Warm sunlight spilled across the winding stone steps, gilding them with a faint shimmer. The solemn, sacred path was being climbed by six people.
“This is my first time here. I’m so nervous…”
The handsome young man in a goose-yellow robe turned around and whispered to the person behind him.
The equally handsome youth in white replied softly, “Don’t overthink it. Maybe the Alliance Master won’t choose any of us. We can just treat this as a sightseeing trip.”
The young man in yellow shot him a look and frowned. “Don’t jinx me. I finally stood out from among a thousand candidates. This opportunity didn’t come easily.”
“The Alliance Master doesn’t look like someone who’d be willing to take a disciple.”
The young man in yellow lowered his voice even further and hesitated. “There’s also a rumor… that the Chief Hall Master only claims he wants to find a disciple for his daughter. In truth, he wants to find her a companion.”
The young man in white smiled. “Then we have even less hope. Someone like the Alliance Master probably wouldn’t take a fancy to us.”
The young man in yellow stopped short. “Can’t you say something auspicious for once? What if she does take a liking to one of us? In any case, we’re all unrivaled talents among our generation.”
As if he had thought of something, a blush crept up the tips of his ears.
“Actually… being a companion would be… would be pretty good too…”
The young man in white glanced past the three others walking ahead of them, all of whom had clearly dressed up with great care, and smiled.
“Then you’re under a lot of pressure. I’m sure they’re thinking the same thing.”
The fair-featured youth glanced at the person at the very front of the group, who was sticking close to Little Qiu.
He snorted. “Hmph. Earlier, someone was mocking others for being shameless. Yet today, he’s the one dressed the most provocatively—and he’s even wearing bright red.”
They reached the final step, and the view before them suddenly opened wide.
An endless meadow stretched into the distance, while a small courtyard that looked no different from an ordinary mortal residence stood quietly upon it.
Little Qiu led the five of them to the courtyard gate, then turned around and carefully reminded them, “Don’t be too reckless later. It’s perfectly normal for the Alliance Master to lose her temper and slap someone out of the ruins.”
All of them had personally witnessed the man who had burned the heads of the three great clans being slapped away by their Alliance Master two days earlier. At Little Qiu’s words, they hurriedly nodded in agreement.
“Also, no man has ever entered this courtyard. Not even the Chief Hall Master has been here. I’ve only ever stood outside the courtyard myself. Remember—don’t look at anything you shouldn’t.”
Everyone nodded in unison.
Little Qiu turned toward the closed gate and raised his hand, knocking lightly.
Inside the house, the sunlight was soft and warm. It filtered lazily through the lattice window and spread across the two people embracing each other in sleep on the bed.
The moment the knock sounded, Lou Yue’s brows drew together. She turned over in Xiao Rangchen’s arms, facing inward, and continued sleeping.
Xiao Rangchen lowered his eyes and pulled the blanket higher, covering the shoulder exposed outside it, where tiny pink petals had blossomed across her skin.
By the time the group outside had climbed the cloud steps, he had already sensed their presence. Every word of their whispered conversation had also reached his ears.
“Little Qiu has brought the disciples your father found for you,” he said in a tone devoid of emotion. His voice was very low. “You’re supposed to choose one.”
Lou Yue had only managed to fall asleep just before dawn. At this moment, even if the Heavenly Emperor himself had arrived, she had no desire to see him.
“You deal with it.”
Xiao Rangchen pressed himself against her back, burying his nose in her soft hair. Its faint, delicate fragrance lingered at the tip of his nose as he asked calmly, “You’re not choosing one?”
Lou Yue couldn’t be bothered to answer.
“If you don’t choose now, you won’t have another chance later.”
His tone remained as impassive as ever, giving no hint of his mood.
Lou Yue buried her head a little deeper and let out an annoyed scoff. “Xiao Rangchen, are you done being annoying?”
The courtyard gate was knocked on several more times.
Xiao Rangchen still showed no intention of getting up.
Lou Yue pulled her entire head beneath the blanket. “I’m not choosing anyone, I’m not choosing anyone! Stop bothering me!”
