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墨書 Inktalez
You Were Born a Nobleman, Chapter Eighty-Two: Male God -- What a Mess!
As soon as they entered, Kong Xuan pressed Tang Zisu against the door and kissed her passionately for a long time, only releasing her when they were both breathless. Shu Que Wu Pan, Kong Xuan looked at Tang Zisu in his arms, her head lowered and curled up like a peach blossom, unable to resist kissing her forehead and cheeks again.
Tang Zisu grabbed his wandering hand, "Hey, weren't we supposed to study spells? What are you doing?"
"Just a little mental preparation before studying," Old Demon was just Old Demon; everything he said seemed perfectly reasonable.
Tang Zisu pushed him away and stood at the desk, holding a book but unable to focus on a single word. When she turned around, she found Kong Xuan leaning against the door with affectionate eyes fixed on her, prompting her to cover her own eyes. "What are you staring at? Pervert."
If you don't want people to look, at least cover their eyes! Covering her own eyes was like burying her head in the sand. It was truly frustrating.
Kong Xuan laughed so hard it hurt his stomach. He walked over and sat in a chair, leaning back slightly. His long black hair cascaded down the back of the chair, complementing his exquisitely sculpted face in an inexplicably attractive way.
Tang Zisu felt enchanted and stepped closer, reaching out to grab a handful of his silky hair that didn't even have a single curl. It resembled the hair in a soft advertisement. She lifted it to her nose and inhaled its fragrance, finally understanding the charm of the phrase "activated heart."
Kong Xuan pressed his lips together and gently closed his eyes as he turned to grasp Tang Zisu's hand, lightly placing a kiss in her palm.
Tang Zisu's face turned even redder as she nuzzled her cheek against Kong Xuan's hand like a kitten. Kong Xuan wore a triumphant smile; dealing with this Silly Goose required only a little sacrifice of charm to make her obedient like a little cat.
Ming Wang thought about it and decided to act. He patted his thigh, "Come here."
Sure enough, Silly Goose was enchanted and obediently took two steps forward. Kong Xuan reached out with his long arm, wrapping it around her slender waist and pulling Tang Zisu onto his lap. Tang Zisu wrapped her arms around his neck, "Male God, let's have some fun."
"Feeling big? It has gotten a bit bigger lately; looks like I need to touch it often." As he spoke, Kong Xuan placed his hand on one side of her softness and began to knead it gently.
Tang Zisu's breath became uneven as she tried to evade his teasing touch. "You... you're just an ancient lecher! It's not 'let's have some fun,' it's 'touching.'"
Kong Xuan lightly licked Silly Goose's earlobe and whispered, "No matter where you touch, it's fine here, okay?"
That must not be okay. What kind of place is this? It's the Shrine, with a Bodhisattva enshrined in front, and the room is filled with Buddhist scriptures. Moreover, it's broad daylight, and I am a priestess serving the gods. Engaging in lewd acts during the day is a huge taboo. As someone with such integrity, I absolutely cannot allow it.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Aren't you supposed to teach me spells?"
"Yes, I will be the teacher for Tang Zisu, and Tang Zisu will be my student. We can start learning now, but if Tang Zisu doesn't learn well, how should the teacher punish you?"
The male god—what a lunatic! How could he come up with such a twisted role-play scenario? It's truly a waste of talent not to film an adult movie!
"You, be serious and stop touching me. We need to study."
...
The atmosphere in the study gradually became suggestive, with muffled sounds that couldn't be heard clearly. Fortunately, Little Fish was far away and heard nothing.
Indeed, Little Fish was still tied to a tree with an apple stuffed in his mouth, shaking defiantly as no one came to rescue him.
The wind carried Little Fish's wails. Piggy Jump, where did you go? Hurry and free me!
At this moment, Jumping was naturally off looking for Lang Ye to practice swordplay. However, when she finally found Lang Ye, his demure and obedient demeanor shattered her heart of stone. Really, truly, she would never love again!
Lang Ye and Softy were in the kitchen making dumplings.
Tall and robust, Lang Ye—definitely over 186 cm—was wearing Softy's floral apron while kneading dough in a large black bowl. However, he wasn't very skilled at this task; as soon as he put his hand in, flour playfully flew everywhere, covering his face and hair. So when Jumping saw him, it was the whitest she had ever seen him—especially like a delicate pretty boy.
"Master." Jumping called out softly for the first time in her life, actually quite frightened.
Lang Ye looked up, realizing that his hand couldn't be pulled out of the basin. He hurriedly shouted, "Softy, the dough is too soft, what should I do?"
"Add more flour," Softy replied without looking up as he chopped fennel.
"Jumping, help me add a scoop of flour."
