140 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

Chapter 140: Appeasement Yan Jue was distracted the entire day. She stayed in her dormitory for a while, then went out, unusually attending a large lecture at the Luoxia Pavilion. Yan Jue picked an illusion class taught by Senior Sister from the Muyi Sect. The lecture was about the exclusive skill of the Muyi Sect: A Flower, A World. The skill involved cultivating flower artifacts that could contain a hidden world. In battle, one need only toss out the flower to trap their enemy inside. If the enemy couldn't escape, they'd be doomed to wander within the flower's world, gradually losing their mind. Propping her chin on her hand, Yan Jue listened absentmindedly, lost in her own thoughts. What nonsense. Qi Xianqing had pushed her away at such a dangerous time, wanting her to return to the Ghost Residence and leaving herself to face danger at the Five Dragons Gate alone. The one who should get hurt should be me, not her! Yan Jue fumed, but recalling how Qi Xianqing had meticulously cared for her when she was afflicted by a curse, she couldn't bring herself to stay angry. Suddenly, the chair beside her was pulled out, and someone sat next to her. Startled, Yan Jue turned to find Yun Rang sitting by her side. Perhaps it was due to the clue Yan Jue had discreetly sold to Yun Rang for the group competition. Yun Rang looked at her with gentle eyes and spoke kindly, "Junior Sister Yan, may I sit here?" Yan Jue replied, "You may." Yun Rang pulled out a book and began to listen to the lecture. It seemed she intended to build a good relationship with Yan Jue, trying several times to engage in conversation. Yan Jue was unresponsive, barely acknowledging her with a few words. The class finally ended. Yan Jue was the first to leave the classroom and headed to the Five Dragons Marketplace. She went to a liquor store, bought a jar of sake, and carried it back to the Bing Peach Garden. It was already late when Yan Jue arrived at the Bing Peach Garden. Qi Xianqing hadn't returned yet. Yan Jue sat in the courtyard, opened the jar, poured herself a cup of sake, and drank it all in one go. As she twirled the cup, she mumbled to herself, "Qi Xianqing? What do you mean by this?" This was Yan Jue rehearsing. She had been preparing words all day, afraid she wouldn't be able to say anything when she confronted Qi Xianqing. Who said she had a clumsy tongue? She suddenly slammed her palm on the table, her expression fierce, "I'm telling you, until this matter is resolved, I won't leave! You can’t force me away; you've already bound us with the Heart Bond, I won’t leave even if it kills me!" The little fox was deeply troubled and had been drinking for half the day when she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. ... Qi Xianqing had formed a Heart Bond with Yan Jue; she always knew where Yan Jue was. Qi Xianqing could also sense that Yan Jue wasn't in a good mood. But was her own mood any better? Even though Qi Xianqing was prepared for this, seeing Yan Jue, cheeks flushed, sitting at the table drinking, an empty jar of liquor rolling on the ground, left her a bit surprised. Yan Jue lay her head on the table as if she was about to fall asleep while waiting for Qi Xianqing. Half-asleep, she reached for more sake when someone appeared before her and took away her cup. Qi Xianqing's voice sounded in her ear, "Why drink so much?" Yan Jue abruptly raised her head, meeting Qi Xianqing's dark, deep eyes. The speeches she had prepared vanished when she saw Qi Xianqing’s face. Silence enveloped them. Yan Jue held back for a long time, her mind blank. Qi Xianqing looked at her with confusion. Yan Jue's legs suddenly gave out, and she knelt, bowing at her feet. Qi Xianqing was stunned, clearly not expecting this outcome. Yan Jue choked, "Senior Sister, I'm sorry." Qi Xianqing looked down at her, her voice a bit hoarse, "Sorry for what?" Yan Jue: "I shouldn't have said those things or doubted your feelings." Qi Xianqing stared at her for a while with an impassive face, then turned and walked toward the room. Yan Jue rolled onto her back, laying on the ground and watching her retreating figure, her heart pounding erratically. It seemed Qi Xianqing was truly upset this time; even