Chapter 33: A Chaotic Dance of Demons (Part 26)

Although he had planned to leave after she fell asleep, somehow the two of them ended up leaning against each other without realizing it.

Her arms were wrapped around his, and at first, he dared not move, letting her small hands wander as they pleased. Eventually, she somehow found his tail, and tugged at it for a long while, showing no intention of stopping, her hands drifting ever closer to the base of his spine… Who could endure such a thing?

Lin Yuan lay down slowly, pressed against the edge of the bed. The bright, keen golden eyes gradually softened into lazy satisfaction, and a low rumbling sound escaped unconsciously from his throat…

"Rumble… rumble… rumble…"

Suddenly, he remembered Shen Xiao’s warning from last time, that the purring was loud enough to wake her. His half-closed eyes snapped open, and he quickly stifled the rumble in his throat.

Shi Xianyu, half-asleep on the bed, mumbled, "Don’t stop… rumble, rumble… it’s so soothing…"

Lin Yuan hesitated for a moment, then let out a soft, "Rumble…"

Shi Xianyu looked satisfied, her face peacefully content.

Lin Yuan: "Rumble… rumble…"

The sound grew louder and louder.

……

The next morning, a servant brought breakfast. The three of them gathered in Lin Yuan’s room to eat.

Though there were three at the table, in truth only Shi Xianyu ate; Shen Xiao and Lin Yuan merely sipped their tea.

The events since arriving in Green Mountain City had left Shen Xiao uneasy. He felt he had dragged his two companions into trouble. Lin Yuan could at least defend himself, but Shi Xianyu was a delicate young woman—should danger arise, would it not be his fault?

Shen Xiao proposed that Lin Yuan escort Shi Xianyu to Spirit Mountain ahead of him, promising to join them once matters in Green Mountain City were settled.

But how could she agree to that? The whole reason Shi Xianyu had come was to fulfill Shen Xiao’s wish, to ensure he reached Spirit Mountain safely. What point was there in her and Lin Yuan going without him?

She spooned red bean porridge and nibbled on her steamed vegetable bun. After swallowing, she looked at Shen Xiao with earnest sincerity. "Brother Shen, please don’t think that way. We’ve traveled together and are friends now. We share hardships and blessings. Besides, the people of Green Mountain City are kind and peaceful. If we rid them of the fox demon and restore peace, we’ll be doing a good deed—that’s far more meaningful than simply reaching Spirit Mountain."

Lin Yuan nodded in agreement. "Exactly."

Shen Xiao was deeply moved. He raised his cup in a toast, substituting tea for wine. "I have traveled for decades, always alone. Meeting the two of you is the greatest fortune of my life!"

Shi Xianyu modestly lifted her bowl in reply. "Meeting you is a blessing for me too, Brother Shen~"

She thought to herself: If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t even know where to find romance.

Just then, Miss Xu’s voice came from outside: "Daoist Shen! Daoist Shen, are you there?… Where is Shen Xiao?"

The sound made Shen Xiao’s head ache. With a quiet sigh, he rose and went outside, standing under the eaves. "What does Miss Xu need from me?"

Xu Xiangyun was peering into the room next door. When she saw him, she hesitated. "So you’re here."

She awkwardly flicked the red tassels on her bridal gown and glanced at him sidelong. "I’ve heard you stood guard outside my room all night last night?"

Shen Xiao nodded slightly. "Since I agreed to stay and eliminate the demon, I must ensure your safety."

Xu Xiangyun smiled at him.

Alas, to Daoist Shen, a beauty was no different from any flower or blade of grass by the roadside.

Her lovely almond eyes roved over Shen Xiao as she spoke with a smile. "I thought it over carefully last night. Though you’re already eighty-five this year, and indeed much older than me, cultivators’ looks never fade. When I become an old woman of eighty-five, you’ll look exactly as you do today. So, by that reckoning, marrying you isn’t a loss for me at all."

A faint twitch appeared at the corner of Shen Xiao’s eye. "Did you come all this way this morning just to say this?"

"Of course. This is important—it concerns my lifelong happiness. That’s why I came as soon as I could." Xu Xiangyun pouted, then continued, "To be honest, it’s your fault for scaring me with the sudden mention of being eighty-five. Among cultivators, being older is common. If you were eight hundred and fifty, our age difference wouldn’t matter at all."

Shen Xiao had no reply.

He rather wished he’d never let her out in the first place.

"What kind of expression is that?" Xu Xiangyun frowned at him. "I really don’t understand you. What exactly do you find unsatisfactory about me? I’m skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Not a peerless beauty, perhaps, but certainly attractive. If you married me, you’d have wealth and honor, not to mention the full support of Green Mountain City behind you. Are you not even a little tempted?"

Shen Xiao replied blankly, "My heart is set on the Way, untouched by worldly matters. You seek the wrong person, Miss Xu."

"I know, you want to go to Spirit Mountain," Xu Xiangyun answered as if it were obvious. "After we’re wed, we can go to Spirit Mountain together if you wish, or stay here to catch demons and help the people. Don’t look at me like this—I practiced swordplay as a child! I won’t ask for a bride price. Not only can I help you vanquish demons, I can also free you from worry. Why not reconsider?"

She spoke at length, but Shen Xiao didn’t so much as twitch an eyebrow.

Unwilling to give up, Xu Xiangyun bit her lip and pressed on. "If you have any requests, you can tell me."

Shen Xiao had only one wish—to sigh in exasperation.

"Forgive my boldness, but may I ask…" He gazed at Xu Xiangyun with calm indifference. "Why are you so set on marrying me?"

Xu Xiangyun’s face showed a hint of impatience. "Why else? I like you! Isn’t it enough that I’ve taken a fancy to you?"

"And what, may I ask, is it about me that appeals to you?"

"You’re handsome, and your magic is powerful! That’s why I admire you!"

"In terms of appearance, I believe I am not half as handsome as your brother. As for magic, though there is a fox demon about, it’s rare for monsters to trouble the human realm. Once the fox demon is gone, my skills will be worthless. If you wish to marry, why not seek a worthy young man of equal standing?"

Xu Xiangyun was thoroughly exasperated by his lecture. Her face fell, and she snapped, "Are you done? Marry me if you want, don’t if you don’t! Why should you tell me who I can or can’t marry? Who do you think you are? An eighty-year-old man who dares to be picky?!"

With a furious flick of her sleeve, she stormed off, no longer willing to argue.