Chapter 180: Revenge
When Jiang Huai knocked on Bai Li’s door, Bai Li lazily called out for him to enter. The room was brightly lit by the firefly stones within.
Bai Li was wearing a silky, off-white sling nightgown and was lying on the bed, reading a book. Her snow-white calves were dangling, unconsciously swaying. She had just returned from visiting Wen Wanwan earlier today.
Bai Li had a straightforward personality, so Wen Wanwan had no issues getting along with her. Bai Li was engrossed in her book and didn’t pay him any mind. Jiang Huai walked to the bedside and sat down, catching her dangling little foot. “What are you reading?”
“Rereading the Floating Clouds Flowery Records.”
“You have good taste. What did you do with Wen Wanwan during the day?”
“She took me sightseeing around Tian Xuan Sect. Tomorrow, she’s also invited me to go play at Stone Cloud Ravine in Tian Xuan Sect.” Bai Li’s voice was natural, with no hint of awkwardness, which eased Jiang Huai’s mind slightly.
After all, Bai Li was a guest. On her first day here, he had spent all his time with Luo Qingyu and hadn’t truly entertained her.
“You don’t need to worry about me. Just take good care of Luo Qingyu. Speaking of which, I’m curious, Qingyu was so lively today… Did you not engage in Dual Cultivation?”
“Give it a couple more days.” Jiang Xiaohu released Bai Li’s little feet, but his gaze shifted to the curve between her slender waist and snow buttocks. Beneath the dress that hugged her snow buttocks, her white and tender thighs were incredibly alluring.
“Why wait a couple more days?”
“I promised Qingyu that we’d settle in first, and then we’d engage in Dual Cultivation in a couple of days.”
“Oh… You’re not trying to take advantage of me because you can’t get any satisfaction, are you?” Bai Li wore a playful yet disdainful expression. Jiang Huai’s eyes twitched slightly. “Do you really think I’m that desperate?”
“Desperate? Are you insulting me?” Bai Li suddenly flipped over and sat up. Then, she raised her white and tender little feet and kicked Jiang Huai’s chest with dissatisfaction, letting out a soft huff. “Don’t I look good?”
“You look good, of course. I meant it’s unethical and beastly to have ‘feelings’ for your brother.”
“As if you weren’t acting that way when you gave me medicine.”
“…” Jiang Huai truly couldn’t refute this. Bai Li’s eyes twinkled playfully. “Just curious, when you sleep with Luo Qingyu at night, don’t you feel uncomfortable?”
“A little.”
“Uh-huh? Do you want me to help you out?”
Bai Li’s eyes curved, and her voice softened. Jiang Huai hesitated for only two seconds before Bai Li crossed her arms, sneering. “You hesitated at such a question instead of refusing outright? Hmph, and you call yourself not a beast?”
“What’s wrong with hesitating? Didn’t I still have to refuse in the end?”
“Just admit you’re afraid of your wife, don’t try to make it sound so refined.” Bai Li let out a soft hum. “Then why didn’t you sleep with Qingyu and instead came to see me?”
“I couldn’t sleep next to her, and I was worried you’d be bored alone, so I came to chat with you.”
“I don’t mind. I’ve been alone often these past few days anyway. You should spend time with her. When a woman is about to give herself to you, she’ll naturally feel some unease, no matter what.”
“That’s true.” Jiang Huai nodded gently.
It seemed Bai Li never needed him to worry about anything. She always seemed self-sufficient, as if she were never afraid of loneliness and never craved love. Jiang Huai sometimes envied her, but at other times he couldn’t help but wonder if she was truly fearless, or if she simply had no one else to rely on, forcing her to become as tough as iron, becoming accustomed to it.
“Then I’ll head back now?”
“Go on, go on.” Bai Li waved him off. Jiang Huai had taken a few steps and was near the door when Bai Li suddenly called him back. He turned his head, and in his sight, Bai Li was sitting on the edge of the bed. She raised her white and tender little foot. “How about I let you lick it?”
Jiang Huai looked at her with a profound gaze, and Bai Li’s laughter was uncontrollable.
…
When he returned to his room, Luo Qingyu had not yet fallen asleep. Jiang Huai burrowed into the quilt. The warmth and the scent of Luo Qingyu filled the quilt. As soon as he settled in, Luo Qingyu nestled into his arms.
Jiang Huai was momentarily unsure where to place his hands. Luo Qingyu in his arms was like a mischievous kitten, nuzzling her cheek against his chest. Jiang Huai looked down and muttered softly, “Master said you should wear proper clothes in the courtyard.”
“Oh…” Luo Qingyu responded obediently but then looked up innocently. “If it weren’t for Senior Brother Jiang Huai purposely bullying me during sword practice, how would Aunt Chu have known?”
“Sword practice requires concentration, I wasn’t purposely bullying you.”
“Hmph, Qingyu doesn’t believe you.” The girl’s eyes held a cunning glint. She bit his chest lightly, then nuzzled him again before closing her eyes obediently.
Jiang Huai looked down, breathing in the faint scent of her hair.
It seemed like another night of restless sleeplessness.
…
The second day after Luo Qingyu arrived in the courtyard.
The sky outside was overcast today, so they both slept in a little longer. When they got up, Luo Qingyu rubbed her eyes and began to act spoiled towards Jiang Huai. So, Jiang Huai helped her get dressed, and they left the courtyard together. It was then that he began preparing breakfast. Chu Xianning was already sitting quietly in the pavilion, with Bai Li opposite her. They seemed to be talking in low voices, and Jiang Huai couldn’t hear clearly.
