The Detestable Nature of Laughter

"Warm sun and a gentle breeze... It would be perfect if I had a cup of wine."

In the backyard of the Loving Family Peak, under the shade cast by the sprawling branches of a large tree, Chu Xingchen lay in a rocking chair. Beside him sat a glass of freshly squeezed spirit fruit juice.

Spiritual energy evaporated from the juice, and the branches of the large tree behind Chu Xingchen swayed gently, as if the tree were savoring the escaping essence.

Generally, spirit fruits were rarely freshly squeezed. The reason was simple: without the protection of the outer skin, the spiritual energy inside the fruit would dissipate.

Furthermore, at least half of a spirit fruit's spiritual energy resided within its pulp.

This method of consumption was essentially enjoying half and throwing away the rest.

However, the current Chu Xingchen certainly had the qualifications to be so extravagant, and no one would accuse him of wasting resources.

Xie Lingyu, who was keeping him company by his side, frowned upon hearing his words. She reached out a finger, poked Chu Xingchen's cheek, and said in a displeased tone:

"You said you wanted to come out for some fresh air, and I allowed it. Now you dare to ask for wine?"

"Lady Lingyu, it's not like I've completely been reduced to a mortal with no cultivation. I am still a dignified Nascent Soul cultivator. If you threw me into any of the other four great continents, I would be a Nascent Soul Patriarch. How could a little breeze give me a cold? Drinking wine is even more trivial."

Chu Xingchen raised an eyebrow as he spoke, his voice suddenly dropping to a whisper:

"Yan Yun told me where Lu Xuan hid the 'Spring Warmth' wine. With your status, you definitely wouldn't be questioned. Why don't you go fetch some for me? We can drink together under the flowers; it would be quite romantic."

Xie Lingyu looked somewhat helpless and gently touched Chu Xingchen's forehead:

"We don't need to drink under the flowers. Just having you lie here quietly and chat with me is romantic enough for me."

"Hmm... Lingyu, you've changed."

"How have I changed?"

"You've become more thick-skinned than before. In the past, you would never say things like 'romantic.' If you heard such words, you would glare at people instead."

"Do you think I'm some casual woman who ignores status and morality to just be romantic with someone? The fact that I didn't draw my sword on the spot means I have feelings for you."

Xie Lingyu pinched Chu Xingchen's cheek with a displeased expression and said fiercely:

"You keep saying things that make me angry. If you continue like this, I'm going to bully you."

Chu Xingchen looked lazy and relaxed. "What can I do? After all, I'm just a lowly Nascent Soul cultivator right now. I can only let Lady Lingyu bully me as she pleases."

As soon as he finished speaking.

Into Chu Xingchen's line of sight, as he lay on the rocking chair looking at the green willows and the sky, Xie Lingyu's face suddenly leaned in.

Chu Xingchen's gaze naturally followed and focused on her.

Usually, Xie Lingyu's emotional fluctuations were not very obvious. It wasn't that she was completely expressionless like Li Xingtian, but rather that her facial expressions changed very subtly.

But at this moment, her expression changed more like that of an ordinary person.

On her pure, fair face, those eyes still carried a natural deterrence. However, the emotions within them were exceptionally gentle, creating a stark contrast... yet it truly made her look endearing.

Xie Lingyu's beauty was naturally beyond question. Her phoenix eyes gave her a sharp aura, her lips were slightly thin, her nose was tall and straight, and the contours of her face were exquisite. Above all, her temperament was unparalleled; she was beautiful to the bone. Because she leaned slightly towards an androgynous, heroic charm and rarely changed her expression, she often appeared aloof.

Chu Xingchen calmly met her gaze. They were just looking at each other; it wasn't like he had anything to lose.

He was lying down, while Xie Lingyu had to support her head to lean over.

After looking at each other for a moment, Xie Lingyu's face suddenly flushed slightly, and she narrowed her eyes as if in caution.

Seeing this, Chu Xingchen was taken aback and asked softly:

"I was just joking around. We're practically Dao companions now. You wouldn't actually beat me up just for teasing you a bit, right? I'm genuinely injured here."

