Chapter 31: Praise me!

Words : 1170 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 31: Praise me! ’Boy... when will you leave? This is getting awkward...’ the old man finally muttered, his voice tinged with a mix of discomfort and subtle irritation. His soul shifted where he stood, clearly agitated, his fingers twitching like he was warding off a bad omen. "..." Lin Fan didn’t move at first. He looked over, just once, hoping—praying—to catch even the faintest glimpse of her: The Saintess. Her silhouette through the windows... A flash of her robe... A whisper of her divine presence... Anything. But the wind offered no such mercy. The windows remained shuttered, and the only sound was the creaking of sacred bamboo swaying gently in the air. "...Fine," Lin Fan muttered at last, his voice low and bitter: "I’ll leave." ’Thank the Heavens...’ the old man felt some joy come back to him. Lin Fan turned slowly, shoulders slack, each step away from the sanctum heavier than the last. His usual grin was absent, replaced by a half-hearted scowl of disappointment. "Couldn’t even see her... what a joke," Lin fan sighed to himself: "Maybe next time... if there is a next time." Lin Fan kicked a pebble in front of him, watching it tumble forward. . . . "He’s finally gone!" Yue Yu whispered with a triumphant grin, pumping her fist into the air. The second Lin Fan disappeared from sight, she practically skipped out the back like a prisoner released on parole. The tension in her shoulders melted away as the annoying presence faded, and in its place bloomed a bubbly excitement. Her destination was already set in her heart. Hei Long. Yue Yu didn’t even pause at his door. No knocking. No calling out. Yue Yu barged in like she lived there, humming a happy little tune under her breath as she slipped off her footwear with barely a thought. Her steps were light, graceful—barely a whisper on the floorboards—as she made her way through the silent house, her eyes gleaming like a mischievous cat on the prowl. Yue Yu’s hum grew softer as she approached the bedroom door, already slightly ajar. Without hesitation, she slipped through the gap and peeked inside. There he was. Hei Long lay on the bed, half-covered by a light blanket. His robe was left open, revealing the firm outline of his chest and stomach beneath. One arm was tucked beneath his head, the other resting on his stomach. He looked impossibly relaxed—his breathing steady, his face calm, his usual edge dulled by sleep. Yue Yu blinked. ’So handsome...’ Handsome didn’t even begin to cover it for her. ’It’s almost unfair how he could look that good while sleeping...’ Yue Yu thought to herself. His sharp features were softened in slumber, and with the moonlight spilling gently over him, he looked more like a celestial spirit resting after a war than a mere cultivator. A wicked smile crept across Yue Yu lips. She raised the back of her hand to her mouth to hold back a giggle. "Just a little scare... I’ll just give him a teeny-tiny heart attack." She tiptoed into the room like a shadow, every movement as silent and fluid as water. Only the soft creak of a floorboard betrayed her, and even that was barely audible. Her breathing slowed to match his, and she hovered just inches from him, crouched like a tiger ready to pounce. Three... two... on— "Wha—?!" Yue Yu let out a startled gasp as, in a blink, she was snatched forward. Arms wrapped around her waist with lightning speed. Yue Yu’s body collided with Hei Long’s chest, warm and solid, and the world spun as she landed squarely in his embrace. The blanket shifted beneath them as he pulled her close, one arm curled securely around her back, the other lazily draped across her shoulder. The scent of Hei Long hit Yue Yu instantly—cool herbs and steel, with a faint undercurrent of smoke and something unplaceably dangerous. Her eyes went wide, and her face turned scarlet. They were chest-to-chest. Face-to-face. Breathing the same air. And Hei Long, the man who was supposed to be asleep, cracked open a single eye and smirked. "Caught you." He didn’t sound surprised. He didn’t even sound awake. Just amused. As if he’d been expecting her all along. "..." Yue Yu’s brain scrambled for a response. Her mouth opened but nothing came out. Her heart pounded in her chest like a war drum. Despite every effort to remain composed, her face burned brighter. Hei Long raised an eyebrow. "You gonna keep staring, or were you planning to scare me with that blush?" "...S-shut up," Yue Yu mumbled, burying her face in his chest before she could say anything more embarrassing. Hei Long chuckled. "Breaking into my home, creeping into my room, climbing onto my bed..." he whispered teasingly into her ear: "If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trying to seduce me." Yue Yu squirmed, torn between laughing and smacking him, but his embrace was too warm, too secure, and despite herself, she found her fingers lightly curling into the fabric of his robe. "...I just wanted to scare you a little," she whispered. "Oh? Mission failed." Hei Long yawned dramatically: "But you can try again later. I’ll act surprised next time." "Idiot..." Yue Yu muttered—but the word was soft, affectionate, and barely carried any bite. Hei Long’s smirk faded into a neutral expression—still calm, but curious now. Grounded. "...Alright," he murmured, voice softer now, more level: "Let’s put this game on pause." Yue Yu peeked up at him. "..." Hei Long met her gaze evenly. "What brings you here for real?" "..." Yue Yu didn’t answer right away. Her lips pursed slightly, and she looked off to the side, as if considering whether to come clean or try to lie. But Hei Long just waited. He already knew the answer—he was just giving her the space to say it out loud. "...I led Lin Fan on," Yue Yu finally said: "He’s head over heels for me..." "Really?" Hei Long replied, a small smirk forming on his lips. Yue Yu gave a proud little smile, half playful, half smug. "..." Hei Long stared at her for a moment. "I’m guessing you want to be praised?" Yue Yu gave a small nod. "Pretty much." "...That’s it?" Hei Long replied. Yue Yu leaned in closer again, resting her chin lightly on his chest, eyes shimmering with satisfaction: "I want praise! Say I did a good job. Say I was clever. Say it~." Hei Long let out a slow exhale. "Okay, okay. Just calm down." "Come on~" Yue Yu sing-songed, drawing little circles on his robe with her finger: "You have no idea how annoying Lin Fan was being. The moment I saw your face, it was like a divine rescue. So I deserve to be praised!" "..." Hei Long didn’t answer. Yue Yu nudged him: "Say it." Hei Long then decided to be a little playful: "Good job. Now get off me." "Nope," Yue Yu shook her head.

Chapter 31: Praise me!

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