Forced to Love (GL) - Chapter 56

When Lingxi woke up, only a corner of the evening glow remained in the sky. The dim golden light fell on the window eaves, the only source of brightness in the room.

She had been unconscious in the darkness for an unknown length of time. Her mind was hazy, and as soon as her eyes met the light, she instinctively turned away, unable to adjust.

She raised her hand, wanting to block the light, but the mere movement of her fingers sent a searing pain through every inch of her body.

Lingxi narrowed her eyes to a slit, instinctively rejecting the light. But soon, a figure stepped in to block it, enveloping her in its shadow.

“You’re awake?”

Xie Xisui looked down at her. But whether it was an illusion caused by overlapping vision or something else, Lingxi suddenly saw a faint shimmering light in those usually calm, ancient-lake-like eyes.

It was soft and gentle, making it impossible to look away.

“Master.”

Lingxi called out to her in a low, hoarse voice, like a scorching desert wind brushing against sand, carrying heat yet impossible to ignore—accompanying travelers as they journeyed further.

It was completely different from the “Master” she had called out before losing herself to the demonic energy.

If that had been a cry filled with all her remaining strength, then this time, it was restrained, holding back emotions beneath a calm surface.

Xie Xisui looked at her and suddenly recalled the moment when Lingxi had sighed and said, “But I like you.”

Like a spark that seemed insignificant, yet in that instant, it swept across the entire mountain range, burning everything in its path—decisive and willing, consumed by its own flames.

A heart full of emotions too complex to put into words, yet expressed in each sigh, as she leaned in to kiss those lips carrying warmth, silently speaking through the gesture.

What kind of feeling was that?

To quietly stay by her side as she finished her seclusion, to accompany her in cultivation, to have eyes filled with only her, day and night—while struggling against the emotions that grew uncontrollably, trapping oneself in an invisible cage.

What kind of feeling was that?

Xie Xisui remained silent, saying nothing. The last sliver of sunset disappeared beyond the horizon, and the room plunged into darkness.

Shrouded by the night, the person lying on the bed blinked slightly, trying to see more clearly. Then, Lingxi softly asked, “Master, what happened?”

Xie Xisui lowered her gaze slightly and reached for the teacup on the table beside her. At the same time, a small candle near the bedside was lit.

The flickering yellow light outlined the contours of Xie Xisui’s face, casting deep shadows around her eyes.

“Drink some first,” she said.

Lingxi instinctively tried to push herself up to take the cup, but the moment she bent her elbow, Xie Xisui stopped her.

“Don’t move.” Xie Xisui raised her gaze slightly, her voice calm. The ink-colored clouds in her eyes brushed past like a feather against the neck—light, fleeting. “Doesn’t it hurt?”

“It’s fine. I can bear it.”

Lingxi responded instinctively, naturally downplaying her pain.

But Xie Xisui frowned slightly, pausing before pushing the teacup away. “I only used a fraction of my strength to aid your healing. If it’s still like this, I’ll use more next time.”

A sharp, tingling sensation, like ants gnawing at her skin, spread through her.

Lingxi instantly regretted her words and awkwardly muttered, “Mas—uhm.”

Before she could finish speaking, Xie Xisui pressed her tea-dampened fingertips against Lingxi’s lips.

Soft, warm, and slightly wet, her fingertips traced over Lingxi’s slightly parted lips, carrying a faint fragrance that lingered at the edge of her mouth.

The words Lingxi had yet to say dissolved into warm breath, slipping away uncontrollably.

The thought of her breath brushing against Xie Xisui’s fingers made a flicker of panic flash through her eyes. She instinctively wanted to move away.

But Xie Xisui’s movements were slow and gentle. She leaned in slightly, just a foot away, her gaze fixed intently on Lingxi’s lips, unmoving—making escape impossible.

Her fingers traced along the shape of Lingxi’s lips, slowly circling before pausing at the soft curve of her lower lip.

A moment ago, the pain had been unbearable, like ants biting into her flesh. Now, it melted away completely, as if she had fallen into layers of soft clouds.

The only sound in the stillness was her own heartbeat—clear and intense.

Lingxi slowed her breathing. The cloud-like sensation wrapped around her, light and airy, carrying her weightlessly.

The ink-colored clouds brushed against her lips, then gradually covered her eyes, pulling her deeper into their embrace.

Like an indulgence, allowing her to sink further.

The feeling was… indescribable.

Xie Xisui withdrew her hand and instead used a spoon to feed her the tea.

Lingxi was left speechless, only able to follow Xie Xisui’s movements.

The warm tea slid down her throat, and as the herbal essence seeped into her senses, she still hadn’t fully processed what had just happened.

Like the sound of spring waters melting away the last traces of ice.

Xie Xisui slowly pushed the teacup aside and looked at her. “Do you remember what happened before you lost control to the demonic energy?”

It was an ordinary question, spoken in a flat tone.

Yet, for some reason, Lingxi’s thoughts suddenly drifted back to that night—beside the misty hot spring, where she had desperately tried to avoid, to resist, but in the moment Xie Xisui approached and touched her chin, she had surrendered everything.

