Queen of Ten Thousand Demons Insists on Marrying Me - Chapter 72

When Lu Xiaoxiao woke up again, Tantai Jing was no longer beside her. She didn’t know how much time had passed, only that every part of her body was aching.

A set of clean, tidy undergarments lay on the bedside. As she put them on, she saw that her body was covered in marks left by Tantai Jing, with some areas even slightly bruised.

The scene from last night suddenly flashed into her mind, and a blush crept over her face.

“You’re awake…” Tantai Jing walked in holding a food box at that moment.

Lu Xiaoxiao stood up, intending to walk to the table and sit down, but the moment she rose, she stumbled and sat back down on the bed.

“What’s wrong?” Tantai Jing quickly moved to the bedside, holding her arm and asking with concern.

Lu Xiaoxiao leaned into her embrace, her eyes half-closed: “My legs feel weak…”

Tantai Jing chuckled lightly, her eyes filled with unconcealed tenderness: “Let me give you a massage.”

“No. You were too much last night. I told you to stop so many times, yet you showed no compassion for me,” Lu Xiaoxiao leaned in her arms, her tone languid and carrying a hint of complaint.

She recalled helping Lu Xiaoxiao bathe and carrying her back to bed last night. Seeing her face flushed and her eyes red-rimmed as she tightly wrapped herself in the blanket, she couldn’t resist. She tugged on her ankle and pulled her out again…

“It won’t happen again. I may have been affected by the trap last night, and some of my actions were beyond my control,” A trace of guilt surged within Tantai Jing. She held Lu Xiaoxiao tenderly, her thumb gently and intermittently rubbing the exposed part of her shoulder.

“Nonsense. The mist certainly had problems, but as soon as we boarded the spirit boat, I didn’t feel that way anymore. Your cultivation is so much higher than mine; how could you take longer to recover than I did?”

Sensing Tantai Jing’s dishonest hand, Lu Xiaoxiao quickly pulled her clothes tight and escaped her embrace.

“No! Absolutely not again. What delicious food did you make? Let me see.”

Tantai Jing didn’t answer her question, but instead introduced all the dishes on the table in detail: “I guessed you’d be hungry, so I made some nourishing foods.”

Lu Xiaoxiao paused with her chopsticks: “Is there something wrong with my body?”

“Nothing wrong, just… just a little weak,” Tantai Jing poured a bowl of soup, placed it in front of Lu Xiaoxiao, and said with a serious expression.

Lu Xiaoxiao took a sip, finding it fresh, smooth, and palatable with a hint of medicinal flavor that wasn’t unpleasant. She reproached her playfully: “Anyone would be worn out after being subjected to your ministrations, alright?”

Seeing the fair skin of Lu Xiaoxiao’s neck exposed at her collar, still bearing the love bites she left yesterday, and a clear tooth mark on her shoulder, Tantai Jing felt both shame and guilt.

She sat quietly beside her, her eyes cast down: “I was just scared…”

Lu Xiaoxiao felt that her spiritual energy had not only recovered but had even advanced, breaking through from the Nascent Soul Stage to the Tribulation Transcending Stage. However, she was currently starving, holding a bowl and continuously helping herself to the dishes on the table.

She couldn’t help but marvel at how miraculous dual cultivation with a Mahayana cultivator was, then asked: “Scared of what? Yesterday, you kept saying you were afraid I’d leave. I genuinely didn’t understand what you were talking about.”

“I know now that you are not the Lu Xiaoxiao of the Xuan Tian Sword Sect. I’m afraid you might leave me at any time and return to your original world.”

Tantai Jing’s eyes were slightly red, as if tears might well up at any second.

Lu Xiaoxiao suddenly understood.

Thinking about how the Chaoyuan Sword was nowhere to be found, she realized she understood most of Tantai Jing’s concerns. She put down her chopsticks, took Tantai Jing’s hand, and said: “Who says I’ll leave you? Besides, I can’t go back at all. Since I’ve already told you I want to marry you, I’m absolutely determined to stay here and be with you forever.”

“The Chaoyuan Sword said you could leave here anytime.”

Tantai Jing choked up and threw herself into her arms. While cooking for Lu Xiaoxiao, her mind had been racing with continuous doubts.

Would Lu Xiaoxiao still be angry when she woke up?

If she was angry, would she stop speaking to her?

Would she just leave her and return to her original world?

