My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

After those words were exchanged, silence fell between the two once more.

Chen Yi gently traced his fingers across Min Ning's cheek.

He suddenly found it somewhat unbelievable,

So… have I influenced her to such a great extent?

She slays demons, dispels evil, and upholds justice, yet she still cannot forget me.

Chen Yi rarely thought about actively slaying demons or upholding justice himself; those weren't things he did voluntarily. He only acted when it benefited him. Min Ning, however, was different—she would truly draw her blade to help when she encountered injustices.

The Broken Swordsman would set off with his sword for a thousand miles for a drunken boast, while the Spring-Autumn Swordmaster needed not even a single word.

Whether you know me or not, I would still rise gracefully with my sword, bringing down geese across fourteen provinces.

If you do not know me, should I stop slaying demons, dispelling evil, and upholding justice?

It is only with this kind of spirit that one becomes a person contesting for the path from the Sword Armor of Yin Sword Mountain.

"You must understand, I am but a mortal man. Since you've landed in my hands, it won't be easy for me to simply let you go."

In the dead of night, Chen Yi's voice resounded:

"Does haste or delay not yield the same result in the end?"

"Don't force me. Wait until I'm willing..."

With that, Min Ning said no more. Her gaze dropped, as though awaiting her judgment. Eventually, she would be willing.

"Are you truly pleading with me?" Chen Yi asked again.

Min Ning slightly raised her eyes and gave an almost inaudible "mm."

"Then, for the fact that I like you and you like me, I will not make this difficult for you," Chen Yi said softly.

Hearing Chen Yi's words, Min Ning let out a sigh of relief and, instinctively muttering under her breath:

"Who says I like you?"

Chen Yi laughed, "Oh? Still being stubborn."

Min Ning turned her face slightly, realizing that what she had just said didn't sound quite right. Her cheeks flushed faintly as she muttered with frustration, "Fine, whatever you say. I'm just accepting you, that's all."

Seeing Min Ning's shyness reach such a degree, Chen Yi couldn't help but laugh as he caressed her cheek.

Ah, I was really tempted earlier, but I'll hold back.

Perhaps spending too much time with that little fox has made me softer toward women like this.

Damn that little fox… I'll use this as an excuse to tease her when we return.

With such idle thoughts, Chen Yi still kept Min Ning pinned beneath him, feeling the strength of her well-trained and athletic figure.

Her abdominal muscles formed clear contours, her ribs pressed against her skin, and the lines of her thighs and calves were straight and smooth, almost blending seamlessly. She placed her hands on her chest, her delicate face tinged with a rosy hue.

Silent for a long time.

Min Ning took a deep breath, noticing he had not moved away, and asked:

"Are you done yet?"

Urged by her impatience, Chen Yi recalled her earlier stubbornness.

He felt the urge to teach her a little lesson and replied teasingly:

"Not making it difficult for you comes with conditions."

"Then why didn't you mention them earlier?"

"Because I wanted to make things difficult for you."

"..."

Min Ning was furious yet again. In less than an hour, she had been exasperated by this man countless times.

She snapped, "Just tell me what you want already."

"Kiss me, and then say: Chen Zunming, I like you."

"Damn it, Chen Zunming, do you even know how cheesy that sounds?"

Min Ning clenched her fists and snarled.

Yet Chen Yi only smiled and asked, "So are you going to do it or not? Best decide quickly, or I might change my mind."

Her phoenix-shaped eyes lowered slightly, as the young hero Min Ning despised being coerced. She had been defiant when she said, "Because you like me," and her defiance hadn't diminished now. At present, she lifted her neck in defiance, refusing to speak.

After a long pause, Min Ning took a deep breath, leaned in, and pressed her lips to his.

Like a dragonfly skimming over water, she barely kissed him before pulling back. In order to avoid further teasing, she carefully ensured the kiss landed on his lips.

Still, she did not utter those words. For a hero who hadn't yet entered the world of Jianghu, admitting her feelings was an incredibly difficult task.

Seeing this, Chen Yi restrained her even more tightly, with Hou Kang Sword's hilt pressing against her abdomen, wedged firmly between their stomach muscles.

Min Ning shivered slightly. Previously, she had marveled at his martial arts prowess and admired him. But now she couldn't help but think—his excessive lust might have granted him insight into the Destruction Zen Sword.

Chen Yi silently observed her with half-lidded eyes, waiting patiently.

Min Ning wavered internally. She knew that unless she acted, Chen Yi would never let her go. When others took one step back, he would demand they take two; when he yielded one step, he expected them to yield another as well.

It'll be fine...

Just think of it as for his sake… for my own sake, perhaps… solely to pull this scoundrel back onto the right path...

To ensure he doesn't become a chaotic traitor, but a righteous hero...

And to protect my elder sister...

She gazed at him for a moment, her eyes lowering with difficulty as she muttered:

"Chen Zunming, I…"

Before she could finish her sentence, the man above her interrupted:

"Too late. I've changed my mind."

"..."

Min Ning clenched her fists so tightly they trembled.

Her eyes smoldered with fury as she bit out: "What do you want then?"

Chen Yi let his hand drop slightly, teasingly stroking her neck before pinching her delicate lips with his fingers.

"You're really angry now. That's perfect. It wouldn't be any fun if you weren't."

"You… Shameless! Aren't you afraid of losing it?"

Min Ning exclaimed, mortified and enraged.

"I have Copper Bone Skill," Chen Yi replied indifferently.

"How can you use martial arts for something like this? A disgrace to all of Jianghu!"

Min Ning inhaled deeply, chastising him sternly: "If you weren't so lecherous, you'd surely be a Grandmaster."

"If I weren't lecherous, then why would I bother becoming a Grandmaster at all?"

