That previous move to strike at Ye Chen not only cost me my first kiss, but it also made Xuan'er develop deep feelings for me! It truly was a case of injuring the enemy by a thousand while losing eight hundred myself! he lamented internally.
However, looking at her lost and sorrowful blue eyes, his heart instantly softened. Damn it, since I've temporarily taken on the role of the Minotaur, I might as well go all the way... A crazy idea sprouted in his mind.
Just as he hesitated, Ye Xuan'er's somewhat choked voice drifted over again, "Just as I thought. Over these years, Brother Xiao, have you already found a girl you like in the Qinglan Sect?"
"Well..." Lin Xiao was taken aback, hesitating once more.
Seeing his expression, Ye Xuan'er shook her head and gave a sad smile. "I knew it. A man as gentle and kind as Brother Xiao, with top-notch looks and character, surely wouldn't lack admirers..."
"Ah." Lin Xiao sighed, taking it as an admission.
I, Lin Xiao, am known as the most devoted man in the Qinglan Sect! I would never feign a persona to deceive a good girl! To be honest, over these years, if we're talking about feelings developing from long acquaintance and mutual understanding, the only ones are my three junior martial sisters and Master! As for Wanning... the mood was already set, and we had even performed the marriage ceremony. It would have been hard to conclude things if we hadn't... consummated it!
"Alright, Brother Xiao, don't look so glum~" Seeing Lin Xiao's pained expression, Ye Xuan'er, whose eyes were red and moist, forced a smile and comforted him, "Just now... Xuan'er... I was merely asking. After all, for all these years, I haven't been the one by your side. I'm already very content that Brother Xiao still thinks of Xuan'er as his little sister!"
"As for that kiss..." At this, though she tried her best to conceal it with a smile, her eyes couldn't hide her deep melancholy. "Xuan'er will just consider it a moment of affection from a brother seeing his long-lost sister, a spontaneous display of closeness!"
Seeing the young woman clearly heartbroken yet forcing a smile, Lin Xiao felt even more wretched.
At this moment, countless thoughts burst into his mind! He even recalled that night—the beautiful Master's unexpected kiss in the secret garden, a kiss he still found hard to get over.
I bloody well forced an exchange for that girl's first kiss; if I don't take responsibility... wouldn't that make me just like Master? Exactly! I, Lin Xiao, am a natural warm-blooded man! How could I learn from her, from Xiao Hongling, to cast someone aside after getting what I want!?
With this in mind, Lin Xiao finally made a decision "worthy of his ancestors."
"Xuan'er, do you think there's a possibility..." Lin Xiao said, moving to stand beside the young woman. Then, with a look full of affection, he gently lifted her exquisitely beautiful face, with its deep-set features, "That kiss... Brother Xiao was serious."
"Ah!" Upon hearing this, Ye Xuan'er's beautiful eyes widened instantly! Then, an enticing blush crept up from her cheeks to her earlobes at a visible speed. The emotions she had carefully buried in her heart for fourteen years had finally received a response from the one she admired! At this moment, she felt her heart pounding so violently that she almost forgot how to breathe.
Lin Xiao was, by now, a seasoned veteran; he'd seen it all. Seeing her current expression and demeanor, he knew instantly—the moment for the kill had arrived once more!
Without a word, Lin Xiao gazed at her with deep affection in his handsome eyes, bringing his flawless, handsome face closer to the young queen's...
Lin Xiao! You've done nothing wrong! Just as Martial Uncle Su said! You just want to sacrifice yourself to please every woman who genuinely likes you! he comforted himself internally, his body instantly surging with positive energy!
Suddenly, he touched the stunningly beautiful queen's slightly upturned vermilion lips... Or, to be precise, she actively met his!
Not only that, but Lin Xiao also felt something soft and yielding press against him.
Out of what seemed like professional habit, he opened his eyes and looked closely. He saw her breathtakingly beautiful face, adorned with a shy blush, looking even more enchanting and alluring! And, just like Yurong, she kissed with great care and earnestness!
That wasn't even the most startling part! Lin Xiao belatedly realized that she, just like him, kept her eyes slightly open when kissing! And she was appreciating her partner's every micro-expression! Instantly, as they gazed at each other from inches away, the atmosphere became even more... intoxicatingly passionate!
"HEY, HEY! You two little brats! Hurry up and untie this venerable one! If my Sect Master, Niu Batian, gets here, you'll have hell to pay!"
Just as the young man and woman were lost in their mutual affection, a rough, duck-like voice croaked from behind them. It was the giant lizard, and it had woken up!
"Oh, right! I almost forgot about this fellow!" Lin Xiao instantly snapped back to reality and took a step back.
He saw Ye Xuan'er in front of him lightly purse her lips, her expression seeming a little... unsatisfied?
The next moment, the young Queen turned around, coldly staring at the incessantly yelling giant lizard. Her ice-blue eyes radiated a chilling aura, like that of primordial ice! It was the fury of the Empress that made all the kings of the North Territory and countless other powers tremble in terror!
"You... What do you think you're doing!?" The giant lizard, named Zhang Jiawen, seemed to sense this terrifying aura, and its massive body began to tremble violently. It wanted to escape, but it was firmly bound by the Demon-binding Rope, completely immobilized!
"Noisy. You deserve to die." Ye Xuan'er's eyes were glacial as she raised her hand and sent a slap flying across the air towards it!