Eternal Love Within A Smile - Chapter 41
Chapter 41
“Back in the medicine room, when you broke into my dream claiming to be Xu Manman, I already had my doubts,” Langyin said in a low chuckle.
“Although your behavior back then was vastly different from Manman’s usual self, a few subtle habits betrayed your identity. Manman, to a flower demon, the faces of mortals all look similar; whatever form you take makes no difference to me. What I see and hear is the one and only Xu Manman. You unconsciously rub your chin when deep in thought, force a smile to cover your sadness, put on a righteous front when feeling guilty, and your gait and combat moves all clearly told me you were Xu Manman herself—there was no mistake. Were I not so certain, given my temperament, why would I protect you at every turn?”
Indeed, even the Immortal Lord himself possessed a cold and distant nature.
Even if it were to resurrect Xu Manman, he would not have been so thoroughly thoughtful for her sake at every step. Scenes flashed through Xu Manman’s mind.
Qunyu Fangzun gently making a request, only to be rejected without a shred of courtesy, yet whenever she herself asked for anything, the Immortal Lord never refused. He let her ride his floating leaf, took the initiative to accompany her down the well, gave her the Lianyue Crown, risked his life to save her at the Hall Of No Return, and led the charge at the Prince Mo’s Manor…
“You recognized me long ago…”
Xu Manman’s body stiffened, her heart a whirlwind of emotions—a bit moved, a bit shocked, and immensely embarrassed.
To think she had been putting on such a spirited act all along, believing her acting was flawless and immaculate, thinking the Immortal Lord was being so cooperative because of her glib tongue.
In reality, he had seen through her long ago, accommodating her simply because she was Xu Manman.
Xu Manman rasped weakly, accusing him, “Why didn’t you say anything all this time, just watching me play the fool and act in front of you?”
Langyin sneered.
“Heh, Xu Manman, shifting the blame again? Who was the one to deceive first? And why didn’t you reveal your identity to me?”
Xu Manman opened and closed her mouth, unable to utter a word.
“My silence was to see what you truly intended to do, and what secrets you were hiding—your origins, your purpose, and your… heart.”
The hand stroking her cheek rubbed gently, tracing down her slender neck to her throbbing heart. Half-closing his eyes, his thick lashes hid the darkness within, his voice low and heavy.
“Only later did I realize that in your heart, there was never a place for me. In your eyes, I was inferior to your beloved disciple Ning Xi, and even inferior to that brash beast Tuntian. You confessed your identity to them, yet kept it from me!”
“No!”
Xu Manman blurted out in denial, but meeting Langyin’s gaze, her confidence faltered.
“They figured it out on their own… I couldn’t really deny it…”
“Then who was it that tried to make a desperate last-ditch effort the moment she woke up, claiming she wasn’t Xu Manman?”
Langyin narrowed his cold eyes, pressing aggressively.
Xu Manman shrank her neck back, her eyes flickering.
“I know I was in the wrong, but the situation at Xianyun Hall back then forced me to hide my identity…”
Recalling the event, Langyin let out a cold laugh.
“Oh? Was it because of those romantic debts of yours?”
A flash of murderous intent swept through his eyes.
“A smelly fish and a foolish bird—how dare they call themselves your Dao companions? You accepted my Lianyue Crown, yet you dared to accept love tokens from others?”
“I didn’t!” Xu Manman flatly denied.
“I have nothing to do with them! I didn’t take those things voluntarily, they forced them onto me!”
Pinching her chin, Langyin sneered.
“The guiltier you feel, the more righteous you act. You acknowledged both of them under the identity of Xu Yanyue, calling them ‘little brother’ so affectionately. Now that your identity is exposed and you want to turn cold and disown them, do you think the Di Luan Clan will just let it rest?”
Thinking of the chaotic mess she had to face upon waking up, Xu Manman’s vision went dark.
Then she heard Langyin whisper through gritted teeth right by her ear.
“…Will I just let it rest?”
Her breath hitched. She shoved Langyin away abruptly and scrambled off the bed, her voice trembling.
“I… I think I hear Ning Xi calling me!”
Watching Xu Manman’s panicked, flustered, and disheveled back, Langyin was in no hurry to chase her. Smiling faintly, an unusual glint flashed in his dark eyes. Vines sprouted out of thin air, wrapping around Xu Manman’s soft, slender waist and dragging her back onto the bed.
The seemingly soft yet tough vines bound her hands as Langyin flipped over to pin her down.
“You provoked me first; isn’t it a bit too late to run now?”
