Stars dotted the sky, and the night wind was chilly. In the silent small courtyard, lights were on everywhere. A few raindrops hung from the treetops of the apricot tree, about to drip but not falling.
*Creak—*
Xiao Yunluo slowly pushed open the door, stepped over the threshold, and walked into the courtyard, a wave of moisture following her out. She had just finished bathing and was now wearing a slightly transparent gauze dress. Beneath the dress, she was naked. Her long, light purple hair cascaded down her back, with a few water droplets clinging to the ends, making her entire being appear dewy and moist.
After returning to Xuan Xing Sect in the morning, Ye Anping had said he would take Li Longling to the marketplace to look around and wait for the Chi Long Mansion guards to pick her up, which would happen after sunset. Therefore, she, Pei Lianxue, and “Second Fool” had returned to Xuan Xing Sect first, handled some miscellaneous matters, and reported their experiences in the Northern Region to the elders of Xuan Xing Sect’s Central Peak.
After dealing with various trivialities, it was already dusk. Pei Lianxue and Feng Yu Die returned to their Three-Bay House, while she quickly flew back, cleaned herself thoroughly, and made herself fragrant and appealing, waiting for Ye Anping to “enjoy” her in the evening. After all, during his Core Formation stage, Ye Anping had abstained for three years. If just the encounter in Tianfeng Immortal City with Pei Lianxue hadn’t been enough, Ye Anping would certainly not be satisfied.
However, Ye Anping had also mentioned on his way back that he would likely be staying at Xuan Xing Sect for a considerable time, and naturally, he would be staying in her Three-Bay House. Therefore, Xiao Yunluo wasn’t too anxious. As long as she was proactive, even if not two or three times a day, once a day should be fine.
Xiao Yunluo’s cheeks flushed. She took out some lip gloss and applied it to her lips, then pursed them. Afterward, she picked up the lantern on the table and walked towards Ye Anping’s bedroom. First, she knocked on the door: *Bang bang~* Then, she called out in a soft, altered voice, “Anping~ Are you asleep?” However, there was no response from the room.
With a *creak*, she opened the door. The room, cleaned by Senior Sister Bai, was spotless, with the pillows and bedding neatly arranged and unstained, but there was no one inside. “He’s not back yet? Could it be with that Sister Li…” Xiao Yunluo puffed out her cheeks, closed the door with some disappointment, and was about to return to her own room. But after a few steps, she paused and thought, where else could Ye Anping have gone gallivanting?
So, she re-entered Ye Anping’s bedroom, jumped onto the not-so-large single bed, and tried to imbue the pillows and sheets with her scent. Then, she lay down to wait. After a shower that passed at dusk, a light rain began a short while later, pattering on the roof tiles. Accompanied by the sound of the rain, Xiao Yunluo felt drowsy and closed her eyes a short while later. When she opened her eyes again, the morning sun was already shining into the room through the carved window lattice. It was dawn, and Anping still hadn’t returned…
“Senior Sister Xiao! It’s time for Mr. Qi’s morning class!” Feng Yu Die’s voice called from outside the courtyard. Xiao Yunluo took a deep breath, thinking he would return today, and got up to change her clothes before heading out.
Pei Lianxue, seeing only Xiao Yunluo, looked a bit surprised. “Where’s my Senior Brother?”
“He didn’t come back last night…”
Feng Yu Die, holding a chicken drumstick, asked with a puzzled expression, “Huh? Where did Young Master Ye go? Didn’t he say he’d be back later?”
“I don’t know, let’s go to morning class first…” The three summoned their flying swords and headed straight for the Central Peak of Xuan Xing Sect…
As the day turned from dawn to dusk, the three-legged Golden Crow traced an arc from east to south, disappearing behind the mountains. Three flying swords returned from afar to the Three-Bay House. Xiao Yunluo, accompanied by Pei Lianxue and Feng Yu Die, pushed the door open and cried out, “Anping, are you back?”
