Marriage!?

Sunlight creeped into the window, its early morning warmth was as soothing as the embrace of the woman whose arms wrapped around Xiao.

Xiao glanced at the redhead in her chest, Liuming's lips resembled a faint grin. In her neck was the proof of Xiao's ownership over the woman.

Proof that Liuming is now Xiao's pet.

In the sheets, that is. Xiao already had her revenge, publicly humiliating Liuming by taking advantage of her kink would be vicious and cruel.

Xiao shattered the ice collar on Liuming's neck.

"Liuming, wake up." Xiao nudged.

Although Liuming groaned, her arms remained coiled around Xiao.

"It's still early, mistress. Let's stay in bed for a bit."

Mistress? Xiao let it slide for they are still in the comfort of Liuming's bedroom.

"Hmm. Alright, I'll give you five more minutes or I'm getting breakfast with or without you." Xiao might have warned with sternness, but one thing she wouldn't admit was how great the Liuming's embrace felt. The conquest of a woman whose been a thorn in her side since she could remember was a splendid experience.

+++

Simple fried noodles and dumpling breakfast was prepared by Liuming's lackeys.

As Xiao was under the guise of Xiaoyu once more, her mask was once again worn.

While the two sat right next to each other, Xiao would sometimes catch Liuming stealing a worried glance.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Mistre...I mean, master Xiaoyu, do we really have to go to Lin?"

"Remember our agreement."

"But what if Lin doesn't accept me, will you...will you abandon me?"

If need be, Liuming was ready to kowtow, grovelling and swallowing her pride before Lin just to ensure that she could stay with her mistress. But with how Liuming antagonized Lin after Xiao had departed plus the whole exposing Lin's lesbianism, earning Lin's favor would be like a pest asking forgiveness for ruining a farmer's crops.

"It's a very heavy topic for breakfast, don't you think? But to ease your worry, I won't abandon you. Lin might be more hardheaded than I am but I am sure I can convince her."

"I see, thank you." Liuming blushed.

If it wasn't for Xiao's mask or the eyes of her goons on them. Liuming would have already went for an another embrace.

Moments later...

Xiao and Liuming stepped out from Liuming's sect mansion.

With Lin's mansion on the opposite side and given how vast the Tranquil Waterfall sect is, the walk should take them around 20 minutes.

"Where are you going?" Xiao asked, making Liuming halt her walk.

"Aren't we going to Lin's place?"

Xiao answered with a grin. Suddenly, Xiao manifested an ice sword and jumped on top of it. Without warning, Xiao glided towards Liuming to pick her up in a surprise princess carry.

Liuming screamed at how instantaneous the two of them took to the air.

Now in the clouds with no ears or eyes to watch them, Liuming defaulted to which address she preferred.

"Mistress, I hate you!"

Xiao gave a hearty laugh at Liuming's playful grievance, deciding to slip into her mistress persona.

"Forgive me, I couldn't resist."

As they passed through the clouds, Xiao's smile faded into a warm smile while their eyes locked.

Seizing the moment, Liuming gazed at Xiao's lips. Like how her mistress found pranking her irresistible, Xiao's lips carried the same effect for Liuming. Thus, Liuming kisses her mistress on the lips.

"What a naughty pet, stealing a kiss from her mistress."

Liuming bit her lip, "You definitely should punish me for it later, mistress."

+++

"Lin...is currently not here at the moment." Using a calm tone, Bing barred the entrance to the young mistress' mansion.

"No, she's inside. I can sense her lightning qi from here. If Master Bing would be so kind as to make let me pass through." Xiao even cupped her hands to show respect to the An family's right hand man. In normal occasions, Bing wouldn't even be at the sect, what gives?

"A powerful master like you should be able to take a hint. Lin doesn't want to see you."

The nerve of this bald guy! Xiao clenched her fists. What benefits does he get lying like this!?

"Master Bing, I'll ask with kindness, but if you still refuse then the next won't contain any. Please, let me pass so we could see Lin."

Bing boldly declared, "No."

+++

Lai Zhangmin could not contain his joy, his lips bent from ear to ear.

The Young master of the Lai family, heir to the third biggest family in Jiang Shian, looked average compared to the occasional good looking young masters. Along with his pudgy appearance, you could mistake him for a commoner if it wasn't for the gaudy grey robes he wore.

"Lin. It is a pleasure..." Zhangmin tried hard to avert her eyes, but still ended up oggling Lin's sizeable bust. "...to meet you personally. I know our parents gave us a year, but wouldn't you think it would benefit our family more if we get married as soon as possible?"

To hell with their families. Zhangmin merely wanted to ravage Lin's body as soon as possible! If Zhangmin was a dog he would no doubt salivate this instant, thinking that Lin is nothing more than tasty treat.