Tender, cool leaves slipped under her skirt, wrapping around her smooth, long calves. Xu Manman’s body tensed up, and just as she was about to speak, her lips were sealed by Langyin once more.
He vented all the resentment he had suppressed for days, along with the desires sealed away for three hundred years, into this deep, lingering kiss.
The passionate hibiscus emitted an intense, rich fragrance that left one weak, soft, and surging with passion.
Pressing against her bright red, swollen lips, he panted in a raspy voice.
“Manman, do you truly not hold a single shred of affection for me?”
Right at that moment, a soft knocking came from outside the door.
“Immortal Lord, is Master awake? Is her body alright?” It was a worried Ning Xi outside.
Xu Manman’s eyes widened, her consciousness snapping back slightly, though her face remained heavily flushed.
The moment she opened her mouth, a sweet, raspy whimper spilled out.
Langyin’s desire-filled eyes darkened as his calm, indifferent voice rang out.
“Her body is fine. She is at a critical juncture of a breakthrough; no one is allowed to disturb her.”
With a voice so composed, no one could possibly imagine what he was doing while pinned on top of her.
Panting, Xu Manman bit her lower lip and glared at him weakly.
Langyin’s throat tightened. Leaning down to lick her swollen lips, he pressed against her and lowered his voice.
“Do you really want her to come in and see what her respected Master looks like right now?”
Then she might as well have died three times today…
She hadn’t even died this miserably at the Burning Heaven Division.
As soon as Langyin finished speaking, another voice rang out outside the room.
“The person inside right now is not Immortal Lord Langyin. He is half-demon, his origin remains unclear, and we cannot be certain if he is friend or foe. How can we let him remain alone with Lianyue Daozun?” The speaker was actually Li Que.
Xu Manman’s pupils shrank as she saw murderous intent flash across Langyin’s eyes.
She hurriedly pressed his shoulders, rasping.
“Don’t do anything reckless!”
Langyin said coldly.
“You feel sorry for him?”
Xu Manman replied, “The Di Luan Clan is the proudest of all; they avenge every grievance relentlessly.”
A smile floated into Langyin’s eyes as he kissed the tip of her nose in satisfaction.
“Then you feel sorry for me.”
Xu Manman: “…”
Mingxiao’s voice came from outside again.
“Young Master Li Que’s words are not without reason. Although Immortal Lord Langyin helped the Daoist Alliance slay the Fate-Defying Envoy, the behavior of the Demon Race is unpredictable. The Daozun has returned from the dead but fallen into a coma; the situation is unclear, so we must guard her carefully.”
Ning Xi said, “The Immortal Lord will not harm Master, everyone can rest assured.”
Xu Manman sighed internally—How could you say he won’t? I probably have bruises all over my body…
“I set up a barrier; they cannot break in,” Langyin said leisurely.
“Nor can they sense the aura inside.”
Xu Manman said in flustered annoyance.
“Is that the point? I need to go out and manage the overall situation!”
Langyin said.
“Though the other sect masters are useless, there is no rush for the moment.”
Just as Langyin spoke, hurried footsteps echoed outside once more.
“Reporting to Fazun, His Majesty the Sea Emperor has been attacked!” the visitor said frantically.
“What!” Mingxiao said in shock.
“How are his injuries? Was the attacker caught?”
“Fortunately, Qianluo Yaozun arrived in time. His Majesty the Sea Emperor’s injuries are unclear, and he is acting frantic. We searched everywhere but saw no suspicious persons.”
“Leaving no trace, formless and bodiless…”
Mingxiao pondered briefly, then said, “I fear the Blood Sect sent someone to silence him. Venerable Xihe, I will go check the situation first. Stay here and guard this place; once the Daozun wakes up, report the matter to her.”
Just as Mingxiao finished speaking, the tightly closed door suddenly opened inward.
Impeccably dressed and neat, Xu Manman appeared before everyone.
Ning Xi called out in pleasant surprise.
“Master, you’re finally awake!”
The crowd outside looked at Xu Manman in a daze, freezing for a moment before reacting and bowing.
“Greetings, Daozun!”
Xu Manman smiled faintly, nodded, and looked toward Mingxiao.
“I will go with you.”
Mingxiao stared blankly at Xu Manman, snapped back to reality upon hearing her slightly raspy voice, and bowed with half-lidded eyes.
“Yes.”
Mingxiao immediately led Xu Manman and the other cultivators away at a quick pace.
Li Ying observed everything from the side with a half-smile.
