Chapter 269-270 On How to Conquer System Fairies and Make Them Your Wives 269-270 |
That night, Chen Yin didn’t push Yu Ling as he usually did.
Instead, she was unusually assertive, her hands gripping his shoulders tightly, her knuckles white, her body slick with sweat as she clung to him, her breath coming in short gasps.
She didn’t make a sound, her silence a heavy weight in the room.
Even afterward, as she lay in his arms, her head resting on his chest, her eyes half-closed, she still seemed sullen and withdrawn.
Chen Yin didn’t try to comfort her with words, just gently stroked her hair.
“Feeling better?”
“…A little.”
“It’s not their fault.”
“…I know.”
“You will,” Chen Yin said, after a moment of hesitation. “They made a pact to return in a year, to surprise you. They just didn’t want me to tell you.”
Yu Ling’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?! I wouldn’t have been so upset!”
“Well,” Chen Yin said seriously, after a moment of thoughtful consideration, “I thought you looked cute when you were sad. Your eyes and nose all red, trying not to cry, clinging to me—”
“Ouch!”
Yu Ling bit his shoulder hard.
“…You’re mean,” she mumbled, her eyes narrowed playfully.
Chen Yin just let her bite him.
After a while, she rolled over and pinned him beneath her, her gaze fixed on his face.
“I’m going to get my revenge,” she said seriously.
“Bring it on.”
“I’m serious!”
“I’m not afraid of you.”
“I’m moving now!”
“…”
Life returned to a peaceful rhythm.
Yu Ling had thought that with the Yu Alliance disbanded, she would be alone again.
But she wasn’t.
Chen Yin stayed with her, as promised.
He woke her up every morning with a delicious breakfast.
They explored bustling markets, buying sugar figurines and pretty dresses.
They watched fireworks from rooftops during festivals.
They bathed together in the misty hot spring, Yu Ling falling asleep in his arms, knowing he would carry her back to bed.
They occasionally sparred, his swordsmanship surprisingly sharp and precise, yet he never hurt her.
And when she felt the urge to challenge some unsuspecting sect, she could now do so without worry.
Someone would clean up her messes.
Someone would take care of her when she was drunk.
Someone would always be there to cook her delicious meals.
Yu Ling finally understood what it meant to be truly cherished and loved.
For a year, they traveled together, their footprints marking every corner of the continent.
Every scenic spot,
Every bustling street,
Every tavern filled with the aroma of wine.
It was the happiest year of Yu Ling’s life.
A year later…
“Heehee…”
The Immortal Venerable, hidden behind a tree on Ephemeral Mountain, was drooling over a book.
Chen Yin sat cross-legged in the plaza, his eyes closed in meditation.
“Such big, beautiful breasts~ I love you, author! Can I be your neighbor?”
The Immortal Venerable’s lecherous grin suddenly vanished, and he looked towards Chen Yin, his expression turning serious.
He teleported to Chen Yin’s side and placed a finger on his forehead.
A massive formation activated, enveloping Chen Yin in a protective barrier.
A powerful and mysterious aura suddenly erupted from his body, its force so great that it would have shattered Ephemeral Mountain if not for the formation.
Chen Yin’s expression changed, his brow furrowed in concentration, his eyes still closed, his robes billowing in the wind.
After a moment, he opened his eyes, the cloudiness in them dissipating.
“…Thank you,” he murmured.
“Didn’t I tell you not to rush your breakthrough after mastering the Dao?” The Immortal Venerable frowned slightly. “You weren’t ready. You could have died.”
“…I couldn’t control it,” Chen Yin shook his head. “After I fully comprehended the Dao of Life and Death, the breakthrough started naturally. If you hadn’t intervened, I would have been in serious trouble.”
The Immortal Venerable sighed, his usual carefree demeanor returning. “Well, I might as well see it through. You’ve mastered both Daos now. You’re ready for the Grand Clarity Realm. But be careful. I’ve never seen anyone reach Grand Clarity with two Daos. I don’t know what will happen. Be prepared.”
Chen Yin nodded seriously.
“I’ll go back and prepare.”
“I’ll return in three days, for my breakthrough.”
“Have you gotten taller?”
That evening, Yu Ling lay on Chen Yin’s chest, her fingers tracing his face playfully.
“Did you go to Ephemeral Mountain again?”
“Yes.”
“That’s cheating…” she pouted. “Having a personal cultivation realm with a different time flow is so unfair. Tell me the truth, how old are you now, counting your time in Ephemeral Mountain? Are you older than me?”
