Chapter 132: A Wild Card
Chapter 132: A Wild Card
"Does he?"
Xiang Ling found herself asking and realized that her voice came out as a mere whisper while she was busy gazing into the deep eyes of Xin Cheng which seemed like a blood ocean with all the crimson in them. Despite such unusual color, his eyes looked so enchanting and beautiful.
"Mmhm." Dao Ming hummed a reply next to her ear before adding, "As the Demon Emperor, he hasn’t met anyone who could control him. Everyone fears him and keeps their distance from him. Just his name alone can scare the life out of them, but you my Little Star, you handle him like no one else can. He might not show it, but you have long taken down the wall that he so painstakingly built around himself. All that is now left is his stubbornness to accept that he has fallen for you."
The more he spoke, the more breathless and light-headed Xiang Ling felt. She and Xin Cheng just stared at each other while Dao Ming kept exposing the Demon Emperor. Despite knowing the consequences of mingling with the Demon Emperor and his friend, Xiang Ling was unable to help herself. It seemed like she was determined to take the path of doom.
Xin Cheng was finally able to pull himself out of the spell that had suddenly fallen over him while he just kept gazing at the woman in front of him who was becoming more and more dangerous for him with each passing day. He shifted his attention away from her and toward his stupid friend before warning in a sharp tone - "Stop talking nonsense."
"Am I talking nonsense though?" Dao Ming challenged in return and Xiang Ling suddenly realized that the Spirit Beast King didn’t fear the Demon Emperor even the slightest bit, and he was also the only one in the Five Realms who could challenge the Demon Emperor and still not suffer any harm.
Xin Cheng let out a deep sigh, clearly frustrated with Dao Ming. Instead of bickering with his friend who was not going to stop just because he told him so, he turned his attention toward Xiang Ling who was still gazing at him as if she was seeing him for the first time. The way she was looking at him, almost forced him to stop struggling and just give in already. However, being the Demon Emperor, his resolve wasn’t this easy to break. "I will advise you to not pay any attention to his words. There’s no such thing as he just said."
"You can’t even lie properly." That was what Xiang Ling found herself saying in response.
Xin Cheng inhaled sharply, yet, it was so subtle that she would have almost missed it if not for the fact that she was watching him closely. Taking a step closer that almost removed the little space they had between them, he stared into her eyes and spoke, "Let me make this very clear to you, Xiang Ling. The only thing I believe strongly is that Demons and Immortals are those two species who can’t be friends ever. For the peace of Five Realms, these two should stay as far from each other as possible."
Xiang Ling once again forgot how to breathe as she was lost in his deep eyes that seemed to be staring into her soul. His face inched closer until there was barely any space left between their faces. "And no one can make me change my mind... no one. Not even the most beautiful woman in the Five Realms. I will not risk the peace of my entire realm for anyone."
His eyes then shifted toward Dao Ming who had gone completely silent. "But if someone else is interested in taking this risk, I will not stop them." He didn’t wait to hear anything else and without giving another glance in Xiang Ling’s direction, he turned around and walked toward the door.
He could feel her gaze fixed on his back and the further he went from her, the more pain he felt in his chest that seemed to be ready to tear him apart. However, he had an entire Realm to protect, and his people to safeguard. He was in no position to choose his happiness over the safety of his people. With that determination in mind, he exited the chamber.
The silence that took over the room almost scared Xiang Ling, not because no one was speaking, but because there was silence inside her too - a kind of silence that she had never experienced before.
"Little Star?"
Xiang Ling felt Dao Ming calling her softly and when she didn’t respond, he pulled her to turn and face him. The very next moment, his palms were cupping her face as he made her look up at him. "Are you alright?" There was concern in his eyes as he watched her closely.
Xiang Ling slowly nodded her head in response but still wasn’t able to speak as her mind still felt too empty to think of a proper reply.
"I’m sorry for what happened. I’m also sorry if his words upset you. But it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have pushed him this hard." Dao Ming looked like he was really regretting putting pressure on Xin Cheng to accept his true feelings.
Xiang Ling shook her head and smiled softly at the man. "Don’t apologize. It’s no one’s fault. I’m not angry or sad. I just... I just realized that he’s storing so much inside himself. I always thought that his attitude toward me was just his personality, only now did I realize that it was his way of keeping himself safe. He’s shouldering the responsibility of an entire Realm and one little mistake can cause too much pain and suffering. Even though his words were a little harsh, I can’t find any fault in him. He’s just trying to be a good leader for his people."
A very soft but genuine smile made its way to Dao Ming’s lips and he surprised Xiang Ling as he suddenly pulled her into his arms. Then, he surprised her even more as he placed a soft feathery kiss on her forehead that lasted for a few seconds. "My opinion about Immortals is no different from Ah Cheng’s, but my opinion of you differs so much from his. You are a wild card, my Little Star."