Pale white hands flowed with scalding blood, the warmth in her embrace gradually fading.
“Xuerou! Xuerou!”
“Ah!” Ji Xuerou’s attention was pulled back by Wu Yan once more.
By the time Ji Xuerou had composed herself and spoke again, Wu Yan had already mentally prepared herself.
“What is it?”
“Wu Yan, there’s actually something else I need to tell you. I’m going back to the Lingxiao Sect.”
So it was that after all.
Even though Ji Xuerou had only stayed at the Piaomiao Sect for two months, in Wu Yan’s heart, she had already become the closest friend she had in this world.
“I’ve been very happy spending these two months with you.” When she said these words, Ji Xuerou’s voice was as calm as ever.
“Mm, me too.”
Wu Yan nodded, then suddenly thought of something. She took a bracelet from her pocket and put it on Ji Xuerou’s wrist.
The bracelet was made of matte, moon-white warm jade, perfectly sized for Ji Xuerou’s wrist so that it didn’t slide or pinch. After returning from Medicine King Valley, Wu Yan had carefully measured Ji Xuerou’s wrist size and asked Mo Wentian to commission the artifact refiner who had made Wu Nian for her.
The bracelet had no extravagant carvings, only a simple pattern of a moon and a sun. On the inside, Wu Yan had personally engraved the words “Joy and Happiness,” wishing Ji Xuerou peace, happiness, and a blessed life.
“Xuerou, this is a gift for you. This bracelet can help you absorb moonlight essence during nighttime cultivation and double the spiritual power you absorb during the day.”
The bracelet wasn’t cold; on the contrary, it still carried the lingering warmth from Wu Yan’s body.
“Thank you.” Ji Xuerou instinctively brought her wrist to her chest and rubbed the matte bracelet with her other hand.
Beneath the moonlight, Ji Xuerou’s smile was exceptionally beautiful.
“I really like this gift.”
“Give it a name.”
“A name…” Ji Xuerou murmured, her gaze unconsciously fixed on the intertwined crescent moon and full sun.
“Let’s call it Rouyan then.”
“Rouyan Bracelet?” Wu Yan repeated. The name was indeed good, but it felt strangely off somehow. It was as if the bracelet were some kind of token of love between her and Ji Xuerou.
‘It must be my imagination. Xuerou and I are close, but not that close.’
Wu Yan shook off those strange thoughts, leaned against the ship’s railing, and admired the autumn crescent moon together with Ji Xuerou.
The next day at dawn, the spirit boat arrived at the Piaomiao Sect.
As the three of them stepped onto the ground, Xia Lingshuang was the first to flash before them. She checked their condition with her divine sense and only relaxed once she confirmed they were unharmed.
Quite a few people were waiting at the sect’s entrance for their return: Su Qianqian, Zhao Wuji, Gu Jian, and others were there, and even the peak masters had come to take a look. Only the Sect Master was absent, which was understandable—he was busy with myriad affairs, and the Piaomiao Sect was now at its best turning point.
After a brief welcome and inquiry, Xia Lingshuang told the three to go rest.
“Hoo~”
Back in her room, Wu Yan was noticeably more excited than outside. In her excitement, she was prone to getting carried away.
“Finally back in this seat’s bedchamber! Little Yanzi, hurry up and bring this seat’s osmanthus cakes.”
Wu Yan originally planned to use the Soul-Nourishing Jade to make her restrain herself, but as soon as her fingertip touched it, she realized there was no need.
The reason she had obtained this Soul-Nourishing Jade in the first place was because Wu Yan would sometimes try to seize control of the body, forcing her soul to be calmed by external force. But ever since Wu Yan had burned a portion of her own soul origin, Wu Yan—despite verbally tempting her to surrender the body—had never again tried to forcibly take control while she was awake.
Now, looking at Wu Yan, Wu Yan felt as if she were raising a daughter—except that daughter was a bit rebellious and not exactly young.
Thinking this, Wu Yan couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. This unexpected display of affection made the euphoric Wu Yan feel both comfortable and suspicious.
“Hey, dead wood, why are you suddenly laughing? Is this seat’s request that funny? This seat is asking you!”
