Ning Xiang smiled as she refilled his cup. "Master, drink slowly. If that isn't enough, I have more."
Lu Qingchen wondered whether coming to see Ning Xiang had been the right decision after all.
"Ahem." He set his teacup aside. "I heard you brought back the Heaven-Splitting Python's remains?"
Ning Xiang grew wary. Was he going to make her hand over the Heaven-Splitting Python's remains? Absolutely not. They were an important quest item!
Fortunately, Lu Qingchen had no intention of asking for them. Instead, he said, "In a few days, I intend to travel to the Purple Tenuity Domain. You..." He paused. "Stay on Solitary Light Peak and cultivate diligently. Do not stir up trouble."
Ning Xiang said, "All right... wait, Master, you're going to the Demon Domain?"
Lu Qingchen nodded.
"Master, the journey to the Demon Domain is fraught with danger. I can't rest easy letting you go alone!" Ning Xiang adopted a concerned tone. "If anything happened to you, how would I go on living?"
A faint ache stirred in Lu Qingchen's forehead. He hadn't even left yet, and she was already all but wishing him ill, wasn't she?
"I will be going with your martial uncle Shaowei. You needn't worry."
"That won't do!" Ning Xiang gazed earnestly at Lu Qingchen. "Master, I can't stop worrying about you. Please take me with you!"
"Nonsense," Lu Qingchen scolded in a low voice. "What sort of place do you think the Demon Domain is? Your cultivation is only at the middle stage of Core Formation. How could you possibly go there? If your father and brothers found out, wouldn't they skin you alive?"
You think I want to go? Ning Xiang showered the damned system with another round of sweet greetings in her heart. If she hadn't been saddled with a hell-level quest, she wouldn't have wanted to set foot in the Purple Tenuity Domain at all!
She had been agonizing over how to reach the Demon Domain. Now, if she went with Lu Qingchen and Shaowei, wouldn't she have several extra layers of protection? Even if they really encountered some great demon, those big shots could hold the line up front while she stayed inconspicuously behind them. A perfect plan!
"Master," Ning Xiang wheedled, growing ever more practiced at acting coy, "please take Xiang'er with you. Xiang'er can write novels for you to read and keep you entertained."
It would have been better if she hadn't mentioned that. The moment she did, Lu Qingchen remembered the hottest thread on Heaven-Question.
"Do you know that author on Heaven-Question called 'Raise the Fragrant Leaf Banner High'?"
It took Ning Xiang a moment to realize that the person Lu Qingchen meant was Bai Yueguang.
[Holy crap, why did he choose such a shameless pen name?]
"I don't know them. How could I possibly know someone who would choose such an improper pen name?"
Lu Qingchen sneered. "You're hardly any better. Go change your pen name before it's too late!" He tossed a copy of The Overbearing War God's Runaway Darling onto the desk and pointed at Ning Xiang's pen name on it.
[What's wrong with my pen name? Not listening, not listening-a turtle chanting scriptures!]
Lu Qingchen suddenly leaned forward and caught Ning Xiang by the chin. "I was pregnant with your child? I knelt and begged you to let me keep it? I even begged you to get into my bed? Hmm?" His gaze locked onto her face, as though he meant to uncover every last secret in her heart.
With every sentence, Ning Xiang felt her little heart tremble.
Ning Xiang hastily clasped Lu Qingchen's hand. "Boo-hoo, I've sinned! Master is so noble and proud, and I lusted after you. I wanted to climb into your bed... no, I wanted you to climb into mine... no, that isn't..."
"Ning Xiang!" Lu Qingchen snapped under his breath. How could she say anything and everything without shame?
And yet, he didn't find it the least bit repulsive.
Ning Xiang whimpered and was just about to play dead when-what was this she saw?
[Aha? Iceberg Lu is blushing! He's embarrassed, isn't he? He must be embarrassed!]
Ning Xiang sprang back to life!
She even wanted to act out a little cosplay with Iceberg Lu, following the plot of Divorced 10,001 Times. Clearly, however, Iceberg Lu wouldn't cooperate, so Ning Xiang could only abandon the idea with regret.
Lu Qingchen: "..."
"Master, look on the bright side. At least The Overbearing War God is so popular that the royalties will multiply several times over. You'll get even more spirit stones!"
"Do I need to sacrifice my reputation to earn spirit stones?" Lu Qingchen shot her a glance.
"Then... should I portray you as a more glorious, towering figure?"
Lu Qingchen truly had no idea what to do with this disciple. Oh, well. Seeing how enthusiastic she was, he couldn't bring himself to spoil her fun.
Still, he couldn't let her off too easily.
"Starting tomorrow, you will resume getting up at the Yin Hour to practice your swordsmanship. No slacking."
"And you needn't go to Brightheart Hall. Come to Chengfeng Courtyard. I will instruct you personally."
Ning Xiang: "???"
She reflected on her conduct. "I've been so disrespectful to you, Master. I truly don't deserve such care and attention..."
"Didn't you say yourself that you were deeply devoted to me, and believed your sincere feelings would move me until I realized you were the one who loved me most?"
Ning Xiang thought back. Damn, I really did just say that.
How can Iceberg Lu hold a grudge so well?
Lu Qingchen raised his hand and gently patted her head. "Then I shall wait and see how you move me with that heart full of sincerity."
With that, Lu Qingchen's snow-white figure vanished from the room.
Ning Xiang lost all will to live. She poured two cups of cloyingly sweet milk tea down her throat, then sprawled on the couch like a cat with all its bones removed and played dead.
Suddenly remembering Bai Yueguang's thread, she hurriedly opened it.
Good grief. Bai Yueguang had posted another update just a cup of tea's time ago-
Ye Fan hid around the corner of a wall, gazing at that stunning, formidable figure. Gently stroking his heavily swollen belly, he said to the children within, "Babies, this is your mother. You're only apart for now, but you must believe that your mother loves you."
He gazed, spellbound, at the person who haunted his heart and dreams. Xiang Ning seemed to sense something and looked in Ye Fan's direction.
Ye Fan's heart pounded like a drum. He hurriedly pulled back, pressing his back tightly against the ice-cold wall.
Just as Ye Fan was worrying that his whereabouts would be discovered, a charming, pretty young man in purple robes walked in and dropped to one knee before Xiang Ning.
The young man lifted one of Xiang Ning's hands to his lips and kissed it softly. "My noble War God, your majesty and beauty have captivated me utterly. Let me become a subject beneath your skirts!"
Ye Fan's eyes widened in shock, and glistening tears spilled from them.
Xiang Ning helped the young man up and gathered him into her arms, kissing the corner of his petal-soft lips with the utmost tenderness and lingering affection. "Of course."
"No! You can't be together!" Just as the two were lavishing affection on each other, another elegant young gentleman in blue robes approached.
"War God, I adore you too! In fact, I love you even more than he does-even more than Yu Chao!"
"Enough, Su Lang! You vicious man, why must you come between me and the War God? Today, I'll fight you to the death!"
By this point, Ning Xiang wanted nothing more than to gouge out her own eyes. She took a deep breath and spent a good while bracing herself before finally gathering the courage to read on-
Before you continue