Chapter 40

Ripples appeared in Xuanyuan Xier's eyes, and she suppressed those stray thoughts. She, too, had once dreamed of a lifetime with only one person… Emotions of both relief and regret churned within her; she was happy for his deep affection and righteousness, yet she also resented his deep affection and righteousness.

Yu Xiaotang blinked, her feelings of sadness stopping abruptly. Not far away, Su Lingshu's fingers suddenly pinched the opening of her silk stocking, pushing aside the delicate threads and forcefully tearing a small hole in the white stocking.

"In other words…" Yu Xiaotang and Su Lingshu looked at Lin Yi expectantly.

Lin Yi smiled at the corners of his mouth, "In other words, when the time comes, after the betrothal gifts are accepted, the names are exchanged, the engagement and main wedding ceremonies are completed, and the bride price is delivered, Xiao Tang, you will be my bride-to-be."

When Lin Yi said the word 'wife', Yu Xiaotang was speechless for a moment. She stared blankly at Lin Yi's face, pursed her lips, and her eyes suddenly turned red.

Lin Yi pinched Yu Xiaotang's little face, "That is a happy day, why is Xiao Tang crying?"

Chapter 76: Only I Can Be Your 'One Not to be Trifled With'! (Extra Long Chapter)

"I, I'm not crying!!" Yu Xiaotang hurriedly sniffled. She flashed a brilliant smile at Lin Yi, but… large drops of tears welled up from the corners of her eyes, rolling down her exquisite and cute little face.

Lin Yi was slightly stunned, then smiled and pressed Yu Xiaotang's head against his chest, "Xiao Tang, don't cry, don't cry…"

Lin Yi's voice was gentle, but Yu Xiaotang cried even more fiercely. She clutched Lin Yi's sleeve tightly, and Lin Yi's chest had already been soaked by her tears.

Xuanyuan Xier pursed her lips and chuckled. There was no sadness in Yu Xiaotang; the sight of this pair of Senior Brother and Junior Sister hugging each other actually created a warm atmosphere.

Su Lingshu's expression, however, was somewhat obscure at this moment.

Wife… Bride-to-be…

She glanced at the unopened wine pot beside her.

She picked it up on her own, dumped the tea in her cup carelessly, and then downed a large cup in one gulp.

She looked at Lin Yi and Yu Xiaotang from time to time. Her initial anticipation had turned into dark emotions at this moment, making her clear and beautiful face turn cold.

With a bit of alcohol rising to her head, Su Lingshu's cheeks flushed. She sniffled, but ultimately did not cry like Yu Xiaotang; she just drank the strong, fine wine cup after cup.

Lin Yi said Xiao Tang was his bride-to-be, then what about her… Why didn't he mention her name…

And leaning so close, leaving me aside…

Su Lingshu sniffled again; she was not a crybaby like Yu Xiaotang!

Lin Yi gently patted Yu Xiaotang's shoulder, his gaze fixed on Su Lingshu opposite him. Su Lingshu glared at Lin Yi, and neither of them spoke.

After Yu Xiaotang had cried enough, Lin Yi finally withdrew his gaze and rubbed Yu Xiaotang's head. Now that Yu Xiaotang's emotions had subsided, she realized that her crying just now had been a bit embarrassing.

Yu Xiaotang stuck out her tongue, feeling quite embarrassed, looking somewhat playful. Lin Yi's fingertips slid across the area around Yu Xiaotang's eyes, using his Qi to remove the redness.

Yu Xiaotang silently felt the warmth of Lin Yi's fingertips. She rested her head on Lin Yi's shoulder, "Senior Brother, you must promise, you must marry Xiao Tang when the time comes."

Yu Xiaotang's voice was not loud, carrying a young girl's daintiness and a hint of reliance.

Lin Yi turned his head and kissed Yu Xiaotang's hair, "Alright, when the time comes, Xiao Tang will marry Senior Brother."

"Then, then what about me?!?" Su Lingshu, sitting opposite Lin Yi, could finally no longer hold back after hearing this.

She suddenly threw the cup in her hand out, smashing it on the floor in the middle of the main hall, emitting a crisp sound of metal and stone clashing.

Yu Xiaotang and Xuanyuan Xier were startled. The former's attention had been entirely on Lin Yi, while the latter's gaze had been entirely on Lin Yi and Yu Xiaotang.

Naturally, they had not noticed that Su Lingshu had been drinking sullenly just now!

Lin Yi looked over, following the trail of spilled wine.

Su Lingshu felt somewhat flustered inside at this moment. Perhaps it was because alcohol gives courage to the timid, but she, who had originally just been watching Lin Yi with cold eyes, had actually thrown the wine cup just now according to her inner thoughts!

Or perhaps… she wanted a real answer…

Lin Yi tilted his head, his voice intentionally turning cold, "You? Fairy Su, what do you want now?"

