378: Chapter 378 Ambiguous Pulling

King Xuanyin grew increasingly composed, completely taking control of the interaction. No longer passively taking hits, she continued to tease leisurely:

"Oh? Honestly helping me?"

"Then who was it just now, hiding behind the pillar, peeking secretly for so long without even blinking?"

"And who was it who followed all the way here, just to find dirt on me so you could tease me about it every day?"

Mo Li was left completely speechless by the questions. She clasped her small hands behind her back, tapped her toes lightly on the ground, and turned her head away in embarrassment:

"I... I was just patrolling the banquet for safety! Who was watching you on purpose!"

This attempt to cover up the truth appeared both cute and funny in their eyes.

King Xuanyin chuckled.

She raised her hand and ruffled Mo Li's soft hair, her tone intimate and controlling:

"Alright, I won't tease you anymore."

"If you want to watch the show, just watch quietly. Don't stir up trouble or try to play matchmaker."

"If you ruin things, I really will take all of your thousand-year-old immortal wine."

Hearing that her precious immortal wine was in danger, Mo Li immediately raised her hands in surrender, though she still wouldn't give up, muttering softly:

"Fine, no stirring up trouble... but you have to step up yourself! Don't wait until I stop urging you, only for you to be coy and miss your chance, regretting it for thousands of years!"

King Xuanyin shook her head helplessly. As she looked up, her gaze naturally fell upon Lin Yun beside her.

The shyness and embarrassment from moments ago faded away, leaving only open tenderness and heartbeat-skipping affection.

She no longer deliberately dodged, meeting Lin Yun's smiling gaze openly. She took the opportunity to speak softly, her tone filled with a touch of intentional probing:

"Look, even Mo Li can tell that I've fallen for you."

"So, young friend Lin Yun,"

Her speech slowed down. The moonlight reflected in her stunning eyes, full of charm, every word gentle,

"You've stirred up my Dao Heart, and now you're being irresponsible, just smiling without saying a word. Isn't that a bit too much?"

Before, it was always her teasing others, controlling them, and leaving them at a loss.

Tonight, she voluntarily changed her stance, neither overbearing nor aggressively seductive.

With just a gentle question, she tossed the ball of tenderness steadily back into Lin Yun's hands.

Mo Li, standing to the side, instantly had her eyes light up.

Forgetting her surrender, she retreated two steps quietly with a face full of excitement.

Hiding by the pillar, she became the most obedient spectator, holding her breath to watch the show.

Looking at the genuine palpitation and slight anticipation in her eyes, Lin Yun's lips curved into a smile as he spoke unhurriedly:

"I never intended to be irresponsible."

"It's just that King Xuanyin has always been high above. I thought you were just acting on a whim, teasing me casually."

King Xuanyin's heart trembled upon hearing this.

Acting on a whim?

If it were ordinary romantic flirting, she could sever her emotions and calm her Dao Heart with a wave of her hand.

But facing Lin Yun, it was a genuine loss of her Dao Heart, a complete emotional collapse—a palpitation she had never experienced in thousands of years of cultivation.

She looked at Lin Yun earnestly, her voice soft yet firm:

"In my life, I, Xuanyin, have played through many romances, never with a sincere heart."

"Only with you, it is not a whim."

The evening breeze under the corridor was gentle, the moonlight serene.

Mo Li, hiding to the side, was filled with joy, her small hands clenched tight, nearly jumping up in excitement.

King Xuanyin's eyes were clear, every word sincere.

She frankly admitted that her heartbeat was by no means a passing whim.

All deliberate seduction faded from her eyes, leaving only sincerity and tenderness.

But no one knew that in Lin Yun's heart at this moment, it was an entirely different scene.

He looked quietly at the stunningly charming and sincere-looking King Xuanyin before him.

His smile was gentle and appropriately measured, but his heart remained clear and unperturbed.

Acting on a whim was the biggest excuse.

Lin Yun chuckled calmly in his heart.

He knew people like King Xuanyin too well.

