People in Doupo: The beginning of the game intercepts the rich woman Xun'er

When Xun'er heard Xiao Ling's resounding words, her heart felt as if it had been soaked in warm water, and she softened completely.

The resilience she had shown in dealing with the clan's turmoil had now transformed into tenderness in her eyes. As she gazed into Xiao Ling's deep eyes, the unwavering determination and tenderness within them made her nose tingle slightly. Her gaze towards him was now entangled with unyielding affection, as if she wanted to melt all the longing and anticipation of the past few years into those eyes.

Xiao Ling unconsciously tightened his grip on her hand, the warmth of his palm seeping into his heart through her slightly cool, jade-like hand. He gently caressed the delicate skin on the back of her hand with his fingertips, as if confirming that this sense of security was not an illusion.

The two locked eyes, and the surrounding bamboo scent and the sound of the wind seemed to quiet down, leaving only their figures in each other's eyes becoming clearer. Xiao Ling leaned slightly forward, his fingertips unconsciously brushing against her knuckles. His throat moved, as if he had a thousand words to say, but the tenderness filling the room prevented him from speaking.

He felt that he should pull her into his arms the next second and make up for all the years he had missed with a hug.

The warmth in the air almost overflowed from the bamboo house, even the swaying of the curtains slowed down, as if leaving space for the lovers.

Watching this scene, Old Ling's teacup hovered in mid-air, a smile playing on his lips. But feeling he was being superfluous, he deliberately cleared his throat. The soft cough broke the silence of the room. He shook his head with a smile.

"Ahem, this old minister is still here. If the two young masters keep staring like this, the tea in this bamboo room will probably get cold."

Upon hearing this, Xun'er suddenly came to her senses, her cheeks instantly flushing red, like a little girl caught red-handed. She subconsciously tried to pull her hand away, but Xiao Ling gripped it even tighter.

Xiao Ling showed no embarrassment whatsoever. He simply turned his head and raised an eyebrow at Elder Ling, his tone carrying a hint of amusement: "Hehe, Xun'er and I haven't seen each other for a long time, and my emotions are indeed a bit unstable. I hope Elder Ling will forgive my embarrassment."

Despite saying that, he didn't let go of Xun'er's hand, only his grip on her hand softened a little, and the tenderness in his eyes remained.

"Hehe, how could I not understand the thoughts of you young people?" Old Ling waved his hand with a smile, his face not showing any teasing or mischievousness, but rather full of kindness, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes softened a bit with his smile.

He gazed at their clasped hands, his eyes drifting away, a faint trace of reminiscence passing through them, and his voice slowed:
"Back in the day, I too had such passionate moments, but time waits for no one, and those days are long gone. It's a good thing that you two can be so in sync."

After saying that, he picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip. When his gaze returned to the two of them, it was full of gentle indulgence. He no longer deliberately interrupted them as before. He just sat quietly, as if he were looking at his own juniors, with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

After finishing his cup of hot tea, Old Master Ling slowly stood up, his movements displaying the composure of an elder.

He bowed slightly to the two of them and said in a calm and unhurried tone, "Young Master Xiao Ling and Miss Xun'er have not seen each other for a long time, and must have a lot to talk about. My presence here would only spoil your fun."

He paused, then remembered something, and a hint of shrewdness appeared in his eyes: "Besides, that young brother Xiao Yan has just arrived at the Ancient Clan, and there's no one to properly arrange his accommodations yet. Why don't I take care of this matter, so you can catch up in peace?"

"I almost forgot about my cousin. Since you have time, Elder Ling, I'd like to trouble you to look after him." Upon hearing this, Xiao Ling snapped out of his reverie, remembering the unexpected situation that had arisen earlier due to his meeting with Xun'er, and had completely forgotten about Xiao Yan. He nodded and smiled at Elder Ling with a hint of apology in his voice.

"No trouble at all, it's what I should do." Elder Ling waved his hand, his tone still gentle. "I won't keep you two any longer."

After saying this, he bowed slightly to the two of them again, then turned and walked quietly towards the outside of the bamboo house. When his fingertips touched the curtain, his movements were extremely slow, and he barely made a sound when he closed the door, as if afraid of disturbing the warmth that filled the room.

Ling Ying's footsteps completely disappeared outside the bamboo house. Xiao Ling and Xun'er subconsciously exchanged a glance. Recalling how Elder Ling had deliberately avoided them earlier, smiles appeared in their eyes at the same time. Then, they both burst out laughing.

The slight restraint that had been there because of Ling Ying's presence vanished completely with that laugh, leaving only the relaxed and intimate atmosphere between the two of them.