With a strange expression and an awkward posture, Jumping added a scoop of flour for Lang Ye, then asked, "Master, should we practice with the knife?"
"Darn it, now it's too dry. Jumping, what do you think we should do?"
"I don't know either. Oh, maybe add some water?"
"Right, you're so smart! If there's too much flour, add water; if there's too much water, add flour. Quickly, add a scoop of water."
Jumping scooped a scoop of water from the tank and poured it in. Lang Ye stirred it a couple of times; it was all watery and runny now.
"Zhu Tiao Tiao, why did you add so much water? Look, it's runny again."
Jumping wiggled his fingers in confusion, his face blank: "Then should I add another scoop of flour?"
"Hurry up, stop dawdling."
Thus, Jumping dashed back and forth between the flour basin and the water tank, adding one scoop of water, one scoop of flour, one scoop of flour, one scoop of water...
Finally, Jumping raised the flour scoop and asked, "Master, do we need to add more flour?"
With both hands still stuck in the basin after several attempts to pull them out, Lang Ye raised an eyebrow as flour trickled down: "What more to add? It's already full."
"What should we do then?"
"What do you mean, what should we do?"
"Your hand?"
"I refuse to believe that I can't handle this."
Jumping stayed far away, saying, "I really don't believe you can manage it at all."
Lang Ye suddenly felt powerless, his wolf-like demeanor tragic; even flour was bullying him. Could things get any worse?
Softy, while chopping fennel, saw Lang Ye with half of his arm stuck in a large bowl of dough. Softy asked, "What happened here?"
Lang Ye's beard was white, and he smiled, revealing a mouthful of shiny white teeth.
Jumping trembled and said, "Master, he got himself mixed into the dough."
"Zhu Tiao Tiao! It's all your fault for causing trouble. If you can't do it yourself, don't teach others recklessly."
Jumping protested innocently, "What does this have to do with me? I didn't make him mix himself into the dough. Mi Ruanruan, can you be reasonable?"
"No, it's all your nonsense. He was doing just fine."
Although Lang Ye looked quite disheveled, he was laughing wildly inside, thinking: I am just that charming. Even getting myself mixed into the dough makes my wife think I should make her a big bun filled with Lang Ye.
Black Wolf King said, "Hurry up and take your medicine; this level of association is just too much to bear."
Softy pulled Lang Ye's hand out of the basin and gently rubbed the dough off his hands. As she lowered her head, some loose strands of hair fell to the tip of her nose, and she occasionally lifted her arm to brush them aside.
Jumping curiously watched them kneading the dough, wondering if it was a labor-intensive task, given how much sweat Lang Ye was producing.
Lang Ye expressed his dissatisfaction with Jumping, who was like a glaring candle. He said, "Jumping, why don't you go practice archery with Tang Zisu?"
"She went to the study with Peacock - Xuan."
"Then why don't you go home and sell pork?"
"The pork has already sold out. I came here right after selling it."
"Then go home and eat?"
"Master, what's wrong? Softy let me eat dumplings here. I love fennel filling the most."
Lang Ye gritted his teeth. What do you mean you love fennel filling the most? It's my favorite too! Wait, what is fennel?
"Jumping, why don't you go bully Little Fish instead?"
What do you mean by bullying Little Fish? Is Zhu Tiao Tiao officially paired with bullying Little Fish?
"Little Fish, Little Fish, oh no! Little Fish is still tied up in the tree!" Jumping suddenly remembered Little Fish and jumped like the wind to the Osmanthus Tree.
The big candle finally left. Lang Ye told Softy, "Don't move." Softy froze for a moment as Lang Ye gently tucked her hair behind her ear with the hand that had just kneaded the clean flour. His movements were incredibly gentle, and his gaze never left her.
His rough fingertips brushed against her earlobe, and Softy's delicate skin flushed a rosy hue. Her large black eyes seemed to mist over, hiding her shyness within. She lowered her head even more, unconsciously rubbing her fingers against Lang Ye's palm.
"Ah," Lang Ye took a deep breath, desperately suppressing the overwhelming desire rising within him. This little girl always did this, acting in the most innocent and pure manner while doing the most torturous things. She truly was a teasing Pixie!
To avoid embarrassing himself like last time when he bandaged a wound, Lang Ye quickly withdrew his hand and held it up for Softy to see. "It's clean. So, um, let's make dumplings."
"Okay," Softy replied, bending down to pick up the basin. Just then, Lang Ye also bent down to grab it, and they suddenly looked up at each other, their noses almost touching, their breaths intertwining. Time seemed to stand still.
