Chapter 4

In just over two hours, he had eaten two full meals. Even for someone as extraordinary as the Demon Lord, it was a bit much.

Out of his love for good food, Xie Zhaixing naturally had more patience for skilled cooks—especially after a satisfying meal. For once, he didn’t leave immediately after putting down his chopsticks. Instead, he lifted his gaze to the strikingly beautiful woman sitting across from him.

“Which Immortal Sect are you from?” he asked.

Xiao Xihe answered casually, “The Longevity Sect.”

“Is there an Immortal Sect by that name?” Xie Zhaixing raised an eyebrow.

Xiao Xihe nodded earnestly. “Yes, it’s a small sect that emerged in recent years. There are only about a dozen of us, including me.”

She had already decided to cut ties after resolving the Gu poison, so she couldn’t reveal any personal information. Thus, she had fabricated her background in advance to handle any sudden questions from him.

“No wonder they’d accept someone with such poor aptitude,” Xie Zhaixing remarked, as if it all made sense now.

Even though it was made up, Xiao Xihe still felt a twinge of annoyance. “…It’s not that bad, is it?”

Xie Zhaixing gave her a faintly amused look.

Her lips twitched. “…Well, compared to you, of course, it’s a bit lacking.”

“Compared to anyone, you’re lacking,” Xie Zhaixing said with unusual calmness. “Including those fools you tricked earlier.”

Xiao Xihe: “…” Thanks for the compliment, I guess.

Completely oblivious to how he’d killed the conversation, Xie Zhaixing paused before speaking again, slowly this time. “To cure the poison of the Yin-Yang Union Gu, it’s not enough to just find someone with an opposite constitution and engage in intimacy. You also need to know the Union Sect’s cultivation techniques. Since you’re not from the Union Sect, how do you plan to cure their poison?”

Xiao Xihe had prepared for this question long ago. Hearing it, she quickly pulled out a few small booklets from her Cosmos Sack and eagerly presented them to him.

Xiao Xihe glanced at them—they were Union Sect’s Cultivation Manuals, all containing secrets not meant for outsiders. His brow lifted slightly.

“I went through hell to steal these from the Union Sect,” Xiao Xihe explained their origin in one sentence, then extended her invitation again. “Now everything is ready—all that’s missing is your cooperation.”

“And if I refuse?” Xie Zhaixing countered.

Xiao Xihe faltered, then replied sincerely, “Then… then I’ll keep cooking delicious meals for you until you can’t live without my cooking and won’t want me to die, so you’ll agree to help me.”

Xiao Xihe stared at her with faint amusement for a long while. Finally, under her hopeful yet nervous gaze, he slowly stood up. “Fine.”

With that, he turned and left.

…Fine? Fine what? Why leave halfway through the conversation?! Xiao Xihe silently reached out in despair but didn’t dare actually stop him.

Before she knew it, night had fallen. The Shady Valley grew even damper and colder after dark. Xiao Xihe rubbed her arms, somewhat relieved that although her cultivation was pitifully low, it wasn’t nonexistent—at least she could somewhat resist the heavy moisture. Otherwise, staying here for too long would surely give her rheumatism.

Since she’d be stuck here for the next ten-plus days, Xiao Xihe decided to set up camp by the stream. The open space here was relatively large, and being near water made cooking and other tasks more convenient.

With that in mind, she pulled out the tent she’d bought along the way from her Cosmos Sack, rolled up her sleeves, and began setting up camp. After pitching the tent, she arranged her bedding. Once everything was ready, she placed a moisture-absorbing bead inside the tent, instantly freshening the sticky air.

“…Even more useful than central air conditioning.” Xiao Xihe gazed contentedly at the plain-looking bead, her will to live growing stronger by the minute.

Late at night, Xiao Xihe finally lay down on the dry, soft bedding. After letting out a long sigh, she began pondering the meaning behind Xie Zhaixing’s “can do” statement.

Was it approval of her plan? Or was he agreeing to help her?

Tossing and turning, Xiao Xihe barely managed to fall asleep by dawn, still wondering what exactly “can do” meant. She’d slept less than two hours when Xie Zhaixing woke her.

“Make breakfast,” he ordered matter-of-factly.

Xiao Xihe stared at him for a long while before realizing his “can do” meant “can continue making delicious food for him.”

…What an ass.

Despite her dissatisfaction, Xiao Xihe didn’t dare show it. Yawning, she got up and was about to leave when she noticed him studying the bedding with interest.

Still groggy in the early morning, the words slipped out before she could stop them: “It’s a very soft goose-down quilt. Would the Demon Lord like to try it?”

Instantly regretting her words, she feared he might actually nod.

Having spent half a year in ICU with broken limbs after that car accident in her past life, she now cherished every day of good health. Though she’d been in a hurry when coming here, she’d still bought many comforts, including this goose-down quilt.

