My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

After the tenderness in the water, Yin Weiyin was completely limp, her face tinged with peach pink, almost collapsing into the bathtub.

Chen Yi's hand encircled her waist. She merely trembled lightly and did not struggle, her whole body seemingly ready to melt into Chen Yi's embrace.

Casually, Chen Yi brought up matters of home:

"The little fox has always been afraid of me, and because of this, she's terrified of childbirth. Honestly, I didn't intend to raise children so soon either—only because I didn't want her to have any thoughts of avoiding it."

Yin Weiyin listened. Steam rose from the bathtub, ushering a deeper flush across her face. Shrinking back, she maintained her resistance even now.

This time, Chen Yi had taken three days' worth of her Taoist cultivation.

The female crown suffered silently, bitterness etched into her brows and eyes. She avoided looking at him, yet he held her close, leaving her no escape. Outwardly, she appeared entirely obedient to Chen Yi, having surrendered much in her mind. For instance, she vowed not to begrudge his abuses once she achieved immortality, planning to forgive and forget, or she agreed to serve as his concubine in the residence... And yet, Chen Yi wasn't willing to let her go.

"The little fox is inconvenient these days due to her monthly matters, so I'm nourishing myself through you here instead. Actually, she and I have bathed together before. She was terribly shy at the time, utterly unwilling. But after spanking her a couple of times and issuing threats, she gave in—lowering her head and scrubbing my back obediently," Chen Yi said casually, landing two smacks on the figure in his arms.

Slap, slap.

Yin Weiyin: "...!"

The female crown blushed so deeply her face looked ready to drip blood. Tightening her lips, she glared at him accusingly, but the moment his gaze shifted toward her, she promptly shrank back again, collapsing into his embrace.

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow and asked, "Won't you say something?"

Having had that exchange with Zhou Yitang earlier, now soaking in the bathtub post-incident, Chen Yi's voice softened noticeably. Yet this princess remained silent, her head buried in the water, offering not a single word.

Hearing his question, Yin Weiyin rasped out her response: "Say… say what?"

Chen Yi nuzzled her neck and said, "Anything will do."

The female crown remained quiet for a long while, genuinely unsure what she ought to say to him.

Reflecting briefly, every conversation she'd shared with Chen Yi had been purposeful—every word carrying a clear intention. Casual chatting like this was virtually unheard of.

He existed as her ignorance, her fear of him deeply permeating her Heart Lake. Those words spoken earlier about Anhou had also left traces of dread within her spirit, although it paled compared to her fear of Chen Yi. Even if Anhou were to execute her tomorrow on charges of defaming the Heavenly Family, she felt her greater terror would still lie with Chen Yi.

Yin Weiyin contemplated for a while longer, unable to think of anything to say. Observing Chen Yi's slightly furrowed brow, she quickly said:

"You, you must give me some time."

Chen Yi lightly inhaled the fragrant dampness of her hair and agreed:

"Alright."

The bathrooms fell into a long silence, thin threads of steam dispersing gradually as time passed. The celestial beauty of Yin Weiyin's visage grew clearer, akin to a freshly cleansed morning after a light snowfall. Sitting quietly in the water, her eyes lowered in thought, her hair cascading like a waterfall—unbound even during her bath—she exuded an ethereal, transcendent aura, as though destined for immortality. Chen Yi stared, momentarily entranced.

Yin Weiyin's beauty often stood out most in moments like this, when she remained silent and lost in thought.

And perhaps it was this beauty—the taste of humiliating her—that always intoxicated Chen Yi.

The water cooled slightly. Chen Yi rose to his feet and poured some hot water back into the tub. Half-dazed, Yin Weiyin caught a glimpse of him inadvertently. Though she knew full well what that sensation entailed, she couldn't help her blush. She was, after all, a woman—a thin-skinned one at that—even if she were a Taoist striving to transcend the mortal realm.

When Chen Yi returned to the water, Yin Weiyin, still red-faced, caught his teasing smile and heard him say:

"What's the matter? Haven't you seen enough times already?"

Yin Weiyin kept her blush and didn't answer.

Without waiting for Chen Yi to pull her into his embrace, the princess hesitated for a while before lightly leaning back into his arms and saying:

"Let's get out of here. Staying here too long… Let's go and talk outside."

Now reflecting traces of reluctant compliance, Yin Weiyin's tone seemed to please Chen Yi. He didn't push her further and let her rise to get dressed.

......…

After freshening up, Yin Weiyin pulled her robes close and walked slowly into the bedroom. Sitting at the edge of the bed now, she felt an acute sense of discomfort, like sitting on pins and needles. Lifting her gaze, she saw the little fox curled up with a book, reclining on the chaise lounge illuminated by bright oil lamps.

Chen Yi followed her into the room. Yin Tingxue slightly lowered her book, offering him a quick smile. Just as she was about to continue reading, he crouched halfway down, pressing his face near hers.

"Do you have anything you'd like to say to me?" Chen Yi asked mischievously.

Yin Tingxue flinched back timidly, clutching her book tightly and hesitating for a long while before nodding slightly, admitting: "I do, I do…"

Seeing her obedience, Chen Yi softened his tone a bit and said: "Alright, let me hear it."

"You said... You said you wouldn't punish me for small things, right?" Yin Tingxue asked tentatively, seeking confirmation with his calm expression.

Chen Yi noticed her little act of cleverness and chuckled: "I won't punish you."

While the two conversed, Yin Weiyin sat idle with nothing to do, suppressed frustration blooming as she pondered what to talk about with Chen Yi. Seated on the bed, her gaze wandered around the room, surveying her surroundings for the first time in detail.

The wardrobe was a simple oak design. The room held a sword rack but no blade rack. The pitch-black Hou Kang Sword stood propped at a distance, while the Brocade Spring Blade named "No Impurities" hung on the wall, secured by ropes. There was a small bookcase, the volumes inside mostly miscellaneous texts like the one Yin Tingxue held. On the bed's frame hung a string of Copper Coins meant for warding off disasters and praying for blessings. Nearby, there stood a plain, unremarkable screen—not particularly refined as a decoration, yet compact and functional like a sparrow small in size, yet complete within.