That touch…

A flicker of daze passed through her light-brown eyes.

Seeing that she didn’t answer, Xie Xisui asked again, “You don’t remember?”

“I do.”

Lingxi nodded slightly, though her gaze wavered for an instant before she quickly suppressed it.

Xie Xisui hesitated briefly. “Then do you remember how you succumbed to the demonic influence? And what happened afterward?”

Her voice was as calm as ever, but this time, Lingxi detected something different—an almost imperceptible pause, betraying an underlying unrest.

What had happened?

She had blacked out, lost consciousness, and remained unconscious in bed.

But what exactly had she done?

Lingxi frowned, straining to recall, but all her thoughts stopped at that single desperate wish—”I want to love her.”

Beyond that, all she could hear was an overwhelming buzzing noise.

Lingxi endured the pain, pressing a hand to her forehead. “Master, did something happen?”

Xie Xisui didn’t answer. Instead, the same hand that had touched Lingxi’s lips now rested against her hand, cool to the touch.

“It hurts again.”

It wasn’t a question—it was a statement.

“It’s nothing serious. If you can’t remember, don’t force it.”

Xie Xisui’s fingertips brushed against her, gently guiding her hand away and replacing it with a soothing stream of spiritual energy, calming her thoughts.

The pain surged like a rising tide—then faded just as swiftly.

Lingxi looked up at her, still filled with unanswered questions. But as her gaze followed upward, she caught sight of something that made her freeze—dark red bl00d staining Xie Xisui’s sleeve.

“Master, you’re injured!”

Her voice was sharp, cutting through the silence like the summer wind before a thunderstorm, carrying a chilling edge.

Lingxi pushed herself up, loose strands of hair brushing against her slightly open collar.

Xie Xisui calmly glanced at her. In the next breath, a soft glow covered the wound on her hand, and when it faded, there was nothing left—smooth, unblemished skin.

“It’s nothing.”

Her reaction was indifferent, but Lingxi’s tightly furrowed brows said otherwise.

“Who did this?”

A smoldering fire flickered in her eyes, carrying a dangerous heat.

Xie Xisui slowly lifted her hand that was still hanging in the air and quietly looked at her, as if seriously thinking about her question.

“If I really have to say…”

Lingxi focused on her lips as they opened and closed. Her fingers curled slightly, as if the moment she said the name, her hand would grab the sword hilt.

“Then it must have been the little wolf I picked up that scratched me.”

The dark sea of clouds stirred. A gentle breeze blew the clouds apart, and a ray of light shone down from above.

Lingxi’s hand clenched suddenly, then loosened.

“Huh?”

Since when were there wolves in Chuanzexian?

Had she just been gone too long?

Even the thunder and lightning that had gathered above paused in midair after Xie Xisui’s words.

“Where is it? If it hurt you, it must not be allowed to stay.”

Lingxi paused briefly, then turned over as if to get off the bed.

Xie Xisui sat up slightly. She said nothing, just gave her a calm glance.

Lingxi froze again, stopping all movement. She just sat on the edge of the bed, one knee bent on the mattress, the other foot dangling near the floor—almost touching it, but not quite.

“Master wants to keep it? But I heard that once it tastes bl00d, its wild nature comes back…”

“Lie down.”

Xie Xisui cut her off.

Lingxi swallowed the rest of her words and quietly pulled back her foot from the edge. After a moment of thought, she said, “If Master really wants to raise it, you can leave it to me.”

Her light brown eyes looked at her. There was still a layer of confusion in them, but she was carefully thinking it through.

Xie Xisui’s eyes curved slightly at the corners, but the dark light in them grew even deeper.

“Leave it to you?”

“Yes,” Lingxi nodded.

“What do you want to raise it into?”

“What kind would Master like?” Lingxi paused, then glanced at her hand. “At the very least, it should be obedient, and not hurt you again.”

Xie Xisui narrowed her eyes slightly, watching her as if in deep thought. After a moment, she responded with a soft “Mm,” and said, “Then teach her to be more honest. She hides her thoughts too much—it’s not good.”

“Honest? Thoughts?”

Wolves have thoughts? Can they even be honest?

Lingxi looked a bit lost. She didn’t quite understand what she meant.

Xie Xisui looked at her firmly, the dark light around her gently pulling Lingxi in.

“Mm. If you like someone, just say you like them. If you’re in pain, admit that it hurts.”

“There’s no need to force yourself to endure it.”

Lingxi was stunned for a moment. But then Xie Xisui suddenly seemed to remember something. She picked up the silk quilt that had been lifted earlier when Lingxi tried to get out of bed.

Lingxi was once again wrapped in warmth. The coldness that had been slipping away returned in an instant.

Then she heard Xie Xisui softly say,
“But, I was wrong too.”

Lingxi frowned slightly.

“I wanted to protect her, but not only did I fail, I made the demonic energy stronger.”

“I left her alone to fight it… to fight her own heart… to fight the part of her that liked me.”

Xie Xisui suddenly smiled at her.
“That part gives me a bit of a headache.”