Chapter 017: The Woman Who Loved to Lie

Putting it another way, Song Ye had been in this world for a year already, yet he had never tasted mutton here—not even a bowl of lamb soup had passed his lips. Naturally, he missed the flavor of mutton. However, the black sheep that Qin Xiuyi had ridden back was an odd-looking creature, with sharp teeth and a fierce gaze—clearly not an ordinary sheep, and its meat quality remained a mystery.

Of course, Song Ye had no idea that this black sheep was in fact the Saber-Toothed Armored Sheep, a beast unique to the Palace of the Great Void, serving as a mount. Though the Saber-Toothed Armored Sheep had been tamed, it still possessed a powerful hostility toward strangers. Thus, Qin Xuanxi had already set a barrier of demonic power upon it, temporarily rendering it as docile as a lamb and incapable of harming mortals. In this regard, Qin Xuanxi was rather considerate toward Song Ye, the mortal youth.

Song Ye took up the tea bowl before him and sipped, then set it down and said, "I haven't eaten mutton in ages either. Thank you, young lady, for bringing me such a fat sheep. In these times of chaos, it's truly a godsend!"

"You called me 'young lady?'" Qin Xuanxi's eyes widened and she shook her head. "No, you can't call me that. We aren't formally married yet. How can you address me so?"

She, the dignified Demon Sovereign of the Profound Abyss, would rather be called 'female demon,' 'beast,' 'devil,' or 'bad woman' than suffer being addressed as 'young lady.'

Song Ye merely smiled, "You can call me 'little husband,' so why shouldn't I call you 'young lady?'"

"Absolutely not!" Qin Xuanxi frowned slightly. "I can call you 'little husband,' but you are not allowed to call me 'young lady.'"

It seemed she was laying down the law for their relationship.

"All right, I'll do as you wish," Song Ye replied.

Though Song Ye had never had a girlfriend in his previous life, he understood this simple truth: never try to reason with your girlfriend. Unless it's a matter of principle or something truly important, it's best to go along with whatever she wants.

After all, Qin Xiuyi was his betrothed; treating her as a girlfriend was hardly inappropriate.

Hearing his response, Qin Xuanxi smiled with satisfaction, thinking Song Ye was obedient enough. As long as he played by her rules, she would indulge him for a while. After all, this game was hers to end at any time—she could leave whenever she wished, and Song Ye, a mere mortal, would be powerless to stop her.

In truth, had she not overheard Song Ye's name from Zhao Zhigao on the streets of Luo City, learning that he was staying alone in the village, Qin Xuanxi would never have thought to return here.

Their reunion in this place seemed almost fated.

Of course, the Demon Sovereign Qin Xuanxi never believed in destiny.

"How long will you stay this time?" Song Ye asked casually.

Qin Xuanxi smiled, "However long my little husband wants me to stay, that's how long I'll remain!"

Song Ye could see through this lie. He didn't know if the woman before him who called herself Qin Xiuyi was truly the infamous Demon Sovereign Qin Xuanxi, but one thing he knew for certain—she was a consummate liar. Or rather, she felt no need to keep her promises to him. He had long suspected that Qin Xiuyi was most likely Qin Xuanxi, and thus, she was inherently proud, never viewing her relationship with Song Ye as an equal one. How could a Demon Sovereign, lofty and disdainful, ever treat a mortal as her equal?

In these times of war, with no one for miles around, the fact that Qin Xiuyi had returned to chat with him was already a blessing. He did not care if her feelings were true or false. Life itself was but a play—what mattered was who played their part best.

"Then stay here with me. Never leave," Song Ye said with a smile.

"Very well, I promise," Qin Xuanxi replied readily, though her eyes betrayed not a shred of sincerity.

"The village chief has already set our engagement. Now that you're back, we may as well choose a good day and get married soon," Song Ye continued.

"That's fine," Qin Xuanxi nodded.

"Now that no one else remains in the village, we can forgo the banquet. On our wedding day, after bowing to Heaven and Earth, we can go straight to the bridal chamber," Song Ye went on, "So our only task is to prepare the wedding room."

"There are so many empty houses now. Young lady, you may choose whichever you like for our bridal chamber!"

This time, Qin Xuanxi smiled gently, "Let my little husband decide the wedding room."

Song Ye replied, "Hmm? I have a bit of trouble deciding. Why not try them all? Who says the wedding night must happen only once? Tonight we'll celebrate here, tomorrow night in another house!"

This time, Qin Xuanxi did not immediately respond with her usual "That's fine." Instead, she was taken aback, inwardly grumbling, "Song Ye, you little rascal, you've got some nerve—dreaming of sharing a wedding night with me in every house in the village! He really dares to dream."

Seeing her silence, Song Ye pressed, "Young lady, what do you think of my idea?"

"I... I have no objections," Qin Xuanxi nodded, thinking it was merely lip service. She had no intention of indulging him in such antics.

"But you've just called me 'young lady' twice more, haven't I told you not to address me that way?" Qin Xuanxi protested again.

"Sorry, it slipped out," Song Ye replied sheepishly, then began to plan their married life.

"After marriage, our primary task will be to bear children. For a long time, this village may have no one but us, so the responsibility for reviving Autumn Whisper Village falls on our shoulders."

"If we have one child a year, it won't be long before the village is lively again, full of people."

Qin Xuanxi frowned—did Song Ye expect her to bear a whole brood for him? Wishful thinking! To think the Demon Sovereign of the Profound Abyss would give him so many children—he must be dreaming!

Yet after a moment's hesitation, she replied, "Fine, my little husband, however many you wish, I'll give you that many."

Of course, Song Ye didn't believe her. This woman who loved to lie—let alone bearing him children, she likely wouldn't even let him touch her. He knew she was acting.

In this empty village, in these lonely times, having someone to play along and chat with was more than enough for him.