15: Exploring The Cave

"Ah?"

After hearing the aloof demoness's views on mating, Lu Xun felt a chill from his feet to his head.

He pursed his lips and cautiously said, "My wife, please don't joke with me. Even though we haven't officially married yet, we can't defy your master's orders. So, about us…"

Before Lu Xun could finish speaking, Xuan Yin coldly interrupted, "What wife and husband? That's just my master's wishful thinking. In any case, I am like this, and you are merely my… my dual cultivation tool. I will use the cruelest methods to…"

At this point, Xuan Yin's cheeks flushed red, and she bit her plump vermilion lips. She continued coldly, "Rest assured, I won't let you die. At most, I'll just peel off a layer of your skin. After all, in a hundred years, I'll still need you."

Peeling off just a layer of skin? It can't be that simple! Your master said dual cultivation could last for a whole week. I'm afraid my waist will be wrecked.

Lu Xun shrugged and said seriously, "After dealing with the matters here, I want to meet your master alone and have a good talk with her."

"Hmph."

"Why do you want to see my master?" Xuan Yin furrowed her brows, questioning with doubt.

"Of course, I'll complain to her!"

"Why else would I see her? Do you think I'm itching to see her?" Lu Xun replied grumpily.

Xuan Yin ignored him and continued controlling the flying sword beneath her feet, flying towards a certain direction. Her thoughts were slightly in chaos.

Actually, she thought about this question before—whether dual cultivation should be in human form or snake form. Her conclusion was that human form was better, and half-human, half-demon form was also acceptable.

"Hmm?"

"Why are you silent again?" Lu Xun tugged on Xuan Yin's leg and peeked his head out from below, looking up at her without seeing her face.

He asked softly, "Are you worried about getting beaten?"

"Shut up!"

"Alright, alright."

"I won't see your master. I couldn't catch up to her even if I tried, let alone go to find her. I'd probably get beaten up by her again." Lu Xun smiled and casually said, "I know you're just trying to scare me. I think you… are a demoness who seems cold and heartless, but deep down, you're actually quite kind and soft."

Xuan Yin pouted but swallowed the words in her mouth. After a moment of hesitation, she coldly said, "From now on, you're not allowed to speak so eloquently in front of me."

"Okay, okay, okay."

"I'll say whatever you want." Lu Xun readily agreed.

As the conversation ended, he asked with curiosity, "My wife, what are we doing here now?"

"I won't tell you." Xuan Yin replied calmly.

"…"

"My wife, you're a little naughty."

"Get lost!"

***

"Why did we come here?"

Lu Xun looked at the massive cave in front of him, his face full of puzzlement. "Could the Heavenly Dao Diagram be inside here?"

"Last night, I observed the stars, and a certain star in the southeast was exceptionally bright. So, I deduced that the Heavenly Dao Diagram might be here,"

Xuan Yin glanced at the seemingly bottomless cave in front of her, lightly pursing her mouth, and mumbled, "I just said it's a possibility. If we can't find it, just forget I mentioned it."

"Then let's go in." Lu Xun was just about to step in but then silently stepped back. He earnestly said, "My wife, you should go first."

Xuan Yin didn't pay much attention to it. Holding a sharp flying sword, she entered the cave alone. Lu Xun followed closely, trailing behind the alluring butt of the demoness.

"This place may be dangerous." After walking a few steps, Xuan Yin looked at the bones on the side and casually said, "Remember to stay close to me. Don't get lost later."

"Don't worry, I'll keep a close eye on your butt," Lu Xun replied.

Speaking of butt, Xuan Yin recalled the feeling of being pressed against it by him that day, and her cold and elegant face blushed again.

The two continued to move forward. The road ahead had become completely indiscernible, but to Lu Xun's surprise, the cold demoness seemed unaffected. Soon he understood why: his wife was, after all, a snake demon.

"Wife. I can't see anything." Lu Xun tugged on a ribbon of Xuan Yin's clothes and said with bitterness, "Maybe I should go back first, and you can endure this hardship alone."

"Wait for me at the entrance of the cave," Xuan Yin said calmly.

"Okay."

Lu Xun turned his head and found it pitch black outside as well. He immediately abandoned the idea of going back and silently held onto a ribbon of his wife robe, "Forget it, I'll accompany you. I can't bear to leave you, my dear demoness, all alone in this cave."

"Hmph." Xuan Yin coldly snorted, not bothering to expose his lie, and continued to explore deeper into the cave.

Throughout the journey, Lu Xun stumbled and staggered. By this point, he had bruises all over his body, feeling deeply resentful. She could have reminded him of the obstacles, but she remained silent. She even chuckled a few times.

"We're here."

Suddenly, Xuan Yin's voice appeared in Lu Xun's ears. Before he could react, his body collided with her backside and butt.

"Ah!"

A scream echoed, Xuan Yin shuddered all over and quickly turned around, pushing him away while protecting her pert butt with both hands. She glared at him with a flushed face as he sat on the ground, looking terrified.

"Wife! My wife! Where are you?" Lu Xun slowly stood up, cautiously extending his hand to feel the surroundings while calling out for his wife.

Though he couldn't see his own hand in front of him, Xuan Yin, as a snake demon, could clearly see everything. Seeing him anxious and cautious, she felt a bit sorry for him.

She said calmly, "I'm here. Don't move from where you are. I won't be too far from you."

"Hoo…"

"Wife! Suddenly, I find your voice quite pleasant," Lu Xun sighed heavily and obediently stayed where he was, not daring to move.

Holding her flying sword, Xuan Yin approached a certain spot on the rock wall and reached out to touch its smooth surface.

Frowning slightly, she said with disappointment, "It seems someone had already arrived here before us."

"You mean… the Heavenly Dao Diagram has been taken away?" Lu Xun asked.

"I don't know." Xuan Yin pursed her lips while feeling the rock wall. She casually said, "It might be the Heavenly Dao Diagram, or it could be something else. In any case, we've missed our chance."

"Let's go."

"We're going back." Xuan Yin turned around and addressed Lu Xun, who was still standing in place.

"Should we go back to the ruined temple or your home?" Lu Xun asked.

"Let's return to the ruined temple first and wait a couple of days to see how things unfold," Xuan Yin replied.

As she spoke, she walked to Lu Xun's side, picked up a ribbon from her clothing, and handed it to him, saying, "Hold onto this ribbon, and I'll lead you out."

"Oh."

Lu Xun reached out and grabbed Xuan Yin's peach butt instead.