Chapter 14

Xiao Xihe brought her own goose-down quilt and was the first to dive under the covers. Using the blanket as a shield, she began to undress.

First came the outer robe, then the pink dress, the long stockings, and finally the undergarments closest to her skin. Each piece of clothing, still warm from her body, fell to the floor beside her feet. Xie Zhaixing’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and the fingers that had been tapping his knee came to an abrupt halt. Even though he had left Xiao Xihe’s embrace, frost began to form on his body once more. Yet, far from feeling cold, a faint heat began to stir within him.

After a while, Xiao Xihe peeked out from under the covers. “Demon Lord, I’m ready.”

Xie Zhaixing lifted his gaze to meet her clear, bright eyes.

Those eyes were utterly at odds with her otherwise alluring appearance.

“Demon Lord?” Xiao Xihe grew awkward when he remained motionless.

He hadn’t refused when she mentioned undressing earlier—was he backing out now? If he wasn’t cooperating, what was she supposed to do? Put her clothes back on?

Her eyes fell to the pile of garments at his feet. Just as she was debating what to do, a familiar outer robe landed on the floor, covering all her clothes beneath it.

…Huh? Xiao Xihe looked up to see Xie Zhaixing lowering his eyes as he began to undress.

The black brocade robe slipped off, revealing a chest and abdomen dusted with frost… Oh ho! She had always assumed he’d have a good physique, but she hadn’t expected it to be *this* good. His muscles were firm and well-defined—neither overly exaggerated nor too lean—every inch perfectly proportioned.

Like a delicious little treat.

“Your eyes are about to fall out,” Xie Zhaixing mocked.

Snapping out of her daze, Xiao Xihe feigned impatience to cover her embarrassment. “Hurry up, I’ve already warmed the bed for you.”

Xie Zhaixing gave her a glance before sitting down on the bed. Xiao Xihe quickly scooted inward to make room for him, and as he moved to lie down, she hastily reminded him, “You haven’t taken off your pants.”

Xie Zhaixing pretended not to hear.

…If she’d known this would happen, she wouldn’t have undressed so thoroughly either. Xiao Xihe suddenly regretted her decision and was considering whether to pick up a few pieces to put back on when the man, radiating cold, slid under the covers.

Almost the moment he entered, the warmth beneath the quilt dissipated. Fortunately, the frost on his body also faded slightly. Xiao Xihe shivered but still reached out to embrace him. Though they had cultivated together many times, they had never had physical contact before. The instant their bare skin touched, both stiffened momentarily.

“So cold…” Xiao Xihe’s discomfort lasted only three seconds before she took a deep breath and wrapped herself even tighter around Xie Zhaixing.

As their skin rubbed together, even their body heat seemed to merge. With just a slight tilt of his head, Xie Zhaixing could glimpse swathes of pale skin through the gaps in the quilt.

He suddenly felt parched.

Compared to the Demon Lord’s distracted state, Xiao Xihe was far more dedicated. Not only did she press her entire body against him, but she also wrapped her arms around him, gently stroking his back to transfer as much warmth as possible.

Speaking of which… the Demon Lord’s back was incredibly broad. Every muscle was taut and firm, and with just a slight press of her fingertips, she could trace the contours beneath his skin. His skin was smooth too, like soft silk—even and flawless under her touch.

Xie Zhaixing kept his eyes lowered, doing his best to ignore her wandering hands—until they trailed down his spine toward his waist without any sign of stopping. Finally, he could take no more and grabbed her wrist. “Hey.”

“I was just… helping you warm up,” Xiao Xihe defended, her voice tinged with guilt.

Xie Zhaixing narrowed his long eyes, about to say something, when he suddenly noticed the wound on her arm.

It was the cut from earlier in the day—just a scrape as she’d said, now only a faint red line.  

“Why didn’t you apply medicine?” he asked.  

Xiao Xihe followed his gaze and gave a dry laugh. “It’s just a minor injury.” Truly minor—though it looked red, it was no worse than a cat scratch. At first, a few beads of blood had seeped out, but soon even those stopped, leaving just an ordinary wound.  