Lang Ye, such a rough and wild person, looked surprisingly gentle as he gazed into Softy's deep eyes, like a ray of sunlight in early April that warmed him completely. His thin lips curved slightly as he always managed to say the sweetest things to Softy, like biting into a juicy watermelon on a scorching summer day.
"Softy."
"Lang Ye."
Both of them spoke at the same time, momentarily stunned, unsure of how to continue.
Bending over like that was exhausting, especially since both of them were sticking out their backsides, which felt a bit odd—like they were collectively heading to the restroom.
Softy straightened up and said, "Wait a moment." Lang Ye watched her flutter out of the room like a big butterfly. At that moment, he began to imagine what would happen next: Softy wearing only an Embroidered Butterfly water-pink bellyband, biting on a handkerchief while half-embracing a red silk quilt with a coy voice saying, "Brother, come quickly! I'm cold. Warm me with your embrace. Hurry, possess me fiercely so I can cry and tremble beneath your strength..."
A warm damp cloth pressed against his face as Softy wiped vigorously. "How did this happen? It won't come off! Lang Ye, why are you grinning like that? It's creepy."
Lang Ye quickly returned to normalcy and adjusted his pants discreetly under the tablecloth. "Nothing's wrong; just thinking about dumplings."
Yes, he was thinking about dumplings filled with Softy's tender and delicate essence.
Softy stood on her tiptoes and carefully wiped the flour off Lang Ye's face with a warm damp cloth. It felt quite nice against his warm skin; however, Lang Ye preferred the soft and nimble little hand behind the cloth. Though it was small, it was enough to encompass his entire world.
After wiping his face clean, Lang Ye asked, "Quickly teach me how to make dumplings! We need to make plenty; Little Fish and Jumping will be here for dinner."
Little Fish should not have come here today; he didn't eat any dumplings and is now filled with frustration.
Jumping finally remembered that he had tied him to a tree. By the time he went to untie him, Bai Xi was already frozen and shivering, his hands and feet nearly devoid of blood, with bruises all over his skin, looking particularly abused.
Little Fish had shouted himself hoarse. He couldn't understand how in such a large house, with so many people and such loud noises, no one came out to help him. Now he was sniffing and clenching his legs tightly, gritting his teeth while waiting for Jumping to untie him.
"Hey, how did it become a dead knot? This shouldn't be right; I clearly tied a slipknot. What’s going on, sigh?"
Instead of untying the rope, Jumping began to study the knot, making Little Fish want to curse.
"Jumping, hurry up."
"Alright, you really can’t stop talking. You’re already tied up; what’s the harm in staying like this a little longer? Ah, don’t move! If you keep squirming, how am I supposed to untie it?"
Taking a deep breath, Little Fish controlled the overwhelming desire rising from deep within him: "Jumping, I beg you, just cut it off."
"No way! This rope cost money. Sigh, why are you so wasteful?"
Little Fish felt like banging his head against the wall. God, someone save me!
Finally, the rope was untied. Little Fish, dragging his numb legs, was about to run away when Jumping grabbed him by the nape of his neck like a chick: "Don’t go! I know I went a bit too far today. Let me massage your bruises. I can tell you that my Zhu Tiao Tiao massage technique is unparalleled. Come on." Jumping rolled up his sleeves to reveal his honey-colored arms and pushed Little Fish down onto the stone table.
With his stomach pressed against the edge of the stone table, it only heightened his inner desire. Jumping's strong hands poked around his waist, making Little Fish feel like his lower abdomen was about to explode.
He cried out with a sobbing tone: "Jumping, I beg you, spare me! From now on, I won’t argue with you anymore. I won’t let your brother steal your pocket money again. I won’t tell your father that you got into fights or let your stepmother know that you smell bad. Jumping, please let me go! I was wrong!"
"What?" Jumping raised an eyebrow and flipped Little Fish over like a pancake. Then a flurry of punches rained down on Little Fish's lower abdomen: "You little rascal! And here I thought you were educated; it seems all that knowledge has gone to waste. How could you be so shameless? Hmm? What else do you have to say?"
"Enough, enough, Jumping, please let me go first, Wuwu, you can kill me when you come back later, just let me go for a bit, I beg you."
"Let you go? You would just run away, Little Rascal, don't try to outsmart me."
"No, really, Jumping." Little Fish finally freed himself from Jumping's grip and hopped on one leg while adjusting his belt. "Nature calls, can't you let me finish before you hit me?"
Seeing Little Fish half undressed, Jumping cursed under her breath, her face unknowingly heating up.
Finally, they could eat dumplings. The plump dumplings were wrapped in all sorts of strange shapes, and the people eating them were equally quirky.
