Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 57: The Business Saintess's Ambition

"Ah Han, what's wrong? Is the tea not to your liking?"

"N-nothing... My leg just fell asleep from sitting for so long."

Pei Yuhang replied to Liyuan with feigned ease, then silently used the hem of his loose white robes to cover Shang Miaoyan's mischievous foot, which was stretching out from across the table.

After the white hem blocked her foot, its owner grew even more brazen.

And without the fabric in the way, the cool, smooth sensation of the silk stocking pressed clearly against Pei Yuhang's calf.

Pei Yuhang lifted his teacup to hide his embarrassment, then secretly sent a Divine Sense transmission to Shang Miaoyan, warning the woman not to be so outrageous.

But he quickly discovered that Shang Miaoyan seemed to have deliberately shielded her Sea of Consciousness, preventing his Divine Sense from reaching her at all.

'How dare she do this in front of Liyuan... Her personality is as vile as ever!'

Pei Yuhang gritted his teeth and clamped his legs together, trapping her restless ones.

With her legs pinned, Shang Miaoyan didn't struggle. After all, if she couldn't move her legs, she still had her toes.

'Anyway... I'll make Xiaohan show that "cute" expression eventually~!'

'Hmph, who told you to play along with Ye Liyuan in that nauseatingly sweet Dao Companion drama just now? This is my, the Saintess's, punishment for you!'

'Of course, you could also call it a "reward," if that stubborn mule Xiaohan knew how to enjoy it~'

However, Shang Miaoyan could tell from the fire practically shooting out of Pei Yuhang's eyes that this stubborn mule was not someone who knew how to enjoy life.

'Tch, what an idiot.'

Shang Miaoyan curled her lip, withdrew her subtle gaze from Pei Yuhang, and continued to play the role of a "poor baby deceived and robbed by a scumbag" for Ye Liyuan.

She rested her head in "Mama" Ye Liyuan's embrace, whimpering and begging for comfort.

Her maternal instincts flaring, "Mama" Ye Liyuan gently stroked "baby" Shang Miaoyan's hair, patiently consoling her.

"Fellow Daoist Shui'Er, your Great Dao is still long. You will surely meet a good man in the future. Don't get stuck on this."

Ye Liyuan sighed in her heart.

'Sigh, so this is how painful it is to go through a failed relationship.'

At this thought, she touched the Dao Companion Engagement Ring on her finger, the one Pei Yuhang had placed there himself.

For some reason, her heart filled with boundless, warm happiness, as well as a shudder of fearful relief.

'Thank goodness, Ah Han and I haven't experienced such setbacks. The Celestial Dao has truly blessed us.'

With her mind in turmoil, Ye Liyuan was completely oblivious to Shang Miaoyan's bold little movements hidden under the table.

Nor did she notice that her Ah Han's face was flushed, with fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead—a sign that the Evil Yang Fire was beginning to fester.

From an angle Ye Liyuan couldn't see, the corner of Shang Miaoyan's mouth curled into a mocking smile.

'Sister Ye, you must be feeling quite smug right now, hmm? Does seeing another woman's tragic love life make you feel even happier?'

'Are you just dying to proudly show off your wonderful Dao Companion to poor "Fellow Daoist Shui'Er"—the one who's so handsome he looks like a banished immortal, with a boundless future ahead, who will never, ever leave you?'

'Hee hee~'

'Too bad, Sister Ye, you've always just been an outsider, kept in the dark.'

'Only I, Shang Miaoyan, am the woman who has had all of him.'

'Cherish your time with Xiaohan, because you don't have much of it left, Sister Ye~'

'When Xiaohan realizes he can no longer live without Miaoyan, that's when he'll leave you.'

...

"Little Sister Shui'Er, you're leaving already?"

"Yes, Sister Ye. Shui'Er won't disturb you any longer. I should go back and report to Master Fan Ya."

