Chapter 4

Aside from her father, Lin Sa Sa had little interaction with men and didn’t know how to capture a man’s heart.  

Now that she had romance novels to guide her, she planned to follow their scripts. Unfortunately, it wasn’t nighttime, and there were no palace walls by the lake to push someone against—but that didn’t matter. A few steps away stood a centuries-old tree.  

“Brother Ling, what brings you here?” Lin Sa Sa decided to start by cozying up to him.  

She feigned surprise, the term “brother” rolling off her tongue more smoothly than expected, and rose from the rocking chair.  

He Lan Ling skimmed through the book’s contents—truly befitting of a male lead, his expression didn’t flicker even after reading it. Calmly, he closed the book and handed it back to Lin Sa Sa, saying, “I came to replenish your Spiritual Power.”  

He had to come every day.  

Replenishing Spiritual Power required a safe, undisturbed environment, and the lakeside clearly wasn’t ideal. As she followed He Lan Ling back to the courtyard, Lin Sa Sa eyed the distance between him and the tree, lagging a few steps behind while rolling up her sleeves.  

Before attempting the “tree push,” she had one question to clarify first. “Brother Ling, do you like Luo Shui Wei?”  

He Lan Ling didn’t even lift his eyelids. “Naturally, I do.”  

“What did you say?!” Lin Sa Sa exploded.  

“How can you like her?!” At this stage, he wasn’t supposed to like her!  

Thrown off by his answer, Lin Sa Sa abandoned the novel’s sequence in her panic and angrily tried to shove He Lan Ling against the tree. Unfortunately, novels were just novels—reality was entirely different. Lin Sa Sa lacked the brute strength of the fairy maiden in the story, and her height didn’t even reach He Lan Ling’s shoulders. So instead of pushing him, her motion more resembled a slap.  

He Lan Ling stood straight and unyielding, unfazed by her strike, though his gaze darkened slightly.  

Feeling humiliated, Lin Sa Sa snapped, “What’s so great about her that you like her?”  

He Lan Ling remained composed. “We’re fellow disciples—what’s not to like?”  

“You—” Just as Lin Sa Sa was about to erupt, she belatedly caught the nuance in his words, and her furious expression softened slightly. “So your liking for her is just camaraderie?”  

“Otherwise?”  

He Lan Ling seemed to see right through her, the corner of his lips quirking in something like amusement. “What kind of ‘liking’ are you referring to?”  

Lin Sa Sa was stumped again.  

Then, a thought struck her. She lifted her sparkling eyes to He Lan Ling and asked with a bright smile, “If you like Luo Shui Wei because she’s your junior sister, then I’m also your junior sister—does that mean you like me too?”  

He Lan Ling didn’t answer, merely watching her calmly.  

Lin Sa Sa’s smile widened. A pretty girl only grew more dazzling when she smiled. Taking his silence as tacit agreement, she leaned closer and continued, “But I’m not just your junior sister—I’m also your master’s daughter, the young mistress of the Cloud Hermit Sect.”  

“My status outranks Luo Shui Wei’s by several levels. So shouldn’t you like me a little more?”  

He Lan Ling’s eyes were nearly black, and whenever his gaze settled on someone, it carried an intense focus, as if he were studying them intently. Now, he looked at Lin Sa Sa just like that, the breeze tousling the strands of hair by his cheeks and teasing the Magic Crest on his forehead.  

He watched as Lin Sa Sa drew even closer, rising on her tiptoes to whisper clearly by his ear, “Brother Ling, I like you.”  

“But not as a fellow disciple. Sa Sa wants to be your cultivation partner and dual cultivate with you.”  

(Well, the latter part was the fairy maiden’s confession line from the novel. After memorizing it for so long, it was only fitting that Lin Sa Sa put it to good use now.)

Next should be hugging and kissing.

Lin Sa Sa was already pressed close to He Lan Ling, not needing much effort to reach out and wrap her arms around his waist. Pausing for a moment, just as she was about to rise on her tiptoes to kiss him, the silent man suddenly raised his hand, pressing two fingers against her lips to stop her from coming any closer.

“Dual cultivation?” He Lan Ling’s tone was slow as he lowered his gaze to look at Lin Sa Sa. “Do you know what dual cultivation entails?”