Tang Zisu picked up a dumpling but didn't put it in her mouth; instead, it was snatched away by Kong Xuan, who took a big bite, revealing green fennel between his snow-white teeth. Tang Zisu angrily pinched him. "Why are you stealing? There are plenty on the plate."
Kong Xuan chewed leisurely. "I just like eating yours."
He emphasized the word "yours" lightly, as if showing off their affection without a care in the world.
Oh dear, can they not show off their love so openly? Old Demon, do you know?
Compared to Kong Xuan, who seemed high on excitement, Lang Ye was much more reserved. He carefully dipped a dumpling in vinegar and placed it on Softy's small plate, then gazed at her with a look that was quite affectionate (what kind of look? It was deep and sincere) as she ate. Softy took small bites and under Lang Ye's intense gaze, she didn't manage to eat even one for a long time. Finally, she dipped one for Lang Ye: "You eat too, stop staring." So during this meal, they took turns feeding each other dumplings, creating a sweet atmosphere that made Jumping feel nauseous.
She barely ate anything herself, just watching them. Just when she felt lonely watching them alone and reached out to get Little Fish's attention, she found him slurping his noodles and devouring his food with sweat beading on his forehead and grease at the corners of his mouth—he looked nothing like the refined scholar he was supposed to be; he resembled a starving ghost.
"Little Rascal, what kind of state are you in?"
"I'm hungry and caught a chill; I need to eat more." He said this as he lifted his bowl to drink the soup without any reservations.
Suddenly, Jumping remembered something and nudged Little Fish: "Did you wash your hands after going to the Toilet?"
"What did you say? I didn't hear you."
"I asked—did you go to the toilet and wash your hands?"
Suddenly, everyone looked up at them, and the dining table fell silent in an instant, then------(⊙o⊙)! (⊙o⊙) Ah! o(n_n)o Haha!
Such joyful days always pass quickly, and in the blink of an eye, more than ten days had gone by. That night, Kong Xuan suddenly said he was leaving.
"Leaving? Where to?" Tang Zisu was fiddling with a plain white hairpin when she heard this and accidentally pricked her finger.
Kong Xuan quickly took Silly Goose's hand and inserted the hairpin into her hair: "Be good, I'm just going back to take a look. I'll be back soon."
Tang Zisu suddenly grabbed Kong Xuan's collar fiercely: "Quickly tell me, are you planning to run away after eating without paying?"
Kong Xuan immediately played along: "Hero, please see clearly. I only had a bit of soup; how could I be full? Look, my stomach is still flat."
Seeing Kong Xuan's exaggerated actions made Tang Zisu laugh so hard her stomach hurt. She laughed and rolled onto Kong Xuan: "Xuan Xuan, they say time in the mountains passes easily. In the blink of an eye, ten years have gone by in the human world. What if you only leave for a day and when you come back, decades have passed? I’ll be standing at the door with a cane, white-haired and wrinkled, asking you, 'Young man, who are you looking for?'"
Kong Xuan truly admired Tang Zisu's little brain; she never failed to go off track. He touched her face and said: "Then I'll grow old with you. By then, I'll kiss your teeth."
"Don't say that; it's so disgusting." Tang Zisu suddenly fell silent, lying still on Kong Xuan. He pulled her over so their faces were close: "What's wrong? Can't bear to part with me?"
"I can't bear to part with you, Second Master."
"I don't have a Second Master; I only have Second Master." As Kong Xuan spoke, he straightened his waist and rubbed against Tang Zisu. His Second Master was clearly already awake and was half-hard rubbing against Tang Zisu's thigh.
"Can we talk seriously? You're becoming less aloof by the day, Divine Lady." Tang Zisu's face turned crimson as she buried her head in his neck, making soft sounds.
Kong Xuan reached out and wrapped his arm around Tang Zisu's waist, softly saying, "Tang Zisu, you need to take care of yourself while I'm away. Don't trust anyone easily. Once all this is over, we..."
"What about us?" Tang Zisu looked into Kong Xuan's eyes, sensing he was about to say something important, perhaps a confession or a proposal, which made her heart flutter.
"Nothing much, Tang Zisu. Let's just do something fun." Kong Xuan hoarsely called out, very slowly pulling her small hand to his face, pressing her delicate palm against his cheek. Then he took a deep breath, overwhelmed by the desire for her touch and caress, his body trembling slightly.
In his eyes was a pleading look that made it hard for Tang Zisu to refuse. She yielded to him and to herself, flattening her hand against his perfect face, caressing his light-colored lips.
He kept looking at her with deep green eyes. As her fingers glided over his lips, he couldn't help but open his mouth and kiss her fingers.
A tingling sensation surged through her like an electric current, spreading from her fingertips and making it hard for her to breathe.
