My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion
Chapter 165 - 145: Are You Jealous?

Chapter 165: Chapter 145: Are You Jealous?

A nameless snowfall draped over the Capital City, cold gusts weaving through the Min family’s courtyard, making the "Min" character on the gate seem all the colder.

"Grandfather."

Upon returning home, Min Ning felt a weight pressing heavily on her chest.

Min He sat on a chair in the main hall, staring straight at his granddaughter.

After a long moment, he finally spoke:

"Ming’er has explained everything to me. I do not blame her—I blame myself for being powerless, and your father for being no better."

Min Ning stayed silent, remaining where she stood.

"Ning’er..."

The former Garrison Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard hesitated for a considerable time,

"You must turn back before it’s too late."

Min Ning did not respond, continuing to stand still.

Her grandfather, however, had already risen to his feet. Pacing with hands clasped behind him, he said:

"That blade—if you cannot retrieve it, then so be it. I know you are burdened with doubts, but I cannot bear to see you entrusting yourself to the wrong person. Forget the fact that you’re disguising yourself as a man—even if you were not, that person is no good match. He once served the Lin Party before betraying them, claiming loyalty to the state, yet in truth, he is one who forgets past allegiances.

What’s more, Ming’er told me: his scandals are endless. Though unmarried, he has already taken concubines and entangled himself with several women. To put it bluntly, even if you were to marry him legitimately, do you think there would even be room for you in his household?"

Her sister’s retold words, coupled with Min He’s earnest and sorrowful expression, cut into Min Ning like soft daggers.

Suddenly, Min Ning felt as though a thousand pounds bore down on her shoulders.

After a long silence, she finally rasped:

"He isn’t as bad as Sister says... and I’m not... entirely being coerced."

Min He turned his head, eyeing his granddaughter who had long since taken her courtesy name, and raised his voice:

"Your sister had already anticipated you’d say that!"

Min Ning froze momentarily, then gave a bitter laugh.

After the laughter faded, she murmured slowly:

"But, Grandfather... what else can I do now? He is a fifth-grade martial artist, destined to be inscribed in the annals of Spring and Autumn, and enjoys the Heavenly Family’s favor. No one can stop him—so what could I possibly do?"

Min He let out a deep sigh and sat back down in the main hall, lost in thought for a long while.

The dead silence was punctuated only by the slow descent of fine snow over the dim Min Manor.

"Leave the Capital."

Finally, Min He uttered these words.

Min Ning abruptly raised her head, staring at her grandfather in shock.

"At this point, you have no choice but to leave the Capital—the farther you go, the better."

Min He’s voice was heavy.

"And where would I go if I leave the Capital?"

Min Ning asked, her voice trembling with agitation.

"Mount Shu."

"Why Mount Shu?"

Min He looked at her and spoke clearly, telling her what she had never known:

"When you were born, a Bhikkhuni came to our home seeking alms. She offered blessings for you and left behind a prophecy: ’Dragon and phoenix alike—your fate lies in Mount Shu.’

Initially, neither I nor your parents paid it any mind, but then we heard... that later this Bhikkhuni traveled to the Western Regions, converting the kingdoms there to Buddhist Law. They submitted tribute to the Western Jin, and she was enfeoffed as Master Zhihui by Emperor Su of Jin. Temples in the Western Regions even regarded her as the reincarnation of the Medicine Bodhisattva..."

Hearing this, Min Ning started gasping heavily, her voice laced with defiance:

"Setting aside whether the prophecy is true or false, if I leave, what will happen to Sister?"

"As for your sister, she said..."

The old man recounted Min Ming’s words:

"She said: ’Don’t worry about me.’"

Min Ning could almost envision her sister’s desolate expression.

..................

At some point, the snowfall from the previous night had stopped. Chen Yi rose early and turned to see the little fox was still sleeping.

Her eyelashes fluttered slightly—it was utterly adorable. Her round little face was soft and plump.

