Forced to Love (GL) - Chapter 59

“Master?”

She tilted her head and leaned closer.

The distance between them was very small. Because of her initiative, she was almost pressing against Xie Xisui, but due to her restrained hands, there was still a slight gap left.

Xie Xisui stared at her without moving. After a long moment, she said, “Say it again.”

The other person blinked at her and obediently called again, “Master.”

Her voice was soft but clear. After speaking, she looked at Xie Xisui and smiled.

Like a crimson maple leaf blooming in the cool autumn, just one glance could make someone stop in their tracks for her.

Xie Xisui indeed couldn’t look away.

The expression before her was completely different from the struggle and pain shown the last time she called her “Master.”

This made the corners of Xie Xisui’s lips curl slightly as she watched her smile.

“Master,” Lingxi called again. “Why are you holding my hand?”

Xie Xisui paused, intertwining their fingers, gently stroking the back of her hand, and asked in return, “You don’t like it?”

She tilted her head, thought for a while, and the red at the corners of her eyes lifted slightly. “I like it.”

Xie Xisui used her other hand to brush aside the stray strands of hair falling in front of her eyes, her gaze subtly sweeping over the struggling hand above her head.

“Then why are you trying to break free?”

She let out a soft sound, her scarlet eyes showing hesitation. She avoided Xie Xisui’s dark gaze, hesitating as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t.

Xie Xisui tucked the last strand of hair behind her ear. “What’s wrong?”

She hesitated, her eyes flickering, looking at Xie Xisui yet not daring to. After a moment, she whispered, “Master, I… Can you come closer?”

It seemed like she had something to say but was too shy to say it aloud.

Xie Xisui looked at her, the dark glimmers in her eyes gradually outlining her delicate features.

“Alright.”

Xie Xisui leaned down slightly, closing the remaining distance.

But as her voice fell, something warm and damp brushed against her cheek.

Soft, swift—not just a brush, but more precisely, a lick.

Xie Xisui froze and looked at her.

“But I like this even more.”

The red at the corners of her eyes now resembled a crescent moon hanging in the night sky, making her eyes shine even brighter.

Xie Xisui didn’t speak, just watched her, saw the moment her tongue flicked past her cheek, then gently brushed over her lips—again and again.

Then she smiled at her, blinking innocently.

Time seemed to freeze. Xie Xisui watched her for a long time, long enough that when she leaned in again to repeat the action, Xie Xisui suddenly laughed.

The sound was light, like the wind rustling fallen leaves, calm yet making the leaves swirl and drift downward.

Xie Xisui lowered her gaze slightly, looking at her slightly parted lips, tilting her head just a little.

“What should I do?” Xie Xisui sighed softly. “I seem to like you even more.”

“Hey,” the person in front of her chuckled, surprisingly responding, “Really?”

Xie Xisui continued, “I was even considering what it would be like if I didn’t help you remove the demonic energy.”

She stared at her for a long time, as if hearing something unpleasant or remembering something bad.

Xie Xisui’s brows twitched slightly but soon smoothed out.

“Then what will happen if the demonic energy is removed?” Lingxi asked.

At this moment, it seemed that Lingxi didn’t understand what demonic energy was. She didn’t remember what she was like when she wasn’t consumed by it.

“Will you like me more than now, or…”

She stopped speaking, smiling as she licked her lips.

Xie Xisui didn’t respond. As if blinded by a strong light, she squinted slightly. When she looked at her again, the back of her fingers brushed against her brow bone, then traced slowly down her cheek, stopping at the chin she had just been holding.

Her gaze was calm, but as she looked directly into the bl00d-red eyes, there was an unexpected softness.

Without giving the person in front of her any time to react, Xie Xisui moved forward, pressing their foreheads together.

The heat from below was held back by the cold from above. As Xie Xisui’s gaze once again passed over her lips, she remembered the kiss that night when she helped her relive the memory in the water.

It had been inexperienced yet filled with love, restrained yet uncontrollably responding to her.

Even when she was overwhelmed, conquered, and lost, she still insisted on expressing her feelings.

She gave all her tenderness to her, without a trace of selfishness.

Xie Xisui smiled faintly to herself. Even in the dim light, her half-curved eyes could not be hidden. “I don’t think I can answer your question.”

“A rational and restrained you, or a you consumed by demonic energy—there is no comparison.”

“But if I have to say, then as long as it’s you, I will like you.”

“Because it was you who taught me how to like.”

She nodded as if understanding but not fully grasping it. “Master, you like me so much.”

Xie Xisui chuckled softly. “Yes.” She hooked her chin slightly. “So, when you wake up, will you remember all of this?”

“Do you want me to remember?”

She smiled at Xie Xisui.

“What do you think?”

The person in front of her seemed to want to say something, but a storm of spiritual energy suddenly rushed in, making her abruptly close her eyes.

The familiar scent of sacred sandalwood drifted over, wrapping around her as she sank into a deep slumber.

And then came Xie Xisui’s soft whisper against her forehead:

“It’s okay if you don’t remember. We have plenty of time.”

The last sliver of moonlight was covered by clouds, plunging everything into complete darkness, merging them into the shadows.

When she opened her eyes again, Xie Xisui had already entered her consciousness.

Xie Xisui stood on scorched sand, hot winds whipping around her, carrying tiny grains of dust.

