In The Cultivation World, Are There Only Demonesses Left?

Chapter 19: May Serve Young Master in Undressing and Entering Dreams

“Why did Young Master save me at that time?”

Back in the small courtyard where they were temporarily staying, Xia Lianxue softly spoke.

The question that had been weighing on her heart for several days, she finally summoned up the courage to voice it.

Lu Changyuan did not turn back, but motioned for her to follow.

The rocking chair placed at noon was still in the garden.

Lu Changyuan sat down on it and looked at the night sky.

Tonight the moon was very round, but unfortunately it was covered by dark clouds, preventing the earth from being bathed in gentle moonlight, making the night appear extremely dark.

Xia Lianxue inexplicably felt a little uncomfortable, though she herself could not pinpoint the feeling.

This courtyard was not safe, outside were all walking cultivators… no, in today’s Shangyu Capital, nowhere was truly safe.

The disturbance caused by cultivators and mutinous soldiers mixed together, and the common folk of Shangyu Capital could only shrink within their homes and pray.

Yet the two of them waited here, in such an unsafe place, for the moon to emerge.

Lu Changyuan said: “Why are you feeling uncomfortable?”

“I’m not…”

“I can see you are very uncomfortable.”

Xia Lianxue lowered her head in grievance.

Her mind was restless, and she couldn’t help but think that mortals truly were easily disturbed in heart.

When she was still Jade Palace’s True Disciple, she never had so many troubles.

If only her cultivation remained.

Lu Changyuan’s words interrupted her thoughts: “You feel powerless, don’t you? No sense of security. When the Third Princess suddenly appeared, when the pill emerged, you felt your life was in danger.”

Xia Lianxue bit her lip, her hands tightly clenched: “No, it’s not…”

Lu Changyuan still looked at the sky.

“Then why are you uncomfortable?”

Silence spread here.

No one knew how much time had passed until a loud shout came from outside the courtyard: “The Wind Fist Sect has stolen the Heaven-Mending Pill, chase them quickly!”

Xia Lianxue finally spoke.

“Young Master, tonight many people will die, especially… mortals may be affected.”

Lu Changyuan revealed a relaxed smile, and even Xia Lianxue, who looked at his smile, felt lighter: “Do you know what is most important in cultivation?”

Xia Lianxue stood beside him, her hands folded in front of her, obedient beyond measure.

“Perseverance?”

“Besides that?”

Xia Lianxue thought for a moment, then said with some disappointment: “Please teach me, Young Master.”

Lu Changyuan narrowed his eyes: “Do not forget you are human.”

“Young Master, what do you mean?”

The young man on the rocking chair suddenly stretched out his hand, gently brushing past the fairy’s hair, then holding a strand in his hand to toy with.

By reason, this was an excessive act of frivolity, yet Xia Lianxue did not feel offended, only a faint numbness in her chest.

“You ask me why I saved you? Anyone with a compassionate heart, whoever they may be, ought to be saved.”

Xia Lianxue’s cheeks flushed red, intoxicatingly beautiful.

She did not know why she felt no aversion to Lu Changyuan.

It was as though, a long time ago, Lu Changyuan had already played with her hair in this way.

She stammered softly: “So… it was like this?”

Thinking of Drunken Red Luan, Lu Changyuan answered with certainty: “Exactly so. Or do you perhaps think I harbor ulterior motives towards you? That I covet your little stash of private money? I merely admire your character.”

“I don’t… and I’m not worth it.”

After all, as she was now, aside from a body outwardly flawless to the extreme, she had nothing left.

“Rest assured, in other times I cannot say, but since this time disciples of the Green Grass Sword Sect are here, there will not be indulgence of immortals fighting and harming mortals.” Lu Changyuan seemed to think of something and couldn’t help but laugh: “That bunch from the Green Grass Sword Sect are notorious for meddling.”

Xia Lianxue dumbly asked: “Then if mortals harm mortals?”

“That cannot be controlled.”

Lu Changyuan stood up.

With a light push, the fairy lost her balance, her white skirt fluttering like silk, before she fell seated onto the lounge chair.

“Have you ever counted the stars?”

“No… perhaps I have, but I don’t remember.”

“Then start counting now. Count to the two hundred and forty-seventh star. Once you finish, I’ll tell you what we must do next to obtain the Heaven-Mending Pill.”

Xia Lianxue’s attention was wholly captured by Lu Changyuan’s words, so her beautiful eyes rippled as she looked up to the sky.

~~~~~~~~~~

She couldn’t remember how many she had counted.

Xia Lianxue fell asleep.

Even though outside resounded with earth-shaking cries of killing, she still fell asleep.

Lu Changyuan seemed to have long expected this, and only gently smoothed the furrow between Xia Lianxue’s brows.

Afterwards, Lu Changyuan opened his own room’s door and looked at the screen painted with magpies welcoming spring.

“Come out.”

“Young Master’s earlier words, were they perhaps also said for Yuwan to hear?”

A maiden slowly stepped out from behind the screen, making the room brighter with her presence.

Unlike on the boat, the maiden had taken off her lotus crown.

Her long silver hair was loosely tied into a bun with a wooden hairpin, flowing softly down her delicate back.

Yet even so, a few strands of dark hair disobediently slipped down, sticking to her cheeks, making her appear all the more tender and charming.

So beautiful.

How could there be someone so beautiful in this world?

“Why does Young Master not speak? Could it be you are dazed from looking at Yuwan?”

“Indeed.”

Su Yuwan nodded: “Shall Yuwan cover her face then? So as not to disturb my conversation with Young Master?”

Her previous sentence carried no trace of emotion, merely a genuine inquiry.

Lu Changyuan shook his head: “No need. For Third Princess to come here so late at night, what is it you wish to do? Surely you’re not lacking a place to stay, wanting instead to lodge here with me?”

“Young Master has yet to answer my question, yet you would ask me one?”

So, this nation-toppling Third Princess also disliked answering questions with questions.

Lu Changyuan sighed helplessly: “It was not meant for you to hear, but you were eavesdropping.”

“Then it was discourteous of Yuwan.”

“You are different from other cultivators. Most cultivators do not treat mortals as human, while you do not treat cultivators as human.”

Su Yuwan shook her head: “I do not wish to debate this with Young Master. I came here for two matters.”

Lu Changyuan looked at the maiden, motioning for her to continue.

“Before that, Yuwan wishes to ask Young Master one question. Young Master… are you married?”

Lu Changyuan thought for a moment, then said lightly: “Once, but not now.”

Those past engagements belonged to game-time more than a thousand years ago.

At that time, Daoist Chang’an had not yet stepped onto the immortal path, and he had a fiancée.

But laughably, he could no longer remember her face nor her name.

Perhaps it was an illusion.

Lu Changyuan felt that the maiden before him, dressed in Daoist robes, ever tranquil to all matters, was smiling: “Then I can speak of the first matter. Young Master, will you marry me?”

?

Oh, so it was like that.

The noodle shop owner did say he would send his third daughter to be my wife.

Well then, here she was at the door.

“If Young Master agrees, tonight can be considered our wedding night. Yuwan may serve Young Master in undressing and entering dreams. Whether Yuwan becomes a wife for the first time, or remains intact in virtue, all rests on Young Master’s thought. But once the matter of the Heaven-Mending Pill is over, Yuwan must return to the Black Domain to serve my master. If Young Master so wishes, you may also return together with Yuwan.”

Wait a moment.

What storms had Lu Changyuan not seen?

But this scene—this he truly had never seen.

Xia Lianxue was still sleeping outside the door!