Chapter 122: Beg Me
Nan Xiaoxiang was in a bad mood.
As a mortal, she had traveled thousands of miles to the eastern region, finally arriving at the entrance of the Azure Cicada Ancient Domain.
She thought she could finally enter.
But she was stopped at the last step.
…There were two ways to enter the Azure Cicada Ancient Domain.
First, as a cultivator. Cultivators, with their spiritual power, could envelop themselves and pass through the secret realm’s barrier.
Second, for mortals without spiritual power, there was only one way to enter.
The Mystic Immortal Token, a treasure found within the Azure Cicada Ancient Domain.
This token was like a pass, granting free access to and from the secret realm. It could even bring others inside.
This was the item Nan Xiaoxiang had obtained from Ju Shaohé.
But upon arriving here, she realized that the legends weren’t entirely accurate.
…If you were a mortal, you needed a cultivator to activate the token with their spiritual energy and carry you into the secret realm. This was the only way for a mortal to enter.
Ultimately, she still needed a cultivator’s help.
Although she was surrounded by cultivators from various sects, Nan Xiaoxiang was still a mortal, and the Mystic Immortal Token was a valuable treasure. She was afraid of attracting unwanted attention if she openly sought help, so she was at a loss for what to do.
As she stood there, holding the token and contemplating her options, a familiar, playful voice came from behind her.
“Yo, what a coincidence. I never thought I’d see you here.”
Nan Xiaoxiang froze, then turned around, her expression complex.
“Y-Young Master Chen?”
Chen Yin greeted her with a smile. “Long time no see, Miss Nan.”
“But this place is thousands of miles away from Yanxia Province. Why would a mortal like you come to a secret realm meant for cultivators?”
Nan Xiaoxiang averted her gaze for a moment, her voice slightly unnatural.
“I… I was just curious…”
Chen Yin continued to smile at her, his eyes twinkling.
Seeing that she couldn’t hide it any longer, Nan Xiaoxiang sighed softly, her eyes flickering.
“Alright. I’m looking for something inside the secret realm. That’s why I have to go in.”
“What are you looking for?”
“It’s a personal matter.”
Chen Yin nodded with a knowing smile. “Oh, I see.”
“So that’s why you went through all the trouble of drugging Ju Shaohé.”
He glanced at the token in her hand.
Nan Xiaoxiang didn’t bother hiding it anymore and simply looked at him.
“But Miss Nan, the Azure Cicada Ancient Domain is a dangerous place. It’s quite reckless for a mortal like you to seek treasures inside.”
“Don’t worry about me.” Nan Xiaoxiang said calmly. “That’s my problem.”
Seeing her attitude, Chen Yin simply shrugged. “Then I wish you good luck, Miss Nan.”
He turned to leave.
“Wait!”
Nan Xiaoxiang bit her lip and called out to him hesitantly.
“Are you… also entering the Azure Cicada Ancient Domain?”
“Yes.” Chen Yin blinked.
“Then… can you…”
Nan Xiaoxiang hesitated for a long time, then softened her voice. “Would you be willing to take me with you, Young Master Chen?”
“It won’t be too much trouble. You just need to bring me inside the secret realm.”
She looked at him with a hopeful expression.
…Compared to the other unfamiliar cultivators, this annoying Chen Yin was at least not someone who would take advantage of her. Their encounter in Yanxia Province should be enough to warrant a favor.
But to her surprise, Chen Yin didn’t seem surprised by her request. He simply grinned mischievously.
“Beg me.”
Nan Xiaoxiang froze, then a blush of anger crept onto her cheeks.
“There’s no need to humiliate me, Young Master Chen. It’s just a small favor. I only asked you because we’re acquainted—”
“Thank you for that perfectly timed setup.”
Chen Yin glanced at her sideways. “Still trying to fool me. If you could enter, you would have done so already. Why would you wait here for so long?”
“That Mystic Immortal Token requires spiritual energy to activate. You can’t enter without a cultivator’s help.”
He stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Don’t tell me you naively thought that a mortal could enter the Azure Cicada Ancient Domain just by holding the token? Is that why you went through all that trouble to get it from Ju Shaohé?”
Nan Xiaoxiang’s face flushed red, then paled. She bit her lip, unable to refute his words.
Finally, she relented and said softly:
“Young Master Chen… please take me with you.”
“Hey, that doesn’t sound like you’re begging.”
Chen Yin leaned closer excitedly. “Let me teach you. You should say: ‘Brother Chen~ Please, pretty please~ I’ll even act cute for you, just take me inside~’”
Nan Xiaoxiang felt a surge of anger, almost fainting from frustration.
“Young Master Chen, please behave yourself.” She gritted her teeth.
