My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 745 - 473 She Knows Everything (Two in One)_2

Even now, surrounded by women, Chen Yi couldn't help but swallow nervously. He hadn't seen her for a while, and while he hadn't thought much of it before, the contrast with the little fox's plainness these past few days unexpectedly made him feel a pang of nostalgia for Min Ming.

Even Chen Yi was astounded at how deeply infatuated he'd become.

Just as Chen Yi lowered his gaze in contemplation,

Min Ming composed herself and, gazing straight at him, spoke with beguiling charm:

"Husband, why… are you here?"

?

Chen Yi froze in astonishment.

Was Min Ming…

Or could it be… I've forgotten something?

His first thought was that somewhere along the way he'd lost his memory, forgotten a time of intimacy with Min Ming… But after running through his recollections and finding no clue, Chen Yi frowned in confusion.

"Min Ming, what are you up to this time?" Chen Yi asked.

Min Ming stopped where she stood, the coquettish charm fading from her face entirely. She exhaled in relief and said:

"Seems you're the real one."

So this had been a test to determine whether he was an imposter or an illusion. Realizing this, Chen Yi sighed inwardly at the woman's meticulous mind.

As Min Ming looked at Chen Yi, her inner lake rippled faintly. Yet his presence at Yin Sword Mountain wasn't really surprising; especially with Zhou Yitang and Yin Tingxue—the two mistresses—also here. His arrival was inevitable, something she had anticipated.

"Master, do you need my help climbing the mountain?"

Min Ming stepped near the tea table and began warming the tea, the amber flames casting a soft glow in the room, illuminating the man's face in flickering light. Min Ming glanced sideways, observing him out of the corner of her eye.

Still the same, unchanged.

Min Ming let out a soft breath, watching as the mist dispersed in the air.

"No need, I just came from over there."

"… So, the one disturbing the mountain's peace is…" Min Ming seemed a bit surprised.

"That must be me."

"… How familiar."

"What?"

Min Ming suddenly chuckled and said, "During New Year's, you stole fireworks—and it was chaos everywhere."

Chen Yi paused, then chuckled, "That's true."

In that silent exchange, the tension between them softened, the awkward atmosphere of reunion quietly dissipating.

Min Ming brought over the warmed tea and handed it to him, saying: "Have some tea."

Chen Yi took the cup, sipped, and nodded. The freshly brewed tea had a slight viscosity to it but retained its familiar fragrance. Lowering his gaze, he glanced at Min Ming's serene face, reflecting on the times she had secretly plotted against him, the clashes and confrontations of the past. The faint bitterness of the tea was almost wistful—time had smoothed the sharp edges between them, leaving enough room for a peaceful coexistence.

"Min Ming, I'd like to ask you something."

"Master asking me for advice?" Min Ming blinked in surprise.

Chen Yi smiled and nodded, saying, "I'm trying to learn how to make a Kongming Lantern with the second mistress. Oh… Once I've mastered it, I might even make one for Min Ning someday."

...…

Over the following days, Chen Yi secretly practiced making Kongming Lanterns.

Yin Tingxue noticed everything and understood that he had taken her words to heart.

He still valued her greatly.

Picking up the discarded branches, Yin Tingxue pondered inwardly as the yellow pup beside her wagged its tail and drew closer. She stroked its head and cradled it in her arms.

The pup nuzzled her neck like a child, and Yin Tingxue couldn't help but think of the times she'd curled up in his embrace, resembling a child herself.

"What's so fascinating?" Chen Yi joked before heading out for the day. "Just some broken twigs and branches."

Yin Tingxue raised one and asked, "Not fascinating? I can imagine how beautiful they are."

"They're not beautiful."

"Oh, but I like them very much."

"…I'll make more for you in the future."

The implication in his words was clear, yet Yin Tingxue didn't feel the slightest bit jealous. It was enough for her that he heeded her wishes and cared about her thoughts. In those small, seemingly insignificant details, Chen Yi revealed how much he cherished her. She was no longer the powerless concubine she'd once been.

So, as she twirled the twig in her fingers, Yin Tingxue asked softly, "Chen Yi, would you let me be your eternal second mistress?"

Her voice carried the youthful innocence of a sixteen-year-old, striking a fleeting chord in Chen Yi's heart. Dazed for a moment, he then smiled and looked at her, saying, "Silly girl, since when did you become so adept at speaking sweet nothings?"

Sweet nothings? Yin Tingxue, uncomprehending, shook her head—the phrase didn't seem right. If it were truly sweet nothings, why hadn't her face flushed? She said, "That wasn't sweet nothings."

"Then what was it?" Chen Yi asked with a smile.

"It was…" Instinctively, she turned her head away. "The truth."

That was when her face belatedly reddened.

Ah, now this is sweet nothings… 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Twisting the twig in her hand, Yin Tingxue stared off into space, her face warming even further.

The heat from her flushed cheeks reached her palms. As the winter sun parted the evergreens above, a gentle light filtered down, bathing her face. Nearby, the yellow pup stretched its limbs as the warmth enveloped its little body—it shook its fur noisily, sending strands floating. In the misty air, a layer of soft snow seemed to settle, enveloping her view in tranquility...

No telling how much time had passed.

"Still staring?" came a voice from behind. Yin Tingxue turned to see a one-armed woman approaching slowly. "What is that?"

"A Kongming Lantern."

Zhou Yitang asked, "Is it for…" She paused, then fell silent, directly saying, "Go practice your sword."

Practice swordsmanship… Yin Tingxue frowned slightly at the mention. She disliked training the most—especially under Master Zhou's strict standards. Failure to practice well meant additional drills until mastery, and mere technique wasn't enough; the marks left on wooden stakes were also graded. If the cuts were too scattered, the effort was deemed a failure.

However, Yin Tingxue didn't protest, nodding obediently, "I'll go practice my sword."

The young girl set down the yellow dog and dashed off to fetch her sword—a simple wooden one.

In the daylight, near the wooden stakes, a slender figure appeared: thrusting, parrying, stabbing, sweeping, slashing… Her sword danced through the air as her black hair swirled. Zhou Yitang observed her silently; when Yin Tingxue wasn't paying attention, Zhou picked up a twig herself, examining it for a long while.