Chapter 11

After waiting so long for spring to arrive, the first outing naturally had to be done with a sense of ceremony. Xiao Xihe carefully selected a small clearing with a good view, rummaged through her Cosmos Sack for a bedsheet she’d never used before, prepared some floral tea and snacks, then began arranging everything on the spread-out sheet after laying it down.

Xie Zhaixing watched her busy herself from the side, only speaking up unhurriedly after the last plate of snacks was placed: “So your idea of an outing is just eating in a different location?”

“You could say that,” Xiao Xihe beckoned him to sit on the sheet.

Xie Zhaixing remained standing and commented: “Completely unnecessary.”

Xiao Xihe directly pulled him down onto the sheet. Xie Zhaixing frowned in displeasure, only to have a french fry stuffed into his mouth the next second. Crispy outside and tender inside, the light flavor paired perfectly with the sweet and sour sauce.

“How’s the ketchup I made recently?” Xiao Xihe asked.

Xie Zhaixing looked at her: “Where do you get all these strange ideas?” He’d noticed long ago that she could always combine various unrelated ingredients to make all sorts of peculiar foods, and they never tasted bad.

“It’s not that my ideas are strange, it’s that you’re too sheltered,” Xiao Xihe said with a pitying look.

Xie Zhaixing gave her a sidelong glance, and Xiao Xihe immediately sat up straight.

The mountain woods were filled with floral fragrance, the air pleasant as the damp breeze shed its chill, lightly passing through treetops, grass, and between fingers. The two sat casually on the ground, blending seamlessly with all creation.

After sitting for a while, Xiao Xihe grew bored and wanted to drag Xie Zhaixing for a stroll. But when she turned back, she saw him intently eating the watermelon pieces from the floral tea.

Xiao Xihe twitched her lips: “Demon Lord, I want to go for a walk.”

“Go ahead,” the Demon Lord didn’t even look up.

Xiao Xihe had expected this outcome and didn’t try to persuade him to join, simply patting her behind as she left alone.

Having stayed in Shady Valley for several months now, she’d walked nearly every corner of the place yet never grew tired of the scenery. Instead, it always seemed fresh—like how Shady Valley in spring was completely different from autumn and winter.

“If it weren’t so damp, it’d be a great retirement spot,” Xiao Xihe ambled along leisurely, looking up at the massive seal in the sky—the central point of all formations and barriers, the reassuring presence for All Immortal Sects.

As she walked while picking flowers, she noticed it getting progressively colder, with surrounding greenery gradually withering. By the time she neared the barrier’s edge, one foot was already stepping on accumulated snow.

…This white layer is definitely snow, right? Xiao Xihe hesitated, rubbing her arms, about to crouch down for a closer look when a Kunlun disciple guarding Shady Valley suddenly turned around. Startled, she quickly hid in nearby bushes.

Hearing movement, the disciple showed a flicker of hesitation before calling two others to investigate inside the barrier. As footsteps drew nearer, Xiao Xihe’s heart nearly stopped from fright, both terrified and cursing herself for getting carried away—why had she wandered here for no reason?

The footsteps came closer until they reached the bushes. Xiao Xihe was so tense she forgot to breathe. As she debated whether to keep hiding until discovered or make a run for it to seek Xie Zhaixing’s help, one disciple stared deep into the woods for a long moment before suddenly saying: “This is too strange. We must report to the Sect Leader immediately.”

“Not continuing the search? The noise definitely came from this direction.”

Though hidden by the bushes, Xiao Xihe knew the speaker was undoubtedly pointing right at her location. She swallowed nervously, silently shifting one foot into position to flee.

Yet the next moment, another voice responded: “Probably just a rabbit. The place is practically overrun with them.”

“Not just rabbits – pheasants, wild ducks, field mice… they all breed like crazy. Don’t they take winters off either…”

The voices gradually faded into the distance. Xiao Xihe finally relaxed completely and quietly retraced her steps.

As she neared their picnic spot, she couldn’t help breaking into a run: “Demon Lord! Demon Lord…”

Xie Zhaixing lifted his gaze to her.

Xiao Xihe charged straight up to him, nearly crashing: “I think I’ve been discovered!”

“Speak slowly.” Xie Zhaixing casually handed her a cup of floral tea.

Xiao Xihe downed it in one gulp, only then realizing she’d gotten just the tea – he’d eaten all the toppings.

