The Art of Subduing Dragons

Chapter 138

Ruan Li's eyes were filled with confusion and unease. She couldn't understand why Luo Qingci wouldn't let her make a vow. After thinking about it, she remembered Luo Qingci's earlier mention of her enmity with the dragon clan and felt a tightening in her heart.

"Master, are you still worried that I might take my previous grudges out on you and do something to harm you?"

Seeing Ruan Li's anxious expression, Luo Qingci touched her face and said, "No, I understand you and trust you. If you say you won't, then you won't. Besides, if I didn't trust you, wouldn't I have asked you to make a vow right away?"

"Then why do you need to make a vow? I trust you too and wouldn't want you to be bound by anything," Ruan Li said earnestly. She loved Luo Qingci to the point of wanting to be with her for eternity, but she didn't want to place any constraints on her.

Luo Qingci pinched Ruan Li's nose and smiled, "A Li, to me, this isn't a restraint or a shackle, but a place of peace. From now on, I am grounded here, and my heart is settled here, no longer a drifting reed."

She continued, "I just think that since we have come together so hastily and have engaged in dual cultivation without the formal ceremony of becoming partners, as your master and elder, I should make a promise to you. I want you to know that what I share with you is not to heal your wounds or driven by momentary desire, but is meant for eternity."

Her tone was sincere and her gaze earnest, a bit more dignified and cold compared to her earlier tender demeanor, yet it still softened Ruan Li's heart.

Unable to control her emotions and disregarding her shyness, Ruan Li hugged Luo Qingci, feeling as if she was embracing happiness.

Her feelings for Luo Qingci initially stemmed from a warm and beautiful memory from her childhood. To her, Chi Qing was the light in her dark years. The deeper she sank into her struggles, the more she was drawn to her.

At that time, she did not speak of love, only nostalgia and affection.

After their reunion, the impression Chi Qing left on her became richer and more vivid with each interaction. She grew to like her more and more, forgetting her past grievances and her own entrapment in the abyss.

In Chi Qing's presence, she always felt happy, and falling in love seemed natural.

However, Luo Qingci, as her master, was the first person to make Ruan Li feel so restless and perplexed. She had initially taken Luo Qingci as her master with hatred and prejudice but had gradually discovered the warm spring beneath the icy surface.

Despite the stark differences in their personalities, the inherent gentleness and kindness in both was unexpectedly consistent. This contradiction and inner conflict had once made Ruan Li feel ashamed and self-loathing.

At first, she thought it might be because Luo Qingci was too beautiful, making her unable to control her feelings. But once her true identity was revealed, everything seemed to make sense.

She loved Luo Qingci, loved her soul—whether it was interesting, warm, cold, or dignified. She loved it all.

Thus, she could ignore identity and gender, suppress her anger, and maintain clarity.

She never thought her will was strong; it was just that the person she loved was so wonderful that she couldn't bear to treat her recklessly. Even when the truth was right in front of her, she couldn't bring herself to harm Luo Qingci.

Now, she was immensely grateful for her choice.

Holding Luo Qingci, her thoughts meandered, and she soon frowned. Previously, when she fell into darkness, she struggled to maintain clarity, and her emotions were uncontrollable.