Chapter 53: To Love You, To Be With You, In My Place
Flowers bloomed silently in front of the restaurant in the southern part of the city.
Yu Xiang, dressed in a light green dress, stood by the window on the second floor, her figure bathed in the soft sunlight streaming through the window.
She had reserved the entire second floor. Outside, numerous missing person notices were posted, each bearing Chen Yin’s name.
She looked like a wife patiently waiting for her husband’s return.
After an unknown amount of time, a soft cough broke the silence behind her, followed by a playful male voice:
“Excuse me, Miss, is this place taking in homeless handsome young men?”
Yu Xiang turned abruptly, her eyes meeting Chen Yin’s warm smile. Tears welled up as she threw herself into his arms.
“…Stinky Senior Brother. Bad Senior Brother,” she murmured softly against his chest.
“You’re the bad one. You almost made Xiang’er homeless.”
Chen Yin lowered his gaze and said soothingly, “Don’t say such ominous things. I’m here now, aren’t I?”
“Stinky Senior Brother, where have you been?”
Xiang’er looked up at him, her eyes red-rimmed. “After the Fairy Conference ended, I immediately went back to the mountain to look for you.”
“But the Ten Thousand Fragrance Pavilion was suddenly sealed off, and no cultivators were allowed to enter. I didn’t know what happened or where you were, so I could only wait here in Fragrance City.”
Chen Yin was silent for a moment, then said casually, “Well, the Fairy Conference was canceled anyway.”
“But you don’t have to worry about my safety. I just exchanged contact information with a few beautiful ladies with long legs and ample bosoms at the Fairy Conference. We became close friends, and I lost track of time, that’s all.”
Yu Xiang’s tearful expression instantly changed to one of resentment.
“Senior Brother, if you really left Xiang’er alone in Fragrance City for so long just because of that, I’m going to tell Master when we get back.”
“…I was wrong.”
Neither of them pressed for details about their whereabouts during the Fairy Conference.
They both tacitly avoided the topic.
“How did you know I was looking for you?”
“I just asked a random passerby where the most beautiful girl in the city lived, and here I am.”
Xiang’er blushed and glared at him playfully. “Be serious.”
“I heard someone say that there was a girl in the south of the city looking for someone. I guessed it was you.”
Chen Yin chuckled. “After all, only our Xiang’er would be so well-behaved and obedient, waiting for me here in Fragrance City. If it were any other heartless woman, she would have returned to the mountain without even waiting.”
“I… I was just worried about your safety, Senior Brother.”
“You know how you always like to act tough. What if something happened to you—” Xiang’er’s voice trailed off.
Chen Yin ruffled her hair and said with a smile, “Don’t worry. Senior Brother isn’t as useless as you think.”
“Alright, now that the Fairy Conference is over, and we’ve been out for a while, what are your plans, Xiang’er?”
“Hmm…” Xiang’er’s eyes darted around. “Since we’re already out here, it wouldn’t hurt to play for a bit longer before going back.”
“I heard there are many interesting things in the towns to the north. I want to go explore.”
“You don’t have to accompany me, Senior Brother. We’ve been out for so long. If we don’t report back to Master soon, she’ll be furious.” She took Chen Yin’s hand.
Chen Yin hesitated, his face filled with concern. “Well… we should head back soon, but wouldn’t it be dangerous for you to travel alone?”
“Come on, I’m just going to visit some mortal towns. What could possibly be dangerous?”
Xiang’er tugged at his hand, her voice sweet and pleading. “Please, Senior Brother~ Just agree.”
“Oh dear, this puts me in a difficult position.”
Chen Yin pretended to sigh in distress. “Master told me to protect you. If I let you go alone, she’ll scold me to death when we get back.”
“I won’t be gone long, just two or three days. Just cover for me with Master.”
Xiang’er winked playfully, her flushed cheeks betraying her shyness.
“If Senior Brother helps me… I-I can give you a little reward.”
Chen Yin’s eyes lit up, his expression saying, “Now you’re talking.” He asked eagerly, “What kind of reward?”
“I-I’ll give it to you when I get back.”
“No way, what if you trick me?”
“Xiang’er would never trick Senior Brother.” Xiang’er smiled, her hands behind her back, as she skipped closer to Chen Yin. Her voice was soft and sweet as she whispered in his ear:
“I can’t tell you now, but… I can give you a little preview~”
Then, she quickly pecked him on the cheek like a bird.
Chen Yin coughed, feigning annoyance. “That’s it? It’ll take more than that to bribe me.”
“Ah? Th-then what do you want, Senior Brother?”
“Well…”
Chen Yin stroked his chin, a serious expression on his face. “I think there are many things we can do. Even if we don’t go all the way, there are other ways to have fun, right? Xiang’er’s hands are so soft and delicate, your lips are so red and alluring, your feet are small and exquisite, your legs are so long and beautiful, and your breasts, after years of my special culinary care, are so perky and irresistible—”
Finally, Xiang’er couldn’t take it anymore. She kicked Chen Yin down the stairs, her voice filled with playful anger:
“Stinky Senior Brother! Bad Senior Brother! You pervert, shameless!”
Chen Yin rubbed his sore bottom and stood up, dusting himself off under the surprised gazes of the passersby. Then, as if nothing had happened, he walked away whistling nonchalantly.
After Chen Yin left, Yu Xiang, standing on the rooftop, finally relaxed her tense expression.
She watched his retreating figure, her lips moving silently:
“System, it’s almost time.”
“If you’re serious about this, then thank heavens.”
The System said grumpily, “Let me warn you, I can’t handle another one of your stunts.”
“If you do something reckless again and deviate from the plot, then we might as well both die! I’m done serving you.”
Yu Xiang didn’t respond, seemingly ignoring its words, her gaze fixed on Chen Yin’s retreating figure.
After a long while, she murmured to herself, “Is this… the last time we’ll see each other?”
“Senior Brother, although I didn’t have time to tell you face to face…”
“But I’m truly happy to have met you.”
Her time on Mount Yu had been the happiest days of her life.
“In the end, Xiang’er only has one wish.”
She closed her eyes slowly, whispering silently:
“I hope that Senior Brother will meet a girl he truly loves.”
“And love her as much as he loved Xiang’er.”
“And let her… stay by his side forever, in Xiang’er’s place.”
Her voice was soft, barely a whisper.
This time, even the System didn’t interrupt her.
After saying those words, Yu Xiang slowly opened her eyes, a lifeless emptiness in her gaze.
“Let’s go,” she said coldly, her expression impassive, as she turned and put on the mask.
“…To the demonic sect’s main altar.”
Leave a Reply