Lin calmly sipped her tea. She would do anything for her family, but does she really need to secure an heir this early? Since the marriage agreement was already made between the two families, their union was already sealed.

Lin laid her tea onto the table. Even the tea's sweetness failed to offset the bitterness in her chest at getting hitched to a lecher, oggling her fiance's bust at their first meeting.

"My eyes are up here, Zhangmin."

"I apologize. I was merely checking out your 'goods' Ahahaha!"

The boisterous laughter of Zhangmin grated Lin's ears. If he wasn't her fiance she would have slapped her this instant.

"Here's a warning for you, my patience is slim. Test it again with your vulgarity and you will find my right hand imprinted in that face of yours, are we clear?"

It was no secret that the An family's heiress is a powerful cultivator. Zhangming grit his teeth. How dare a woman like her threaten her like that? Even if she was gifted in cultivation, she has no other option other than to be subservient to him since he is going to be her husband!

"I don't like this attitude of yours, Lin. You will mine eventually, I can poke fun about your body in any way I want!"

And to think that Lin gave up on Xiao for this pig? It would appear that Lin needed to give him a reality check that she would bend to no man.

Lin stood, her palm heated to deliver a slap that would shake the soul out of Zhangming.

"W-wait. What are you doing!? You can't hurt me, the Lai family will make you pay!"

Lin raised her hand. Yet fate would show that it favors all, even the wicked as Zhangming was spared from the humiliation of such a painful slap.

The front door of Lin's mansion was swung open by Bing flying right next to the tea table.

Although, Xiao avoided to inflict any injury for she knows how Lin favored bing like family, Bing clutched his stomach.

"Bing, what happened!?" Lin rushed to the man's side.

"Forgive me, I couldn't keep master Xiaoyu out." Bing stood, brushing aside the vicious blow. Even he could feel that it wasn't a kick done in full force, allowing him to recover easily.

Xiao stepped inside, Liuming in tow.

"Lin, Bing was going on and on about how you didn't want to see me anymore. I apologize if I had been a bit forceful but I simply wanted to correct his lies."

Lin glared, "That's not lie. I think it's for the best if we don't see each other anymore."

"For the best!? What the fuck are you talking about!?"

The angered Zhangming pointed his finger, who does this masked woman think she is to iterrupt her important meeting with his fiance!?

"You, masked woman, do you even know who I am!? Leave now or suffer the wrath of the Lai family!"

"Stay out of this, who the fuck even are you!? Lin, who is this dolt!?"

"This is Zhangming, he is my..." Lin sighed, as if it was an information Lin deeply regrets to say. "...fiance." Lin glared at the readhead behind Xiao. "And what are you doing here!?"

With the juicy development in front of them, Liuming rejoiced. It was highly unlikely that she would kowtow to Lin now.

"I don't have to answer you." Liuming puffed up her chest, openly defying Lin for Xiao was there to protect her.

"Why you...!"

In anger, Lin was about to choke Liuming once more, making Liuming immediately hide behind Xiao.

Lo behold, Xiao did step up not only for Liuming, but also for Lin. Xiao stopped Liuming's charge by putting both her arms on Lin's shoulders.

"Lin, let's talk about this first. You're really going to marry this worthless guy!?" Xiao's tone was a desperate plea for Lin to come to her senses.

"You dare, you dare call me worthless!? My family is the third most powerful in this city!"

"Shut up or I will kill you where you stand!" Xiao let loose a murdererous pulse of ice qi that knocked Zhangming down to his ass. His teeth, shaking in fear.

Lin slapped both of Xiao's arms away, Xiao felt as if Lin's affection for her were slapped away with them.

"Don't threaten my fiance." Lin couldn't give a rat's ass about Zhangming, but treating their engagement seriously is a surefire way to sever the bond between her and Xiao.

"Y-yes, that's it, Lin! Defend my honor, defend our honor!" Zhangming haphazardly grinned.

"Unbelievable, you're taking his side over mine!?"

"Yes, I am. Now leave us alone."

"I'm not leaving until you give me a damn good explanation!"

"Do I have to spell things out for you!? It's a marriage to strengthen our families! To secure an heir for the An legacy! If you still don't want to leave, then I doubt the sect master would be happy to know who is behind your pretty little mask."

"You would resort to blackmail!? How low can you get, Lin!?" Liuming immediately jumped in defense.

Xiao waved her hand, "Liuming stop. Let's go."

The two started to walk away.

The hurt was akin to the very earth cracking open to swallow Xiao's heart, and then closing up again just to pulverize it. Out of all the people, Lin was the least likely she thought of someone who would use her secrets against her like this.

Trying hard to fight her tears, Xiao turned around at Lin for one last time before completely abandoning everything they shared...

"Farewell, Lin."