showing vulnerability didn't work. Yan Jue lowered her gaze, nose souring, tears beginning to fall. But as Qi Xianqing reached the door, she couldn’t help but turn back for a glance. In the dim moonlight, Yan Jue's skin was fairer than snow. She lay there on the grass, her long dark hair slightly disheveled, long lashes sparkling with tears, which trailed down her cheeks, even her nose was red. Like an abandoned little creature. Qi Xianqing couldn’t help but inwardly grumble, did this person really think she was a fox? With that thought, Qi Xianqing's inexplicable anger dissipated without a trace. Yan Jue’s head was foggy with alcohol, leaving her in a daze. Seeing Qi Xianqing leave, her heart sank. She closed her eyes, just wanting a small nap. Suddenly, there was a dragging sound. Qi Xianqing came back, dragged a chair next to her and sat down, casually picking up Yan Jue's cup to sip from it. Yan Jue looked at her for a moment, then stammered, "You're bullying me..." Suddenly, she felt her arm go heavy as Qi Xianqing lifted her up and seated her on a chair. There was a faint scent of alcohol on Yan Jue, and Qi Xianqing placed a hand on her shoulder, "How am I bullying you?" Yan Jue felt the rush of liquor to her head, "You sent me away." Seeing her like this, Qi Xianqing felt a pang in her heart, "I didn't send you away." Yan Jue grabbed onto her sleeve, tugging hard, "You did." This action softened Qi Xianqing’s heart completely. Suddenly, she wasn’t angry at all. Qi Xianqing pulled her sleeve free and enveloped Yan Jue in her arms, wiping away the tears on Yan Jue’s face. At moments like this, Yan Jue yearned for closeness with Qi Xianqing more than usual. While soothing her, Qi Xianqing patiently said, "I was just worried, what if he uses something more dangerous next time?" "This time, our master was able to help, but he possessed the body of the sect head, whose cultivation is higher than our master’s. What if the next time, even our master can't help?" Qi Xianqing spoke slowly and deliberately. Seeing that Yan Jue seemed not to comprehend, she was about to repeat herself when Yan Jue suddenly blurted, "This is my fault." Qi Xianqing was taken aback. She had expected many things, but not Yan Jue to say that. Yan Jue: "You said if there was anything, I should tell you." Yan Jue paused, "The first time the curse acted, it was just a slight headache, and I thought it was a cold, so I didn't tell you." Yan Jue looked up, her clear eyes fixing on Qi Xianqing, "For what's to come, I want to stay here and face it with you." Qi Xianqing poured more wine into the cup and slowly took a sip. Suddenly, Yan Jue said, "How about you bind with me in a Master-Servant Contract?" Qi Xianqing nearly choked. She set the glass down, lifted her hand to check Yan Jue’s forehead, and with a husky voice said, "We already have the Heart Bond and you want a Master-Servant Contract too? Aren't you afraid I might control you?" Yan Jue: "As long as I can stay by your side, I'll bind with you in any way." Qi Xianqing rested her chin on her hand, her brows relaxing, and sighed with exasperation. Qi Xianqing was never one to worry about the future; she always lived in the moment. But now she found herself considering the distant future because of this little fox. She admitted she had been overly anxious before. Perhaps hearing the demon lord's words in the hall of Qidun Sect had rattled her, fearing both Yan Jue’s identity being exposed and her suffering. Reflecting now, as long as she and Yan Jue faced things together, nothing was insurmountable. One step at a time, no matter how daunting the challenge, it wasn't terrifying. "Then here's a proposal," Qi Xianqing’s tone softened, "Let's quickly find the materials the demon lord needs, then we can thwart his scheme." Yan Jue blinked, then nodded firmly. The demon lord always trusted Qi Xianqing. What kind of person did Qi Xianqing seem to the demon lord? Qi Xianqing respected her teachers, firmly believing in the words of the sect head, Mu Zhongzi. The demon lord likely felt secure about her identity. Qi Xianqing: "I must also apologize." Yan Jue quietly looked at her, and Qi Xianqing gripped her hand, murmuring, "I won't push you away anymore." Qi Xianqing: "I'll also be more attentive