Shu Mingye pushed the door open, already bracing himself for whatever quiet disaster awaited him this time. And sure enough, there she was.
His Pie. She was lying flat on the bed, arms and legs comfortably sprawled, a scroll clutched loosely in one hand and a thick book sitting right on her face. Beside the bed was a small mountain of scrolls and books, some stacked neatly, some threatening to fall over in rebellion. Another stack took over the table.
Shu Mingye let out a soft laugh. She had turned his quiet chamber into a miniature library and apparently passed out in the middle of studying. He stepped closer, careful not to make a sound, and crouched by her side. With a gentle hand, he lifted the book off her face. She didn't move. Not even a twitch. Definitely asleep. Her face was peaceful, lips slightly parted, her expression almost smug.
His lips curved into a small smile. But then, his smile faded. His brows drew together. His chest tightened.
Wait. What if this wasn't just one of her usual naps?
His mind flashed back to four years ago on that snow. She had fallen asleep easily, in the middle of nowhere. She slept a lot. More than any cultivator he had ever met. Technically, cultivators didn't even need sleep that much, especially not those with high cultivation. But his Pie? She napped like it was her full-time job. Was it really just a personality quirk?
Shu Mingye's faint smile vanished completely as his thoughts turned darker.
Her body temperature was always cold. Her cultivation level was impossible to sense. And now… this. She had control over spiritual energy so fine it made his own efforts look clumsy, but her body seemed... tired. Like something was draining her behind the scenes. Was it the array? Was it hurting her?
His fingers hovered near her cheek, brushing away a strand of hair. He hated how calm she looked when he didn't feel calm at all. He had joked before about chaining her to the bed. But now, part of him wished he really could keep her here. Not to trap her. But to protect her.
He glanced once more at the small mountain of books on the table, sighed, and quietly walked over. Pulling out the chair, he sat down, picked the top book, and opened it with determination.
The book was heavy. The characters were small, packed tightly like ants. Ancient diagrams sprawled across some pages, complicated and full of symbols he barely recognized. But it didn't matter. He'd read every single one if he had to.
Another stack began forming beside him as he finished one book and reached for the next. The candle burned lower, then out completely. Outside, the dark night slowly turned into the soft glow of morning. Still, he didn't stop. His eyes stayed on the pages. Until—
Two arms suddenly wrapped around his neck.
Shu Mingye flinched. He turned quickly.
Sleepy eyes. Messy hair. Warm breath against his cheek.
His Pie. She had lazily leaned onto him, chin on his shoulder like a sleepy cat demanding attention. The scroll she had been holding was now lying forgotten on the bed. He softened immediately. He set the book down on the table and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close.
"Good morning, sleepy Pie," he said, amused.
"Good morning, handsome king," Linyue murmured without even opening her eyes.
He raised an eyebrow. "You didn't even open your eyes."
"I don't have to open it to know," she said lazily, her voice soft and muffled against his neck.
His lips curved into a grin. "Why don't you ever call me by my name?"
At that, her arms loosened slightly. She opened her eyes and looked at him. Shu Mingye's dark gaze locked on hers—calm, sharp, and dangerously expectant. He looked half-joking, half-serious.
"You're right," Linyue said, her voice soft and teasing. "Should I call you Demon King?"
Shu Mingye's fingers tightened around her waist. His dark eyes narrowed. "Is that my name?"
"Huh? No?" she replied, tilting her head, her face innocent.
So wrong. So very brave.
Before she could blink, his lips was on hers—deep, fierce, and possessive. It wasn't the teasing kiss she expected. It was a kiss that made her thoughts scatter.
When he finally pulled back, his voice brushed her lips, low and dangerous. "I'll ask again. Is that my name?"
"…Yes?" she said, breathless and not sounding very sure.
Wrong again.
This time his kiss stole all the air from her lungs. It was slower but even more intense. His lips moved against hers with a hunger that made her chest feel hot. His teeth tugged lightly at her lower lip before letting go, sending a small shiver down her spine.
When he pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, her breath uneven.
"Are you sure that's my name?" he asked, smirking, already leaning in again.
Linyue made a soft noise, brain clearly lagging behind. "Emm…"
Shu Mingye gave a dangerous smile. "Wrong answer."
His lips claimed hers again, this kiss bolder. His hands sliding up her back, fingers tracing in a way that made her flinch. She grabbed his shoulders, half to push him, half to hold herself steady. But he didn't stop. Not until she was trembling against him, her breath coming in short, stunned bursts. Only then did he let go of her, but his arms stayed tight around her waist, locking her against him.
He looked at her flushed face, his voice low and wicked, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "What do you call me?" he asked. "You might want to answer carefully."
Linyue shifted slightly in his arms and peeked up at him, her voice small but clear. "Can I… just call you Mingye?"
For a second, Shu Mingye froze. His grin softened into something warmer, something that reached his eyes. He didn't expect to like it this much. The way his name sounded coming from her lips. It felt strange. Good.
He cleared his throat and tried to keep his cool expression. "I thought you'd call me Clingy instead."
"I can't call you that in front of others."
He stared at her. "So you would call me that privately?"
She tilted her head, as if considering it. "Actually, I prefer to call you Shameless."
Shu Mingye's lips twitched. "That nickname isn't cool or elegant at all."
"So," she said sweetly, "you prefer Clingy?"
He exhaled slowly, clearly defeated. "Fine. Call me whatever you wish."
Linyue's smile widened, victory glinting faintly in her eyes. Then her gaze wandered to the mess of scrolls and books piled high on the table. "Did you read all that too?" she asked.
"Yeah," Shu Mingye said casually, still holding her snug in his arms. "It's faster this way. But I didn't find anything useful."
"Right. Most of these are scams," Linyue muttered, eyeing the suspicious titles. "Secrets to Eternal Beauty Through Arrays, and—oh, what's this one? Array Your Way to True Love."
Shu Mingye chuckled, but Linyue was already frowning again, her gaze thoughtful. "But have you thought about this?" she said slowly. "After reading just a few beginner-level books, Brother Zhenyu was able to draw arrays and they worked. We used them. But then, no one else in the realm knows how to do it anymore? They just gave up after the demons appeared?"
Shu Mingye's smile faded. His brow furrowed as her words sank in. "You think someone deliberately erased the knowledge?"
"I don't know." She gave a small shrug. "It just feels strange. Like it all vanished overnight."
Shu Mingye didn't answer. His eyes stayed on the open book on the table, but his thoughts were elsewhere. She wasn't wrong. The whole situation smelled off. Suspicious.
"More mysteries," he muttered.
Linyue, half-curled on his lap, suddenly blinked. A thought popped into her mind. She sat up straighter. "Wait… I haven't seen Sister Meiyu, Brother Yuying, or Brother Zhenyu in days."
Shu Mingye glanced at her, completely unbothered. "They're fine."
She narrowed her eyes. "You didn't lock them in the prison, right?"
"I considered it," he said calmly. "But then I thought you'd be upset."
She stared at him. She couldn't tell if he was joking. Probably joking… right?
Linyue cleared her throat. "Anyway. Are you not busy? I can ask the others to help me read the rest of these books."
"I've taken care of the important matters," Shu Mingye said. "The sick people are recovering. If you want to see them… they are in the palace training ground."
He was letting her go? Just like that? No dramatic pouting? No schemes to keep her locked in his chambers by chaining her to his bed?
She eyed him suspiciously. "Then… I'll go?"