Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Li Qingya leaned against the base of the wall, looking as if he had been struck by lightning. Before he could even regain his composure, Li Yanci appeared.

“Well? Did she say where the bead is?”

Li Qingya’s face flushed with embarrassment and anger. “I didn’t hear clearly…”

He added resentfully, “That Shao Ah Qiao truly has formidable methods. With just a slight movement of her mouth, my whole body went numb. If she actually made a move against me, I’m afraid I’d die at her hands.”

Li Yanci looked puzzled. “She cursed you?”

Li Qingya remained silent, clutching his chest. “Brother, I suspect she possesses some kind of heart-eating cultivation technique.”

Otherwise, why would his heart have been pounding so hard just now, as if it wanted to leap out and offer itself as a sacrifice to Shao Ah Qiao?

Li Yanci came to a sudden realization. “No wonder. I heard that in order to bring her into the Immortal Realm, Xie Yunji was willing to endure eighty-one lightning tribulations. This Shao Ah Qiao is indeed not to be underestimated.”

“So what do we do now?” Li Yanci mused. This bead wasn’t the only thing in the world capable of anchoring a split soul; they had simply chosen it because they found other methods too troublesome, and news had recently leaked from the upper realms.

It was said that Xie Yunji’s former mortal wife possessed many treasures, including that specific bead.

Thinking it would be easier, they decided to take it from her rather than travel elsewhere.

To that end, they had already driven off the crowd of demons and monsters who had come to snatch the treasures from Shao Ah Qiao along the way.

Li Qingya was still in a daze. “How about this? You go and wear down her resolve over the next few days while I go back and strengthen my Charm Art. My skills must be lacking. Wait for me for a few days, brother; I can definitely succeed.”

Li Yanci thought about it and agreed.

Before leaving, Li Qingya turned back. “She’s very dangerous. If she moves her mouth at you, remember to dodge.”

Then, he returned once more. “Physical contact is off-limits too. If she tries to touch you, you have to dodge that as well.”

Li Yanci considered this and gave a reluctant nod.

The next day, I woke up to the savory aroma of food.

Stepping outside, I saw that not only had the courtyard been swept clean, but even the chickens and ducks had been fed until they were full.

I shook Li Yanci’s hand, smiling happily. “Sister-in-law Ah Niu was right-you really are capable!”

He pursed his lips, looking for a moment as if he wanted to pull his hand away, but ultimately he let it be.

I took a closer look at his attire. He wasn’t dressed in that chest-baring style anymore; now he looked stiff and proper. It seemed he was turning over a new leaf.

I took Li Yanci to the market to get him a padded jacket. In this freezing winter, wearing nothing but a thin gauze robe would lead to illness, and doctors cost money.

As I took his measurements, my hands instinctively wandered over his waist.

Beneath the loose clothing, his waist was lean and powerful, his chest muscles were firm, his arms were strong, and his face was stunning.

I sighed inwardly; I, Shao Ah Qiao, truly am blessed in this life.

For the first eighteen years, I was deeply in love with a cold, heartless Divine Lord, living in domestic bliss.

And for the rest of my life, I have a specimen like this to warm my bed.

Once the measurements were done, I looked up to see that Li Yanci’s fair face was flushed red. Even his ears were crimson, and a light pink hue stained his neck.

He turned his head away, his long lashes drooping to hide the panic in his eyes. His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, clearly uncomfortable.

I stepped closer to him, speaking of our future days together. “When the time comes, we’ll pick an auspicious day, buy a few yards of red cloth, and get married. That way, you’ll officially be part of the family. From then on, you’ll be my husband, I’ll be your wife, and we’ll live a loving life together.”

He froze, looking shocked. “Mar… Married?”

Seeing his reaction, I took a step back and smiled. “Yes. If you’re unwilling, I’ll just go back and ask Sister-in-law Ah Niu to help me look for a few other men. I never force anyone.”

“I didn’t say no-” He paused, his speech halting. “If I don’t agree… you’ll find other men? And you’ll… touch them like this?”

He grabbed my hand and pressed it against his chest. The veins on his hands bulged as he exercised extreme restraint.

“Yes.” I gave his chest a squeeze, satisfied to see him grit his teeth. “And not just this. There are many other things a husband and wife can do.”

Heaven knows what Li Yanci was thinking, but beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. He lowered his head and said, “You can’t look for other men. I’ll marry you.”

He thought of Li Qingya, who avoided Ah Qiao like the plague.

If he married Ah Qiao, would Qingya be willing to call her ‘Sister-in-law’?