Chapter 28

But Shi Changyuan did not bind up his hair or wear the imperial crown. His loose hair softened his features and bearing.

Lin Ling's breath caught. His eyes were filled with astonishment, yet he also seemed intimidated by the chilling, battle-hardened aura, not daring to do or say anything.

Suddenly, Lin Ling heard the person before him chuckle. Then Shi Changyuan dropped to one knee in front of him and placed the imperial crown on Little Mushroom's head.

Shi Changyuan took Lin Ling's hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it.

"I submit only to you."

Chapter 28

Shi Changyuan's kiss landed on the back of Lin Ling's hand, carrying such scorching emotion that it nearly burned him.

Lin Ling sat at the edge of the bed. With a shake of his head, the crown fell onto the bed, and Lin Ling immediately threw himself into Shi Changyuan's arms.

He wrapped his arms around Shi Changyuan's neck, sat in his lap, and leaned up to kiss him on the lips.

Amid their entwining lips and tongues, Shi Changyuan heard broken but clear and resolute words slip through the gaps between their lips.

His Little Mushroom was saying—

"I belong only to you too."

Perhaps Lin Ling had truly been bewitched. When he woke the next day, the tragedy at the Imperial Pool repeated itself—and it seemed even worse than before.

Mushroom only felt that he had been deceived. They had clearly agreed Shi Changyuan would be gentler, yet in the end he had been so fierce, as though he wanted to tear the entire Mushroom apart and swallow him whole.

"I'm never believing your nonsense again!" Lin Ling was furious at the thought that he would have to lie in bed for several more days.

"Ling Ling, don't be angry." Shi Changyuan sat beside Lin Ling's bed, patiently stroking his hair. "How about I take you out tomorrow?"

"Go out?"

Lin Ling immediately perked up. Forgetting all about the pain in his hands and legs, he scrambled up and looked at Shi Changyuan. "Can't we go out today?"

Seeing Lin Ling so full of energy, Shi Changyuan chuckled and asked, "Oh? Your legs don't hurt anymore? You're not a useless little mushroom anymore? And you don't need to lie in bed for three days?"

Lin Ling himself had said all those things just moments ago. As he accused Shi Changyuan, his eyes had been brimming with tears and his voice choked with sobs, enough to make anyone pity him.

"I-I mean, it's just..." Lin Ling stammered, thoroughly in the wrong. Though he had indeed exaggerated a little, wasn't that for the sake of saving his own life?

Lin Ling burrowed into Shi Changyuan's arms and began to whine and act cute again. "You weren't like this when you were deceiving me."

"You said yesterday that you'd listen to me and that I had the final say."

"I'm saying we can go out now, so we can go out!"

Lin Ling refused to let it go. He climbed off Shi Changyuan and was about to jump off the bed when Shi Changyuan held him down.

"Fine, we'll go out." Shi Changyuan sighed helplessly. "After you apply the medicine once more."

Once the medicine was applied, Lin Ling seemed completely revived, bouncing around so much that even Shi Changyuan could not help wondering how many of those earlier tears had been an act. He decided to investigate further that night.

The overly pleased Mushroom had no idea what the wicked-hearted human was thinking. Mushroom only knew that he could finally go out for some fresh air!

The moment Lin Ling left the palace gates, his gaze locked onto a vendor selling paper kites, pastries, and all sorts of candies.

The streets in spring were very different from those in autumn. Flowers bloomed everywhere, and quite a few people were selling fruit tree saplings and potted plants.

"I heard Miss Liu say that a new restaurant recently opened in the Capital City. It has lots of unusual foods, and she told me to take you there when I had time."

Lin Ling held Shi Changyuan's hand as the two of them strolled shoulder to shoulder along the street.

Shi Changyuan seemed to think for a moment before ruthlessly exposing her. "That restaurant was opened by her and Shi Liuwan. They just want us to help them draw in customers."

The innocent Mushroom shook his head, then suddenly widened his eyes. "What?! That's so shameless! Let's go fleece them hard!"

Shi Changyuan could not help smiling at Mushroom, who had been led astray by wicked-hearted humans. Just as he seemed about to say something else, he turned and spotted a familiar figure approaching.

When Lin Ling saw Shi Changyuan pause, he curiously followed his gaze and spotted an old man in a Daoist robe. He jumped in fright and hurriedly hid behind Shi Changyuan.

As Mushroom hid, he nervously blurted out, "Shi Changyuan, Shi Changyuan, he's coming over! Wuwu, he's not going to catch me, is he? If he really comes to catch me, you have to save me QAQ."

Seeing that the little spirit seemed frightened, the Daoist stopped five paces away. He saluted Shi Changyuan, then made a gesture of invitation, indicating that he wished to speak with him.

Shi Changyuan gently patted the hand clutching tightly at his sleeve. "Don't be afraid."

Shi Changyuan tilted his head and quietly said to Lin Ling, "He should want to speak with me. Would Lin Ling like to come too?"

Lin Ling looked at Shi Changyuan and asked tentatively, "Do you know him? Is he here to catch me? Or to separate us?"

"He won't." Shi Changyuan said it with absolute certainty.

Lin Ling chose to believe Shi Changyuan. He cautiously followed at his side, observing the Daoist from behind.

As a little spirit, Lin Ling had never been so close to a Daoist before. He tugged Shi Changyuan's sleeve, his tone both startled and curious. "It's a living Daoist."

The old Daoist walking alone ahead seemed to falter. He turned back for a glance, seemingly wanting to say something, but out of consideration for Shi Changyuan, he found it improper to speak.

The Daoist led Shi Changyuan to a private room in a restaurant. It was well secluded and ideal for conversation.

"Daoist."

"Your Majesty." The Daoist saluted again, then turned to look at Lin Ling beside Shi Changyuan.

He had spotted the two of them from afar, especially the little spirit beside Shi Changyuan. His cultivation was not high, yet he was not only steeped in the aura of a True Dragon, but also carried abundant merit and an immortal affinity.