Love Fate

Morning.

A ray of sunlight pierced through the mist of the secret realm, shining into the cave.

Outside the cave, the world of the secret realm began to awaken.

Inside the cave, the campfire had burned out, leaving only a pile of ashes. The air was filled with the smell of charcoal, mixed with a faint scent of blood and an indescribable, ambiguous atmosphere.

Ye Xuan woke up in a daze.

The hangover headache made him groan helplessly.

"Hiss... my head hurts so much..."

He rubbed his temples and slowly sat up.

The aftereffects of the Drunken Immortal Brew were extremely strong; even a Nascent Soul stage cultivator would find it hard to bear.

Ye Xuan felt as if his head had been hit with a hammer. Every heartbeat brought a burst of sharp pain.

His mouth was dry, and his throat felt like it had been burned by fire, making a gurgling sound.

He blinked, trying to wake himself up. The surrounding scenery slowly became clear. He saw the moss on the cave walls, the ashes on the ground, and the clothes scattered all over the floor...

Memories flooded back like a tide.

The madness, crying, and hoarse shouting of last night... as well as the soft, jade-like touch.

Those scenes flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern. He remembered drinking a lot of wine, crying miserably, and saying a lot of crazy things.

He also remembered Bai Qianqiu's blushing face, her tears, her struggles, and her final compromise...

"Fuck!"

Ye Xuan suddenly opened his eyes, completely wide awake.

He looked around.

The hay pile beside him was already empty.

There was only a piercingly bright crimson stain, looking exceptionally startling on the messy white cloth.

The plum blossom-like bloodstain was like a clap of thunder, shocking Ye Xuan to the core.

Ye Xuan's hand trembled as he reached for the fabric. The moment his fingertips touched the red stain, his whole body stiffened.

"I'm doomed..."

Ye Xuan's face turned deathly pale, and his hands were shaking.

"Did I... did I really sleep with her?"

"And she was a virgin?"

"And the Holy Maiden of the Sword God Palace?"

An unprecedented panic welled up in his heart. This was no joke. With Bai Qianqiu's personality, wouldn't she just chop him into pieces when she woke up?

He thought of Bai Qianqiu's identity. The Holy Maiden of the Sword God Palace, the personal disciple of the Sword Sovereign, the successor of the world's number one sword.

How could such a woman tolerate her innocence being taken away?

The more Ye Xuan thought about it, the more panicked he became, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. He hurriedly scrambled up from the ground, ignoring his shoes, and stumbled toward the cave entrance.

"Qianqiu!"

Ye Xuan didn't even bother to put on his shoes, stumbling out of the cave.

His feet stepped on the ground, feeling the coldness of the dirt and the stinging pain of the crushed stones. But he didn't care about any of that, just running forward blindly. His heart beat like a drum, every throb making him feel a wave of panic.

As soon as he exited the cave.

He smelled a familiar roasted aroma.

It was the scent of roasted fish, mixed with the smell of charcoal and some spices. The fragrance drifted with the wind, making Ye Xuan's stomach let out an embarrassing growl.

By the small stream not far away.

A figure in white as pure as snow was sitting quietly on a rock with her back to him, turning a branch in her hands with two spirit fish skewered on it.

It was a crystal-clear stream, the water babbling as it flowed.

The stream was so clear that the bottom could be seen, revealing cobblestones and small fish swimming about. Colorful wildflowers grew along the banks, emitting a faint fragrance.

Bai Qianqiu sat on a large rock by the stream, her back facing Ye Xuan.

Her long hair fell over her shoulders, shimmering like a waterfall in the morning light.

Her posture was straight, like an unsheathed treasured sword. Even while doing a mundane task like roasting fish, she exuded a sharp aura.

The branch in her hands skewered two spirit fish, a type of spirit beast called Silver Scale Fish, known for their tender meat and rich spiritual energy. The fish had been cleaned thoroughly, scales removed and insides gutted, leaving only the white, tender flesh.

