Chapter 169: Ling Luochen's Fluttering Heart
"Junior Ye Chen, you're here too! Great, I was just looking for you~"
The moment Ling Luochen spotted him, she forgot all about Ma Xiaotao and dragged Ye Chen straight toward a quiet corner.
Ma Xiaotao: …
"Ling Luochen, you're unbelievable…"
Ma Xiaotao glared daggers at her, but since she'd already entered, there wasn't much she could say.
After all, they were classmates—and Ye Chen had helped her with a treasure so precious she knew it couldn't be duplicated. There was no way he'd have another one to spare for Ling Luochen.
Sure enough, after a brief whispering conversation with Ye Chen, Ling Luochen's excited face turned crestfallen.
Ma Xiaotao, meanwhile, lounged on the stone stool, crossing her legs and eating the expensive fruits Ling Luochen had brought as gifts, grinning smugly. "Martial spirit evolution isn't some free lunch, Luochen. Don't even think about it."
"Ugh! You're so lucky, Ma Xiaotao! And to think you claimed nothing was going on between you and Ye Chen… all lies! You just wanted to keep it to yourself—so selfish!"
Ling Luochen's voice trembled with anger and frustration.
She should've made her move sooner…
In fact, she'd wanted to.
But who could've guessed Ma Xiaotao would move so fast? It hadn't even been long—yet she'd already claimed Ye Chen for herself!
All those romance novels said things were supposed to progress slowly—over months or even years before the relationship deepened…
But Ma Xiaotao had taken the plunge immediately. Shameless.
"Well, you snooze, you lose," Ma Xiaotao said with a smirk, clearly pleased with herself.
In her eyes, winning over Ye Chen was the most brilliant decision she'd ever made.
Of course, if Ling Luochen did try to join in… well, if Ye Chen agreed, she wouldn't object.
Honestly, Ye Chen's strength was too much for one woman to handle anyway—she could use someone else to share the workload. And Ling Luochen would be the perfect candidate.
Still, even if Ye Chen accepted her, Ma Xiaotao would remain the primary one. There was no way she'd let Ling Luochen take the upper hand.
"Hmph! You're just an old cougar seducing a younger man—so shameless," Ling Luochen sneered, unwilling to back down.
In her mind, Ma Xiaotao had only gotten ahead because of proximity—senior sister and junior brother, an unfair advantage.
Poor Ye Chen, she thought bitterly. Too young, too naive—tricked right into Ma Xiaotao's bed by that vixen.
With Ma Xiaotao's fiery temperament and strong physique, the poor boy probably didn't even get to rest at night.
"Alright, alright, you've asked enough. If there's nothing else, please leave. I still have to cultivate," Ma Xiaotao said, shooing her toward the door. "You should go train too. I'm already a quasi–Soul Saint, while you're still at Soul King. Once I advance a little more, I'll beat you with one hand."
Her words made Ling Luochen's brow twitch furiously, but she couldn't refute them.
After all, Ma Xiaotao had always been ahead of her, even back when the demonic fire hindered her progress.
Ling Luochen had once been close behind, especially when Ma Xiaotao's flame began interfering with her cultivation. For a while, she thought she could finally surpass her.
Back then, Ma Xiaotao even asked for her help in suppressing the evil fire—but she refused. The risk was too great; helping would've crippled her own progress.
If she'd done it, her cultivation speed would've been cut in half.
And she couldn't afford that. She'd already been struggling to keep up—another setback would have left her hopelessly behind.
It hadn't been out of malice—just practicality.
Still, in her anger, Ma Xiaotao had nearly fought her then and there. Elder Xuan had to step in to mediate before things calmed down.
Since then, their relationship had eased, though bickering remained their usual dynamic.
"Enough already. Go focus on training. Tomorrow I'll be getting my Spirit Avatar—you'd better hurry up if you don't want to fall behind," Ma Xiaotao said, ushering her out while ignoring her protests.
She'd given her gift, gotten her answers, and there was no need to let her linger any longer.
"Damn Ma Xiaotao, I will surpass you!" Ling Luochen fumed as she stormed away, throwing a glare back at the small courtyard before disappearing.
She couldn't outfight her. She couldn't outargue her. So what was the point of staying and suffering more humiliation?
…
"Ugh… this is getting ridiculous," Ma Xiaotao muttered, crashing into her chair with a weary sigh. "More people come every day. I can't stay here anymore—I'll go find my teacher tomorrow."
Every visitor offered fake smiles of concern, but all of them were just prying into her and Ye Chen's "miracle." It was exhausting.
"Mm. You've already adapted to the Extreme Fire well enough—it's about time to secure that next soul ring," Ye Chen agreed.
"Then why don't you come with me? You could use some training too," Ma Xiaotao said, grabbing his arm with a teasing grin.
"No thanks. Not interested." Ye Chen waved her off instantly.
"Hmph! You're thinking about pervy stuff again…" Ma Xiaotao huffed, blushing as she ruffled his hair playfully.
But she had to admit, he wasn't wrong—bringing him along to the Star Dou Forest would probably be a hassle.
…
That night, with the trip looming, she dragged him into bed and let loose one last "training session."
By the time dawn broke, Ma Xiaotao was limp in his arms, completely exhausted.
"Xiao Tao‑jie, you've got to hunt soul beasts tomorrow, and you still go this hard…" Ye Chen said helplessly.
"Hmph, none of your business…" she murmured weakly, too tired to argue.
Ye Chen chuckled and held her tighter. She was soft, warm, perfect against him.
"By the way," she mumbled softly, half‑asleep, "since you like Ling Luochen so much… just take her into your harem already. Maybe she can help me share some of the workload…"
"Ahem… Xiao Tao‑jie, when did I ever say I liked Senior Sister Ling?" Ye Chen coughed, instantly defensive.
He hadn't expected her to blurt that out.
"Hmph, don't play dumb. I've known for a while…" she murmured, then added with sleepy tenderness, "Fine, if you really do take her, I won't mind… but that doesn't mean I won't get jealous. So you'd better treat me better than her, understand?"
"Of course. Xiao Tao‑jie, you'll always be my favorite," Ye Chen whispered, kissing her cheek.
"Hmph… you'd better mean that…" she mumbled, voice fading as she drifted into sleep, worn out from the night's "training."
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/LightKira10