My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

"Don't leave, just stay with me."

"Stay with you."

"Mmm..."

She murmured hazily, her sharp, almond-shaped phoenix eyes slowly closed, becoming a straight line in the night, like a dormant cicada, resembling the blade of an Eight-sided Han Sword.

Chen Yi gazed tenderly at her for a while before lowering his head, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek.

After the kiss, Chen Yi left a trace of Sword Intent behind, stood up, and pulled aside the curtain to leave.

The night was silent, an endless tranquility.

Only the faint chirping of insects could be heard.

Min Ning, who was supposed to be asleep, had her eyelashes trembling slightly. She slowly opened her eyes and lightly touched the spot where the kiss had landed with her fingertips.

She gazed in the direction Chen Yi had disappeared, clenched her fist, but ultimately didn't make a sound. She simply turned her body away from the entrance of the tent, muttering to herself:

"Zhu Yu, why is it that even after pouring out so many drunken words of love, I still couldn't keep him here?"

The lingering spirit seemed to remain silent, offering no response.

Min Ning pulled the quilt closer around herself, not seeking an answer. She merely stared blankly into the darkness for a while, then closed her eyes once more. After all, she couldn't defeat him, so she decisively chose not to dwell on it.

She stopped thinking...

That bastard had far too many women in his heart.

But her heart, apart from herself, had room for no one else but him.

.........

Chen Yi pulled aside the curtain and stepped through the doorway. A woman clad in red quickly walked up to him, almost throwing herself into his arms.

Holding the soft shoulders of this Southern Border maiden, Chen Yi's heart wavered slightly. He leaned close to her ear and said:

"Let's go inside."

After Zhu E replied softly, Chen Yi released her, and she led him step by step toward the depths of the tent.

Not long after, they arrived at the bedroom. Zhu E lit the candles and the oil lamp, illuminating the spacious bed until it gleamed brightly. She glanced at Chen Yi and, remembering how she had been entwined with the Prince, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Chen Yi approached her slowly, wrapping his arm around her waist.

But this time, the usually eager Zhu E seemed uncharacteristically restrained and made a request: "My lord."

"What's the matter, Aunt Zhu?" Compared to calling her "Liao Hao" or "Zhu E," Chen Yi preferred addressing her as "Aunt Zhu," like Qin Qingluo did.

Gently moving Chen Yi's hands aside with her tender palms, Zhu E drew him to sit down.

Under the glow of the candlelight, Princess An Nan's noble yet still lively face as a maiden of the Southern Border was beautifully highlighted.

She gazed at Chen Yi and suddenly remarked, "At the banquet, all the words you said were directed at the Prince; it seems not a single word was meant for me."

Hearing this, Chen Yi reflexively smiled but before he could respond, Zhu E extended a finger to press lightly against his lips.

"It's better this way," Zhu E said softly.

Chen Yi was somewhat taken aback.

Zhu E faced him, sighed gently, then said, "In the beginning, I was madly infatuated, knowing that my lord favored Qingluo more. I became consumed with jealousy, thinking day and night about how to win your favor, clutching my belly and dreaming of bearing a child...

But later, when I heard my lord say, it was Qingluo who was with child, it felt like a bucket of cold water, and gradually, I came to my senses."

Chen Yi listened silently, offering no reaction.

"Do you remember? Zhu E once told you, before our marriage, I went to a Daoist Temple with the Prince to have our fortunes read. Do you know what that old Daoist said?"

"What did he say?" Chen Yi followed up, his expression oddly indifferent, as if it didn't quite register.

"He said, 'The Pojun Star enters the Palace of Marriage,' meaning that the marriage is in name only," Zhu E paused, then added softly.

Their predicament with Qin Qingluo now seemed to mirror that prophecy perfectly.

Zhu E chuckled lightly and said:

"At first, we dismissed it, but recently, I suddenly remembered this prophecy and finally understood. Qingluo and I are destined to be nominal spouses, true aunt and niece. Spouses can fight endlessly, argue at bedside and reconcile by dawn, but as her aunt, how could I compete with her like that?"

Chen Yi appeared to grasp Zhu E's mindset, offering neither rebuke nor comfort—simply accompanying her quietly.

Zhu E pulled Chen Yi's hand gently to her breast and murmured:

"The words I spoke earlier aren't meant to say you're not important. You're the Bright Venerable, and you're also my lord. To Zhu E, you're the most important person in my heart. It's just... second only to you is Qingluo."