Lin Sa Sa gave him a puzzled look. “Isn’t it just two people cultivating together alone?”

Was this really something worth him singling out to confirm?

He Lan Ling smiled.

It wasn’t a joyful laugh—just a slight curl of his lips, the exhale from his nose resembling a scoff. Applying slight pressure, he forced Lin Sa Sa to step back from him, only speaking softly once she was three paces away. “Apologies, but I have no intention of seeking a cultivation partner, nor do I wish to… engage in dual cultivation with you.”

Lin Sa Sa wasn’t discouraged. “Then you can start by liking me first.”

“As long as you can love me wholeheartedly and not involve other women, it’s fine even if we don’t become cultivation partners or practice dual cultivation.”

He Lan Ling fell silent.

After a moment, he replied, “I don’t like you.”

A breeze stirred, rustling the branches overhead, sending a few green leaves spiraling down around them.

Lin Sa Sa’s pink dress fluttered in the wind, her loose bangs swaying playfully. She lowered her lashes slightly, her trembling eyelashes betraying a hint of helplessness. Sniffling, she asked, “So… you really don’t like me even a little bit?”

He Lan Ling seemed momentarily dazed, about to say something, when the girl before him suddenly lifted her face again, her voice dramatic and tinged with a sob. “Brother Ling, does loving me scare you?”

He Lan Ling: “…”

Lin Sa Sa’s romance novels had been confiscated by He Lan Ling.

The man, usually so gentle and composed in front of others, now wore a rare cold expression as he murmured darkly, “Don’t read these anymore.”

Lin Sa Sa indeed had no intention of continuing.

What trashy books, leading her astray! He Lan Ling wasn’t swayed by any of it. Not only had he rejected her advances, but he’d also given her the cold shoulder the entire way back—was he throwing a tantrum at her?

Hah, pah!

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Retreating only made her feel more wronged. In all her years, even her father had never given her the cold shoulder—who did He Lan Ling think he was? What gave him the right to reject her bold confession?

That night, Lin Sa Sa couldn’t sleep.

She wasn’t one to bottle things up—when she was angry, she had to vent. Unable to bring herself to smash the rare treasures in her room, she instead turned her gaze to the pile of romance novels stacked in the corner of her bed. A whole stack, all collected for her by Chu You.

Just looking at them made her furious.

Lin Sa Sa climbed out of bed and kicked the pile of books over. “If I read these again, I’m a dog.”

After her outburst, she felt slightly better and was about to return to bed when she stepped on something. Looking down, she saw a book beneath her foot—its black cover adorned with red flowers caught her eye, the title emblazoned in bold letters:

*Captive Love: The Tyrannical Demoness and Her Charming Lord*

Oh-ho, now this looked interesting.

Lin Sa Sa picked up the book.

By dawn, when Chu You pushed open the door to enter, Lin Sa Sa was already dressed and painting her nails in the sunlight. Her originally round, pink nails were now coated in black. Her flame-patterned dress hugged her figure, its narrow sleeves cinched at the wrists, while a bejeweled sash accentuated her slender waist—every line of her silhouette exuded beauty.

“Miss, are you planning to practice the whip?” Chu You rarely saw Lin Sa Sa dressed like this, as she usually preferred elaborate, loose gowns.  

Lin Sa Sa was in an exceptionally good mood, her eyes brimming with the vitality of spring, bright and pure with joy.  

“No.” She selected a hairpin and tucked it into her hair, studying her reflection in the bronze mirror. “I’m going to find He Lan Ling.”  

Last night, she had read that book well into the small hours, growing more and more engrossed until she had practically enshrined it in her heart.  

The story was written from the male lead’s perspective—a low-level cultivator with meager cultivation and no power or influence—while the female lead was a notorious devil cultivator who dominated her domain. The domineering female lead fell in love with the male lead at first sight and, true to her bold nature, went straight to confess her feelings. However, her actions frightened the male lead, who not only rejected her but also viciously scorned her identity as a devil cultivator.  

How outrageous.  

Lin Sa Sa, fully immersed in the female lead’s perspective, was seething with anger when the plot suddenly took a dramatic turn—the female lead simply kidnapped the male lead and took him back to her cave.  

