Chapter 9: Gently pulling her into his arms
From the time Sang Ying could remember, her father was always very busy.
As the head of a sect, he had many things to do every day, and countless people always surrounded the hall. Young and old faces came and went, but Sang Ying didn't recognize any of them.
Sang Jingming forbade her to appear in front of these people, and also forbade her to go out and go down the mountain.
The flowerbed in the small courtyard was where she spent the most time each day, followed by the small swing, where the talismanic person in charge of taking care of her would push her around.
Occasionally, when Sang Jingming finished his work and came to see her, Sang Ying would always hold a small pink flower shovel in her little hand, shovel flower mud at him, and angrily call him a nasty devil.
He wasn't annoyed. With a smile, he picked her up and tucked a small flower into her hair. "If you read this storybook to our Little Firefly King today, will you forgive me this time?"
Sang Ying huffed, "We haven't finished with the last one yet! Read two more!"
When she grew a little older, when she was seven, Sang Jingming brought two boys back from the foot of the mountain. He put his hand on her shoulder and said, "From now on, these two will be your senior brothers, and they will live on the mountain from now on."
The two senior brothers had completely opposite personalities. The eldest brother was a bit older, gentle and steady. He took good care of Sang Ying, sewing her clothes, combing her hair, and cooking delicious food for her. However, she was weak, so he never let her indulge in anything.
The second senior brother, on the other hand, was like a flirtatious butterfly, carefree and irresponsible, teasing her by pulling her pigtails.
They weren't restricted from going down the mountain. Every time the second senior brother went down the mountain, he would bring back novel little gadgets and deliberately play with them in front of her. He would leisurely watch her, her cheek resting on his hand, as she looked on with longing but pretended not to be interested. After teasing her enough, he would let her play with them.
Sang Ying was overjoyed to finally have a playmate and didn't notice that Sang Jingming was spending less and less time with her and was getting busier and busier.
When she was twelve years old, Sang Ying did something big. While Sang Jingming was not on the mountain, she used a talisman she drew herself to break the formation and secretly ran down the mountain by herself.
When her two senior brothers found out, they were frantic. Sang Jingming, who was away on business, also dropped everything and rushed back. While a group of people were searching for her all over the world, Sang Ying returned unharmed.
It wasn't exactly intact.
She was covered in dirt, her face pale and her head sweating profusely. Behind her, she half-dragged and half-carried a blood-covered, unconscious boy. The small body was pressed beneath her as she slowly made her way up the stairs.
She looked up, her hair damp with sweat, but her eyes sparkling. "Look, I've picked up a little helper who serves tea and water! I've decided to call him Little Tail. Dad, look, he really does have a little tail!"
They were all both angry and helpless.
However, fate had other plans, and this younger brother later became her senior brother. Sang Ying harbored resentment about this; he was clearly a newcomer, so why was he given the upper hand over her?
The second senior brother took a bite of braised duck neck and jokingly encouraged her, "If you fight him, you'll naturally become the senior sister."
Sang Ying glanced at him, grabbed a duck neck, and shouted, "Dad—Second Brother, give me some garbage from down the mountain—" "Hey, hey, hey, Ancestor, don't shout like that! I was wrong!"
Although the little brother he picked up had become his senior brother, Sang Ying still ordered him around as he pleased. Every day after school, he would carry him up the mountain, catch spirit fish in the back mountain, and then use his sword to grill the fish. If the fish got burnt, he would throw them all to Sang Ying to eat.
...
At fifteen, on an ordinary evening, Sang Ying learned of a death—that of Sang Jingming.
The person who informed her of the news was the leader of the Immortal Alliance, a kind old man. Sang Jingming had introduced her to him once and told her to call him Grandpa Bai.
Grandpa Bai told her that Sang Jingming died from the forty-nine tribulations of cultivators, which is a heavenly tribulation. Every cultivator with high cultivation in the cultivation world will face this tribulation. He told her not to be too sad and to go back to the Immortal Alliance with him first.