"Kong Xuan." Tang Zisu took the initiative to kiss Kong Xuan. To hell with Buddha and the teachings of propriety; Tang Zisu was never a priestess bound by those ridiculous rules. If she loved him, she would act on it and pull him into her body.
Kong Xuan chuckled lightly before taking control. He passionately pulled Tang Zisu into the depths of ecstasy, their intense kisses consuming all their strength. His hands roamed over her as if confirming the existence of something precious, a possessive dominance.
This night was destined to be filled with fervor and madness for a lifetime.
In the stillness of the night, with the bright moon hanging high above the Nine Heavens, silver light spilled down, adoring the mountains, rivers, and oceans.
The moonlight also illuminated Lang Ye's muscular and powerful body.
Lang Ye's bronze back glistened with beads of sweat that highlighted the strong muscles entwined around his robust frame. His strong arms enveloped the soft white form in front of him as his lean waist bent forward rhythmically. Short grunts escaped his throat as beads of sweat dripped slowly from his prominent Adam's apple onto the soft mass below...
"Lang Ye..." Softy called out gently.
Lang Ye straightened up with force. Under the dim light, his thin lips pressed into a line; every contour of his face was strong and defined, embodying the boldness and fierceness of a man—unrestrained and wild.
"Softy," he called, "are we done yet?"
Lang Ye looked up, his clear stubble covering his chin and extending down to his neck, beads of sweat dotting his strong collarbone. "Just a little longer, it will be fine. If you can't wait, you can go ahead and sleep!"
What does he mean by 'if you can't wait'? Wasn't it Lang Ye who did that to Softy, and then Softy did that back, and then Lang Ye did that again?
What is going on? She didn't do anything like that; she was just working very hard!
"Alright," Softy pressed down on Lang Ye's hand. "Even if you have to leave, it's only for a few days. Why do you have to mix all this glutinous rice flour together? How many glutinous rice red bean buns do I need to make?"
Goodness! So it turns out that the late-night encounter between a man and a woman in the same room was just about glutinous rice flour. This is not scientific!!!
Lang Ye wiped the sweat from his arm. "Softy, I've already chopped the firewood and stacked it in the wood shed. I've tied each bundle with straw rope so when you take it, you can carry it by the rope and not get splinters in your hands. I've also filled the water jar; the small jar is for drinking water from my front bucket, and the large jar is for washing your face and vegetables. I've mixed the glutinous rice flour for you too. Make more glutinous rice red bean buns to share with the villagers; building good relationships will prevent anyone from bullying you. Try not to go out these days, and don’t talk to strangers, don’t..."
Softy wanted to laugh at how chatty he was being, but her throat tightened, and her words came out gentle yet trembling. "Alright, I understand. You take care too; I'll save some red bean buns for you."
The smile on Softy's face was soft, her small hands resting on the cutting board were delicate. Lang Ye felt a lump in his throat; he struggled to control himself from pulling her into his arms.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, and there was an inexplicable sweetness and bitterness in the air.
Lang Ye broke the silence first. He looked into Softy's eyes and said, "Softy, would you come with me to see my hometown?"
Softy's eyes glistened with moisture, her eyelids slightly reddened as she gently turned her head away. "Lang Ye, don’t push me; it’s impossible for us."
"Why?" Lang Ye's throat tightened from nervousness and excitement.
"Because," Softy clutched the hem of her clothes tightly, finally voicing her doubts, "because I'm afraid. I'm just an ordinary person; I want to live a simple life, cooking every day and waiting for my husband to come home. But you are a demon, a demon king at that. I don’t want to wait until I’m old and wrinkled while you still look like you do now."
“Softy, no, I can give you everything you want. I will make sure you are with me, and during the long, ancient years, we will always be together. You don’t have to worry about aging or illness; I have a way. Softy, didn’t you accept it when we were in the Underworld? Why not give me a chance?”
“Sorry, I was just scared during that time in the Underworld.”
“No, it’s in the face of life and death that true feelings are revealed.”
“But I’m very timid, Lang Ye. If something like that happens again, I might choose my own heart.”
Softy looked like she was about to cry, clearly pressured by Lang Ye.
“Alright, Softy, I have plenty of time. I will prove to you that I am your best choice.” After saying this, Lang Ye gritted his teeth and turned away from Softy, heading back to his room.
Softy was alone in the kitchen, rolling glutinous rice flour into small balls. Each time she rolled one, it felt like she was making a decision about her heart, yet she didn’t realize that her heart already belonged somewhere—something she could never let go of.
This feeling arose from nowhere and ran deep.
Kong Xuan and Lang Ye left before dawn; a thin layer of frost covered the dry grass. Kong Xuan wrapped his cloak around Tang Zisu’s delicate body, warming her cold hands under his armpit.
