You are the most important

Chang Wan knew she was no match for him; even a mountain full of evolved spiritual beasts outside was more than she could handle. Now, her only savior was her wits.

Seeing the birdcage door being opened, she cast aside her shame and threw her arms around his neck.

“I don’t want to!”

She softened her voice, pleading, “Those men in black… I didn’t send them.”

Chu Changqing’s movements paused. He looked at her with a profound, unreadable gaze.

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Chang Wan pressed on. “Elder Xia wanted to claim this spiritual mountain for his own peak and asked the Sect Leader to break the barrier… so I went to beg the Sect Leader to give the mountain to me instead.”

Her voice trembled slightly. “I did it to keep you safe… but I didn’t expect those people to show up.”

Chu Changqing remained silent. He held her, hovering in mid-air, but he made no further move to open the birdcage.

When she spoke in that low voice, the haughty arrogance she usually wore like a shield had vanished. She sounded soft, melodious, and incredibly enticing, like a feather brushing against his heart.

“I didn’t plan to go to the Sect Leader directly—I was already under suspicion. But that day, the Sect Leader suddenly gave the mountain to me.”

“I didn’t know…” Chang Wan thought of the carnage outside and couldn’t help but feel nauseous. Having grown up in a peaceful era, seeing so many mangled corpses truly pushed her to her limit. “What happened to those people out there…?”

She had started out just trying to exonerate herself, but as she spoke, she began to feel genuinely aggrieved—not just aggrieved, but miserable.

In all her life, this was the first time she felt so damn wronged.

She had done absolutely nothing, so why was she being bullied like this?

At that thought, Chang Wan’s voice began to choke up. “You can’t do this to me. I didn’t know anything. You’re wronging me. I didn’t want to kill you. I’ve never wanted to kill you…”

Scolding, hot tears rolled onto Chu Changqing’s shoulder like erupting lava, drowning him in an instant.

Chu Changqing’s mind went blank.

She was crying.

What was she saying—

She was crying so sorrowfully.

By the end, the girl couldn’t say anything more. She cried until she was gasping for air, her tears falling like a string of broken pearls.

Chang Wan wanted to say more, but her vision went dark as soft, warm lips kissed her eyes.

“Don’t cry.”

The youth’s voice was slightly hoarse. “Do not cry.”

The moment she cried, everything else vanished from his mind.

He would give her everything.

His heart, his life—even if she truly wanted to kill him, it didn’t matter. He had countless lives for her to take.

He could give up everything; he could agree to anything.

—Chu Changqing knew he was finished.

He lowered his head, kissing away her tears one by one. The salty, bitter taste sent a thrill through him.

The girl gripped his clothes, her eyes watery. The arrogance from before was long gone as she sobbed, “You… don’t lock me up.”

This time, Chu Changqing fell silent.

“I don’t think you’re that bad.” Chang Wan tried her best to forget the river of blood outside and the skyrocketing Blackening and Sin Values, advising him in a fragile voice, “You won’t lock me up.”

Chang Wan thought to herself: if this were an otome game, the birdcage would be the ultimate Bad Ending.

And with Chu Changqing’s “cheat” powers, he could easily turn the Qingfeng Sect into cannonball fodder for his ascent before they even realized what was happening. How could she ever hope to redeem him then? In her dreams.

She had to soothe him. If her character persona collapsed, she’d lose points; but if she actually ended up in that cage, she’d lose herself.

She was showing weakness.

Chu Changqing watched her quietly for a long time. Finally, he carried her into the birdcage anyway.

Chang Wan’s heart went cold. Her hands, still clutching his clothes, went stiff. Her mind went blank, and for a moment, she was so terrified she forgot to cry.

She had said everything she needed to say, explained everything… why…

But then, she felt herself being lowered onto a soft bed. The cool scent of medicinal salve drifted to her lips. Chang Wan’s unfocused eyes slowly regained clarity, meeting the youth’s intent gaze.

Did he still not believe her?

No, she couldn’t just give up. She had to do something—

His eyes were clearly romantic peach-blossom eyes, yet they were dark and fathomless like an abyss. His movements were very gentle as he whispered, “Does it hurt?”