"And Fellow Daoist Pei~ Next time Shui'Er visits, I'll be sure to make up for this time's welcome gift."

As Shang Miaoyan spoke, she took advantage of Ye Liyuan's inattention to give Pei Yuhang a playful wink.

"...Heh, Business Saintess, if you have nothing better to do, you should focus more on your own cultivation.

"Visiting me is not an important matter."

Behind Ye Liyuan's back, Pei Yuhang's gaze toward Shang Miaoyan was filled with killing intent. He spoke through gritted teeth, wishing he could spit Sword Qi on the spot and sever the head of this bewitching Demon Path Saintess who captivated all living things.

Fortunately, Ye Liyuan was under the effect of a Silence Talisman at that moment, so she didn't hear Pei Yuhang's stern warning to Shang Miaoyan.

From her perspective, Little Sister Shui'Er was just politely greeting Ah Han, but Ah Han had merely given a cold, perfunctory nod.

'But that can't be helped. After all, Ah Han only shows his gentle side to me, right?'

'When faced with other female cultivators, Ah Han has always been this stern and ruthless.'

'I hope Little Sister Shui'Er doesn't mind~'

After the three of them exchanged a few last pleasantries, Shang Miaoyan gave a beaming wave to Ye Liyuan—or perhaps, to Pei Yuhang behind her.

And, completely unnoticed by Ye Liyuan, she secretly sent a Divine Sense transmission.

[Xiaohan, from now on, I want you to come to my residence every night and give Miaoyan a goodnight kiss~]

[In your dreams.]

[This is a task Miaoyan is giving you. I'm not negotiating with you, Xiaohan.]

Shang Miaoyan gave a mischievous smile and, without giving Pei Yuhang a chance to reply, immediately flew off into the sky using Sword Control.

"..."

Pei Yuhang watched Shang Miaoyan's figure gradually fly toward the clouds until she became a tiny dot and disappeared. He felt a sense of relief, but also a deep unease.

Shang Miaoyan had successfully infiltrated his home this time. Although she had taken advantage of him quite a bit and her wicked sense of humor had led to Liyuan being mocked without her knowledge, it had ultimately been a close call without any irreparable mistakes.

'But... what am I going to do now?'

'Right now, Liyuan is naively treating this Witch as her close confidante. That wicked woman definitely won't stop after just one visit. She'll be back for sure.'

'And she even had the nerve to give me such a perverse task all on her own...'

Just as Pei Yuhang was staring at the clouds in deep thought, two small hands suddenly clapped in front of his eyes with a sharp SNAP.

"Still looking, are you! Little Sister Shui'Er has already flown so far you can't even see her shadow!"

Pei Yuhang snapped back to reality and was met with his Dao Companion's cute, puffed-up cheeks, swollen with jealous dissatisfaction.

He heard Ye Liyuan huff, then she poked his chest with a slender, pale finger and grumbled, "At your speed, you could still catch up to her with Sword Control. Go on, hurry up!"

How could the White-clothed Sword Immortal not know his Dao Companion was consumed by jealousy? He quickly rubbed her puffed-up little cheeks and said:

"Liyuan, you've misunderstood... I was just lost in thought."

Ye Liyuan didn't slap away the large hand that was carelessly kneading her face. She said softly, "I know."

"I was just joking with you, Ah Han. Why are you being so serious?"

With that, Ye Liyuan made a small fist and, giggling, tapped lightly on Pei Yuhang's chest.

"Ah Han, you don't really think I'd suspect you of falling for another Fairy, do you? Hahaha~"

As Ye Liyuan giggled, she suddenly felt her body tighten as Pei Yuhang pulled her into his warm embrace.

"Liyuan, you are my only Dao Companion."

Feeling Pei Yuhang's warm breath by her ear, Ye Liyuan felt her heart become calmer than it had ever been before.

She nestled in Pei Yuhang's arms, her voice barely a whisper.

"I know."