Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 261 Complete Fall
Inside the study, Chen Ye appeared to be reviewing official documents, but in reality, his mind was already immersed in the wondrous vision of the throne of desire.

The two women wrestling next door appeared to him as two intertwined, violently colliding flames of desire.

One is a white necklace with a fiery rose gold base, representing an intense and unyielding love for oneself. However, the outer layer of this rose gold is wrapped in a rich dark green, representing jealousy and hostility stemming from the invasion of one's territory.

The other one was Xia Lingshuang's; her desire was far more complex.

The outermost layer is a facade, a pale golden expression of gratitude and adoration, like a thin layer of icing sugar, while the inner part is crimson, representing intense curiosity and exploration of oneself.

At the very core was that strange pinkish-purple wisp she had planted herself, a twisted dependence and intimacy that was now intertwined with her disgust and anger toward Bai Yingluo, forming a chaotic vortex.

Chen Ye watched with great interest as these two flames of desire collided.

He could clearly sense that although Xia Lingshuang's cultivation level was comparable to Bai Yingluo's, she was far inferior to the latter in terms of emotional control.

Although Bai Yingluo's jealousy was fierce, the core of her love remained steadfast, which allowed her to retain a sliver of rationality in front of Chen Lang while she was angry.

Xia Lingshuang, on the other hand, was different. The anger in her heart was ignited almost instantly by her own gentle touch. The disgust she felt for Bai Yingluo and the humiliation of being suppressed made her almost lose her composure.

interesting.

Chen Ye originally thought that the duel between these two demonic witches would be an earth-shattering clash of spells, a silent battle of wits and schemes.

Unexpectedly, the style suddenly changed, and a very down-to-earth live-action fight scene unfolded.

You grab my hair, I'll tear your clothes.

These are no longer the lofty and aloof Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect; they are clearly just two shrewish women from the marketplace fighting over something they both love.

Chen Ye could even clearly hear the angry curses and frustrations they were hurling at each other as they fought.

"You bitch! How dare you grab my hair! I'll fight you to the death!"

"Bai Yingluo, you crazy woman! Let go!"

I'll tear that vixen's face off!

Chen Ye shook his head, secretly amused.

He could have easily intervened, but he didn't.

Because he knew very well that both women needed to be disciplined.

Bai Yingluo, relying on her "favor," has begun to become arrogant and domineering, truly considering herself the mistress of this backyard.

Xia Ling Shuang, on the other hand, was arrogant and thought that by pretending to be a weak girl, she could deceive him and uncover his secrets.

Let them fight like dogs, tear each other apart; that will be a good way to dampen their spirits.

Especially Xia Lingshuang.

This woman was filled with intense curiosity and a desire to explore herself, like a self-proclaimed master hunter who wanted to gradually uncover the disguise of her prey.

Little did she know that from the moment she stepped into Pingyang City, the roles of hunter and prey had been quietly reversed.

Now, she is the prey who is walking step by step into the trap.

At this moment, Chen Ye could "see" that their desires had subsided somewhat after the intense collision just now, but their hostility towards each other had become even stronger.

Immediately afterwards, he sensed a new idea rising in Xia Ling Shuang's mind—a deal.

"A temporary truce, a united front against a common enemy?" Chen Ye understood.

Xia Lingshuang isn't entirely stupid; she knows how to assess situations.

However, this was just what he wanted.

A battlefield of carnage would be far too monotonous if it consisted only of fighting and killing.

It's more interesting when, on the surface, the sisters are very close, but in secret they are scheming against each other and wary of one another.

Chen Ye regained his composure and stopped worrying about what was happening in the courtyard. He trusted that the two intelligent women would handle the post-war matters themselves.

The situation in Pingyang City has now stabilized, and work such as setting up soup kitchens, preventing the spread of the epidemic, and resettling displaced people is proceeding in an orderly manner. It's time to move forward.

Therefore, Chen Ye began to organize his next plan. Half an hour later, the door to the study was gently pushed open.

A faint, pleasant fragrance wafted in.

