160 - Douluo: Martial Spirit Blue Silver Grass

Chapter 160: Day and Night in the Rebirth as the Malicious Senior Sister gl Caught off guard by a forceful kiss, Jiu Ying was stunned on the spot. The eyes of the young girl atop her were misty, her cheeks flushed, and every breath carried the sweet fragrance of peach wine. A gentle breeze swept in, instantly carrying that scent straight to her heart. The stars and moon in the night sky were cloaked in a romantic hue, and the atmosphere gradually turned suggestive. There was no doubt that Fu Ling was truly drunk; otherwise, she wouldn't dare do such a thing to her senior sister. Though it was an unexpected embrace, Jiu Ying couldn't bring herself to push her away. From the moment their (harmonious) lips met, she had already silently accepted the kiss. As Fu Ling herself said, whatever she wished to do, Jiu Ying would never refuse. Without any resistance, their lips instantly pressed together in a harmonious union. The shingles on the eaves emitted a faint sound with their movements. Jiu Ying raised her hand, encircling the slim waist of the person in her arms. In that instant, as she felt the gentle touch on her lips, her heart inexplicably started to flutter. She slightly eased her lips apart, her breath becoming more rapid. She initially thought the kiss would continue, yet amidst the lingering passion, their bodies suddenly parted. Before Jiu Ying could react, Fu Ling, as if startled, scrambled off her and swiftly jumped down from the eaves. It seemed her intoxication had faded. Jiu Ying sat up, supporting herself with one arm, her brow furrowing slightly. At this moment, Fu Ling's scent surrounded her entirely. Unconsciously, she reached out to brush her lips, her eyes filled with confusion and a lingering fondness, as if savoring the taste of that recent kiss. A faint sound of a door opening and closing came from the ground, and within moments, the surroundings fell silent. Having shared such an intimate moment, only now did she realize the embarrassment. Jiu Ying returned to her senses, a faint smile gracing her lips. She presumed Fu Ling was feeling bashful about her affectionate and proactive behavior now that she had regained her senses, little knowing that Fu Ling was suffering from the turmoil of emotional poison in her room. Evidently, the kiss had stirred desires within the intoxicated Fu Ling, once again awakening forbidden sentiments for her beloved. The closer she got, the more she craved. A mere hand-holding used to satisfy her, but now, even a deep, intertwined kiss couldn't satiate her longing for affection. She wanted more. She longed for more intimacy with her senior sister. The unlit candle remained on the windowsill, casting the room into utter darkness. Fu Ling sat in the shadows behind the door, a light sheen of cold sweat on her fair forehead, pressing her fists against her chest as if trying to ease the pain within. Suppressing her desires was the only way to calm the parasitic poison. But this time, she refused. Perhaps it was the stubbornness in her bones, or perhaps the desire for love was too overwhelming; she chose to resist the emotional poison. She relived the kiss almost masochistically. Alas, she still lost. What is ultimate love? The unresolved heart poison only indicated that her love for Jiu Ying wasn't deep enough. When a knock on the door resounded from outside, all color had drained from her face. Teetering, she stood, not wanting Jiu Ying to see her in such a state. Upon opening the door, she plunged into that warm, gentle embrace, softly apologizing for her drunken actions. “I'm sorry~” The muffled, feeble voice sounded drained and fragile. Jiu Ying sensed something amiss and intended to inquire further, but her ears caught another grievance-like whisper. “Ling Ling won't drink again~” The words seemed both a sulk and a plea, comical yet heart-wrenching. Jiu Ying pressed her lips into a soft smile, her gaze filled with gentle indulgence. “I told you to drink less, and yet you got mad at me.” Fu Ling bit her lip upon hearing this, looking up at that cool, stunning face, not only acknowledging her mistake but also suggesting a punishment for her intoxication. “Senior Sister, Ling Ling knows her mistake. As a consequence, let Ling Ling not share the bed with you tonight.” Upon hearing this, Jiu Ying felt a subtle sense of unease. She wasn't truly upset about the kiss; there was no need for Fu Ling to voluntarily seek punishment. Though she harbored doubts, she said nothing, merely nodding. And so, they parted to sleep in separate rooms. It wasn't long before Fu Ling left. The night was deep, an ideal time for slumber. Lying in bed for a while, Jiu Ying found her mind constantly on the person in the other room. After some contemplation, she quietly pushed open the door and stepped out. The adjacent house had its doors and windows firmly shut. Jiu Ying assumed its occupant had already retired to bed. Standing there for a moment, just as she was about to leave, she heard faint footsteps from within. Instinctively, she turned and retreated to her room. Peeking through the door crack, under the moonlight's glow, she could vaguely make out a slender figure leaving the courtyard. Hours passed in silence, and the isolated courtyard grew even quieter. Jiu Ying didn't know why Fu Ling had left so late at night; after changing clothes, she quickly followed. The young girl seemed to have an urgent matter, covering dozens of miles in just moments. Jiu Ying followed closely and soon arrived at the bustling heart of Gui Xi City. Though it was late, the city buzzed with life. Upon seeing the luxurious building and its hanging sign, she realized it was the famed Lingbao Pavilion. Reputed to be a place that could accomplish anything as long as one paid the right price. In front of the grand building, lights blazed, and voices thrummed, with humans, yokai, and demons mingling. Seeing Fu Ling enter left Jiu Ying puzzled. No matter how she pondered, she couldn't fathom why Fu Ling would come here. The distance between them was already