Sweet Daily Life

Bai Qianqiu's heart felt as though it were being ruthlessly squeezed by an invisible hand, making it difficult for her to breathe.

She couldn't imagine how this man, who was smiling so radiantly right now, could have once been so indifferent to life. What kind of despair would it take for a person to lose even the will to live?

Just then, Ye Xuan suddenly turned his head. His eyes, which had been as calm as stagnant water, reignited with light the moment he looked at Bai Qianqiu.

He raised his hand and gently stroked her cheek. His thumb caressed her delicate skin, his movements so careful and cherishing, as if he were touching the most precious treasure in the world.

"But everything changed after I met you."

His voice became deep and magnetic. Every word seemed to come from the very depths of his heart, carrying a scorching warmth. "I now have someone to protect. I have a reason to live. I am willing to fight for you, to swing my sword for you, and to slaughter all enemies in the world for you."

He paused, his gaze growing even more affectionate, so deeply affectionate that it was impossible to look away. "Even if I must die, I will die on the path of protecting you."

Bai Qianqiu was stunned.

Her eyes widened as her beautiful eyes instantly filled with tears. The crystal-clear teardrops swirled in her eyes, refracting specks of light.

Her lips trembled slightly. She wanted to say something, but found her throat felt blocked by something, preventing her from making a sound.

Her heart beat violently, each thump feeling as if it would leap out of her chest. An indescribable emotion surged within her—it was being moved, heartache, sweetness, happiness, a complex mixture of feelings that thousands of words could not express.

The tears finally spilled over, sliding down her fair cheeks and shimmering with a crystalline luster in the sunlight.

But the next second, Bai Qianqiu abruptly turned her head away, haphazardly wiping her tears with the back of her hand, trying hard to make her voice sound less choked.

She took a deep breath and raised her chin, restoring her haughty demeanor, though her slightly reddened eyes and trembling eyelashes betrayed her.

"Hmph, smooth talker." Her voice carried a hint of nasality, yet she feigned composure. "Who asked you to die for me? I, Bai Qianqiu, am no fragile woman. There's no need for you to be so dramatic."

She stole a glance at Ye Xuan. Seeing him looking at her with a smiling expression, she quickly turned her head away again, the roots of her ears burning red. "Besides... besides, if you really die, who will protect me? Isn't that just being irresponsible?"

Her voice grew quieter and quieter as she spoke, becoming nearly inaudible by the end.

She bit her lower lip, her heart pounding like a drum, the temperature of her face frighteningly high.

"So..." Her voice grew even softer, carrying a trace of shyness and bossiness. "You are not allowed to die, hear me? You have to live well and protect me forever and always. That is an order."

After saying that, she abruptly turned around, putting her back to Ye Xuan so he wouldn't see her flushed face and the unshed tears still lingering in her eyes. But the corners of her mouth couldn't help but rise, curving into a sweet smile.

Her heart felt as if it had been filled with honey, so overwhelmingly sweet that she wanted to scream out loud and spin around in circles.

This idiot, how could he say something so heart-fluttering?

Really... that's too unfair.

Night fell.

The valley deep within the secret realm was shrouded in tranquility.

In the sky, countless stars were scattered like crushed diamonds. In this isolated secret realm, the starlight was exceptionally bright and dazzling. The Milky Way stretched across the heavens like a flowing river of light, splitting the entire night sky in half.

Occasionally, a shooting star would streak past, trailing a long tail and leaving a fleeting trail of light in the night sky.

A bonfire burned brightly.

This bonfire had been built by Ye Xuan using spirit wood. When spirit wood burned, it did not produce thick smoke, but merely emitted a faint woody fragrance. The flames were a pale blue, occasionally popping with a few golden sparks. This was due to the spiritual energy contained within the wood being released as it burned, forming this peculiar sight.

Beside the bonfire, a soft animal pelt was laid out.

This was the pelt of a Golden-Haired Lion King that Ye Xuan had hunted this afternoon.

The Golden-Haired Lion King was a Nascent Soul stage demonic beast. Its pelt was soft yet tough, possessing excellent warming properties. It had taken Ye Xuan a full two hours to clean and process this pelt before laying it on the ground as a soft mat.

On top of the pelt were a few of Bai Qianqiu's outer garments.

The clothes emanated a faint, delicate fragrance. It was Bai Qianqiu's unique natural scent, cold and elegant, like a winter plum blossom on a snowy mountain.

Ye Xuan and Bai Qianqiu cuddled together.

Since they had already made their relationship clear, the two were no longer bashful.

Bai Qianqiu rested her head on Ye Xuan's arm, her whole body curled up in his embrace like a lazy kitten.

