Chapter 7 

The sky outside was already bright.  

The window was wide open, warm light pouring into the room and illuminating the outer robe of the man by the bed, its whiteness almost blinding.  

…It wasn’t Father—it was He Lan Ling.  

Lin Sa Sa’s grip on the man’s hand gradually loosened, unsure whether she felt disappointed or something else.  

Earlier, she had mistaken him for Lin Fu Feng and bitten down hard. When He Lan Ling withdrew his hand from her mouth, the pale skin bore clear teeth marks, with crimson blood slowly seeping out.  

At least the ring was unharmed.  

He Lan Ling glanced at his hand—aside from the bite marks, it was also smeared with Lin Sa Sa’s saliva. The next moment, a hand covered his, and Lin Sa Sa tugged at his sleeve, vigorously wiping away the moisture before speaking, “I mistook you for my father. I didn’t mean to bite you.”  

Perhaps because she had done something wrong, Lin Sa Sa couldn’t muster her usual arrogance now. Facing He Lan Ling, she seemed a little uneasy.  

Sitting up from the bed, she cleared her throat and adjusted her sleeves. When she noticed He Lan Ling’s gaze lifting toward her, his expression inscrutable and his eyes deep, she instinctively touched her cheek. “What’s wrong?”  

Grabbing the hand mirror from under the pillow, Lin Sa Sa thought she might look disheveled from just waking up. Examining herself, she saw that while her face was slightly pale, her skin was smooth and her eyes bright—still beautiful, just her hair a little messy.  

“Wait a moment.” Lin Sa Sa pulled out a small wooden comb from under the pillow, turning her back to He Lan Ling as she held the mirror in one hand and combed her hair with the other.  

Her jet-black hair cascaded down her back, nearly concealing her slender waist. Accustomed to seeing her adorned in exquisite makeup and lavish attire, He Lan Ling had never seen her like this—bare-faced and with her hair down—giving her an unexpectedly soft and docile air.  

“I heard you fell ill because of Feng Qi?” He Lan Ling had initially doubted it, but now he was starting to believe it.  

Though Lin Sa Sa acted normally, her listless, sickly demeanor was impossible to hide. It was clear her mood was poor, like a delicate flower drenched in rain, wilted and lacking its usual pride, yet stubbornly pretending to be unbothered.  

A far cry from yesterday’s ferocity.  

“Who said I was sick?” Lin Sa Sa immediately bristled at the suggestion.  

Once her hair was neatly combed, she turned back to He Lan Ling, her features animated with irritation. “I was just tired and needed rest. I couldn’t be bothered to deal with those foolish sectmates, understand?”  

“Feng Qi made me sick?” She scoffed as if hearing a joke, tilting her chin up haughtily. “Is he even worthy?”  

He Lan Ling was inexplicably reminded of a little swan on the lake, his lips quirking unconsciously. He didn’t press the topic further. “Give me your hand.”  

Lin Sa Sa insisted she wasn’t sick, yet her spiritual power was depleted and chaotic, requiring He Lan Ling to pour in several times more Spiritual Power than usual to replenish it.  

Interlacing their fingers, warm spiritual energy swirled where their hands met. He Lan Ling’s gaze drifted to her slender wrist, where bruises marred her fair skin on either side of the koi totem, disrupting its original beauty.  

Noticing his stare, Lin Sa Sa huffed, “Feng Qi did this.”  

“Look.” She tugged down her collar, tilting her chin high to reveal her neck—deep bruises and clear strangulation marks were visible.  

“It hurts so much.” Lin Sa Sa played up her suffering in front of He Lan Ling, leaning closer with misty, aggrieved eyes. Despite her pitiful, lovable face, she couldn’t help but curse, “That little freak Feng Qi has such a vicious heart. He really wanted to kill me!”

“Thank goodness Brother Ling was there yesterday, otherwise Sa Sa would have really perished at his hands.”

So she did remember he had saved her.

He Lan Ling remained silent as he observed the bruises on her neck. Yesterday, she had cursed arrogantly and left without sparing him a glance. After she fled, Feng Qi had broken free from the restraints of the crowd to chase her. If He Lan Ling hadn’t swiftly cast the tranquility incantation into Feng Qi’s spiritual core, she would likely be a cold corpse by now.

Lin Sa Sa continued grumbling in his ear. After venting her anger at Feng Qi, she began lamenting how much pain she was in, pretending to wipe away tears as she whimpered, “It was so terrifying, wuwu. Brother Ling, Sa Sa was so scared.”