*You scolded me for being a devil cultivator, a heretic? Fine, no more confessions. If I like you, I’ll just take you home—that’s the devil’s way.*  

*You keep saying you don’t like me? Doesn’t matter. If I fancy you, that’s enough. Dare to run, and I’ll break your legs. Dare to look at another girl, and I’ll lock you up. Disobey, and I’ll hang you up and beat you until you’re obedient and think only of me.*  

*Hiss…*  

Lin Sa Sa had stumbled upon a whole new world, both terrified and awed by the devilish heroine. To her surprise, as the story progressed, the male lead genuinely fell in love with the female lead, becoming utterly devoted, sweet, and pliant, going out of his way every day to make her happy.  

Lin Sa Sa had found a new direction. The devil cultivator’s approach resonated deeply with her temperament. *Men? Why should I lower myself to please them?* She ought to be as unrestrained and proud as the devil cultivator in the story.  

The Cloud Hermit Sect was vast and prosperous, with each disciple having their own private quarters.  

He Lan Ling, as the eldest disciple under Lin Fu Feng and personally brought into the sect by her father, didn’t just have a room—he had an entire courtyard with winding corridors and a waterside pavilion, though its location was somewhat remote.  

After knowing each other for ten years, this was the first time Lin Sa Sa had visited He Lan Ling’s residence. Stepping into the spacious courtyard, the air trembled with the resonance of a sword’s wail, and all she could see was the fleeting afterimage of He Lan Ling’s white robes.  

He was practicing his swordplay.  

As the Sword God’s eldest disciple, He Lan Ling’s swordsmanship was often praised. Lin Sa Sa had heard plenty of such praise but had never truly witnessed it. Now, seeing it up close, her spine tingled. The overwhelming sword aura and oppressive pressure sent a thrilling shiver of excitement through her.  

It was as if a silver dragon soared freely across the sky before abruptly swooping down toward Lin Sa Sa’s face. She heard the dragon’s melodious cry, the fierce wind forcing her to shut her eyes.  

“Junior Sister Lin?” A deep male voice suddenly sounded behind her.  

Lin Sa Sa opened her eyes and turned to see the silver dragon coiled around He Lan Ling’s back. The man wore his ever-present white robes, though he had shed his outer garment for sword practice. His gold-trimmed, narrow-sleeved tunic was loosely fastened, revealing a palm-sized insignia embroidered near his shoulder—exuding an air of nobility that, unexpectedly, matched Lin Sa Sa’s attire today.  

“What’s this?” Lin Sa Sa’s gaze lingered on the silver dragon behind him.  

He Lan Ling lifted his wrist slightly, and the dragon vanished, transforming into a snow-white blade. “Annihilate Heavens. My sword.”  

What a domineering dragon sword. What a domineering name.  

He Lan Ling sheathed his sword and, noticing Lin Sa Sa still staring at him, strode toward the courtyard. “Junior Sister, what brings you here?”

Though Lin Sa Sa had just suffered a rejection yesterday, neither of them felt awkward when they met today. Carrying several large packages of ginseng supplements, she followed him inside, saying, “I came to thank Brother Ling for saving my life.”

While He Lan Ling had played a part in her fall off the cliff, he was also the one who found her and fed her a marrow-cleansing elixir to preserve her life.  

These boxes of divine-grade ginseng were originally meant for her father, Lin Fu Feng. But since he was in seclusion, she decided to gift them to He Lan Ling instead. “Chu You mentioned that channeling Spiritual Power is extremely draining. You should replenish your energy—don’t let it wear you out completely.”  

He Lan Ling glanced at her, the corner of his lips quirking as he enunciated slowly, “How… thoughtful of you.”  

“No need to thank me. It’s the least I could do.”  

He Lan Ling’s sword practice was exceptionally intense today, leaving his hair slightly disheveled and his skin glistening with sweat. Beads trailed down his jawline and disappeared into his collar, his lips flushed a vivid hue. Annoyed by the stickiness, he cast a cleansing incantation and adjusted his robes before addressing Lin Sa Sa. “Since you’re here, let’s proceed with today’s Spiritual Power infusion.”  

However, he needed to bathe and change first, so he had Lin Sa Sa wait in his room.  

