Chapter 5

“Young Master Chu was right to run away from the wedding. Who would dare marry a woman like that?”

Ling Ling, who was currently shopping for food in Baihe City to store in her storage ring for the long journey ahead, since they were departing early tomorrow morning: “??”

She felt that the original owner’s temper had actually been a little too mild, and the Ling family’s influence was still far too limited. Otherwise, how would anyone dare say such things about her?

“Ahem.” Ling Ling cleared her throat softly.

The maid beside her immediately understood and pointed at the four people. “Seize them.”

The guards reacted swiftly, grabbing the four people who had been drinking and chatting and forcing them to kneel before Ling Ling.

“Spare us, Young Lady! Please spare us!” The four begged repeatedly for mercy.

Ling Ling glanced around and picked up a wooden spatula that a nearby vendor had been using to stir-fry food.

“Hey…” The vendor was about to protest.

The maid tossed him a gold coin.

“Miss, I’ve got an even bigger one here!” The vendor immediately abandoned his objections and eagerly offered her a large wooden spatula.

Ling Ling took the larger spatula and walked up to the four people. Ignoring their pleas unauthorized copy for mercy, she smacked one of them across the mouth.

Smack!

“How does two women getting married have anything to do with you? And you’re talking about propriety and shame? You go around making baseless accusations about other people. Have you no shame yourself?”

Smack!

“So what if I use my power to bully people? Do you have any power? Any influence?”

Smack!

“A man runs away from his wedding, and somehow it’s the woman’s fault? Then whose fault is it that you’re getting beaten?”

Smack!

“Young Lady, I didn’t say anything bad about you…” The last man clutched his face. He hadn’t even opened his mouth, so why had she hit him?

“Birds of a feather flock together. You’re just as bad as the rest of them, so you deserve to be hit. Got a problem with that?” Ling Ling asked.

The last man: “No…” Boohoo! He wouldn’t dare complain. Why on earth had he come out drinking with these people?

After delivering those four blows, Ling Ling’s hand was starting to hurt. She tossed the spatula aside. “Slap yourselves.”

Under the threat of the guards’ drawn blades, the four had no choice [read the original at bailiantales.com]but to slap their own faces.

Ling Ling was thoroughly satisfied. She watched them appreciatively for a while before finally addressing the four.

“Remember to think before you speak, or you’ll get your mouths slapped again\~”

With that, Ling Ling departed in high spirits and continued her shopping.

When news of the incident reached the two families, the Ling family hadn’t even said anything yet before the Chu family immediately took action to suppress the rumors.

Their message could be summed up in eight words: None of your damn business. Want to die?

After buying a huge pile of things and putting them all into her storage ring, Ling Ling looked down at the ring on her finger.

Ever since the dragon pupil inside this wedding ring had entered her eye, the ring had become an ordinary storage ring. Its internal space was surprisingly large, too. Even after buying so many things, she could fit everything inside. How advanced! How wonderful!

The only problem was that she knew Chu Chaoyue’s dragon pupil could see through everything, but she had no idea what the one in her own eye could do.

It seemed capable of releasing some kind of power, one strong enough to destroy the golden dragon pupil. Unfortunately, she hadn’t had the chance to test it yet. What a pity.

Golden Dragon Pupil: “…” Why did it suddenly feel a chill in its eye…?

Having heard about the incident, Chu Chaoyue stood in the doorway, watching Ling Ling, who was sitting inside with her head lowered, saying nothing.

The guards had reported that Ling Ling had dealt with several people, but they hadn’t mentioned her showing any signs of sadness or distress.

Yet looking at her now, it seemed that Ling Ling really had taken the matter to heart.

This was the wife she had willingly married, yet outsiders were claiming that Ling Ling had used her family’s power to force her into the marriage.

The young lady might appear perfectly fine on the surface, but deep down, she must be terribly hurt.

Chu Chaoyue knocked on the door to announce her presence. Ling Ling snapped out of her thoughts and raised her head toward the entrance.

There stood Chu Chaoyue, wearing a white jade crown and robes of sky-blue silk. Her figure was tall and straight, and she possessed an elegance entirely her own. Ling Ling was momentarily stunned.

No matter how many times she looked at Chu Chaoyue, her beauty was always breathtaking.

However, when Chu Chaoyue saw Ling Ling sitting there in a daze, her guilt only deepened.

This was the wife she had personally acknowledged. She ought to protect her properly. How could she allow her to suffer such grievances?

“Ling… Ling’er.” Chu Chaoyue tentatively addressed Ling Ling by an affectionate nickname, hoping to convey that she truly accepted her.