Chen Ye looked up and saw Xia Ling Shuang carrying a basin of hot water, walking in with her head down.

She had changed into a clean dress and her messy hair had been combed again. Although she still looked like a sallow-faced, emaciated refugee, the delicate beauty between her brows was undeniable.

"My lord, you must be tired after a long day of official business. Shuang'er has prepared some hot water for you. Wash your face and relax."

Her voice was soft and her demeanor humble, as if the shrew who had just been fighting with someone was a completely different person.

Chen Ye nodded: "Put it there."

"Yes." Xia Lingshuang placed the copper basin on the shelf next to her, then picked up a towel, soaked it, wrung it out, and respectfully handed it to Chen Ye.

Chen Ye didn't answer; he simply leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

Xia Lingshuang was stunned for a moment, then understood what the other party meant.

She bit her lip, a hint of humiliation flashing in her eyes.

How could she, a dignified Holy Maiden of the Wrathful Soul Sect, have ever served a man like this?
But thinking of the purpose of her trip, she suppressed her displeasure and carefully wiped Chen Ye's face with a warm towel.

Her movements were gentle, with a touch of awkwardness.

As the warm towel brushed against his cheek, Chen Ye could clearly sense that the fiery red curiosity emanating from her was growing stronger and stronger.

The woman is observing herself up close.

Her divine sense, like invisible tentacles, constantly hovered around her body, probing and trying to peek into the source of her power.

Unfortunately, before the throne of desire, all her little tricks were like childish games, naive and laughable.

Chen Ye could even hear her innermost thoughts at that moment.

"Strange, there is no sign of true energy flowing through his body, and his physical strength seems ordinary. How could he shatter my divine statue avatar? And how could he resist my Thousand-Mile Soul Summoning?"

"And that bitch Bai Yingluo, although the aura of the Nine Netherworld Secret Manual on her body is subtle, I can feel that her Dao heart has been completely corrupted... What kind of sorcery did this man use?"

"His aura is very clean, without a trace of demonic energy. Instead, it carries a... reassuring scent? How is that possible?"

Hearing these voices filled with confusion and bewilderment, Chen Ye almost burst out laughing.

Just then, Xia Lingshuang paused slightly.

Because when her fingers were wiping Chen Ye's forehead, they accidentally touched a strand of black hair.

It was a wonderful sensation, as if a faint electric current instantly spread from my fingertips throughout my body.

Her heart skipped a beat uncontrollably.

That damned thought popped into my head again without warning.

"elder brother……"

This time, the thought was so clear and intense that her hand holding the towel trembled slightly.

"what happened?"

Chen Ye opened his eyes at just the right moment, looking at her calmly.

Xia Ling Shuang suddenly came to her senses, subconsciously took half a step back, and a trace of panic flashed across her face.

"N-nothing, sir." She lowered her head, not daring to meet Chen Ye's gaze. "It was Shuang'er who was clumsy and accidentally touched your hair."

"Really?" Chen Ye's lips curled into a meaningful smile. "Why do I get the feeling that you seem quite nervous?"

"I...I didn't." Xia Lingshuang's voice was a little weak.

"Look up at me." Chen Ye's tone remained gentle, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.

Xia Ling Shuang's body stiffened, and after hesitating for a moment, she finally slowly raised her head.

The moment her gaze met Chen Ye's deep, starry eyes, she felt as if her soul had been sucked in.

"What happened to your face?" Chen Ye asked, knowing the answer already, as his gaze fell on the red marks on her cheeks that had not yet faded.

Xia Ling Shuang's heart tightened, and she quickly explained, "It was... it was Shuang'er who accidentally tripped and fell in the yard."

"You fell?" Chen Ye chuckled, reaching out his hand and gently tracing the red marks with his fingertips.

His movements were light and gentle, yet they instantly tensed Xia Ling Shuang's body, as if struck by lightning.

An unprecedented tingling sensation spread from her cheeks throughout her body, making her feel weak and almost unable to stand.