Having lived for nearly ten thousand years, she had seen all the prodigies and powerful figures in the world.

Her entire life's cultivation was based on manipulating human hearts and controlling situations.

Romance, heartbeats, affections.

To her, these were always means of control and chips in a game, never sincere feelings.

Today, she appeared to have a chaotic Dao Heart and a lost spirit.

It was merely because it was the first time in her life she had encountered an opponent she couldn't manipulate, but was instead suppressed by.

A mix of novelty, desire for conquest, unwillingness, and appreciation made her mistake it for falling in love.

In the end, it was all just a fleeting obsession like flowers in a mirror or the moon in the water, definitely not sincere love.

A greater possibility...

She's faking it.

Lin Yun didn't believe for a second that this King Xuanyin, who traversed the starry seas and was impervious to all charms, would fall for him completely and truly in just half a day.

However, he didn't expose her, nor did he coldly reject her.

This kind of ambiguous tug-of-war delivered to his doorstep.

Was interesting and harmless.

And he could maintain control steadily.

He was naturally happy to play along.

Lin Yun hid the calculations deep in his heart.

His expression became even gentler, his voice low and magnetic, carrying a lingering, tender sense of pull:

"Since it's not a whim, then you've truly fallen for me?"

He leaned forward slightly, the distance neither too far nor too close.

Just enough to create an ambiguous atmosphere, his gaze locked firmly onto King Xuanyin's eyes.

The gentle question carried a strong sense of control, pinning the topic firmly onto King Xuanyin's true feelings.

King Xuanyin's heart trembled slightly, her heartbeat, which had already calmed down, losing its rhythm once again.

Being stared at so gently and questioned so directly by him, her usually sharp tongue faltered for a moment.

She had always been composed and charming, never needing to face her own emotions directly.

But tonight, in front of Lin Yun, all her disguises were peeled away layer by layer.

"Yes."

King Xuanyin nodded gently, her voice softening. She admitted it frankly, no longer stubborn or prideful.

"I have seen all of romance, but I have never felt this way about anyone."

"Lin Yun, you are the first person to disturb my Dao Heart."

Mo Li, behind the pillar, had long since quietly squatted by the railing.

Supporting her chin with both small hands, her large eyes shining, she was fully immersed in watching the drama, enjoying it thoroughly.

But beneath the excitement in her eyes, she hid completely opposite thoughts.

Fallen for him?

Give me a break.

Mo Li muttered to herself.

She understood Xuanyin's nature better than anyone.

This woman was born with a seductive bone but was heartless, her Dao Heart cold and clear.

So-called falling in love, panic, or loss of composure were all just the result of novelty.

Once this novelty passed, she would absolutely pull away faster than anyone.

Turning right back into that heartless, desireless, and stunning King Xuanyin.

Mo Li didn't believe for a second that she had truly fallen completely.

But...

Such a scene where someone so high and mighty lets down their guard, experiences budding love, and is completely controlled by a young man, was simply too rare in a thousand years!

Usually, there was no chance at all to tease Xuanyin or find dirt on her.

Now that she had finally stumbled upon it, if she didn't watch the show intently and provide crazy assistance and teasing, it would be a huge loss!

Furthermore, as a person of the Lingyuan Empire, Mo Li had a very deep agenda hidden in her heart.

King Xuanyin was a pillar-level titled powerhouse of the Tianlang Empire, with deep foundations and immense power.

What she feared most was Xuanyin luring their own Heaven-Defyingly talented Lin Yun to Tianlang; that would be a massive loss for Lingyuan.

Although she didn't believe Xuanyin was truly in love.

But what if?

What if this seemingly joking romantic tug-of-war ended up becoming real...

Not that Lin Yun gets lured away, but King Xuanyin gets completely controlled by Lin Yun and lured to Lingyuan?

That would be a huge profit! A massive profit!

Picking up a top-tier titled powerhouse for free—this kind of good thing, she wouldn't even dare to dream of it!