CHAPTER 59

— Side Story: Cold and Desolate Autumn (Part 1) —

Amidst the vast expanse of misty waters and shifting clouds, the lofty Chonghua Peak was shrouded in a sea of clouds, resembling a celestial realm. Yet beneath this facade of ethereal purity lay countless hidden conflicts and unforeseen encounters.

"Father is so annoying. What could be so mysterious that he has to keep it from his own daughter? Who even cares to know! Hmph..." The young girl thought to herself, her icy face expressionless, though a flicker of displeasure flashed in her eyes. She kicked a pebble in front of her with her bare foot, unbothered by the pain.

The kick was surprisingly forceful, sending the thumb-sized stone flying far away.

Just as she felt the knot in her heart dissipate with the pebble's flight, a sudden cry of "Ouch!" echoed from an unknown distance, startling her. Her almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise as she turned to look in the direction of the sound.

There stood a young Daoist dressed in a white brocade robe, its collar embroidered with a soaring swan. His dark hair was tied into a simple topknot, and his features were refined and handsome, as gentle and flawless as fine jade. His skin, smooth and delicate like mutton fat, now bore a red mark on the temple where the pebble had struck, making his fair complexion appear even more delicate.

The girl narrowed her eyes, sizing up the young Daoist she had just hit on the head. Unfazed by his wary and bewildered gaze, she took graceful steps, circling him once. Her critical eyes swept over him from head to toe, and after a moment, she nodded to herself. "Hmm, it must be fate. I've decided—it's you."

She had been practicing the enchanting art of "□ (Censored Art)" for some time, but her father had always refused to let her venture out to gain experience. It was only after much pleading that he had allowed her to come along today. Now, with a perfect little lamb delivered right to her doorstep, wouldn't it be a waste not to practice on him?

With lips red as cherries, teeth white as snow, bright eyes, a slender figure, and an air of elegance in his white robes, he looked exactly like the scholars described in storybooks!

Hmm, perfect.

Her cold face stretched into a stiff smile, meant to be reassuring but achieving the opposite effect. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she asked eagerly, "Hey, kid, do you think I'm beautiful?"

Hmm, should her voice be softer? Should her smile be sweeter? Was showing eight teeth enough...? She wondered uncertainly.

This was her first time putting the book's teachings into practice, and while she felt a bit nervous, she was even more thrilled.

"Young Miss, are you speaking to me?" The Daoist she had called "kid" lowered the hand he had been using to rub his forehead, looked at her carefully, and then clasped his hands in a polite bow, asking with a serious expression.

With eyebrows like distant mountains, lips as red as rouge, a delicate figure, and a soft voice, she was clearly a young girl herself.

She seemed startled by the sudden pebble attack or bewildered by the unexpected question. Her bright eyes were wide open, yet she still remembered her master's teachings and maintained her manners.

Her dark robes couldn't hide her charm. Though her features hadn't fully matured, one could already glimpse the beauty she would grow into. Her expression was cold, yet it carried an innate purity. Even with her rude attitude and suspicious behavior, it was hard to dislike her.

Hmm, what a strange little girl.

She had managed to enter the inner peaks of Chonghua, yet she had never seen her before. Could she be a guest invited by her master? In that case, one must not be disrespectful and cause Master to lose face... With this thought, the young Daoist in white became even more gentle and courteous.

The girl in the dark dress frowned almost imperceptibly, annoyed that the other party hadn't acted as she had anticipated. After pondering what a seductive enchantress from the storybooks would do next to captivate the world, she made up her mind. Pressing her lips together, she took a few steps closer, pulled aside the collar of her dress, revealing a stretch of flawless, fair skin and delicate, lovely collarbones. Then, she blinked at the little Daoist priest, whose eyes were filled with confusion.

—Oh no, what comes after batting my eyelashes?

Yesterday, when I was eating chestnut cake, I smudged that page and didn't get to read the rest...

Forget it, I'll just improvise with my wisdom!

But why hasn't this scholar rushed over to embrace me yet?

Could it be that my intentions have been seen through?

"Are you feeling hot, miss? Would you like me to cast a Wind-Control art to cool you down?" The girl in white tilted her head, her gaze sweeping over the fair skin, and asked uncertainly.

—Little sister, did you get sand in your eyes? Why are they twitching like that...

"I'm not hot, I'm a little cold." The girl bit her lip in frustration. As soon as she finished speaking, she threw herself into the other's arms—the force of the movement was so strong that both of them felt a dull pain. The difference was that the former's nose stung, nearly bringing tears to her eyes, while the latter felt a tightness in her chest, as if a surge of hot bl0od was stuck in her throat, unable to rise or fall.

"M-miss... please behave yourself." The girl in white subtly rubbed her chest, her face pained as she advised.

—Ouch, that hurts.

Instinctively nuzzling against the softness near her cheek, the young girl looked up, her dark, ink-like eyes shimmering as if with moisture. "We've already had skin-to-skin contact, so I'm yours now." After a brief pause, as if remembering something, she added, "You have to take responsibility for me."

—And then obediently become my slave, let me drain your essence and absorb your true energy!

"W-what? You... I..." The girl who had been assaulted was shocked and flustered but still managed to keep her wits about her, rationally pointing out the flaw. "But we were separated by clothing, we didn't actually..."

Before she could finish, the little girl in her arms widened her eyes as if suddenly realizing something, then a flicker of cunning flashed in them. Before the other could react, she puckered her rosy lips and accurately pecked the slightly parted, astonished pink lips.