Tang Zisu reached out to play with the cloud-pattern embroidery on his clothes. “Kong Xuan, come back early.”
Kong Xuan said softly, “Once I have magic, I’ll turn you into something this small so you can be carried everywhere.”
“I won’t do that; I’d just become a big nuisance,” Tang Zisu pouted and gently rubbed her cheek against Kong Xuan’s smooth chin.
Kong Xuan sighed deeply and tightened his hold on her. “If we keep lingering like this, we won’t be able to leave. Lang Ye will start nagging again.”
Tang Zisu stood on her tiptoes and kissed Kong Xuan on the lips. “Alright, let’s go!”
Kong Xuan’s gaze darkened as he kissed her fiercely, making Tang Zisu feel weak all over.
"Let's go, it's cold outside, don't go out." Kong Xuan released Tang Zisu and walked away briskly.
Tang Zisu hurried after him and saw Lang Ye leaning against the wall, staring at the sky. Unlike his usual playful self, he appeared melancholic.
Kong Xuan pulled at Lang Ye. "Let's go."
"Wait." Tang Zisu exhaled a puff of white breath.
Lang Ye and Kong Xuan turned back simultaneously. Kong Xuan frowned but said nothing.
"You don't need to glare at me; I'm not looking for you. Lang Ye, take good care of Kong Xuan."
Lang Ye's hair was unkempt today, resembling a messy lion's mane. He coolly tossed his head, making the lock of black hair falling over his eyes look even more imposing. Then he smiled, a mischievous grin: "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him; I guarantee he won't dare leave the walls, Sister-in-law."
"Big Sister-in-law? Lang Ye, what nonsense are you talking? Who's your Sister-in-law?" Tang Zisu felt very uncomfortable being called out about her relationship with Kong Xuan in front of others for the first time.
"You've slept together so many times; isn't she your Sister-in-law?" Lang Ye continued teasing Tang Zisu with a wicked sense of humor.
Kong Xuan slapped him on the head. "Enough, stop messing around. Let's go."
Lang Ye shrugged and left with Kong Xuan. As they walked away, their figures gradually faded from view until they were obscured by the White Mist. Tang Zisu felt a heavy weight in her heart and sighed. Turning around, she saw Softy standing at the door. Tang Zisu waved her over, and Softy approached with small steps.
"Why not send them off openly? Look at Lang Ye; he looks like he's lost his soul."
Softy was surprised, her round little mouth slightly open for a moment as she struggled to find words.
Tang Zisu tucked her hands into her robe sleeves and squinted her eyes. "Even a blind person can see Lang Ye's feelings for you. What's wrong? Don't you like him?"
Softy opened her mouth to argue, but after a moment, she lowered her head and said, "Is it okay to like him? He is a demon, and I am human."
Tang Zisu immediately exclaimed, "Why can't you think straight? Is your head stuffed with bricks? Demons can be so charming! Who knows, you might end up creating a legendary romance that gets passed down for thousands of years. Besides, being with a demon means you don't have to worry about your happiness in that regard. Lang Ye may not be as good-looking as our big peacock, but he's still quite handsome. Just look at his looks and physique... Softy, just give in."
After listening for a while, Softy seemed to understand what she was rambling about. She frowned and quietly asked, "High Priestess, are you okay?"
Of course, she was fine. What could possibly be wrong? It was just that the man had left, and she felt a bit sentimental. Tang Zisu cleared her throat and her expression grew serious: "Softy, I know you want to live a quiet life, but I think that's just a wishful thinking. This place is destined to be anything but peaceful, and Lang Ye is meant to be your fate. You can't be too rigid; you have to follow the voice of your heart."
After finishing her words, Tang Zisu applauded herself. That sounded particularly philosophical. Kong Xuan would surely praise her for it. Oh, Kong Xuan, you just left a short while ago, and I'm already starting to miss you!
Softy bit her lip, probably also thinking about Lang Ye. Tang Zisu patted her shoulder and said, "Let's go inside to think; it's too cold out here."
"Okay." Just as Softy was about to turn around, she suddenly heard a knock on the door. Her brows lifted in delight, but someone was quicker than her. Tang Zisu dashed over to open the door, her face beaming with joy as she said to the person outside, "Why are you here so soon..."
Tang Zisu's words and smile froze when she saw who was outside. Softy peeked out the door and realized it was her Auntie. What was she doing here?
Softy asked, "Auntie, why are you here so early?"
Aunt Mi, with a face full of smiles that made her look like a dumpling that had been pinched too much, cheerfully replied to Softy: "Softy, I'm here to take you home."
"Home? But didn't you kick me out?"