…Would he really agree? Xiao Xihe swallowed nervously and quickly added when he looked up: “But you’d have to share it with me!”

Xie Zhaixing clicked his tongue. “Wishful thinking.” With that, he left the tent.

Xiao Xihe exhaled in relief and cheerfully followed him out.

From that day on, Xiao Xihe saw Xie Zhaixing at least three times daily—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—sometimes even a fourth time for late-night snacks.

Each meeting, she’d find new ways to persuade him to dual cultivate with her. Yet Xie Zhaixing, that bastard, would leave immediately after eating, completely ignoring her hints. After seven straight days, Xiao Xihe’s sense of crisis grew. Finally, during one breakfast, she changed into a semi-transparent gauze dress.

The water-blue dress resembled layers of mist, faintly revealing her slender legs when she moved. While not particularly sexy by modern standards, here it might as well have been lingerie.

Xiao Xihe hadn’t wanted to go this far, but with only twelve days left, she had to take the risk.

Glancing at her dress, she took a deep breath and began kneading dough and chopping filling, shaping irregular buns before neatly arranging them in a pan. She added a flour-water mixture, covered the pan, and started frying.

When the water evaporated and it was time to add oil, Xie Zhaixing appeared. Xiao Xihe immediately bent slightly, trying to strike a graceful pose.

As Xie Zhaixing approached step by step, her nervousness grew. Just as she debated whether to deliver the classic line “Would you like to eat first, or eat me?” Xie Zhaixing asked, “What are you making?”

“…Pan-fried buns.”

“You can fry buns with water?” Xie Zhaixing watched with interest as the buns turned golden in the pan, his dark eyes glimmering slightly, not sparing her a single glance.

Xiao Xihe: “…” She shouldn’t have humiliated herself like this.

Failure seemed inevitable. In the original story, he had even treated the stunningly beautiful female lead as worthless, so how could someone of her level possibly succeed? Xiao Xihe sighed dejectedly as she scooped out the steamed buns and placed them on the small table beside her.

Xie Zhaixing, familiar with the routine, sat down and began eating without hesitation.

Seeing him ignore her yet again, Xiao Xihe couldn’t help but ask, “Haven’t you noticed anything different about me today?”

“What difference?” Xie Zhaixing finally looked at her properly.

Xiao Xihe immediately straightened her back, her ample curves lifting slightly as she did. Xie Zhaixing stared at her for a moment before asking, “What?”

“…I’m trying to seduce you,” Xiao Xihe admitted.

“Oh,” Xie Zhaixing had already picked up his chopsticks. “And then?”

“…There is no ‘and then.’ Please just eat your meal,” Xiao Xihe forced a smile.

Xie Zhaixing really did start eating then—though after just two or three bites, he set his chopsticks down.

“Finished already?” Xiao Xihe was shocked.

Xie Zhaixing replied, “I’m full.”

“But you barely ate anything… Was it not tasty?” Xiao Xihe grew nervous. She had tasted them earlier—they should have suited his preferences.

Xie Zhaixing glanced at her. “Passable.”

A familiar evaluation. Xiao Xihe relaxed slightly but grew even more puzzled. “Then why eat so little?”

“Poor appetite,” Xie Zhaixing answered succinctly.

Xiao Xihe paused, only now realizing his mood was off. Normally, he was just as lazy and indifferent, sometimes too lazy to even speak. But today, his lethargy carried a faint sense of exhaustion.

…Is he sick? Before she could ask, Xie Zhaixing had already stood up and left.

Watching his tall figure retreat into the distance, Xiao Xihe was overwhelmed by a feeling she could only describe as ‘despair.’ Could she really convince him before her death? Had she spent twenty days cooking for nothing?

Xiao Xihe began devouring the pan-fried buns one after another. The rich fat from the pork belly melded with the chives, all wrapped in a golden, crispy shell. Each bite was crisp and fragrant, making it hard to stay gloomy.

…If he won’t eat, I will. Who cares? She polished off the remaining buns, stuffing herself so much she had to lie in bed all morning.

Despite her grievances with Xie Zhaixing, by noon, she was back in the kitchen. Considering his poor appetite earlier, she avoided greasy dishes and instead prepared a pot of lean pork and shrimp congee. The thick, sticky porridge, fragrant and savory, was enough to drive anyone wild with hunger.

As the aroma filled the air, Xiao Xihe sat patiently by the pot, waiting. But no matter how long she waited, Xie Zhaixing never appeared.

…Could the smell not be strong enough? She sniffed the air and dismissed the thought.

She waited until the congee nearly dried out, forcing her to scoop it into the Cosmos Sack to keep warm, planning to serve it when he arrived.

