Jiang Huai played cheerful tunes.
He felt the atmosphere was a bit strange, so he wanted to liven things up with some lively music. Xu Qing listened quietly beside him, gradually drifting off. It wasn’t until Jiang Huai finished playing that she came back to her senses. However, she suddenly reached out and gently tugged at Jiang Huai’s sleeve.
She seemed to want to say something several times but stopped.
Jiang Huai looked at her, puzzled, until she finally stammered, “Do you want to see me dance?”
“You can do that too?”
“My mother taught me since I was young.”
“Then… let’s see?”
It was better than continuing to drink, Jiang Huai thought. Xu Qing, having received his permission, seemed a little happier. She stood up, “Then… I’ll go change into something light.”
“Okay.”
It was only then that Jiang Huai had the time to glance at the system’s mission.
“The Saintess of Guanxue Sect, Xu Qing, has long harbored feelings for you. However, her timid and gentle nature prevents her from expressing her feelings for fear of rejection. She is now quite intoxicated. Embrace her while she’s drunk, and kiss her until she’s lost in passion. This will bring you immense benefits, and you will gain two Mahayana sixth-level cultivators as your backing, allowing you to be overbearing and look down on everyone in the Eastern Region.”
Jiang Huai didn’t even bother to look at the mission rewards. He could only scratch his head, wondering how he could tactfully ask Xu Qing to give up. Would it be too cruel to say directly, “Miss Xu Qing, I don’t have any romantic feelings for you, please respect yourself…”? Given Xu Qing’s proud personality, wouldn’t that be tantamount to grinding her dignity into the dirt?
But dragging this out wasn’t a solution either.
Jiang Huai felt a little annoyed and continued to play the zither in front of him until Xu Qing emerged from her room. She had changed into a moon-white dance skirt with sky-blue sheer fabric on the hem. She had also removed her shoes and socks, her fair, tender jade feet stepping onto the ground. Jiang Huai seemed to see a light in her eyes, so joyful.
He began to play the zither, and Xu Qing’s graceful figure danced. His thoughts were in turmoil, and he accidentally missed several notes. Xu Qing didn’t seem to notice. Her body was exceptionally supple.
When the music ended, Xu Qing returned to his side and sat down.
“You danced very well,” Jiang Huai said softly.
“Thank you.”
Silence fell between them again.
After sitting quietly for a while, Xu Qing suddenly spoke softly, “If you don’t want to drink anymore, I can take you back.”
“Ah? It’s fine, I can go back myself,” Jiang Huai replied softly. However, after answering, he saw a hint of disappointment in Xu Qing’s eyes. Yet, he couldn’t say anything more. He simply stood up and walked towards the door.
Xu Qing followed beside him, but she felt as if Jiang Huai was drifting further and further away. Suddenly, she understood something. Jiang Huai already had two Dao Companions by his side. How could he not guess her feelings? Perhaps he had guessed but hadn’t spoken of it, or perhaps not forcing a relationship that was destined to have no outcome was his answer.
Love was merely a humble plea from one person.
Xu Qing suddenly reached out and tugged at Jiang Huai’s sleeve.
Jiang Huai paused slightly, turned around, and looked into her eyes. Xu Qing lowered her head slightly, and after a long time, she finally managed to speak, “You… don’t like me… right?”
As soon as she asked this question, Jiang Huai no longer had to worry about this matter. He softly replied, “I already have Dao Companions. Miss Xu Qing deserves someone better.”
Even though she had already guessed the answer, when it truly reached her ears, Xu Qing suddenly felt the vexing, heavy emotions in her heart melt away. She finally dared to look up into Jiang Huai’s eyes and said very seriously, “Mm, I understand. I’ve troubled you… I’m sorry.”
“It’s nothing,” Jiang Huai shook his head.
“Am I very stupid?” Xu Qing suddenly muttered softly.
“Why do you say that?”
“I always feel like I become very stupid whenever I’m in front of you. There are so many things I can’t say, so many thoughts I hide in my heart. It’s like I suddenly become very timid,” Xu Qing said, biting her lip. “It won’t happen again.”
She looked up, “I’ll take you back. You drank a lot of wine, and you looked like you couldn’t even walk steadily earlier.”
Jiang Huai thought about it and no longer refused. So, Xu Qing followed him, right by his side. Together, they walked towards Jiang Huai’s cave residence. The sun had already begun to set. The trees in Qingmu Immortal Palace were adorned with Firefly Stones, casting a bright, warm glow on the path ahead. Their shadows stretched across the ground.
They didn’t say anything to each other all the way until they reached the entrance of Jiang Huai’s courtyard. Xu Qing then asked softly, “So, are we still friends from now on?”
“As long as Miss Xu Qing wishes, we will always be.”
“Then… can you hug me?” Xu Qing’s voice was very, very soft. Jiang Huai looked at her, confused. He had heard her clearly, but he felt it was just a tiny bit inappropriate. “Hmm?”