"Oh dear, this child is talking nonsense in the morning! We are family; there's no reason to kick anyone out. I just wanted you to serve High Priestess well."
"Then you should go back; I'm doing fine here and don't want to trouble you."
"Not a trouble at all! Look how grown up you've become—so beautiful and capable! How could you possibly be a trouble?"
Tang Zisu had a very poor impression of Aunt Mi. Now, she observed her coldly, sensing that Aunt Mi had some ulterior motive, and pretended to be aloof as she said, "Softy is doing well here and won't be going back. If you have nothing else to do, you should go home. We still need to offer incense to the Buddha later."
Aunt Mi's face wrinkled even more as she forced a flattering smile, hissing as if she had a toothache. "Softy, you're not a child anymore. You've already turned eighteen; it's time for you to find someone to marry. Auntie has found a good family for you—wealthy and with land. Once you marry in, you'll be a young mistress. The betrothal gifts have already been sent; we're just waiting for you to move in."
"What did you say?" Softy trembled with anger upon hearing this. "I never agreed to anything; how can you just accept someone's betrothal gifts? You received them, so you should marry."
"How dare you talk back! I raised you, and this is how you speak to me? Come on, let's go home."
Tang Zisu stepped in front of Softy. "What are you doing? Planning to cause a scene at the Shrine again? Look at you—you're so hefty and strong; how could you do something like this? How did you raise Softy? You didn't feed or clothe her, just made her do chores every day. Even if you hired someone, you'd still have to pay them. You think giving her leftover food is enough? Let me tell you, that's child abuse. Now that she's grown up, she owes you nothing, and you shouldn't have any designs on her."
Tang Zisu unleashed a barrage of words, feeling furious that someone would provoke her at this moment. Didn't they know she was feeling lonely after just leaving her man?
Aunt Mi was taken aback by the verbal assault. By the time she understood what was happening, Tang Zisu was already pulling Softy away. In a fit of rage, Aunt Mi pushed Tang Zisu down to the ground. "This is our family matter; it's none of your business."
"What are you doing? How dare you push the High Priestess!" Softy was terrified and hurriedly helped Tang Zisu up.
Tang Zisu was enraged; she got up and grabbed Aunt Mi's clothes, pulling her toward the exit. "Get out! If you dare come here again, I'll report you to the clan leader."
"Oh really? Go ahead! I can't even manage my own child now? With all these men and women coming in and out here, you've probably taught her all the wrong things. I might as well take her home early to discipline her before she does something embarrassing."
"Get out!" Tang Zisu pushed Aunt Mi toward the door.
However, she underestimated Aunt Mi's strength. Aunt Mi was robust from years of farm work and was known for being fierce in fights with other women in the village. In no time at all, Tang Zisu found herself pushed down again. Seeing Tang Zisu at a disadvantage, Softy rushed over to help but found that while Aunt Mi wouldn't dare confront Tang Zisu directly, she had no qualms about taking it out on Softy instead.
"Stop it!" Suddenly, a furious shout rang out as Softy was dragged away by strong hands and then enveloped in a warm embrace.
"Lang Ye, you're back!" Seeing Lang Ye made Tang Zisu feel reassured as if she had someone backing her up. She thought about how her man had been bullied and felt upset but also relieved that he was there now.
The next moment, her handsome man indeed appeared, not only embracing her but also removing a piece of dried grass from her hair. "Silly Goose, I just left for a little while and you're already learning to fight."
Tang Zisu smiled so widely that her lips curled up. Her man was so nice to hold; she simply couldn't bear to let go.
Lang Ye asked softly, "Softy, are you hurt?"
Softy bit her lip, her eyes red, with marks on her ears from where nails had scratched her.
Lang Ye was very angry; the consequences were serious.
He protected Softy behind him, his fingers cracking ominously. "You better get lost. I don't hit women."
Under the gaze of the first warrior of Peacock Valley, Aunt Mi's legs had gone weak. However, this woman was known for being a notorious troublemaker; she couldn't just leave like that. She looked back and forth at them, tilting her mouth and clicking her tongue twice. "Oh, you just said you were afraid something would happen, and look what happened! I'm teaching my own niece; what business is it of yours?"
"What business I have with her is none of your concern, but don't let me see you bully her again. Otherwise, it doesn't matter if you're a woman; I'll still beat you until your man won't recognize you."
"You dare? Hmph, now I understand why this little wretch won't come with me. It turns out you've been involved here all along. Using the name of offering to the gods to do such shameless things—how disgraceful."
"What did you say? Looking for death?" Lang Ye's already unruly hair seemed even more wild as his thick brows furrowed and the veins on his forehead bulged.
