Chapter Four: A Choice Between Two

The fan in Bai Shengyun's hand was unmistakably her own Pure Breeze Fan, the very treasure that Gu Ruohan had sought out for her with such painstaking effort.

If she were to believe that this man had acquired it by accident, she would never believe it.

She had seen it, and so had Gu Ruohan. He leapt down from the tree in a flash. "How did you come by this fan?"

"Then you should ask the owner of this fan." Bai Shengyun approached Xie Yingying, drew her into his arms, and said, word by word, "This is a cherished gift, given to me by Yingying herself."

Anything he had touched, even if he no longer wanted it, was not to be sullied by another!

And when Xie Yingying heard Bai Shengyun suddenly address her with such intimacy, every hair on her body stood on end. She could not say what she felt, only that she looked at him as if she had seen a ghost.

His lips were like ripe cherries, moist and red, gleaming with an inviting sheen, yet his eyes brimmed with provocation and disdain. "Yingying, what do you say?"

"I..." Xie Yingying had just opened her mouth to speak when a strange pain rose inexplicably in her abdomen. She understood all too well from where this suffering sprang.

Bai Shengyun turned his head, his warm breath teasing at her ear. "If I were you, I would think carefully before speaking."

She was unsure of the original owner's storyline with this demonic lord—if she left rashly with him, she might expose herself. More importantly, Bai Shengyun seemed to have lost his mind and refused to let her go!

At present, Bai Shengyun was still unwilling to reveal his identity as the Young Emperor of the Celestial Foxes before Gu Ruohan. If she made a single misstep, uttered a single word too many, she would undoubtedly be the first to die.

"I... Gu Ruohan, this is a fan I gave to him. In the future, I will find another treasure of equal worth to give to you."

At these words, both men’s faces changed.

To Gu Ruohan, Xie Yingying was severing ties with him, giving her fan to another man! Hurt flashed in his eyes. Yet, as the Lord of the Demon Sect, he had his pride, and for a while, he spoke no further.

To Bai Shengyun, this woman was actually planning to present an even more precious gift to Gu Ruohan. In what way was he inferior to Gu Ruohan?

Xie Yingying herself did not expect that a simple sentence would offend both men at once.

Bai Shengyun’s arm around her was like an unbreakable immortal lock, his cold gaze fixed on Gu Ruohan. "She will not go with you. I have already decided to marry her."

He rarely addressed himself as "this prince" before outsiders; to do so meant he was truly angered.

Bai Shengyun said to Gu Ruohan directly, "Sir, will you not leave? Or are you here to disgrace yourself?" He had no fear whatsoever of this Demon Lord, only mockery and derision. His foxlike eyes were as cold and detached as colored glass. "Or perhaps you wish to stay for a cup of wedding wine?"

Gu Ruohan stood silent for a long time, then disappeared from sight.

"And you," Bai Shengyun turned as if suddenly remembering the other’s presence, his face frosty and unapproachable, with only a hint of scrutiny in his eyes, "do you wish to follow us as a maid, or return to your Celestial Sect?"

Ning Qingqing’s heart trembled, feeling deeply humiliated. She had always been a noble maiden of the Celestial Sect, her eyes full of confusion. "Immortal Lord, must you truly humiliate me so? Have I done something wrong?"

Xie Yingying complained inwardly, It’s not that you did anything wrong. It’s just that the one you’re trying so hard to please is not a man at all, but a mongrel fox. Nothing you do will ever work.

Ning Qingqing, still earnest, said, "I only wish to remain by the Immortal Lord’s side. Is that so wrong?"

Xie Yingying, unable to speak, rolled her eyes hard in a hidden corner, then composed herself again.

Suddenly, she remembered a fleeting plotline from the original story: the Celestial Sect’s master had somehow obtained one of Bai Shengyun’s fox hairs and used it to cast a love curse on Ning Qingqing.

Bai Shengyun finally glanced at Ning Qingqing, a trace of pity in his clear, foxlike eyes. Casually, he said, "Very well, then. Go hire a carriage."

When Ning Qingqing did not move for some time, Bai Shengyun lowered his voice, "What, you are unwilling?"

Ning Qingqing knew that if she did not fetch the carriage, Bai Shengyun would leave her behind without mercy. She slowly clenched and unclenched her fists, finally agreeing, "Yes."

As she walked away, Ning Qingqing thought to herself that at least he was allowing her to stay. If she could only get a little closer to him, just a little closer, she was certain she could reach his heart.

Meanwhile, Xie Yingying, having been silenced by a forbidden spell, could only let out a few muffled protests.

Bai Shengyun flicked his robe and sat upon a stone bench, waving his sleeve carelessly at her. "Now that the Demon Lord is gone, you seem quite disappointed."

Xie Yingying’s gaze sharpened. She did not understand why Bai Shengyun would bring up Gu Ruohan, but found she could speak again. "What do you mean?"

He spoke slowly, "Let me tell you: he abandoned you only because he hesitates about my identity."

Upon hearing this, Xie Yingying fell silent for a moment. So, she was the one abandoned, all because of an uncertain identity.