“Bai Yingluo… no, Miss Yuan is a bit domineering, but she’s not a bad person.” Chen Ye’s voice seemed to have some kind of magic as it rang in her ears. “You’re new here and don’t know the rules, so it’s only right that she taught you a lesson. However, this is a one-time exception.”

boom!
These words struck Xia Lingshuang like a thunderbolt from the heavens. He... he knew Bai Yingluo's identity!

He knew exactly what had happened in the yard!
Then why did he bring her back? Why did he pretend he knew nothing?

Countless questions and immense fear overwhelmed Xia Lingshuang in an instant.

She felt like a naked child standing before an all-knowing giant, all her pretense and scheming becoming pale and laughable in that moment.

She wanted to escape, to disappear from this man's sight immediately.

But Chen Ye's fingers were still on her cheek, and the warm touch seemed to have some kind of strange magic, making her unable to move.

"You..." Xia Ling Shuang's voice was hoarse with fear as she struggled to speak, "Who exactly are you?"

She had intended to ask the question in a cold tone, but for some reason, the moment she uttered it, her voice trembled slightly, without her even realizing it.

It's like a small animal caught in a trap, letting out a powerless cry to the hunter.

Chen Ye looked into her eyes, which were filled with fear and confusion, and his smile deepened.

He slowly withdrew his hand, leaned back in his chair, and said in a tone that was almost judgmental, "This is the question I should be asking you."

"Your Highness, the Holy Maiden of the Wrathful Soul Sect, have traveled thousands of miles, disguised as a refugee, to infiltrate my government office. What brings you here?"

"Do you want to kill me, or...?"

Chen Ye's gaze became deep and intriguing.

"You also want to taste what it's like to make even the Holy Maiden of the Nine Nether Sect fall for you?"

The moment Chen Ye uttered his last words, Xia Lingshuang felt as if the blood in her body had frozen instantly.

She stared wide-eyed at the man in front of her, her mind blank.

Just as Xia Ling Shuang was struck by lightning, a strange change suddenly occurred!
Xia Lingshuang felt an irresistible, trembling sensation originating from the deepest part of her soul erupt without warning.

That force was so familiar, yet so terrifying to her.

It was that strange power that caused her to fail and suffer a backlash when she used the Thousand-Mile Soul Summoning Technique!

"elder brother……."

This thought was no longer a vague illusion, but transformed into an inviolable law, instantly imprisoning all her killing intent and power.

"How could...how could this happen?"

Xia Ling's eyes were filled with terror and horror. She could clearly feel that the true essence in her body was becoming stagnant and silent at an unprecedented speed, as if it were being completely suppressed by an invisible force.

Her Dao heart, the one that had been tempered into an unyielding rock through countless killings and betrayals, also began to waver violently at this moment.

Just then, Chen Ye reached out and gently grasped Xia Ling Shuang's hand.

Her hands were very cold, like ice that had stood for ages, without a trace of warmth.

But when Chen Ye's warm hand grasped hers, Xia Ling Shuang felt as if she had been stung by a scorpion, and her body trembled violently.

A strange warm current flowed from where the two had touched into her limbs and bones.

Wherever that warm current passed, the stagnant true energy within her body began to become lively and smooth again.

What terrified her even more was that, as this warm current flowed in, the sense of closeness and dependence on Chen Ye that she had forcibly suppressed began to grow and spread wildly.

It's like a dried-up riverbed welcoming a new spring torrent.

Reason told her that she had to break free and get away from this man.

But her body and her soul were greedily absorbing this warmth, and even had a terrible thought of wanting to be immersed in it forever.

"What...what did you do to me?" Xia Lingshuang's voice trembled; she felt like she was going crazy.

This feeling of separation between mind and body, and the intense conflict between reason and emotion, was more painful to her than any form of torture.

"I didn't do anything," Chen Ye said calmly. "I just wanted you to see your own heart clearly."

"My heart?" Xia Ling Shuang gave a bitter laugh, her eyes bloodshot. "My heart only wants to kill you!"

"Really?" Chen Ye released her hand, stood up, and stood in front of her.

