Chapter 12

After leaving the city, Shen Yao Xing discovered that this carriage’s initial route was the same as theirs. The carriage was luxurious and even the horse was more robust, leading far ahead of them in the distance.

After leaving the city, they had to go around a forest, and the road became increasingly rugged and uneven. Fortunately, the carriage’s soft cushions could smooth out the bumps well. Shen Yao Xing lay on her side on the silk cushions, propping up her head with one leg crossed over the other, resting her eyes while muttering softly.

“Take it slow, take it slow, we’re in no hurry.”

These words were meant for Hei Sha and Bai Sha driving the carriage outside. She was thinking that the slower they returned, the better. It would be best to delay for a few more days, letting her enjoy this sense of freedom a bit longer, without having to face her mother’s gloomy expression.

“Young… young… miss… the… the… madam has… has… not…”

Shen Yao Xing found it extremely difficult to understand, barely able to piece together what she was trying to say. Fortunately, Bai Sha quickly continued.

“The madam hasn’t seen you for a long time, and specifically instructed us to watch over you carefully, not letting you spend too much time on the road.”

As expected of a mother, she understood her daughter’s little tricks best. Knowing that she would definitely find ways to delay on the road, she had specifically set a number of days for their return to the capital. If they were late, it would be considered negligence in protecting their master, and the two servants would be punished.

The person in the carriage didn’t respond. Hei Sha and Bai Sha exchanged a glance, remaining silent without speaking further, focusing on being competent coachmen.

Inside the carriage, Shen Yao Xing changed to a lying position, arms spread out, staring blankly at the carriage ceiling, her heart already accustomed to this kind of mother.

Perhaps because she was the only daughter of the Shen family, her mother had always been both strict and indulgent towards her. In some aspects, her mother would require her to achieve certain things, but in others, she would indulge her demands. From childhood to adulthood, almost anything she wanted, her mother would fulfill.

Undeniably, her mother had a certain degree of desire to control her, especially when she was young. But as she grew older, Shen Yao Xing became more rebellious, to the extent that she could no longer be controlled to that degree, and this suffocating control finally loosened.

Speaking of which, as an only child, Shen Yao Xing was under a lot of pressure. After her father passed away, her mother raised her until she was six years old before marrying again. It was said that the man was her mother’s first love from her youth. Even though the man already had a child with someone else, bringing along a stepchild, she still resolutely married him.

However, later, whether they had an argument or something else, whether out of anger or intentionally, after being married for only two years, her mother took in a small male attendant, whose features somewhat resembled that first love.

For Shen Yao Xing, who was watching all this unfold, the plot was even more dramatic than those emotional dramas on television.

But what frustrated Shen Yao Xing the most was, with all this happening, why didn’t they have another child? Shouldn’t this be the time to play out the “mother’s status elevated by her child” scenario? Oh no, it should be “father’s status elevated by his daughter.”

Father’s status elevated by his daughter…

The image of a man with a big belly vying for favor floated in Shen Yao Xing’s mind, nearly making her vomit up last night’s dinner. She hurriedly shook off the eye-searing image in her brain, lifting the curtain to take a deep breath of fresh air.

The sky gradually darkened. The carriage had been traveling for a day, and it seemed they would have to spend the night in this desolate wilderness. Just as the last bit of light was fading, they spotted a lone inn standing in the distance.

Bai Sha stopped the carriage next to the inn, turned around and lifted the curtain, softly calling to the young woman sprawled out sleeping in the carriage: “Young miss?”

“……” Shen Yao Xing frowned slightly, vaguely opening her eyes, slightly raising her head to glance at her.

“Young miss, we’ve arrived at an inn. It’s already dark, shall we spend the night here?” Bai Sha’s voice was very soft, as if afraid of disturbing the young woman.

Shen Yao Xing nodded while rubbing her eyes, slowly crawling up from the silk cushions, following behind her to get off the carriage.

The inn had already lit candles by this time, with dim candlelight shining out from the slightly dilapidated windows. Shen Yao Xing yawned, her peripheral vision catching sight of that extremely luxurious carriage parked outside the inn.

She blinked her drowsy eyes, scratched her neck, and paid it no mind.

Inside the inn, the candlelight flickered with the night lamps, and there wasn’t a single person inside. It was so quiet that only the sound of the three of them walking could be heard. Shen Yao Xing yawned as she sat down at the table closest to her.

Hei Sha stood behind her, while Bai Sha walked to the inside and patted the counter: “Is anyone here!”

The loud voice sounded particularly abrupt in the quiet inn.

Shen Yao Xing propped up her head without much energy, her gaze surveying the inn’s interior. It was quite spacious, though the decor was a bit old. But at least it was clean. Such a large place with only one candle lit, she wondered how stingy they were.

Over there, Bai Sha called out several times before getting a response. A dirty and tattered curtain next to the counter was lifted, and a frail figure carrying an oil lamp walked out.

“Do the guests want to stay?” The woman’s face was wrinkled like a prune, and her voice was hoarse as if she was panting heavily.

“Yes.” Bai Sha nodded, “We need one main room and two side rooms, close together.” Saying this, she turned back to look at Shen Yao Xing over there: “Young miss, do you want to eat here or in your room?”

Shen Yao Xing tapped the table boredly: “Let’s eat here.”

“Order the food first.” Bai Sha turned back to the woman.

“Alright,” the frail woman bowed slightly, fumbling around her body for a moment before walking towards them: “What would the young lady like to eat?”

“Hmm,” Shen Yao Xing thought for a moment, then waved her hand grandly: “Give me a white-cut chicken, a steamed fish, some dragon whiskers and phoenix claws, and three bowls of rice.”

Just listing off these dishes made her feel hungry.

But things don’t always go as planned: “I’m sorry, but our small inn doesn’t have any of the dishes you ordered.”

Shen Yao Xing deflated: “Then what do you have?”

“We have meat noodles, clear soup noodles, and rice porridge with pickled radish.”

“……” Now she understood why they were so stingy with just one candle lit.

***

Seducing a God, Do You Dare? 

This is also on my reread list!

The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.

But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.

Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.

I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.

The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.

As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.

This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.

Definitely worth a read, y’all!

Intro

As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.

But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…

Do you dare?

Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.

Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.

The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.

Link to read