…Never mind, this wasn’t the time to fuss about that. Clutching his sleeve, she recounted the incident in detail before finally asking miserably: “What do we do? They’re not going to set dogs on me again, are they?”

Xie Zhaixing glanced at her: “If they’d found you, they would have taken you away immediately, not let you return.”

“But they clearly said something was suspicious and would report to the Sect Leader!” Xiao Xihe widened her eyes.

Xie Zhaixing picked up a french fry: “Doesn’t matter.”

Xiao Xihe snatched it away, pouting: “Demon Lord…”

“Nothing will happen.” Xie Zhaixing reclaimed the fry.

When she reached for it again, one look from him made her instantly behave.

Despite Xie Zhaixing’s repeated assurances, Xiao Xihe remained uneasy. She shadowed him relentlessly, convinced his side was the safest place.

After nearly colliding with her yet again during a turn, Xie Zhaixing held her at arm’s length: “How long do you plan to follow me?”

“Until it’s safe.” Xiao Xihe answered.

Xie Zhaixing studied her intently, his narrow eyes slightly narrowed.

Xiao Xihe gulped nervously, her expression shifting to pitiful: “Demon Lord! I’m really scared!”

After a long silence, Xie Zhaixing patted her head: “Fine. I’ve cast an Invisibility Spell on you. Even if they bring dogs, they won’t scent you.”

“…Are you fooling a three-year-old?” Xiao Xihe said flatly.

Xie Zhaixing smirked: “You’re not even as capable as a three-year-old.”

Xiao Xihe sniffled and continued clinging to him. Just as Xie Zhaixing was about to speak again, he suddenly looked past her.

“What is it?” Xiao Xihe tensed.

Xie Zhaixing said calmly: “They’re coming.”

Understanding instantly, Xiao Xihe hastily pulled a cloak from her Cosmos Sack and struggled into it. By the time she’d fastened it, over twenty Kunlun Sect disciples had appeared before them. Leading them wasn’t the elder from last time, but a white-bearded old man in blue robes.

According to the original text, the Kunlun Sect had only one white-bearded elder – Sect Leader Lin Yi.

…So they’d alarmed even the Sect Leader? Though knowing they couldn’t see her, Xiao Xihe still quietly hid behind Xie Zhaixing, secretly clutching his belt.

She stood too close, her body warmth silently seeping through the fabric onto his back. Even without actual contact, Xie Zhaixing still had the illusion of being embraced from behind. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he thought about stepping forward, but his feet seemed rooted to the spot, unmoving.

“Fellow Daoist Xie, it’s been a while,” Lin Yi said calmly, his gaze fixed on Xie Zhaixing.

Since arriving in this world, Xiao Xihe had never encountered any high-level cultivators besides Xie Zhaixing. And the Demon Lord’s intimidating aura had long since dissipated under the weight of his endless snacking. Strictly speaking, the man before her now was the true embodiment of a grand figure in her mind.

She recalled the original text mentioning he was at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, just one step away from the Transformation Stage. Moreover, he was already over a thousand years old… A thousand years! Xiao Xihe couldn’t even fathom it. Yet this man had stubbornly lived this long and would continue to do so. In person, he looked so healthy, vigorous, and ethereal—every inch the immortal sage…

Xie Zhaixing spoke up, “Does your son know about your affair with his wife?”

Xiao Xihe: “?”

Lin Yi’s expression darkened. “What nonsense are you spouting?!”

“I saw it all that night,” Xie Zhaixing replied nonchalantly. “You even called her ‘my sweet little darling.'”

The Kunlun disciples: “…”

Xiao Xihe: “…” So much for immortal sage vibes.

“You demonic fiend! You truly have no respect for law or decency. Do you really think I wouldn’t dare kill you?!” Lin Yi abruptly drew his sword.

Xie Zhaixing gave him a lazy glance. “Would you?”

Lin Yi’s face turned livid, but a disciple quickly intervened, “Master, remember our mission. Don’t fall for this demon’s provocations!”

Lin Yi took a deep breath and regained his composure, instantly reverting to the unflappable, enlightened sage.

Xiao Xihe: “…” Yeah, right. She was done believing in these people. Every single one of them was a master of pretense.

“Fellow Daoist Xie,” Lin Yi narrowed his eyes, “would you care to explain why Shady Valley suddenly transitioned from winter to spring overnight?”

Xie Zhaixing glanced at him. “Am I the master of Kunlun?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why ask me?”

