Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 43: Peng Sword Immortal's Memoir 3: Miaoyan's Ring

Spring gave way to autumn.

Before he knew it, Pei Yuhang had already been in the Yin Yang Dao Sect for six years.

Nourished by Spiritual Qi, his features hadn't changed a bit from years past. He remained a handsome young man.

His fingertips caressed the ring engraved with "Lin" as he gazed silently in the direction of Lishui Village.

'Three years, and then another three. When will I ever be able to go back…'

Dressed in purple, the young maid Fan Xuan clicked her tongue in annoyance. Every day at this time, Pei Yuhang would stand outside the hall, playing the part of a pining husband turned to stone.

When the handsome young man lowered his head and began caressing that damn ring of his again, she finally couldn't take it anymore.

"Hey! What's so bad about the Saintess Hall? It's way better than that backwater village of yours, isn't it?"

"So what if your wife from the Mortal World was beautiful? Could she possibly be more beautiful than the Holy Daughter? It's been so many years. Given a mortal's lifespan, she must be an old woman by now!

She's probably… probably not even as pretty as me anymore…"

But Pei Yuhang didn't so much as turn to look at her. It was as if, in his world, Fan Xuan simply did not exist.

He continued to stare at the ring in his hand, lost in a daze.

Feeling ignored, Fan Xuan's chest tightened. She subconsciously stomped her foot a few times, treating the stone tiles as if they were Pei Yuhang himself.

Perhaps even she hadn't realized it, but the real reason she always sought out Pei Yuhang was simply to catch his attention and speak with him a little more…

"Hmph, you idiot!"

Fan Xuan muttered a sour curse, then turned and left.

Just then, Fan Ya was walking out of the hall, carrying a tray of delicate pastries.

Seeing her sister approach with a sullen look, she frowned slightly.

"Xiaoxuan, were you talking to Young Master Pei again?"

'Talk? That blockhead ignored me again…'

Fan Xuan felt wronged, but she forced a bratty expression onto her face.

"Sister, I just think that Pei Yuhang is completely ungrateful! He belongs to the Holy Daughter, yet his mind is always on some low-born country woman from the Mortal World.

A man graced by the Holy Daughter's favor should be completely devoted to her! He's being so disloyal. It makes me furious just looking at him, so I had to go tell him off…"

Fan Ya, whose cunning far surpassed that of her ever-immature sister, could see right through her. How could she not?

She placed a hand on Fan Xuan's shoulder and said coldly, "Xiaoxuan, I will speak with the Holy Daughter. From this day forward, you will no longer be needed to attend to Young Master Pei's daily needs.

In fact, you need not come to the inner sanctum at all. Just stay obediently in the outer hall."

Hearing this, Fan Xuan's face went pale. She grabbed her sister's sleeve, her voice frantic. "Why? Sister, you know I admire the Holy Daughter more than anyone! You can't take away my chance to serve her!"

Fan Ya flung her sleeve free, her normally gentle eyes flashing with a bone-chilling cold.

"You foolish girl! Is it the Holy Daughter you want to serve, or the Holy Daughter's man?!"

Fan Xuan's body trembled at her sister's words. "No, that's not it!" she said reflexively. "How could I possibly have designs on something that belongs to Her Highness…"

Seeing her sister's distraught expression, Fan Ya's face softened. She gently patted Fan Xuan's shoulder and straightened her slightly disheveled collar.

"Xiaoxuan, one must learn to be content. It is already a tremendous blessing to serve the Holy Daughter in the Saintess Hall. Do not be greedy. What is meant to be yours, you will receive. And you know you can never have what isn't.

Wanting too much can be fatal. I don't want to see you go down that path."

At these words, Fan Xuan forced a smile onto her stiff, pretty face.

"Don't worry, Sister. I would never betray the Holy Daughter."

......

「Night.」

Pei Yuhang stood bathed in the moonlight, his gaze once again fixed on the direction of Lishui Village.