The surroundings were gray and hazy, lifeless and barren.

But as she lifted her gaze slightly, she saw an isolated island suspended in the sky, enveloped in flowing white light.

In this world tainted by demonic energy, it stood out, drawing all attention.

Xie Xisui moved closer. As she neared, she discovered that the center of the glowing island held a jade flute…

It was completely translucent, milky white in color. The flowing light followed the fine carvings on the flute’s body, slowly gathering bit by bit. Then it fell, forming a barrier that protected the isolated island.

The demonic energy gathered around the barrier, making faint collision sounds.

Xie Xisui quietly looked at it through the light shield. By the time she realized, she had already reached out, her fingertip touching the barrier.

Maybe it would bounce her back. Maybe lightning would fall. Maybe it would burn her.

But she waited—and nothing happened.

A cool feeling lightly rested on her fingertip, like ripples gently pushing back from a lake. The layers of ripples gathered again at her fingertip, pressing close to her.

She didn’t know why, but in that moment, it felt familiar.

Xie Xisui slowly stepped into the barrier. As soon as she landed, standing on the high stone cliff of the island, the jade flute hanging in midair began to shake violently.

The stone table, chairs, and steps with a faint layer of light; the pavilion in the garden; even the towering hall not far away—all became clear in the wind that followed.

Next to the pavilion, the old tree whose fallen leaves had covered the ground suddenly came back to life. Its branches stretched out, sprouting tender green leaves, casting soft shadows on the ground.

It all felt like the lifting of a long-forgotten memory.

She touched the stone platform. A faint white figure seemed to flash before her eyes. When she looked up at the ancient tree, she could see the cycle of its seasons. As she passed the soft couch in the pavilion, a faint scent of flowers reached her nose.

Finally, Xie Xisui stepped into the great hall. She didn’t even need to lift a hand—just stepping onto the stone steps outside the hall, the door slowly pushed open to welcome her.

She had never been here before, and yet everything felt so natural.

When a low flute sound began to play, Xie Xisui instinctively opened her hand. The jade flute that had been floating above gently fell into her palm.

Its warm touch clung to her skin, as if something was passing by quickly.

The deep sound of the flute turned soft and melodic, like it was whispering to her. The light on the flute flashed gently.

Xie Xisui looked at it, and after a moment, said thoughtfully, “So the carvings on your body are your name.”

“Your name is Lingxi?”

Her voice was soft, but the moment she spoke, the flute sound stopped abruptly. The light grew brighter, and even the flute body felt warm.

A breeze rose from afar, brushing past her hair, like it wanted to embrace her.

Xie Xisui’s fingers curled slightly and gently held it tighter.

She wanted to say something, but for some reason, when the words reached her lips, all she did was sigh softly.

After a while, she touched the carved letters again. The flowing light gathered along with the movements of her fingertip, stroke by stroke.

Suddenly, Xie Xisui stopped: “But there’s a crack in your carving. Is that okay?”

The flute let out a few broken notes, echoing lightly.

Xie Xisui said calmly, “Forcing yourself to hold on doesn’t make a good weapon.”

The flute’s sound softened more, as if a little afraid of her.

“Let me take a look.”

Xie Xisui brought it into her palm and covered the crack with a warm touch. Her spiritual sense gently sank into it.

Even though her movements were soft, and her spirit retracted its sharpness, she could still feel the flute trembling slightly under her sense.

Her spirit followed the lines slowly. Just touching the white glow above made the flute’s sound change into a quiet hum.

Then, her spirit gently sank deeper, like it touched flickering candlelight. The glow entered her palm but was held tightly within.

Its temperature was just right. The wavering flame brushed against her spirit and was wrapped gently but firmly by it. The flame flickered, hidden by her spirit, but under its cover, it shone bright—light that belonged only to her.

Her spirit carefully traced the flute’s body, withdrawing all sharpness. Even the faint halo passing by caused the flute’s core to tremble.

Like flowing water, long and quiet, like wind passing without a sound, it merged completely with the white glow from inside out.

When her spirit brushed over the carvings again, stroke by stroke, they now carried a sharp sword-like aura.

The strokes were clearer than before, the lines smooth and full of strength, subtly forming a different kind of structure—bones within the shape of the letters.

The central stroke held power; the side strokes carried grace.

When she reached the final part of the carvings, just as she finished the last stroke, her spiritual sense swept over like a wave. The crack slowly filled, giving off a golden glow.

At the moment Xie Xisui tightened her grip, golden light burst out, carrying the sharpness of a sword, scattering the black mist gathered around the barrier.

Layer by layer, farther and farther, sharper and louder, it tore the black mist apart.

In the open space facing the island, the ground cracked, and an ancient tree sprouted and grew skyward.

Xie Xisui’s spiritual sense instantly followed, rising with it, and at the top, transformed into a black dragon.

The golden light released again from the jade flute wrapped around her body. It shimmered, carrying the power to shake mountains and rivers. The black mist that came rushing again was destroyed by the dragon’s breath.

Xie Xisui stood high on the stone cliff. Her lips lightly touched the flute’s mouthpiece. As her warm breath flowed in, the flute began to play.

The ancient tune, smooth and calm, echoed in her ears.

Golden light spread over the land. Everything revived.

All was new again.