Chapter 12

Seeing that Xie Zhaixing didn’t object, Xiao Xihe looked at him with eager anticipation.

After a long while, he slowly spoke, “Tomorrow, I want cake.”

“I’ll bake you some chips too,” Xiao Xihe added more without raising the price.

Xie Zhaixing reluctantly agreed, “What do you want to do?”

“Something simple—we just need to switch positions,” Xiao Xihe said eagerly, stepping forward and crouching by the bed to look up at him.

Xie Zhaixing met her gaze thoughtfully for a moment before understanding, “The position Lin Yi used with his daughter-in-law.”

“…No need to use them as a reference.” A domineering old man and his pretty daughter-in-law in a cultivation setting was just too much.

Xie Zhaixing curled his lips slightly and forced himself up from the bed, allowing Xiao Xihe to immediately take his place.

However, after a quarter of an hour, she regretted it.

The difference in male and female anatomy meant she couldn’t just pull it out from her robe like Xie Zhaixing could. When she was on top, she could rely on gravity to let her skirt fall naturally, covering the crucial parts no matter how she moved. But lying down was different—even if she didn’t push her skirt all the way up, most of her legs would still be exposed.

The worst part was that Xie Zhaixing had to lead the cultivation this time.

It was too passive.

Lying on the bed like a lamb waiting for slaughter, Xiao Xihe grew increasingly nervous as Xie Zhaixing approached. Finally, when he leaned in thoughtfully, she couldn’t help but beat the retreat: “Maybe… let’s just do it like before.”

Xie Zhaixing glanced down at her knees. Despite resting for two or three days, they were still bruised, forming a stark contrast with the smooth, fair skin of her calves.

“Useless,” he said expressionlessly, doing his best to ignore the expanse of pale skin before him.

Xiao Xihe: “Huh?”

“Half a year of cultivation, and you haven’t even reached Qi Refining. Don’t ever tell anyone you’ve done Dual Cultivation with me—I can’t afford the shame.” Xie Zhaixing met her eyes.

Xiao Xihe: “…Oh.”

After scolding the cultivation failure, Xie Zhaixing finally returned to the matter at hand: “What should we do?”

His overly serious demeanor made Xiao Xihe less nervous. She exhaled lightly and said, “Just do it like before.”

Xie Zhaixing thought for a moment and was about to begin when Xiao Xihe hurriedly stopped him: “Wait!”

Frowning, Xie Zhaixing paused.

Xiao Xihe quickly retrieved a pill from her Cosmos Sack and swallowed it.

Xie Zhaixing’s expression darkened instantly: “What did you take?”

“Something to strengthen the body. You’re just too powerful,” Xiao Xihe answered without missing a beat.

Xie Zhaixing narrowed his eyes. “I saw it—it’s an aphrodisiac.”

Xiao Xihe: “…” Then why ask?

An indescribable irritation surged in Xie Zhaixing, and his face turned cold. “If Dual Cultivation with me is so unbearable, go find someone else.”

With that, he turned to leave.

Xiao Xihe sensed disaster and, without thinking, lunged forward to wrap her arms around his waist. “It’s not unbearable at all! I’m overjoyed that the Demon Lord is willing to help me—how could it be unbearable…?”

“Let go.” Xie Zhaixing’s voice was icy.

Only a fool would let go. Xiao Xihe immediately tightened her grip. “I took the pill to make it easier for you, not because I dislike you! Think about it—our anatomies are different. Don’t I always take forever to get started? If you were leading, you wouldn’t want to go through all that prep like I do. If I didn’t take the pill, we’d both be in agony!”

She blurted out the entire explanation, her face nearly turning red from the effort.

Xie Zhaixing turned back with a grim expression.

“I really don’t dislike you,” Xiao Xihe said pitifully. “I won’t look for anyone else, only you.” Mainly because there was no one else to choose.

These words seemed to please Xie Zhaixing, as the oppressive atmosphere around him gradually dissipated. Xiao Xihe sniffled: “Demon Lord…”

“Let’s begin,” Xie Zhaixing glanced at her.

Xiao Xihe instantly revived with full energy: “Got it!”

Seeing her carefree expression, Xie Zhaixing finally relaxed his brows.

By the time Xiao Xihe lay down again, the medicine had taken effect. Her cheeks were flushed as if she’d drunk wine, and her clear eyes seemed to hide tiny hooks.

Xie Zhaixing’s Adam’s apple moved, inexplicably feeling a sudden heat.

Both were already accustomed to their previous positions, but now with the sudden change, it felt like returning to their first time. Fortunately, it wasn’t truly their first, and Xie Zhaixing was far more talented than Xiao Xihe, quickly adapting and even showing signs of improvement.

Xiao Xihe barely maintained a shred of reason, silently crying as she bit her lower lip. Xie Zhaixing looked down at her, seeing every subtle expression on her face for the first time. Watching her moist eyes, his gaze darkened, and the hand on her waist gradually tightened.

After a long while, he suddenly raised his hand—not to touch her eyes, but to free her lips: “Keep biting and you’ll draw blood.”

Xiao Xihe looked at him dazedly, only to see him frown and wipe his fingers on her clothes the next second.

…He was rejecting her, wasn’t he? Xiao Xihe sobered up slightly, but this clarity didn’t last long before fading again.

Satisfied that she’d stopped biting her lip, Xie Zhaixing then belatedly realized she had never been so… impassioned before today.