Xie Zhaixing paused, then raised his eyes to meet hers. “Last time you climbed a tree and got a blister on your hand, you took over twenty restorative pills, wrapped it in three layers of bandages, and stayed in bed for two days.”  

…How did he remember that so clearly?! Xiao Xihe twitched her lips. “I was just… being cautious.”  

“And this time you’re not?” Xie Zhaixing pressed.  

When the Demon Lord fixated on something, he wouldn’t let it go. This wound was the source of their earlier conflict, and Xiao Xihe didn’t want to elaborate. But judging by his persistence, she had no choice but to admit, “I forgot.”  

Xie Zhaixing’s eyes flickered slightly.  

“…You were angry, so I kept thinking about that and forgot I was hurt.” Afraid he might get upset again, her voice grew quieter.  

Xie Zhaixing stared at her for a long moment before reaching out to trace the wound, his thumb brushing lightly over it. It didn’t hurt much, but the touch was impossible to ignore.  

Xiao Xihe half-expected him to snap her arm off right then and there. Holding her breath, she ventured cautiously, “Demon Lord, are you still angry?”  

“Hm.” His reply was lazy.  

Xiao Xihe grinned. “You’re lying. If you were really angry, you’d have thrown me out already.”  

Xie Zhaixing shot her a sidelong glance.  

She sighed. “Don’t be mad at me. I didn’t do it on purpose. And think about how terrifying you were—plucking out that man’s meridians one by one. If I hadn’t stopped you, would you have gone as far as dismembering him?”  

Xie Zhaixing scoffed and pressed a fingertip to her wound.  

That actually hurt. Xiao Xihe gasped, “Ah—”  

The sound was drawn-out, melodramatic, and ended with a tiny tremble. Both of them froze.  

Xiao Xihe flushed with embarrassment. “I didn’t mean—”  

“Coward,” Xie Zhaixing cut her off.  

“Yes, yes, I’m a coward. So can you please not be so terrifying in the future?” She seized the opportunity, looking at him expectantly.  

Xie Zhaixing rested a hand on her, his fingers absently tapping against her waist before he realized what he was doing. He stilled, though his fingertips lingered.  

“Well?” Xiao Xihe prompted when he didn’t answer.  

Xie Zhaixing: “No.”  

Xiao Xihe: “…” His utter lack of hesitation was downright cruel.  

“If you’re cowardly, then toughen up. Next time you dare hide from me—” Xie Zhaixing narrowed his eyes, leaving the threat unfinished.  

What would he do? Kill her? Like he did with that man? The mental image made her shudder. “We’re so close now. Isn’t it a bit unfair to keep scaring me like this?”  

Xie Zhaixing ignored her.  

Seeing his stubborn indifference, Xiao Xihe ventured, “Aren’t you afraid you’ll scare me away?”  

Only then did Xie Zhaixing look at her.

Xiao Xihe mustered her energy: “You always scare me and boss me around. I don’t mind cooking three meals a day, but you won’t even wash a single bowl. Sooner or later, you’re going to drive me away.”

“Try running,” Xie Zhaixing replied lazily.

Xiao Xihe swallowed nervously: “If I really ran away, would you be angry?”

“Why would I be?” Xie Zhaixing countered.

A surge of joy filled Xiao Xihe’s heart, though her face showed disappointment: “I knew it. You don’t care about me at all. If I left, you probably wouldn’t even bother looking for me.”

“Not quite.”

“Huh?” Xiao Xihe looked up guiltily.

“I’d still look for you,” Xie Zhaixing glanced at her, “and when I found you, I’d break your legs.”

Xiao Xihe: “…”

After a brief silence, Xie Zhaixing suddenly realized: “Breaking your legs seems too lenient.”

“…What else do you want to do?”

“How about severing your tendons and throwing you into the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons to feed the Spiteful Souls?” Xie Zhaixing’s tone was conversational, as if discussing the weather.