Chen Yi chuckled lightly. Slowly, he rose to his feet and gently supported Min Ning's head.

The young hero glared at him furiously, trying to make him back down, but instead, he grew even more daring. Left without recourse, she swallowed down her resentment silently.

............…

Min Ning uncorked the wine gourd, drinking and spitting repeatedly as she rinsed her mouth with the wine inside.

She shook her head. Though she had been weak against the wine at the banquet, now, after this ordeal, she had sobered up nine-tenths of the way. No matter how strong the wine was, it could never compare to the searing heat of Chen Yi's kiss.

After rinsing her mouth countless times, the mountain winds of the winter night carried away the remaining tenth, clearing her mind completely.

The brisk wind dashed through the dense forest, rustling the sprawling tents like herds of cattle and sheep. Standing on a slope, Min Ning glanced down inadvertently and caught sight of a tiny village.

Those children… were they still talking about the stories of Min Qianhu?

Min Ning thought briefly with melancholy.

She inexplicably remembered the peasant woman who had handed her water and sighed softly.

With her naturally chivalrous heart and righteous spirit, she let out a bitter smile. People had died, yet here she was still concerned about her name as a hero.

As this realization struck her, she decided not to dwell on such thoughts anymore, feeling it inappropriate to fixate on her reputation rather than life and death.

Behind her came the soft sound of approaching footsteps. Min Ning frowned slightly, her lips pressing together instinctively, anger bubbling to the surface as her phoenix-shaped eyes bristled with indignation.

Chen Yi slowly walked to her side, gently wrapping his arms around her from behind. His lips dipped to her hair, inhaling its scent.

Hiss... the young hero Min Ning's glossy hair,

Hmm...

Three days without washing.

Chen Yi wrinkled his nose slightly, thinking to himself—it made sense. Long hair was troublesome to wash frequently, and he himself only washed his hair every two or three days.

Someone fastidious like Yin Tingxue would wash herself daily as long as it wasn't cold out. Then again, she had the leisure of staying home all day with plenty of time to spare.

"What are you thinking about?" Chen Yi asked gently.

Min Ning's breathing steadied, and she was about to shake her head but then changed her mind and asked:

"Was Chou Gang killed by you?"

"Yes, he wanted to kill me."

"Explain more clearly."

Chen Yi pressed closer, feeling her taut waist against him. His face leaned forward and was almost level with hers as he slowly began to speak:

"White Willow Sect's You Xu was originally a servant of the Heavenly Family but secretly a double agent for Jing Prince Mansion. Yin Weiyin sent him to kill me, so I killed him. As for Chou Gang, he wielded the Horse-slaying Saber. Between swordsmen, it's either irreconcilable, or they consider each other as kindred spirits. It's natural he wanted to kill me but was constrained by the Spring-Autumn Name List, making it hard for him to truly strike first."

Min Ning had her suspicions about what Chen Yi had been through in recent days, but until now, she had only skimmed the surface. Listening to his account, she realized this was merely the tip of the iceberg. "...And then?"

"And then he collaborated with someone else to kill me—a man named Zhang Xuqu."

"The Tongbei Divine Ape?" Min Ning asked, startled.

Chen Yi nodded slightly. He had casually omitted Qin Qingluo, Zhu E, and the black-clothed woman who had died, to avoid additional complications.

He continued, "Later, Chou Gang fell by my hand, while Zhang Xuqu escaped with a severed arm. That's all."

"...Fine, I'll believe you this time," Min Ning nodded faintly. She had personally heard from Chou Gang himself about the enmity between him and Chen Yi.

Chen Yi held her tighter, "Even if you don't believe me, you'll have to believe me."

Unwilling to admit defeat, Min Ning turned her face away and gave him a sidelong glance.

Chen Yi lightly stroked her chin and chuckled, "Stop being so stubborn."

Min Ning refused to argue with him, nodding faintly.

"Well, your mouth is soft anyway," Chen Yi teased shamelessly.

Min Ning glared at him fiercely but chose to remain silent.

The gusts of mountain wind swept by, and Chen Yi, sensing her silence, perceived that she had something she wanted to say.

He closed his mouth, opting to hold her as gently as possible.

After a long while, she hesitated before finally speaking:

"They're all saying you'll ruin me."

"They?"

"My grandfather, my sister."

"Then they're wrong..."

"Are they?" Her phoenix-shaped eyes shimmered faintly as she asked softly.

Chen Yi replied, "You wouldn't come to me without reason. Surely you've got something else to say. Go ahead, I'll consider it."

Min Ning chuckled; he had guessed it right.

She pulled a piece of paper from her sleeve—another case document.

"This is a bounty notice. First, it was handled by the government office, but later, this perpetrator killed even more people, committing sheer evil. In Jianghu, he is infamously known as the Golden Saber Thief. Do… as you see fit."

Chen Yi gently took the document and tucked it into his sleeve.

He didn't even glance at it. Agreeing to one request from the woman who liked him—did it have to be difficult?

No, it was simply a matter of willingness.

Seeing how easily he agreed, Min Ning said nothing. She took a deep breath as Chen Yi wrapped his arm around her waist. She had long ceased to care about such things; her mind was occupied with other matters, tinged with uncertainty.

Looking far into the distance, Min Ning couldn't help but feel unsure about the village's future or the fate of the children who had lost their mother.

Not thinking about others but focusing solely on herself, she wasn't sure if Chen Yi would keep his promise, nor was she certain if Chen Yi would be shocked upon discovering she was a woman...

There had always been so many uncertainties in her life.

As the mountain wind blew through, she realized there was only one thing she was certain about:

He truly liked her,

A rather profound kind of liking.