Mate!

The word kept repeating in her mind as she tried to take in the realization that the Second Demon Prince was also one of her mates.

Her breathing quickened and she finally looked up at the Demon Prince, but nothing could have prepared her for the disgusted look that was plastered In Hei Long's eyes.

He was glaring at her with cold eyes which were filled with anger. Rather than shining with love and care, his eyes were shining in resentment.

"What..."

Before she could complete her sentence she got cut off by his cold voice.

"What kind of evil person are you? Even your touch burns me. I don't know how my brothers are tolerating you. Why can't they see the truth behind this pretty face of yours? But I'm warning you. If you don't leave my brothers alone, I'll make you regret it."

His words were like sharp daggers stabbing her heart. Li Ming could feel her soul curling in pain and hurt.

She looked at Hei Long with puzzled eyes. When a mate's touch was supposed to be calming and loving, then why did he felt the complete opposite of that?

Didn't he realize the bond? Didn't his soul recognize hers?

She was probably about to voice out her questions when Ruoshan and Zhang Yong appeared there.

She really deserved a big round of applause because the first thing that her mind registered in such a situation was the fact that all the three men were standing on her soft Divine Lotus while wearing boots, while she was barefoot.

She promised the Divine Lotus to take its revenge from these three Immortals when the timing was right.

Zhang Yong immediately rushed to Hei Long's side and grasped his arm.

That's when Li Ming registered a slight glimpse of pain in Hei Long's eyes. He was clutching his right shoulder tightly.

Was his shoulder in pain? She thought as her eyes tried to find out the answer.

Her legs automatically started moving towards the mate who was probably in pain, but two things stopped her.

First, Ruoshan's hands which circled around her waist and dragged her back in his arms, and second was the way Hei Long flinched as he noticed her coming towards him.

She felt a heaviness settling inside her. Zhang Yong gave her a tight smile before he disappeared from there, taking Hei Long along with him.

Everything was back to how it should be. The Xiao Tiantang was once again filled with silence.

Li Ming kept standing there, still in Ruoshan's arms. None of them spoke for minutes. Both lost in their own thoughts.

"Are you alright, Xingan?" Ruoshan finally broke the silence which his soul wasn't liking at all because it wasn't a good kind of silence. It was the silence of his mate's pain and he could feel that through their soulmate bond.

Of course, their bond wasn't as strong as a soulmate bond supposed to be because they still had to complete their bonding but the small link that was still connecting them was enough to inform him that she wasn't alright and she hadn't been alright since the previous day.

"You really dared to stand on my lovely flower with your boots on. You seriously are something, Demon Lord!"

Ruoshan was completely taken back by her words. She didn't sound angry but definitely not happy either.

He immediately looked at his feet and then at hers. A sigh left his lips as he contemplated about what to say next.

Just like always, it didn't take her long to lock all her emotions and put them somewhere in the back corner of her mind, burying them under the pile of collections.

Completely closing herself for the time being.

She didn't say anything else. She just waited for the Immortal to reply and give another one of his lousy explanation.

But to her surprise, rather than explaining his action, the Demon Lord walked in front of her and kneeled on the soft surface of the Divine Lotus.

She noticed that at some point he had removed his boots as he too was bare feet.

Ruoshan took her hands in his own and looked up at his shocked mate as he said, "Xingan, do I annoy you too much? I always tried to not cause you any discomfort but I always end up doing something stupid. I just can't help it. I know I keep repeating that same question but I worry about you a lot even though I'm aware that you are very strong emotionally. Do you want to kick me out of Xiao Tiantang?"

He was almost pouting as his eyes looked at her expectantly.

Li Ming couldn't control the smile that immediately appeared on her lips. And when Ruoshan's eyes twinkled at her smile, she immediately broke into giggles.

Ruoshan couldn't explain the happiness that his soul was feeling at that moment. His mate was smiling because of him. Her soft giggles were like happy pills for his soul.

"Will you stop breaking into my Xiao Tiantang and mansion if I'll kick you out and forbid you from entering here forever?" She asked as she tried to keep her expressions hard.

Ruoshan immediately shook his head as he replied, "Of course not. I'll be here the moment I feel like you need me. I won't leave you no matter how much you will try. Never!"

Li Ming gave his hands a little tug and the Demon Lord immediately stood up from his kneeling position.

Within a second, she was in his arms. Her head buried in his chest as Ruoshan pulled her in the safety and warmth of his embrace.

She looked up at his face and could only find his eyes filled with love and care for her.

To Li Ming, Ruoshan, and Moon Deity could be considered as the most soft-hearted people in the world.

Only if she knew! These two could turn into the most ruthless people of the Immortal world when needed.

"So? Are you kicking me out?" Ruoshan asked softly as he brushed his fingers through her loose strands.

Li Ming chuckled softly but immediately shook her head. Except for her fear that he was capable of destroying her mansion, she really didn't have any other problem with him having the free pass into the magical mansion and Xiao Tiantang.

As for her privacy, both Xiao Tiantang and Magical mansion were under her ownership. According to the words of the mysterious person, she (Li Ming) had the capability of stopping anyone from entering into any specific part of the two small spaces.

"Let's go," Ruoshan said after a few minutes.

"Where?" Li Ming asked in confusion.

A soft chuckle left Ruoshan's lips as he replied, "There's a particular deity who wants to see you again but also don't want to disturb you. Let's go and apply a break on his suffering."

Li Ming chuckled at his words, her mind immediately going to the Moon Immortal, but then her smile disappeared as she replied, "I need to cultivate. I don't think I can come today."

Ruoshan lightly bumped her nose which gifted him a glare from the pouting girl but her eyes were carrying a soft look in them.

"Don't worry. It's only half-past seven, it won't take too long. Also, I promise to help you tonight with your cultivation. We all can cultivate together." Ruoshan told her.

Li Ming thought about his proposal for a few seconds and then finally nodded her head in agreement.

Ruoshan gave her a soft kiss on her forehead and then both of their silhouettes disappeared from the Xiao Tiantang.

*****

On the other side, a person was cursing loudly as another peeled his robes off his upper body.

The Imperial Palace of the Southern Province of the Demon Realm was filled with ire silence except for the loud angry shouts coming from the royal study.

"Can you just stop it now? I need to take a look at your shoulder." Zhang Yong chided the Demon Prince, softly sliding his (Hei Long's) long hair away from his right shoulder.

"That woman...AHHHHHH!"

The hands that were softly sliding his hair out of the way suddenly punched him on his already throbbing shoulder, making the Demon Prince shout in anger.

Yep, it wasn't the pain which was making him use his vocal cords so much, rather it was the person because of whom his soulmate mark had started to throb.

This incident finally confirmed his doubts. That little girl was certainly some evil person who was trying to lure him and his brothers to her side. He felt disgusted as he realized that at some point his mind even thought about her being his mate.

But of course, that's not the truth. Because if it was then his soul mark would never burn like this at their touch.

The Demon Prince promised himself that he would make that evil girl leave him and his brothers before she could destroy their soulbonds.