However, there was still no response… The three of them were somewhat disappointed but didn’t think too much about it. Pei Lianxue and Feng Yu Die returned to their own Three-Bay House, while Xiao Yunluo practiced her Law Cultivator scriptures in the courtyard for a while before returning to her room. She then cleaned herself up again until she was fresh and moist, and went to lie down in Ye Anping’s bedroom…
With a blink of her eyes, the morning bell from the Central Peak once again heralded the dawn. Outside the courtyard, Pei Lianxue’s voice called out, “Yunluo! It’s time for morning class…” Xiao Yunluo touched the other half of the cold bedsheet beside her, pouted her lips in dissatisfaction, and then changed into her Xuan Xing Sect uniform, heading to Central Peak Academy with Pei Lianxue and Feng Yu Die.
Amidst the sound of reading, dusk arrived once more. Xiao Yunluo rushed back to the courtyard and glanced inside. Seeing that Ye Anping had still not returned, she became worried. After pondering for a moment, she decided to fly alone to the bamboo forest on the mountainside of Moon Spring Peak. After mentally preparing herself, she stepped into the forest and went to the front of her mother’s summer retreat cave dwelling, ringing the doorbell.
Qiu Shui Rou gently opened the door and poked her head out. Seeing that it was Young Master Xiao, her expression clearly stiffened a little. “It’s Young Master Xiao! Are you looking for the Little Master? The Little Master is sleeping. You can tell me if there’s anything.”
“Mm…” Xiao Yunluo nodded nervously, lowering her head. “Aunt Qiu, I’d like to borrow the Returning Star Bell from my mother. Ye Anping… he hasn’t returned for two days. Could you…”
“Ah… this may have to wait until the Little Master wakes up. I’m afraid of disturbing the Little Master, and it wouldn’t be good if the Little Master gets angry.”
“I see… Aunt Qiu, have you met Ye Anping before?”
“I met him once… not very familiar.”
“Then could you help me find him?”
“This… it’s not very convenient. I still need to take care of the Little Master.”
“Ai…”
*Slap—*
After Qiu Shui Rou finished her sentence, she hurriedly closed the door, almost catching Xiao Yunluo’s hand. Xiao Yunluo slowly lowered her hand, a bit of grievance appearing in her eyes. “Didn’t you say my mother was sleeping? Then what are you taking care of…” Xiao Yunluo, feeling a bit helpless, sighed softly and then stepped onto her small embroidered shoes, jumped onto her flying sword, and flew back towards Tianyun Peak.
Leaning against the wooden door, Qiu Shui Rou, after hearing Xiao Yunluo fly away, felt a wave of guilt. *Young Master Xiao… please don’t blame Auntie. The Little Master was very angry with that Sun Juehu before. Auntie couldn’t persuade her…* Then, she walked back into the house.
As Qiu Shui Rou opened the door and walked in, a complaint came from the birdcage hanging by the window, where A Ying flapped its wings. *Pū pū pū— “Birds of a feather flock together!!” Pū pū— “Let me out!! Let me out!!”*.
Seeing it like this, Qiu Shui Rou was momentarily helpless. She took out a small bag of spirit rice from her storage bag and offered it to the birdcage, bribing it. “I can let you out, but you can’t let the Young Master disturb the Little Master, otherwise, none of us will have a good outcome.”
“A handful of rice won’t bend my knees!! A handful of rice won’t bend my knees!!”
Qiu Shui Rou stared speechlessly, sat by the table, propped her chin, and reached a finger into the birdcage, poking A Ying’s belly. “Do you have knees? Normally, the Little Master feeds you until you’re plump and round…”
A Ying froze for a moment, then quickly jumped to the other side of the cage, arrogantly lifting its beak and flicking its tongue disdainfully. “Round and smooth!! Round and smooth!!”
Qiu Shui Rou smiled and shook her head, waving the spirit rice bag in front of it. “Why so principled now? You promise me what I just said, and I’ll let you out.”
A Ying glanced at the rice bag, which was about half her hand size, then turned its head away. However, it seemed unable to resist the temptation, turning its head back and forth. After a moment of silence, it flicked its tongue proudly again. “A pound of rice won’t bend my knees!! A pound of rice won’t bend my knees!!”
“…Fine.”