"If you really want to hit me, you should at least wait until..."

Before Chu Xingchen could finish his sentence, Xie Lingyu's face suddenly drew closer.

Is she planning to headbutt me?

This thought flashed subconsciously through Chu Xingchen's mind.

But in the next moment.

He felt a slight warmth on his lips.

He froze.

The next second, Xie Lingyu lifted her head and gazed leisurely up at the sky.

Chu Xingchen slowly snapped back to reality, subconsciously touching his lips with his fingers. He looked sideways and saw Xie Lingyu staring at the sky in profile, acting as if she hadn't done anything at all.

This... isn't this playing a bit foul?

Looking at Xie Lingyu, Chu Xingchen grinned and said:

"Lingyu is bullying me."

Xie Lingyu didn't even turn her head, pretending she hadn't heard a thing.

Chu Xingchen waited for a moment before saying slowly:

"I want to bully Lingyu too."

Hearing this, Xie Lingyu slowly turned her head. The faint blush on her face had yet to fade as she stared silently at Chu Xingchen.

Seeing this, Chu Xingchen said self-righteously:

"Can't I?"

Listening to Chu Xingchen's shameless words, Xie Lingyu waited for a moment, seemingly in thought, before finally gently leaning toward him.

Chu Xingchen propped himself up halfway, his tone soft:

"Isn't the man supposed to take the initiative in these things?"

Xie Lingyu replied softly:

"You weren't taking the initiative."

"Wasn't that because I was afraid of making you angry? I don't like it when Lingyu gets mad."

Xie Lingyu glared at him sideways. "Have you ever made me angry any less? Don't you love coaxing people the most?"

Chu Xingchen looked innocent:

"That is a massive injustice. When have I ever liked coaxing people?"

"You might not like it, but you do it every day!"

Unable to tolerate such outrageous remarks, Chu Xingchen decided to take direct action. He leaned in, using his Nascent Soul cultivation to firmly grasp the Soul Formation cultivator, holding her completely immobile, and then decisively launched an attack.

The Soul Formation cultivator had no ability to parry; after taking the hit head-on, she could only quickly retreat.

Chu Xingchen's Nascent Soul cultivation was truly formidable.

Landing a successful strike, a mere Soul Formation cultivator was nothing much.

Chu Xingchen said with a satisfied expression:

"I quite like coaxing Lady Lingyu this way."

Xie Lingyu stood up with a flick of her sleeves. It was unclear whether it was because her own Soul Formation cultivation couldn't withstand Chu Xingchen's early-stage Nascent Soul cultivation, or if she simply didn't like this so-called method of coaxing.

She stood up, eyes half-narrowed, waited for a moment, and glanced sideways at Chu Xingchen lying on the rocking chair. After waiting another moment, she obediently sat back down.

She picked up the teacup on the side and poured herself a cup of tea.

Then she held the teacup and began to sip it gently.

Chu Xingchen smiled knowingly.

Holding the teacup, Xie Lingyu's lips curled up slightly, perhaps because the tea was a bit hot.

Naturally, in theory, a Soul Formation cultivator wouldn't be afraid of a little scalding heat.

But in theory, how could a Soul Formation cultivator be no match for a Nascent Soul cultivator?

Since he was the one in her heart, how could she resist the desires of her heart?

Over these past days, the matters Chu Xingchen had been dealing with were too urgent.

And she had been chasing after him too urgently. There were many things they hadn't had time to say, and many things they hadn't had time to do.

This moment of rest finally left the two of them some time to just be together.

Xie Lingyu looked up at the sky, her tone soft:

"After your injuries heal, what do you want to do?"

Hearing this, Chu Xingchen sighed softly:

"The Heavenly Demons haven't been completely eradicated yet. I don't even know if they have any hidden trump cards left, and their various methods are hard to guard against."

Upon hearing this, Xie Lingyu slightly lowered her head, then gently nodded.

"However, once my injuries are healed, the very first thing I want to do is, of course, to bully Lady Lingyu a bit."

Hearing this, Xie Lingyu cast her gaze toward him.

Chu Xingchen was smiling wickedly.