Su Lingshu heard the still-gentle voice in her ears, yet it used the distant address of 'Fairy Su'. She pursed her lips; her previously overflowing anger was now like a basin of cold water poured over her.

"I said, Fairy Su, you wouldn't have fallen for me, would you?" Lin Yi spoke again. He had watched Su Lingshu drink that pot of strong wine as if it were fruit juice.

Although for a Qi practitioner, it wouldn't have as drastic an effect as it would on a Mortal, to the point of making Su Lingshu pass out directly, Su Lingshu was only a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, so it was enough to make her somewhat tipsy.

Su Lingshu's mind was very chaotic right now, her head dizzy. This dizziness was different from the kind when she was intimate with Lin Yi; there was not a trace of pleasure or comfort, but rather it made her feel annoyed and nauseous.

She was merely one of Lin Yi's 'One Not to be Trifled With', at most a bridge for his cooperation with Xia Qianzhen.

She had actually really thought these past few days that he had fallen for her…

How naive.

Oh, Su Lingshu, Su Lingshu.

When did you become so easy to deceive!

He likes your body, but he doesn't necessarily like you as a person!

Thoughts like these churned in her mind. Su Lingshu supported her forehead with her hand, her expression changing uncertainly, one moment gloomy, one moment bright.

"Fairy Su, you are drunk."

"I, I'm not drunk!!" Su Lingshu retorted.

"I say you are drunk." Lin Yi said indifferently.

Su Lingshu didn't speak. After a long while, she finally spoke, "You say I'm drunk, then I'm drunk."

Su Lingshu looked at the patterns on the table. She closed her eyes slightly, her cheeks burning hot. A feeling of sadness enveloped her entire body, and as time passed, the sadness gradually faded into nothingness.

She didn't care anymore.

"Whatever you say, whether it's 'One Not to be Trifled With'… or anything else…" Su Lingshu's voice was weak. She understood that she was completely helpless. Regarding Lin Yi, she had gone from the hatred in the snowy fields to the anticipation under the moonlit night, and from the anticipation under the moonlit night to the longing in the Imperial City.

And now… she finally faced her true self.

"Little thief! Vile thief!!"

Su Lingshu's voice was gnashing her teeth.

"Stole my person, and also stole…"

"Stole what of yours?" Lin Yi's curious voice came from in front of her.

Su Lingshu suddenly raised her head. She looked at Lin Yi, who was bending over and standing in front of her. She turned her head away, "Nothing."

"Really nothing?" Lin Yi raised an eyebrow, "I've said before, if you want anything, I will give you whatever I have; if I don't have it, then there's nothing I can do."

Su Lingshu turned her head back. She pretended nothing was wrong and looked coldly at Lin Yi, "Will you give me the nuptial wine?"

Lin Yi smiled at the corners of his mouth and sat on the floor in front of Su Lingshu, with the long table between them, "I dare to give it, do you dare to take it? My Fairy Su, do you really dare to take it?"

"I, why wouldn't I dare to take it?!?" Su Lingshu's expression was not as cold as before, and there was a hint of panic between her clear and beautiful brows.

"I am the little thief who forced you."

"You are the little thief!!"

"You are my 'One Not to be Trifled With', right?"

"You are also a vile thief!!"

The two of them bickered.

"Su Lingshu, have you really fallen for me?" Lin Yi asked again.

"So what if I like you, and so what if I don't?!! Little thief!! Vile thief!!"

"If you like me, I will marry you." Lin Yi looked into Su Lingshu's eyes, and he emphasized again, "If you like me, I will marry you."

"Who, who wants you to marry me!!" Su Lingshu glared at Lin Yi, her voice somewhat stuttering.

"Alright then, I won't marry you, it just so happens I'll save on the betrothal gift." Lin Yi curled his lip. How had he not noticed before that Su Lingshu had this side to her… Could it be that after drinking, her already not-so-sharp brain had become completely muddled?

"You dare!!" Su Lingshu stood up subconsciously. She went directly over the long table and pounced on Lin Yi. Lin Yi didn't intend to dodge and was tackled squarely to the ground by her. The two of them hugged together, without a shred of the bearing of a Sword Immortal or a Fairy.

"I'll bite you to death!! Vile thief!!" Su Lingshu bit toward Lin Yi's face. Lin Yi used his hand to hold Su Lingshu's forehead, but Su Lingshu turned around and bit toward Lin Yi's wrist instead.

Lin Yi was almost amused to the point of laughter by Su Lingshu. He simply leaned forward himself and blocked Su Lingshu's little mouth.

"Mmm…" Su Lingshu felt the familiar taste. She was stunned for a moment, and her brain, clouded by the alcohol, subconsciously followed past experience and opened…

Their lips and teeth clung together…

Lin Yi rolled over and pinned Su Lingshu underneath him. Su Lingshu hugged Lin Yi's neck, her pair of jade arms exposed as her long sleeves rolled down, and Su Lingshu's hip-length purple hair spread out on the floor like spilled ink.

