13 Dream
“Does Jiang Huai Gege really not take a nap?”
Luo Qingyu lifted her skirt quite a bit, her fingertips pinching her soft, plump, snow-white thighs. Each poke made her flesh gently bounce back, and Jiang Huai stole a glance at the girl’s innocent eyes.
“I won’t sleep,” Jiang Huai replied resolutely, sitting up straight.
“Then Qingyu wants to sleep… but can’t.”
“Just close your eyes and pull the quilt over yourself; you’ll fall asleep.”
“If Jiang Huai Gege pinches my little feet… I’ll fall asleep really quickly.” Luo Qingyu lay sideways, blinking at him, her tender little feet starting to fidget against each other while still clad in white lace socks.
“I won’t pinch.”
Luo Qingyu’s lips pouted slightly.
“Pinching your little feet is a reward, and you haven’t done anything recently that deserves a reward, so I can’t pinch them.” Jiang Huai flipped through the old scrolls on pill refinement in his hands, not paying any attention to the tiny hint of grievance on Luo Qingyu’s face.
“What does Qingyu need to do to be rewarded…”
“You need to be obedient.”
“Am I not obedient enough?”
“Yes, you lingered in bed this morning, so you can’t be pinched.”
“Then… I won’t linger tomorrow morning. Can Jiang Huai Gege pinch my little feet now?”
Jiang Huai extended his hand, and Luo Qingyu quickly raised her tender little leg, placing her white, delicate foot into his palm. He pulled off her white sock, gently pinching her soft, smooth foot. Luo Qingyu bit her lip, her cheeks quickly turning a rosy hue.
After playing for a short while, Jiang Huai grew tired of it, helped her put her socks back on, and covered her with the quilt. “Alright, obediently go to sleep.”
“Where are you going, Jiang Huai Gege?”
“To my room for a nap.”
“Then why won’t you rest your head on Qingyu’s legs?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping?”
“But… it wouldn’t affect it… If Jiang Huai Gege rests on me, you’d sleep better.” Luo Qingyu’s eyes were always so innocent, her alluring gaze flowing like water. Jiang Xiaohu almost lost his composure, but just as images of Chu Xianning flashed in his mind, he regained clarity and shook his head, “No, nothing beats my own pillow.”
Luo Qingyu looked at him aggrievedly, but Jiang Huai was already walking towards the door. It wasn’t until he gently closed her door that she finally withdrew her gaze, her delicate fingers coming to her lips, but this time, her white teeth lightly bit her finger, her dark pupils filled with lingering discontent.
“Jiang Huai Gege… how annoying.”
The girl’s white thighs were left with faint red scratches from her fingertips.
………………………………
As Jiang Huai stepped out of Luo Qingyu’s room, he found his nap disrupted by a visitor in his courtyard.
A gentle knock sounded at the door. Jiang Huai opened it to see a girl standing there. While he had seen most junior sisters in the sect, he often didn’t know them well. The girl before him was one of those few he remembered.
She was truly beautiful.
If there were to be a ranking of the girls in the sect based on appearance, she would easily be in the top five. Her figure was slender and graceful, her skin fair, with delicate features that exuded a gentle yet aloof aura.
Unfortunately, her attire was too plain; a white Daoist robe nearly obscured her body, revealing only her slender neck and fair cheeks. Her jade hands peeked out from her sleeves but seemed to lack a place to rest, so her fingertips gently clutched the fabric.
Upon seeing Jiang Huai, the coldness in her brows melted away almost instantly. In her hand was a small fragrant pouch. She took out ten spirit stones and said softly, “Senior Brother Jiang, this is… a part of the spirit stones I owe you.”
Jiang Huai didn’t take them immediately but asked, “How has your sister been lately?”
At the mention of her sister, the girl’s eyelashes drooped a bit as she replied softly, “Still the same, but she has been happier recently. Thank you, Senior Brother Jiang, for the candies you sent last time; she really liked them.”
“Keep the spirit stones for now. I haven’t had much use for them lately, so don’t worry about interest.” Jiang Huai smiled gently at her.
However, the girl opposite him grew uneasy and quickly responded, “I completed many missions last month. After paying for my sister’s medicine, there was still some left. Please don’t refuse, Senior Brother Jiang.”
Jiang Huai sighed lightly, “It’s better for you to keep them for your cultivation. Isn’t the Inner Sect Competition coming up soon? With your talent, you should be able to rank in the top five of the Inner Sect. Save the extra spirit stones for your cultivation; when your realm improves, you’ll have plenty to spare, and you can return them to me whenever.”
“Senior Brother Jiang… you always say that.” The girl’s eyelashes drooped even lower, her unease evident.
Jiang Huai welcomed her in, and she sat opposite him. He filled a cup with tea from the pot on the table and said softly, “Think of it this way: the one thousand spirit stones I lent you last time is a bet. I bet that you will become a powerful Eighth Realm cultivator one day. By then, you won’t lack for one thousand spirit stones, and you’ll owe me a small favor, which is profitable for me.”
Seeing him say this, the girl seemed still not to comprehend fully. He continued, “Right now, your sister’s health is the priority. You want more resources, and to heal your sister, you definitely need to cultivate well. Of course, this requires spirit stones. As for the one thousand spirit stones you owe me, you can return them whenever; after all, you know I have no use for spirit stones right now since my cultivation is wasted.”