There weren’t many interesting things to do in these mountains. After breakfast, they were idle. Luo Qingyu was properly dressed today, so Jiang Huai took her and Bai Li to visit Tian Xuan Sect together, with Wen Wanwan joining them along the way.
Many disciples of Tian Xuan Sect were greatly surprised to see this scene. After all, rumors of Wen Wanwan and Senior Brother Jiang Huai’s ambiguous relationship had already spread throughout Tian Xuan Sect. Now, Jiang Huai’s nominal Dao Companion, Luo Qingyu, was also by his side. The two women were holding hands, appearing to be on very good terms. And beside them stood a woman who was incomparably beautiful and pure, even sporting a pair of coral dragon horns on her forehead.
The envious and jealous gazes were almost enough to drown Jiang Huai.
Jiang Huai accompanied them around the sect for the entire day and even drew a few paintings for them. They returned to the courtyard by evening. Bai Li went to sleep with Wen Wanwan tonight, so only Jiang Huai and Luo Qingyu returned. Jiang Huai prepared dinner. Chu Xianning ate a little before putting down her bowls and chopsticks and retiring to her room.
The sky was particularly gloomy today, indicating a heavy rain was inevitable tomorrow. Whenever it rained, Chu Xianning’s old injuries would act up. She would rest with her eyes closed in her room, thus remaining indoors.
After Jiang Huai and Luo Qingyu bathed together and returned to the room, Luo Qingyu, snuggled in his arms, produced a Sound Recording Stone from her hand. Resting her head on his chest, she said softly, “Brother Jiang Huai, do you want to watch it with me?”
Jiang Huai was stunned for a moment. He then realized this was a Sound Recording Stone that he had recorded with Wen Wanwan. But now, with Luo Qingyu in his arms, watching him tease Wen Wanwan together… the scene was quite bizarre.
Jiang Huai inadvertently lowered his head and noticed that Luo Qingyu’s small hands were tucked under the quilt, her skirt seemed to be lifted to her waist, and her fingertips…
Her cheeks were slightly flushed, her eyes held a hazy shimmer, but it was only the second day. Jiang Xiaohu’s head was already feeling dizzy again. Luo Qingyu’s waist slowly arched, and after a while, she gently poked Jiang Huai’s chest with her small hand and mumbled, “Brother Jiang Huai, carry me to bathe…”
…
After returning from bathing, Jiang Huai had to change into a brand-new bedsheet again.
“There are still twelve shichen left…” Luo Qingyu nuzzled his chest. Exhausted, she soon closed her eyes contentedly. Jiang Xiaohu, however, couldn’t sleep. He stared at the ceiling for a long time.
A tormenting little vixen.
…
The third day after Luo Qingyu arrived in the courtyard.
When they woke up today, it was pouring rain outside. As Jiang Huai opened his eyes, Luo Qingyu was lying on top of him, her eyes staring intently at him. Jiang Huai blinked at her. “What’s wrong?”
“Brother Jiang Huai, can you take Qingyu to Ziyun Pavilion?”
“Hmm? Do you want to buy a new dress?”
“No, I want to buy some thin little socks…” Luo Qingyu leaned close to Jiang Huai’s ear. “Tonight… I can rip them for Brother Jiang Huai to play with…”
Jiang Huai immediately got up, helped Luo Qingyu get dressed, and they went to the Ziyun Pavilion branch in Tian Xuan Sect together. He accompanied Luo Qingyu as she bought many cute little socks. Luo Qingyu also picked out a maid dress similar in style to Wen Wanwan’s. Beneath the hem, however, were black sling stockings. The thin hosiery encased her snow-white, slender legs. The high heels she wore made her posture even more elongated. In the afternoon, as they stood side-by-side in the pavilion listening to the rain, Luo Qingyu occasionally gently lifted the edge of her stockings, making them snap against her thighs.
After dinner tonight was bath time. In the bathtub, the maiden, having finished bathing, looked at Jiang Huai innocently, her voice soft. “Which dress does Brother Jiang Huai like?”
“The one you wore during the day looked quite nice.”
“Then I’ll wear this one.” Luo Qingyu carefully put on the dress and returned to the room with Jiang Huai. The room door was tightly locked. Outside, a torrential rain was falling, the sound of the rain chaotic and noisy, but Jiang Huai’s world was utterly silent.
Luo Qingyu sat on the edge of the bed, her feet, encased in ultra-thin black silk, dangling gently. Her eyes looked softly at Jiang Huai. “Should I take off my shoes?”
“Either way is fine.”
“Qingyu wants to know if Brother Jiang Huai likes it…”
“Then let’s not take them off.”
“Okay.” Luo Qingyu went to the bed and lay down obediently. Jiang Huai lay down beside her. He leaned closer and, as he kissed Luo Qingyu’s lips, she cunningly evaded him once before being caught and pinned down for a passionate kiss until she was almost out of breath. At some point, Luo Qingyu quietly raised her leg, her black-silk-clad calf tightly gripping Jiang Huai’s waist. Her voice was slightly weak. “Now… Brother Jiang Huai can… severely retaliate against Qingyu…”
“How is that retaliation?”
“Qingyu… likes it when Brother Jiang Huai treats me roughly… Qingyu has been deliberately tormenting Brother Jiang Huai these past two days, so I should be… punished… Qingyu… isn’t afraid of pain…”
Her hand cupped Jiang Huai’s face. “The more tears Brother Jiang Huai makes Qingyu shed… the more Qingyu likes it…”
