My Wife Is A Sword Immortal
Chapter 308 - 236 Subduing the White Tiger

Chapter 308: Chapter 236 Subduing the White Tiger

"Gui, can’t you let her peer into my Heart Lake?"

Zhao Rong said in a deep voice.

"No, I cannot be certain that she doesn’t have the ability to see through the Heart Lake and catch a glimpse of me. Logically speaking, a young Vast Realm Sword Cultivator like her shouldn’t possess such a rare and special method."

Gui refused categorically, and analytically advised Zhao Rong with a calm tone, "However, better safe than sorry. Since the extent of the Divine Skills of her Class A Flying Sword is yet unknown, it’s best not to let her see. It would prevent me from being exposed..."

"That’s not it, Gui." Zhao Rong interrupted, his tone serious,

"I’m wondering if Qing Jun can discern my thoughts and intentions, or use the colors and movements of the Heart Lake to detect lies. As for you, a clichéd old grandpa character from a storybook, there’s nothing much to hide. If she sees, so be it. If Qing Jun hadn’t asked, I would have told her already. Who knows, Qing Jun might even start admiring me, Rong’er, for my seemingly fated identity as a chosen one."

"???"

Gui really wanted to ask Zhao Rong if he was speaking human language, but chose not to, because the answer was clearly no. With such a dog of a Sword Master, it would be better if he passed away sooner and moved on to the next one.

With a tone of feigned agreement, Gui said, "What Master Zhao says makes perfect sense. A clichéd grandpa character has no place conversing with you." With that, it stopped paying attention to Zhao Rong, letting the dog Sword Master fend for himself. Gui was done serving him.

Zhao Rong shook his head secretly, wondering why he always ended up with such difficult beings; not a single one was easy to manage. It seemed that besides the pressing matter of the Concubine Control Technique, he would have to study the Sword Control Technique in the future to properly discipline the Sword Spirit.

He thought back on how the timid Xiao Xiao was much less trouble, easily pacified with a few words and willing to do whatever he asked. Sometimes, if she "slipped in thought," a session with family discipline would promptly revert her back to being soft and foolishly obedient.

Moreover, he couldn’t tell if it was due to the racial talents of the Fox Clan, but the clumsy girl during the day was capable of learning and responding accordingly during another kind of day. With just one look, she knew what he wanted.

Somehow, Xiao Xiao, who he had not seen for nearly two months, surfaced in his thoughts again in the Heart Lake. He quickly banished these thoughts.

Suddenly returning to his senses, Zhao Rong, who sat in the chair, glanced at Qing Jun before him. She was looking away towards the Elegant Pavilion, appearing to be sulking. From the side, Qing Jun’s profile was icy, radiating a cold aura that warned both strangers and her husband not to come near.

Zhao Rong thought to himself that it was a tricky situation.

Still, he dared not let her see even a glimpse of his Heart Lake. His mind had just recklessly wandered without restraint, yearning for Xiao Xiao again—something that Zhao Rong found odd lately. Often thinking of Xiao Xiao, he concluded after some thought that the reason might be the dryness of autumn, combined with the lengthy separation, inducing an "internal heat." Qing Jun at this moment was in a state meant only for confrontation, not for burial—if Qing Jun saw even a glance, and if her strange and unpredictable skills...

Then he might as well forget ever coming out of the White Tiger Cave to seek the little fox again.

Zhao Rong clenched his teeth in frustration, and in the next moment, furrowed his brows tightly, sweeping his sleeve.

"Unreasonable, Qing Jun, how have you become so unreasonable." He also turned his head away, looking in the opposite direction of Lingfei’s gaze, his expression solemn, no longer glancing at the woman before him.

In this untitled pavilion of elegance,

A young couple, one standing, one sitting.

The standing woman, with her makeup done exquisitely, her freshly applied look natural and graceful, stood with poise, yet her beautiful eyes were filled with ice.

The seated man, with a handsome face, dressed in a Confucian scarf and blue robe, had a stern gaze and was now composed and silent.