“Pretty much,” Chen Yin blinked.
He was nineteen now, two years older than Yu Ling, who had just turned seventeen. He had gone from being the “little brother” to the “older brother.”
Yu Ling seemed dissatisfied that the little boy who had always clung to her was now taller and more handsome than her, making her feel small and insignificant in his arms.
She squirmed and bit his shoulder playfully.
Chen Yin didn’t know why she liked biting his shoulder so much.
She did it all the time. When she was drunk, when she was angry, even when she was… enjoying herself… at night.
“…Can you stop biting my shoulder?”
“No.”
“Are you a dog?”
“You’re one to talk! You always bite my lips! Are you a dog?”
They glared at each other playfully, then Chen Yin sighed.
“Fine, I’m a dog.”
He pulled her closer, inhaling the sweet fragrance of her hair. “I’m about to have a breakthrough.”
Yu Ling’s eyes widened. “So soon?”
“It’s still a bit unstable, but I should be ready in two days. I might not have much time for you during that time.”
Yu Ling looked up at him, her eyes twinkling mischievously.
“Are you just making excuses because you’re… tired?”
Chen Yin: “?”
That night, the hut was once again filled with Yu Ling’s cries.
“I’m sorry! I know I was wrong! Please stop! I’m dying!”
Three days later, Chen Yin returned to Ephemeral Mountain.
This time, the Immortal Venerable wasn’t hiding behind a tree, reading erotic novels. He was waiting for him in the plaza, Mo Cen and Fuyu hovering beside him.
“Ready?”
Chen Yin nodded seriously.
“Good,” the Immortal Venerable said, his expression serious. “I’ll do my best to protect you during your breakthrough. If you lose yourself between the two Daos, I’ll pull you back. But I can’t guarantee success. Your own will is the most important factor.”
“I know.”
Chen Yin sat down beside him, cross-legged.
The Immortal Venerable’s eyes narrowed in concentration as he activated the formation, the two child-like figures beside him spinning rapidly.
A powerful and mysterious aura emanated from Chen Yin’s body.
He closed his eyes.
A swirling vortex of energy appeared before him, its colors shifting and changing, like a kaleidoscope of seasons: spring rain, summer thunder, autumn wind, winter snow.
Day and night, light and darkness, life and death, growth and decay, all intertwined and swirling before him.
He was lost in the endless cycle of creation and destruction.
And without realizing it, he drifted off to sleep.
At the same time, the scroll in his chest glowed faintly.
The two Daos, usually locked in a fierce struggle, gradually calmed down, their energies intertwining and merging.
And the scroll, as if having fulfilled its purpose, its light fading, dimmed and fell silent.
Time passed.
Spring, summer, autumn, winter.
Chen Yin slowly opened his eyes.
The breakthrough had been surprisingly peaceful.
No earth-shattering explosions, no life-or-death struggles.
It was as if he had simply woken up from a nap.
And he was now at the Grand Clarity Realm.
His body hadn’t changed.
…Except for the scroll, now dormant and lifeless.
Although he had been asleep, he could still feel the two Daos struggling within him, their conflicting energies threatening to tear him apart.
If it weren’t for the scroll, this breakthrough would have been far more dangerous.
But the scroll’s power seemed to be depleted. He tried to access it, but it was dark and unresponsive.
Thank you, he said silently in his heart. You’ve worked hard.
“Yo, congratulations on your breakthrough!”
The Immortal Venerable’s voice, laced with his usual playful sarcasm, echoed through the plaza. “You’re officially the first Grand Clarity Realm cultivator to achieve it with two Daos! I wonder what kind of monster you’ll become when you reach the Immortal Realm?”
Chen Yin, however, wasn’t thinking about that. He stretched languidly and asked,
“How long was I asleep?”
“A year.”
Chen Yin froze. “…A year?”
“A whole year,” the Immortal Venerable repeated. “Look at yourself, you look like a wild man. Even in the outside world, a month must have passed. Your little sweetheart must be waiting.”
Chen Yin hadn’t expected it to take so long. He had thought a few days would be enough. A month… that’s not good.
“…I’m in trouble.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I promised her I would go with her to the Yu Alliance reunion.” He sighed. It was supposed to be a month after he entered Ephemeral Mountain.
“Heehee, you stood her up. You’ll be punished when you get back.”
Chen Yin couldn’t argue with that. He didn’t want to miss the reunion.
As he was about to leave, he paused.
“What is it?” the Immortal Venerable asked, seeing his hesitation.
“I… feel like I’m forgetting something…”
…He was overlooking something.