Aunt Mi felt Lang Ye was like a raging wolf ready to leap and bite off her neck. Yet relying on being Softy's elder, she remained unrepentant. "What do you want? You can do whatever you want but can't let people talk? You're just a bully! Instead of finding a good family, you choose to learn tricks from inside..."
Lang Ye didn't wait for her to finish speaking; he reached out and grabbed her by the neck, his fingers sinking deeply into her flesh. "Let me tell you, you can say whatever you want about me, but you cannot speak ill of Softy. She is pure and virtuous; how can she be casually slandered by you? Today, I'll spare you because you're Softy's elder. But if you dare bully her again next time, I'll break your throat and see how you continue to spout nonsense. Now get lost!"
Lang Ye lifted the over hundred-pound woman with one hand and threw her out, casually shutting the heavy black door behind him.
"Well done, Lang Ye!" Tang Zisu clapped enthusiastically, so excited she nearly jumped up. "Wow, you're amazing! So manly! So passionate! I admire you so much!"
Kong Xuan turned around to block Tang Zisu's intense gaze. "What does it have to do with you? Go back inside; I have something to say to you."
"No, don't mess around. I need to have a serious talk with Lang Ye about how to deal with troublesome women. Hey, Kong Xuan, put me down." Kong Xuan suddenly lifted Tang Zisu and pressed down on her squirming body. "Am I manly enough like this? There's an even more manly way to show you back at home."
Once the couple had walked far away, Lang Ye stood in front of Softy and said softly, "It's okay now; everything's fine."
"I'm sorry..." Tears streamed down Softy's face, and she immediately crouched down, burying her face deep in her palms.
Lang Ye also crouched down beside her, gently patting her back. "It's alright; it's all over now. You're an adult; she can't control you anymore. Don't be afraid; I'm here for you."
"Why? Why does she treat me like this? She's clearly my only family. She has taken over my family's land and house, and now she wants to use me for money. How can she do this?" Softy's years of pent-up resentment poured out, simply because this man in front of her made her feel that she could drop the facade of strength. She was willing to reveal her grievances to him.
Lang Ye embraced her. "Cry it out; let it all out. You'll feel better."
At his words, Softy choked up, then clutched his shirt and broke down in tears in his arms, letting the tears flow freely.
As she cried and felt weak all over, he picked her up and laid her on the bed in the room.
He washed a cloth in the basin and then wiped her face. His movements were a bit clumsy but careful and focused, as if she were fragile porcelain.
Softy sniffled with red eyes, finally managing to grab his hand to calm herself down after a long while.
Lang Ye patted her again and went to pour her a cup of hot tea.
"Drink this."
She held the cup and took small sips. The warm, sweet tea slid down her throat and settled in her stomach, warming her entire being.
When Lang Ye handed her the second cup, she sniffled and thanked him with a flushed little nose.
Lang Ye sat beside her, his deep voice gentle and rich. "You don't have to be afraid of her anymore; you don't owe her anything."
"Thank you. By the way, I thought you left. Why are you back?"
Lang Ye ruffled his hair. "I thought it would be a bit awkward to go out like this, so I came back to let you fix my hair."
Softy laughed at his exaggerated demeanor. "Don't lie to me; tell me the truth."
"The truth is, we saw her when we were leaving. At first, I didn't think she would come back to cause trouble for you, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt something was off. And then she returned, just like Kong Xuan. Sigh! I shouldn't have hesitated; as a result, she bullied you."
Softy remained silent, savoring Lang Ye's words like tea. The warmth of the tea enveloped her body, while Lang Ye warmed her heart.
"Softy, do you want to get married?" Although it was a difficult question to ask, Lang Ye managed to say it.
"Why are you asking this? I won't agree to the marriage my Auntie arranged for me."
"Not that. If you met a man who could provide you with a stable life, would you marry him?"
Softy looked up to meet Lang Ye's gaze; his eyes were deep and lustrous, filled with affection.
"I... I don't know." Softy lowered her blushing neck, unable to look into Lang Ye's eyes any longer. She feared that under his gaze, her doubts and resolve would crumble.
Lang Ye suddenly took her hand. "Softy, if you can't find that person, come with me. Let's leave this place and go to my hometown; I will make you happy."
Softy did not push his hand away. She admitted that his hand was too big and warm, capable of embracing all her grievances and helplessness. That hand was also strong enough to shield her from the storms of life.
Lang Ye noticed that Softy had been silent, feeling anxious inside. Softy, I beg you, please agree. At this rate, Kong Xuan's kid will be out and about while ours is still hiding inside their father.
Finally, Softy lifted her head. She seemed to have mustered up her courage, and due to the effort, her neck and face were flushed. She softly said to Lang Ye: “Lang Ye, I….”
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