My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

Lakeside.

Zhu E's gaze froze, her hand that was stroking Chen Yi's cheek shifted gently to her flat abdomen.

It wasn't her after all...

Chen Yi gazed at her from below, wordless, quietly stroking the princess's face.

At that moment, he'd already realized—Zhu E had subconsciously mistaken herself for being pregnant.

Chen Yi didn't expose the truth. His intent was to plant a hidden mine between the two of them.

But in this scene, he found his conscience unyielding.

Now that Zhu E possessed a genuine heart ready to follow him, it didn't hurt to treat her tenderly for a time.

After all...

It's all that little fox's fault.

If this had happened half a year ago, he would have cared about nothing.

Zhu E lowered her eyelids, murmuring in a daze: "My lord, is what you said true? Not me, but the prince…"

"Of course it's true. Weren't you impersonating Qin Qingluo at that time?" Chen Yi paused before continuing, "That remark was meant for her ears."

Zhu E laughed, but the smile couldn't wash away her lingering disappointment.

Indeed, how could she dare to hope for such a thing?

In the end, it was still Qing Luo, still her niece whom she had raised since childhood, blessed with such fortune...

Hope for this, hope for that, but in the end, it all led to disappointment.

The woman's expression fell into Chen Yi's line of sight, and Zhu E noticed it too, letting out a faint laugh and saying:

"This works as well; it's the prince's blessing. I was worrying about how Qing Luo would accept you, but if there's a child involved, there's a reason for it. Only, only..."

She forced a smile, yet remained disoriented,

"Why couldn't it have been me?"

Those fiery, brilliant red eyes were losing their radiance bit by bit.

Chen Yi watched this scene, letting out a silent laugh. Who would have thought this Princess An Nan had a hint of madness?

Not too much, but just enough—a perfect touch.

He cradled her face from below and spoke deliberately, word by word:

"The world often says that motherhood brings status, but for me, it all feels quite the same."

Zhu E froze briefly, staring directly at Chen Yi.

Chen Yi continued with a smile:

"If I could live for tens or hundreds of lifetimes, would I necessarily have to have heirs to make it worthwhile?"

The princess's eyes widened slightly. She wanted to say something but struggled to find the words, then burst into tears of joy and said:

"As long as you won't blame Zhu E."

Chen Yi suddenly said fiercely, "On the contrary, I must blame you."

Zhu E jumped in fright, uncertain and uneasy, saying: "What does my lord blame me for?"

Chen Yi sat up, tapping her nose tip: "For indulging in self-pity and letting your imagination run wild."

The princess froze for a moment before throwing herself into Chen Yi's embrace, snuggling tightly against him, pressing closely into a wave of softness, playfully saying: "If my lord keeps saying these things, Zhu E will laugh secretly at night."

"Then laugh more."

"It might wake the prince."

"Make sure to wake her up."

"My lord is too wicked." The princess teased alluringly, her face glowing with tenderness and charm as her fingers lightly brushed against Chen Yi's collarbone.

Chen Yi smirked meaningfully and said, "Who told her she's named Qin Qingluo?"

As the words fell, Zhu E shuddered in surprise before quickly realizing that it was Chen Yi, and that flicker of fear became a blazing excitement. Not only was she putting the prince in disgrace, but doing so right on the family's bed...

Truly wicked. Truly wicked!

One day, in the Southern Border's prince mansion, the grass colors deepened, layer upon layer of jade shades unfolded.

Zhu E grinned faintly, her thoughts racing. Then she recalled something from the past and said softly:

"My lord, the day after my wedding to the prince, I visited a Daoist Temple to pray and seek divination."

"Oh? What did it foretell?" Chen Yi asked casually.

"The star of destruction entered the marital palace; the marriage, though in name, lacks substance." Zhu E laughed lightly as her fingers traced circles on his chest. "It seems, my lord, you are precisely that 'star of destruction'..."

Chen Yi burst into mischievous laughter, holding her even closer.

As dusk settled, Chen Yi held this enchantress in his arms by the lakeside. Zhu E carefully peeled off her mask, revealing the true beauty of the Demon Sect Saintess. She didn't want him embracing someone who wasn't her but rather an illusion of nobility.

Zhu E's emotions began to blaze; her body inexplicably feverish.

Why… was it so warm?

Chen Yi noticed her stirred emotions but didn't take them seriously. This early winter air was chilly, but the jade beauty in his arms lent a faint warmth. Under the amber glow of twilight, he couldn't help comparing the princess to Yin Tingxue. Though both were saintesses, their characters were worlds apart. The first bore innate allure like the legendary femme fatales Daji or Bao Si, while the latter evoked tender compassion. And that little fox? She was merely a naive, mildly clever fox after all.

Chen Yi didn't consider himself a virtuous man, nor did he feel burdened by ideas of eternal fidelity. He wanted the fish, the bear paw—everything.

He didn't have it, but that didn't mean no one else did.

In twilight's embrace stood two figures, one tall and one small.