His irritation returned, his movements growing increasingly fierce until Xiao Xihe felt her entire body might fall apart.

Before her mind went blank, she whimpered, faintly hearing him command in a deep voice: “No more medicine next time.”

…Offended him again, huh? This man was truly hard to please. Xiao Xihe complained inwardly as she quietly began cultivating.

She really had little talent. Despite her efforts, she’d only barely formed the foundation for Qi Refining. But she wasn’t ambitious—living a long, healthy life was already like catching a pie from the sky.

Much later, after finishing cultivation, Xiao Xihe assessed her condition and cautiously suggested: “How about… once more?”

Xie Zhaixing paused, stared at her for a long moment, then agreed.

That night, they cultivated together three times—nearly ten days’ worth in one go, marking a sudden leap in efficiency. For a good while afterward, they continued this way, only occasionally reverting to their previous method.

Seasons passed, and Xiao Xihe finally achieved early-stage Qi Refining.

“I did it!”

The moment she succeeded, she acted like Fan Jin passing the imperial exams, darting through the woods like a wild monkey. Xie Zhaixing looked disdainful, though the corners of his lips lifted slightly.

Xiao Xihe finally noticed him and rushed over excitedly.

Xie Zhaixing’s eyelids twitched, but he didn’t dodge. The next instant, the wild monkey leaped onto him: “Demon Lord, I succeeded! Once the Gu Poison is gone, I can live to a hundred!”

“One would think you’d ascended to immortality,” Xie Zhaixing remarked drily, raising a hand to steady her waist. But before he could touch her, she’d already slid off.

“Ascension isn’t something my three-thousand salary can dream about! I’m perfectly content just reaching Qi Refining stage.” Xiao Xihe truly meant it, showing no intention to strive further.

Xie Zhaixing remained expressionless: “No ambition.”

Xiao Xihe grinned: “True, I’m pretty unambitious, but that’s just who I am and I can’t change. Once I’m cured of this poison, I’ll find a sunny place with mountains and water to retire…” Mid-sentence, she caught herself and hastily added, “With you, we’ll retire together.”

“I won’t age even through eight of your reincarnations,” Xie Zhaixing glanced at her, “Shady Valley has mountains and water, just lacking sunlight.”

He seemed oblivious to how forced her last statement was.

Xiao Xihe secretly sighed in relief, then felt a pang of guilt.

Though Xie Zhaixing was the story’s main antagonist, truth be told he’d treated her quite well. After all this time together, she didn’t find him terrifying at all—more like a schoolboy whose world revolved around meals.

Maybe she’d demonized him prematurely? Licking her lips, she was about to speak when Xie Zhaixing suddenly tensed: “Since you’re here, no need to hide.”

“…Who are you talking to?”

Xiao Xihe blinked in confusion just as over a dozen figures materialized around them. She immediately ducked behind Xie Zhaixing.

“Must’ve been difficult acquiring so many Invisibility Cloaks,” Xie Zhaixing remarked casually, “Here for revenge?”

The phrase sounded familiar—she’d been asked the same when first arriving at Shady Valley.

The leader scowled: “Demon Xie! You massacred my Black River Valley clan! Today I’ll avenge my hundred kinsmen!”

“Revenge it is.” Shady Valley’s numerous barriers were as porous as sieves, something Xie Zhaixing clearly took in stride.

Xiao Xihe didn’t. Seeing their muscular builds and martial stances—even without cultivation, their combat skills were evident—she realized they planned to overwhelm Xie Zhaixing while his cultivation was suppressed.

Moreover, despite increased security, so many intruders appearing undetected… was Kunlun Sect deliberately allowing this?

Gulping, she eyed the discarded cloaks, planning an escape route. But Xie Zhaixing—as if eyes grew on the back of his head—yanked her back mid-sneak.

Xiao Xihe: “…” Was he seriously confronting them head-on? Though unaffected by the barrier, her beginner Qi Refining with zero combat experience made her practically useless in a fight!

“Didn’t expect your help.” Xie Zhaixing seemed to read her mind.

The attackers, consumed by hatred, drew swords without preamble. Xie Zhaixing shoved Xiao Xihe back with one hand while seizing a blade to pierce another’s heart.

Blood sprayed. The product of a law-abiding society froze wide-eyed, utterly stunned. Xie Zhaixing’s swordplay flowed effortlessly—every stroke lethal. Despite their training, the assailants couldn’t close distance, half falling within moments.

Xiao Xihe stared at the corpses strewn across the ground, her breathing growing slightly ragged. Just as she realized she should hide, one of the men suddenly noticed her presence. The moment their eyes met, boundless hatred erupted—hatred born because of Xie Zhaixing, yet directed wholly at her, even though they had never met before.  

Caught off guard by the sudden animosity, Xiao Xihe froze for a second before seeing him raise his sword and swing at her. She dodged hastily, barely avoiding the strike, but her sleeve was slashed open, and a stinging pain spread across her arm.  

The man, undeterred by his failed attack, prepared to strike again. But just as he raised his sword, another blade pierced through his palm, pinning him firmly to the damp ground.  

A scream tore through the air as blood stained the fallen leaves. Xie Zhaixing, having just finished off the last of his opponents, walked over and knelt beside the pinned man. Calmly, he patted the man’s cheek and asked, “Lay a hand on what’s mine, hmm?”