“They collude with each other!! They collude with each other!!” Qiu Shui Rou froze for a moment upon hearing this idiom, then opened the cage and held it in her palm, bringing it out. She then scratched its chin with her left hand. In her heart, she couldn’t help but wonder: Where did Mr. Qi find this golden-feathered parrot? It even understands the meaning of idioms, and it’s more capable than many Inner Disciples of Xuan Xing Sect… “Indeed, it’s worthy of being a gift from Mr. Qi, truly remarkable.”
“Talented and brilliant!! Talented and brilliant!!” Qiu Shui Rou rolled her eyes, paused, and added, “Brilliant… brilliant to the point of being evident in speech.”
“Hypocritical!! Hypocritical!!”
“One… one dream of Kaiyuan.”
“Anping pokes Xuanji!! Anping pokes Xuanji!!” Qiu Shui Rou’s expression instantly froze, but after a moment of hesitation, she decided to continue. However…
“Ji… Ji Ji…” Qiu Shui Rou thought for a long time, realizing that there seemed to be no idiom starting with “Ji.” Finally, she had no choice but to clasp her hands in defeat, take out a large bag of spirit rice from her storage bag, place it on the table, and sigh leisurely. “Ai…” I can’t even outsmart a bird…
… …
— —
The stars shifted, and the sun and moon completed another cycle. The *dong dong* of the morning bell once again announced the beginning of a new day near Xuan Xing Sect. A section of the flower window on the second floor of the Mandarin Duck Pavilion was opened, and a streak of dawn shone into the window lattice, illuminating the black and white eyelashes.
Si Xuanji parted her lips slightly and slowly opened her eyes. Her Yin-yang eyes held a few more traces of warmth than usual. She turned her head to look at the window. It was already Chen Shi (7-9 AM). If she remembered correctly, it was already the third morning. She slowly exhaled a breath of spiritual energy and cast her gaze down at her chest. The young man, whose eyes were tightly closed, was sleeping soundly on her chest and stomach, his arms wrapped around her waist. His handsome face had not yet completely lost its youthful charm, and his expression was peaceful and tranquil, like a little infant sleeping in his mother’s arms, sleeping deeply and very relaxed.
After watching for a while, a hint of pampering appeared in Si Xuanji’s Yin-yang eyes. She then raised her small hand and gently stroked his slightly ruffled hair. When Sun Juehu had come before, she had said that he would definitely satisfy her. Si Xuanji had wondered then, Ye Anping was only at the Core Formation Stage, how could he satisfy her? But now, she had to admit that she had underestimated Ye Anping. Si Xuanji had heard some rumors before, that Yun Tianchong of Moon Shadow Sword Sect, after reaching the Deity Transformation stage, could fight with a woman for a day and a night. However, Ye Anping was still at the Core Formation stage, and he had already lasted for three days and three nights… Although it was related to the Nine Yuan Heart Method he practiced, and also related to his inexplicable physique of Yang energy outbursts, but… To satisfy her, a cultivator at the Void Refining Stage, with only the cultivation of the Core Formation Stage.
“You really make this old woman uneasy…” Si Xuanji curled her lips slightly, shook her head, and sighed, then poked his cheek. “If only you had heavenly spiritual roots! This old woman wouldn’t have to hide her identity from you. But with these dual spiritual roots… Ai—”
Perhaps it was Si Xuanji’s speaking that caused Ye Anping’s tightly closed eyelids to tremble slightly. He slowly opened them, revealing a pair of deep purple eyes filled with a hint of confusion. Seeing this, Si Xuanji quickly reverted to the role of the wronged maiden from before, biting her lower lip, a tear forming at the corner of her eye. “Ying…”
Ye Anping’s mind was blank, he couldn’t remember anything. He slowly sat up, feeling his whole body weak and unable to exert any strength. But when he saw Si Xuanji’s Yin-yang eyes, which were full of grievance and fixed on him, it was as if he had suddenly been doused by a waterfall. The icy lake water, like a spiritual awakening, jolted his memories awake. Ye Anping looked out the window: It was Chen Shi… That is to say, one night had passed? How long had I been asleep?
