Chapter 28: She Confessed

“Ugh… Damn it…”

Lingling Lan went through her first… uh, hard-to-describe experience in a dazed state. She never imagined her body would react so strongly. For a brief moment she almost fainted. In short, it was something she never wanted to think about again.

“Well… I’m really sorry, Lingling Lan-sama. I really couldn’t hold back…”

“…It’s fine. I don’t need your apology.” Lingling Lan’s tone turned cold—perfunctory and evasive. Feeling a bit chilly, she slowly crawled out from the tangled mess of blankets. Her sleep dress was messy and wrinkled, the straps slipped off her exposed, snow-white shoulders. Yet she remained calm and composed. What had happened couldn’t be changed, so there was no point in dwelling on it.

“Could you help me get some clothes, Sword Immortal-sama?”

“Eh, Lingling Lan, you’re not mad at me… After I did something so excessive to you…” 

Xinghui’s face was full of guilt. Even though Lingling Lan was a weak girl bound by a collar, powerless to resist, Xinghui still couldn’t suppress the beast within and had done something inappropriate. She made up all kinds of excuses, but the undeniable truth of her wrongdoing remained.

“…” 

She carefully helped Lingling Lan put on her clothes, even wiping the small pearls of tears from her eyes.

“I don’t want to waste my temper on you, stupid Sword Immortal…”

“Exactly. You hurt me. I’m a little upset. Can’t you learn to be gentler next time?”

“Only a stupid Sword Immortal would be so rough for their first time learning… Truly pathetic.” 

Lingling Lan began to grumble, thinking about how her comedy of a love story—between an Outer God’s daughter and a fake human Sword Immortal—had unfolded like this. What would Mother think… Though Mother always encouraged them to find someone, a fake Sword Immortal would definitely be laughed at by her sisters. Especially by the terrifying elder sister, Gelra.

I wonder what kind of partner Mother had in mind for my elder sister. Surely not some perverted Sword Immortal… Maybe a reclusive fallen noble girl, a fiery career woman, or a lofty, otherworldly fairy… 

In any case, the perverted fake Sword Immortal must be the most useless one!

Wait, what am I thinking?! How did I unconsciously start considering her as my wife (crying)? 

At first, I really resisted. But the moment she started doing it, my shame and anger somehow vanished. Maybe… because I liked being “loved”? Even though I’m not pure anymore, why do I feel a little fond of this perverted Sword Immortal… The more I thought about it, the more my mind became chaotic.

“Well, Xiaofu’s clothes and yours should also be ready. After breakfast, we can go get them.”

“You’re really not mad at me?” Xinghui was shocked by Lingling Lan’s nonchalant attitude.

“Oh right, it’s time for your medicine too. After breakfast, I’ll watch you take it.” 

Not a single word about what had just happened. It seemed as if Lingling Lan had silently accepted the incident. Xinghui never imagined her momentary mistake would be forgiven.

“Oh, fine, fine! Let’s go now. I’ll go call her—”

“Xiaofu isn’t awake yet, so don’t disturb her. Let’s pack an extra portion for her after we eat,” 

Lingling Lan reminded, already embracing a family role.

Xinghui’s blood-red plum-blossom eyes blinked and she smiled her trademark silly grin at Lingling Lan once more. 

“Perverted Sword Immortal, I only just realized… you’re kinda cute.”

***

“Yo, for real? You beat elder sister at her own game?”

“Just lucky, hehe.”

“Luck is part of strength too. Your rank has now risen to T3.”

“T3 only? How come a dashing and handsome Sword Immortal like me is worth so little?”

“First reason: dumb, drop a tier. Second reason: rough, drop a tier. Third reason—”

“Hey!” Xinghui reached to pinch Lingling Lan’s small face, only to be lightly slapped by her as expected.

“Oh right, about your elder sister… that True Crimson Witch… what’s your relationship like with her?” 

Xinghui—who in a previous life had been turned into a cake and eaten by that ruthless character—wanted to learn everything she could. The best case would be knowing her weaknesses so next time they met she wouldn’t be helpless.

“Our relationship… hmm,” Lingling Lan mumbled while biting into a shaomai dumpling, “is… just so-so. Every time she orders me to dance, it’s because she looks down on me…”

“But aren’t you sisters?”

“She’s only nicer to the second and third sisters. To me and Namira-nee-sama, it’s always insults and cold stares. I’m used to it. Can you not mention her?”

“Okay… I just wanted to know about your family…” Having long lost contact with her own family, Xinghui secretly envied Lingling Lan for having so many sisters—four daughters of an evil god mother. They seemed like such a harmonious, loving family. But Lingling Lan didn’t care either way. Aside from Namira-nee-sama, no one truly cared for her. Even Mother-sama wasn’t as loving as Namira. Namira was the one who would go through fire and water for her—the only truly caring elder sister. Without her, Lingling Lan’s life in the evil god family would truly be a nightmare: a temperamental elder sister, a timid second sister, an indifferent third sister, and a pleasure-obsessed mad mother—really complicated beyond explanation.

“Hmph. I’m the easiest to get along with in the evil god family. So enjoy your small happiness. If another sister were stuck with you in the same room, I bet you’d have no idea how you’d die.”

“Hey, dumb Sword Immortal, do you know what this is?” Changing the subject, Lingling Lan opened the steaming basket. Several small bun-like dough balls appeared in front of Xinghui. They smelled richly of meat and shepherd’s purse—plump and delicious, making one want to bite straight into them.

“I know, they’re pan-fried buns.”

“Then take a bite and try them.”

“Fine, I’ll try… Sss, it’s so hot, so hot!!!” As expected, Xinghui got scalded by the hot soup inside, breathing heavily to cool down.

“It’s all juice. How can you eat it like this?”

“Can’t even eat a pan-fried bun… so dumb. Come, I’ll teach you.”

“Just lightly bite a small hole, then suck the juice out with your mouth. That’s how you eat them.” With oil all over her mouth, Xinghui stubbornly learned how to eat the buns without burning herself. All the poorly bitten buns were eaten without waste by Lingling Lan.

Lingling Lan, who had the bloodline of an Outer God, could taste emotions. The buns that Xinghui bit carried a uniquely sweet flavor, which Lingling Lan quite liked. To her, this was tastier than dipping in vinegar.

“Well, Lingling Lan-sama, I—” Xinghui stammered as she ate.

“What is it? Want to thank me?”

“If I said I love you, would you slap me?” Upon hearing this, Lingling Lan almost spat out the juice in her mouth. Such a ridiculous confession during breakfast—it was quite amusing.

“A slap isn’t guaranteed, but perhaps… I’ve already fallen in love with you.”