Hearing the footsteps, Bai Qianqiu's shoulders trembled slightly, and her movement of turning the branch paused for a moment. But she didn't turn around, simply continuing to stare at the roasting fish in her hands.

Ye Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, an indescribable sense of joy and guilt welling up in his heart.

Thank goodness, she didn't leave.

He straightened his clothes, put on a somewhat roguish yet gentle smile, and walked over:

"Um... morning."

"Up so early roasting fish? You really are virtuous..."

His voice was very soft, carrying a probing tone. He carefully observed Bai Qianqiu's reaction, terrified that a single wrong word would ignite her fury.

Clang!

Before he could finish his sentence.

Bai Qianqiu abruptly turned around, her sword already unsheathed.

The ice-cold blade was pressed against Ye Xuan's neck with absolute precision.

The edge of the sword rested against his skin; just an inch more and it would sever his artery.

The Wenqing Sword gleamed coldly in the morning light, a thin layer of frost condensing on its blade.

Ye Xuan's footsteps stopped dead, his Adam's apple bobbing.

He could feel the coldness of the blade and the sharpness of the sword qi.

Goosebumps rose on his neck, and cold sweat dripped down his forehead. He knew that if Bai Qianqiu applied even a little force, his head would roll.

At this moment, Bai Qianqiu's eyes were red, with tear stains still lingering at the corners of her eyes.

Her lips trembled slightly, clearly trying her best to suppress her emotions. A residual blush from last night remained on her face. That expression, a mix of shyness and anger, made her look both adorable and dangerous.

Her clothes were slightly messy, her collar slightly open, revealing a section of her snow-white neck. On her neck, some red marks could faintly be seen, the imprints left behind from last night.

Her hair wasn't combed neatly as usual, but loosely draped over her shoulders. A few strands fell by her cheeks, adding a bit of messy beauty.

"You bastard..."

Bai Qianqiu gritted her teeth, her voice trembling and choked with sobs:

"I'm going to kill you!"

Looking at her tearful eyes, the fear in Ye Xuan's heart vanished instead.

He didn't dodge, nor did he beg for mercy.

He even took the initiative to take a step forward.

"Squelch."

The blade pierced his skin, and a trickle of fresh blood flowed down.

The blood slid down his neck, staining Ye Xuan's collar red. Drops of blood fell to the ground with faint pattering sounds, forming small crimson spots on the earth.

"What are you doing?"

Bai Qianqiu was startled. She subconsciously wanted to withdraw her sword, but forced herself to hold it steady, though her hand was shaking violently.

Ye Xuan didn't care in the slightest about the wound on his neck. His eyes were so gentle they seemed to drip water as he softly said:

"Last night... I hurt you, didn't I?"

This sentence was like a bomb, instantly detonating Bai Qianqiu's shame and anger.

Bai Qianqiu's face turned completely red in an instant, the flush spreading all the way to the base of her neck.

She felt so ashamed she wanted to die, and the sword in her hand wavered:

"You... you shut up!"

"Don't say it!"

Even the pitch of her voice changed, carrying a hysterical kind of shyness.

Her face was so red it looked as if it would drip blood, and even her ears had turned pink. Her body trembled slightly, whether from anger or shyness, it was hard to tell.

"Alright, alright, I won't say it."

Ye Xuan took the opportunity to reach out and gently grasp the sharp blade. Ignoring the cuts on his palm, he slowly moved the sword away from his neck bit by bit.

The blade was incredibly sharp. The moment Ye Xuan's palm touched it, a gash was immediately sliced open. Fresh blood flowed down his palm, dyeing the blade red.

But Ye Xuan felt no pain. He simply gripped the blade tightly, moving it away from his neck inch by inch.

The powerful regenerative abilities of his Flawless Dao Body kicked in, and the wound on his palm healed at a visible rate. However, the blood still flowed, staining his palm and the blade of the Wenqing Sword.

Then, he smoothly grasped Bai Qianqiu's small, cold hand.

"Don't be like this."

Ye Xuan's voice was deep and magnetic, carrying an irresistible charm.