Xiao Rangchen kissed her hair at the back of her head, his voice softening.
“Mm. Go back to sleep.”
He rose from the bed, unhurriedly put on his black inner robes, and fastened the sash. He merely draped his outer robe over his shoulders without tying or closing it, then walked out of the room.
Little Qiu waited outside the courtyard for a while. Judging that enough time had passed, he estimated that it was appropriate to knock again and raised his hand.
Before his fingers could touch the wooden door, it creaked open from within.
Little Qiu immediately put on a smile. But the instant he saw who had opened the door, that smile froze on his face.
The five youths behind him had still been wearing faint smiles as well. Now, they all stiffened at once, their expressions frozen, their eyes filled with nothing but shock.
The man stood within the doorway. Broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted, he possessed a tall, straight figure and sharply defined, icy features. His white hair only enhanced his cold, aloof bearing, while the oppressive aura around him seemed to proclaim: Keep your distance.
The person who had opened the door was not the person they had expected.
He was a man.
More importantly, this man was one of the other figures at the Heavenly God Realm who had recently become the subject of endless discussion throughout the cultivation world.
He was the Grand Elder, who had never once shown himself since the establishment of the Loose Cultivators’ Alliance.
“G-Grand Elder!”
One of them was quick to react and hurriedly lowered his head in greeting.
The others came to their senses and quickly bowed as well. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, yet each of their backs was rigid with tension.
The man’s gaze swept over them.
In that single instant, every hair on the five youths’ backs stood on end. They felt as if an invisible mountain had come crashing down upon them, yet they did not dare even draw an extra breath.
Little Qiu immediately recovered beneath those eyes, which were several times colder than they had been in the past. He did his best to ensure that his words carried no ambiguous meaning whatsoever.
“The Chief Hall Master… asked me to bring over the most talented youths of the younger generation so the Alliance Master could see whether there was anyone she wanted to take as a disciple…”
The man’s thin lips parted slightly.
“Disciple.”
Little Qiu forced himself to maintain a smile. “Yes. A disciple.”
The air grew heavy and oppressive, weighing on their chests until they could barely breathe.
The man stepped out of the courtyard, passed Little Qiu, and approached them.
“Raise your heads.”
The five youths slowly lifted their heads, every movement stiff and laborious.
The man stood two paces away. Now that he was closer, they could feel even more clearly that he was not only intimidating in bearing but also tall and powerfully built, standing a full head above them.
Compared to him, these youths who prided themselves on their exceptional talents looked like a flock of fledgling chicks, their wings still undeveloped—small, helpless, and awkward.
None of them dared meet his eyes. Their gazes instinctively dropped to the space between his chin and neck.
And once they looked there, they discovered something even more shocking.
At the prominent Adam’s apple on the man’s sharply defined neck were two distinct rows of tiny teeth marks.
Lower down, on the area around his collarbone that radiated the same oppressive force, was a faint pair of bite marks.
Beside them were two slender scratches from fingernails.
Anyone could tell that a woman had left them.
So… what audacious woman had dared leave bite marks on a man at the Heavenly God Realm? Who could possibly have bitten this man whom they were too frightened even to look in the eye?
The youths stared blankly at the marks, then at him in his loosely draped outer robe and nothing but his inner garments beneath it. Suddenly, they remembered where they were standing—and which door the man had walked out of.
The next moment, all five of them inhaled sharply in unison.
Xiao Rangchen slowly turned sideways after scanning each of the five handsome young men, whose temperaments were different but whose faces were without exception strikingly attractive.
“Take them back. She isn’t accepting any of them.”
His voice was cold and final, leaving no room for argument.
Little Qiu had noticed the bite marks even earlier than the others. His mind was already in turmoil, so the instant Xiao Rangchen finished speaking, he answered without the slightest hesitation.
“Yes. I’ll take them away right now.”
Xiao Rangchen was just about to return to the courtyard when a slightly trembling voice suddenly rang out:
“Grand Elder, shouldn’t we… ask the Alliance Master first?”