Xiao Xihe stared at him for a long moment before malice surged within her: “Strike while you’re weak!”

With that, she lunged at him, claws outstretched to throttle his neck.

Xie Zhaixing effortlessly caught her wrists with one hand, flipped her over, and pinned her beneath him. Xiao Xihe struggled, but her hands were trapped above her head while his weight immobilized her legs completely.

Defiant, she twisted her head and bit down hard on his wrist.

Xie Zhaixing scoffed: “Let go.”

“No…” Xiao Xihe mumbled stubbornly, her words muffled around his arm.

Xie Zhaixing narrowed his eyes: “Release me.”

“I won’t,” she challenged, “Go ahead and bite me back if you dare!”

She clamped down harder.

Pain shot through his wrist as she refused to relent, her lips reddening from the effort, glistening faintly under the moonlight.

A dangerous glint flashed in Xie Zhaixing’s eyes. He leaned in, wedging himself between her and his trapped arm, and bit down sharply on the corner of her lips. Xiao Xihe’s eyes widened in shock, instantly freezing in place.

Silence enveloped the tent, so profound that Xiao Xihe could hear her own heartbeat.

After a long moment, Xie Zhaixing released her and glanced at the teeth marks on her lip: “Still biting?”

“…No,” Xiao Xihe replied stiffly.

Xie Zhaixing gave her a look before lying back down beside her. Xiao Xihe touched her sore lip but didn’t cling to him this time. The two lay side by side under the same blanket, sharing warmth.

Night deepened, and the tent grew quiet again.

After what felt like an eternity, Xiao Xihe whispered: “Demon Lord.”

“Hm.” Xie Zhaixing responded softly, eyes still closed.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked.

Xie Zhaixing frowned but didn’t open his eyes: “What?”

“You just… seemed to have a reaction,” Xiao Xihe said with a strange expression.

Xie Zhaixing paused before opening his eyes in the darkness.

When he didn’t respond, Xiao Xihe coughed lightly: “Have you… never kissed anyone before?” No wonder he reacted so strongly.

“Have you?” Xie Zhaixing’s voice darkened ominously.

“Of course not,” Xiao Xihe answered casually.

The tension in Xie Zhaixing’s demeanor eased slightly.

Then, silence stretched between them once more.

It must be said that skin-to-skin contact worked wonders. Even just lying side by side like this was more effective than hugging while clothed. At least Xie Zhaixing was no longer icy cold to the touch, and with the added warmth of the goose-down quilt, both of them found the situation much more bearable.  

Of course, that didn’t mean they could actually sleep.  

With the long night stretching ahead, Xiao Xihe had no intention of sleeping, so she could only pester the person beside her: “Demon Lord.”  

“What now?” Xie Zhaixing replied irritably.  

Xiao Xihe smirked. “So grumpy. Could it be you still haven’t cooled down?”  

She had only said it offhandedly, but no response came.  

Xiao Xihe turned her head in surprise. “Really?”  

“Jiaojiao,” Xie Zhaixing warned, his tone threatening.  

Xiao Xihe grinned. “I really picked a great name for myself. Even when you’re threatening me like this, it still sounds a little affectionate.”  

“If you can’t sleep, I don’t mind knocking you out,” Xie Zhaixing said flatly.  

Xiao Xihe thought for a moment. “Don’t knock me out. Let’s cultivate instead.”  

Xie Zhaixing remained silent.  

Xiao Xihe suddenly understood. “I’ll put my clothes on—” She started to get up, but the moment she sat up, she was yanked back down by a certain someone.  

She paused, suppressing the urge to laugh, and pressed a kiss to his lips.  

That kiss was like a spark, instantly igniting a blazing wildfire. When he stormed her defenses with overwhelming force, Xiao Xihe’s mind grew hazy, barely managing to form one thought—  

Hah, men. Didn’t he hate being touched by her?  