His palm was large, completely enveloping Bai Qianqiu's small hand. He could feel the softness of her palm and the trembling of her fingers.

Bai Qianqiu struggled for a moment but failed to break free.

She turned her head away, not daring to look into Ye Xuan's eyes, but tears fell unconvincingly:

"You have so many past-life Dao companions..."

"Empresses, Demon Venerables, Patriarchs... Every single one of them is stronger than me and has a higher status."

"Where does that leave me?"

"What am I? Just a distraction? Or a tool for you to take revenge on them?"

This was what she cared about the most.

She was the proud Holy Maiden of the Sword God Palace. She would absolutely not allow herself to become just one of Ye Xuan's many women, much less a mere substitute.

She recalled those rumors.

Wu Lingxiao, the current Empress, controlled the fate of the entire Great Xia. Demon Venerable Ziyao, peerlessly beautiful and incredibly powerful.

And there were those past-life Dao companions whose names she didn't even know, each of them a stunningly brilliant existence.

And what about her?

She was merely a Holy Maiden of the Sword God Palace. Although her talent was good, compared to those women, she seemed to be nothing at all.

She was afraid, afraid that she was just a tool for Ye Xuan to exact revenge on those women. She was afraid that in Ye Xuan's heart, she was just a dispensable existence.

Seeing her aggrieved appearance, Ye Xuan felt a pang of pain in his heart.

This question was a death trap.

However, his answer at this moment came without the slightest hesitation.

He grabbed Bai Qianqiu by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him, and said solemnly, enunciating every word:

"Bai Qianqiu, listen closely."

"No matter how many there were before, no matter who they are."

"In my, Ye Xuan's, heart..."

"You will always be number one."

His eyes were sincere, without any trace of falsehood. His hands gripped Bai Qianqiu's shoulders tightly, the force so great that she felt a hint of pain.

But this pain gave Bai Qianqiu an unprecedented sense of security.

Bai Qianqiu froze.

Looking at the sincerity in Ye Xuan's eyes, the grievance in her heart instantly dissipated by more than half, replaced by a sweet, secret joy.

Number one.

Even if he was lying to her, she accepted it.

Her tears stopped flowing, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curled into a smile.

Her heartbeat accelerated, and the blush on her face became even more pronounced. She felt as if her heart had been filled with honey, so sweet that she wanted to laugh out loud.

"Hmph."

Bai Qianqiu smiled through her tears, haughtily raising her chin:

"Since that's the case... then come back with me to the Sword God Palace!"

"We will cultivate together, dual cultivate together. I want to let the whole world know that you are my, Bai Qianqiu's, man!"

Her voice was loud, full of confidence and pride.

She had even begun to fantasize about the expressions her master and master's wife would have when she brought Ye Xuan back to the Sword God Palace.

She imagined herself holding Ye Xuan's arm, proudly introducing him to everyone: "This is my Dao companion."

"No way!"

Unexpectedly, Ye Xuan didn't even think about it before decisively shaking his head in refusal.

Bai Qianqiu's smile instantly froze.

"What did you say?"

Her eyes reddened. The sword she had just lowered was raised once again and placed back against Ye Xuan's neck:

"You heartless man!"

"You're refusing to take responsibility right after sleeping with me, aren't you? I knew you were lying to me!"

Her voice carried a crying tone, and tears began to well up in her eyes again. She felt like a fool, having just been immersed in sweetness only to be ruthlessly slapped in the face by reality the next second.

Her hands trembled, and the blade left a shallow bloody mark on Ye Xuan's neck.

She wanted to exert force, to kill this heartless man with a single strike, but she simply couldn't muster the strength in her hands.

"No, no!"

Ye Xuan's head throbbed as he hurriedly raised his hands in surrender:

"Qianqiu, listen to my explanation!"

"The Sword God Palace is a home to you, but to me... it's a dragon's den and a tiger's lair!"

"Going there would be throwing my life away!"

His voice was urgent, carrying a genuine sense of fear.

He wasn't joking; he was truly terrified.

