Chapter 361

In short, the plan that was claimed to be foolproof was completely ruined.

A legend began to circulate in the Wanjian Sect about a certain disciple with the surname Xu, who had lost his mind and, with his beloved Elder Qingyun’s large dog, ran wild through the mountains.

The dog, terrified, foamed at the mouth, but Xu Ye still ran about with his tongue hanging out, acting like a wild man.

Rumors—pure rumors!

Xu Ye indignantly sucked in a breath of cold air, feeling as though even his lungs were frozen with ice shards, aching and dry.

At this moment, he and Senior Sister Su were sitting together in the quiet room of the Disciplinary hall, transcribing sword scriptures.

They hadn’t spoken to each other for a long time.

If she saw that scene, she’d surely think he was an idiot.

As Xu Ye drifted off into random thoughts, he shifted his gaze from the scripture and secretly glanced at Su Qinghan.

They sat across from each other at the wooden table, with a pot of lush spiritual plants in the center.

Despite it being winter, the plants remained a vibrant green, their branches and leaves reaching out in all directions, perfectly blocking his view.

How annoying, even the leaves are bullying him.

Senior Sister Su was completely focused on her transcription, likely unaware of his attention.

Xu Ye was so nervous that he stealthily extended his sinful right hand and pinched one of the leaves, pulling it off.

As the leaf fell, a tiny gap appeared, allowing Xu Ye, from his angle, to see Su Qinghan’s eyes.

In fact, Senior Sister Su was quite beautiful.

Xu Ye thought to himself that there must be a reason she didn’t like to dress up.

He knew her past—she came from a sword cultivation family, with her relatives lost in the immortal-demon war, and was taken in by their master at a young age.

She wasn’t good at socializing and focused entirely on cultivation, but when strolling around Luan city, she’d sometimes stop in front of jewelry stalls, like any normal young girl.

Growing up in an environment like that of Wanjian Sect, perhaps no one ever told her that there could be more to life than practicing the sword.

Through the gap between the leaves, Xu Ye gazed at those eyes that seemed as if they were touched by ice and snow.

He was so nervous, worried about being caught, his heart racing to his throat.

He dared not even breathe, trembling in the corner.

Suddenly, the candlelight in the room dimmed.

Su Qinghan’s long lashes fluttered slightly, and in the next moment, she unexpectedly raised her head.

Their gazes met in an intense, heart-pounding moment.

Her eyes were like burning flames, scorching all of his pretenses and leaving him exposed.

Xu Ye froze, his mind racing, and the words flew out of his mouth without thought: “Senior Sister Su, look at this spiritual plant. It’s so beautiful, haha.”

But Su Qinghan didn’t respond.

She must have noticed he was spying on her.

The secret Xu Ye had kept in his heart for so long was now fully exposed before her. Heat spread from his face to his limbs, making him anxious, gripping his clothes in embarrassment.

“This plant is a very rare spiritual herb, the Soul Herb,” Su Qinghan said, her voice cold.

“Don’t pull its leaves.”

As expected, he was scolded.

Xu Ye felt both relieved and disappointed, unsure of the feeling inside him, and could only respond quietly: “Hmm… sorry.”

Then, no one spoke.

In the narrow, dim room, there was not a sound to be heard.

Suddenly, Xu Ye saw Su Qinghan stand up, reach over, and push the pot of plants to the other side of the table.

The table was now bare, and the space between them was completely unobstructed.

Su Qinghan’s voice was still cold as she said, “If you want to look, just look openly.”

Xu Ye stared at her, his blood boiling and his mind in a daze.

His gaze fell on her outstretched right hand, where her sleeve fell away, revealing a patch of white as pure as ice.

On that hand, accustomed to gripping a sword, was the white jade bracelet he had given her.

It felt so out of place, yet it matched perfectly.

She actually wore it.

He was so happy.

Xu Ye almost couldn’t stop himself from grinning foolishly.

“Senior Sister Su!”

Like fireworks exploding in his heart, Xu Ye’s words tumbled out in a daze, “When I saw this bracelet, I immediately thought of you. It’s so beautiful, and… and you’re beautiful too.”

Oh no, what was he even saying?