He wasn't particularly tall, but in Xia Lingshuang's eyes at that moment, he seemed like an insurmountable mountain, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.

"Look me in the eyes and say it again." Chen Ye's voice was deep and magnetic, as if it possessed a kind of bewitching magic.

Xia Lingshuang subconsciously raised her head and met those deep eyes.

In those eyes, she saw no murderous intent, no mockery, and no desire.

She saw only a gentle, all-encompassing peace.

In an instant, as Chen Ye exerted his control over his desires, Xia Ling Shuang's memories began to be reconstructed.

Childhood, rainy nights, piles of corpses, the older brother who gave her half a piece of dry food...

boom!
The last thread of reason in Xia Lingshuang's mind snapped.

All memories of the Wrathful Soul Sect, all past events of killing and betrayal, and all the Dao heart and beliefs that had been upheld for more than a decade, melted away rapidly at this moment, like ice and snow exposed to the sun.

The icy killing intent in her eyes vanished completely, replaced by an almost superstitious, intense dependence and affection.

"elder brother……."

She murmured unconsciously, her beautiful eyes misting over, tears streaming uncontrollably down her pale cheeks.

This cry of "brother" was no longer a vague illusion, but a true emotion suppressed deep within her soul.

Chen Ye looked at the demonic witch in front of him, her face streaked with tears and her spirit completely broken, and felt no pity whatsoever.

Because from the moment she stepped into Pingyang City, her fate was already sealed.

At that moment, Chen Ye reached out and gently wiped away her tears, as if comforting a frightened kitten.

"Why are you crying?" His voice was so gentle it seemed to melt water. "With your brother here, no one will ever bully you again."

These gentle words became the final straw that broke Xia Ling Shuang's back.

She could no longer hold on, her body went limp, and she fell directly into Chen Ye's arms, her hands tightly wrapped around his waist, as if a drowning person had grasped at the last straw.

"Brother... I miss you so much... I've been looking for you for so long..."

She buried her face in Chen Ye's chest and cried loudly, sobbing uncontrollably, like a child who had suffered a great injustice.

He poured out all the pain, struggle, loneliness, and fear he had endured over the past decade through tears.

Chen Ye didn't say anything, he just held her quietly, letting her tears soak his clothes.

In his view, the originally complex and intense fire of desire on Xia Ling Shuang's body had undergone a tremendous change.

The crimson that represented curiosity and the dark green that represented hostility vanished completely.

Instead, there was a pure, even more dazzling rose gold than Bai Yingluo's, a golden light as intense as the sun.

It was a deep affection, dependence, and... an unreserved, almost religious worship.

The Holy Maiden of the Wrathful Soul Sect, who was feared throughout the boundless desert, had her Dao heart completely shattered at this moment.

Instead, she became a naive girl whose heart and eyes were only for her brother.

After a long while, Xia Ling Shuang's crying gradually subsided. She seemed to realize her loss of composure, her pretty face flushed, and she tried to break free from Chen Ye's embrace.

But Chen Ye hugged her even tighter.

"What? You're already running away after just recognizing me as your brother?" Chen Ye looked down at her, his tone teasing and indulgent.

"I...I didn't..." Xia Ling Shuang lowered her head, her voice barely audible, her cheeks flushed red as if they were about to bleed.

At this moment, she no longer possessed any of the coldness and ruthlessness of the Holy Maiden of the Wrathful Soul Sect; she was clearly just a lovestruck young girl who was at a loss in front of her beloved.

No, it's even worse than that.

In her heart, Chen Ye was not only her beloved, but also her god, the only light in her life.

"Alright, I'm not teasing you anymore." Chen Ye let go of her and reached out to pinch her delicate cheek. "Go wash your face."

"Hmm..." Xia Ling Shuang nodded obediently, turned around and walked to the basin, carefully washing her face with the hot water that was originally prepared for Chen Ye.

Just then, Chen Ye sensed something and turned his gaze to the outside of the courtyard.

He sensed a familiar aura emanating from the adjacent room.

The aura was filled with intense jealousy, and... a hint of resentment.

(End of this chapter)