Xiao Ling gazed at Xun'er's smiling eyes, his fingertips gently brushing against the back of her hand. Then, he reached out slightly, gently yet firmly embracing her waist, and with a gentle pull, he brought her closer to him.

Xun'er's cheeks flushed slightly. She twisted her body symbolically and gently touched his chest with her fingertips, but she didn't actually push him away. Instead, she followed his force and softly leaned into his arms, pressing her cheek against his warm clothes. Even her breath was tinged with his cool scent.

Xiao Ling looked down at the soft hair of the person in his arms, tightened his arms around her, gently rested his chin on her hair, and said in a soft and gentle voice, "After all these years, I can finally hold you like this."

Xun'er didn't speak, but simply raised her hand to hug Xiao Ling's waist, burying her face even deeper, her ear tips even showing a hint of pink, yet she was unwilling to move away even a fraction.

The two embraced quietly, with the sounds of the stream and bamboo bells outside the bamboo window providing the perfect backdrop.

Xiao Ling rested his chin on Xun'er's head, his fingertips gently tracing her hair as he slowly recounted his experiences over the years since their separation.

Of course, the most detailed account was of helping Zi Yan unify Gu Long Island.

He recounted the chaos of the internal division of Ancient Dragon Island at that time, the dangers of his battles with the other three Dragon Kings and Huang Tian, ​​the patriarch of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, and the resilience of Zi Yan as she transformed from an innocent girl into the new Dragon Emperor. He even described the details of those thrilling battles in a calm and gentle tone.

Xun'er nestled in his arms, her fingertips gently clutching his clothes, listening intently. When she heard tense parts, she would subconsciously tighten her fingers; when she heard that Zi Yan had successfully unified Gulong Island, she would quietly breathe a sigh of relief.

After Xiao Ling finished speaking, she raised her head, her eyes still filled with lingering shock, her voice trembling slightly: "I really didn't expect... that in just a few years, Brother Xiao Ling would have experienced so many thrilling things."

She lowered her eyes, her tone inevitably tinged with a touch of melancholy.

Although she was the eldest daughter of an ancient clan and her father was a top-tier nine-star Dou Sheng in the Dou Qi Continent, even with her extensive experience and rich knowledge, she had been confined to her clan for cultivation for many years. All she had seen was the internal strife and the tedium of cultivation. She never imagined that she could have such a magnificent and turbulent experience as Xiao Ling.

Thinking this, Xun'er couldn't help but tilt her head slightly, her gaze meeting Xiao Ling's deep eyes. Her eyes were filled with admiration mixed with an overwhelming heartache, and even her voice softened a bit: "Brother Xiao Ling, you must have suffered a lot to get through those dangers, right?"

Her fingertips gently brushed against the creases of Xiao Ling's clothes, recalling his earlier mention of venturing alone into the Heavenly Phoenix Clan. A lump formed in her throat, and she said, "To dare go to a place like the Heavenly Phoenix Clan alone, how dangerous that must have been... You can't take such risks again, Xun'er will worry herself sick." As she spoke, Xun'er tightened her grip on his clothes, her voice pleading, "Even if you don't think of yourself, Brother Xiao Ling, please think of Xun'er, okay? If you need anything in the future, just tell me. As long as it's something from the ancient clan, whether it's rare cultivation resources or people who can help, Xun'er will prepare it all for you, so you'll never have to face those dangers alone again."

Seeing that Xun'er's eyes were wet, and even her eyelashes were glistening with tiny drops of water, Xiao Ling felt a gentle tug at his heart, filled with tenderness.

He raised his hand and gently brushed her cheek with his fingertips, his fingertips wiping away the remaining dampness, his voice soft and gentle:
"Alright, alright, I'll listen to you. I'll never take such risks again. Actually, when I stormed the Heavenly Phoenix Clan, I was absolutely certain of success, otherwise I wouldn't have gone so rashly. Don't worry, I'm someone who values ​​my life above all else..."

He paused deliberately, gently pinching her chin with his fingertips, a playful smile in his voice:

"After all, I still have such a wonderful girl like you, Xun'er, waiting for me to marry you. I can't bear to die young, otherwise I would regret it even if I went to the underworld."

Xiao Ling's teasing instantly relieved Xun'er's worries, and the moisture in her eyes quietly faded, leaving only a faint blush on her cheeks.

She raised her hand and gently patted Xiao Ling's chest, her tone carrying a hint of coquettishness, yet also a touch of seriousness:

"Brother Xiao Ling is just teasing me! But you have to keep your word. You really can't take risks like this anymore, otherwise I... I'll still worry."

After saying that, she gently pinched Xiao Ling's collar again, as if to emphasize the "warning", but her eyes were already filled with a smile.