Now, seeing Lu Xiaoxiao sincerely hold her hand and say she wanted to be with her forever, she could no longer control her emotions. She collapsed into Lu Xiaoxiao’s embrace, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Lu Xiaoxiao gently patted her back, feeling slightly stunned herself.

In all the time she had known Tantai Jing, she had never seen her so vulnerable. Seeing her cry so heartbrokenly, Lu Xiaoxiao felt the same sour ache in her heart and felt even more distressed for Tantai Jing. As she patted her, her own nose and eyes stung, and she felt tears welling up.

She secretly wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes with her sleeve, and gently stroked Tantai Jing’s hair: “Don’t cry. It hurts my heart terribly when you cry. You’re afraid I’ll leave you, but I like you just as much, and I can’t leave you either.”

“During those two months we were apart, every night before I slept, I thought about your face, what you were doing at that moment, and whether you were thinking of me too.”

Lu Xiaoxiao’s voice was slightly choked: “I even dreamt of you when I was asleep.”

Tantai Jing’s tears soaked a patch of Lu Xiaoxiao’s clothes on her chest. Her head was still buried there, clinging to Lu Xiaoxiao’s warm embrace, and she asked with a muffled voice: “Really?”

“Really, truer than pure gold.” Lu Xiaoxiao tightened her embrace around Tantai Jing’s waist and rubbed her head against Tantai Jing’s hair.

It was a long time before Tantai Jing’s emotions finally stabilized. Lu Xiaoxiao saw dark circles under her eyes, indicating she hadn’t slept well yesterday, while her own body felt like it was falling apart.

To Tantai Jing’s startled cry, Lu Xiaoxiao lifted her up around the waist and carried her back to bed: “Did you not rest well yesterday? Go back to sleep for a little while.”

Tantai Jing snuggled into her arms, her warm breath sighing onto Lu Xiaoxiao’s neck: “We can’t. We’re still in the Yuan Tui Mistscape. We haven’t passed this trial yet.”

“It’s alright. We’ve only been here for one day. A little more rest won’t hurt,” Lu Xiaoxiao gently kissed Tantai Jing’s forehead to soothe her.

“It’s been more than one day…” Tantai Jing said guiltily, tightening her grip on Lu Xiaoxiao’s clothing with the hand resting on her shoulder.

Lu Xiaoxiao yawned, feeling groggy and almost falling asleep while hugging Tantai Jing’s fragrant, warm body: “Two days is fine too. You need to rest properly to have energy.”

“It’s been three days… you fainted a few times in between…”

Tantai Jing’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz. If they hadn’t been so close, Lu Xiaoxiao might not have heard her.

“What?!”

With that, Lu Xiaoxiao’s sleepiness vanished, and she became completely awake.

Lu Xiaoxiao opened her mouth for a long time, unsure what to say: “You… you, you disgraced cultivator!”

“Mm…” Tantai Jing remained in her embrace, but hugged her tighter, burying her head even deeper.

“You say ‘mm’? No wonder I feel like my whole body is falling apart and my legs are so weak I can’t even stand up.”

“But you liked it too, didn’t you?” Tantai Jing suddenly propped herself up, encircling her, and gently kneading her earlobe.

Lu Xiaoxiao blushed and turned her head away, then pressed Tantai Jing back into her arms: “Even if I like it, we shouldn’t overindulge.”

“Your constitution is weak… and I have been celibate for two centuries… How about I take the lead from now on, and you just lie back and relax.”

Tantai Jing swallowed, recalling their recent abandon, and felt a stir of desire again.

Every time she saw Lu Xiaoxiao’s eyes flush red and her voice become choked, her mind seemed to go blank, and she couldn’t hear any pleas for mercy.

“Don’t… talk nonsense. The first time, it was because I expended a lot of essential blood. And the main reason I did that was because I care for you and didn’t want you to be uncomfortable,” Lu Xiaoxiao stammered. She didn’t think her body was as weak as Tantai Jing made it sound, but compared to her, the difference was huge.

“Why did you expend so much essential blood that time? Recognizing a master shouldn’t have been that severe.”

Since things had come to this, Lu Xiaoxiao didn’t want to keep hiding it: “It was because the Chaoyuan Sword hurt you many times. I didn’t want my artifact to keep injuring you, so when I recognized it as master, I added strands of your spiritual hair to the ritual.”

Hearing this, Tantai Jing felt even more deeply touched. She lightly kissed the side of Lu Xiaoxiao’s face: “Why would you do that? I would have just avoided touching it.”