Her long hair fell loose, spreading across the pelt like a black waterfall. Her hair gleamed faintly in the firelight. A few strands hung by her cheek, swaying gently with her breaths.

A faint blush still lingered on her face. It was the trace left behind from her intimacy with Ye Xuan this afternoon. Her lips were slightly curled upward, her eyes shining with the light of happiness.

One of her hands rested on Ye Xuan's chest, her fingers drawing circles on his clothes. Her movements were very light and slow, carrying an indescribable intimacy and attachment.

Ye Xuan's other hand gently held her waist, occasionally caressing her hair. His movements were very gentle and careful, afraid of hurting the person in his arms.

A contented smile hung on his face. This kind of smile came from the bottom of his heart; it was true happiness.

The night breeze blew gently, bringing bursts of coolness. But tightly embracing each other, the two felt no cold at all.

Bai Qianqiu suddenly remembered something, and her finger paused its drawing on Ye Xuan's chest. She lifted her head and looked at Ye Xuan's profile, a complex emotion flashing through her eyes.

It was an emotion that mixed curiosity, jealousy, unease, and probing.

She bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and finally asked:

"Ye Xuan."

Her voice was very soft, carrying a cautious probing tone.

Ye Xuan turned his head and looked at her, "Hmm? What is it?"

Bai Qianqiu's fingers began drawing circles on his chest again, but her movements were clearly a bit absent-minded this time.

Her gaze was a bit evasive, not daring to look directly into Ye Xuan's eyes.

"You told me earlier that, apart from those Dao companions from your past life..."

She paused, her voice growing even quieter:

"Is there also someone named Ying'er by your side right now?"

"That maidservant holding the betrothal bracelet?"

When she mentioned the words 'betrothal bracelet,' her voice noticeably rose a pitch, carrying an unspeakable sourness.

Ye Xuan's body instantly stiffened.

He could feel Bai Qianqiu's finger stop moving, could feel the tension in her body.

He knew that if he didn't answer this question well, he would probably be sleeping on the ground tonight.

He carefully turned his head, observing Bai Qianqiu's expression.

There was no expression on Bai Qianqiu's face, but Ye Xuan could see the emotions flickering in her eyes.

Ye Xuan took a deep breath, carefully weighing his words:

"Yes... there is one."

His voice was very soft, carrying a cautious probing tone.

Bai Qianqiu's body noticeably tensed, and her finger pressed hard against his chest. Although the force wasn't great, Ye Xuan could feel the fluctuation of her emotions.

"But she's just a maidservant."

Ye Xuan hastily added, his voice becoming more cautious.

"Just a poor, unfortunate girl."

He paused, looking into Bai Qianqiu's eyes, and asked tentatively,

"Qianqiu, you are so magnanimous, you shouldn't... mind, right?"

His voice was full of expectation and apprehension. His heartbeat accelerated, and his palms began to sweat.

In reality, he was panicking like crazy inside.

If his backyard caught fire now, it would be a real mess. He didn't want his newly found happiness to shatter just like that.

Bai Qianqiu fell silent.

She didn't answer immediately, just quietly watching the campfire. The firelight danced in her eyes, making it impossible to read the emotions within.

This silence made Ye Xuan even more nervous.

Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Every second felt like a century.

Finally, Bai Qianqiu spoke.

"Hmph."

She snorted softly, her voice carrying an indescribable haughtiness.

"You think too little of me."

She turned her head, looking at Ye Xuan, a flash of pride in her eyes.

"I'm not one of those jealous women."

"Since she is your maidservant and takes care of your daily life, I can naturally tolerate her."

Her voice was calm, carrying a sense of magnanimity and composure. It was the demeanor of a main wife, a confidence in her own status.

Ye Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face. He was just about to say something when Bai Qianqiu interrupted him.

"However!"

Bai Qianqiu's tone suddenly shifted, and her gaze grew sharp.

She sat up from Ye Xuan's embrace and turned to face him. The firelight illuminated her face, making her expression look exceptionally serious.

She reached out a finger and poked Ye Xuan's chest hard. Each poke carried significant force, causing Ye Xuan a burst of pain.

"Since I am willing to give myself to you!"

Her voice rose, carrying an unquestionable firmness.

"Then I will be the main wife!"

"I don't care about that Ying'er!"

She poked him again.

"Or whatever Empress or Demon Venerable!"

Another poke.

"I, Bai Qianqiu, will never be a concubine!"

The final poke was particularly forceful, making Ye Xuan unable to hold back a sharp hiss of breath.

Yet, a smile appeared on his face.

This was the Bai Qianqiu he knew. Proud, confident, with her own bottom line and principles.

"No problem! Absolutely no problem!"