The two were joking and teasing each other, the atmosphere was as sweet as honey, when suddenly a few "ee-ya ee-ya" sounds came from the room.

The voice was soft and gentle, much like a baby's soft call, and it clearly reached Xiao Ling and Xun'er's ears.

The sudden sound made the two pause. After exchanging a glance, they both looked in the direction from which the sound came, their eyes filled with surprise and curiosity, temporarily setting aside their previous intimacy and playfulness.

Unlike the slight doubt in Xiao Ling's eyes, Xun'er's eyes flashed with understanding when she heard the familiar voice, and she knew exactly what was going on.

Then, she turned to Xiao Ling and said softly, "Brother Xiao Ling, didn't I say before that I would introduce you to someone special? Now, you will be able to meet her soon."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ling had not yet fully digested the meaning behind Xun'er's words and was about to ask further when he saw sparks suddenly appear in the void not far in front of him.

The sparks, which started out weak, quickly grew stronger and stronger, eventually turning into real flames that rose up, the heat waves carrying a gentle warmth as they brushed against my cheeks.

In the blink of an eye, the ball of flame suddenly contracted and condensed, eventually transforming into a small creature in mid-air that looked no different from an ordinary baby.

You can tell from her appearance that the little one is a girl. Her hair is bright red and is combed into two round pigtails that hang down over her shoulders. There is a thin red line on each side of her cheek, which extends down the curve of her cheeks, adding a touch of liveliness to her fair and tender face.

The little dress she was wearing was also a fiery red in the same color scheme. The fabric was so soft that it seemed to be woven from flames, and the edges were decorated with a few faint flame patterns, as if it had been carefully sewn.

At this moment, the little guy was floating in mid-air, enveloped in a faint halo of flames, staring intently at Xiao Ling and Xun'er with his round eyes, making "ee-ya ee-ya" sounds and waving his little fists, looking very endearing.

The little guy's entrance was truly peculiar, instantly captivating Xiao Ling's attention.

What stirred his heart even more was the familiar aura emanating from that small body. Xiao Ling would never mistake that warm yet burning sensation for the aura of the strange fire he had subdued. However, upon closer inspection, he would find that it was not mixed with the scent of the Red Lotus Karmic Fire that he had recently acquired.

He frowned slightly, his gaze shifting between the little guy's bright red pigtails and the lines on his cheeks. His fingertips tightened unconsciously, and even his breathing became lighter: "This aura... is it my strange fire?"

As he spoke, his eyes were filled with astonishment. He couldn't understand how his strange fire aura could appear on an infant that had been formed out of thin air by flames.

But Xiao Ling was a quick-witted person. After a brief moment of thought, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he immediately turned to look at Xun'er, only to meet her smiling eyes.

Although Xiao Ling's tone was questioning, it was full of certainty: "Xun'er, is this the special person you mentioned? If I'm not mistaken, this little girl is the Little Flame Princess you conceived using the Fire Calamity Fruit I gave you earlier, right?"

As he finished speaking, his gaze returned to the little guy. Watching him wave his little fists and make "ee-ya" noises, his previous doubts about the strange fire aura were instantly resolved, and a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

When Xiao Ling handed the Fire Fruit to Xun'er, he specially injected a portion of his own strange fire energy into it. It was precisely because he had not yet subdued the Red Lotus Karmic Fire at that time that Xiao Yan Ji now only has the familiar aura of strange fire, but does not have the same feeling as the Red Lotus Karmic Fire.

Hearing Xiao Ling reveal the truth in one sentence, Xun'er couldn't help but pout slightly, deliberately feigning disappointment, her tone carrying a hint of coquettishness:

"I originally thought that Brother Xiao Ling would have to think about it for a while and wouldn't be able to guess Ling'er's background. I was thinking of telling you and giving you a surprise. I didn't expect you to guess it right away. What a disappointment."

After saying that, she couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips, unable to hide the smile in her eyes. She was obviously just teasing Xiao Ling. Seeing that Xiao Ling could immediately recognize Xiao Yan Ji's origin, she was actually quite happy. After all, this proved that Xiao Ling also cared about this matter.

"Ling'er, is that the little guy's name? It's both pleasant to hear and fitting." Xiao Ling raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on the little guy who was floating over, his eyes full of smiles.

In a short while, Little Flame Princess fanned herself with a faint aura of flames and flew to the two of them.

She opened her large, watery eyes, her eyelashes fluttering gently, her little head tilted slightly, staring intently at Xiao Ling. Her expression was one of careful observation, tinged with childlike curiosity, and even her soft "ee-ya" sounds were quieter. (End of Chapter)