Although Xu Manman used spell to conceal the traces of lovemaking, she could not hide them from Li Ying’s keen perception.
Heartbeats, breathing, expressions—such ripples were not so easily erased.
“Li Que, you don’t need to stay chaste anymore,” Li Ying smiled faintly.
“Now that the Daozun has returned to her seat, your wedding ceremony can be put on the agenda.”
Li Que’s eyes flickered. Thinking of Xu Manman’s dignified demeanor and goddess-like face, he still harbored some doubts about her identity.
However, backed by Tuntian Shenzun, coupled with her miraculous deed at the Shennong Temple, the vast majority of people no longer doubted that Xu Yanyue was Xu Manman.
Li Que had long forgotten what the person who saved him back then looked like, and he had prepared himself mentally to stay chaste and be a dutiful widower.
Now, his deceased wife had suddenly returned from the dead, and she turned out to be the very woman who had teased him in every possible way earlier…
Li Que felt extremely conflicted, somewhat at a loss on how to face Xu Manman.
Turning from love rivals into lovers happened in an instant.
“She won’t agree,” Li Que knew well in his heart that Xu Manman held no romantic feelings for him whatsoever.
Li Ying smiled faintly.
“She has already agreed. Didn’t she say so herself—that you are a family? She even set your status and positions, isn’t that right, Immortal Lord Langyin?”
Turning his head, Li Que saw Langyin’s stern, dark face, a trace of hostility revealing itself as his gaze swept over him.
Li Que froze slightly, feeling wary yet undaunted.
He let out a cold smile, responding to Langyin’s murderous intent with slight provocation.
Just as Langyin was about to yield to his murderous urge and make a move, a leaf tickled the back of his hand.
Langyin looked down, forced to take a deep breath to suppress the dark malice in his heart.
Bypassing Li Que without looking back, he gave chase in the direction Xu Manman had gone.
—
When Xu Manman and Mingxiao arrived at the Lingbo Tower, Qianluo was suppressing Ao Xiu with spiritual energy. Ao Xiu had suffered an unknown injury; his originally fair, handsome face was flushed bright red, veins bulged at his temples, and his grey-blue eyes had turned blood-red. His entire body trembled violently as if enduring immense agony. Cold sweat poured down, dampening his sideburns, while the backs of his hands and arms faintly showed the shapes of scales.
Xu Manman’s brows furrowed deeply.
Placing her hand over Ao Xiu’s sea of consciousness, her spiritual energy probed inward.
Qianluo remarked from the side.
“I heard a noise next door. By the time I rushed over, he was already like this. I didn’t see who launched the sneak attack either; it’s likely another evil construct cooked up by the Blood Sect.”
Mingxiao explained, “Ao Xiu is, after all, the Emperor of the Four Seas. Although he colluded with the Blood Sect, the Daoist Alliance holds no judicial authority over him. We could neither execute him nor release him, so we could only trap him in this Lingbo Tower until you woke up for interrogation. I set up a spell array around the Lingbo Tower to prevent his escape, but I didn’t expect an evil cultivator from the Blood Sect to sneak in and attempt a silencing. It was my oversight.”
Xu Manman said, “Your actions have always been methodical, but a gentleman’s heart cannot guard against a villain’s schemes. The Blood Sect’s move was not only to silence him, but also to incite hatred between the Four Seas and the Daoist Alliance.” Removing her hand from Ao Xiu’s forehead, her expression turned grave.
“Moreover, the injury he suffered wasn’t caused by an intruder. A cloud of black qi is churning and expanding in the center of his sea of consciousness. Once it fills the entire space, it will collapse completely, destroying his divine soul. I fear this was a failsafe left on him by the Blood Sect long ago, precisely out of fear that he might leak their secrets if exposed.”
“That is a Nightmare,” a cold voice came from the doorway.
Everyone looked toward the sound to see Langyin walking in slowly with a dark expression.
The moment Xu Manman met Langyin’s gaze, she cleared her throat with a guilty conscience.
“Immortal Lord Langyin… what is the Nightmare you just mentioned?”
Walking over naturally, Langyin pushed Mingxiao aside before saying unhurriedly, “A Nightmare is the seed of an inner demon. If a mortal develops a heart-nightmare, they will suffer frequent nightmares and lose control of their mind; over time, they become emaciated as their masculine qi dissipates. If a cultivator develops a heart-nightmare, their Dao mind will collapse, leading to qi deviation. However, its presence is extremely hidden. Even high-tier cultivators cannot easily detect it, nor does it cause immediate death—it simply turns a person into a walking corpse.”
