Double Defiance - Chapter 2

It was the thirtieth day since Shen Lingshuang had left.

I poked listlessly at an anthill on the ground, thinking that if he came back soon, I might not be entirely unwilling to treat him a little more pleasantly.

Right as I was muttering this to myself, the barrier around Sword Peak suddenly opened.

Shen Lingshuang was back.

Unable to hide my excitement, I looked up. “Hey! What took you so—”

The rest of my complaint died the instant I saw the figure beside him.

A tall, slender beauty with an alluring face walked shoulder to shoulder with Shen Lingshuang, her posture relaxed.

If Shen Lingshuang was the fierce, untouchable snow atop a winter peak, then this woman was the dazzling venomous snake coiled beneath that snow—cold and bewitching in equal measure.

There was something hard and cutting in the air between them, yet also an indescribable harmony and unspoken understanding.

For some reason, the sight made me uncomfortable.

I tossed aside the twig in my hand, raised my chin toward the woman, and frowned at Shen Lingshuang. “Who is she?”

Before Shen Lingshuang could answer, the woman rushed over in three long strides. Eyes shining, she reached out to stroke my face. “Hello, Yingyu. My name is Shi Mengyu. I’m your junior—”

I slapped her hand away. “Get lost. Don’t touch me!”

What was wrong with this person? She had tried to pinch my face the moment we met. She was every bit as obnoxious as Shen Lingshuang.

But Shi Mengyu didn’t get angry when I struck her hand aside. She shamelessly crowded closer. “You’re adorable even with your fur all bristled. Come here and give me a kiss.”

What a lunatic!

Goose bumps broke out all over me. Instinctively, I unsheathed my sharp claws to attack.

But the moment I raised them, a long hand, lightly callused, closed around my wrist.

Shen Lingshuang restrained me with one hand and used the other to lift Shi Mengyu by the collar and toss her aside.

“Stay away from him.” His eyes remained fixed on me, his tone uncommonly stern.

Certain he was protecting Shi Mengyu, I nearly keeled over with rage. “Are you blind? Didn’t you see that she was the one who provoked me?”

“It wasn’t a provocation.” Shi Mengyu’s eyes curved with amusement. “I truly do want to kiss you. And not only kiss you—I also want to…”

“Enough nonsense.” Shen Lingshuang shot her a warning look. “Don’t forget what you promised me.”

Shi Mengyu clicked her tongue and raised both hands helplessly.

For an instant, a dark pattern flashed beneath her sleeve. “Yes, yes, I know. Now please put away your divine powers.”

I couldn’t understand the riddle the two of them were speaking in. Irritated, I tried to pry off the hand Shen Lingshuang still had wrapped around mine.

At that, he pressed lightly against my palm, making my sharp claws extend and retract several times.

I stared at him.

What was his problem?

Only after taking a swipe from me did Shen Lingshuang finally have the sense to release my hand.

But what came out of his mouth was no more pleasant to hear. “For the foreseeable future, he will also be living on Sword Peak. Consider him your junior… sister.”

I froze for a moment.

Once his words sank in, my fur practically stood on end. “What did you just say?!”