“Young Master Ye… you… you… *sniff*…” Si Xuanji sniffled, and the tear hanging at the corner of her eye thickened, on the verge of falling. Ye Anping was still a bit dazed. He quickly sat up and looked down. The white jade cub, after being satisfied, had white foam slowly flowing from the corners of its lips…
“…”
“*Sniff… sniff…*” Si Xuanji’s nose twitched, her expression extremely aggrieved. Seeing Ye Anping’s blankness, she bit her lip slightly and raised her bare foot, kicking him on the nose. Ye Anping didn’t react and was kicked down by that little foot, rolling onto the wooden floor before managing to stop himself.
Forgetting the pain of his head hitting the ground, he took several deep breaths, calming his emotions slightly. Then, he looked up at the bed… Si Xuanji was now holding the blanket with one hand, obscuring herself. Her Yin-yang eyes held a hint of shyness and anger, her gaze fixed on his face.
“…”
“…”
Silence… Still silence… His lips parted and closed several times. He imagined “Feng Yu Die eating roasted chicken” to quickly calm himself down. From Si Xuanji’s appearance, she still intended to conceal her identity, so he had to cooperate. Respecting the old and loving the young, right?
“Miss Xuanji… That what… I’m sorry. The situation was urgent at the time.”
“I promised to help you vent your Yang energy, but you were too ruthless… I’m younger than my sister. Young Master Ye, don’t you know how to cherish a tender beauty…” Si Xuanji’s expression, with three parts grievance, three parts complaint, and four parts pity, made Ye Anping’s heart itch, but he was also speechless. Could this old woman disguise herself as a young girl so well? Then don’t blame me for not being polite either!
Ye Anping pretended to be panicked, supported himself, and stood up. He walked to the bedside and said, “Miss Xuanji, I will be responsible for you, just like your sister. Will you marry me? I’ll definitely treat you well from now on. You saved my life this time… I’ll give you whatever you want.”
“… Liar.”
“Then shall I take out my heart and show it to you?” Saying this, Ye Anping looked around, directly picked up his storage bag, took out a dagger, pointed the tip at his chest, gathered his spiritual power into the dagger, and suddenly stabbed down.
Is he serious?! Si Xuanji thought Ye Anping was just acting to appease her, but upon seeing the spiritual light, her eyes widened instantly. She quickly reached out, knocked the dagger from his hand, and pushed him down onto the ground. Then, straddling him, she frowned and scolded, “Are you stupid?!”
Ye Anping, pretending to be a naive young man, looked around in panic and said inarticulately, “Ah… but… but… I… I’m sorry, Miss Xuanji…” She really is quite innocent for this kid, even though she was usually so calm when facing problems before… Si Xuanji was a little delighted to see this other side of Ye Anping. She had always thought Ye Anping was rather aloof, possessing a composure beyond his years. But now, it seemed he was still somewhat naive… How cute…
Si Xuanji slowly exhaled, saying, “After all, I promised you before. I was just complaining that you don’t know how to cherish flowers and jade… You’re like a bull…”
“Ah…” Ye Anping secretly rejoiced. It seemed his acting was even better. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and appeared to have calmed down, his gaze returning to its usual steadiness. “Miss Xuanji, I was indeed a bit flustered just now…”
“I can see that.” Si Xuanji pondered for a while. Her cultivation should now be at the Core Formation Stage, like Xiao Yunluo. But even a cultivator at the Core Formation Stage couldn’t withstand Ye Anping’s treatment like that…
“Young Master Ye… Could you carry me to bathe? My limbs are weak…” Ye Anping wanted to say that he was the one with weak legs now, but since Si Xuanji wanted to act, what could he do? He couldn’t just stand there in this posture…
So, he could only nod in agreement, forced himself to stand up with his extremely sore body, and slowly carried Si Xuanji in a princess carry, step by step, towards the bathtub on the other side of the private room. Then, he went back to get his storage bag, used a fire stone and a water stone to make a basin of hot water, sprinkled some petals and fragrant oil, and began to “cook” a “Xuanji Soup”…
… …