Chen Yi reached out to touch her cheek. Then, thinking for a moment, he slid his hand under the blanket to feel her stomach.

"Ha, you’re getting chubbier."

Chen Yi teased playfully.

Ever since he took her as a concubine, though he teased her mercilessly in many ways, when it came to food and rest, he never wronged her.

Not only did he let her eat well, but he made sure she ate healthily. Disliking heavily seasoned dishes, she preferred lighter meals, which were notoriously difficult to make delicious—but Chen Yi did it impeccably. Sometimes, she didn’t feel like eating vegetables, but whenever Chen Yi cast her a silent look, she didn’t dare not eat them.

As for rest, Chen Yi always allowed her to sleep until she woke naturally. He never made her stay up late to read or do anything else. Even when teasing her, it rarely stretched beyond half an hour to an hour. Even if he wasn’t fully satisfied, he would restrain himself, letting her have a good rest.

Thanks to his modern mindset, Yin Tingxue was healthier than she had ever been during her time in the Prince Mansion.

Thinking about the little bit of weight she had gained around her belly gave Chen Yi a sense of pride that went beyond simple lust—he genuinely enjoyed caring for this little fox.

Unconsciously, Chen Yi’s thoughts drifted to last night.

She had given him no clear answer. Neither agreeing nor explicitly refusing, as she didn’t want children, she had slowly climbed off of him and curled into the inner side of the bed, her back facing him, legs tightly clutching the blanket.

Chen Yi wasn’t sure whether she had made up her mind, but he wasn’t in any rush. After all, she would always be his, no matter what.

"To think you might be jealous of me someday—tsk, tsk... truly hard to imagine."

Chen Yi chuckled, threw on his outer robe, and left the room.

As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he drew in a breath of fresh air. Turning his head, he caught sight of that familiar silhouette.

Beneath the old tree stood the one-armed woman, her eyes half-closed.

Curious, Chen Yi waited for a moment.

After a long while, Zhou Yitang opened her eyes and turned to see Chen Yi.

"Disciple greets Teacher,"

Chen Yi said, pretending to bow ceremoniously.

The one-armed woman sneered softly,

"If you practice swordsmanship, I will be at ease."

Chen Yi ignored her words and instead asked:

"What were you doing just now?"

"Listen."

Zhou Yitang raised her hand to her ear, mimicking a listening gesture.

Chen Yi heard nothing other than the sound of the cold wind, monotonous and hoarse.

Zhou Yitang continued listening intently. After a while, she asked:

"What did you hear?"

After pondering for a moment, Chen Yi replied,

"...your voice."

The one-armed woman was momentarily speechless.

"A sword is approaching."

Zhou Yitang finally revealed serenely,

"And it is an exceedingly sharp sword."

At her words, Chen Yi quickly understood and exclaimed:

"The Broken Swordman? Why would he come here?"

The Broken Swordman ranked sixth among the masters of the martial arts realm. His name was often mentioned alongside Yin Sword Mountain’s Sword Armor, which vexed swordsmen and swordsmen alike. This master of Central Plains’ saber techniques had ironically made his name as a swordsman. For the swordsmen, his existence proved blades inferior to swords; for the swordsmen, his unusual style negated their dominance.

A killer’s saber and a lifesaving sword—he wielded a swordsmanship that killed.

Zhou Yitang sneered coldly,

"How would I know why he’s coming? Perhaps to kill you."

"Impossible—I’ve never met him."

Chen Yi replied.

He hadn’t crossed paths with the Broken Swordman in either of his lifetimes; his fame had only ever reached Chen Yi’s ears.

If his memory served, this sixth-ranked martial artist didn’t have many years left to live.

"If he does come to kill me, I’ll hide behind you, Teacher."

Chen Yi said with a mischievous grin.

Hearing his teasing words, Zhou Yitang turned her face away without replying.

There was something uncharacteristically somber about her demeanor. Chen Yi, suspecting something, leaned in close to her ear and asked slyly:

"Are you jealous that I might learn swordsmanship that kills?"