“Really?” He Lan Ling curled his lips slightly, studying Lin Sa Sa’s delicate, pretty face. He truly couldn’t detect any trace of fear in her.

“If someone hadn’t persuaded you to leave yesterday, I think you might have angered Feng Qi to death.”

Lin Sa Sa paused her fake crying, her expression cracking momentarily. Unable to keep up the act, she cut straight to the point. “Brother Ling, will you start teaching me magic techniques tomorrow?”

“Even though you protect me, you can’t be with me every day. I’m genuinely worried Feng Qi might assassinate me one of these days.”

He Lan Ling found himself inexplicably amused by her. “He won’t.”

“He will!” Lin Sa Sa knew Feng Qi far better than He Lan Ling did.

Even if Feng Qi truly had no intention of assassinating her, Lin Sa Sa was determined to make He Lan Ling teach her magic. She had been searching for an opportunity to deepen their bond, and even if that failed, at least she could divert his attention from Luo Shui Wei and disrupt their cultivation sessions.

“If you don’t say anything, I’ll take it as agreement.” Lin Sa Sa beamed. “I’ll come find you first thing tomorrow.”

After a brief pause, she blinked at him, leaning closer and whispering conspiratorially, “No third parties allowed, okay? Sa Sa wants to dual cultivate with you.”

Dual cultivation—just the two of them practicing together, leaving Luo Shui Wei out.

He Lan Ling’s long lashes fluttered slightly, but he showed no reaction to her shocking words, having long mastered composure. He didn’t bother correcting her misunderstanding of the term.

Perhaps it was because he had channeled too much spiritual power into Lin Sa Sa this time, but He Lan Ling felt something slipping out of control. At the same moment, Lin Sa Sa gasped in surprise, pointing at the Magic Crest between his brows. “It’s glowing.”

He Lan Ling abruptly withdrew his hand, cutting off the flow of spiritual power. “Let’s stop here for today.”

Lin Sa Sa faintly sensed something was off. “What’s wrong?”

He Lan Ling smiled, his dark eyes meeting hers—uncharacteristically inscrutable yet eerily calm. “Nothing.”

Almost as soon as he left, Chu You pushed the door open. “Miss, Luo Shui Wei brought Feng Qi here to apologize.”

Lin Sa Sa’s eyelid twitched. “Tell them to get lost.”

But as the words left her mouth, she inexplicably recalled He Lan Ling’s retreating figure—distant, cold, devoid of warmth. Lin Sa Sa knew He Lan Ling harbored many secrets, and she had no interest in uncovering them. Yet, just then, she was struck by the unsettling feeling that she would never truly reach his heart.

The realization felt dangerous.

Perhaps she shouldn’t pin all her hopes on He Lan Ling. There were other ways to prevent him from being with Luo Shui Wei.

“Wait.”

After a moment’s thought, Lin Sa Sa smiled again and changed her mind. “Let Feng Qi in.”

Remember—only him. She had words to share with him alone.

The courtyard was planted with rare flowers, their fragrance drifting through the air as Luo Shui Wei waited outside the door with Feng Qi.  

Her face was full of worry as she whispered to him, “When you see her later, you must control your emotions. Don’t lose your temper like yesterday.”  

“And even though Junior Sister has a bad temper, she’s still a young lady. Don’t give her that cold look, or she’ll get angry again. If she gets angry, you’ll be the one to suffer.”  

“The punishment from the elder yesterday should have taught you a lesson.”  

“…Does it still hurt?”  

Feng Qi’s face was unnaturally pale, but he curved his lips into a smile. “It doesn’t hurt.”  

The Cloud Hermit Sect strictly forbade infighting among disciples, especially insubordination. Even though Lin Sa Sa had provoked him first, she had no cultivation and was the Sect’s young mistress. No matter what, Feng Qi should never have raised a hand against her—let alone harbored killing intent.  

If not for Luo Shui Wei and the other disciples pleading for leniency, the disciplinary elder would have beaten him half to death. As it was, he had received twenty strikes and was confined for half a month in reflection—a light punishment. The only downside was that he had to apologize to Lin Sa Sa and gain her forgiveness. Otherwise, he would face another thirty strikes upon his return.  

Did he regret it?  

Feng Qi was sweating from the pain of the beating, but he didn’t feel regret. At the very least, he had shielded the person he loved from that slap. If not for Luo Shui Wei’s desperate pleading, he would have endured another thirty strikes rather than lower his head before Lin Sa Sa.  

“Senior Sister…” Feng Qi lowered his eyes. Despite his happiness, his heart still felt heavy.  