But by evening, there was still no sign of him.

…Does he not like congee? Or is he tired of my cooking? But he said the buns were fine this morning… though he did eat only a third of his usual portion. Has he really grown bored? Anxiety gnawed at her until she nearly pulled out the pot to prove herself—when she suddenly noticed that Shady Valley was brighter than usual tonight.

Pausing, she tilted her head up and glimpsed a sliver of bright moonlight through the dense canopy of leaves.

Xiao Xihe counted the days and realized today was the Mid-Autumn Festival, the fifteenth day of the eighth month.

In the original setting, a Full Yin constitution was nothing good. Xie Zhaixing had been born with Cold Yin Disease due to this constitution, suffering from bone-chilling cold and stiffness from time to time. If not for the old Demon Lord expending half his cultivation to save him, he wouldn’t have lived to adulthood. Though he grew stronger over time and could suppress the symptoms with his cultivation, the illness still flared up every six months—precisely on two fixed dates.

One of those dates happened to be the Mid-Autumn Festival.

…So was he having an episode now? Xiao Xihe hesitated for a moment before cautiously standing up and heading deeper into the woods.

She had been in Shady Valley for some time but had never known where Xie Zhaixing stayed each day or what he did apart from meals. Even if she wanted to find him now, she could only search blindly.

“Demon Lord? Are you here?” Xiao Xihe called out as she walked.

The forest was silent, not even an echo in response. She treaded softly on the fallen leaves, continuing her search. But Shady Valley was vast, and after nearly two hours of walking, she had barely covered half of it without spotting Xie Zhaixing.

…Maybe she should just go back. After all, he’d be fine once he made it through today. Just as she hesitated and was about to turn back, she heard a faint rustling sound.

She paused and tentatively called, “Demon Lord?”

No answer.

Xiao Xihe licked her dry lips and slowly moved toward the sound.

Passing a few large trees and pushing through some weeds, she came upon a relatively open grassy area. There, leaning against the trunk of a twisted broad-leaved tree, was Xie Zhaixing.

His eyes were tightly shut, one hand resting casually on his knee. The silver moonlight cast over him as if frosting him in ice.

No—that was real frost. Even his eyelashes were dusted with delicate crystalline shards, trembling like fallen stars upon his lashes. Up close, she could see his faint shivering, belying the seemingly relaxed posture.

After a moment of hesitation, Xiao Xihe cautiously approached him. With each step, the air grew colder, and by the time she was near him, she was shivering too.

If just being close to him made her this cold, how much worse must it be for him, with the chill seeping from his very bones? For the first time, she felt a pang of sympathy for the Demon Lord. But before that sympathy could last even three seconds, his narrow eyes snapped open, cold and hostile.

The Xie Zhaixing she knew was always languid, even when threatening others, as if he couldn’t be bothered to move. This was the first time she’d seen him so aggressive, and it frightened her into freezing on the spot. “…Demon Lord, it’s me.”

Xie Zhaixing stared at her for a long time, until her legs nearly trembled, before finally speaking in a low voice, “What are you doing here?”

“You didn’t come for lunch or dinner. I was worried something might have happened, so I came to check on you,” Xiao Xihe explained.

Xie Zhaixing closed his eyes again, his brows furrowing slightly in irritation. “Get lost.”

Xiao Xihe promptly turned to leave, but after a few steps, she circled back. “Demon Lord, would you like some hot porridge? It might help warm you up.”

Though she knew his tenacity meant he wouldn’t perish in Shady Valley, she couldn’t help but worry.

After all, she was still counting on him to change his mind and save her. He couldn’t afford to die so easily.

Xie Zhaixing remained unmoved upon hearing this, merely closing his eyes and silently enduring the chill.  

Xiao Xihe couldn’t help but add, “It’s congee made with lean meat and fresh shrimp. The broth is soft and sticky, the ingredients are springy, and it’s cooked until fragrant and tender. A bowl might help drive away the cold. Would you like some?”  

As soon as she finished speaking, Xie Zhaixing opened his eyes and gave her a cold look.  

“…Got it.” Xiao Xihe made an OK gesture and turned to leave.  

“Come back,” Xie Zhaixing commanded in a deep voice.  

“Sure thing.” Xiao Xihe promptly returned, shivering as she approached him.  

“Why are you shaking?” Xie Zhaixing asked irritably.  

“Because it’s cold,” she admitted honestly.  

Only then did Xie Zhaixing notice she was still wearing the same gauzy dress from earlier in the day. The fabric was not only thin but also scandalously sparse—when she crouched, glimpses of her legs and collarbone peeked through. Now, under the biting chill radiating from him, her fair skin took on a faint pink hue.  

Xiao Xihe lowered her head, carefully retrieving a bowl of congee from her Cosmos Sack and sprinkling it with scallions and sesame oil before offering it. “Demon Lord.”  

