Chapter 14: Telling the Truth.

The morning light filtered through the hide, casting dappled shadows on the straw pile.

“Waking me up? You…”
Freshly roused, Xie Qiyang’s eyes were bleary, laced with morning grumpiness.

“Hm?”
Li Tianxing’s brows furrowed, his gaze growing cold.

Realizing his displeasure, Xie Qiyang jolted, her sleepy brain snapping awake.

!!! What had she done?!
She was his prisoner—how could she get so cocky?
Wasn’t she begging to be taken?!

“You… what do you want? Don’t—don’t come closer!”

She watched helplessly as Li Tianxing’s devilishly handsome face drew nearer, his scorching breath grazing her face.

He stared at “Jiang Ningshuang’s” flushed, shame-filled face without a hint of pity.

“Still the same.”
His emotions inexplicably stirred, his slender fingers clamping her chin, forcing her face up, making her ice-blue eyes meet his.

“Seems I’ve been too lenient, letting you forget your place.”

His thumb pressed hard on her jaw joint, forcing her mouth open.

“Listen clearly: this is what you deserve, the debt you owe me, got it?!”

Shock and fear gripped her.
His cryptic rant left her baffled and annoyed.
If she weren’t so outmatched, she’d kick his smug butt.

I owe you nothing, you lunatic!
She was utterly speechless.
What was he blabbering about?
Why the vague nonsense?
Jiang Ningshuang’s memories had no trace of him!

Noticing her defiant, disdainful glare—like she was looking at an idiot—Li Tianxing slapped his forehead, muttering to himself, “Almost forgot, I haven’t told you anything.”

“Here’s the deal: call me ‘husband’ nicely, and I won’t touch you for now.
If you refuse… well, the weather’s nice and sunny—perfect for some exercise, don’t you think?”

The pressure was on Xie Qiyang.
She was stuck—call him “husband” and risk him saying it wasn’t good enough, leading to “punishment” (aka getting taken)?
Or refuse and get taken anyway?

She cursed him inwardly.
Call you grandpa, you miserable bastard!
Her one shot at transmigration, and she was crushed this thoroughly—reduced to a beggar, finally given a glimmer of hope, only to be tormented by this maniac.

And now, she’d likely be taken—not just once, but maybe for years, with no chance of freedom. 😭

She bit her lip hard, summoning every ounce of strength to stay silent, clinging to her last shred of defiance!

Clap, clap, clap.
Li Tianxing applauded.
“Such spirit. That’s the Jiang Clan’s imperial daughter I know.”

“But… are you sure about this?
Call me ‘husband’ once, and I’ll not only spare you for now, I’ll tell you most of the story.
I’ll even lift the seal on your Lunar Saint Body, restoring your cultivation.”

“Frost, you don’t want to be my little wife forever, tangled up with me day and night, do you?”

“You don’t want to live as a mortal forever, right?”

“You don’t want to never return to the Jiang Clan or Yaochi Holy Land, do you?”

“Think carefully. I’m giving you a chance—you’re the one refusing it.”

Her resolve wavered under his tempting words.
She sensed his ill intentions—were his “better” options really better?

But she had no time, no choice.

“Three, two…”
Li Tianxing began the countdown.

Her lips, trembling slightly, parted with great difficulty.

“Hus… husband…”
Her voice was faint, barely audible, like a mosquito’s hum.

Li Tianxing dug at his ear.
“Didn’t hear that. Looks like Frost has made her choice.”
He leaned forward, as if to kiss her.

“Husband! Husband! Don’t!”

Panicked, Xie Qiyang poured everything into it, her voice soft, sweet, and cloying, with a trembling, seductive lilt.

!!!
Her pupils shrank to pinpoints.
She clapped her hands over her mouth, stunned.
She’d… overdone it.

That syrupy voice… came from her?

Seeing her horrified, ghost-stricken reaction, Li Tianxing’s smile finally carried genuine amusement.

He stood slowly, stretching with a deliberate, tired sigh.

“Not bad.”
He loomed over the curled-up, rabbit-like girl.
“Frost, you made the right choice. Your husband is pleased.”

“Do you know why I’m treating you like this?
Last night, by the beach, I thought it over and decided to tell you.
Revenge isn’t fun if the other party doesn’t know.”

“You won’t believe this, but I’ve lived again—swapped genders, even—and gained a Solar Saint Body that, in a way, counters you.”

His face grew wilder, head tilted back as he continued.

“Frost, in my last life, I was devoted to you.
You promised we’d be dao partners forever, but you teamed up with that guy to ruin my path to the Dao.”

“Heh, you probably made that ‘forever’ promise to plenty of others too, huh?”

“Don’t worry. This life, I’m a man, with a Solar Saint Body made for your Lunar Saint Body.
I’ll make you feel a woman’s joy, make you a wife who can’t live without me.”

“I’ll shatter that cold, haughty mask of yours, bit by bit.
Last life, I was gentle, and you left me.
So I thought—you must like a different approach.”

“Oh, how about a kiss?”

“No!”

“So heartless.
Your ‘husband’ calls were so eager before, but now you pull up your skirt and deny me?”

…

Time passed—how long, she didn’t know.
Li Tianxing let out a long, refreshed breath, looking invigorated.

Beside him, Xie Qiyang’s eyes were dazed, her mind overwhelmed by the flood of information, her brain struggling to process.

“Frost, you’ll never escape me in this life.”
Li Tianxing gently stroked her face, his tone soft, a stark contrast to his earlier roughness.

Xie Qiyang’s mind was blank, ignoring him.
But he didn’t care about her coldness, instead leaning in for a kiss, catching her off guard.

“You…”