Ye Xuan immediately raised his right hand, making a swearing gesture. His movements were exaggerated, and his expression was very serious, as if performing some sacred ritual.

"I, Ye Xuan, swear right here and now!"

"Bai Qianqiu is the main wife! The only first wife!"

"Everyone else is..."

He paused, glanced at Bai Qianqiu's expression, and carefully added,

"Ahem, just passing travelers!"

Only then did Bai Qianqiu smile in satisfaction.

Her smile was radiant, like the warm winter sun, melting away the surrounding cold. Her eyes curved into crescents, sparkling with the light of happiness.

She lay back in Ye Xuan's embrace, a contented smile on her face.

But soon, her smile vanished, replaced by a look of distress and inner conflict.

She furrowed her brows, bit her lip, and a trace of complex emotion flashed in her eyes.

"But..."

Her voice grew very quiet, carrying an unspeakable sense of trouble.

"If my master really is your Dao companion from a past life..."

"Then what should I do?"

She looked up at Ye Xuan, her eyes full of confusion and unease.

"Isn't this too... too contrary to ethics?"

The mere thought of facing her master in the future made Bai Qianqiu's scalp tingle with dread.

She imagined herself standing before her master, calling out "Master," and then her master turning around, looking at her with a complicated gaze, and saying, "Qianqiu, we are sisters from now on."

No, that wasn't right.

If, according to Ye Xuan, she was the main wife, wouldn't her master have to call her "older sister"?

No, no, no, that was even more wrong!

Her master was her elder, how could she call her older sister?

No way, this was way too messy!

The more Bai Qianqiu thought about it, the more chaotic her mind became, filled with all sorts of strange images. Her face grew redder and redder, until she simply buried it in Ye Xuan's chest, not daring to think about it anymore.

Watching her reaction, Ye Xuan couldn't help but laugh.

He could guess what Bai Qianqiu was thinking. This issue was indeed very complicated and hard to handle. But he wasn't worried.

He reached out and gently stroked Bai Qianqiu's hair, his voice carrying a sense of nonchalance, and even a little smugness.

"Didn't you say you wanted to find someone whose Sword Dao is stronger than your master's?"

"Well, besides me, there is no one else in this world."

Bai Qianqiu lifted her head from his embrace and rolled her eyes.

"Give it a rest. I praise you a little and it goes straight to your head?"

Her voice carried a hint of reproach, but her eyes sparkled with amusement.

Ye Xuan's expression suddenly became incredibly serious.

He looked into Bai Qianqiu's eyes, speaking word by word.

"It's true."

His voice was deep, carrying an unquestionable firmness.

Bai Qianqiu was stunned. She could feel the seriousness in Ye Xuan's tone and the sincerity in his eyes.

"According to the memories I've recently awakened..."

Ye Xuan's gaze grew distant, as if recalling some ancient past.

"Back then, at the peak of the Heavenly Mountain, your master and I had a decisive sword duel."

His voice grew deeper, carrying an indescribable sense of vicissitudes.

"That battle lasted for three days and three nights."

Bai Qianqiu held her breath. She could imagine the ferocity of that battle. Two peak experts of the Sword Dao dueling at the summit of the Heavenly Mountain—what a spectacular scene that must have been!

"The heavens collapsed and the earth split; the sun and moon lost their light."

Ye Xuan continued, a trace of reminiscence flashing in his eyes.

"That final sword strike..."

Ye Xuan's voice paused, a hint of complex emotion in his eyes.

"If I hadn't intentionally shifted it by half an inch, showing mercy..."

He looked into Bai Qianqiu's eyes and said word by word,

"Your master would have died long ago."

Bai Qianqiu was dumbfounded.

Her mouth fell open, her eyes filled with shock and disbelief. She wanted to say something, but found she couldn't speak.

Her master, the Sword Sovereign, the number one person in the contemporary Sword Dao, almost died at Ye Xuan's hands?

"R... really?"

Her voice trembled slightly, carrying a sense of disbelief.

"Really."

Ye Xuan nodded, his expression incredibly serious.

"But at the very last moment, I shifted by half an inch."

"The sword qi grazed her shoulder, leaving a shallow scar."

"That scar is still there to this day."

Bai Qianqiu suddenly remembered that her master did indeed have a very shallow scar on her shoulder. The scar was small; without looking closely, it was completely unnoticeable.

Her master had never said how she got that scar. Whenever anyone asked, her master would remain silent, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

So, that scar was left by Ye Xuan.

Even though Bai Qianqiu was shocked, she still couldn't get over the hurdle in her heart.

She imagined the future scenes: herself and her master serving Ye Xuan together, cultivating together, together...

No way, just the thought of it is absolutely ridiculous!