457 - Rebirth of a Star: Another Day, Another Drama
# Chapter 457: The Little Schemer of the Demon Clan In Ye Ling Long's memory, Xuan Xuan always appeared as the pitiful little girl she once knew. Over time, even her face became somewhat blurred in Ye's mind. The only detail Ye vividly remembered was her unusually large eyes that seemed even more prominent on her thin, delicate face. Those eyes, scary in size, were still undeniably beautiful. But now... She distinctly recalled Xuan Xuan was a girl. Could she have been mistaken? Thinking back to the girl's flat chest, it seemed plausible now because she was so thin. But in truth, it was never about being thin; she was a male all along. Of course, he would have a flat chest. When Yan Xuan noticed that Ye Ling Long remembered him, a broad smile spread across his exquisite and otherworldly face, enhancing his already striking features. For a moment, Ye Ling Long was taken aback and couldn't help but admire how beautiful Yan Xuan was, even more so than herself. In her previous life within the entertainment industry, she had seen plenty of handsome men and women, yet none compared to him, irrespective of gender. However, he wasn't her type; she preferred someone like Jiang Ling Yun. No matter how far she traveled, he was always there waiting for her, never complaining, and never asking about her many secrets, even though he was well aware she had them. She carried many secrets and burdens: the seal of the Ascension Platform, her master's grievances, her mother frozen in ice, and an ice phoenix at the bottom of the cold pool. She would never willingly halt on her path forward. The direction pointed by her sword was always aligned with her heart’s desire. While Ye Ling Long was lost in thought, Jiang Ling Yun seemed displeased. Did Ling Long truly prefer this type of flamboyant beauty? He pondered his own looks, feeling uncertain as this style didn’t seem to suit him. "Big Sister, my real name is Yan Xuan. I am the half-brother of Yan Xiu," Yan Xuan recounted his identity and background briefly. From start to finish, he painted himself as a pitiable character, neglected by his father and bullied by his sibling. His act of pity grew so exaggerated that even the demons following him couldn't bear it. Was it really that exaggerated? In their recollection, even though he wasn't doted on by the previous Demon King, his maternal family held him in high esteem. Those who offended him tended to meet misfortune soon after. "Revenge is a dish best served cold" was just nonsense to him. Ye Ling Long nodded occasionally, unconcerned about the truth. Xuan Xuan was merely a figure in her distant memories. What she cared about most was Yan Xuan's stance. Annihilating all the demon clans outright was impossible. Besides, it was evident from their earlier actions that Yan Xuan’s group didn’t wish for the demon race to rise again. Sure enough, when Ye Ling Long brought up her concern, Yan Xuan immediately swore to the Heavens that he had no intention of unleashing the demon race. As the power of the oath briefly shimmered around him, it indicated that his words had been acknowledged by the Heavens. After making his vow, Yan Xuan suddenly turned to Ye Ling Long and asked with a smile, "Sister, do you currently have a Dao partner?" His question drew all eyes to Yan Xuan, for most people already knew that Ye Ling Long and Jiang Ling Yun were an item, even if they hadn’t yet formalized their bond with a Dao partner ceremony. This kid was either pretending or confused. Ye Ling Long slightly furrowed her brow and replied, "I already have a Dao partner." Following her words, Jiang Ling Yun's lips curved into a soft smile, his eyes arching into crescents as he reached to clasp Ye Ling Long's hand. She responded by interlocking her fingers with his. Feeling the warmth from her palm, Jiang Ling Yun’s expression grew even more radiant. Bai Li Ming, witnessing everything from the sidelines, thought, "… This rascal!" If the timing were right, he'd surely have kicked the rascal out already. After hearing Ye Ling Long's response, Yan Xuan's smile remained unchanged, "But if I remember correctly, you two haven’t held a Dao partner ceremony yet. You’re not truly bound as Dao partners. Moreover…" Yan Xuan paused, looking at Jiang Ling Yun with a hint of challenge in his eyes, "Sister, a strong person has never said there's only room for one Dao partner." "I’m willing to be your second partner, even if it means joining your family. If we’re together, the entire demon clan would be yours~" Yan Xuan’s voice was gentle and lingering, laced with underlying enticement. The demons behind him were utterly astonished. Did they hear correctly? Their demon king not only proposed to be a secondary spouse but also offered them all as a dowry. Bai Li Ming gleefully shot Jiang Ling Yun a look, while the others gazed at Ye Ling Long with curiosity, eager to hear her answer. Jiang Ling Yun tightened his grip on Ye Ling Long’s hand and turned to her as well, waiting for her response, his smile growing ever brighter. For some inexplicable reason, Ye Ling Long felt a twinge of guilt seeing his brilliant smile but quickly shook it off. Why should she feel guilty when she had done nothing wrong? "Uh-hum~" Ye Ling Long cleared her throat. "No need. In this life, having Ling Yun as my only Dao partner is more than enough." Upon hearing this, Jiang Ling Yun's smile became even more dazzling, his brows arched in delight. He looked tenderly at Ye Ling Long and said, "Ling Long~ I feel the same." Standing behind, Huang Bu Fan felt a pang of sorrow, but he had long accepted it, given Jiang Ling Yun’s dedication to the Liuli Sword Sect and his resolute waiting for Ye Ling Long all these years. Jiang's cultivation talent was remarkable, and if not for the restrictions of the lower realm seals, his cultivation might have already advanced further. Even Bai Li Feng, observing their chemistry, felt they suited each other well. Bai Li Ming, on the other hand, the more he looked at Jiang Ling Yun, the more he disapproved, especially when compared to Yan Xuan's beauty, which was even more striking than that of a woman. Oh well, this rascal does have some redeeming qualities. Yan Xuan's eyes filled with disappointment as he realized that any possibility with Ye Ling Long was out of reach. He had once thought of taking whatever measures necessary to keep her by his side, believing that affections could be nurtured over time. But now, he felt that any attempt would result in him being shot down before it began. Still, he decided to poke at Jiang Ling Yun, "Even if you don’t fancy me now, Sister, I’ll wait for the day you change your heart. Please, never forget that I’ll always be waiting for you." Jiang Ling Yun: "..." Ye Ling Long: "..."