"You have truly grown up, huh?"
Liu Xi murmured softly. The warmth and softness in his embrace carried a faint fragrance, but what struck him most was how much Qing Lin had developed—every curve had matured perfectly in all the places that tempted him most. Holding her now made it almost impossible to let go.
At this moment, Qing Lin clung tightly around Liu Xi's waist, pressing herself against him as though she wanted to melt entirely into his body. The bustling noise of the outside world no longer mattered to her. If this was a dream, she didn't want to wake; if it was real, she wished this moment could last forever.
"Young Master, I missed you so much… I've missed you for nearly ten years."
A deep tenderness flickered in Liu Xi's eyes. One arm wrapped around her slender waist while the other rested on the back of her head; his chin gently touched her hair as he whispered, "I'm sorry it took so long to come find you. But now, no one can take you away from me again."
"Mm." Qing Lin responded softly.
Down on the street, the crowd that had first frozen in stunned silence now boiled over with emotion. Their pure, noble Saintess—suddenly throwing herself into another's arms—left countless hearts shattering in disbelief. The loyal knights, elders, and stewards of the Sky Serpent Mansion stood dumbfounded. Their revered Saintess had embraced a man before their eyes, and they didn't know whether to rebuke or to bless.
As for Xiao Yixian, her calm eyes watched the scene silently. The saintly woman before her was undeniably beautiful, her figure even surpassing her own, exuding a charm that seemed born of nature itself. She couldn't help thinking: 'So that's the one he truly cares for. Still… some things are worth fighting for.'
Zi Yan, on the other hand, furrowed her brows, then simply took another massive bite of the bear paw in her hands—one almost as big as her head. 'Hm. This is actually pretty good. I'll have to get more next time.'
After a while, Liu Xi loosened his embrace. Sensing the movement, Qing Lin reluctantly withdrew, her gaze filled with reluctant affection before finally turning toward Xiao Yixian and Zi Yan.
Her bright eyes showed a trace of surprise. Xiao Yixian's gentle face carried a serene smile; even after watching Qing Lin embrace Liu Xi, her calm demeanor didn't falter. She had the kind of soft grace that lingered in the heart long after one looked away. As for Zi Yan… well, the little glutton gnawing on her food didn't seem like a threat to anyone.
"Ahem."
Liu Xi cleared his throat to break the silence—it was clearly on him, as the man, to defuse the awkwardness. "This is Qing Lin, the maid I once took in. Later, she entered the Sky Serpent Mansion to cultivate. I came to the Sky Serpent Empire this time to bring her back with me."
Xiao Yixian nodded lightly, stood up, and spoke first. "Hello, Sister Qing Lin."
Zi Yan swallowed the meat in her mouth and followed, speaking seriously, "Hello Little Sister Qing Lin, You can call me Big Sister Zi Yan."
"…Huh?"
Liu Xi nearly sweat-dropped. Xiao Yixian being called 'sister' made sense—she was indeed a few years older. But Zi Yan? The little dragon girl saying 'Little Sister Qing Lin' was downright strange. Then again, if one counted her real age as a magical beast… she was still practically a child.
Qing Lin smiled faintly, and with that smile her natural charm bloomed even stronger. She waited for Liu Xi's introduction.
"This is Xiao Yixian—calling her Sister Xian'er is right. And this is Zi Yan. She's a magical beast, so don't look at her with human conventions. Everyone's… different."
Qing Lin nodded softly, first looking toward the gentle Xiao Yixian. "Even if Young Master says otherwise, I'll still listen. Sister Xian'er."
"Mm, Sister Qing Lin."
Their voices were calm and warm, the tension between them quietly dissolving.
Then Qing Lin turned toward Zi Yan—the little one with oil on her cheeks from eating—and said with a faint smile, "Sister Zi Yan, how about this? Let's each call the other 'little sister.' That way, it's fair."
Zi Yan blinked, then grinned and nodded.
Liu Xi chuckled, guiding Qing Lin back to her seat. "No need to be so formal. Just call each other by name. We're all one family now—no need to be restrained."
Qing Lin smiled and sat obediently beside him. She didn't question the two other women's existence; she simply accepted it.
'Young Master deserves everything. Whether it's me or the others, as long as it's what he desires, it should belong to him. All I want… is to stay by his side.'
The atmosphere around the table softened, and Liu Xi felt a quiet relief. With a playful glint in his eyes, he teased, "I'd heard the Sky Serpent Saintess was cold and ruthless, decisive in her killing. I didn't think that matched your personality—but perhaps it's better this way. At least you won't be bullied."
Qing Lin grew anxious for a moment, afraid he would dislike her because of it. But when she saw the warmth in his gaze, she relaxed. For her, Liu Xi was the only light in a dark world. He had given her meaning, and to her, no one else mattered.
"Young Master once told me to protect myself. Aside from you, there's no one in this world who can bully me."
Qing Lin met Liu Xi's eyes directly, her gaze burning with love. Years hadn't dimmed her feelings; they had only deepened them. What had begun as longing had grown into devotion, and now she was ready to give him everything.
Liu Xi's heart stirred as her words sank in, the heat in his chest rising dangerously—but with strong willpower, he forced his thoughts back down. 'Later tonight,' he told himself.
He smiled gently. "That's good. Otherwise, I'd have had to visit the Sky Serpent Mansion myself to… reason with them."
Qing Lin shook her head quickly, smiling sweetly. "No need. Qing Lin has nothing left here. I'll follow Young Master wherever he goes."
"Then all right," Liu Xi replied softly. "Still, out of courtesy, we'll pay the Mansion Lord a brief visit. The Sky Serpent Mansion did raise and teach you, after all. They've earned at least that much respect."
His tone was calm, but underneath lay an unmistakable authority. Once, the Sky Serpent Mansion had been a colossal power in his eyes. Now, it couldn't defy his will even if it wished to.
He was a reasonable man—but if reason failed, there was always the path of force.
(End of Chapter)
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