Xie Zhaixing raised a frost-covered hand to take it. The steaming congee rapidly cooled, then visibly crystallized into a bowl of ice shards.  

Xiao Xihe’s eyes widened. “How did that happen?”  

A trace of mockery flashed in Xie Zhaixing’s eyes. “Take it back. Don’t waste food.”  

“…Oh.” Xiao Xihe silently accepted the rock-hard bowl and stood up to leave. With each step, she grew warmer, and by the time she reached the first tree, she no longer felt cold.  

She glanced back, meeting his indifferent gaze. Moonlight spilled over him, his handsome features carrying an air of untamed detachment. Even when their eyes locked, he didn’t look away—just watched her quietly.  

Xiao Xihe hesitated, then blurted out, “You actually still wanted to eat the congee, didn’t you?”  

As soon as she asked, she felt ridiculous. Extreme cold wasn’t just numbing—it often came with bone-piercing pain. Right now, he was practically turning into ice. How could he possibly still have an appetite for—  

“Yes,” Xie Zhaixing admitted leisurely.  

…Never mind. Xiao Xihe’s lips twitched as she returned to his side. “Then I’ll feed you. Swallow it quickly before it freezes completely—don’t give it time to turn to ice.”  

Xie Zhaixing considered this for a moment and found it acceptable.  

Seeing his agreement, Xiao Xihe scooped out the remaining congee from the pot and quickly spooned a mouthful toward him. Without hesitation, Xie Zhaixing swallowed it in one gulp.  

“How is it?” Xiao Xihe asked eagerly.  

Xie Zhaixing frowned. “Still a bit cold.”  

“It’s already a miracle it didn’t freeze solid,” Xiao Xihe said, feeding him another spoonful.  

“Not as good as your usual cooking,” Xie Zhaixing remarked.  

…Even half-frozen, he still had the nerve to critique her culinary skills? Xiao Xihe mentally rolled her eyes but forced a polite smile. “I made it at noon. You never came, so it simmered too long.”  

Xie Zhaixing gave a slight nod. After another bite, his fist suddenly clenched, his jawline sharpening into a severe angle, his Adam’s apple trembling faintly. Xiao Xihe felt the surrounding air grow even colder. When she looked up, she saw the frost on his body thickening—despite it being the height of late summer’s heat, his presence was as frigid as the depths of winter.

“Demon Lord, are you okay…” Xiao Xihe was seeing someone freeze up close for the first time. Although she knew anything was possible in cultivation novels, she was still shocked by the sight before her.

Xie Zhaixing frowned as he resisted the cold energy within him, having no time to pay attention to her. Xiao Xihe licked her lips and, unable to suppress her curiosity, secretly reached out to touch the back of his hand with her finger.

So cold.

Xiao Xihe quickly withdrew her hand and was about to fetch some clothes to help him ward off the cold when she noticed the frost on the spot she had touched suddenly melted.

She froze for a moment before grabbing his hand again. This time, the movement was too obvious and Xie Zhaixing noticed immediately.

“What, trying to take advantage of my weakness?” Xie Zhaixing’s tone was unreadable.

Xiao Xihe quickly let go. “No, I just—Demon Lord, look! The frost on your hand melted!”

She exclaimed as if she had made a great discovery. Xie Zhaixing lowered his gaze and saw that the frost had indeed melted where she had held him.

“I know! It must be because of my Full Yang constitution—it can counteract the… frost on you.” In her excitement, Xiao Xihe nearly blurted out his Cold Yin Disease, a condition unknown to outsiders.

Without waiting for Xie Zhaixing’s response, she grabbed his hand again.

Both of them looked down and saw the frost recede like a tide from where she touched, retreating until the surrounding temperature rose slightly. Though it was still cold, it was much better than before.

Xie Zhaixing seemed to feel some relief as well, the tension between his brows gradually easing as he exhaled a slow, icy breath.

Unfortunately, this peace didn’t last long. The Cold Yin Disease flared up again, this time even more violently. Xie Zhaixing’s expression shifted slightly before he abruptly pulled Xiao Xihe into his arms.

Caught off guard, Xiao Xihe collided with his firm chest. Before she could even cry out in pain, she felt a bone-chilling cold seep directly into her body. Shivering uncontrollably, even though she knew this cold came from Xie Zhaixing, she instinctively pressed closer to him for warmth.

Both of their breathing grew heavy—one from the unbearable cold, the other from the relief of the cold receding. Their icy breaths intertwined, gradually syncing into the same rhythm.

“Actually…” Xiao Xihe hesitated before speaking, “there’s another way to really warm you up.”

“Hm?”

“Have you heard of… friction generating heat?” Xiao Xihe asked with an innocent expression.