They cultivated until dawn. By the time Xiao Xihe absorbed the last trace of Elixir Sun, she was so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes open. Sniffling, she curled up under the quilt and mumbled to Xie Zhaixing, “There are Soap Dust Beads in the Cosmos Sack…”  

Before she could finish, she felt her body become clean and refreshed, and even the quilt was no longer damp. Satisfied, Xiao Xihe rolled over and went back to sleep.  

This was the first time she had slept in Xie Zhaixing’s tent, and the only thing she felt upon waking was… it was way too cold in here! But then again, the tent was practically drafty on all sides—of course it would be freezing.  

Bundled in the quilt, she sat in a daze for a long while before looking toward Xie Zhaixing outside the tent. “Aren’t you cold sleeping here all the time?”  

Xie Zhaixing glanced at her. “What do you think?”  

“…That’s so pitiful. How do you survive the winter?” Xiao Xihe said sympathetically. He already had a cold constitution, and yet he slept in such an uninsulated place every day—no wonder his Syndrome of Yin Cold kept getting worse.  

She sighed, sweet words slipping effortlessly from her lips. “If you didn’t prefer sleeping alone, I’d invite you to stay with me.”  

“Alright.”  

Xiao Xihe: “…What?”  

A trace of mockery flashed in Xie Zhaixing’s eyes—he had clearly seen right through her. “I said, alright.”  

Xiao Xihe: “…” Oh no. The Demon Lord had leveled up.  

And so, that very night, Xie Zhaixing officially moved into Xiao Xihe’s luxurious, spacious tent.  

“Just so you know, I have a lot of rules. If you want to stay here, you have to listen to me,” Xiao Xihe said, still unwilling to give up. Even at the last second, she hoped to make him back down.  

Xie Zhaixing swept her a glance. “Hm?”  

“…My biggest rule is that there are no rules. The Demon Lord may do as he pleases.” Xiao Xihe instantly turned obsequious.  

Only then did Xie Zhaixing seem satisfied. He reached out and patted her head. “Good girl.”  

Xiao Xihe looked aggrieved.  

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the weather turned completely cold. Fortunately, though the Demon Lord usually had a low body temperature, he didn’t frost over at the slightest provocation, so sleeping together was still warmer than sleeping alone.

Most importantly, they could cultivate together at any time.  

Through intensive cultivation, Xiao Xihe’s progress was nothing short of meteoric. In just a few months, she was already on the verge of Foundation Establishment.  

“I’m going to reach Foundation Establishment! Oh heavens, I’m actually going to reach Foundation Establishment! Two hundred years of lifespan!” Xiao Xihe exclaimed excitedly, clutching her face. “In this world, who else besides me can live two hundred years without illness or disaster, forever youthful? Who else can?!”  

“Everyone who reaches Foundation Establishment can—provided they don’t court death,” Xie Zhaixing poured cold water on her enthusiasm.  

Xiao Xihe shot him a sidelong glance. “Can’t you just not ruin the mood?”  

“No,” Xie Zhaixing frowned. “Two hundred years is too short.”  

“It’s not short at all! I’m already very satisfied,” Xiao Xihe giggled.  

Seeing her carefree, easily contented expression, Xie Zhaixing’s brows relaxed slightly. “No ambition.”  

Xiao Xihe grinned foolishly and quickly whipped up two dishes for him.  

Xie Zhaixing took one look and said, “Half-hearted effort again.”  

“How could you say that? I made them seriously. Just because I’m fast doesn’t mean I’m slacking,” Xiao Xihe insisted with a straight face.  

Xie Zhaixing scoffed. After eating her cooking for two years, he could tell at a glance whether she had put in real effort.  

Though even her half-hearted dishes were delicious.  

Xie Zhaixing leisurely took his seat at the table and began his first meal of the day. Xiao Xihe sat across from him as usual, watching him eat, though this time she was a little distracted—  

Earlier, she had checked the Gu Poison in her body and found that most of it had already been cleansed. Just another ten or twenty sessions, and it would be completely gone.  

It was time to start thinking of a way to escape.