to your situation, so this won't happen again." Yan Jue couldn't help but smile, playfully pushing her hand away, "I'm not a child." Small of stature and having a low tolerance for alcohol, Yan Jue held onto Qi Xianqing’s neck, resting lazily against her. Seeing her flushed face, eyes barely open, Qi Xianqing softly asked, "Sleepy? Let's go inside." Yan Jue: "I want to kiss you." Qi Xianqing paused, a smile lifting her features as amusement crept into her dark eyes. Qi Xianqing retreated slightly, leisurely observing her, "How would you like to kiss me?" Yan Jue leaned in, licking her lips. Unhappy with that, she then opened Qi Xianqing’s mouth. Their breaths mingled. In the surrounding air, a heat slowly began to simmer. Qi Xianqing found herself slightly dazed by the kiss Yan Jue offered as a gesture of goodwill, instinctively tightening her grip on the other woman's shoulders. Qi Xianqing gently lifted Yan Jue and carried her into the house. As soon as she laid her on the bed, Yan Jue raised her hand and pulled open her own collar. Her skin, as clear and white as snow, was instantly exposed to the air. Qi Xianqing's gaze darkened slightly, and she leaned down to softly kiss her. The shadows of the candles flickered, the bed creaked, and their breaths intertwined. - As the first rays of dawn appeared on the horizon, a cool breeze swept through the window, carrying the fresh scent of grass and earth. Qi Xianqing sat up in bed. She threw on a coat and slipped her feet into shoes before going to the wardrobe. Opening it with one hand, she pulled out a stack of clean blankets. Her hands felt a bit sore; after all, Yan Jue was quite clingy. If she hadn't moved carefully, she doubted Yan Jue would have allowed her to get out of bed. Returning to the bedside, Qi Xianqing saw Yan Jue lying on her side, sleeping soundly, and felt a pang of reluctance to disturb her. But sleeping in such a position wouldn’t be comfortable in the long run. Qi Xianqing gently tapped Yan Jue on the shoulder. Yan Jue cracked her eyes open and saw that Qi Xianqing had at some point risen from the bed, causing her heart to flutter nervously. She quickly clutched Qi Xianqing's hand, "Where are you going?" Seeing her straightforward and earnest expression, Qi Xianqing's gaze softened, "Nowhere." She patted Yan Jue on the shoulder, "Get up, I’m changing the sheets." Yan Jue felt a slight jolt in her heart but pretended nothing was amiss and stood up to wash up. By the time she finished, Qi Xianqing had already replaced the sheets with clean and soft ones. Yan Jue yawned and curled back into the covers to continue sleeping. Suddenly, she felt a weight beside her. Qi Xianqing had climbed back into bed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and nestling her head into the nook of her neck. Qi Xianqing hadn't rested well either, dark circles faintly visible under her eyes. The neckline of her undergarment was open, exposing her slender collarbone, which bore visible marks. Although Yan Jue was no longer in her heat, perhaps due to her feelings for Qi Xianqing, and the recent intimacy, even the slightest touch from the other woman elicited a response. Noting that it was not yet fully daylight outside, Yan Jue couldn’t help but slip a hand under the blanket, tentatively reaching for Qi Xianqing's clothing. When her fingers grazed Qi Xianqing’s skin, smooth as jade, her body visibly trembled. The neckline was lightly grasped, and a faint mist seemed to envelop the girl's dark eyes. The light fell, hazy and dreamlike. - By the time the two rose for a meal, it was already afternoon. After dining, Qi Xianqing donned a simple lake-blue cross-collar pleated dress. Her legs were still slightly weak, and she knelt in the center of the room, before the Padmasambhava leaf housing Master Mu Zhongzi’s soul, lighting three sticks of Shenkong incense. Mu Zhongzi’s spirit was gradually recovering. As long as the incense continued to fuel his revival at this rate, he would hopefully regain his vitality soon. While Qi Xianqing offered incense to Mu Zhongzi, Yan Jue suppressed her urge to snuggle with her and sat at the table, examining the secret realm key San Niang had given her the previous day. San Niang said the Jiuxu Secret Realm is inherited from a