Su Qinghan’s face visibly flushed.

She lowered her gaze, giving a quiet “Hmm.”

Xu Ye also lowered his head, and after a long pause, he suddenly said, “Do you have plans for New Year’s, Senior Sister?”

As expected, Su Qinghan replied, “No.”

She didn’t have many friends, and the only family she had was in Wanjian Sect, with no relatives to visit.

“The winter in the imperial capital is very beautiful,” Xu Ye awkwardly said, his words unclear, “There’s snow, firecrackers, fireworks, and everything is lively.”

The quiet room had no sunlight, only the flicker of candlelight.

Xu Ye touched his burning face and softly asked, “Senior Sister Su, would you like to go to the imperial capital with me to see it during the New Year?”

Waiting felt like an agonizing stretch of time, each moment feeling so long.

Fortunately, Su Qinghan didn’t make him wait long.

Her clear, cold voice gently sounded, and only at this moment, with the room silent and just the two of them present, did Xu Ye realize that when she spoke to him, there was a hint of helplessness and indulgence in her tone.

A type of indulgence that was only for him.

Like the melting of ice and snow, revealing a soft new hue, Su Qinghan replied, “Sure.”

Xu Ye couldn’t hold it in and started grinning foolishly.

[Three]

After the dinner at the restaurant, the group from the Xuanxu Sword Sect returned to the sect late at night.

Ning Ning, who couldn’t hold her liquor, had only drunk a little but was already slightly tipsy. Pei Ji had helped her block some drinks, and as he escorted her back to the small courtyard, his steps were also unsteady.

“This candy… is it a snake or a dragon?” Ning Ning asked, holding a sugar figurine she bought from the market, the alcohol in her system now dissipating with the cold air.

“A Yao Mountain Torch Dragon,” Pei Ji said, adjusting her outer robe, intentionally walking in the direction of the night wind to shield her from the biting cold.

“It’s said to have lived atop Yao Mountain for a long time, with eyes like torches and scales like jade. Only those with fate can see it. See the broken horn on its head? That’s the Torch Dragon’s most distinctive feature.”

Pei Ji always knew everything.

He read a lot, and whether it was a story from ancient times or modern, folklore or official history, it was all the same to him.

Sometimes when he told stories about places far and wide, Ning Ning felt like a king from One Thousand and One Nights, always entertained by her favorite concubine’s endless tales, each night making her happy.

Ning Ning laughed the entire time, stuffing the candy figurine into his mouth and hugging Pei Ji’s right arm.

“Mhm, Pei Ji is amazing.”

Pei Ji hadn’t expected Ning Ning to suddenly latch onto him, and he took in a sharp breath, then sighed helplessly, “I’m cold.”

The little girl by his side rubbed her head against his arm.

“It’s okay, I’m warm.”

The sweetness of the candy woke Pei Ji up from his drunken stupor.

They soon reached Ning Ning’s courtyard.

Just before they parted ways, she suddenly tugged at his sleeve.

“Today is your birthday.”

Perhaps because of the alcohol, her eyes glistened with a misty light, especially when she smiled, making her eyes seem to glow.

She said, “Don’t you hate being alone in the room… aren’t you afraid of the dark?”

It was a blatant hint, and Pei Ji wasn’t foolish enough to say, “I won’t blow out the candle.”

After some back and forth, he finally stayed.

By the time Pei Ji finished washing up, Ning Ning was already lying on the bed.

Her bed was large and very different from his simple, utilitarian style.

The bedding and cotton used were of the highest quality, and when one sank into it, it felt like falling into a cloud.

The fragrance of gardenias, which belonged to a girl, filled his nostrils, and Pei Ji could clearly feel his own heartbeat.

Lying in bed alone felt completely different from when two people shared it.

The space, which could be turned over freely, suddenly felt cramped, the other person’s warmth lingering on the sheets as if her breath had completely enveloped him.

Pei Ji had never thought that the action of tucking in the blanket could feel so awkward.

Ning Ning lay on her side, watching him, her smile full of mischief, noticing the tension in his eyes.

Her eyes sparkled with laughter, and she reached out to poke his ear.

“It’s so red—don’t lie flat, you won’t be able to see me like that.”