This newlywed couple of more than half a year, found themselves in an impasse of silence.

The atmosphere gradually solidified, until eventually, even the autumn wind that wrinkled the full pond’s surface could not stir up a single ripple upon invading this pavilion.

It was hard to tell how long had passed, but Zhao Rong felt it was a very, very long time.

At first, he was able to hold on amidst the air that seemed frozen like the inside of an iceberg. However, as time ticked away, Zhao Rong found it increasingly unbearable, even starting to experience faint auditory hallucinations.

From within the Heart Lake, there came the gentle voice of his wife saying, "No one is here. My lord, you just need to take a small step back first, and we can pretend nothing happened. Your concubine will surely serve and make it up to you in kind"...

Zhao Rong didn’t let his discomfort show and pinched the flesh on his thigh. A minor pain, and the hallucinations disappeared.

He pursed his lips and furrowed his brows, inwardly bemoaning his plight.

Usually, when they were together, he would defer to Qing Jun, sometimes serving her tea or water, like he had just now, bending down to feed her porridge personally. All this was fine; it didn’t matter. After all, they were childhood sweethearts with a deep connection and an understanding that neither would demean the other due to "submission" or "flattery".

It was considered mutual devotion, and compared to the solemn interaction of treating each other as equals or as esteemed guests, it was much more intimate and fun.

But the situation at hand was different from the usual "indulging and accommodating".

Zhao Rong didn’t know why Qing Jun had suddenly made a move. She had just revealed her sharp, White Tiger-like fangs, half-jokingly demanding that he "never think of other women in his Heart Lake" again. After that, following a round of confrontation, they reached this standoff. It was now a point where blades were drawn, and one of them had to step back.

They had to temporarily decide who needed whom more, who couldn’t live without the other, who was more afraid of losing the other.

Zhao Rong didn’t like the oppressive atmosphere between them right now, but he feared that if he took a small step back now, there would then be many more small steps, big steps, waiting for him to concede in the future.

Until at last, he would be completely suppressed by Qing Jun, stripped of his control over the couple’s emotions, with no hope of turning things around.

Zhao Rong’s initially calm features furrowed more deeply.

At one moment, he couldn’t help but glance to the right with his eyes. Zhao Rong couldn’t turn his head, lest Qing Jun notice and think he was showing weakness.

Thus, with his field of vision limited, Zhao Rong could only catch a glimpse of Qing Jun’s silhouette out of the corner of his eye.

Her figure was tall and slender, her back straight, her neck proudly arched.

Zhao Rong felt that Qing Jun at this moment was like a noble and aloof phoenix, defending her pride, as if she would never take the initiative to turn around and glance back at him.

Qing Jun wanted him to submit beneath her skirt.

Even though it came with room and board, and bed.

But Zhao Rong still couldn’t bear the thought of being a servant.

What was Qing Jun thinking right now?

As Zhao Rong’s eyes fleetingly traced the graceful silhouette of Lingfei, a sudden thought crossed his mind.

Gradually, a hint of hesitation began to form on the gaunt face that was turned away from Lingfei...

In a place hidden from Zhao Rong’s view.

At a certain moment.

With an expressionless face, Lingfei’s cold gaze suddenly stirred, her eyes as tranquil as autumnal water began to ripple slowly like the lake outside the pavilion, creating circle after circle of ripples.

However, in an instant, her autumn eyes narrowed, and the pond of her gaze smoothed out the wrinkles, instantly calming down.

As the sun gradually rose, several groups of passersby had already walked past the Elegant Pavilion, yet inside the pavilion, there was still no movement.

At this moment.

Zhao Rong raised his eyes to look at the bowl of Lotus Seed Glutinous Rice Porridge on the stone table in the center of the pavilion, and then glanced at Qing Jun’s proud figure standing at the moment.

Forget it, since Qing Jun came to see me today, with porridge and new clothes and swordplay, let’s just indulge her for now, hmm, only step back a little, a tiny step, and next time I won’t retreat again...