Recalling that Langyin was half-demon, Xu Manman knew he naturally understood evil entities better than others, so she asked, “Do you know how to eliminate a Nightmare?”
Langyin said, “A Nightmare traps a person’s consciousness within their memories, forcing them to relive their most painful moments over and over. To eliminate it, one must enter their sea of consciousness, find the object the Nightmare manifested as, and crush it.”
Hearing Langyin’s description, Xu Manman suddenly remembered that night in the medicine room when she had also entered Langyin’s dream and saw him lose his mind amidst the blood-soaked Burning Heaven Division.
“The evil cultivator Modo in your dream…”
Before Xu Manman could finish her sentence, Langyin knew what she was thinking and said immediately.
“A mere heart-nightmare cannot harm me.”
Xu Manman breathed a sigh of relief internally and smiled faintly.
“Entering the dream to eliminate the Nightmare—leave this matter to me.”
“No!”
Langyin and Mingxiao stopped her in unison.
The two exchanged a glance. Langyin let out a cold snort and subtly leaned closer to Xu Manman, taking a firm stance.
“The Nightmare buried in his sea of consciousness by the Blood Sect is no ordinary thing; it cannot be removed so easily.”
Xu Manman said, “Don’t worry, I know my limits. If I couldn’t handle it, I wouldn’t force it.”
She had a clear understanding of her current condition. Having completely merged with the power of her original body, she had not only restored her former cultivation level, but the strength of her divine soul far surpassed what it used to be. Entering a dream to eliminate a Nightmare posed no real danger.
Langyin naturally knew her divine soul was different from ordinary people. His reluctance to let her put herself in danger was partly concern for her safety, and partly an indescribable, sour jealousy.
“Then I will go with you!” Langyin stated, leaving no room for refusal.
Mingxiao’s brow furrowed slightly. Glancing at the overly intimate distance between the two, an unusual glint flashed in his eyes before he spoke gently,”Immortal Lord Langyin is half-demon and most familiar with Nightmares; he is the most suitable candidate to enter the dream and eliminate it.”
Qianluo realized with a sudden clap of his hands.
“Right! Then Immortal Lord Langyin can just go by himself, the Daozun doesn’t need to go.”
Langyin took a deep breath and closed his eyes, clenching his fists as he suppressed the dark hostility in his heart.
Suppressing a smile, Xu Manman lamented internally—Demon Lord Qianluo, you really don’t want your flowers to bloom, do you…
“Then let Langyin accompany me; time is of the essence.”
Xu Manman subtly tickled the back of Langyin’s hand, then offered a faint smile to Mingxiao.
“I must trouble the two of you to guard us here.”
Langyin only felt an itch on the back of his hand, like a feather brushing against his heart. The dark hostility in his chest quivered suddenly; the murderous intent accumulated from being interrupted, provoked, and disrupted vanished into thin air, and a small flower quietly bloomed in the barren land.
Even the corners of his lips couldn’t help but curve up slightly.
Mingxiao and Qianluo bowed respectfully.
Langyin and Xu Manman sat upright side by side, their divine souls leaving their bodies to enter Ao Xiu’s sea of consciousness.
Qianluo remained dazed for a long while before speaking.
“To think that Sister Yanyue was actually Lianyue Daozun.”
Lowering his eyes, Mingxiao smiled faintly.
“I failed to see it as well…”
Qianluo sighed with emotion.
“I didn’t have much contact with the Daozun in the past, thinking she was upright and dignified. Who knew she had such a side to her? We were all fooled by her…”
Mingxiao recalled the conversation at Xianyun Hall that night when she said the world didn’t truly understand her. He had thought he was different from the rest of the world—having known her for over three hundred years, walking through the hardest times together, sharing life and death as soulmates. Yet, as it turned out, he was no different from the rest of the world, seeing only the surface without ever stepping into her heart…
“How am I any different…” A trace of self-mockery flashed in the depths of Mingxiao’s eyes.
Qianluo sighed wistfully.
“She said she could help me bloom… she wasn’t lying to me about that too, was she…”
Mingxiao: “…”
Qianluo: “Fazun, why are you looking at me like that?”
The joys and sorrows of humans and demons were not aligned; he simply felt the man was out of his mind.
Mingxiao: “Both being plant spirits… why is Immortal Lord Langyin heartless, while your heart… is so oversized?”
Qianluo said solemnly: “No matter how big my heart is, it can only hold Qunyu Fangzun alone.”