But he shook his head.
“Forget it. I have a wife to appease.”
“Safe travels~”
The Immortal Venerable and the two child-like figures waved goodbye.
—
De Xian Restaurant.
Yu Ling had rented the entire top floor and prepared a feast, but she sat alone by the window, a lonely figure amidst the empty tables and chairs.
“Sigh,” she murmured, gazing out at the city below.
“Will they really come back? It’s been a year. What if they’ve changed? What if they don’t recognize me as their Big Sister anymore? What if I can’t tease them anymore?”
“And that bastard Chen Yin…” She pouted. “A month-long breakthrough? He promised to be with me…” She hugged her knees, her voice filled with sadness.
A month without a single word from him.
She trusted that he was safe in Ephemeral Mountain, but she still worried.
And she realized she couldn’t live without him anymore. She had grown accustomed to his presence, his kisses, his cooking, his constant attention.
“That bastard… why isn’t he back yet? I don’t know how to face them without you…”
Suddenly, a commotion erupted from the street below. She looked down and her eyes widened.
A group of young men and women, dressed in fine clothes, were walking towards the restaurant, their laughter echoing through the streets.
“…I’m not the same useless drunkard I was a year ago! I’ll drink you under the table this time!”
“Yeah, right, fatty!”
The two young men at the front bickered playfully, then their eyes lit up as they saw Yu Ling.
“Big Sister!”
“Big Sister!”
Yu Ling blinked, surprised.
The teenagers rushed into the restaurant, startling the other patrons.
“Big Sister! We missed you so much!”
The young man in purple was about to hug her when the one in the fur coat kicked him away.
“Fatty Luo, trying to take advantage of Big Sister? Chen Yin will kill you!”
“Hey! We agreed to hug her together!”
Yu Ling watched their antics, her shock giving way to amusement.
She looked at the young man in the fur coat, his face no longer chubby but handsome and refined. “Are you… Luo Xiaoxiao?”
“It’s me, Big Sister!” His eyes still sparkled with a childlike joy. “See! I lost weight!”
“You still look like an idiot,” Hu Li, now tall and muscular, retorted.
“Hey, gloomy bastard, still so rude?”
“You couldn’t beat me a year ago, and you still can’t.”
They were about to brawl when Si Qing, now a graceful young lady in a pink dress, interrupted them. “Stop it! Big Sister is right here!”
They calmed down, chuckling sheepishly.
“Qingqing, you’ve become even more beautiful.”
Si Qing’s youthful innocence had been replaced by a quiet grace and maturity. Hua Yulian hadn’t changed much, her demeanor still gentle, but with a touch of mature charm.
Their familiar banter made Yu Ling feel like she was back in time. Everything had changed, yet nothing had changed. They were still the same group of kids.
“You…” Yu Ling’s eyes flickered with emotion.
“Big Sister, why don’t you look happy?” Luo Xiaoxiao asked, scratching his head. “Are you still mad at us? Just beat us up!” He lifted his robe and presented his backside, making the others laugh.
Their laughter was infectious.
Yu Ling smiled. “Yes, I’m still mad. You little brats, abandoning me like that! You each owe me three cups of wine!”
They cheered. “As you wish, Big Sister!”
—
Chen Yin arrived as the feast was underway. …Just in time.
He hurried to the top floor, and the teenagers immediately turned their attention to him.
“He’s here!”
“You brat! Abandoning Big Sister! We’ll drink you under the table!”
Luo Xiaoxiao and Hu Li dragged him to Yu Ling, whose eyes were red-rimmed.
“You’re finally back.”
“…Sorry,” he chuckled awkwardly. “I didn’t expect it to take so long.”
“Don’t just apologize, drink!”
Amidst the cheers, Chen Yin drank his wine, then shared a cup with Yu Ling.
“Big Sister and Chen Yin are still together! We’re so relieved!”
Chen Yin glanced at Si Qing and Hua Yulian. Si Qing had matured, a hint of sadness in her eyes, but also acceptance. Hua Yulian smiled and raised her cup.
“Little Brother Chen Yin~ Are you still Little Ling’er’s ‘property’?”
Yu Ling blushed, remembering her drunken confession. “Sister Hua…”
“Aw, Big Sister is shy!” The teenagers teased, and Yu Ling kicked Luo Xiaoxiao playfully.
Chen Yin smiled at them.
…It was good to see them again. The Yu Alliance would never truly disband. They would always be there for her. She was no longer alone.
But among the crowd, he saw another familiar figure.
Someone he had almost forgotten.
…Feng Xiangling.