Chapter 40 : Xiao Ying

Chapter 40: Xiao Ying

Just as Long Tao’s mind was still frantically ranting about how absurd the dream had been—so ridiculous it made him doubt his entire existence—the “True Person Mingzhu” before his eyes seemed to suddenly sense something incomparably terrifying.

Her expression changed drastically, and she leapt up from the void in a single motion!

In the next second, she was like a startled rabbit.

Her figure turned into a streak of flowing light and fled at a speed Long Tao could not even begin to comprehend, vanishing instantly into the depths of the dream’s void without leaving behind even a silhouette.

Almost at the same time, Long Tao felt the entire dream shatter with a thunderous crash.

A powerful sensation of weightlessness seized him and yanked him downward violently! It was as if he had fallen straight from the clouds—

“Ha!”

Long Tao jolted upright in bed.

His heart pounded wildly, and a layer of fine cold sweat seeped out across his forehead.

That fragrant yet bizarre dream came to an abrupt end.

“Young Master?”

A familiar yet faintly unfamiliar young girl’s voice drifted softly from beside the bed.

Young… Master?

That form of address froze Long Tao instantly.

In this world, only two people would ever call him that: one was the old butler back in Qinglin Town who had watched him grow up, and the other was—

He snapped his head around.

There, smiling as she leaned over the head of his bed, was the little maid who should not have been here at all—Xiao Ying.

One hand propped up her chin, her large watery eyes brimmed with the joy of a long-awaited reunion and… an indulgent fondness he had never seen before?

“Xiao Ying?!!” Long Tao’s voice warped with shock.

“You… why are you here?! Aren’t you supposed to be at Zhiying Peak right now?!”

“Heehee, I knew it!” Xiao Ying grinned like a little fox that had successfully stolen food, a hint of smug pride in her expression.

“When I saw that figure over at the plaza this afternoon, I just knew it had to be Young Master! Since you already figured it out, I don’t need to explain anymore!”

Compared to the skinny, scruffy little girl who had followed behind him everywhere in childhood, the Xiao Ying before him had fully grown.

At sixteen, she had a graceful figure and delicate features.

Under the dim, flickering candlelight, she even exuded an alluring charm.

Especially those large peach-blossom eyes—when their gaze shifted, they seemed capable of hooking a person’s very soul.

Long Tao could almost foresee the kind of sensation she would cause among the sect’s male disciples once she formally began cultivating.

“Oh, right, Young Master!” Xiao Ying suddenly seemed to remember something important.

She turned and picked up a bundle from the table, offering it to him as if presenting a treasure.

“These are letters from Master and Madam for you, and there’s a separate one from Young Lady just for you. Oh—and this too! Uncle Liu specially made you some fish-flavored meat buns. You can just heat them up yourself!”

As she spoke, she very naturally placed everything on the table, her gaze habitually sweeping around the room.

Then, as if she had discovered something novel, she extended a slender finger to wipe the edge of the windowsill and touched the door panel.

“Huh?” She turned back, genuine surprise in her tone, and even… a faint hint of disappointment.

“I thought that if Young Master was living alone, you’d definitely have turned the place into a total mess again. I didn’t expect it to be this clean…” Her tone made it sound as though someone had stolen her exclusive job.

That’s because the Spider Sister next door helped clean up, Long Tao answered silently in his heart—but that was obviously something he could not say out loud right now.

He could only reply vaguely.

“I only rented this place not long ago, of course it’s clean. Speaking of which… how exactly did you find me?”

“Oh, that?” Xiao Ying blinked and answered casually.

“I begged my master. She had someone look into it, and they found you really quickly. She’s outside right now, actually, but she said the smells inside are too mixed and didn’t want to come in.”

What?!

True Person Zhiying was outside?!

Long Tao was so startled he nearly rolled straight off the bed.

His back was instantly drenched in cold sweat.

That female fiend had actually come personally in the middle of the night over something as small as Xiao Ying, to this rundown place of his?!

This girl’s position in her heart was probably even more important than he had imagined! This was truly… impossible to tell whether it was a blessing or a curse!

“I… I see…” Long Tao forcibly suppressed the storm raging in his chest.

Even his voice trembled as he hurriedly changed the subject.

“That reminds me—I still can’t figure it out. How did you end up being… being chosen by a True Person, anyway?”

At the mention of this, Xiao Ying instantly lit up like a firework that had just been ignited.

Her whole person seemed to glow, her small face practically shouting Ask me! Ask me! I’ve been waiting forever for you to say that!

“Oh, Young Master, you have no idea!” She began gesturing animatedly as she spoke.

