enough.” Lin Xun bit on a blade of grass. “But you are already very gentle and beautiful. You don’t need to become her; just being yourself is enough.”

Hearing Lin Xun’s words, the girl gripped her skirt tightly, her eyelids lowering slightly, her long eyelashes reflecting the faint firelight from within the cave.

“By the way, what is your Tianji City doing here? Is there really some Heaven And Earth Treasure here?” Lin Xun asked.

Lin Xun had wanted to ask for a long time, but he just hadn’t found the right opportunity.

Generally, any Secret Realm that could make Tianji City mobilize must have good things, and with people from the Demon Race World’s royal family coming as well, Lin Xun was even more puzzled.

Lin Xun didn’t plan on getting any treasures. Since he started cultivating, he had relied on his long spear, even though that long spear had now become a clothesline pole.

But Lin Xun felt that the treasure appearing in this Secret Realm might be related to the disappearance of Jiang Yuerou and the others.

“Treasure?” Sikong Wangxing blinked her large eyes. “Wang Xing didn’t come for a treasure.”

“Oh? Then why are you here?”

“Because…”

Sikong Wangxing stole a glance at Lin Xun, seemingly finding it a bit hard to speak.

“It’s because of Sister Qingshang.”

Sikong Wangxing hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to speak.

“Wang Xing has cultivated Star Eyes. Combined with the Tianji Art of Tianji City, I can sometimes see fragments of the future. In the future, Wang Xing saw… I saw Young Master Lin going to kill Sister Qingshang, which is why Wang Xing came here.”

“…”

Lin Xun was dumbfounded.

I came to save her, how could I kill her? Then why did I come here? To save a shadow?

“Young Master Lin.”

Wang Xing turned around, biting her lower lip, her eyes full of pleading.

“Wang Xing doesn’t know what kind of grievance exists between Sister Qingshang and Young Master, but Wang Xing is willing to compensate Young Master on Sister Qingshang’s behalf. Young Master can do whatever he wants to Wang Xing, but please, Young Master Lin, do not hurt Sister Qingshang.”

“Do whatever I want?” Lin Xun was startled.

Looking at the graceful figure of the girl before him, Lin Xun immediately caught the point, but he quickly threw that point away.

“Don’t worry, I won’t kill or hurt her,” Lin Xun promised. “Miss Sikong mentioned Jiang Qingshang just now specifically to see my reaction to her name, right?”

Sikong Wangxing lowered her head and did not deny it.

“Don’t worry, I’m not faking it. I really have no grudge against Jiang Qingshang and couldn’t possibly hurt her.” Lin Xun reassured her. “By contrast, there is something I should tell Miss Sikong.”

Sikong Wangxing raised her head and saw Lin Xun’s serious gaze. “Please speak, Young Master.”

“It’s about…”

Lin Xun told Sikong Wangxing about the Great Joy Temple and the fact that Fang Jianqiu was a traitor. Sikong Wangxing’s face grew even paler upon hearing this.

“Alright, Miss Sikong, go back to the cave and get some rest. We’ll set off at dawn. Miss Sikong doesn’t need to worry too much; this Secret Realm is vast, and it won’t be easy for them to find Jiang Qingshang. Besides, they won’t act and expose themselves without absolute certainty.”

Half an incense stick later, Lin Xun stood up and brushed the dust off his buttocks.

“Furthermore, I can actually make a deal with Miss Sikong.”

“A deal?” Sikong Wangxing, having learned that Jiang Qingshang could be in danger at any moment, was in a state of mental turmoil.

“I will protect you and Jiang Qingshang so you can leave this Secret Realm safely. In exchange, when the Rootless Secret Realm opens in a year, Tianji City must help me obtain a rootless fruit. How about it?”

“I can do that.” Sikong Wangxing didn’t hesitate much. “If Young Master Lin is uneasy, Wang Xing can make a blood oath.”

“There’s no need.” Lin Xun waved his hand. “I believe you.”

With that, Lin Xun walked into the cave.

Looking at Lin Xun’s receding back, Sikong Wangxing was briefly dazed.

She and he had become a relationship based on a deal… Touching the marriage contract in her bosom, the girl was lost in thought for a moment.

Although the marriage contract still existed, she and he were already like ordinary people.

Perhaps this was for the best.

