422 Why is your heart not at peace?
Wen Fufu had been lonely in the courtyard for a long time. So, Jiang Huai accompanied her in her courtyard for a morning. Besides having his tail played with, Jiang Huai also made her lunch. Wen Fufu ate until her stomach was full, and then she pestered Jiang Huai to teach her sword practice.
After learning for a moment, she lost interest. Her mediocre sword skills were probably only good enough to bully beginner disciples. Fortunately, Wen Fufu herself wasn’t too concerned. She never liked fighting and killing; like Jiang Huai, she was the type to slack off and live one day at a time.
Jiang Huai didn’t force her. After lunch, he prepared to return to his courtyard. Wen Fufu, however, subtly winked at him, “Brother-in-law, do you want to come to the courtyard tonight to play?”
“Play what?”
“Play with Fufu,” Wen Fufu’s eyesockets were clear and innocent, as if she were saying something extremely common. Before Jiang Huai could reach out and tap her forehead, Wen Fufu raised her hand and hugged her head.
“I’m busy with something every night recently, so I probably won’t be able to come.”
“Busy with what?”
“Researching the way of drawing formations,” Jiang Huai answered naturally. He couldn’t tell Wen Fufu that he would be sleeping in Chu Xianning’s bed at night, under Chu Xianning’s strict orders not to go anywhere else?
Wen Fufu gave him a knowing look, then softly hummed, smiling charmingly at him, “I know, I know. Brother-in-law, just come and play with Fufu when you have time.”
“I’ll come often,” Jiang Huai gently pinched her cheek, and Wen Fufu watched him leave.
…
Returning to the courtyard.
Jiang Huai pushed open the door. Chu Xianning was sitting quietly in the pavilion. Today, the fairy master was wearing a white palace dress, simple and elegant. Her features were cold and aloof. She held a chess piece in one hand, while the other propped up her fragrant cheek. Her eyes were gazing at the incomplete game on the chessboard, lost in thought.
Compared to Jiang Huai, Chu Xianning was probably even more idle on a normal day. She had very few friends and actively avoided all social interactions, so she was always exceptionally free. At this moment, she seemed to be so bored that she was playing chess with herself. Jiang Huai quickly sat down beside her and muttered softly, “I was held up by Fufu for a while longer. Master, why are you playing chess with yourself?”
Chu Xianning raised her eyes slightly and looked at him indifferently. Then, she tossed the white chess piece in her hand to him and said softly, “It’s your turn.”
Jiang Huai took the chess piece and lost the game.
“Do you want to go fishing?” Jiang Huai looked at Chu Xianning with expectation.
Chu Xianning did not refuse, which meant she agreed. Jiang Huai came to her side and smelled the faint fragrance on her. However, this time Chu Xianning suddenly spoke, “Not to Snow Lake, but to Amber Forest at the foot of the mountain.”
“Okay.”
Tian Xuan Sect was located above a spiritual energy vein, and the surrounding spiritual energy was abundant. The Amber Forest below was also often inhabited by docile spirit beasts. However, it was more desolate and less frequented than Tian Xuan Sect. Chu Xianning rode her sword into the air. Just as Jiang Huai was about to stand behind her to get a ride on her spirit sword, Chu Xianning glanced back at him sideways, “Your qi sea has already recovered. Do you still want to ride my flying sword?”
Jiang Huai immediately replied with a wry face, “The spiritual energy in my qi sea is all saved for the Five Regions Grand Competition. I can’t replenish it by absorbing spirit stones or worldly spiritual energy on a daily basis. The only way to replenish it is through dual cultivation. Of course, I should save whatever I can.”
Chu Xianning couldn’t refute him, so she let him stand behind her. However, the moment Jiang Huai slightly reached out and grabbed her shoulder, Chu Xianning’s ears subtly trembled.
The most sensitive part of Luo Yueguan’s body was her ears. Chu Xianning was not like that. Because she disliked any touch from others, or perhaps due to a slight drawback of her Flower Spirit Physique, she was sensitive all over. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have shed flower petals uncontrollably when Jiang Huai pinched her little feet or whipped her crystal toes with his giant tongue earlier.
Jiang Huai’s fear of heights had actually been cured. He could ride his sword back by himself for some distance earlier. However, in front of Chu Xianning, he had become deathly afraid of heights again. He leaned slightly closer to Chu Xianning, his breath almost falling on her neck. Chu Xianning seemed to harbor resentment but endured it without expressing it. Thus, she rode her sword with him away from Tian Xuan Sect and into the Amber Forest.
At the center of the Amber Forest was a lake. It was late autumn, and the forest was filled with large expanses of withered branches and fallen leaves. Jiang Huai and Chu Xianning found an ancient tree. A few fallen leaves floated on the water surface under the ancient tree. After clearing the fallen leaves, Jiang Huai took out his fishing rod and bait and sat on a bluestone by the lake.
The world was silent. The lake surface rippled under the sunlight. A gentle breeze blew. Jiang Huai turned his head to look at Chu Xianning’s profile.
His mind began to ponder how he could legitimately and righteously kiss Chu Xianning’s delicate pink lips.
Although kissing was just a simple touch, Jiang Huai couldn’t explain why he was so fascinated. Chu Xianning wasn’t looking at him; her eyes were quietly gazing at the lake, as if she were completely unaware that he was secretly watching her.
Boundless fallen leaves rustled down.