The speaker was a red-robed youth, defiance hidden in his eyes. His voice wavered, and when Xiao Rangchen looked over, he hurriedly lowered his gaze.
“Ask her what?” His tone was flat and emotionless.
The youth in red swallowed hard and gritted his teeth. “Ask the Alliance Master… whether any of us… might be to her liking.”
“To her liking in what way?” His voice remained indifferent.
The youth was left speechless, unable to continue for quite some time.
Xiao Rangchen cast a glance at his eye-catching red robes, then paused for a moment on his trembling shoulders before saying nothing more.
His expression cold and detached, he swept his gaze over the five men and walked back into the courtyard. He crossed the threshold, and the courtyard gate swung shut without a breeze, cutting them off from the inside.
Little Qiu hurriedly waved them away, urging the five men to leave at once. This time, none of them dared question anything, nor did anyone dare say another word.
“Tsk, tsk. I was honestly afraid the Grand Elder would burn him to ashes…”
The youth in pale yellow robes sighed to the white-robed youth beside him, “He really has guts. It’s obvious the Grand Elder and the Alliance Master are that sort of couple, yet he still dared to say something like that. Luckily, the Grand Elder didn’t stoop to his level.”
The white-robed youth smiled. “He did help you test the waters.”
“Tsk. I’m not foolish enough to do what he did. Right now, I’m just hoping the Grand Elder forgets what I look like.”
The white-robed youth asked, “You don’t want to keep the Alliance Master company?”
The youth’s eyes widened. “That last look from the Grand Elder clearly meant, ‘You think you’re worthy of competing with me?’ I’m not eager to die!”
Their hushed conversation gradually faded as they walked away.
Inside the room, Xiao Rangchen removed his outer robe, lifted the thin blanket, and lay down beside Lou Yue once more.
The moment the skin of Lou Yue’s back touched his cool inner robe, she flinched and hissed through clenched teeth, “Xiao Rangchen!”
Under the blanket, Xiao Rangchen wrapped an arm around her and pulled her firmly against him.
But the chill of his palm against her skin thoroughly dispelled her sleepiness. She abruptly turned around, the corners of her eyes raised in annoyance.
“Xiao Rangchen, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
Xiao Rangchen leaned over her, pinned down her intertwined fingers, and lowered his head to kiss her deeply.
Lou Yue bit down on the tip of his tongue without the slightest mercy, then kicked him away and wrapped herself into a tight bundle with the blanket.
“For the next three days, you’re not allowed to touch me!” she snapped. “Even farmland needs time to lie fallow. You have absolutely no idea when to stop.”
Xiao Rangchen reached through the blanket and pulled her back into his arms, his warm breath brushing against her face.
“I won’t go in.”
Lou Yue knew all too well what tricks he was capable of and immediately refused. “You’re not allowed to do anything. In short, you are not touching me for the next three days.”
“One day.”
“Three days. No negotiations. If you argue again, it’ll be five.”
Xiao Rangchen fell silent for a moment before saying in a low voice, “Can good behavior earn me a reduced sentence?”
“…” Reduced sentence, my foot.
Lou Yue sat up, still wrapped in the blanket. “Get out. I’m getting dressed.”
“I’ll help you.”
Lou Yue kicked at him, but Xiao Rangchen caught her smooth, jade-like calf, faint red marks scattered across it.
Lou Yue glared at him in exasperation. “Now. Immediately. Get out!”
After driving him outside, Lou Yue changed clothes and stood before the mirror. Seeing the dense marks covering her neck, she coldly cast an illusion spell over them.
When she stepped outside, she found him leaning against the door in a loosely worn inner robe, the bite marks on his neck and collarbones glaringly obvious. She gave a disdainful snort, walked over, and cast the same illusion spell over him.
Xiao Rangchen looked at her. “You’re going out?”
“Mm.” Every year on this day, Liufeng Xin and the others came looking for her to play leaf cards. If she didn’t go, they would simply storm in and tie her up.