Chang Wan was busy thinking of how to escape; her body was rigid, and she didn’t speak.

The youth’s voice turned a bit cold. “If you don’t speak, you can just stay here forever.”

The girl, as beautiful as a porcelain doll, sat quietly on the edge of the soft bed, looking at him with tear-filled eyes. In an instant, an indescribable desire began to stir within him again.

He wanted to bully her, to make her cry for him…

Seeing the tears threatening to fall again, Chu Changqing’s desire receded slightly, replaced by a touch of inexplicable frustration. He let out a light sigh. “I won’t lock you up.”

He wanted to make her cry, but now that she actually was crying, he felt incredibly uneasy.

Chang Wan snapped her eyes up, the heavy stone in her heart finally dropping. She pursed her lips. “You… you have to keep your word.”

“Of course.”

Chu Changqing’s lips curled. “After all, I’m not that bad.”

He mimicked her words, though his tone carried a hint of irony.

Chang Wan didn’t dare look at him. “Do you believe what I just said?”

That she hadn’t sent anyone to kill him.

Chu Changqing gave an “Mhm.” “I believe you.”

…He didn’t seem like the type to trust others so easily.

Chang Wan was surprised. “Why?”

Chu Changqing said flatly, “I don’t think you would lie to me.”

Chang Wan suddenly realized.

Those were the words she had said to him back in the secret room.

Chu Changqing rubbed the salve onto her lips bit by bit. Her skin felt delicate and soft under his touch. It was as if he had caught an addiction; gradually, his hand strayed, gently stroking her cheek.

“Besides, I told you.” Chu Changqing’s voice paused, his eyes darkening. “If you want it, my life is yours.”

Chang Wan: “…”

“I don’t want your life.”

Chu Changqing watched her with a smirk, as if finally becoming interested. “Oh? Then what do you want?”

Chang Wan was stumped for a moment.

She stammered for a while, thinking of the blood outside, and finally whispered, “I want you… to not kill so many people.”

Chu Changqing gave a mocking laugh. “They try to kill me; why shouldn’t I kill them?”

He wasn’t wrong.

If someone wanted her dead, she wouldn’t let them off easy either. She was kind-hearted, but she wasn’t a saint.

“It’s… don’t kill the innocent.” Chang Wan thought for a moment and found a more accurate phrasing.

Chu Changqing narrowed his eyes at her, as if searching for something. Finally, seeing the trace of fear in her watery eyes, he seemed to understand. “I won’t kill you.”

How could he bear to?

Chang Wan: “…”

No, that’s not what I meant!!!

But she didn’t have the strength to explain, finally deciding to just let him think whatever he wanted.

Chang Wan looked at the open door not far away and gave a sheepish smile. “…Your injuries healed very quickly.”

And the sudden surge in power was also very suspicious.

Chu Changqing saw through her thoughts but simply finished applying the medicine. His voice was flat. “Good luck.”

Chang Wan pondered. “I don’t know who sent those men in black, but since the target was you, it must be someone from the Qingfeng Sect…”

However, the fact that someone could break the Beast Soul Barrier was truly unexpected.

Chu Changqing asked as if casually, “Who do you think it was?”

“I…” Chang Wan instinctively thought of Qi Bing, but she had no evidence. She struggled with the thought for a while. “I don’t know.”

Chu Changqing thought of her coming out of that Sect Leader’s little courtyard, and his eyes began to darken.

When she said she didn’t know, did she really not know, or was she protecting that man?

The thought of her emerging from that courtyard instantly soured his good mood. His smile turned cold and distant. “Oh? Is that so?”

For some reason, Chang Wan felt a shiver from the way he was looking at her. She quickly replayed everything she had said to see what was wrong. After a long while, she said hesitantly:

“If… if I had to guess, maybe it was Elder Xia…”

The youth’s face remained expressionless, his eyes cool.

Chang Wan’s lips moved, and finally, she whispered, “If it wasn’t Elder Xia, then it must be the Sect Leader.”

As soon as she said it, the aura around them shifted.