Wu Yan pushed the Soul-Nourishing Jade deeper into her pocket and shook her head with a smile, taking out an osmanthus cake from her storage ring.
“Even though I hate osmanthus.” Wu Yan picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, forced down her physical revulsion, and chewed it carefully before swallowing.
Osmanthus crumbs stuck to Wu Yan’s rosy lips, and the cloying sweetness spread into Wu Yan’s mouth as her throat moved.
‘This dead wood, why does she look so delicious today?’ The disgust on Wu Yan’s cold face as she forced down the nauseating food made greed sparkle in Wu Yan’s eyes, and her saliva unconsciously secreted. ‘Could she actually be willing to endure this disgust for me? Has she really gone to that bitch Su Qingxuan for training?’
“Cough, cough, cough!”
After completely swallowing the pastry, the dry, sticky feeling in her throat made Wu Yan cough uncontrollably. She had to drink two glasses of water before she recovered.
“Dead wood, you don’t actually have to—”
Before Wu Yan could finish, Wu Yan lay down on the bed.
“Hey! You—!” Although Wu Yan’s expression and words seemed fierce, in the end, she obediently lay down beside Wu Yan.
The next day, the first morning light seeped in through the window. Wu Yan was dazzled awake by the warm sunlight. Turning her head, she found Wu Yan’s beautiful face filling her view.
She really was good-looking. No wonder Wu Yan was often narcissistic. Objectively speaking, that face was indeed authoritative. But the owner of that authoritative face had terrible sleeping posture.
Wu Yan’s arms were wrapped around her neck, one leg pressed over hers, and the other hooked around her waist. Even though there was no weight, being restrained like this still made Wu Yan uncomfortable.
“Wu Yan, wake up.”
Hearing Wu Yan’s words, she sniffled, furrowed her brow, and didn’t wake up.
Wu Yan called her again, only to be pulled closer.
Realizing that Wu Yan was pretending to sleep, Wu Yan flicked her forehead directly. Though it couldn’t physically touch, the insult was immense.
“Alright, stop pretending to sleep.”
“Tsk.” Knowing she couldn’t pretend anymore, Wu Yan made an annoyed sound and floated straight above Wu Yan.
“Today is the day Xuerou leaves. I have to see her off.”
“Heh, see her off? That sounds like something this seat would say.” Though both said “see her off,” their meanings were vastly different.
When Wu Yan had finished dressing and arrived at the Piaomiao Sect’s entrance in front of the inscribed stone tablet, the Lingxiao Sect’s spirit boat was already hovering. Shen Qingzhou was discussing something with Xia Lingshuang, and Ji Xuerou had already changed back into the golden palace robes representing her identity as Saintess.
“Wu Yan.”
The moment Wu Yan’s figure appeared, Ji Xuerou’s gaze was firmly fixed on her.
“Xuerou, I’m late. Sorry.”
“It’s fine. It’s not late.”
Ji Xuerou’s attitude toward Wu Yan was incredibly gentle. So gentle that even Shen Qingzhou, who had just finished talking, noticed something was off.
“Xuerou, take care on your journey. Though we’re parting now, I hope we can meet again someday.”
“Mm.” Ji Xuerou smiled and nodded.
“Alright, Xuerou, time to go!” Without letting them talk more, Shen Qingzhou called out Ji Xuerou’s name loudly, urging her to board.
“Okay.” Ji Xuerou turned to respond, then looked back at Wu Yan. Her deep gaze seemed to engrave Wu Yan’s image into her heart.
Even after boarding the ship, Ji Xuerou’s eyes never left Wu Yan.
“What, have you taken a liking to the Piaomiao Sect’s eldest senior sister?” Seeing her disciple’s reluctant expression, Shen Qingzhou couldn’t help but tease her. “If you’d said you liked her earlier, I wouldn’t have rushed to pick you up. Let you two bond more.”
“Oh? After going out, not only has your cultivation improved, but your attitude has become much firmer too.”
“Master.” Ji Xuerou called Shen Qingzhou calmly. “I need to go into closed-door cultivation for a while this time and try to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage.”
“Because I found what you asked me to find, Master.”
“After all, it’s the first time I’ve seen you care about someone this much.” Shen Qingzhou raised an eyebrow.
“Oh?”