Chapter 38: Biting Her Lip

The man was clad in splendid brocade robes, an unmistakable air of nobility radiating from his every gesture. His refined features outshone even those of the Heir of Prince Pingnan, who had just bowed in the hall moments earlier. And with the words “Prince Jin’s Mansion” slipping from his lips… Lu Shiyuan knew at once that their impersonation had led them straight into the arms of the true master of the house.

This man could claim the role of host so naturally, so he must share an extraordinary bond with Prince Jin.

“We only wanted to join the festivities and soak up a bit of wedding joy, young master. Don’t take offense—we’ll be on our way.” Knowing Shang Si’s aversion to dealing with such people, Lu Shiyuan stepped subtly forward, flashing a smile as she smoothly took over the conversation.

They had come to Chang’an for the disturbance with the Soul-Inspecting Device, after all. Qingzhi was still out gathering intelligence, with no word yet. It was best not to stir up unnecessary trouble—especially not with this noble young man, who seemed like nothing more than an ordinary mortal.

Lu Shiyuan’s words aligned perfectly with Shang Si’s own thoughts. After the earlier fiasco, she had lost all interest in anything this prince’s mansion had to offer.

The two turned to leave—

“Ladies, please hold on,” the brocade-robed man called out hastily, his tone earnest as he tried to detain them. “I have no wish to send you away. I’m simply curious… Might I ask which sect you two hail from? If you’re amenable, why not make friends?”

“I’m Li Xian,” he added with a warm smile, leading with sincerity.

The surname Li was the imperial surname.

Shang Si exchanged a glance with Lu Shiyuan. They didn’t rush off, though they had no intention of humoring his overture either.

He had been lying in wait here from the start, piercing their disguise without a hint of surprise. He must have clocked them the moment they flashed that invitation at the gate.

Since he clearly had an agenda, they might as well hear him out.

Li Xian seemed to sense their wariness and let out two hearty laughs. “No need to be on guard, ladies. I’ve long admired the immortal masters of the cultivation sects. As a child, I sent envoys to the great sects in hopes of joining their ranks, but I lack the spiritual root for such fortune. I’m fated to remain an ordinary mortal—and as such, I pose no threat to you. So please, relax.”

It was a classic bid for goodwill through self-deprecation, but Shang Si wasn’t swayed.

“Your status is anything but ordinary—something countless people crave but can never attain,” she replied coolly, her gaze flicking to the jade pendant dangling from his waist. She added flatly, “Besides, no one’s on guard against you.”

The gold-carved dragon motif was no trinket for common folk.

Such flattery might snag your average cultivator, but these two? A mere noble or prince was laughable—even the Kunlun Ancestor or Qin Lan wouldn’t faze them.

Speaking of “guard” in Shang Si’s presence felt like unwarranted self-aggrandizement.

No one grasped the subtext in Shang Si’s words quite like Lu Shiyuan. She stifled a laugh, her lips curving in quiet amusement.

Still, Li Xian’s knowledge of the cultivation world, combined with his status as a power player rooted in Chang’an City, meant he wielded real influence. Where there was influence, there were informants. He might well know about recent happenings in the city.

Why waste effort digging elsewhere when this noble was practically gift-wrapped at their door? A little prodding should yield results.

On exploiting a useful contact, Shang Si and Lu Shiyuan saw eye to eye.

Her demeanor toward Li Xian remained coolly detached, but that didn’t stop her from drawing out what she needed.

They fell easily into step, feigning reluctance before yielding to his insistent hospitality. They abandoned thoughts of departure and settled with him in the lakeside pavilion at the heart of the mansion’s back garden, chatting idly beneath the moonlight.

The scene felt oddly incongruous.

Prince Pingnan’s Mansion buzzed with wedding revelry in the front hall—gongs clashing, drums thundering, guests toasting amid the din. Yet here in the deserted back garden, Li Xian played host under Prince Jin’s banner, summoning mansion servants to lay out a feast of fine wines and delicacies.

When Lu Shiyuan casually probed for city gossip, Li Xian smiled in understanding. He set down his chopsticks and clapped lightly twice.

In short order, a shadow detached from the rockery at the lake’s center, materializing before them in a blink.

The arrival stirred no surprise.

Shang Si and Lu Shiyuan had already sensed multiple presences lurking in the shadows nearby. This was merely one. Yet they detected faint ripples of spiritual power from him—he was no ordinary man.

“Young master,” he said with deep respect. A cultivator by all measures, he betrayed not a trace of condescension or arrogance toward Li Xian, the mortal—as if he served him willingly, heart and soul.

Li Xian smiled with narrowed eyes, his fingertips tapping lightly on the table one after another, his voice smooth as jade. “Tell me, has anything strange happened in Chang’an City lately?”

