The next day, early in the morning.
Jiang Huai woke up on Chu Xianning’s bed.
He opened his eyes. He remembered everything that happened last night with perfect clarity. However, when he looked around, Chu Xianning was nowhere to be found. His quilt was still covering him properly. Jiang Huai hastily got out of bed and went into the courtyard. Seeing Chu Xianning sitting by the lotus pond, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
For some reason, he always had strange fantasies. He fantasized about Chu Xianning disappearing from his world one day. He always had such nightmares. It was probably because Chu Xianning always kept him at a distance, making him feel like she was both within reach and impossibly far away.
“Master, why are you up so early?” Jiang Huai came to her side.
Chu Xianning was wearing a jade-white sleeveless qipao today. When Jiang Huai came to her side, he noticed her jade-white qipao concealed her fair, long legs, adorned with sheer, pearl-colored stockings. The moment Jiang Huai’s gaze fell upon her legs, Chu Xianning gently tugged at the hem of her qipao, covering her legs again. She replied with a cold indifference, “I’m always up early.”
“I’m also up early every day, but Master is even earlier than me today.”
It was still barely dawn. Chu Xianning turned her head and looked at him. “None of your business.”
“Did I snatch your quilt last night?” Jiang Huai innocently blinked at Chu Xianning.
Chu Xianning’s fair cheeks flushed slightly, but her eyes still tried to maintain a cold demeanor.
“You know yourself.”
“Wanwan always says I steal the quilt when I’m asleep.” Jiang Huai scratched his head, feeling that if they continued this topic, Chu Xianning would become shy and annoyed. He quickly changed the subject and asked softly, “What do you want for breakfast, Master?”
“Whatever you like.”
Jiang Huai walked into the kitchen and began preparing breakfast.
……………………………………
Jiang Huai didn’t mention what happened last night to Chu Xianning again.
Chu Xianning must have mustered great courage to finally make her decision. She appeared nonchalant, but her body was trembling uncontrollably at the time. Jiang Huai never dreamed he would see Chu Xianning crying in his arms like a little girl.
The Chu Xianning he always saw was proud and aloof. He rarely saw her vulnerable side, and the more vulnerable she was, the more his heart ached. Recently, he had been diligently studying various ancient texts on alchemy, continuing to learn more about pharmacology.
Life had become relatively peaceful recently. Occasionally, he and Chu Xianning would play chess in the courtyard, or just sit in silence, or go fishing together, or stroll around the sect as the sunset painted the sky in vibrant colors. Sometimes Jiang Huai would even beg Chu Xianning to take him for a ride on her sword, treating it as a way to overcome his fear of heights. Although Chu Xianning’s eyes would show a hint of reluctance, she would still fly, and she no longer restricted him from gently hugging her slender waist from behind.
Of course, Jiang Huai also had to make time for Wanwan and Fufu. Fufu was still in her succubus form, still visible, touchable, and kissable, but not edible. A few days ago, Fufu had finally relented and agreed to let him tease her buttocks, but Jiang Huai refused!
Hmph! He wouldn’t!
Fufu, feeling wronged and shy, bit him several times.
Wanwan had become a completely gentle wife. Her body was soft, her voice was soft. When Jiang Huai took his nap, he loved to go to her, resting his head on Wanwan’s fair, soft thighs. Wanwan would embrace a book, quietly flipping through its pages, and he could sleep soundly and at ease.
Jiang Huai felt that his relationship with Chu Xianning seemed to have reached a more subtle stage. These days, Jiang Huai was no longer playing the role of a “little perverted dog.” It was as if they had returned to their previous mode of interaction, but only on the surface. In reality, there were significant differences.
It seemed that after that night, Chu Xianning’s favorability had quietly increased by several points. Jiang Huai could clearly sense this change, but he didn’t know how to express it. Perhaps it was the tone of Chu Xianning’s voice when she spoke to him, or perhaps it was something in her cold eyes…
Since they would be heading to the Fan Hua Secret Realm in the Western Regions soon, Jiang Huai spent his days not only in silence and casual chats with Chu Xianning but also practicing sword fighting or movement techniques with her. Each session left him utterly exhausted.
Jiang Huai sat on a chair, panting heavily. Chu Xianning stood quietly, her white dress still as aloof as ever. Seeing him gasp for air, she suddenly said softly, “You’re like a puppy.”
“You’re humiliating me again!”
“No,” Chu Xianning shook her head gently, taking out a handkerchief to delicately wipe the sweat beads from his forehead.
Jiang Huai stood there, stunned, gazing at Chu Xianning’s eyes. Her eyes still seemed cold, but this was her protective shell from the past few centuries. He glimpsed the tenderness in her aloof eyes and gradually became lost in his thoughts.
“What is it?”
Chu Xianning put away the handkerchief and asked softly, looking at his dazed expression.
“Master is so gentle.”
“Gentle? Does it mean easily bullied in your eyes?”
“Of course not!” Jiang Huai tilted his head. “I just feel like Master has been getting better and better to me lately. It feels hazy and unreal… like a prisoner about to be executed in autumn, getting a good meal before death.”
Chu Xianning reached out and tapped his head, then looked at him coldly. “Why do you always think about these trivial things?”
Jiang Huai just looked at Chu Xianning with a wronged expression. “Then, Master, can you say it again… that you won’t leave me secretly?”