close; following further risked being discovered. After deliberating, she decided to remain at the entrance, quietly waiting for Fu Ling to emerge. She entered with hope etched on her face but exited downtrodden. Clearly, her expectations had been dashed. Despite failing to achieve her goal, she lingered reluctantly, standing at Lingbao Pavilion's entrance for a long time before leaving in despair. Jiu Ying observed this silently from the shadows, growing increasingly curious about what Fu Ling was seeking. She thought Fu Ling would return home after leaving Lingbao Pavilion, but to her surprise, she entered a tavern down the street. From a distance, Jiu Ying watched as the girl ordered two bottles of wine, burying her head as she drank. Luckily, the tavern was empty save for her, with no one to cause trouble. As the alcohol flowed, her eyes reddened, and eventually, alone at the table, she began to weep. Jiu Ying had no idea what had happened or what caused such a drastic change in Fu Ling's behavior. It wasn't until Fu Ling, clutching a bottle, ran out crying from the tavern that Jiu Ying finally stepped in to stop her. Sneaking out at midnight to drink warranted a scolding. But seeing her weeping face, she couldn't utter a word of reproach. Countless worries condensed into a single caring inquiry. “What’s wrong?” Fu Ling had drunk, but this time she wasn't inebriated. She hadn’t expected her senior sister to appear, and it took a moment for her to gather her wits. Her first impulse, instead of explaining, was to flee. In her haste, she dropped the bottle, shattering it. In an instant, the night swallowed her. Linked by a contract, Jiu Ying quickly found her hiding in a corner. Fu Ling considered running again but, in the blink of an eye, found her senior sister blocking her path. She blinked, and another tear slipped from her eye, making her appear pitiful. With no escape, she had to confess the truth. Just one sentence caused Jiu Ying's expression to change dramatically— “Senior Sister, I want to break free from the love poison.” The love crushed by the poison was ultimately restrained. Though she'd experienced this curse in a previous life, Jiu Ying couldn't fathom the agony Fu Ling endured in this one. She had never truly loved anyone. Hearing Fu Ling's request now, a wave of heartache and self-reproach washed over her. Jiu Ying needed no further explanation to deduce what Fu Ling had attempted at the Lingbao Pavilion and why she had later cried alone in the tavern. The reason was evidently that even the all-powerful Lingbao Pavilion was powerless against the Heartbond Poison. Throughout history, no one has successfully broken this most malignant of poisons—except for Jiu Ying. Ancient texts mention that the extremes of love and hatred can break through any poisonous control, but they fail to define what constitutes ultimate love or hatred. The vengeance of annihilating one's sect or the loss of eternal freedom could evoke the strongest hatred— But what about love? How does one stir ultimate love? The answer to this question remains elusive. It was no wonder Fu Ling felt such despair; no one could guide her on what to do. She didn’t want to love her senior sister with the burden of three curses her entire life. Silence enveloped them, with only the faint sound of the wind in their ears. Jiu Ying stood in place, unsure of what to say. It seemed no words could offer solace. In this life, as in the last, their fates were supposed to be different, yet Fu Ling still bore a suffering she should never have had to endure. The night wind enveloped them, encasing their hearts in a chill. Jiu Ying lowered her head, tightly pressed her lips together, and after a moment of silence, she took Fu Ling's hand and turned away. Concerning this request, she couldn't offer a definitive promise. After all, even she didn’t know if the Heartbond Poison could truly be broken. *** Morning came, and both of them appeared worse for wear. Especially Fu Ling, whose eyes remained puffy and red. Jiu Ying, worried, suggested she rest in the room, but Fu Ling rejected the idea without hesitation. “If I miss the arena match, people will laugh at me. I definitely have to go.” Xin Tao had ruined Ning Wan Qiu's treasured wine, costing them quite a bit. With few spirit stones between them, their only option to repay was to earn money through arena matches. Each match offered rewards; the more victories, the better they were. Lin Yu Miao, with consecutive victories, once took home a Peach Blossom Jade Flute worth a fortune. Being a swordsman, he had procured it to please Yuan Xi Shuang. Since Jiu Ying was still recovering, the task of fighting naturally fell to Fu Ling. Today was their first match, and she didn’t want to forgo it. Seeing her resolve, Jiu Ying had no choice but to agree. It was still noon, with several hours before the match, so they headed to the Yun Yue Tavern. The familiar scent of wine instantly reminded Fu Ling of the previous night's events. Unaware of these happenings, Ning Wan Qiu offered them a bottle of new wine. Jiu Ying sat quietly, saying nothing, her gaze calm as ever. After last night's fiasco, Fu Ling dared not drink. As Ning Wan Qiu moved to pour her a drink, she hurriedly waved her hand in refusal. “Boss Ning, take the wine away. I have a match tonight and can’t drink.” Beneath the table, Xin Tao pricked up her ears at this— A human cultivator, not even a great power, participating in arena matches? Wouldn't she just get hammered by the demons and yokai? Having Fu Ling enter the arena seemed less plausible than having Jiu Ying do so! Author's Note: f00: Who said anything about getting hammered? Thanks to the little angels who voted for the overlord ticket or infused the nutrition fluid between 2021-01-11 00:05:18~2021-01-12 12:36:15~ Thanks to the little angels who dropped mines: 2 Da Baicai; kiki, Master Sister, and Passerby 1 each; Thanks to the little angels who infused nutrition fluid: 10 bottles from Han Xu; 1 bottle from Zeng Keni herself; Thank you all so much for your support, I will continue to work hard!