Before Xiao Rangchen could say anything, Lou Yue added, “It’s within the Alliance. If you want, you can come along. I happen to have someone to introduce you to.”
“A man?”
His tone sounded calm, but there was a hint of hostility hidden beneath it.
Lou Yue rolled her eyes at him. “A woman. Big Brother Wei’s wife.”
“No need.” He had no interest in any woman besides her.
Lou Yue ignored him and tossed a black outer robe embroidered with intricate gold patterns over his head. “Enough. Hurry up and change.”
Once Xiao Rangchen had changed, she looked him over. The robe fit him perfectly, giving him a sharp and elegant appearance. She pressed him down onto a stool, then took out a restrained yet exquisite black jade-and-gold hair crown and used it to half-bind his white hair.
Xiao Rangchen caught her hand and looked up at her, his deep eyes locking onto hers.
“When did you prepare this?”
Lou Yue did not answer. She took a step back and studied the cold, dignified man before her with satisfaction.
“Let’s go, Grand Elder.”
Xiao Rangchen rose and naturally slipped an arm around her waist. With him holding her close, Lou Yue left the ruins and took him straight to Xiao Aiai’s residence.
By the time they arrived, everyone else was already there.
“Well, well. Who’s this? You’ve finally decided to leave your little world for two?” Hong Chou teased.
Lou Yue was already accustomed to that mouth of hers. She merely cast her a languid glance before gesturing toward the woman seated opposite Hong Chou.
“This is Big Brother Wei’s wife, Jiang Siyin.”
Xiao Rangchen gave a slight nod, then said to Lou Yue, “I’ll come pick you up later.”
Lou Yue hummed in response, and Xiao Rangchen turned and disappeared.
Jiang Siyin pushed a plate of delicate pastries across the table toward the seated Lou Yue and said warmly, “I finally get to meet your man today. You two are a perfect match.”
Lou Yue picked up a pastry and put it into her mouth. After a moment, she drawled, “Siyin, in the future, don’t let the child in your belly taste your pastries too early.”
She picked up another piece. “I’m worried she’ll grow up refusing to eat proper meals and thinking only about your pastries.”
Jiang Siyin covered her mouth and laughed softly, her eyes filled with tenderness. “You’re the only one who can say things like that. I added the osmanthus honey you like to today’s pastries and prepared an extra box for you. Take it home later.”
Lou Yue readily agreed.
“Siyin, you spoil Yueyue far too much,” Liufeng Xin complained, pouting as she pretended to be hurt. “By comparison, the rest of us seem completely unnecessary.”
“Exactly. I’m the one who brought you and Big Brother Wei together, so why don’t I get this kind of treatment?” Hong Chou chimed in for once.
Jiang Siyin’s brows and eyes were gentle, her smile faint. “You’re all a bunch of gluttons. I’ll make some for you in a couple of days too.”
Lou Yue took hold of her wrist. “Don’t mind them. Your baby is almost due—don’t tire yourself out.”
Jiang Siyin lightly patted her hand. “All right. Once the baby is born, I’ll make some for you.”
Hong Chou watched the two of them with a tsk, tsk. “We really should have made that Xiao man stay. If he saw how close you two are, I guarantee he’d be green with envy.”
“Stop picking on my brother. He’s not good with words to begin with. Are you trying to suffocate him?” Xiao Aiai emerged from the room and couldn’t help laughing when she heard that.
Hong Chou waved a finger, her expression suggestive. “No, no. That Xiao man won’t suffocate. It’s Yueyue who’ll have a hard time.”
“Are you finished yet? Are we playing cards or not? If not, I’m leaving.” With that, Lou Yue stood up, taking her pastries with her.
“You all know she’s shy, so why do you keep teasing her?” Jiang Siyin pulled Lou Yue back into her seat. “It’s fine. You eat. I’ll play against them for you and guarantee you’ll win big today.”
Hong Chou and Liufeng Xin immediately let out anguished cries.
Lou Yue’s brows lifted, and she nodded in satisfaction.
