Translator: CinderTL
"Never to abandon, to remain together until our hair turns white?"
Qing Lian's eyes shimmered like a pond disturbed by a pebble, ripples spreading across their surface.
"Such a vow... Do all human males pledge such unwavering devotion to their female dao companions?"
"Humans value their word," Song Wen declared, his voice ringing with conviction. "Once we become dao companions, we remain bound together through life and death. Moreover, whether male or female, humans are committed to lifelong fidelity, each having only one dao companion in their lifetime. Of course, every race has its exceptions, and humans are no different. But I, Ji Yin—if I choose someone, even if the seas turn to mountains and the Dao crumbles, my heart will never waver."
The light in Qing Lian's eyes grew brighter, like twin moons filled with longing.
"Ji Yin, please agree to let me be your dao companion."
"This is not a matter to be taken lightly," Song Wen replied solemnly, his face radiating righteousness. "While I admire your character and beauty, matters of the heart cannot be decided on a whim. Otherwise, how could we truly 'remain together until our hair turns white'?"
"I don't understand human emotions, but I believe your words hold wisdom. Perhaps... you could come to the Willow Serpent Clan and stay for a while? If we spend more time together, you might be willing to become my dao companion." Qing Lian's eyes shone with anticipation.
"This..."
Song Wen hesitated.
His gaze swept over the seashell adorning Qing Lian's chest and her legs, which were covered only in serpentine scales.
No venture, no gain.
To obtain the Yaoguang Lotus, he would inevitably have to journey to the Willow Serpent Clan.
But human hearts were treacherous.
Qing Lian's excessive eagerness made him, the 'hunter,' feel like he was being hunted instead.
Moreover, even if Qing Lian harbored no ill intentions toward him, what was the attitude of the other Willow Serpents toward the human race and other foreign beings? He couldn't yet know. Rashly venturing into the Willow Serpent Clan would be fraught with unpredictable dangers.
"Miss Qing Lian, forgive me, but I cannot accompany you to the Willow Serpent Clan," Song Wen said.
"Why not?" Qing Lian asked, her anxiety evident.
"Didn't you say you had nowhere to go and were wandering aimlessly? Returning to the Willow Serpent Clan with me would at least provide you with a safe haven. Or do you distrust me, fearing I might harm you?"
Before Song Wen could reply, Qing Luo hastily answered her own question.
"Rest assured, I would never harm you, and I would never allow any other Willow Serpent to harm you either."
"By my true spirit, Qing Lian, I swear to the Serpent Ancestor—if any member of my clan seeks to harm you, they must first trample over my corpse."
A golden light flickered in Qing Lian's pupils, as if the Willow Serpent Clan's true spirit oath was some sacred vow, not mere words.
Having completed these preparations, Qing Lian gazed expectantly at Song Wen, awaiting his response.
Hearing her words, Song Wen's expression turned complex. He clasped his hands in a formal bow.
"Miss Qing Lian, I am deeply honored by your trust and devotion. Your sincerity and dedication have touched me to my core. The path of cultivation is fraught with peril, and encountering someone as genuine as you is truly my good fortune. However..."
Before Song Wen could finish, Qing Lian's eyes suddenly lit up, interrupting him.
"My elder brother is coming!"
"Your elder brother? King Jianglin!" Song Wen exclaimed, his heart jolting with surprise.
His understanding of the Willow Serpent Clan was still limited, and he had no immediate plans to engage with their powerful figures.
As an eighth-tier demonic beast and a pivotal figure in the Willow Serpent Clan, King Jianglin would undoubtedly be far more discerning than Qing Lian.
Yet, a flicker of doubt arose in his mind.
His divine sense had been vigilantly monitoring the surroundings, yet he had detected no signs of a powerful demonic beast approaching.
"Where is your brother? How did he track us here?" Song Wen asked.
"I carry a secret art he left on me, allowing us to sense each other's general location. He's still over a hundred thousand miles away. He must have learned of Elder Kuxue's death and the others, and, worried for my safety, rushed here," Qing Lian explained.
Song Wen's brow furrowed slightly as his thoughts raced.
He weighed his options: should he leave immediately or stay and meet King Jianglin?
After careful deliberation, he finally decided to stay.
Leaving now would only make him look guilty, like someone protesting too much.
Even if Qing Lian was naive and trusting, King Jianglin would undoubtedly suspect him of colluding with that "monster."
All his previous efforts would be for naught.
Moreover, if word of this incident spread within the Willow Serpent Clan, any future attempts to interact with their people—even in disguise—would be met with suspicion. After all, the Western Rong Continent had never known humans before. In the eyes of the Willow Serpent Clan, if one human committed a transgression, all humans were deemed untrustworthy.
"If King Jianglin tries to make a move, I can always waste a teleportation talisman and a Substitute Puppet to shake him off. Besides, there's always Qing Lian. If I take her hostage, King Jianglin won't dare act rashly."
With this thought, Song Wen glanced sideways at Qing Lian.
She was beaming with joy, her lively eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Ji Yin, my elder brother dotes on me! Since you saved my life, he'll definitely thank and treat you well when he meets you. He'll also approve of us becoming dao companions!"
As Song Wen watched Qing Lian prance about nearly naked before him, he felt a pang of guilt.
It felt like deceiving an innocent young girl, knowing her father and brothers would come knocking with swords drawn at any moment.
"Miss Qing Lian, perhaps you should revert to your demon form?"
"Why would I do that? Isn't this perfectly fine?" Qing Lian asked, lifting her long, serpentine legs covered in scales.
Song Wen's gaze was immediately drawn to them, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.
Those scaled legs possessed a bewitching allure, far more captivating than the snow-white skin of ordinary women.
"I'm mainly worried about your brother misunderstanding. Let's keep your transformation into human form a secret between us, shall we? No need to let outsiders know."
Qing Lian's eyes curved into crescent moons.
"Alright!"
With a flash of green light, she instantly reverted to her human-bodied, serpentine-tailed form.
(End of the Chapter)