The one-armed woman gazed from a distance, catching sight of the face added to his recent embrace.

Yin Tingxue turned her face slightly, looking at Zhou Yitang's calm expression.

They were here because she had asked to come. Upon hearing from Zhou Yitang that he might die, Yin Tingxue grew uneasy and couldn't let go.

Thus, the one-armed woman bore her over on the wind.

Seeing Chen Yi unharmed, Yin Tingxue breathed a sigh of relief.

As she regained her composure, the little fox suddenly realized—why did she care so much about this villain?

Was it because he'd been treating her better lately?

Yin Tingxue didn't know. She recalled the one-armed woman's warning: she would find herself relying on him unknowingly. At the time, she'd adamantly denied it. But now, reflecting upon her current state, she realized it had truly come to pass.

Thinking of this made Yin Tingxue feel uneasy. Yet ultimately, she had agreed to endure ten lifetimes alongside him—it was better to grit her teeth and bear it.

Perhaps in the remaining nine lifetimes, he wouldn't be so cruel?

Ultimately, Chen Yi, in this lifetime, was unbearably wicked to young maidens. Even though he changed for the better, in her heart, he remained wicked. Now she no longer thought of fleeing, instead fondly reminiscing about his virtues. But remembering his sins didn't diminish her affection for him.

In fact, even if he never became good, she would obediently stay by his side. The maiden only wished for a few small hopes.

If Chen Yi died, she would once again find herself utterly alone.

"Boyfriend…" she murmured softly, "Master Zhou, I truly rely on him now."

Taking in Yin Tingxue's expression, Zhou Yitang's gaze filled with wistfulness.

In her past life, when she'd resigned herself to fate, she too harbored such hopes.

And even though he'd sneered publicly and humiliated her constantly, in the end, he would always unknowingly fulfill her desires.

Now watching him hold another woman, Zhou Yitang had prepared herself—her pain wasn't so sharp anymore.

She listened to the whispering breeze, her thoughts clear.

At that moment, Yin Tingxue recalled something, her eyes swirling slightly as she softly lamented: "Back in the underground palace, Master Zhou told me that all I wanted was for him to have only me."

The one-armed woman shot her a cold glance upon hearing those words.

Yin Tingxue flinched, wondering if she'd inadvertently touched a nerve, though Master Zhou was her friend and far easier to deal with than Chen Yi. After her initial fright, she mustered up her courage, saying:

"But he… he's really quite lecherous."

Yin Tingxue wasn't particularly disturbed by his lustfulness—in fact, she used to wish he'd find others to spare her the torment. Yet hearing Chen Yi's comments and imagining his unchecked lust leading to ten or more children stirred a bittersweet jealousy in her heart.

Currently, the only one who might influence him was Master Zhou.

So, the little fox tried coaxing: "Indulgence in wine and women harms one's health; wouldn't this be bad for him?"

Zhou Yitang cast her a gaze filled with deeper meaning, as if she'd seen through her thoughts.

Yin Tingxue avoided Zhou Yitang's gaze, staring straight ahead: "And with so many women, he wouldn't even manage to handle them all—it'd disrupt his cultivation. If his martial arts were to stagnate, wouldn't it tarnish Yin Sword Mountain and Cangwu Peak's reputation?"

"It does seem likely."

Yin Tingxue beamed at her agreement, quickly continuing: "Right, right. Besides, him being endlessly lecherous—if no one restrains him, he'd become a laughingstock in Jianghu. 'Isn't that so-and-so who took another wife last month?' Isn't such ridicule terrifying? He'd have no good reputation left. Your legacy in Sword Armor would surely detest him turning into a legend of debauchery."

The one-armed woman nodded slightly in response.

Seeing her swayed, Yin Tingxue followed up:

"Then, why don't you… talk to him?"

"Fine," Zhou Yitang replied plainly: "You do it."

Yin Tingxue blinked in surprise, pointing at herself: "Me?"

The one-armed woman reminisced briefly, her tone neutral: "You are his girlfriend; who else would he listen to?"

…

The little fox blinked in silence.

Embarrassment crept upon her, a sensation akin to being caught in an illicit act. Her hands clenched nervously, her head hung low.

It reminded her of playing with the maids as a child. She'd told Hong Ling: "You're my best friend," only to later confide in Jin Chun with Hong Ling absent: "Hong Ling isn't that close to me; you're my best friend."

Ah, the innocence of childhood.

Zhou Yitang watched her expression closely, noting how the budding princess respected her master all the same. Seeing her discomfort with Chen Yi's lecherous nature, and feeling her own distaste for his indulgence, she patted the maiden's head before her figure blurred into motion.

The one-armed woman strode toward Chen Yi.

Chen Yi was holding Zhu E in his embrace. As his wife of past lives approached, his body instinctively tensed.

Zhou Yitang noticed, her lips curling into a cold smile.

But the next moment, an icy light flickered in her eyes.

The man unleashed his rebellious streak, provoking: "Seeing me holding another woman, how does it make you feel?"