Lin Yi: “…”

Xiao Xihe confirmed two things: one, Xie Zhaixing genuinely disliked Lin Yi, and two, Xie Zhaixing didn’t need to resort to violence to earn the entire World of Cultivation’s hatred—his mouth alone was enough.

Lin Yi also realized he was no match for Xie Zhaixing in verbal sparring, so he shot a glance at a disciple, who promptly produced a Spirit Pearl.

Xiao Xihe recognized it as a tool to measure spiritual energy. When near a cultivator, the pearl would glow—the brighter the light, the stronger the cultivator. However, since entering Shady Valley, everyone’s cultivation had been suppressed, so the pearl wouldn’t light up even if held.

The disciple cautiously approached Xie Zhaixing with the unlit pearl in hand.

Step by step, closer and closer… Xiao Xihe’s heart raced as she tiptoed behind Xie Zhaixing, peeking over his shoulder.

The pearl remained dark. The disciple paused, relieved, and looked back at Lin Yi.

Lin Yi’s eyes narrowed, and he suddenly struck, thrusting his sword toward Xie Zhaixing. Everything happened too fast. By the time Xiao Xihe registered it, the blade was already embedded in the ground just an inch from Xie Zhaixing’s foot.

Instinctively, she tightened her grip on his belt, yanking it so hard that Xie Zhaixing’s lips twitched.

When danger strikes, instinct is most exposed through subconscious actions. Lin Yi had been staring at Xie Zhaixing the entire time he drew his sword, expecting to force him to use spiritual power, only to fail.  

Could it be that the overnight revival of spring in Shady Valley had nothing to do with him? Lin Yi frowned slightly, suppressing his doubts.  

Xie Zhaixing glanced at the sword planted just before his toes and spoke calmly after a pause: “Your daughter-in-law says your son isn’t as good as you.”  

Lin Yi: “…”  

The Kunlun disciples: “…”  

“She must be lying to you,” Xie Zhaixing added earnestly, eyeing the sword embedded only three inches into the ground.  

Everyone present: “…”  

Humiliated so openly, Lin Yi could no longer restrain himself. He yanked a sword from a nearby disciple, ready to fight to the death, only to be quickly held back by several others.  

“Master, calm down! Don’t fall for the demon’s trap!”  

“Master…”  

Lin Yi violently shook off their restraints, his face dark with fury as he turned and stormed away. The rest exchanged uneasy glances before hastily following.  

“He’s definitely going to hate you to death,” Xiao Xihe said, removing her cloak. “You didn’t have to go straight for the kill.” Though the World of Cultivation revered strength and had little regard for morality, accusations of impropriety like this were shocking no matter how lax the morals.  

If word got out, Lin Yi would probably be too ashamed to show his face in public.  

“You could’ve eased into it,” she suggested seriously. “Like starting with calling him ugly first.”  

“If I hadn’t said that, would he have left so quickly?” Xie Zhaixing glanced at her. “If he’d stayed any longer, you would’ve strangled me to death.”  

Xiao Xihe guiltily eyed his crumpled belt.  

“Will he retaliate?” she asked, still worried. “This is his territory, and you’re at his mercy. Wouldn’t it be easy for him to kill you?”  

Xie Zhaixing met her gaze. “He wouldn’t dare.”  

Xiao Xihe paused, then realized he was right. Xie Zhaixing wasn’t just formidable himself—he also had the Demon Realm’s ruler as his father. Though he’d been left to his own devices for years, if anything happened to him, his father would drown the World of Cultivation in blood. After all, in the original story, that was exactly what happened after Xie Zhaixing’s death.  

Xiao Xihe clicked her tongue, belatedly recalling another matter. “What did Lin Yi mean by ‘winter’s end brings spring’? And earlier, I saw snow outside—why is Shady Valley already in spring while other places still have snow?”  

Xie Zhaixing gave her a sidelong glance. “What do you think?”  

“No idea. Coincidence, probably,” she mused, feigning deep thought. “It couldn’t actually be your doing—you don’t even have spiritual power.”  

Xie Zhaixing smirked slightly, refusing to engage.  

That night, it was time for cultivation again.  

Xiao Xihe looked at the man waiting by the bed and felt her knees ache in anticipation. Half a year of repeating the same motion had only made his endurance grow, leaving her legs sore for days afterward—hardly efficient.  

“Maybe…” she ventured hesitantly, “we could try a different position today?”  

Xie Zhaixing lifted his gaze, showing no displeasure—if anything, he didn’t seem opposed to the suggestion.