“It has already recognized you as master; it’s in the past now.” Lu Xiaoxiao yawned again: “Enough talking. Let’s both sleep a little longer. I’m really exhausted.”

Tantai Jing’s voice was languid, seemingly very sleepy as well: “Mm… When we get out, you must immediately come to Gouwu Mountain and propose to Godmother.”

“Alright~”

After their breaths gradually became shallow, Tantai Jing seemed to suddenly wake up for a moment and softly whispered: “Or I can go to the Xuan Tian Sword Sect to propose. I might be faster…”

As the breathing of the two people embracing on the bed deepened, the light in the room dimmed.

After an unknown period of time, the light in the room gradually shifted from dim to bright.

Woken up by noise, Lu Xiaoxiao lightly pressed her lips against Tantai Jing’s forehead and murmured sleepily: “Jing’er, who is speaking? It’s so noisy outside.”

Slightly rousing, Tantai Jing was delighted by the sound of “Jing’er,” and paid no attention to the commotion outside.

Watching the already-sleeping Lu Xiaoxiao, she intertwined their fingers and mischievously kissed her again. Only when Lu Xiaoxiao gasped for breath and couldn’t help but kiss her back did she reluctantly withdraw from Lu Xiaoxiao’s naturally red lips.

After listening carefully to the voices outside, Tantai Jing’s joyful expression turned slightly displeased.

“Wake up, Xiaoxiao. It seems to be the Yan Gengshen siblings.”

Hearing the name Yan Gengshen, the still-drowsy Lu Xiaoxiao instantly became sober and sat up: “What? Why are those evil siblings looking for you?”

Tantai Jing’s previously serious expression was instantly replaced by amusement: “What evil siblings? Be careful, or Yan Sihong will hear you and come for revenge.”

Lu Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow: “I’m not scared, since I have you. Besides, I’m at the Tribulation Transcending Stage now. Those two are too malicious. Us being suddenly transported into this Lancang Secret Realm absolutely has something to do with Yan Gengshen. How are they not the evil siblings?”

The two changed their clothes and slowly walked out of the cabin, where they saw Yan Gengshen and Yan Sihong standing on the distant shore.

Yan Gengshen gently fanned himself with a folding fan: “What a coincidence today. I didn’t expect Sister Tantai to be here.”

When Tantai Jing heard Yan Gengshen call her that, a chill ran through her. Just as she was about to retort, she heard Lu Xiaoxiao’s voice.

“What sister? Your sister is Yan Sihong. Don’t call people randomly. My Jing’er is not comfortable with that.”

“I’ve long known the reputation of the Xuan Tian Sword Sect’s Young Sect Leader. Meeting you today, you are indeed extraordinary. I apologize for my rudeness,” Yan Gengshen chuckled lightly and said: “Fellow Daoist Tantai, since I ran into you here, how about we travel together?”

Tantai Jing cupped her hands and bowed in return to Yan Gengshen. After all, Yan Gengshen was of the same generation as her Godmother, Fuzhao. Even if she disliked him, it wasn’t wise to openly break ties while her Godmother wasn’t present.

“Thank you for your kind offer, Fellow Daoist Yan, but Xiaoxiao and I have many personal matters, and I fear we would inconvenience you. It is better not to.”

Yan Sihong’s eyes darted between the two of them, finally settling on the half-visible bruise at Lu Xiaoxiao’s collar: “Personal matters? I’d say it looks more like a celebration. Our Black Wind Cliff and Gouwu Mountain haven’t had a happy event in centuries. Congratulations, little Jing’er.”

When Lu Xiaoxiao heard Yan Sihong call her “little Jing’er,” she was about to snap back, but Tantai Jing squeezed her hand tightly. Lu Xiaoxiao could only pout and stand obediently on the side.

Tantai Jing smiled slightly: “You’re too kind. When Gouwu Mountain hosts the banquet, we will certainly send two invitations to Black Wind Cliff.”

Yan Gengshen laughed heartily: “That would be excellent. However, I have obtained the Yuan Tui’s inheritance today and am heading to the exit. I hope Fellow Daoist Tantai won’t refuse my goodwill. Otherwise, when I see Fuzhao, I will be ashamed for not taking care of her junior.”

The two were startled to hear that Yan Gengshen had obtained the Yuan Tui Mistscape’s inheritance. But Tantai Jing reasoned that even so, Yan Gengshen would still be wary of Fuzhao and had no reason to attack them.

After a moment of thought: “Then we are indebted to Fellow Daoist Yan.”