Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 178 - 177: Liyuan, I Will Love You Forever

"Ah Han, do you still remember Fellow Daoist Shui'Er?"

Pei Yuhang froze, the hand holding the spoon to feed his Dao Companion halting in mid-air.

'Fellow Daoist Shui'Er? The fake identity Shang Miaoyan used to deceive my Dao Companion? How could I forget!'

A flicker of emotion crossed Pei Yuhang's eyes. He gently placed the spoon between his Dao Companion's parted, cherry-red lips, slowly feeding her the Ten-Complete Yin Replenishing Soup. Then, he asked:

"Liyuan, why are you suddenly bringing her up?"

Ye Liyuan licked the milky-white soup from the corner of her lips and said, "I just suddenly thought of Fellow Daoist Shui'Er, and I'm a little worried, that's all.

Fellow Daoist Shui'Er told me before that she was going into seclusion to attempt a breakthrough. I haven't seen her for so many days now, and there's been no news. I'm worried she might have run into some kind of trouble."

Ye Liyuan's concern was not unfounded. After all, a Cultivator's seclusion isn't always smooth sailing. Many a fellow daoist had entered seclusion only to encounter a problem with their cultivation, and then... they were simply gone.

Shui'Er was the first real friend Ye Liyuan had made while she was recovering from her serious injuries, so she was naturally very concerned about her.

Pei Yuhang saw the anxiety in his Dao Companion's eyes. As much as he wished that woman, Shang Miaoyan, would never wake up from her seclusion, he could only suppress his true feelings and comfort his Dao Companion.

"Don't worry, Liyuan. The Celestial Dao always favors the kind and meritorious. A good woman as kind and pure as Fellow Daoist Shui'Er will definitely emerge from her seclusion successfully and walk even further on the path of the Dao."

"Yes! That's what I was thinking too."

Ye Liyuan smiled at Pei Yuhang. Her sweet expression was like a blooming Celestial Snow Lotus, containing all the beauty in the world, and it washed over Pei Yuhang with a soothing warmth.

Pei Yuhang couldn't help but lower his head to kiss her. Ye Liyuan shot him a bashful glare, muttering softly, "You lecher, Ah Han," before closing her eyes.

Just as the two Dao Companions were about to kiss,

BUZZ—BUZZ—

The urgent ringing of a Transmission Token shattered the tranquil, intimate atmosphere.

Pei Yuhang's face fell. Seeing this, Ye Liyuan let out a giggle.

"Go on, answer your Transmission Token. Don't delay official business... We can always kiss later. I'm not going to run off, you know~"

His Dao Companion's comforting words eased his frustration somewhat. He answered the Transmission Token, but upon hearing the voice on the other end, a sense of foreboding washed over him.

[Palace Master Pei, long time no talk! Hahaha~]

'It's that pimp, Elder Liu!'

"Elder Liu, what is it this time?"

Pei Yuhang's heart sank. He had a feeling he already knew what Elder Liu was about to say.

[Ahem, the Saintess of the Yin Yang Sacred Land is coming to our Xuanyuan Dao Sect for a friendly visit. Because Saint Son Chen Tiansheng is in seclusion, he cannot represent our Dao Sect in welcoming our distinguished guest.]

[So the Sect Leader has decided to have you, Palace Master Pei, go and receive her instead...]

Pei Yuhang's last shred of hope died.

'I knew it. Nothing good ever comes from that pimp Elder Liu contacting me!'

Pei Yuhang glanced at his pure, beautiful Dao Companion out of the corner of his eye and decided to make one last attempt to refuse.

"My apologies, Elder Liu, but I was planning to enter seclusion tomorrow. I really don't have the time to receive the distinguished guest from the Yin Yang Sacred Land. Perhaps you could ask one of the Sect's other talented individuals."

[You're entering seclusion tomorrow, Palace Master Pei?]

"That's right. I've already determined that tomorrow is an auspicious day for seclusion, and the Array is even prepared. It absolutely cannot be delayed."

Pei Yuhang decided that no matter what Elder Liu said this time, he would not go.