Yesterday, Lin Sa Sa had provoked him to the point where he nearly lost control of his demonic energy and went berserk. Perhaps he had pretended to be too obedient and gentle in front of Luo Shui Wei, because when his killing intent erupted and scattered the disciples restraining him, he had turned to look for her—only to see Luo Shui Wei standing a few steps away, her expression shocked. He had stared at her, and she had stepped back.  

Was she afraid?  

Feng Qi’s fingers clenched unconsciously. He knew Luo Shui Wei might struggle to accept his true nature, but he didn’t want to wear a mask in front of her forever.  

His lips parted, but before he could speak, a figure moved beside him. Luo Shui Wei hurried forward. “Senior Brother Ling.”  

He Lan Ling had just stepped out of Lin Sa Sa’s room.  

The man was dressed in elegant white robes, his noble bearing accentuated by the crimson Magic Crest on his face. He seemed distracted, lost in thought, but at Luo Shui Wei’s voice, he paused before lifting his gaze. A gentle smile touched his lips as he greeted her softly, “Junior Sister.”  

Luo Shui Wei approached him, her calm heart rippling at his smile, momentarily forgetting Feng Qi behind her.  

“Senior Brother, were you here to replenish the young mistress’s spiritual power? I heard she was ill—how is she now?” Ever since that humiliating incident, Luo Shui Wei had referred to Lin Sa Sa as “young mistress” in front of He Lan Ling, a habit that always reminded him of Lin Sa Sa’s arrogance and rudeness that day.  

His brow furrowed slightly as he replied indifferently, “She’s fine.”  

His tone was neither warm nor cold, impossible to gauge his feelings.  

Luo Shui Wei lowered her head, her voice still soft and gentle. “About yesterday…”  

She was about to thank him for his help when her pupils suddenly constricted. She noticed the faint glimpse of He Lan Ling’s hand hidden in his sleeve. That hand, which should have been fair and flawless, now bore clear bite marks, the blood still fresh—a wound inflicted just moments ago.  

“Senior Brother, your hand…” Her voice trembled slightly as she reached for it.

Before he could touch it, the door opened again. Chu You leaned against the doorframe, scanning the people in the courtyard before speaking coldly to Feng Qi, “The young lady only permits you to enter.”

Feng Qi remained silent, his gaze shifting to Luo Shui Wei, who was still staring intently at He Lan Ling’s hand with her lips tightly pressed together. Meanwhile, He Lan Ling’s eyes were fixed on Feng Qi.

Sensing He Lan Ling’s stare, Feng Qi met his gaze briefly before looking away, the atmosphere growing inexplicably tense.

As Feng Qi stepped into Lin Sa Sa’s room, he never heard Luo Shui Wei’s worried call of “A-Qi” that he had expected.  

It was as though, now that she had someone more important in her life, he had become invisible to her.

Author’s Note:  

7: Why am I always the one getting hurt?  

Folks, the neighboring story “Letters from the Abyss” has been updated~  

Shoutout to my grandkid’s super sweet romance novel—do me a favor and check it out. I’ll make her kowtow and call you all “daddy.”  

“Lies” / Spring Without You  

Synopsis 1:  

When they met again, Jiang Cuo swore he wouldn’t give his ex—the one who dumped him—even half a pleasant look.  

Less than three days later, that vow might as well have been eaten by a dog.  

One night, Jiang Cuo lazily typed out a copied line on his phone: “Babe, I won’t be your simp today. I’ve got a fever—wouldn’t want to burn you.”  

Ning Ying, receiving the text: “?”  

Jiang Cuo, who once declared that dating was for losers, suddenly found himself obsessed with the new tenant—  

Ordering takeout for her during work hours.  

Rushing home to wash dishes and cook after work.  

Wagging his tail like an eager puppy.  

His friends couldn’t stand it and mocked him mercilessly.  

Jiang Cuo raised a brow and replied lazily, “So what if I’m a simp? You guys just don’t know how to do it right.”  

Synopsis 2:  

From Taiqing City to Jinchuan City, there were no flights.  

Only a fourteen-hour journey on an old green train.  

Exhausted from the trip, Jiang Cuo sat outside her school gate, dialing a number she would never answer.  

It wasn’t that he lacked pride—he just couldn’t stop loving her.  

Deeply devoted, rebellious rich boy VS shy sweetheart  

Thanks to the little angels who threw grenades: 11, 38179368 (1 each);  

Thanks to the angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: Everywhere, Parting Tears (74 bottles!! Big spender!!); Lover of Dogblood and Angst 8 bottles; Assorted, Tearful Mist 1 bottle;