At this point, the girl suddenly raised her head, trying to look into Jiang Huai’s eyes, but she didn’t seem to find much sadness or disappointment there. She asked softly, “Senior Brother Jiang… how’s your health?”
“My body is fine; it’s just my cultivation that’s truly wasted,” Jiang Huai replied. “It’s a minor issue; no need to dwell on it.”
“Such matters…”
“Alright, let’s not talk about this.” Jiang Huai sipped his tea and continued, “I’ve been researching some ancient texts on pill refinement, looking for a way to completely heal your sister. Perhaps in a few days, I’ll have the opportunity to refine a pill for her so she won’t have to suffer anymore.”
Wen Wanwan’s body shivered, and after staring at Jiang Huai for several seconds, she finally spoke, “Senior Brother Jiang…”
“Yes?”
“You’re really kind.”
Jiang Huai forced a smile, “No, this is what I should do. If it weren’t for my suggestion to the Sect Master about the Inner and Outer Sect reforms, you wouldn’t have to worry about possibly being expelled from the Inner Sect.”
Wen Wanwan’s expression was sincere. “Senior Brother Jiang, your kindness, I will always remember. If there’s ever an opportunity in the future, I will repay you.”
“Alright, alright. For now, just focus on your cultivation.” Jiang Huai sighed with a smile and added, “If you need spirit stones, feel free to find me. I have plenty of spirit stone tickets that I can’t find a use for.”
Jiang Huai had saved up quite a bit over the years from helping others forge swords and refine pills; he couldn’t do it all for free. If he kept helping without charge, everyone would see him as a pushover.
Hearing this, Wen Wanwan was momentarily at a loss for how to express her gratitude, but Jiang Huai noticed her unease and gently said, “Alright, drink your tea.”
……………………………………
After chatting with Wen Wanwan for a while, Jiang Huai inquired about the recent happenings in the Inner Sect. Most of the news was rather mundane; the hot topic among the elders revolved around him. Many lamented his situation, but here he was, sitting casually, sipping tea and laughing, completely devoid of the solemnity expected.
Wen Wanwan had a lovely voice. It seemed cold, but it was especially gentle when they were just chatting.
After seeing Wen Wanwan off, the door to Luo Qingyu’s room unexpectedly swung open. The figure in a black dress with eyes that fixed intently on him melted into a playful demeanor moments later as she began to pout, “Jiang Huai Gege… who was that woman?”
“She’s a junior sister from the Inner Sect named Wen Wanwan.”
“What did she come to see Jiang Huai Gege for?”
“Her sister had a sudden illness, and she was in a desperate situation, so she came to my courtyard to ask for some money.”
“And then?”
“I lent her a thousand spirit stones. She often comes to return part of the debt, but I keep refusing.”
“Jiang Huai Gege is such a good person.”
“Mainly, she’s very pretty.” Jiang Huai thought for a moment, “I generally have little resistance to beautiful women.”
He knew his weakness all too well.
“Then, is she pretty… or is Qingyu pretty?”
“They’re both pretty, but she has longer legs, and I like long legs.”
Luo Qingyu adopted a nearly tearful expression, sitting across from him, raising her slender legs. “Aren’t my legs long enough?”
“They are technically, but I think hers are just a little longer.”
“How do you know, Jiang Huai Gege?”
“Just a feeling.”
“A feeling isn’t enough! Jiang Huai Gege hasn’t measured them with his own hands.”
“Should I help you measure?”
“Okay!” Luo Qingyu’s smile returned as she took off her shoes, resting her slender, delicate legs on his. Jiang Huai used his hands to measure, starting from her toes. Luo Qingyu stretched her legs straight, her toes pointed like a straight line. Jiang Huai continued measuring up to her thighs. His fingertips crawled up her right leg until he reached her slender waist, then he pressed gently, causing Luo Qingyu to soften immediately with a light breath.
“Qingyu… are they long enough?”
“Just barely.”
“Just barely? Jiang Huai Gege is bullying me again.” Luo Qingyu began to look pitiful, pouting. “One day, I will grow legs as long as Mother’s.”
“By then, Jiang Huai Gege will be old and will prefer a cute style like the current Qingyu.”
“Then… Qingyu will never grow up, always being like this.”
“Silly girl.” Jiang Huai gently tapped her forehead. Luo Qingyu covered her head, her cheeks puffed out.
“Jiang Huai Gege…”
“Yes?”
“I just dreamed you kissed me.”
“You’re lying. Didn’t you sneak up to eavesdrop as soon as you heard a woman’s voice in the courtyard?”
Jiang Huai gave a cold laugh, pinching her tender little face. “Every day with Jiang Huai Gege, you’re not learning anything good and have even learned to lie to me. Tonight’s foot pinching is canceled.”
“No, I wasn’t lying! Qingyu really fell asleep for a little while and dreamed that Jiang Huai Gege kissed me.”
“Dreams are the opposite. This means Jiang Huai Gege doesn’t want to kiss you.”
“Jiang Huai Gege… why don’t you want to kiss me?”
“Because it’s not the right time yet.”
“Then does Jiang Huai Gege want to kiss Chu Ayi?”
Jiang Huai nodded vigorously.
But the next moment, Luo Qingyu pointed toward the courtyard entrance, her eyes suddenly lighting up.
“Chu Ayi is back!”