“A few days ago, I had a dream.”
“What did you dream about?”
“I dreamed that you held me in your arms and said many sweet nothings.”
As she said this, Xu Qing’s cheeks flushed a deep red. Normally, she would never dare to say such things, but since she had already been rejected, she seemed to have found the courage. She was no longer as timid as before.
“I’m more curious about what you dreamt I said. I’ll learn a trick or two.”
“Anyway… you said a lot,” Xu Qing mumbled softly.
She cautiously looked at Jiang Huai in front of her. There was no impatience on Jiang Huai’s face; he just looked at her innocently. “Then… let’s hug then?”
Xu Qing walked closer to him. Jiang Huai gently embraced her. He didn’t hold her tightly, just very, very lightly. He could feel the girl’s warmth and the faint fragrance on her.
Xu Qing, in his arms, suddenly started crying. Soft sobs fell, and tears quickly dampened the clothes on his shoulders. Jiang Huai was a bit at a loss. He didn’t know how to comfort people, so he could only gently pat her back.
After a while, Xu Qing finally stopped crying and pulled away from Jiang Huai’s embrace. She very seriously said to Jiang Huai, “Thank you.”
“It’s nothing. Go back and get some rest?”
“Mm.” Xu Qing nodded, turned, and walked in the opposite direction. It wasn’t until she was far, far away that her shoulders began to heave again, and tears slid down the corners of her eyes.
Jiang Huai watched her until she disappeared from his sight. Just as he was about to open the door and go into his courtyard to sleep, he suddenly heard a cold, dismissive laugh. His body stiffened abruptly. He turned his head, and Luo Yueguan walked out from behind a tree at the entrance. She was wearing a purple dress, her arms crossed, a playful smile on her face.
“There’s a misunderstanding!” Jiang Huai blurted out.
Luo Yueguan’s smile grew more cheerful. She slightly raised her chin. “What misunderstanding? Am I misunderstanding you embracing her, or am I misunderstanding her crying in your arms like a child?”
“Sometimes things aren’t what they seem.”
“Then what are they?”
“Let’s talk inside.” Jiang Huai sighed helplessly, opened the room door, and Luo Yueguan walked in, sitting opposite him. Soon, Luo Yueguan smelled the strong scent of alcohol on him and took out her tea set to brew tea on the table.
Jiang Huai spoke first, “Why are you here?”
“Mu Lingwan came to find me and said you cured her daughter’s stubborn illness. She also asked me about you, so I came to see you.”
“Oh…”
“Turns out I stumbled upon your good deed.” Luo Yueguan’s sarcastic skills were clearly undiminished.
Jiang Huai looked at her helplessly. “Originally, I was just visiting her due to her injury. I had dinner with her parents in the courtyard, had some wine, and talked with her for a while, and then…”
“And then what?”
“She confessed her feelings to me, but I don’t have any romantic feelings for her, so we calmly cleared things up. She saw I had drunk too much, so she escorted me back.”
“That’s all?”
“Then what do you think it was?”
“Disappointing,” Luo Yueguan pouted, pushing the brewed tea towards him. Her legs were crossed beneath her skirt. Today, she wore transparent heeled sandals with straps, her fair, tender toes clearly visible.
“You’re disappointed? Watching drama without caring about the consequences. Don’t spread this around, it will affect Xu Qing badly.”
“I know, I know,” Luo Yueguan waved her hand. But after a moment, she leaned in playfully, “Then tell me about Mu Yao.”
“What about Mu Yao?”
“I told you, Mu Lingwan came to inquire about you just now.”
“Ah, what’s wrong?”
“Why would she inquire about you for no reason? She asked for every detail.”
“And you told her?”
“I asked her for 100,000 Spirit Stones and exaggerated your two-timing them.”
“Then you should give me 50,000!” Jiang Huai extended his hand towards her. He wasn’t angry; he didn’t care that much anyway. Luo Yueguan batted his hand away. “You’d better explain to me first what you did to her daughter for her to inquire about you like you’re a future son-in-law.”
Jiang Huai’s eyes widened. “I didn’t do anything!”
“Keep pretending. Do you think I just met you?”
“No, I just cured her daughter’s illness. I didn’t do anything else.”
“How did you cure the illness?”
“I just released the Poison Spirit from her acupoints.”
“So you made her strip in front of you too?” Luo Yueguan’s earlobes turned a faint pink, and her voice carried a hint of shyness and annoyance, as if recalling something.
“That never happened. I just had her wear slightly thinner clothes and opened her acupoints. For those sensitive areas, I had her circulate Spiritual Qi herself to expel the Poison Spirit. Heaven knows, I didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t try to slander me.”
Jiang Huai’s tone was much more righteous this time.
When you act like a gentleman, your back is straight.