Chu Xianning looked at him coldly, then at the pleading in his eyes. Finally, she let out a helpless sigh, as if she had no choice but to indulge him. Her delicate pink lips moved, and she replied with certainty.
“No.”
………………………………
Late at night.
Jiang Huai was curled up in his quilt, and words appeared on the Sound Transmission Spirit Jade in his hand.
For some reason, every time he chatted with Xu Qing, even if they only talked about serious things and serious matters, Jiang Huai felt an inexplicable sense of guilt, as if he were having an affair.
He would be departing in two days. Since he planned to visit Bai Li first, he wanted to spend a few extra days there, so he wanted to leave plenty of time. As it was on the way, he would first go to Aolai Continent to see Xu Qing at Guanxue Sect. After staying for a day or two, he would set off for the Western Regions.
A few days ago, Jiang Zhi had already sent him a letter of recommendation. This letter bore Jiang Zhi’s spiritual imprint. With this letter, he would be able to obtain the consent of the Fox Clan chief in the Western Regions to enter the Fan Hua Secret Realm. It seemed that Jiang Zhi and the Fox Clan chief had some connection.
He used the Sound Transmission Spirit Jade to inform Xu Qing that he would arrive in about three days. Then, he snuggled back into his quilt and slept soundly. He would sleep early tonight and wake up early tomorrow to go to Qingxuan Sect with Chu Xianning. After spending a day at Qingxuan Sect, he would depart using the Spirit Boat of Luo Yueguan.
………………………………
The next day.
Today, Chu Xianning was wearing a white qipao. The pearl-colored stockings beneath the qipao seemed to shimmer with a faint light in the sunlight. She was also wearing a pair of silver high heels, which made her slender calves appear even more shapely. What surprised Jiang Huai was that Chu Xianning was also wearing a small earring today.
That earring was also something Jiang Huai had given her before, but Chu Xianning rarely wore jewelry. Today…
“Let’s go,” Chu Xianning said softly.
“Okay.”
Jiang Huai obediently walked behind Chu Xianning, leaned closer, and embraced her.
Recently, he had been pestering Chu Xianning to take him on her sword to face his fear. But no matter how many times he hugged her, Chu Xianning still seemed uncomfortable, her body still slightly tense.
She rode her sword at full speed, and it didn’t take long to reach Qingxuan Sect with Jiang Huai.
The flying sword landed halfway up the mountain, in the courtyard of Luo Yueguan. Jiang Huai reached out and gently knocked on the door. The door opened, and inside, Luo Yueguan was wearing a dark purple qipao. Her legs beneath the qipao were fair and slender. She was leaning lazily on a lounge chair, reading a script, looking as languid as a fox. The moment she saw Jiang Huai, her eyes brightened instantly. However, after a moment, she saw Chu Xianning, and swallowed the words she was about to say.
“Hmm? You’re here so early?”
A few days ago, Jiang Huai had sent Luo Yueguan a message by carrier pigeon, saying that he and Chu Xianning would visit in two days and that he needed to borrow her Spirit Boat. Luo Yueguan had naturally made preparations. However, as her gaze fell upon Chu Xianning, she was suddenly surprised.
In her memory, Chu Xianning had never been a woman who loved to dress up.
She knew Chu Xianning never judged herself by others’ standards, which was why Chu Xianning usually wore a white or black Daoist robe, and her black hair was always simply tied up, making her look like a nun. But today, Chu Xianning was radiant, and even her hair was meticulously braided in a way that Luo Yueguan had taught her before.
Luo Yueguan stared for a few seconds before slowly saying, “That outfit looks beautiful on you, Chu Xianning.”
Chu Xianning’s eyes swept over Luo Yueguan lightly, but she didn’t speak. After sitting down beside Luo Yueguan, she reached out and gently pulled the hem of Luo Yueguan’s dark purple qipao, covering her fair, soft thigh.
Her qipao was already excessively sexy and revealing, with a very high slit and a completely backless design. Therefore, she only wore it in the courtyard.
Luo Yueguan playfully lifted it.
Chu Xianning covered her again.
“I’m just sunbathing,” Luo Yueguan blinked innocently at Chu Xianning. A moment later, she suddenly understood why Chu Xianning had dressed so beautifully today.
My heavens, Chu Xianning could also have a girlish side. Luo Yueguan had never seen Chu Xianning like this when she was younger, but now she saw it in the six hundred-year-old Chu Xianning.
She subtly glanced at Jiang Huai, a hint of playfulness in her eyes, then leaned closer to Chu Xianning’s ear and whispered, “If you cover my legs, won’t your disciple still look? If he has a clear conscience, he wouldn’t be staring in the first place.”
“He’s not looking in the first place… It’s just… it’s not appropriate for you to be like this in front of a junior,” Chu Xianning whispered back, her voice inaudible to Jiang Huai.
“You’re not him, how do you know if he’s secretly looking?”
“If I say he’s not, then he’s not.” Chu Xianning tilted her head slightly, a hint of pride appearing on her cheeks. Luo Yueguan, however, playfully reached out and pinched Chu Xianning’s face, laughing.
Chu Xianning looked at Luo Yueguan with displeasure and tried to grab her wrist to remove her hand. Luo Yueguan, however, laughed even more joyfully, gently pinched Chu Xianning’s face, and winked at her.
“You’ve suddenly become so cute, Chu Xianning.”