Sang Ying asked: If your cultivation level is high, why would you die?
Grandpa Bai fell silent.
But after a while, he said again: "Xiaoying, you are a smart child. Would you watch your father's hard work over the years be taken away by others, and become someone else's tool yourself?"
Sang Ying understood: after Sang Jingming's death, she was the sole heir.
Whoever marries her will be the rightful and legitimate leader of the number one sect in the world, the Wuwen Sect.
As expected, the day after news of Sang Jingming's death spread, suitors surrounded the Immortal Alliance, blocking the way completely.
Taking advantage of Sang Jingming's death and the lack of corroboration, everyone claimed that the marriage had already been arranged and urged the Immortal Alliance to release the person immediately, or else they would not be polite.
Grandpa Bai entered the closed room and placed down a deed of abdication and a gold-embossed marriage certificate.
He sighed and said softly, "Grandpa Bai is old and can't protect you for the rest of your life. These are what he's leaving for you. Jingming once told me that he only hopes you can live a peaceful and happy life, unaffected by these worldly entanglements. He's saved a lot of money with Grandpa Bai over the years, enough for you to live a carefree life. After the storm passes, I'll send you to Penglai; everything has been arranged there."
Sang Ying: Give me the money. And that's all he said?
Grandpa Bai shook his head.
Sang Ying picked up the abdication contract and tore it into pieces.
She picked up the marriage certificate again, looked at the wedding vows that Sang Jingming had written in front of her a few days ago, and after a long time, she finally signed her name.
Sang Ying said: It's noisy outside. Let them be quiet for a while. I can't hear my dad scolding me anymore.
No one knows what Grandpa Bai did, but two days later, the commotion within the Wuwen Sect subsided.
The sect leader's son is still young, and the Grand Elder, being kind and benevolent, has temporarily assumed the position of sect leader to handle sect affairs.
Before Sang Jingming's seven-day mourning period had even passed, Sang Ying got married.
The wedding was a grand affair, happening everywhere.
The entire Immortal Alliance sent out disciples to escort the wedding. Sang Jingming's old friends, the bigwigs of several long-retired forces, and the Immortal Alliance leader stayed close behind the palanquin, overseeing the procession. At the wedding, the Grand Elder of the Wuwen Sect also presented a congratulatory gift.
Those on the outside watched from afar, amidst a flurry of rumors, yet none dared to make a move.
Outside the door, joyful music and lively sounds filled the air.
Inside the door, all was silent, the red candles dim.
Sang Ying sat on the couch, her icy fingers gripping the fan tightly, her nails digging into her palms without her noticing.
Despite her desperate attempts to hold back her tears, her lips biting until they turned white, large tears still streamed down her face uncontrollably, landing on the ceremonial fan. The auspicious dragon and phoenix cloud patterns were soaked and blurred into a jumbled mess before her eyes.
The fan was gently pulled away.
The red veil was lifted, revealing the white flowers in her hair.
Sang Ying raised her head, and through her blurry, tear-filled eyes, she saw a boy dressed in red.
He leaned down and gently pulled her into his arms, holding her as if she were a fragile treasure, his voice very soft.
"Junior sister, cry."
...
Perhaps it was because the boy's embrace was too warm, or perhaps it was because his voice was so gentle that it made people let their guard down, but Sang Ying remembered that night when she threw herself into his arms, clutching the hem of her clothes tightly, and bursting into tears.
Finally, nestled in his arms, she fell asleep without realizing it.
Sang Ying recalled how pitifully she had cried in front of him, and her ears burned slightly. She looked away and said casually, "I know, it's only half an hour, I'll hug you."
She tugged at her sleeves, mentally preparing herself, then grabbed his arm and pulled him into her arms like she was holding a child, cradling the boy's head against her shoulder.
Is this okay?
Xie Lingyu: "..."
Noticing his strange silence, Sang Ying kindly asked, "What's wrong? Tell me if you have a problem."