"Mwah—" Both of them froze in unison.

—Th-this... the ancients said: do not look at what is improper, do not listen to what is improper, do not speak what is improper, do not... kiss what is improper!

—Hmm, soft, a bit like the cotton candy sold at the shop on the corner of Taoli Street. It seems to carry a faint sweetness too, tastes pretty good!

"Well, now we've had skin-to-skin contact." The girl's eyes curved slightly, her voice tinged with a hint of triumph. "From now on, you're mine."

"But..." The girl in white covered her lightly kissed lips, glaring tearfully at the girl in her arms who was half a head shorter than her. Her mind, usually clear and wise and praised by countless people, felt as if it had turned into a tangled mess. All those lofty principles of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and trust were utterly useless now.

—If I were to use the sword techniques and arts my master taught me against such a young girl, that would truly be unacceptable.

I can't hit her, and she won't listen to reason. What should I do?

The girl known as the cleverest among the younger generation of white-clad disciples furrowed her brows, feeling deeply powerless.

"Are you captivated by me? Excellent, now quickly take off your clothes and lie down! Let's proceed directly to the next step!" Mistaking the helplessness on her face for compliance, the girl in black robes raised her eyebrows with delight. Her fair, delicate hand rested on the other's shoulder, and with a push, she pressed down—sitting on the other's abdomen, she reached out to lift the hem of their clothing.

—Heh heh heh, it's finally time to feast!

She was determined to taste just what was so special about the "yang energy" those maidservants kept raving about! Could it possibly be more fragrant and crispy than Mapo Tofu from Juxia [Chrysanthemum] Pavilion, more refreshing and crunchy than pickled cucumbers from Míngcui [Singing Emerald] Hall, more savory and sweet than fish soup from Liufang [Lingering Fragrance] Courtyard, or more mellow and rich than honey wine from Zhaori [Sunrise] Pavilion?

She refused to believe it!

Lost in thought, she was suddenly pushed down by a delicate, frail-looking young girl. What was even more humiliating was that the girl immediately began tearing at her clothes without a second thought—if it weren't for the fact that the girl was even younger than herself, she would have sliced her into pieces long ago. How could she allow such insolence?

But her master had taught her to remain calm, composed, and to persuade with reason...

"Young Miss, please calm down and listen to what I have to say!" The restrained girl tried to speak, but was startled into silence by the sound of fabric tearing. "Rip—" Her previously gentle expression instantly turned cold, carrying a restrained and somber intensity.

"You!" She silently recited a sword incantation, ready to retaliate.

"Huh?" The girl in black suddenly stopped untying the robes, her nimble fingers pausing as she curiously poked at the slight swell on the other's chest, her face filled with confusion. "Why is yours the same as mine?"

—Is this how scholars are in the storybooks?

It looks exactly like my own body...

"Because I am a woman myself." The girl in white had lost all patience for being gentle or considerate. She pushed away the person sitting on her waist, gathered her robes, and assumed a stern expression.

"Plop—" A small oil-paper packet fell out from her loosened robes.

"Hmm?" The girl in black was instantly captivated by the food-scented packet, her nose twitching lightly like a little puppy searching for milk.

"This is Auntie Liu's specialty from Qingyun Courtyard—Mingyu Cake. Would you like some?" She picked up the oil-paper packet, carefully opened it, and revealed several square-shaped pastries, slightly crumbled but still appealing in appearance.

Though she said nothing and her expression remained unchanged, her eyes suddenly brightened, fixed unwaveringly on the jade-like little cakes.

With a soft chuckle, she gently picked up a piece of cake with her fingertips and offered it to her. "Here, try it."

The girl's clear eyes seemed like dewdrops lingering on lotus leaves after the rain, reflecting countless rays of light. Her lips parted slightly as she took the cake into her mouth, her pink tongue lightly brushing against the fingertip holding the pastry. The warm, moist, and soft touch sent a shiver through her, and she quickly withdrew her hand.

Looking down, she saw the girl in black puffing her cheeks as she savored the sweet but not greasy flavor. Her delicate eyelashes, like two rows of tiny hooks, seemed to brush against her heart, stirring something within her.

"Is it good?" she asked softly, afraid to disturb the emotions wildly growing inside her.

"Mhm." The girl licked her lips, still craving more, and glanced at the remaining cakes in the oil-paper packet. Her gaze shifted from light to intense, then back to the other's face. After a moment of thought, she suddenly spoke with utmost seriousness, "If I follow you, can I keep eating this cake?"

"You can..." Given her status, no one at Qingyun Courtyard would dare question it. But why was this girl asking such a thing? Could it be...

"Then it's settled. I'll marry you from now on." The girl's lips curved into a faint, gentle smile.

"This..." She was taken aback, yet lost in the sudden, breathtaking beauty before her, forgetting to refuse.

As the girl was dragged away by her father who had come searching for her, she touched the oil-paper package in her arms, which held the remaining pastries, and turned back to shout at the girl in white, "My name is Leng Yan—"

Standing to her left was her master, who smiled quietly without a word. Yet, the girl in white, acting out of character, also shouted back, "I am Ye Zhiqiu—"

"Come to my house tomorrow to propose marriage—" Before leaving, the girl turned back with a serious expression to remind her.

"..." Choking back a response, she silently watched the small figure retreating, her face quietly flushing with a faint blush.

That year, they met in the small grove on the main peak of Mount Chonghua. Leng Yan was five years old, and Ye Zhiqiu was seven.

—The entanglement that followed for thousands of years stemmed from nothing more than this unforgettable glance.

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