Chapter 267

Ning Ning felt a bit flustered under his intense gaze.

Pei Ji was tall, and the slanted moonlight fell over him, casting his shadow right over her.

Though the shadow had no physical form, it pressed down heavily, making it hard for her to breathe.

If she were to lower her head or step back now, she would completely fall apart.

It would be no different than plainly admitting to Pei Ji that she was embarrassed just from his glance.

That would be far too humiliating.

Ning Ning steadied her racing heart, forcing herself to look up with a composed expression.

Xie Yu’s features were sharp and defined, always carrying a trace of demonic allure between his brows.

As his offspring, Pei Ji inherited traits from both parents.

While there was some resemblance, his looks leaned more towards delicate beauty and softness.

Ning Ning hadn’t exaggerated—Pei Ji truly was stunning.

When he kept a cold expression, he resembled the distant, unapproachable moon. But now, standing so close to her, there was an uncharacteristic hint of struggle in his eyes, which softened the usual chill and hostility around him.

It was like ripples of shattered water glimmering faintly in his eyes, reflecting a soft, peach-blossom pink.

Yet it was deliberately blocked, unable to reach her.

Such a gaze was impossible to resist.

Pei Ji slowly moved closer.

The brief moment of confusion on his face quickly vanished, replaced by his usual restraint and coldness.

When Ning Ning saw him stop, she thought the moment would pass.

But suddenly, she heard Pei Ji’s voice, catching her completely off guard.

His voice was slightly hoarse, his tone unnaturally stiff, almost like a whispered rasp, “May I… hug you?”

It was an almost irresistible request.

Ning Ning nearly thought she was hearing things.

Her heart raced like a startled cat, fluffing up and scattering in all directions.

She stared blankly at him, seeing the boy’s eyes half-hidden by his messy hair.

This time, it was Pei Ji who stiffened, silently averting his gaze.

He had never imagined that, in a moment of daze, he would actually voice something buried deep in his heart.

Though he rarely interacted with others, Pei Ji understood the meaning of a hug.

It was an action shared only between close individuals, symbolizing acceptance, intimacy, and an indescribable ambiguity.

Ning Ning didn’t respond, and the only thing filling the bamboo forest was darkness and silence. For the first time, Pei Ji felt utterly embarrassed.

She must feel taken aback, unsure of how to reject him.

It made sense, after all.

Fundamentally, the two of them were merely fellow disciples.

To Pei Ji, Ning Ning was the most special person of all, but she was always surrounded by a variety of friends.

A silent, solitary junior disciple like him probably seemed insignificant.

Not to mention, he carried such a burdensome identity—

Before the thought could fade, a breeze carrying the scent of flowers swept past his ear.

Something warm and soft suddenly crashed into his arms.

Pei Ji staggered, instinctively stepping back.

Ning Ning wasn’t much more experienced with hugs than he was, her movements were clumsy and rushed.

Her hands fumbled on his back, unsure where to land, until they eventually settled on Pei Ji’s prominent spine.

His heartbeat was so loud, Ning Ning thought, fast and fierce, making her tingle all over.

She buried her head into the crook of Pei Ji’s neck, her breath warm as she spoke, her voice muffled as it brushed against his collarbone, “Pei Ji.”

Ning Ning had called his name.

Just those two words were enough to make his heart race wildly.

Pei Ji took a deep breath and responded, “Mm.”

“…If you want to hug, just hug.”

She spoke while burying her head lower, her voice growing softer, as if she had mustered all her courage to finish the sentence: “A girl shouldn’t be the one to take the lead in this sort of thing.”

Cheng Ying couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Pei Ji stood frozen.

A spark quickly ignited in his chest, spreading like fireworks, much like the ones he had seen in Luan City that day, inexplicably bursting to life in his heart.

If Ning Ning didn’t dislike him—

The young sword cultivator loosened his grip on his sword and slowly lifted his arms.

What his hands touched was entirely different from the cold, hard sword hilt—it was soft, like sugar or a lake, warm and comfortable.

His scarred and calloused hands gently moved upward, tracing her slim waist, the dip in her back, until they reached her spine.

Ning Ning seemed to shiver slightly from his touch, causing a tremble to run through him as well.

“Don’t be sad, okay?”

Ning Ning realized the words didn’t sound right and quickly added, her tone stiff, “No, if you’re sad, you can always come to me. I may not be capable, but I’ll do my best to help you.”

Pei Ji lowered his head, his nose inches from her hair.

It was the familiar scent of jasmine.

He gently kissed her hair, leaving no trace, and Ning Ning remained unaware.

He wanted to be closer to her.

Closer still.

The long-desired embrace now seemed far from enough.

He had never felt so insatiable, as if a bottomless chasm had opened within him, impossible to fill.

But this was the limit.

If he pushed further, if he crossed the line, it would only invite Ning Ning’s displeasure.

Pei Ji felt on the verge of madness.

If he ever saw that look of disgust in her eyes—

He didn’t dare to imagine.

“Don’t keep your worries bottled up, alright?”

Ning Ning had finally calmed down from her nervousness, now familiar with the embrace.

She spoke while poking his back, “I—”

She stopped abruptly, and Pei Ji furrowed his brow, turning his gaze towards the depths of the bamboo forest.

There was a faint, almost undetectable rustling sound.

Ning Ning’s face flushed once again upon hearing the noise.

She coughed hastily and jumped back, retreating from his embrace.

Holding her breath, she didn’t dare look at Pei Ji, instead staring directly in the direction of the sound.

The night forest was eerily quiet.

At some point, the moon had been obscured by clouds, casting only a few faint silver streaks.

The illusionary realm was filled with hidden dangers, and both Ning Ning and Pei Ji had suppressed their spiritual energy.

Suddenly, at the end of the encircling bamboo trees, a figure emerged—a woman in a white dress.

Ning Ning froze in shock.

She had seen this girl before.

With her delicate brows and graceful demeanor, a single teardrop mole resting under her eye, it was none other than Miss Zhou Yimei from the Zhou family.

Zhou Yimei never expected to encounter them here.

A cold breeze caused her to instinctively cover her mouth and cough softly.