The youth looked at her with a curve in his brow, his gaze becoming unusually tender. “Yes, you’re right.”

Chang Wan: “…”

Chang Wan: “But there’s no evidence.”

Chu Changqing’s voice was flat. “I investigated the Qingfeng Sect back when I was in the demon sect. That Sect Leader of yours isn’t as simple as he seems.”

Chang Wan recalled what the Sect Leader had said to her when she went to ask for the antidote; she felt a strange sensation as well.

After that, she would stay as far away from the Sect Leader as possible. Managing one lunatic like Chu Changqing was enough; dealing with another would surely take years off her life.

Chu Changqing looked at the girl’s clear, hesitant eyes. He leaned down and couldn’t help but kiss her forehead.

Chang Wan was startled and immediately tried to pull away, but he held her shoulders, leaving her with nowhere to run.

Chang Wan told herself: don’t be afraid, it’s okay, it’s just a little disadvantage. For now, just soothe him and find a way out of here…

She clenched and unclenched her fists. Then she heard him chuckle softly. “It doesn’t matter. Whatever happens to him has nothing to do with you anyway.”

Chang Wan whispered, “Mhm… can I leave now?”

Chu Changqing narrowed his eyes. “No.”

Chang Wan grew anxious, though she maintained a calm face. “You said it had nothing to do with me.”

The youth kissed her cheek again, as if he could never get enough. His movements were gentle. “Stay with me.”

Chang Wan’s mind raced. “But if I’m missing for too long… the Sage Hall will be hard to explain, and the Sect Leader will definitely come looking for me…”

The atmospheric pressure around them suddenly plummeted.

Chang Wan instinctively went quiet. She looked up and saw that Chu Changqing’s expression was still cold and calm, but the curve of his lips looked icy and bloodthirsty.

“If one comes, I’ll kill one.”

Chang Wan: “…You just promised me you wouldn’t kill the innocent.”

Chu Changqing tilted his head slightly. “Anyone who tries to take you away is guilty beyond redemption.”

Chang Wan felt that her mission was truly a long way off.

“Two days.”

Perhaps seeing that her disappointment was too obvious, the youth gently kissed the corner of her mouth, his voice softening. “Stay here with me for two days, okay?”

In the end, Chang Wan stayed in the birdcage for two days.

Though he wouldn’t let her leave, he truly granted her every wish. His favorite thing to do was hold her and kiss her bit by bit.

Either they would be locked in a relentless kiss, or he would kiss her eyes, her cheeks, her dimples—every inch of her skin.

He didn’t speak much. His narrow peach-blossom eyes were beautiful, and when he was silent, they were as quiet as an abyss.

Chang Wan always felt he was planning something, yet she couldn’t read his mind.

When it was time to leave, he took the jade pendant from his neck and hung it around hers.

The Double Fish Jade Pendant still carried the warmth from his body.

Chang Wan went stiff, looking at him in a panic. “This…”

“Take it.”

He kissed her earlobe, his voice slightly hoarse. “Don’t lose it.”

With the pendant around her neck, Chang Wan felt a bit uneasy. She didn’t dare speak, but she had a strange sensation.

In the book, Chang Wan had lost her life because of this jade pendant… and now he was just giving it to her for no reason?

“This…” Chang Wan tried to find a reason to refuse. “It’s something very important, right? You should…”

“It’s not as important as you.”

Chu Changqing leaned against her neck, his voice tender as he changed the subject. “I don’t like the scent on you.”

“Don’t use that Calming Incense anymore.”

It was the scent of someone else.

He had held her and nestled with her for two days; finally, her body was covered in his scent.

He had wanted to do this for a long time.

He liked this feeling very much.

As if every inch of her belonged to him.

Ever since those days in that lightless secret room, every time she appeared before his eyes—

“…Okay.”

Stared at by those daunting eyes, Chang Wan finally accepted it cautiously. She vowed to herself that as soon as she got back, she’d find a place to enshrine this thing—she was afraid if it even got a tiny scratch, he’d come to flay her skin.

Before she could decide where to enshrine it, she heard his somber yet soft voice.

“Ah Wan won’t run away, right?”