Despite his ethereal, otherworldly appearance, He Lan Ling’s attire and living quarters exuded opulence. The moment she stepped inside, her gaze was drawn to an intricately carved koi screen infused with Spiritual Power, the fish appearing to swim across its surface.  

*He really knows how to indulge himself.*  

Before she could admire it further, He Lan Ling returned.  

Seated at the table, she naturally slipped her hand into his palm, her knuckles brushing against the gold ring on his thumb. *Quite stylish.*  

As He Lan Ling pressed his palm against hers to begin the infusion, Lin Sa Sa seized the moment. After studying him for a few seconds, she asked, “Brother Ling, after a night apart, do you like me a little more now?”  

His lashes trembled slightly, but he remained silent.  

Lin Sa Sa grinned. “If you don’t answer, I’ll take it as a yes.”  

“You don’t have to like me, but you *must* try to like me a little more each day. If you really can’t bring yourself to, that’s fine—but you’re not allowed to like anyone else either.”  

The book about the enchantress had given her plenty of inspiration, but it hadn’t made her blindly optimistic. She hadn’t lost her senses—she was well aware of the differences between herself and the enchantress, and between the male lead and He Lan Ling. The enchantress in the story wielded absolute dominance through sheer power, whereas Lin Sa Sa, a mere Qi Refining Stage novice, couldn’t even push someone over. What she needed to learn wasn’t the enchantress’s brutality, but her assertiveness and tactics.  

A mix of softness and steel, obstinacy without sacrificing her innate pride—who said chasing a man required groveling?  

No man could remain indifferent to such a bold declaration, and He Lan Ling was no exception.  

Equally prideful, he slowly lifted his lashes and met her gaze with icy detachment, as if deliberately provoking her. “And what if I insist on liking someone else?”  

“Then I’ll have my father break your legs.”  

It was an empty threat—Lin Sa Sa hadn’t forgotten He Lan Ling’s true identity.  

Sure enough, she caught a faint flicker of mockery in his eyes. Pretending not to notice, she flashed her little canines to lighten the mood. “Just kidding!”  

“Brother Ling, how could I ever hurt you? At most, I’d just slip you some medicine.”  

He Lan Ling’s eyelids twitched. “What did you say?”

“I mean it,” Lin Sasa said with a smile as she leaned closer. “I won’t allow you to like anyone else. If that day ever comes, I’ll take your body first. Let’s see who would want a ruined man then.”

Even Luo Shuiwei would scorn you.

He Lanling: “…”

Lin Sasa thought He Lanling had finally learned fear.

This time, he didn’t dare give her the cold shoulder again. Though he didn’t respectfully see her out, she could easily forgive that—because as she left, she stole a glance back and saw He Lanling propping his forehead on his elbow against the table, head bowed and eyes closed, looking fragile and helpless.

Really, what man wouldn’t be terrified?

In the book, the handsome male lead’s greatest fear was the female lead stripping his clothes. During their first encounter when the heroine barged in while he was bathing, he’d even cried about being “tainted” and unworthy of his beloved.

Still, fear aside, Lin Sasa didn’t sense any increase in He Lanling’s affection for her. His provocation today had given her a strong sense of crisis.

The Book Spirit didn’t just want her to dismantle the romantic plot between He Lanling and Luo Shuiwei—it also forbade He Lanling from falling for any other woman and marrying her. Of course, Lin Sasa could be considered an exception since she was the Book Spirit’s chosen one, and marriage with He Lanling was impossible anyway.

Looked like He Lanling was doomed to lifelong solitude.

“Junior Brother!”

Luo Shuiwei’s voice suddenly rang out nearby.

Lin Sasa paused mid-step and saw Luo Shuiwei hurrying over with quick, light steps, beaming as she reached a young man in black robes. Her sweet voice brimmed with joy, “You’re finally back! I was so worried.”

Lin Sasa focused her gaze and gasped when she recognized the youth’s face.

Wasn’t that Feng Qi?

Here he comes, here he comes—the little psycho side character from the book has made his entrance.

Author’s Note:

Sasa: “As long as you love me, I don’t mind if we’re not cultivation partners or never dual cultivate.”

He Lan0: “I mind.”