A gentle breeze drifted by, carrying a familiar, fragrant floral scent to his nose.

He didn't need to guess who had arrived.

"Thinking about that woman again? Honestly. You're in my residence, yet you spend all day thinking about someone else.

Even one as magnanimous as Miaoyan can't help but feel a little spark of jealousy, you know."

Two cool, slender arms, pale as jade lotus roots, wrapped around Pei Yuhang's neck. A hot, sweet breath tickled his ear, an unbearable itch like a tiny insect crawling inside.

A shiver wracked Pei Yuhang's body as if he'd been shocked. He could feel his heart hammering in his chest, and the wariness in his eyes intensified.

'This Witch… Her Charm Technique is getting stronger and stronger.'

'If this keeps up, something bad is going to happen.'

'I have to find a way to be alone with her less often.'

Pei Yuhang bit the tip of his tongue, using the sharp pain to clear his mind.

He stood up, batting away the two pale arms, and said coolly,

"Holy Daughter, I am a bit weary and wish to rest. I'll take my leave."

Pei Yuhang turned to leave, but a soft, small hand caught his arm. To his surprise, he found himself utterly unable to break free.

"Xiaohan, are you avoiding me?"

"Why would you say that, Holy Daughter?"

"Because Xiaohan's heart is beating so very fast."

Shang Miaoyan stood up. Then, to Pei Yuhang's astonishment, she tilted her head and pressed her ear against his chest.

THUMP-THUMP—THUMP-THUMP—

The powerful, steady beat of his heart transmitted clearly into her ear.

The vigorous vitality emanating from him, his pleasant yet indescribable scent—it was all like a fine wine growing richer with age, and a look of intoxication filled Shang Miaoyan's eyes.

Although Pei Yuhang wasn't a large man, he gave her an inexplicable sense of security.

Meanwhile, Pei Yuhang could smell the fragrance of Shang Miaoyan's hair. As he looked down at the pretty face pressed tightly to his chest, his own breathing grew heavy.

He felt as if his blood were on fire. His body was like a furnace, unbearably hot and stuffy.

Before he lost control, Pei Yuhang pushed Shang Miaoyan away. His voice was raw as he said,

"Don't… get so close to me."

A triumphant smile played on Shang Miaoyan's lips.

"Xiaohan, do you find me beautiful right now?"

"What are you talking about…"

"Then why don't you dare look at me?"

"There's nothing to look at… Enough. I don't want to talk to you anymore. I'm tired, just let me go rest."

Pei Yuhang hunched over slightly, trying to compose himself, but he couldn't hide the wretched look in his eyes.

He just wanted to get out of there. Immediately.

But Shang Miaoyan, this cruel woman, was determined to expose the vulnerability he was so desperate to hide.

"Xiaohan, you're very drawn to me, aren't you?"

Like a puppy whose tail had been stepped on, Pei Yuhang reflexively shot back, "It's just the Yang Poison from the Giant Sun Saint Body acting up!"

"Then why does the Yang Poison only flare up when you're facing me? You don't feel anything for that little slip of a girl, Fan Xuan, do you? Is it because I'm your ideal type?"

Shang Miaoyan advanced on him, step by step, forcing Pei Yuhang to back away until he was trapped in a corner with nowhere to run.

"Nonsense… It's all because you used your Charm Technique on me!"

Shang Miaoyan slyly ignored his question. She placed a finger on his chest and began slowly tracing circles.

It tickled, yet it was also incredibly pleasant. Pei Yuhang felt like a dog reveling in its owner's touch.

"The body doesn't lie."

"Xiaohan, I see you're always staring so foolishly at that ring… Since you like rings so much, why don't I give you one, too?"

"A unique ring. One of a kind."

As she spoke, she lifted his finger.

The pink tip of her tongue darted out to lick her cute, silver-white canine teeth, making her look like a wolf about to tear a fragile little lamb to pieces.