“Fine, if you don’t want to beg, then find someone else.”
With that, Chen Yin turned and walked away without a second glance.
But he hadn’t taken two steps when a soft hand gently grasped his.
The delicate touch made Chen Yin raise an eyebrow.
“B-Brother Chen…”
Nan Xiaoxiang, as if she had made a great effort, held his finger gently, her eyes watery and pleading.
“Please take me inside~ Pretty please?”
Chen Yin shuddered, a chill running down his spine as he looked at her pitiful expression.
…Holy crap, I was just joking. You’re actually doing it?
And why does she sound so fake? Is she really putting on an act?
Worse, her sudden change in demeanor attracted the attention of the surrounding cultivators, who were now staring at them with strange expressions.
Chen Yin coughed lightly and said, “It’s not impossible for me to take you inside.”
“But are you sure you just want me to take you inside? The Azure Cicada Ancient Domain is a dangerous place, even for cultivators. One wrong step, and you could die. For a mortal like you, it’s practically a death sentence.”
Nan Xiaoxiang’s long, beautiful eyelashes lowered as she murmured, as if to herself:
“…It doesn’t matter.”
“Since I’m already here, I’m prepared for the consequences.”
Her words made Chen Yin look at her with renewed interest.
Although her voice was soft, her eyes were filled with an unwavering determination.
…What was so important that she was willing to risk her life to enter the Azure Cicada Ancient Domain?
But Chen Yin didn’t pry. It was her personal matter, and they weren’t that close.
“Alright then. I’ll take you inside.”
Chen Yin turned to her and said, “A word of advice, don’t go towards the center or the right side once we’re inside. Those paths are incredibly dangerous, even for cultivators.”
Nan Xiaoxiang blinked her clear eyes and bowed gracefully. “Thank you for the warning, Young Master Chen.”
“But… how do you know which areas are dangerous?”
“Well, duh.” He said casually, “Because I’ve been there before.”
A flicker of hesitation crossed Nan Xiaoxiang’s eyes. She opened her mouth slightly, then closed it again.
As if she had something to say but swallowed her words.
Chen Yin simply glanced at her, not pressing the issue, and turned to leave. “Let’s go. Luo Luo and Qingying are waiting.”
After returning to Luo Luo and Qingying, Luo Luo’s eyes lit up when she saw Nan Xiaoxiang. She rushed over and greeted her cheerfully.
“Sister Nan! What are you doing here?”
“Luo Luo, dear. I have some personal business here.” Nan Xiaoxiang patted her ear affectionately.
“But… the Azure Cicada Ancient Domain is very dangerous. It’s too risky for you to go alone, Sister Nan.”
Luo Luo’s ears drooped, and she tugged at Chen Yin’s hand. “Young Master, let’s take Sister Nan with us.”
…Hey, you little traitor, why are you siding with her?
Don’t think every beautiful woman is a good person. This woman is full of lies, something’s definitely not right!
Of course, he didn’t say that out loud.
“It’s not that I don’t want to take her with us,”
Chen Yin said innocently, spreading his hands. “She’s the one who doesn’t want me to follow her.”
“She’s probably afraid we’ll try to steal her treasure after we get inside.”
Qingying, surprisingly, didn’t contradict him but scoffed in agreement.
Nan Xiaoxiang ignored their sarcasm and said softly to Luo Luo:
“Don’t worry. I’m not as helpless as you think.”
“Since it’s a secret realm, everyone relies on their own luck. I can’t stop your Young Master from seeking his own opportunities.”
Luo Luo nodded, a hint of disappointment in her eyes, her ears drooping sadly.
After making their preparations, Nan Xiaoxiang turned to Chen Yin and handed him the token. “Thank you for your assistance, Young Master Chen.”
Chen Yin took the token and infused it with his spiritual energy.
A faint blue light emanated from the token, condensing into a wisp of smoke that drifted towards the barrier of the Azure Cicada Ancient Domain.
“Let’s go.” Chen Yin stepped through the barrier.
Luo Luo and Qingying followed closely behind. Nan Xiaoxiang hesitated for a moment, then also stepped into the secret realm.
Less than half an hour after they entered, a man carrying a strange-looking sword arrived at the entrance, scanning the area.
“They’re not here?”
Ye Huang’s eyes flickered, and he sighed softly. “It seems I was too late.”
“In that case… I’ll have to enter the secret realm and try my luck.”
Honestly, once Chen Yin and the others entered the secret realm, it would be extremely difficult to track them down.
He might even get lost himself if he wasn’t careful.
But he had no other choice. He had to take the risk.
With that, he also stepped through the barrier, his sword in hand.
Leave a Reply