"Throwing your life away?" Bai Qianqiu sneered. "Didn't you say my master was your past-life Dao companion? Didn't you say you could even make her kneel?"

"You're so skilled at playing with feelings that you aren't even afraid of the Empress. Why would you be afraid of her?"

Her voice was filled with sarcasm, and her eyes were full of disappointment.

Ye Xuan pulled a bitter face and awkwardly scratched his head:

"Cough, cough... well..."

"It's not your master I'm afraid of."

"It's your master's wife."

"Master's wife?"

Bai Qianqiu was taken aback. Suddenly realizing something, she forgot to press the sword and looked at him in disbelief:

"Are you sick in the head?"

"My master's wife is a woman!"

The moment she said this, she suddenly froze, her face full of astonishment:

"Wait a minute? My master is also a woman."

"Why are both my master and master's wife women?"

Her mind was in complete chaos.

Her master was a woman, this she knew.

But the master's wife was also a woman? What was going on here? Could it be that her master and master's wife were...

A bold thought emerged in her mind, making her face even redder.

"This... this I don't know."

Ye Xuan gave two dry laughs, his eyes darting away:

"Kids shouldn't ask about adult matters. Anyway... anyway, the relationships there are very messy. If I go, I might get beaten up by both of them in a mixed doubles match."

He recalled some memories from his past life, memories that made him shudder.

The Sword Sovereign's Dao companion was a ruthless character.

If she knew he had slept with Bai Qianqiu, she would probably chop him into eight pieces.

Ye Xuan's expression suddenly turned serious as he tightly grabbed Bai Qianqiu's hand:

"Qianqiu, listen carefully to what I'm about to say."

"Once this secret realm ends, you must immediately return to the Sword God Palace. Don't go anywhere else, just enter secluded cultivation."

"Wait until I finish dealing with this mess, wait until I achieve success in my cultivation... I will definitely go to the Sword God Palace to pick you up."

"When the time comes, I'll make your master pour tea for you and your master's wife peel oranges for you!"

His voice was very serious, his gaze very firm. He wasn't joking; he truly intended to do so.

Bai Qianqiu looked at him and shook her head, her eyes filled with stubbornness:

"I'm not going back."

"I yearn to wield my sword across the world and slay demons, just like my master."

"I want to follow you."

Her voice was firm, completely devoid of hesitation. She did not want to leave Ye Xuan; she wanted to stay by his side.

"Stop acting like a child!"

Ye Xuan's face darkened as he scolded her.

"With your current level of strength, following me is nothing but a death wish!"

"Do you even know who the people around me are? Do you have any idea how dangerous the things I intend to do will be?"

His tone was harsh, carrying an unquestionable authority.

Bai Qianqiu's eyes instantly turned red. Feeling deeply wronged, she yelled back, "You're the one who caused all of this!"

"If it wasn't to save you, why would I have ever offended the Empress?"

"And now look! I stuck my neck out for you, and you want to chase me away?"

Her voice choked with sobs, and the tears she had been holding back finally streamed down her face. She felt so incredibly wronged.

"You offended your master, too," Ye Xuan muttered under his breath, giving an awkward smile.

"You!"

Bai Qianqiu choked on her anger.

This bastard really knew exactly which buttons to push!

"Hmph!"

She forcefully shook off his hand, snatched up her longsword and the grilled fish from the ground, and spun around to leave.

"Fine, I won't follow you then!"

"Who would want to follow a kept man like you anyway!"

"I'll go by myself!"

She walked away quickly, her retreating figure looking utterly resolute. However, her shoulders were trembling slightly, making it obvious that she was crying.

Watching Bai Qianqiu storm off, Ye Xuan rubbed his nose, a helpless but doting smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Without a second thought, he shamelessly hurried after her.

"Hey, hey, hey! Qianqiu! Wifey! Wait for me!"

"Don't walk so fast! At least leave a bite of that grilled fish for me!"

His loud shouts echoed throughout the valley. Moving swiftly, he soon caught right up to her.