Jiang Huai sat there looking proper. After a while, Chu Xianning suddenly felt something behind her. It gently poked her. The moment she turned her head, she saw a fluffy tail.
She slightly froze, turned, and looked at Jiang Huai in confusion.
Jiang Huai wagged his tail like an idiot and winked at Chu Xianning.
“Where did your tail come from?”
“I refined a drop of essence blood from the Nine-tailed Fox Clan, so I can conjure a tail and ears.” Jiang Huai said as he twitched the pair of snow-white fox ears. Chu Xianning watched calmly for a few seconds, then turned her face away, continuing to look at the lake, showing no interest at all.
Hmm.
This made Jiang Huai very disappointed.
“Master, do you want to touch my tail?” Jiang Huai brought his tail closer to Chu Xianning.
“No.”
“So cold.” Instantly, more grievances filled Jiang Huai’s heart. Chu Xianning merely glanced at him indifferently, then reached out and grabbed his long tail. Her slender jade hand felt slightly cold. The moment she grasped it, Jiang Huai’s body trembled slightly. Then, Chu Xianning casually flicked his tail away. “Put your tail away. What does it look like wagging around?”
“Little puppies wag their tails in front of people they like.”
“You’re not allowed to wag it.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Huai sullenly moved his tail away from Chu Xianning’s side, and his fox ears naturally drooped. After a while, he heard himself say again, “Master, are you cold? My tail is very warm.”
“I’m not cold.”
“Okay.”
Chu Xianning’s complete lack of interest made Jiang Huai feel defeated. He changed his fluffy big tail and ears back, and obediently sat not far from Chu Xianning, quietly looking at her profile.
Chu Xianning’s eyes were still gazing at the lake, lost in thought. The lake in front of them was vast, and the distant water still had a slight mist. Jiang Huai’s head started to feel dizzy again.
When he was around Chu Xianning, he always became timid, cautious, and foolish.
But Chu Xianning completely ignored him. She had left him aside, and he wished he could roll on the ground to get her attention.
Chu Xianning could sit quietly for a very long time without speaking. Jiang Huai dared not speak to disturb her, so he also remained silent, sitting quietly by the lake with Chu Xianning. Their luck was terrible; they fished all afternoon without a single bite.
However, Chu Xianning was not disappointed.
Until the evening clouds on the horizon gradually faded, and the moonlight cast down. The forest became extremely serene, with only the faint, distant chirping of insects. A few fireflies danced slowly in the air. Jiang Huai quietly looked at Chu Xianning’s face again. She was like a statue, sitting quietly the entire afternoon.
Fortunately, Jiang Huai was somewhat used to it.
“When are we going home?” Jiang Huai asked softly.
“If you want to go back, you can go now.”
“I’ll do whatever Master says.”
“If you’re bored, you can go play with Wen Fufu.”
“I won’t. I want to stay by Master’s side.”
“Then have you learned it?”
“Learned what?” Jiang Huai was startled.
“To quiet your mind,” Chu Xianning answered indifferently.
Jiang Huai scratched his head. After a moment, he answered with a wry smile, “No.”
The entire afternoon seemed like he had been playing “Simon Says” with Chu Xianning, as if whoever spoke first lost. Then, in his mind, he imagined her possible reactions if he said various things. He amused himself like this for the entire afternoon until the evening clouds faded and the sun set, but his heart still hadn’t quieted down.
“Your heart is not at peace, so you can’t be at peace,” Chu Xianning said softly. The moonlight fell on her jet-black hair. She turned her head and looked at Jiang Huai’s cheek with her quiet eyes. “What are you thinking about?”
“This…”
Jiang Huai instantly became guilty. But looking at Chu Xianning’s indifferent eyes, he still answered truthfully, “I’m thinking about how to kiss Master’s lips without getting beaten to death.”
“Because I don’t allow you to kiss me, you want to kiss me.”
“Huh?” Jiang Huai was stunned. “What kind of logic is that?”
“Many things in this world are like this. If they are easily obtained, then you won’t desire them anymore.” Chu Xianning’s body suddenly leaned closer. The moonlight fell on her slender body. Jiang Huai smelled the faint fragrance on her, like moonlight melted in the air.
She suddenly leaned so close, with one hand gently placed on his shoulder. Their noses were almost touching, but in that instant, what Jiang Huai wanted wasn’t to kiss her, but inexplicably, to escape.
“What?” Chu Xianning’s eyelashes slightly lifted. “Don’t you want to kiss me?”
“No, no… I, I just thought about it. Just thinking about it isn’t wrong. Just, just thinking about it… Master, don’t tease me anymore. I’m scared.” Jiang Huai instantly started stuttering, unable to speak clearly.
“Not kissing?” Chu Xianning’s breath fell on Jiang Huai’s lips.
One second, two seconds.
At the third second, Jiang Huai made up his mind and leaned closer. But at that very moment, as if Chu Xianning had expected it, she leaned back again. Jiang Huai lunged forward empty-handed and bumped into her shoulder.
“Playing with me again! Chu Xianning, you’re playing with me again!”
Jiang Huai, in anger, nuzzled her shoulder with his forehead. Chu Xianning, however, was not angry or flustered. After a while, when Jiang Huai, tired from nuzzling, lifted his head, she gently tapped his forehead with her fingertip.
“Who told you your heart isn’t at peace?”
The corners of her lips curved slightly, her eyes filled with amusement.