Zhao Rong sighed inwardly and his brow smoothed out, hesitancy fading from his face as he looked again at the bowl of porridge on the table.

Lingfei had just angrily knocked the bowl on the table, and now, as both of them stood at the side of the pavilion facing the lake, with the central stone table right in the middle between them and the exit, the porridge that was originally steaming no longer emitted any wisps of white steam, presumably having cooled a great deal.

He pursed his lips.

Suddenly.

Zhao Rong stood up.

Lingfei’s figure shook.

Zhao Rong didn’t turn around, so he didn’t see Qing Jun’s reaction; he intended to get the Lotus Seed Porridge and then turn back to coax Qing Jun and feed her the porridge.

Zhao Rong sighed inwardly, preparing to thoroughly flatter his wife.

He lifted his foot and took a step.

Whoosh————

"Don’t go!"

The next second, along with a sharp whooshing sound, Lingfei suddenly appeared at Zhao Rong’s side, her hands hurriedly grasping his right forearm, pulling him in panic.

"Don’t go, I, I... I was wrong, don’t leave!"

Lingfei’s voice sounded anxious.

At this moment, her almond-shaped eyes were slightly opened, and the pond in her eyes seemed to be disrupted by a startled swan, the waves unable to calm down for a long time.

In Lingfei’s eyes, Rong’er at this moment was looking towards the doorway with an expressionless face, seemingly determined to leave, the force of his forward-leaning body still lingering in her tightly clenched fingers.

Lingfei instantly panicked, her grip on Zhao Rong’s forearm even tighter, as if fearing the next moment he would break free, leaving her stubborn self alone to depart, just like the nightmare of the past.

Lingfei was holding onto Zhao Rong’s hand tightly, her eyes fixed desperately on his profile.

Zhao Rong still wore an expressionless look, but in fact... his expression was frozen,

Zhao Rong truly never expected it to be this situation, and for a moment, he was still unable to react.

However, within moments, his mind stirred, and he gradually grasped the situation, as realization dawned upon him,

At the same time, a wry smile accompanied the dawning of realization in Zhao Rong’s heart.

What a confusing mess all of this was.

Just now, he had been about to get the porridge for Qing Jun to drink, as a gesture of backing down a little and softening towards her, but Qing Jun thought he was leaving in a huff? Yes, that must be it, so now Qing Jun was trying to be the first to soften?

Zhao Rong couldn’t help but glance sideways, studying Qing Jun who seemed like a completely different person; just moments ago she had her back to him, proudly ignoring him, but now she was pitifully clinging to his hand, weakly begging him to stay.

Zhao Rong was somewhat at a loss for words.

So it was Qing Jun who backed down first. Turns out, she couldn’t persevere either. Her earlier performance had been quite convincing, almost had him fooled into believing she truly was indifferent...

But having understood what was happening, Zhao Rong didn’t feel any triumph; instead, looking at Qing Jun’s demeanor now, his heart felt a sudden squeeze, with an inexplicable sense of discomfort.

At this time.

Lingfei shook the arm of the daydreaming Zhao Rong, her voice soft, "Brother Rong’er."

There were tears glistening at the corners of her eyes, but she still dared not blink, for fear that he would disappear from her sight the moment she did.

Zhao Rong remained unmoving and silent, not immediately speaking, as he inwardly sighed, not sure what to say.

Lingfei took another step closer, embracing Zhao Rong’s arm within her arms, tightly holding it against her chest, looking up at him unblinkingly, "Brother Rong’er~"

Zhao Rong suddenly felt his arm enveloped by two clouds, their shape readily changing under external pressure.

He pursed his lips.

The next second, he turned his head.

Zhao Rong, with a stern face, "I’ll give you a glimpse of Heart Lake then."

Lingfei buried her head, shaking it, her hairpins with step-shaking ornaments swaying as well, her voice barely audible, tender and soft, "No, no need, my lord..."

The ferocious White Tiger had seemingly turned into a clingy little kitten.

Zhao Rong gazed at Qing Jun, who had become obedient, and he felt a tremor in his heartstrings.