Chapter 61 - Girls in a Matriarchal World Are Just Too Scary

If he had succumbed to the system's temptation back then, he might be the subject of gossip now. "What's wrong? You look a bit tense." Ling Ling paused mid-conversation, noticing the sweat on Su Yan's forehead, and couldn't help but ask with concern. "It's nothing." Su Yan shook his head, unwilling to delve into it further. After all, the incident had passed and there was no point in dwelling on it. Seeing that he didn't want to discuss it, Ling Ling refrained from probing and instead continued chatting with him. As their conversation extended, the initial stiffness between them dissipated. Ling Ling and Su Yan began sharing daily musings, and as the topic neared its end, she brought up an idea for an activity. "What do you want to do, Senior Sister?" Su Yan held his breath, suddenly realizing they were alone in this quiet room, and he felt slightly threatened by their solitary situation. "What do I want to do? Of course, it's..." Ling Ling gave a mischievous smile. Su Yan felt a wave of tension, fearful she might utter that classic line he dreaded. Unexpectedly, Ling Ling retrieved a chessboard from beneath her skirt. "How about a game of chess?" "Huh?" Relieved but perplexed, Su Yan was not surprised by her choice to play a game, but rather curious about how such a large object fit under her skirt. "Isn't it too big?" The wooden chessboard was about two feet in diameter. It was hard to imagine it fitting anywhere discreet. Noticing Su Yan's curious gaze, Ling Ling lifted her skirt slightly, revealing her fair thigh. Oh, a storage pouch. That explains it! ... In the quiet room, a small fox lay nearby, its ears perked up, engrossed in the intense battle unfolding before it. "Uh…" Ling Ling's face was flushed, her body glistening with a sheen of sweat. Her garment clung damply near her collarbone, and a faint mist seemed to emanate from her head. "Junior Brother, you're incredible!" Trembling slightly, Ling Ling seemed on the verge of collapse. She could barely hold her own against Su Yan's relentless attacks and found herself metaphorically being beaten down relentlessly. How could her junior brother be so formidable!? He appeared so gentle and delicate, yet completely overpowered her. What should she do? Admit defeat? "I refuse!" Ling Ling gritted her teeth. Being overpowered by a man was humiliating, and she was determined to overturn the situation and take control. "Let's play again!" She said with reluctance. Just once! Winning even once would be satisfying enough for her. "Let's call it a day." Su Yan extended his hand, clasping her wrist with a smile and shaking his head, refusing her challenge. "It's getting late. We've been playing for an hour. We shouldn't overdo it. Let's continue next time." "Ah—" Her body stiffened as his fingers grasped her wrist, feeling his warmth for the first time since their fallout. Hadn't his touch always been soft? His body mesmerizing to hold, driving women to kneel in admiration and affection. However... "That was in the past." Understanding his true nature, despite his stunning appearance, she suspected he was tarnished inside. His purity likely exhausted long ago. Contemplating this, watching Su Yan's beautiful exterior, Ling Ling's eyes held a trace of complexity. "Let's end it here for today." Su Yan said with a cheerful smile, feeling quite pleased. Despite having done nothing wrong, Ling Ling had always seemed sarcastic and unfriendly when they met, leaving him quite frustrated since he couldn't easily tackle or cope with her directly. But when it came to chess... "I might not beat you in a fight, but I'm aiming for a comeback in chess. Watch how I manage to regain my pride." With this thought in mind, he agreed to the game. After an hour, Ling Ling's expression changed. Having been on the receiving end for so long, frustration had built up within her. If this continued, she'd likely be vexed. "Yes, next time then." Ling Ling nodded, appearing somewhat absent-minded. While she held reservations against him, and found his heart might be unclean, she inexplicably wanted to be near him. "I had vowed not to care, yet here I am again, swayed by his spirits and moods—this isn't right." She disliked this aspect of herself, but as the saying goes, sometimes desires steer one’s actions, and every time she saw Su Yan's face, her resolve crumbled. Su Yan packed up the chessboard and said, "I had a lot of fun today. If you ever want to play again, feel free to reach out." Next time? There couldn’t be a next time! Ling Ling shot him a glance; being thoroughly defeated even once was enough. She had no desire for a repeat. "Take care, Senior Sister." Su Yan said with a smile. Ling Ling left the room, feeling defeated. ... Life in the city contrasted starkly with the sect—here, within the mundane world, there was a warmth absent in the celestial atmosphere of the sect. Su Yan relished this environment, eager to explore today. "Little Fox, let’s go." Ling Ling had resolved to remain, even if it meant facing punishment from their master. Su Yan didn't protest, rather he saw it as a chance to enjoy his time. The little fox perked up at his call, its tiny head peeking into the sunlight, trotting up to him eagerly. "You seem full of energy today." Su Yan bent down to pick up the fox, and together they left the courtyard. The bustling street was alive with calls of merchants, the noise a symphony of the mundane, and Su Yan couldn’t help but smile at the vibrant scene. "Chirp chirp chirp?" ‘You seem happy?’ "Of course!" Although Su Yan couldn’t comprehend the fox’s chattering, he’d spent enough time with it to discern its expressions. "While the sect is beautiful and rich in spiritual energy, the senior sisters there are too formidable for comfort. I never feel truly safe." In this world of role reversal, women pursued men fiercely, sometimes resulting in tactics as bizarre as ambush hunting. Su Yan was no stranger to such experiences. With capable women around him, he had every reason to remain cautious, even among his fellow sisters. His attractive appearance, combined with his celestial physique, made him a constant target, always wary of a senior sister's ‘advance’. But here in the city, the dynamic was different. Though there were cultivators, they were vastly outnumbered by ordinary folk, allowing him to let his guard down. "Chirp chirp chirp." ‘Oh, I see.’ The little fox nodded, recognizing the boy’s beauty, was even moved itself, let alone others wanting to raise their own little foxes with him.