"She hears you say this, she won't know whether to laugh or cry," Chen Yi said softly.

Zhu E laughed and sighed, "Laugh or cry, it doesn't matter. Zhu E has come to terms with this completely today. Many days before, I couldn't find my place, madly jealous and scrambling for attention, but in the end... even if I gain the smile, what meaning does it have?"

Chen Yi had thoughts in his heart but chose not to voice them, simply listening quietly as Zhu E spoke.

"After all, Zhu E watched her grow up; she's not only my niece but also my sister, even like a daughter. When I heard she was with your child, all my doubts suddenly became clear."

This red-clad Princess of An Nan had always had a scale in her heart, weighed down with burdens. As a Demon Sect Saintess, the Bright Venerable was never part of her calculation, nor was Qin Qingluo—until Chen Yi appeared. At nearly thirty, the peak of emotional fervor for a Southern Border maiden, Chen Yi's favor threw her off balance, placing both herself and Qin Qingluo on the scale, leaving her to swing between jealousy and suffering.

But now she had made peace, releasing Qin Qingluo from that scale. Perhaps it was the pregnancy that became the straw that broke the camel's back, or maybe it was the guilt she felt toward Qin Qingluo that weighed heavily on her heart, or perhaps it was Chen Yi's soft words at Jinya Pavilion that brought her clarity.

Regardless of the reason, Zhu E no longer lingered in doubt, nor was she willing to endure further suffering. Chen Yi could stir old conflicts again, perhaps making the Demon Sect Saintess succumb, but he chose not to—he recognized Zhu E's sincerity.

Chen Yi refrained from delving deeper into their conversation; he caressed her cheek and remarked, "You're truly beautiful."

Perhaps affected by the wine, Zhu E flushed slightly and said softly, "Zhu E is nearly thirty now, I won't look good for much longer."

Chen Yi, displeased by her remark, responded, "Why don't you cultivate the Longevity and Youth Technique?"

"The body is just a cage; early death is liberation. Why bother with such cultivation?" the Demon Sect Saintess replied matter-of-factly.

"Then the teaching must change. You must cultivate the Longevity and Youth Technique," Chen Yi said casually.

Chen Yi cared little for the teachings of the Demon Sect.

To him, whether he achieved the title of Bright Venerable or not, the teachings of the Demon Sect were to be discarded. Whether the followers continued to believe or abandoned their faith was irrelevant.

Simply put, he intended to sever ties with the murderous Demon Sect.

Zhu E showed no hesitation, immediately adhering to his command. She said, "Then I shall study it carefully later."

"There's no need to rush. If all else fails, once I've mastered my own cultivation techniques, I'll teach you all the Longevity and Youth Technique," Chen Yi said in a leisurely tone.

Zhu E, seemingly intuitive of his thoughts, pondered for a moment before asking:

"When my lord returns to the throne, how will you deal with the people of the Holy Sect?"

"There's no need for me to deal with them," Chen Yi replied after a pause. "They'll deal with themselves."

Zhu E expressed no resistance but was curious enough to continue asking:

"What about us four Saintesses... what will become of us?"

"Ah, I've always enjoyed managing Saintesses," Chen Yi said with a smile.

"But... the other two Saintesses are over sixty now," Zhu E hesitated.

"...Then forget it."

Chen Yi wasn't desperate to such an extent.

Zhu E resumed the conversation about the Demon Sect: "Currently, our headquarters is guarded by the Wisdom Saintess; the Great Strength Saintess, on the other hand, has gone into seclusion, and her whereabouts remain unknown. The scriptures state that when the four Saintesses assemble at the headquarters, the time for the Bright Venerable's descent will be nigh."

Chen Yi listened thoughtfully, aware that someday he would need to travel to the Southern Border with Yin Tingxue.

But this was no imminent matter; it seemed distant for now.

The candlelight flickered, the things that needed to be said had mostly been discussed.

Chen Yi looked intently at Zhu E,

Zhu E looked back at him.

This would be their last night.

"My lord, Zhu E wants a surprise."

Zhu E pulled out a mask from her robes—it was the face of "Qin Qingluo."

Chen Yi leaned over to refuse her with a kiss, but at that moment, Zhu E suddenly clutched her chest, her body burning as though set aflame, and murmured:

"It hurts... Qingluo, she!"