At dawn the next day, after Lin Xun, Sikong Wangxing woke up early. Seeing that Sikong Wangxing had woken up naturally, Lin Xun took a small wooden stick and tapped it repeatedly next to Zhu Ling.

Zhu Ling, woken up and feeling grumpy, pouted her small mouth, looking unhappy.

But as soon as she saw the fierce-looking masked man holding a wooden stick, Zhu Ling’s originally dazed eyes immediately filled with tears. She bent her knees, hugged herself tightly, and buried her head between her legs.

“Young Master, please don’t bully Sister Zhu Ling anymore.”

Seeing this, Sikong Wangxing quickly walked over to comfort Zhu Ling, looking at Lin Xun with reproachful eyes.

“Cough, cough, habit. Hurry up, let’s go.” Lin Xun, who had wanted to bully Zhu Ling a bit more, could only give up after being dissuaded.

Zhu Ling peeks up with her bright eyes, and seeing that the Big Bad Guy had actually left just like that, then looking at the gentle Sister Wang Xing beside her, her tears immediately fell.

“Sister Wang Xing.” Zhu Ling buried her head into the valley that had once made her feel inferior.

That Big Bad Guy is so scary, and Sister Sikong is so gentle.

“Don’t worry, it’s alright.” Sikong Wangxing gently patted Zhu Ling’s back.

Two girls in their prime hugged each other. For some reason, seeing this scene from the cave entrance, Lin Xun felt like he was watching lilies bloom.

The three of them continued their journey.

However, Sikong Wangxing’s body was too weak, and Zhu Ling’s flying speed wasn’t fast enough, so the poison circle was chasing right behind them every time.

So Lin Xun tucked one under each arm and shuttled through the seemingly boundless Secret Realm.

Every time Lin Xun’s arm wrapped around her waist and those large hands pressed against her side, Zhu Ling’s small nose would twitch a few times.

She had been touched by this Big Bad Guy again and again; how was she going to get married in the future?

Sikong Wangxing didn’t think too much about it.

In Sikong Wangxing’s view, even if she wasn’t in his heart, and even if the Qingtian Xuannü Technique and the marriage contract were dissolved in the future, she would never marry another person.

Although Sikong Wangxing knew that her feelings for Lin Xun might not be romantic love, but rather that she had grown accustomed to him being in her heart.

However, the girl had no intention of letting anyone else take that place in her heart.

He would live with the one he loved.

She would continue to habitually let him live in her heart.

This would be enough.

Her only regret was… she would probably never become a bride.

However, Sister Qingshang hated men and seemingly would never marry in her life, so she could stay with Sister Qingshang forever and wouldn’t be too lonely.

Three more days passed. During this time, Lin Xun encountered many people. Some righteous Sects wanted to rescue Sikong Wangxing and Zhu Ling, but they were all beaten down by Lin Xun.

Some Loose Cultivators and demonic Sects wanted to intercept them, but they were sent flying by Lin Xun.

Among them, every time Lin Xun fought with Disciples from various Sects who wanted to play the hero and save the beauty, Zhu Ling would stand to the side, clenching her small fists and cheering for those Disciples!

“Defeat this great devil! Hit him hard! Make him pay for bullying me!”

But when Lin Xun actually came a tiny bit close to getting hurt, Zhu Ling would become nervous and look at the field with worry.

And when Lin Xun eventually won, Zhu Ling would always hide behind Sikong Wangxing.

Because every time Lin Xun finished a fight, he would walk toward Zhu Ling with a wooden stick: “Who were you cheering for just now? I didn’t hear clearly, say it again.”

But Sikong Wangxing would protect Zhu Ling every time. Gradually, after Lin Xun walked away, Zhu Ling would even secretly make faces at him.

As soon as Lin Xun turned his head, this Little White Rabbit, Zhu Ling, would shrink back behind Sikong Wangxing.

However, on one occasion, the three of them encountered three monks from the Great Joy Temple and were surrounded by thirty Loose Cultivators; Lin Xun actually got hurt.

He accidentally got a scratch.

Lin Xun didn’t think it was a big deal, but Zhu Ling simply wouldn’t let him leave.

In the end, Zhu Ling pouted her small mouth, placed Lin Xun’s large hand on her lap, and carefully bandaged it, muttering as she did: “You don’t even know how to be careful, Big Bad Guy…”

Then Zhu Ling got a tap on the head from Lin Xun.