'That way, if Shang Miaoyan tries to come looking for me with improper intentions, I can use my seclusion as an excuse to avoid her.'

To this, Elder Liu's reply was—

[This is wonderful, Palace Master Pei! It must be fate! Your timing is perfect.]

"What do you mean?"

[The Holy Daughter Mission from the Yin Yang Sacred Land will be arriving very soon. Since you aren't entering seclusion until tomorrow, you're perfectly free to receive the Saintess today. Isn't that just a perfect twist of fate?]

[Palace Master Pei, the Sect Leader is placing great importance on this friendly visit between our two Major Sects. It's already regrettable enough that our Dao Sect's Saint Son is unable to personally greet them because he's in seclusion. You absolutely must go!]

Pei Yuhang: "..."

The Transmission Token went silent. His Dao Companion's gentle voice sounded from beside him.

"Ah Han, what's wrong?"

"The Sect has assigned me a task... to, to go and welcome the Holy Daughter Mission from the Yin Yang Sacred Land."

"The Saintess of the Yin Yang Sacred Land is coming to our Xuanyuan Dao Sect?"

Ye Liyuan cried out in surprise. She had long heard whispers of a strategic alliance between the Xuanyuan Dao Sect and the Yin Yang Sacred Land, but she never imagined that the two Major Sects—one righteous, one demonic, once as incompatible as fire and water—could have allied so closely.

For a Sect's Saintess to come in person was a gesture second in significance only to a visit from a Sect Leader. The sincerity behind such a move was obvious.

And for the Sect Leader to task Ah Han with welcoming the distinguished guest at such a high-profile diplomatic ceremony—

"This is wonderful news, Ah Han!"

"This shows that the Sect Leader thinks very highly of you! This is wonderful!"

Ye Liyuan was overjoyed at the prospect of Pei Yuhang's bright future. Despite her usually reserved and proud nature, she was so excited she jumped up and threw her arms around Ah Han.

Watching his joyous Dao Companion, Pei Yuhang only felt a deeper bitterness in his heart.

It was like having half a bitter melon stuck in his throat; every breath tasted bitter, and swallowing would be even more so.

But he knew he couldn't blame Liyuan for not understanding. Her happiness right now was purely for his sake...

Pei Yuhang didn't want to spoil his Dao Companion's mood. If he could, he would protect this precious innocence of Liyuan's forever.

He stroked Liyuan's hair and said with a laugh, "That's right, the Sect Leader thinks so highly of me. I guess Liyuan will have to work even harder to serve me from now on. If you don't, and I get upset, I might just go find some other Fairies!"

"How dare you! You rotten Ah Han, give you an inch and you'll take a mile! Eat my foot!"

Ye Liyuan laughed and wrestled playfully with Pei Yuhang, but mindful that Ah Han had to leave soon to welcome the distinguished guest, she didn't dare delay him for too long.

She pulled out a selection of fine robes and exquisite accessories from the wardrobe and began to dress Pei Yuhang.

"Liyuan, you don't have to go to all this trouble. What I'm wearing is fine..."

"No way. You must be dressed impeccably today. Ah Han has to show them the magnificent bearing of one of our Dao Sect's finest talents!"

Ye Liyuan draped a white brocade robe, embroidered with patterns of gold thread, over Pei Yuhang's shoulders, then personally fastened the Jade Waistband for him.

Watching his Dao Companion fussing over him, Pei Yuhang felt a sharp pang of guilt, feeling she deserved so much better.

The thought that all the care his Dao Companion was putting into his appearance would end with Shang Miaoyan carelessly tearing the robes from his body only deepened Pei Yuhang's guilt.

Pei Yuhang bent down, wrapped his arms around Ye Liyuan's waist, and breathed softly against her earlobe.

"Liyuan, I'll love you forever."

'For you, I'll risk everything this time. I won't let that Female Demon have her way.'

Pei Yuhang silently made a vow of pure devotion.

"Honestly... why are you saying that all of a sudden?"

Ye Liyuan felt a tickle from Pei Yuhang's breath on her ear, and her face instantly flushed.

But despite her shyness, she still said, "I... I'll love Ah Han forever, too."