Lin Yi looked at Su Lingshu's clear and beautiful face.

Su Lingshu's beautiful eyes closed slightly, their warm breaths intermingling… The two of them tasted each other with tacit understanding…

Xuanyuan Xier and Yu Xiaotang looked at each other, both looking somewhat strangely at the two hugging on the floor.

Yu Xiaotang felt some heartache for Su Lingshu in her heart. In her mind, Sister Su had been forcibly taken of her virginity by Senior Brother, and afterwards, she had been constantly bullied by Senior Brother.

Although she was on Senior Brother's side, she also felt some compassion for Su Lingshu's plight, and she still hoped that Su Lingshu and Senior Brother could have a good outcome.

Xuanyuan Xier, on the other hand, felt that drinking needed moderation. Su Lingshu just needed to be a bit more honest, not to remain silent and immerse herself in her own world when Lin Yi asked her; how could there be so much drama between the two…

Alcohol, oh alcohol… truly a wondrous thing…

Truly inexplicable.

Xuanyuan Xier defined the farce between Lin Yi and Su Lingshu.

She could tell that Lin Yi just wanted Su Lingshu to express her stance; was it that hard to say 'I like you'? However, she was ultimately not one of the parties involved, so she just watched this scene with amusement.

Lin Yi looked down at Su Lingshu, their eyes meeting, and he asked again, "I am willing to marry, are you willing to wed?"

Su Lingshu's tongue tip was still somewhat soft and numb. She pursed her lips, and the face so close to her and those honest words made her heart tremble, "I… as long as you are willing to marry, I will, I will be willing… to wed…"

"Then you have such a reluctant look." Lin Yi lowered his head and bit a large mouthful onto Su Lingshu's lustrous, full lips.

Su Lingshu wrinkled her pretty nose, "Who told you to only mention Xiao Tang's name before!!"

After Su Lingshu's alcohol intoxication was dispelled by her circulating Qi, her personality returned to its original state.

Lin Yi sat up, and Su Lingshu also sat up. She happened to be sitting right opposite Lin Yi. Lin Yi picked up the wine pot beside him, found two cups at random, and filled them.

Su Lingshu watched Lin Yi's movements without speaking, but the flush that had just faded away surfaced again.

Lin Yi handed one cup to Su Lingshu. Su Lingshu took a deep breath, then steadily took it.

Lin Yi picked up the other cup, "Let's just consider this as fulfilling the promise in advance."

Su Lingshu pursed her lips, then nodded gently.

Lin Yi and Su Lingshu toasted each other, then each drank half a cup. The two exchanged cups and then drank them dry together.

Lin Yi took the empty cup from Su Lingshu's hand. One cup was placed upright, and one cup was placed upside down on the long table, signifying the male above and the female below, harmony of Yin and Yang.

Yu Xiaotang and Xuanyuan Xier both looked at Su Lingshu with envy, and they became somewhat eager to try.

Su Lingshu looked distractedly at the two wine cups on the wooden table. After a while, she finally came back to her senses, "Lin Yi."

This time, she did not call him 'Little Thief' or 'Vile Thief'.

"Hmm." Lin Yi nodded.

"No, nothing." At the last moment, Su Lingshu still couldn't bring herself to say those words of liking and love.

"Just remember to take me as your wife." Su Lingshu reached out and put the two wine cups into her Storage Ring. She touched her cheeks; they were already burning hot.

"What if, in case I don't remember…" Lin Yi pondered for a moment.

"If you don't remember, I will tie you up and drag you back even if I have to!!" Su Lingshu snorted softly and stood up, her purple dress carrying a hint of quiet mystery.

"Anyway, you can't get rid of me, you little thief!!" Su Lingshu didn't care about Xuanyuan Xier and Yu Xiaotang and walked toward the side hall door on her own.

Lin Yi sat on the floor, watching Su Lingshu's clear and beautiful back. He casually picked up another cup and took a shallow sip of the clear, cold wine.

"And… remember, you are not allowed to find any more 'One Not to be Trifled With'; only I can be your 'One Not to be Trifled With'!!" Saying this, Su Lingshu slammed the hall door shut with a bang.

Lin Yi couldn't help it and sprayed out the wine he had just taken into his mouth. These words of Su Lingshu were really… giving a strange feeling.

Lin Yi smiled and shook his head. Immediately after, he turned around and looked at Yu Xiaotang and Xuanyuan Xier, who had leaned over. He saw that they were both holding two cups.

Lin Yi was somewhat stunned, "Shu'er and I were just playing around."

"I know, Senior Brother, I also want to play around with you." Yu Xiaotang looked at Lin Yi with a grin, and she expectantly handed over one of the cups.

Xuanyuan Xier carefully kept the wine from spilling, and like Lin Yi, she sat on the somewhat cold floor.