“Nothing, Young Master. The people live peacefully at the feet of the emperor in the imperial city. Even if any demons slip into the city, they keep a low profile.”

One question, one answer. Li Xian nodded in satisfaction before shifting his gaze back to the two women across from him. “You two ladies heard that. Mind sharing exactly what you’re trying to find out? If there’s any way I can help, Li Xian will certainly do so.”

He wanted to pry for more information while extending a friendly olive branch.

Unfortunately, neither Shang Si nor Lu Shiyuan had any intention of taking it. “Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Li. We were just asking casually. Since all is peaceful in the city, that’s good to hear.”

When further questions yielded nothing, even Shang Si’s polite demeanor cooled.

The two didn’t linger long at Prince Pingnan’s Mansion. They paid no mind to what Li Xian might think and soon found an excuse to rise and take their leave—without even giving their names.

Once they left the West Ward, the bustling long street faded into desolate silence.

Only then did Shang Si click her tongue in annoyance, flicking her right wrist with a small shake.

The gold bell jingled on the midnight street, its chime blending with the woman’s clear, crisp voice. “I can’t stand dealing with these mortals. We sat across from him for barely half an hour, and who knows how many schemes he hatched against us.”

Lu Shiyuan didn’t argue, though she wasn’t quite as repelled as Shang Si. “But when we left, he didn’t send anyone to stop us, did he?”

“He knew better than to try.” Shang Si huffed softly, turning to study Lu Shiyuan’s face, her gaze deepening. “Surrounded by cultivators who’ve stooped so low as to serve mortals—reduced to tools in their power games. How impressive can they really be?”

It had been so many years. Most people had long forgotten the true purpose of cultivation.

Back when the Six Realms still stood, humans in the Human Realm had been the weakest of all. That was why the first immortal sect came into being.

From thousands, they chose the one with the finest spiritual root and greatest talent, sending them to the sect to walk the path of cultivation. The goal was for humanity to one day stand on its own, to guard the common folk, slay demons and devils, and preserve the peace. That was a cultivator’s duty—not to become some lord’s hunting dogs or lapdogs, serving selfish whims.

Shang Si despised that mindset, and it was one reason for her scorn.

But the real root of it, most likely, was that they’d gone to the prince’s mansion tonight just to soak up the festive joy—only to run into the Heir of Prince Pingnan marrying two brides at once. That was probably the true source of her disdain for mortals.

As a girl, Shang Si had devoured her share of mortal tales and romances. She firmly believed those legendary, unwavering loves truly existed. Yet after all these years, returning to the mortal world, the first thing she witnessed was this.

And Lu Shiyuan had called it nothing unusual.

The bell’s chime echoed sharply down the long street.

Lu Shiyuan lowered her eyes and simply took hold of Shang Si’s wrist, stilling the gold bell’s ring. “A Si, there’s no need to get worked up over these nobodies.”

“I know what you’re going to say—that mortals are all like this, so I shouldn’t take it to heart.” Shang Si jumped in quickly. She couldn’t fathom why Lu Shiyuan took it so in stride.

Perhaps it was because they shared the same blood, the same human roots?

That was the only explanation she had.

After all, in the Three Realms, humans were one of a kind in this regard.

But Lu Shiyuan merely shook her head gently, denying it flat-out. “No. What others do has nothing to do with me. I just mean… you can be angry at them, but don’t turn that anger on me.”

“Because I’m not like them.” As she spoke, her palm slid along Shang Si’s wrist bone and into her hand. She lifted her gaze, her smiling eyes sparkling like stars. “I’ll only ever have you.”

With that, Lu Shiyuan lightly pursed her lips.

At that moment, she glanced left and right.

Chang’an’s curfew was enforced by ward. The streets were empty now, doors bolted shut. Under the sparse night sky, this entire long avenue held only the two of them. No one would see or hear a thing, no matter what they did or said.

The thought sparked a bold impulse in Lu Shiyuan.

Catching Shang Si off guard, she leaned forward, tilting her face up. Her cool lips met a pair of warm, moist ones.

One second. Two seconds.

At such close range, Lu Shiyuan heard their breaths mingle. She heard her own heartbeat falter into chaos.

Her crow-feather lashes quivered faintly, betraying her nerves.

In that instant, Shang Si—who had remained passive until now—finally seemed to snap back to herself.

She blinked slowly and languidly, pressing two fingers behind Lu Shiyuan’s ear and rubbing them back and forth in a gentle rhythm. At the same time, her tightly pressed lips parted slightly, drawing the other’s lower lip into a tender hold as she murmured with an indescribable affection and lingering warmth.

“—Got it.”

A light kiss followed.