nine-tailed fox, and countless people have fought and bled over it throughout history. Yan Jue planned to explore it herself first. After informing Qi Xianqing, Yan Jue left the Bing Peach Garden and soon arrived at the valley of the Xiwu Peak. Xiwu Peak was mostly deserted, and the valley was tranquil and serene. The last time she and Qi Xianqing entered the Phoenix’s Vientiane Secret Realm, it was through this valley. Yan Jue slowly lifted the completed secret realm key, and a faint purple glow emanated from her palm, coalescing into a curved doorway on the rock face. Yan Jue stepped in, and was met with a white mist so thick she couldn’t discern her surroundings. She paused, taking a few steps forward, but suddenly her knee bumped against something hard. Hissing from the ache, Yan Jue reached out to feel the hard stone that lay across her path. Perhaps to prevent intruders, the mist blanketed the entire secret realm, making navigation nearly impossible. After a few more steps, she unexpectedly lost her footing. She quickly backtracked just as she heard a "plunk" ahead, likely the sound of a rock she had kicked into the water. That was close. If she didn’t disperse the dense mist, finding her way forward would be impossible. Yan Jue didn't dare to venture too far for fear of losing sight of the entrance and potentially getting trapped, a truly terrifying thought. She decided to exit the secret realm for now. The valley remained peaceful as she stood before the rock face, furrowing her brows in thought. Every secret realm has its defenses. The Phoenix’s Vientiane Secret Realm, for instance, entraps intruders in an illusion. This one is shrouded in thick white mist, causing disorientation. How does one remain unaffected by the mist? ... Her first secret realm exploration ended in failure. Yan Jue decided to return to her dorm at the Shuiyun Sect. As soon as Yan Jue reached her dorm, while tidying up her room, there came a knock on the door. Opening it, she found Du Ming’s excited face. Du Ming: "Yan Jue, where have you been lately? You never seem to stay overnight anymore." Yan Jue: "Master sent me down the mountain for some tasks." Du Ming: "I'm so envious. I forgot you're now the legitimate Second Senior Sister of the Zhenhuo Sect." Noticing the newspaper in her hand, Yan Jue asked, "Is there something going on?" Du Ming: "The third-place winner of the competition has been announced. Isn’t that exciting?" Yan Jue, curious about her secretive tone, asked, "Who got third place?" Du Ming: "It’s Yun Rang!" Yan Jue: "..." Yan Jue: "Didn't we already know that?” After selling her the clues, Yan Jue had anticipated Yun Rang would secure third place. Du Ming: "Even though we knew Senior Sister Yun Rang would clinch third, I can't help but be thrilled." She grasped Yan Jue's hand eagerly, "Let’s go, Yan Jue. The top three are out, and we're supposed to go to the Qinyun Palace for the award ceremony." Yan Jue had planned to spend more time in her room pondering the secret realm, but given Du Ming's insistence, she nodded. When Yan Jue and Du Ming arrived at the Qinyun Palace, the other three members of her team had already gathered. Duan Luxi: "Yan Jue, we couldn’t have won the championship without you. I owe you a meal after we get our awards!" Yan Jue quickly responded with a laugh, "How can you say it was all my doing? It was everyone's effort!" The Qinyun Palace was crowded, filled with many people, as today marked the group competition's award ceremony—a coveted event for many disciples. A sudden gasp rippled through the crowd. People parted like the sea. Yan Jue looked up and spotted Qi Xianqing approaching. Still in her lake-blue pleated dress, Qi Xianqing’s long sword, with its dark sheath, was securely strapped to her shoulder. Today she wore light makeup, Yan Jue knew it was to cover last night's marks. With just a hint of makeup, her features appeared all the more flawless and striking, like a snow blossom in full bloom. Yan Jue managed to remain composed, momentarily meeting Qi Xianqing’s gaze across the room. She couldn't help but recall last night—the flickering candlelight, the girl's exposed, cold white skin, and the gentle hands that draped around her neck. Suddenly flustered, Yan Jue averted her eyes.