“Just a few days ago, Master suddenly descended upon Qinglin Town for reasons unknown, to visit the City Lord. The City Lord wouldn’t dare show the slightest neglect, so he simply held a grand banquet and invited every prominent family in the city! Young Lady and I followed Master along to broaden our horizons!”

“Oh?” Long Tao tried to make his tone sound surprised.

“Let me guess… True Person Zhiying demonstrated a sword technique at the banquet, and out of everyone present, you were the only one who comprehended something?”

“Hey! Young Master!” Xiao Ying puffed out her cheeks and stomped her foot coquettishly.

“Why are you stealing my lines?! Honestly… this was the most glorious moment of my entire life! And you won’t even let me say it myself!”

“All right, all right, my fault—I spoke too fast.” Long Tao laughed as he looked at her sulky yet adorable expression.

“So what happened after that? She took you in as a disciple on the spot?”

“Mm!” Xiao Ying nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling.

“Master was way too decisive! Right there in front of all the clan heads in the city, she had me perform the disciple acknowledgment ceremony!”

“That straightforward?”

“Yes! Master said her childhood nickname was also Xiao Ying. I was able to comprehend her sword intent, and we even share the same name—so it was a heaven-ordained fate.”

Hearing this, Long Tao nodded as well.

That truly was a deep bond of fate.

No wonder the girl was so favored.

Xiao Ying then continued,

“Master also… also…” She hesitated, her voice lowering slightly.

“She bought my indenture contract from Master and burned it on the spot.”

“Wait!” Long Tao caught the key point, his heart inexplicably hollowing out.

“Your indenture contract… burned it? Then… then you’re free now? You’re no longer my…” His voice trailed off, carrying a trace of wistfulness even he himself did not notice.

“Aiya.” Xiao Ying suddenly leaned closer, her face wearing a sly yet enchanting smile as her breath brushed softly against him.

“So Young Master actually had that kind of thought about me, huh? Heehee… it’s fine, you know. As long as you’re willing, Xiao Ying can sign a new, different kind of ‘contract’ with you anytime.”

“Spare me…” Long Tao’s scalp went numb instantly.

He subconsciously glanced toward the door.

“I’m afraid the ink on that contract wouldn’t even be dry before True Person Zhiying’s sword light split this shabby little house—and me along with it—in half.”

“Pfft…” Xiao Ying burst out laughing.

As she laughed, she suddenly climbed onto the bed using both hands and feet, bracing her arms on either side of Long Tao’s body as she looked down at him from above.

Candlelight outlined her soft silhouette from behind.

Her gaze was still gentle, but it held far more complex emotions than before.

“But really, Young Master…” Her voice softened, tinged with a bit of resentful disappointment.

“It’s all because you’re too unambitious! You’ve been here for five years and you’re only at Qi Refining Fifth Layer… of course Master thinks it’s better for me to stay farther away from you! Five years ago, when you left home, you didn’t say things would turn out like this! If you were already at Foundation Establishment now, she definitely wouldn’t have any objections! Honestly! You should at least be a little more capable!”

“You—if you’d come just a few days later!” Long Tao flushed red under her scolding and argued back.

“I’d definitely have broken through by now!”

“Oh my, do you want me to praise you for that?” Xiao Ying laughed like a little fox, reaching out to gently poke his forehead.

“Hehe, but what can I do? I just happen to like you exactly the way you are—even if you don’t have much ambition. Sigh… forget it. If I really manage to achieve something in the future…”

She suddenly leaned down.

Her warm, soft lips brushed quickly against Long Tao’s cheek, leaving behind a gentle sensation and a faint lingering fragrance.

“…then Young Master, you can just obediently wait to live off me.” She straightened up and hopped off the bed, her tone light but carrying undeniable seriousness.

“I’ll support you!”

After saying that, she habitually tidied up Long Tao’s slightly messy bedding and patted the pillow, her movements so practiced it was as if she were still that personal maid from before.

When she reached the door, she seemed to suddenly remember something.

Turning back to the still-dazed Long Tao, she said,

“Oh, right, Young Master. Master also sent a sect recommendation letter back home. When the time comes, Young Lady can directly enter the sect as an Outer Sect Disciple—no need for any assessment. Don’t forget to go pick her up then!”

With that, she smiled brightly at Long Tao, gently pushed open the door, and her figure merged into the night outside.

Only Long Tao was left sitting on the bed, touching the cheek that had just been kissed, staring at the stack of family letters and meat buns on the table.

His mind was in utter chaos—one moment filled with fear that True Person Zhiying might still be outside the door, the next replaying Xiao Ying’s shocking declaration of “I’ll support you,” and then the news that his younger sister would soon enter the sect…

The amount of information crammed into this single night was simply too much.