“Ah… Why are you standing in the doorway? Hurry up and come in.” Ling Ling came back to her senses and quickly beckoned Chu Chaoyue over.

Closer, a little closer! Come closer so she could develop her spiritual roots beautifully and painlessly\~

According to the original novel, after taking the Spirit-Root Awakening Pill, she would endure agony ​stolen content​akin to having every bone in her body crushed before finally developing a high-grade water spiritual root. She would then successfully enter the male lead’s sect and even become a direct disciple. That was why she’d been able to constantly make trouble for the male lead, who had yet to reveal his own spiritual root.

But now that she possessed the dragon pupil, what kind of spiritual root would she develop?

Could it be even better?

Thoughts raced endlessly through Ling Ling’s mind, and she didn’t even notice that Chu Chaoyue had already come to stand before her.

Chu Chaoyue crouched down, positioning herself slightly lower than the seated Ling Ling. Looking up at her, she said, “Ling’er, don’t be sad. I’ll stay by your side.”

Since the young lady liked having her around, she would keep her company. She had originally intended to let the young lady take the Spirit-Root Awakening Pill the family possessed, but who could have known that Chu Fan would steal that as well?

Still, it didn’t matter. Once they arrived in the Divine Continent of the Central Lands and began cultivating, there would be plenty of resources available. She would make sure the young lady was well provided for.

Ling Ling looked down at Chu Chaoyue. What did she mean by that?

Oh! Chu Chaoyue was someone with a strong sense of responsibility. She must have started considering Ling Ling her responsibility.

That was perfect! It meant she could keep following Chu Chaoyue everywhere.

“I’ll always follow you, too,” Ling Ling promised. With the dragon pupils, she and Chu Chaoyue shared their power and were bound together in life and death. How could she possibly feel at ease unless she stayed by her side?

Hearing those words, Chu Chaoyue’s heart softened even further.

Her family followed her because her talent was exceptional enough to lead them into the Divine Continent of stolen contentthe Central Lands. In return, she was expected to repay the resources and effort they had invested in raising her.

If her talent hadn’t been sufficient, the family would never have chosen her.

But this young lady was different. From beginning to end, she had chosen Chu Chaoyue without hesitation. She had married her, placed her name beside hers in the ancestral register, and insisted on accompanying her wherever she went.

So what if they were both women? She had married Ling Ling, and she would stand by that marriage.

Chu Chaoyue took Ling Ling’s hand. “Ling’er, I possess a single lightning spiritual root. Lightning spiritual roots have exceptionally powerful offensive capabilities, so my family wants me to pursue the Dao through sword cultivation.”

“But pursuing the Sword Dao requires an enormous amount of resources. The treasure you gave me can see through illusions and uncover what is hidden. If I pursue the Dao of alchemy or formations instead, I might be able to earn enough resources.”

She had a family to support, and now she had a wife to provide for as well.

Although the Sword Dao was powerful, the resources one could earn through it were limited. She wanted to give Ling Ling the very best resources so that she, too, could embark on the path of immortal cultivation.

Ling Ling realized that Chu Chaoyue was discussing her future cultivation path with her, and she was a little surprised. Instead of learning swordsmanship, she wanted to study alchemy or formations? Wasn’t that the male lead’s path?

After obtaining the golden Illusion-Piercing Dragon Pupil, the male lead, Chu Fan, had developed spiritual roots and gained the ability to see through all sorts of things.

He concealed his spiritual roots and entered the outer sect of an alchemy sect. Although he appeared to be nothing more than a menial worker, he secretly used the dragon pupil to learn various pill formulas and repeatedly stumbled upon valuable spiritual herbs that others had overlooked.

Later, while buying and selling goods at a black market, he used the dragon pupil to discover a hidden inheritance of formation techniques inscribed within a stone, allowing him to learn the art of formations.

After secretly cultivating through all sorts of underhanded methods, he entered the Immortal Sect Tournament. Relying on his mastery of both alchemy and formations, he directly defeated Chu Chaoyue, who was renowned for her swordsmanship. He emerged as a dark horse, taking everyone by surprise and claiming first place.

Listening to Chu Chaoyue, Ling Ling couldn’t shake the strange impression that she was about to follow the male lead’s path.

Replacing the protagonist was a good thing!

However, Chu Chaoyue’s lightning spiritual root was particularly well suited to pursuing the Sword Dao. There was no need for her to abandon swordsmanship for another path.

Besides, who said that pursuing the Sword Dao meant she couldn’t study anything else?