As daylight faded, Xiao Rangchen went to pick up Lou Yue from Lou Chengfeng's place. What he saw the moment he arrived was Lou Yue bending over to wrap her arms around Jiang Siyin's neck, her face pressed close to the seated woman's, grinning so widely her eyes crinkled up in delight.
"Lou Yue."
Xiao Rangchen stood a short distance away and called her name in a calm, even tone.
Lou Yue straightened up, and Jiang Siyin rose to her feet right after. She took out a box of pastries and handed it to Lou Yue, then used a silk handkerchief to wipe the crumbs off the corner of Lou Yue's mouth, speaking in a soft, gentle voice, "You've had more than enough to eat today. Don't sneak any more snacks once you get home."
Lou Yue's lips curled into a faint smile. "Got it."
"Lou Yue."
Xiao Rangchen called her name a second time, his voice a little deeper than before, so subtly that one might mistake the change for a trick of the ear if they weren't paying close attention.
Lou Yue said goodbye to Jiang Siyin and walked over to Xiao Rangchen, leaving three other people slouched over the table behind them, their eyes downcast and spirits completely deflated.
Xiao Rangchen reached out to take Lou Yue's hand in his, and in the next instant, the two of them vanished from the spot.
The night in the Wild Barrens was still cold and dim, but as they walked side by side through the valley with their fingers laced tightly together, there was nothing but warm, cozy comfort in their hearts.
"Where did you go this afternoon?" Lou Yue asked casually.
Xiao Rangchen spoke in a low voice. "I went to see your father."
Lou Yue paused mid-step. "What did you go see him for?"
"To lay my heart bare, prove my sincerity, and negotiate terms," Xiao Rangchen said.
She tilted her head to look at him, and saw that Xiao Rangchen, who was usually so aloof and unflappable, had let out a rare soft sigh. "My father-in-law... he's not easy to win over."
She burst into a laugh. "Who are you calling your father-in-law?"
Xiao Rangchen pretended not to hear her teasing question and went on, "He said I have to give lectures to the members of the Alliance every month for three years starting now."
That was the deal to make sure they would no longer arrange any male apprentices for Lou Yue, but right now he was thinking the terms needed to be adjusted—female apprentices were absolutely not allowed either.
At his words, Lou Yue raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound too bad. How many times a month do you have to go?"
Xiao Rangchen looked at her, his tone even but laced with a faint, helpless note. "It was supposed to be three times a month at first. I tried to negotiate for a better deal, and somehow ended up with five."
Lou Yue immediately snickered out loud.
Xiao Rangchen looked down at her, saying nothing at all, just quietly watching her laugh.
When she finished laughing, she leaned in on her own and gave him a quick hug. "There, there. Learn your lesson, don't try to out-negotiate him next time."
Just as she was about to pull away, Xiao Rangchen wrapped both his arms around her waist, pulling her tight against his chest. He lowered his head to rest his forehead against hers.
"Can I apply for a little comfort?" he asked.
Lou Yue pinched his cheek lightly. "You're the most powerful God Realm deity in all the world. I'm sure you're strong enough to handle this."
Xiao Rangchen brushed his nose gently against hers, his voice dropping to a low, husky murmur. "Even a God Realm deity needs comfort sometimes."
Lou Yue looped her arms around the back of his neck, slowly tilting her face up, her lips inching closer to his.
Xiao Rangchen's eyes darkened instantly, his breathing turning shallow and heavy.
The very moment their lips were about to touch, she stopped short, her soft breath fanning over his lips, a mischievous glint in her smile. "You wanna kiss? If we do, that number's going to go up to five days a month, remember?"
Xiao Rangchen froze for a split second.
Lou Yue pretended to lurch forward, and Xiao Rangchen immediately turned his face away.
Lou Yue laughed again, her eyes curved into bright, happy crescents.
Xiao Rangchen's arms around her waist tightened abruptly, pulling her flush against his body. The look in his eyes was deep as a dark, still pool, yet burning with scorching, unignorable heat.
"Three days," he said firmly, enunciating every single word clearly.
"I can wait."