The young man asked in a calm tone, "Junior sister, don't your arms get tired?"
Although he had shrunk in size and changed from a young man to a teenager, he was still much bigger than Sang Ying. Holding Sang Ying like this required him to lift his arms, and his shoulders were a little sore from being pressed down by his head.
She nodded honestly: "A little."
The young man sighed almost imperceptibly, straightened up, grabbed her wrist with his other hand and pulled her towards him, and Sang Ying gently leaned into his arms.
The cool, familiar scent of sandalwood wafted over, and Sang Ying's small face pressed against his chest, as if trapped in this little world, her whole body stiffening.
She said dryly, "Well, actually I don't think my arms are that sore..."
"But I'm a little tired."
Sang Ying paused in her speech.
The night was quiet, and the boy's clear voice had become a little hoarse, sounding rustling and itchy in my ears. "I chased the criminal all day today. Several demons self-destructed, and I was injured. I can't recover properly with my breathing in that position, Junior Sister."
Left on a table, with the bed curtains drawn so nothing could be seen, but Little Fatty Dragon, who was trying his best to eavesdrop, was like: ?
Boss, those demons didn't even touch the hem of your clothes, did they?
Sang Ying suddenly realized why he hadn't gone to the tavern but had come to the inn to rest; he had been injured.
Back when they were still at Minghua Mountain, Xie Lingyu would get injured when he went down the mountain for training. At that time, he would never say anything, even though the wounds were so deep that the bone was visible, he would just say that it was nothing.
Yesterday was the same. On the way back from Wanbing Valley, she asked him if he was injured, but he wouldn't say.
This was the first time she had ever heard Xie Lingyu say such a thing. It made her feel like a fierce dog had suddenly shown its weakness and its wounds, and her heart softened instantly.
She immediately stopped moving and gently leaned against him. "Is this okay? Am I pressing down on you? Will it affect your breathing?"
Xie Lingyu was slightly taken aback, and looked down at the top of the girl's head in his arms.
He lowered his eyelashes slightly, concealing the emotions in his eyes. "No."
That's good, Sang Ying felt a little relieved.
"Speaking of which, don't you need to take medicine if you're injured? Maybe we should go see a healer..."
"Junior sister, here's the reward for this mission, and last month's salary."
The boy suddenly stuffed several storage rings into her hand, and Sang Ying's attention was immediately diverted. Remembering the matter of the Immortal Alliance, she said with dissatisfaction, "By the way, why did you ask those families for things in front of them in the hall today?"
Xie Lingyu paused, her eyelashes drooping slightly.
The girl suddenly poked his shoulder with a look of exasperation, pointing and saying, "Xie Lingyu, you're so stupid! How could you say something like this to my face? You should have sent a list to each family in private!"
"These wealthy and prestigious families certainly won't refuse to give them anything. Now there are five portions, right? This is a huge loss. Remember to give each family a portion next time, understand?"
Xie Lingyu: "...Understood."
Seeing that he had taken her words to heart, Sang Ying nodded in satisfaction. She counted out two hundred spirit stones from the two hundred thousand spirit stones, intending to give them to him, but then remembered that an inn cost two hundred a night, so she deducted fifty from that amount, giving him one hundred and fifty.
"Here you go, this is your allowance for this month."
"Too much?"
Sang Ying buried her face in his chest, hummed, and her hair covered her slightly red ears. "Since you've been behaving quite well lately, I'll give you a raise."
It's not because I'm happy about the hug! Absolutely not!
...
The night was quiet, and the cool moonlight filtered through the sheer bed curtains, casting faint outlines.
Warmed by the spiritual energy, Sang Ying's face was no longer pale, but had regained its color. Like a well-behaved little fox, she nestled in the boy's arms and fell into a deep sleep.
The person behind him lowered their eyelashes, their dark eyes swirling with a deep, brooding desire.
After a long silence, he slowly took her hand and lowered his head to place a deep kiss on her slender white wrist.
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