She was unsure whether to mock her own foolishness or curse Bai Shengyun’s cruelty. He had not only long since seen through her feelings, but poured a bucket of cold water over her without mercy.

Indeed, Bai Shengyun was watching her like a spectator at a show. When their eyes met, a trace of resentment and hatred flashed through Xie Yingying’s eyes.

At that moment, Ning Qingqing returned, evidently having hired the carriage. She greeted with a lively, "Immortal Lord!"

Bai Shengyun casually cast an enchantment on the carriage, then pulled Xie Yingying over while instructing Ning Qingqing, "You drive the carriage. It will only follow your guidance."

Ning Qingqing’s face was sullen as she lowered her eyes. "But..."

Bai Shengyun’s fox eyes arched. "Or do you expect me to drive it myself?"

"Couldn’t that demoness—" Ning Qingqing bit her lip, unable to stop herself.

Sitting beside Bai Shengyun, Xie Yingying felt stifled. Why bring me up? I can’t drive a carriage either, for heaven’s sake.

Bai Shengyun’s brows knit in impatience. "Are you defying me?"

Ning Qingqing said no more, took up the whip, and sat in front, while Xie Yingying and Bai Shengyun entered the carriage.

Just as Xie Yingying thought she might finally enjoy a brief respite, Bai Shengyun’s voice drifted to her ears, light and clear, "You seem to think I cannot do anything to you, so you act so recklessly."

Immediately, a searing pain twisted in her belly, forcing a desperate cry from her lips—so piercing and helpless that Bai Shengyun waved his sleeve to cast a barrier, smothering her screams within the carriage.

But Ning Qingqing was just outside. How could she not hear that sudden cry?

She stopped the carriage at once, wanting to ask what had happened, but was blocked by the barrier.

That had been a woman’s scream, so the barrier must be Bai Shengyun’s doing.

What could they be doing inside? Why had Xie Yingying screamed?

Ning Qingqing, raised in purity by the Celestial Sect’s master and ignorant of dual cultivation, did not immediately imagine anything strange. She simply thought Bai Shengyun was punishing Xie Yingying.

In truth, Bai Shengyun was indeed disciplining Xie Yingying.

He poured himself tea leisurely, brought it to his lips even more slowly, and watched her with a lazy smile.

His silver crown and jade pin held his hair perfectly in place, glossy and dark. Xie Yingying even wondered if he groomed himself like a fox, for after all, foxes belonged to the canine family.

"The power of the Primordial Origin resides within you, yet is subject to my command. If I wish, you can neither live nor die at your own will," he said, his tone still idle and detached. "So, I advise you to think thrice before you act."

Xie Yingying had no doubt he could do as he said—after all, he was the male lead: cunning, ruthless, and calculating.

Her face twisted in pain, unable even to sit straight. Soon, she could only curl up, rolling on the floor of the carriage, sweat beading on her brow, her hair disheveled, and her outer robes coming undone.

There were only the two of them in the carriage. Xie Yingying wanted to cry out for help, but who would save her? Anyone at all, she would accept.

After a struggle, she realized the only one she could plead with was the man before her. After a long hesitation, she finally clung to his sleeve.

"I won’t do it again, I won’t do it again..."

Only then did Bai Shengyun lift his eyes to her, his narrow, foxlike gaze dark with hidden currents. "You won’t do what again?"

Tears streamed down Xie Yingying’s pale face as she managed, haltingly, "I won’t run away again. I truly know I was wrong..."

"Is this you begging me?" Bai Shengyun remained detached, almost relishing her misery.

Xie Yingying’s voice trembled, her lips cracked and dry. "I’m begging you, I’m begging you..."

Finally satisfied, Bai Shengyun set down his teacup, approached, and with slender fingers wiped away her tears—a touch both gentle and parched. "So long as you obey, I can ensure you will never suffer again, not until death itself."

Somehow, as he touched her, all her pain seemed to vanish.

After a while, when she had regained some strength, she suddenly seized Bai Shengyun’s arm and bit down with all her might.

Xie Yingying was not one to let a grievance go unanswered. If you made her suffer tenfold, she must make you feel at least one part of it in return. She would never endure in silence; vengeance must be dealt at once.

Bai Shengyun did not evade her bite. Instead, he gripped her face, lowered his head, and looked her directly in the eyes. "So stubborn. Why can’t you, like those mortal women, plead and fawn for my favor? I..."

He let out a low chuckle, then mused, "Perhaps one day, if I am pleased, I will spare your life, Xie Yingying."

At this proximity, Xie Yingying could smell the faint fragrance on him, a blend of sandalwood and rose. She had never used perfume and couldn’t distinguish the top or base notes, but it was indeed pleasant.

For a moment, she was dazed. She pushed his hand away, spat out a mouthful of blood, and said coldly, "The one you truly desire is not me. To beg and fawn would only disgust and anger you. Rather than hoping for your fleeting mercy, I would sooner seek those who would truly protect me..."

Bai Shengyun regarded her for a long while before asking, "And if you’ve never tried, how do you know I could not come to desire you?"

Desire you?

Remembering the plot of the original novel, a shadow flickered in Xie Yingying’s eyes, but the corner of her mouth curled into a strange, enigmatic smile.